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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I loved both "Passenger" and "Wayfarer" by Ms. Bracken! Her work is truly phenomenal and this duology is no exception.
Book two picks up where the first one left off, though she did a good job at quickly skimming through irrelevant travel details (such as several months of characters recovering and wandering around) to get the reader straight into the story. I must say, this book was really long, so I could see many people getting really bored super quickly, but I personally love Bracken's writing style and was attached to pretty much every character, so it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for Etta and Nicholas to be reunited (which heads up, takes FOREVER). I thought that Julian, Li Min, and Henry Hemlock were all really interesting new additions to the story and I enjoyed seeing all of their journeys pan out. The figurative language was magnificent, with Etta constantly referencing music and Nicholas going on and on about the sea and I just think that this really helped capture both of their voices spectacularly.
Honestly, I could talk about this series forever so I'm just going to end this review by saying one last thing. The representation in this series was AMAZING. Bracken did a superb job of showing how women, African Americans, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities have been mistreated throughout time and how they are still not treated equally today. She does so subtly and with finesse, opening many doors for positive conversations about these disparities across humanity.
I loved the characters, the descriptive language, how time travel was tackled, and the representation that was masterfully interwoven into the story plot. If you aren't afraid of reading a novel that is over 500 pages and willing to spend the time it takes to read it, I'm sure there is something contained within the covers of these books that you'll be able to latch onto with all your heart!
Book two picks up where the first one left off, though she did a good job at quickly skimming through irrelevant travel details (such as several months of characters recovering and wandering around) to get the reader straight into the story. I must say, this book was really long, so I could see many people getting really bored super quickly, but I personally love Bracken's writing style and was attached to pretty much every character, so it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for Etta and Nicholas to be reunited (which heads up, takes FOREVER). I thought that Julian, Li Min, and Henry Hemlock were all really interesting new additions to the story and I enjoyed seeing all of their journeys pan out. The figurative language was magnificent, with Etta constantly referencing music and Nicholas going on and on about the sea and I just think that this really helped capture both of their voices spectacularly.
Honestly, I could talk about this series forever so I'm just going to end this review by saying one last thing. The representation in this series was AMAZING. Bracken did a superb job of showing how women, African Americans, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities have been mistreated throughout time and how they are still not treated equally today. She does so subtly and with finesse, opening many doors for positive conversations about these disparities across humanity.
I loved the characters, the descriptive language, how time travel was tackled, and the representation that was masterfully interwoven into the story plot. If you aren't afraid of reading a novel that is over 500 pages and willing to spend the time it takes to read it, I'm sure there is something contained within the covers of these books that you'll be able to latch onto with all your heart!
I definitely felt this one was weaker than the first in the duology but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I think my biggest issue was that Etta and Nicholas’s storyline was stronger when they were together and they spent this whole book apart. I understand it plot wise, i just didn’t necessarily like it. I was very concerned for the last 50 pages that I wasn’t going to like the ending but Bracken came through and gave me a good ending!
2.5
Meh, me alegro haber acabado la historia pero es messy.
El aspecto de los viajes en el tiempo no estuvo tan presente, y con esto me refiero a a lo que yo disfruto de estos: ver distintas sociedades y culturas y como adaptar conocimientos modernos a esas épocas.
La relación de los protas es demasiado dulce para mí. Ese amor predestinado que todo lo puede y es único pera toda la vida en esta ocasión me dio cringe. Ninguno de los personajes me parece memorable y la resolución del conflito fue demasiado enrevesada al punto de tener que introducir un villano aún más malo y poderoso que aparece para que lo maten rápidamente.
En fin, porque lo escuche mientras trabajaba que si no me habría dado pereza terminarlo. Cada escena es larguísima y muchas son relleno para hacerlo más poético. Le sobran bien 100 páginas.
Meh, me alegro haber acabado la historia pero es messy.
El aspecto de los viajes en el tiempo no estuvo tan presente, y con esto me refiero a a lo que yo disfruto de estos: ver distintas sociedades y culturas y como adaptar conocimientos modernos a esas épocas.
La relación de los protas es demasiado dulce para mí. Ese amor predestinado que todo lo puede y es único pera toda la vida en esta ocasión me dio cringe. Ninguno de los personajes me parece memorable y la resolución del conflito fue demasiado enrevesada al punto de tener que introducir un villano aún más malo y poderoso que aparece para que lo maten rápidamente.
En fin, porque lo escuche mientras trabajaba que si no me habría dado pereza terminarlo. Cada escena es larguísima y muchas son relleno para hacerlo más poético. Le sobran bien 100 páginas.
Actually 2.5
Oh boi
I really hoped that this sequel will be good. Unfortunately, fate don't like me.
First of all, I completely don't understand changes of characters. Nicholas was pirate with honor and rules, Etta loved playing on violin and had an interesting character, but here... They lost it. I didn't understand any of their decisions, any emotion that they felt, they were irrational and not themselves. Sophia had so much potential, but she ended as explosive immature girl.
Also I didn't understood the plot at all. I mean, some things that happened for me was senseless and weird. And the timeline was super twisted, sometimes I didn't know if this was present or past or future or whatever.
It was my second try with this author, fortunately this time I didn't left unreaded book. But am I proud because of this?
I wouldn't say so, sadly
Oh boi
I really hoped that this sequel will be good. Unfortunately, fate don't like me.
First of all, I completely don't understand changes of characters. Nicholas was pirate with honor and rules, Etta loved playing on violin and had an interesting character, but here... They lost it. I didn't understand any of their decisions, any emotion that they felt, they were irrational and not themselves. Sophia had so much potential, but she ended as explosive immature girl.
Also I didn't understood the plot at all. I mean, some things that happened for me was senseless and weird. And the timeline was super twisted, sometimes I didn't know if this was present or past or future or whatever.
It was my second try with this author, fortunately this time I didn't left unreaded book. But am I proud because of this?
I wouldn't say so, sadly
This seems to be somewhat of an unpopular opinion among readers, but I actually did not enjoy this book as much as I did the first.
The plot goes full speed ahead from the beginning, and if you aren't prepared for the fast-out-of-the-gate beginning, it's hard to keep up for the rest of the book. Even after having read it, I'm not sure if I could even give an adequate description of the plot.
One thing that I did enjoy about this book was the character development of some of the characters. Sophia transforms from a rather unlikeable side character in the first book (although I admit I had a soft sport for her then) to a complicated and sympathetic main character in Wayfarer. Other new character additions, which I won't name because of potential spoilers, were fun, as well.
The premise of this series was original and the books were exciting and action-packed. I would recommend this to someone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, and fantasy, although I would caution that if you don't enjoy fast-paced plots, this might not be the right series for you. 3/5 stars for Wayfarer, 3.5/5 for the series as a whole.
The plot goes full speed ahead from the beginning, and if you aren't prepared for the fast-out-of-the-gate beginning, it's hard to keep up for the rest of the book. Even after having read it, I'm not sure if I could even give an adequate description of the plot.
One thing that I did enjoy about this book was the character development of some of the characters. Sophia transforms from a rather unlikeable side character in the first book (although I admit I had a soft sport for her then) to a complicated and sympathetic main character in Wayfarer. Other new character additions, which I won't name because of potential spoilers, were fun, as well.
The premise of this series was original and the books were exciting and action-packed. I would recommend this to someone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, and fantasy, although I would caution that if you don't enjoy fast-paced plots, this might not be the right series for you. 3/5 stars for Wayfarer, 3.5/5 for the series as a whole.
*2.5 stars
As much as I love Passenger, I found Wayfarer pretty hard to get through. I think it just lacked a lot of the urgency that made Passenger so intriguing, and I didn't really understand what motivated the plot. There was also just so many twists and turns that I didn't really understand the direction of the plot. It did have a pretty good ending, I'll give it that, but overall i just found it pretty slow and confusing. I think a better execution of the books would have been to just make Passenger a longer standalone with a more fast-paced plot.
As much as I love Passenger, I found Wayfarer pretty hard to get through. I think it just lacked a lot of the urgency that made Passenger so intriguing, and I didn't really understand what motivated the plot. There was also just so many twists and turns that I didn't really understand the direction of the plot. It did have a pretty good ending, I'll give it that, but overall i just found it pretty slow and confusing. I think a better execution of the books would have been to just make Passenger a longer standalone with a more fast-paced plot.
“I'm not... I'm not without a heart,' he heard Sophia say, her chin raised, eyes straight ahead. 'I'm not. I just don't have the luxury of being soft. I am trying to survive.”
Wayfarer felt a bit slower than Passenger did, especially because I was really looking forward for Nicholas and Etta to reunite. But unfortunately that didnt happen till last chapters, I would have loved for them to be a little longer together. But the book was well written, and the characters felt round and alive. The only one who felt a little left behind for me was Julian, it didn't feel like he added much to the story or understood his choices.
What I loved about the book is;
- Etta and her father got to spend some time together, how it was awkward and adorable, how they found each other in their music. I really liked their connection. (And I cried, oops)
- How Etta never became anything 'less' without Nicholas and stayed on her 'course'. But still he never left her thoughts.
- Sophie who finally decided to take her life in own hands, and showed us her true heart.
- The change of perception on different things/charakters the more information you got.
- That it was surprisingly emotional
And the ending, dear god the ending. Pretty sure I died.
Wayfarer felt a bit slower than Passenger did, especially because I was really looking forward for Nicholas and Etta to reunite. But unfortunately that didnt happen till last chapters, I would have loved for them to be a little longer together. But the book was well written, and the characters felt round and alive. The only one who felt a little left behind for me was Julian, it didn't feel like he added much to the story or understood his choices.
What I loved about the book is;
- Etta and her father got to spend some time together, how it was awkward and adorable, how they found each other in their music. I really liked their connection. (And I cried, oops)
- How Etta never became anything 'less' without Nicholas and stayed on her 'course'. But still he never left her thoughts.
- Sophie who finally decided to take her life in own hands, and showed us her true heart.
- The change of perception on different things/charakters the more information you got.
- That it was surprisingly emotional
And the ending, dear god the ending. Pretty sure I died.
This was amazing! I absolutely loved this book, though I wish I had read this closer to the first installment of the book. This was definitely the story that Bracken wanted to tell-Passenger was just to tee everything up without spending too much time on explaining context.
I found the different times explored to be well-detailed and thought out, Bracken clearly spent time researching her time destinations, and it paid off for the reader. I also really enjoyed Etta, the story's heroine. She had a relatable quality and seemed to be firmly grounded and well understood by her author.
My biggest gripe about this book was the descriptions of action sequences, I frequently got lost in them and had trouble seeing what was happening in my mind's eye. It was a bit frustrated, but not enough to make me any less ravenous to complete this story!
I also thought the ending was a bit convenient and thoughtless, as if Bracken didn't spend enough time thinking through a proper ending for her characters, but at least it was sufficiently satisfying-it certainly could have been worse.
I general, I would recommend this book to readers looking for a time travel or historical fiction read. I think you can get away with skipping the first book, but I wouldn't recommend it-a lot of valuable context is given to the reader that will make Wayfarer a more pleasurable read.
I found the different times explored to be well-detailed and thought out, Bracken clearly spent time researching her time destinations, and it paid off for the reader. I also really enjoyed Etta, the story's heroine. She had a relatable quality and seemed to be firmly grounded and well understood by her author.
My biggest gripe about this book was the descriptions of action sequences, I frequently got lost in them and had trouble seeing what was happening in my mind's eye. It was a bit frustrated, but not enough to make me any less ravenous to complete this story!
I also thought the ending was a bit convenient and thoughtless, as if Bracken didn't spend enough time thinking through a proper ending for her characters, but at least it was sufficiently satisfying-it certainly could have been worse.
I general, I would recommend this book to readers looking for a time travel or historical fiction read. I think you can get away with skipping the first book, but I wouldn't recommend it-a lot of valuable context is given to the reader that will make Wayfarer a more pleasurable read.
This book was incredible.
It was so much darker and more twisted than Passenger, but I loved it. I feel like this was the perfect direction for the book to take.
The thing I love most about this series are the characters, hands down. Alexandra Bracken does a wonderful job in creating these complex characters that you deeply care about. The relationships between them feel incredibly real and fleshed out. The side characters are just as interesting as the main characters. And while I love Etta and Nicholas with my whole heart, I found myself equally invested in Sophia, Henry, Alice, Julian, Rose, Hall and Li Min. I feel like the characters are really the best part of the book. Each of them has their own unique characteristics and it was so easy to create an image of them in my mind.
Once again, I adored Etta and Nicholas. They are apart for most of the book, but never cease to care and think about each other. And they do that in a way that made my heart melt. I was so hoping for them to get their happy ending, because they deserve it above everyone else. And while I wish there would have been a little bit more romantic interaction, I do appreciate their separate journeys. I know it was essential for them to follow their separate paths and to grow on their own. Still, I loved every scene we got of them together. Their love is so pure, based on nothing than respect and appreciation for the other. Both are so willing to fight for what they believe in, stopping at nothing, conquering every obstacle that is thrown their way. And Nicholas with his damned honor and decency. I love how he never bends his morals or acts selfishly. He was ready to give up everything he truly desired for the greater good, never really entertaining the idea of a middle way, no matter how much he was tempted or how much it cost him. I have not read a story with a character like this in a long time.
Furthermore, I loved that none of the characters are without faults. They are flawed, they make mistakes, but they continue to learn and grow from them and seeing that was the most precious thing. Sophia undergoes an incredible development throughout the story and I was rooting for her from page one. She quickly became one of my favorites. Her journey with Nicholas, seeing how they both started to care and fight for one another, was heart warming. I also liked the addition of Julian to the cast, especially in combination with Etta. I feel like he is starting to come into his own throughout the book and I really liked seeing him grow. Hall and Alice are probably the best guardians Nicholas and Etta could have hoped for. The interactions between them were heart-warming. And even though we do not get to see a lot of Alice and Hall in this book, whenever they made an appearance, I always loved the way they contributed to the story and helped Etta and Nicholas move forward. Henry as Etta's father was literally the best. I was rooting for him not to turn out as evil in the end and I was so glad that did not happen. I teared up multiple times during the scenes of him and Etta. He is just so precious, the love for his daughter was tangible through the pages.
I also liked the story and that it turned out to be filled with much more deceit, backstabbing and twists and turns than the first book. Whereas the first book felt like an adventurous time travel story with a simple quest, Wayfarer was a thrilling ride through dozens of centuries to save time and the future. The danger and potential of the astrolabe felt much more real in this book, which made me feel so much more engrossed in the actual plot and what could possibly happen next. I liked all of the history and new information we got. The story become more intriguing with each revelations. I liked the ultimate question that the story revolved around;. I am super happy with how everything was resolved in the end. I feel like this was the only way the story could wrapped up. And it did wrap up beautifully.
What I would have loved to see was a little bit more explanation on the big looming threat in the background,. We got to see a little bit of it in the last 100 pages, but I feel like it has not been enough. A little bit more insight would have been nice. I also would have liked a little bit more interaction with the tangible villain of the story, Cyrus Ironwood. Since for me there was a little bit of a lack of interactions with the "evils" of the story, I sometimes felt a little bit disconnected from the story itself. But this is just a small gripe.
I loved how the author created a distinct atmosphere for the various centuries and times, it always felt incredibly real and vivid. My favorites were probably Carthage and Russia. I felt completely transported to that time, which made the story that much richer.
Overall, I think this book is a great conclusion to the Passenger duology.
Wayfarer is a story filled with wonderful characters on a thrilling adventure through centuries and across continents to save time and themselves.
It was so much darker and more twisted than Passenger, but I loved it. I feel like this was the perfect direction for the book to take.
The thing I love most about this series are the characters, hands down. Alexandra Bracken does a wonderful job in creating these complex characters that you deeply care about. The relationships between them feel incredibly real and fleshed out. The side characters are just as interesting as the main characters. And while I love Etta and Nicholas with my whole heart, I found myself equally invested in Sophia, Henry, Alice, Julian, Rose, Hall and Li Min. I feel like the characters are really the best part of the book. Each of them has their own unique characteristics and it was so easy to create an image of them in my mind.
Once again, I adored Etta and Nicholas. They are apart for most of the book, but never cease to care and think about each other. And they do that in a way that made my heart melt. I was so hoping for them to get their happy ending, because they deserve it above everyone else. And while I wish there would have been a little bit more romantic interaction, I do appreciate their separate journeys. I know it was essential for them to follow their separate paths and to grow on their own. Still, I loved every scene we got of them together. Their love is so pure, based on nothing than respect and appreciation for the other. Both are so willing to fight for what they believe in, stopping at nothing, conquering every obstacle that is thrown their way. And Nicholas with his damned honor and decency
Spoiler
that nearly cost him his lifeFurthermore, I loved that none of the characters are without faults. They are flawed, they make mistakes, but they continue to learn and grow from them and seeing that was the most precious thing. Sophia undergoes an incredible development throughout the story and I was rooting for her from page one. She quickly became one of my favorites. Her journey with Nicholas, seeing how they both started to care and fight for one another, was heart warming. I also liked the addition of Julian to the cast, especially in combination with Etta. I feel like he is starting to come into his own throughout the book and I really liked seeing him grow. Hall and Alice are probably the best guardians Nicholas and Etta could have hoped for. The interactions between them were heart-warming. And even though we do not get to see a lot of Alice and Hall in this book, whenever they made an appearance, I always loved the way they contributed to the story and helped Etta and Nicholas move forward. Henry as Etta's father was literally the best. I was rooting for him not to turn out as evil in the end and I was so glad that did not happen. I teared up multiple times during the scenes of him and Etta. He is just so precious, the love for his daughter was tangible through the pages.
I also liked the story and that it turned out to be filled with much more deceit, backstabbing and twists and turns than the first book. Whereas the first book felt like an adventurous time travel story with a simple quest, Wayfarer was a thrilling ride through dozens of centuries to save time and the future. The danger and potential of the astrolabe felt much more real in this book, which made me feel so much more engrossed in the actual plot and what could possibly happen next. I liked all of the history and new information we got. The story become more intriguing with each revelations. I liked the ultimate question that the story revolved around;
Spoiler
To destroy the astrolabe and possibly end the war of the families once and for all but risk orphaning everyone to their natural times or hide it once more and try to bring about peace and the original timeline another way?What I would have loved to see was a little bit more explanation on the big looming threat in the background,
Spoiler
aka the Shadows and the Ancient OneI loved how the author created a distinct atmosphere for the various centuries and times, it always felt incredibly real and vivid. My favorites were probably Carthage and Russia. I felt completely transported to that time, which made the story that much richer.
Overall, I think this book is a great conclusion to the Passenger duology.
Wayfarer is a story filled with wonderful characters on a thrilling adventure through centuries and across continents to save time and themselves.