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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Damn. This book made me cry. Debating if it’s a 3 or 4 stars. Overall, it was easy to read and get through. It’s engaging. The specs of spice written in here is not cringy at all. The plot twists in here are also shocking and something I never predicted so that’s always good.
Anything below this is a spoiler so read at your own risk.
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So the good…
“Of course I loved you.” reading that made me sob and then the last page of the protagonist speaking directly to the audience about how you change history. Talking about how making the same mistakes won’t get you there. That was so random and I didn’t expect it but it really spoke to me. And I’m sure it would many other people.
A time-travel door could change history like that but to truly make change is doing it yourself. That was a great message to have in there. And I think adding that in made me want to rate this book highly.
One thing I realised is that we never know the protagonist’s name. Like ever. Which is interesting because it’s almost like we are all the protagonist one way or another. There’s also not as much description of her and even Graham’s appearance is mentioned half way into the book. It’s truly left to our imagination which I liked the creative freedom of that.
Graham and hers relationship was so interesting to me and it was written well. Especially when they finally go together. It wasn’t in your face but it was subtle and flowed and it was natural and easy. Just how relationships are like in the real world. Which is ironic since how likely is it for us to be having a relationship with someone who existed centuries before us.
Also side note, I want a Graham. A man who wants to please his lover before he can get his own? Chefs kiss. The part when protagonist taught him on how to pleasure her reminded me of the show Outlander when the woman told the Scottish guy how to please her instead of only focusing on himself. And he listened attentively and was keen to learn. It was the same here. Both manly both strong but both wanting to cater to their women with open minds. Love that.
Onto the bad, the authors take on racism, colonialism and some other deep topics and the way they were handled in the book did take away from the book. Particularly Simella? (I think her name was) made valid points and concerns about the ministry since parts of Africa and the Americas didn’t exist in the future and that’s why she wanted to go against the ministry and the protagonist bypassed those comments? It was very insensitive? And made the protagonist seem selfish and just so obsessed with Graham. Like he was everything to her. She was definitely not Adela who I feel like would’ve handled that better which ironic since they’re both her. I feel like the protagonist was childish and propelled by her emotions. So I would say that part was a let down for me and I do agree with some other reviews, there could’ve been more to this book. Graham just completely shunning the protagonist and leaving just like that felt so out of character for him? I thought he’d question her way more and be more angry with her, more passionate.
I might keep editing this review once I think about it more but that’s all for now.
Anything below this is a spoiler so read at your own risk.
-
-
-
So the good…
“Of course I loved you.” reading that made me sob and then the last page of the protagonist speaking directly to the audience about how you change history. Talking about how making the same mistakes won’t get you there. That was so random and I didn’t expect it but it really spoke to me. And I’m sure it would many other people.
A time-travel door could change history like that but to truly make change is doing it yourself. That was a great message to have in there. And I think adding that in made me want to rate this book highly.
One thing I realised is that we never know the protagonist’s name. Like ever. Which is interesting because it’s almost like we are all the protagonist one way or another. There’s also not as much description of her and even Graham’s appearance is mentioned half way into the book. It’s truly left to our imagination which I liked the creative freedom of that.
Graham and hers relationship was so interesting to me and it was written well. Especially when they finally go together. It wasn’t in your face but it was subtle and flowed and it was natural and easy. Just how relationships are like in the real world. Which is ironic since how likely is it for us to be having a relationship with someone who existed centuries before us.
Also side note, I want a Graham. A man who wants to please his lover before he can get his own? Chefs kiss. The part when protagonist taught him on how to pleasure her reminded me of the show Outlander when the woman told the Scottish guy how to please her instead of only focusing on himself. And he listened attentively and was keen to learn. It was the same here. Both manly both strong but both wanting to cater to their women with open minds. Love that.
Onto the bad, the authors take on racism, colonialism and some other deep topics and the way they were handled in the book did take away from the book. Particularly Simella? (I think her name was) made valid points and concerns about the ministry since parts of Africa and the Americas didn’t exist in the future and that’s why she wanted to go against the ministry and the protagonist bypassed those comments? It was very insensitive? And made the protagonist seem selfish and just so obsessed with Graham. Like he was everything to her. She was definitely not Adela who I feel like would’ve handled that better which ironic since they’re both her. I feel like the protagonist was childish and propelled by her emotions. So I would say that part was a let down for me and I do agree with some other reviews, there could’ve been more to this book. Graham just completely shunning the protagonist and leaving just like that felt so out of character for him? I thought he’d question her way more and be more angry with her, more passionate.
I might keep editing this review once I think about it more but that’s all for now.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such an unusual book and even though it wasn’t at all what I was expecting I thoroughly enjoyed it/would highly recommend. I think it would have been a 5 ⭐️read but the last chapter/section was kind of underwhelming and it felt like a lot happened off page or I just missed it or something…it just felt like it lost traction there at the end.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Couldn’t put down the print version and wanted to try rereading via audio. I liked having male and female narrators, and found it equally enjoyable as a listening experience.
A big mix of good and bad. There was surprisingly little sci-fi but also for something that relied on romance, surprisingly little romance, which meant most of the book did drag. Really liked the ending though
Had potential, but turned into an insufferable romance. Not for me.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes