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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
‘The blurring of something imaginary and something real. Most commonly, déjà vu; the sense you’ve seen something new before. And its opposite, jamais vu, which is when something that should be familiar feels wholly alien.’
This was a fabulous, genre-bending story that included historical fiction, time travel, alternative history, and a whole lot of mystery. I really enjoyed the gradual release of information as we, along with the protagonist, try to figure out what the heck is going on.
The author’s writing style is subtle, so while there are mysteries to unfurl, it isn’t done in a quickly-paced, action-packed way. There is, instead, much internal reflection alongside alternate timeline flashbacks. It almost feels that the answer to everything is just beyond the reader’s grasp, and this helped me to connect with the protagonist as he felt the same way. Memories and ideas are foggy but come into clearer view as the book continues. This is a book that demands reader participation; don’t expect to be carried along for the ride. The clues are there, but the reader must be the one to make the connections in order to appreciate the eventual reveal.
There is heartache, longing, ambition, cowardice, and tenderness to be found in this book. There are heartbreaking moments involving the traumas of war, as well as the ramifications of meddling with the past and how that impacts the future. There are scenes with violence and blind ambition, as well as those with tender intimacy. The blend of all of these provides a nice balance, so that the book avoids being devoid of joy or overly saccharine. I felt that there was the perfect amount of tension to push the story along, and I absolutely devoured the last third of the book.
If you enjoy slow-burn, character-driven plots, this may be the book for you!
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is insane and I am unhealthily in love with it.
Welcome to an alternative version of Great Britain where the French won the battle of Trafalgar and our main character can't help but feel like, though everything feels familiar, the world is somehow wrong. Then, a mysterious postcard, a trip to a lighthouse, and an encounter with a man fished out of the sea, suddenly shifts the book from a tale of domestic life to a high-stakes military thriller. People are vaporized by chain shot while the main character is trying to figure out what's going on and, more importantly, who he is. Why does this version of the world feel so right when he still misses his old world so very much?
Each time I though I had this book figured out, it threw me another curve ball, but I didn't care. I knew from the beginning where the HEART of the book was and who we were fighting to see to a happy ending. That (and the fact that I love both insane, time-bending science fiction books and historical war epics) kept me bound to the story of The Kingdoms and the men they changed the most.
As I told a friend, this novel was just enough of a romance to give me hope for a happy ending no matter how dark, gory, and hopeless it became. There were parts where I knew everyone I loved was going to die, but that was going to be okay. It was simply inevitable in the timeline we were in.
I want to buy this book and reread it immediately, preferably multiple times. I love how the author created the atmosphere of the book in its prose, using words that worked in descriptions, but were constantly unexpected or barely grammatically correct. It continued to give a since of "not quite right-ness" to our alternate realities when characters were out-of-sync with the worlds around them. Bravo!
Are there dragons? This book is insane enough without dragons, dear God. So, that's a no.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an epic tale of time travel, an alternate war history, and (unexpectedly) a world-altering romance. Centring on the character of Joe, who finds himself on a train platform in the middle of French-occupied London with no memory of his life. Thus begins a complex and heart-rending search for his past, which just so happens to intertwine with - and alter the outcome of - the Anglo-French wars of 1803-1815. More than anything, though, I was struck by the love story that runs through the entire backdrop of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War
Moderate: Slavery
This was really good.
I found myself caught up in the mystery of Joe, this man found coming off of a train in a London now ruled by France. Joe has no memory of his past but he tries his best to continue on with his life.
When he receives a letter with a mysterious message, he puts himself in a position to go to the location in the letter.
When Joe arrives at the lighthouse he begins a wonderful journey into the past with the hopes of changing the future.
This was beautifully written, just when I thought I knew what was going on there was a new element. I loved how it came full circle at the end, my only disappointment was not enough romance between Joe and Kite.
I found myself caught up in the mystery of Joe, this man found coming off of a train in a London now ruled by France. Joe has no memory of his past but he tries his best to continue on with his life.
When he receives a letter with a mysterious message, he puts himself in a position to go to the location in the letter.
When Joe arrives at the lighthouse he begins a wonderful journey into the past with the hopes of changing the future.
This was beautifully written, just when I thought I knew what was going on there was a new element. I loved how it came full circle at the end, my only disappointment was not enough romance between Joe and Kite.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Jag gillar verkligen påhittigten och fantasin, men efter att ha läst alla Pulleys övriga böcker så börjar hennes formula kännas lite förutsägbar och mallad. Det är mysigt och puttrigt, god underhållning dvs., men det blir inte mer än så.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated