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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
While there was nothing wrong with this book, I found myself randomly putting it down in the middle of action scenes. The story didn't have any pull for me and I would have to reread pages because I realized I wasn't focusing. The thing is, I truly did enjoy the story and the characters.
The whole time I knew this would be a three star read, but the ending really got me. It was at pace that made sense (unlike the rest of it) and super satisfying. Well... I would have liked more of a certain person interacted with two significant figures in their life at the very very end instead of just with... ugh this is difficult without giving spoilers. Anyway except that and the epilogue which I thought was unnecessary and a bit confusing, the ending earned itself the half star. Doesn't sound like I liked it, but I did and it made the book worth it.
Some things I liked about Wayfarer:
-The characters are more fleshed out in this one. A lot of people didn't like Nicholas (at least in Passenger) but I've always liked him. I think how he responds to situations is always a bit different than you expect and he's not afraid to be an bit ruthless. Sophie also got some spotlight and she grew a lot since Passenger.
-The writing is very good and Bracken can describe things beautifully on occasion. I quite liked:
"'As she leaned in closer, he breathed in that same earthy scent, as if she were a dark forest wearing a woman's skin."
-Alternate History!
- I feel like people's emotional responses were done well. In some stories, somebody dies at the beginning and it was super impactful on the MC's life, but then they just go on their adventure happy as a clam without a second thought. Alice's death at the beginning of Passenger is mentioned just enough and with enough feeling that the reader really feels Etta's pain without it becoming distracting. This is true without other situations and characters as well.
Overall: Wayfarer satisfyingly wrapped up the duology even if there was odd pacing and it dragged in the middle. A well written book that might not stand out, but it holds up.
A side note about both books:
Whenever Etta was cornered or in any possible danger, she almost never had a weapon, okay? But every single gosh dern time this happened, she was invariably "reaching back for a the {water glass/rock/random knife/hook}... [swinging] her makeshift weapon toward him." (I was just randomly flipping through the book for an example, knowing it was useless. It was not. I found one quicker than acceptable). I understand that this is what anyone would do, but it happens so. many. times. and every time I just imagine it like... 'She brandishes her weapon to her attackers, arm swinging wildly between them. She looks crazed. Her mighty weapon is. a rock. They stop in fear. In the distance, sirens.' I just kept picturing the same thing too many times during these two books.
While there was nothing wrong with this book, I found myself randomly putting it down in the middle of action scenes. The story didn't have any pull for me and I would have to reread pages because I realized I wasn't focusing. The thing is, I truly did enjoy the story and the characters.
The whole time I knew this would be a three star read, but the ending really got me. It was at pace that made sense (unlike the rest of it) and super satisfying. Well... I would have liked more of a certain person interacted with two significant figures in their life at the very very end instead of just with... ugh this is difficult without giving spoilers. Anyway except that and the epilogue which I thought was unnecessary and a bit confusing, the ending earned itself the half star. Doesn't sound like I liked it, but I did and it made the book worth it.
Some things I liked about Wayfarer:
-The characters are more fleshed out in this one. A lot of people didn't like Nicholas (at least in Passenger) but I've always liked him. I think how he responds to situations is always a bit different than you expect and he's not afraid to be an bit ruthless. Sophie also got some spotlight and she grew a lot since Passenger.
-The writing is very good and Bracken can describe things beautifully on occasion. I quite liked:
"'As she leaned in closer, he breathed in that same earthy scent, as if she were a dark forest wearing a woman's skin."
-Alternate History!
- I feel like people's emotional responses were done well. In some stories, somebody dies at the beginning and it was super impactful on the MC's life, but then they just go on their adventure happy as a clam without a second thought. Alice's death at the beginning of Passenger is mentioned just enough and with enough feeling that the reader really feels Etta's pain without it becoming distracting. This is true without other situations and characters as well.
Overall: Wayfarer satisfyingly wrapped up the duology even if there was odd pacing and it dragged in the middle. A well written book that might not stand out, but it holds up.
A side note about both books:
Whenever Etta was cornered or in any possible danger, she almost never had a weapon, okay? But every single gosh dern time this happened, she was invariably "reaching back for a the {water glass/rock/random knife/hook}... [swinging] her makeshift weapon toward him." (I was just randomly flipping through the book for an example, knowing it was useless. It was not. I found one quicker than acceptable). I understand that this is what anyone would do, but it happens so. many. times. and every time I just imagine it like... 'She brandishes her weapon to her attackers, arm swinging wildly between them. She looks crazed. Her mighty weapon is. a rock. They stop in fear. In the distance, sirens.' I just kept picturing the same thing too many times during these two books.
This book was a very slow read for me. I wasn't very invested in it, and the author switched perspectives a lot. The two main characters were separated, and my brain didn't put any effort into remembering what was happening to either of them. It was just a boring read, and I didn't really care. This is the kind of book I will forget I read in a couple of weeks.
Solid end to the duology. However, I felt the book dragged on and added a lot of details that came on too quickly and didn't get the explanation they should have. There are characters called "shades" that are added to make the plot more in depth, however they get such a quick explanation that it led to confusing plot points near the end of the novel. I think the whole book should have just focused on Etta and Nicholas finding each other. It certainly wasn't my favorite book series, although it is written well enough. This is the 3rd book I've read by this author and I've felt the same way about all her writing; it just drags on. I never really felt like I was totally absorbed in reading the novel.
I absolutely loved the way this duology concluded. The world building was fabulous and explained well as the characterd revealed more of their own time traveling world to the younger generations. Character development was gradual and believable. Etta didn't seem to change who she was by much throughout the story, but she learned to stand on her own two feet. Nicholas and Sophia both grew enormously as events transpired and truths were uncovered. I do wish Sophia's pov was given during some parts of this second book, even thought the book would've been longer, because she was a fascinating, complex woman who I at first hated but loved by the end.
This sequel explored some of the alternate timelines alluded to in the first book and how much impact the travelers' influence on events and people can have. Further exploration of the shifts in timelines would've been fun, but that would've necetated in a longer book series. As this duology stands, it's action-packed, fast paced and full of adventure and intrigue with just enough romance and found family thrown in to thoroughly satisfy me.
I loved both books and highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical fantasy with adventure and some romance.
This sequel explored some of the alternate timelines alluded to in the first book and how much impact the travelers' influence on events and people can have. Further exploration of the shifts in timelines would've been fun, but that would've necetated in a longer book series. As this duology stands, it's action-packed, fast paced and full of adventure and intrigue with just enough romance and found family thrown in to thoroughly satisfy me.
I loved both books and highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical fantasy with adventure and some romance.
Very saddened about how little I enjoyed this book :(
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5: Beautifully written, but I think I waited too long to read the second book after reading the first. The book was a bit slow moving in the beginning.
This is gonna be short because that’s all I feel is necessary. I was so excited for this book because of the cliffhanger of the first book. The parts that didn’t need a lot of pages dedicated to it took up a bulk of the middle of the book and then all the wrap-up was scrunched real quick into the end of the book that I found it very hard to follow. Great content and honestly executed a whole lot better than I could ever do for sure, but I’m okay that it was wrapped up in two books.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was just not my type of book. It was so slow and the chapters were kinda long, so it felt like it took forever to read it. The time travel aspects also kind of confused me. If you are an avid fantasy reader and you liked the first book, I’m sure you’ll like this book too, but it just wasn’t for me.