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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Read this for the nostalgia. I used to love this series when I was a teen. Maybe this is more objectively a 3 star but it made me happy reading it.
medium-paced
There are no super crazy twists or anything in this book, it's pretty easy to figure out where things are headed. But it's a very enjoyable read nonetheless.
I started out thinking I'd give this book a 3.5, but the ending was excellent and really propelled my starting the next immediately. It took me a little bit to get used to the present tense and switching back and forth between two character's POV. Once over that hurdle, the story is very interesting. I enjoyed all the historical and mythological figures peppered throughout the book. I would say these books are great for fans of [author: Philip Pullman], [author: J.K. Rowling], [author: Garth Nix] and/or [author: Cassandra Clare].
I started out thinking I'd give this book a 3.5, but the ending was excellent and really propelled my starting the next immediately. It took me a little bit to get used to the present tense and switching back and forth between two character's POV. Once over that hurdle, the story is very interesting. I enjoyed all the historical and mythological figures peppered throughout the book. I would say these books are great for fans of [author: Philip Pullman], [author: J.K. Rowling], [author: Garth Nix] and/or [author: Cassandra Clare].
Ethan is Named, someone who has the ability to travel between times and help a group ensure that the present continues as it should. There's another group determined to allow chaos to reign. It's a fairly common trope in time-travel stories and it's not badly handled here. However it's not the best of it's type either, that won't stop me looking to read the next story.
I liked Ethan and his optimism and I would like to know what's going on with the two groups involved in messing with time. There a fair amount of stuff flagged for the future and there's a promise that not everyone is as innocent as they might look.
I liked Ethan and his optimism and I would like to know what's going on with the two groups involved in messing with time. There a fair amount of stuff flagged for the future and there's a promise that not everyone is as innocent as they might look.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I decided to re-read this since I haven’t in about ten years… it did not hold up for me. Things kept happening very fast, but I read it all so slowly because it felt like a chore. The whole system feels like there are plot holes and whenever something new was brought up I would just go ‘how does that make sense!!!’
I would've loved it had I read it at a younger age. Very simply written, but exciting to kids I'm sure!
3.5 stars. It was interesting, I did like the whole time travel thing. Isabel wasn't bad as a character. Ethan too. Those are the pros. I read this through, though it was both fast and slow, with good parts and not so great parts. Although none of the characters really annoyed me. Oh wait, I lie, Matt REALLY irritated me.
The finer details:
~ Told from switching perspectives, Ethan and Isabel.
~ The main characters are ranged between 15-16.
~ There's a "Guard" who are good, people who are "Named", and conspiracy.
~ Ethan seems awfully powerful....
~ The main characters go back in time to ensure certain events come to pass without interference from other sources, aka the Bad Guys.
Some Cons:
~ The beginning was a bit slow and I feel like Isabel being Ethan's apprentice so early on was kind quick? Considering how young Ethan is too...
~ It was a little confusing at first, the Named and the Guard, and what their purpose was, yet as the story went, you start to understand.
~ There is no real romance (fine with me, but at the same time, there is hints of one, though I don't know how I feel about it, depends on how old Arkarian looks--at the same time, when he calls Isabel back, that kind of really caught my attention, even though I ended up quickly reading the rest).
~ The training of Isabel seemed awfully quick...even if it's ongoing....
Overall:
So this was not a really great review, perhaps it's because I myself wasn't really into the book to begin with, after all I went through two not so great, somewhat tiring to read books, and one really good one, this one kind of floats in the middle of the two. Plus I also feel bad about thinking about the year this book was published. It's a lot older than a lot of these things I read these days that aren't classics. So it feels weird. Not only did I have to get used to the world Curley wanted me to get into, I also had to remember that this is set in both contemporary and historical settings. I really did like the history parts, seeing those characters was fun. But there was a lot of tension in this book, so I guess I never felt like I could relax? It was a good read, one I would definitely go check out the sequel of.
The finer details:
~ Told from switching perspectives, Ethan and Isabel.
~ The main characters are ranged between 15-16.
~ There's a "Guard" who are good, people who are "Named", and conspiracy.
~ Ethan seems awfully powerful....
~ The main characters go back in time to ensure certain events come to pass without interference from other sources, aka the Bad Guys.
Some Cons:
~ The beginning was a bit slow and I feel like Isabel being Ethan's apprentice so early on was kind quick? Considering how young Ethan is too...
~ It was a little confusing at first, the Named and the Guard, and what their purpose was, yet as the story went, you start to understand.
~ There is no real romance (fine with me, but at the same time, there is hints of one, though I don't know how I feel about it, depends on how old Arkarian looks--at the same time, when he calls Isabel back, that kind of really caught my attention, even though I ended up quickly reading the rest).
~ The training of Isabel seemed awfully quick...even if it's ongoing....
Overall:
So this was not a really great review, perhaps it's because I myself wasn't really into the book to begin with, after all I went through two not so great, somewhat tiring to read books, and one really good one, this one kind of floats in the middle of the two. Plus I also feel bad about thinking about the year this book was published. It's a lot older than a lot of these things I read these days that aren't classics. So it feels weird. Not only did I have to get used to the world Curley wanted me to get into, I also had to remember that this is set in both contemporary and historical settings. I really did like the history parts, seeing those characters was fun. But there was a lot of tension in this book, so I guess I never felt like I could relax? It was a good read, one I would definitely go check out the sequel of.
I wasn't really excited for this book, but after reading it I am so impressed, and so thrilled for the next one. I really enjoyed this book, and I think it's one of the best time books I have read! I really enjoyed the characters and this story was great! It had some awesome twists and turns and the plot was amazing! I loved reading from Isabel and Ethans' perspectives, it was a really cool way to get to know and understand them better. It bothered me that Isabel came off really whiny in the beginning, and also I had a British copy, so some words were spelled differently. That didn't bother me as much as throw me off the story a little. But other than that the book was really good and I loved it! I was captured by the names and the problems that they had. I didn't want to put the book down! I also didn't want it to end! I was so surprised when it ended up as good as it did, and I am really excited to read the next one!
I just fell in love with this Order and Time Guarding thing! It's just fascinating. But something troubled me as I read it. I don't know probably the way Marianne written their point of view, probably.