Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This is everything I want from a book. Well-rounded world building. Lovable characters. A sci-fi element that makes the story unique instead of being a crutch the author leans on to make the book interesting. There's nothing more disappointing to me than a book whose only redeemable quality is an intriguing premise, unsubstantiated by literary skill. No sign of that here; this story is beautiful, I gobbled it up in a single afternoon.
dark
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Super intriguing premise, with a strong start. The 16-year old Odile chapters were paced well and had that heartbreaking youthful feel nailed down well. When the book reached part 2, it became significantly bleaker, and at one point I didn't think it would turn around. My interest definitely dipped in part 2, older Odile was harder to understand and difficult to relate to. I wasn't sure of her intentions at the end, were they selfish or sacrificial? As always with time travel novels it lends itself to a rabbit hole of Q's, but I enjoyed the fresh take of co-existing timelines, and the unique approach to dialogue and story telling.
A great speculative fiction, with a really unique take on the concept of time travel. The pace was slow at times, but I really enjoyed the descriptive world building. I finished this really quickly because I just wanted to know what happened, and it had an open ending, which I also love!
I think it’s a solid 4.5 stars, but I’ve applied my universal .25 star deduction because the author doesn’t use quotation marks and I will never be okay with that.
I think it’s a solid 4.5 stars, but I’ve applied my universal .25 star deduction because the author doesn’t use quotation marks and I will never be okay with that.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This is a book that requires attention to the intricacies of plat, but is well worth the time to explore the spectacular world-building. The focus is how people live within their unique world - where the geography is a strong influence on culture and law. Go too far one direction, evade the guards and make it across unfriendly landscape, and you are 20 year in the past - or, in the other direction, 20 years in the future.
Travel between time zones is strictly regulated, to avoid temporal rewriting. Which is, of course, why there are fences and armed guards. Some want to travel into the past, to secretly view family who've died (allowed with an approved petition), or to warn yourself or a loved one (absolutely forbidden, and punishable by death at the hands of the guards.) Some wish to travel into the future, so learn their fates - again, a threat to the present day, lest a warning today change the future.
The main character is a teen in competitive training to be a conseil, a member of the elite board that reviews time travel petitions. But she recognizes the parents of a boy she cares for, understands that this means that he will soon die. That knowledge, and the choices she faces, make for a compelling story.
Travel between time zones is strictly regulated, to avoid temporal rewriting. Which is, of course, why there are fences and armed guards. Some want to travel into the past, to secretly view family who've died (allowed with an approved petition), or to warn yourself or a loved one (absolutely forbidden, and punishable by death at the hands of the guards.) Some wish to travel into the future, so learn their fates - again, a threat to the present day, lest a warning today change the future.
The main character is a teen in competitive training to be a conseil, a member of the elite board that reviews time travel petitions. But she recognizes the parents of a boy she cares for, understands that this means that he will soon die. That knowledge, and the choices she faces, make for a compelling story.