Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray // OVERWHELMINGLY AWESOME

Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird #2), by Claudia Gray
Publication: November 3, 2015, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Science-Fiction, Romance
Pages: 424
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.
Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.
The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

My Thoughts:

The utterly stunning (more stunning than all of the books that currently exist, to be honest) Ten Thousand Skies Above You has been awaited by me for ages. AGES. I read the first book in the Firebird trilogy, A Thousand Pieces of You, last year, and was more satisfied than I could have ever imagined because, finally, a book has mastered the concept of time-traveling and parallel universes so well that I was unable to think or really want to enjoy a book for a while after that. I purchased this sequel a few months ago, didn't think much of it, but I have only realized that at this moment, I feared second-book syndrome. I feared disappointment, confusion with the plot (because I actually read this more than a year ago) and most of all, I feared a let-down in terms of my favourite couples not being able to be together. Listen: I love my feels going out of control, but I strongly didn't want to cry or rage at Claudia Gray's newest masterpiece.

The Firebird trilogy is one of my most recommended trilogies. Every person, even if they are not a fan of science-fiction, would adore the focus on love in this trilogy. The story is not just a story or just a book—to me, it just means so much that this is not just about the science-fiction aspects, the physics of time-traveling and multiverses. This is surely a continuation to the first book, and I thank the BOOK LORDS FOR NOT CONFUSING ME WITH WHAT HAPPENED. Honestly, I would have loved to reread the first book and re-feel everything once more, but I have no time to do that. Thankfully, Gray just retold the ending of the first book to us in the beginning of this, and I suddenly remembered what happened again and how much I needed this sequel. And from there? Everything just began again.

There wasn't a moment in this story where I wanted to stop reading, take a look at my phone, go on Goodreads, read some reviews, write some reviews, or even take a breath. It's amazing and so much is happening every moment and every page of the story. I couldn't stop going crazy and obsessing over everything that was happening. The plot was fast-paced, and things got into the real very quickly. I was in legitimate shock at every corner, and especially during THAT ENDING WHERE I JUST NEEDED SO MUCH MORE, ENDLESS AMOUNT OF PAGES TO CONTINUE THEO/PAUL/MARGUERITE'S STORY. I was absolutely addicted to it all and I feel this absolute need for the sequel at this absolute instant.

At the start of the story, things seem well again, especially with Theo and Marguerite's relationship after everything that happened to the Caine family. All of the sudden, Theo gets sick after taking too much Nightthief (the addictive drug for travellers), Marguerite wants to meet with Wyatt, wherever he is, to find a cure for Theo, since she knows that doctors wouldn't have any cure whatsoever. When it seems that she has everything under control, Paul's soul is splintered, and split into four pieces that Marguerite must seek in different universes.

"I've come to believe that there really is something that flows through every version of us, one common identity that outweighs our different situations in the various worlds" (35).

Can we just chat about how smart, how intelligent, how powerful this sequel is, equal to the first novel? I rarely call books smart, because there has to be a true reason for it, whether it's terminology, explanations, equations—anything in that matter. Ten Thousand Skies Above You, like its previous novel, is all of that. There is so much thought put into the story by Gray, so much energy flowing through it that I just want to get up and create my own Firebird, travel to a different universe where Marguerite, Paul and Theo all exist and talk physics with them. Claudia Gray is the best author genius in the entire universe. This trilogy is why I enjoy science-fiction and seeking different books that are not your typical story about different societies or fighting until death. (You certainly know which books I am talking about). Instead, this is a book that takes readers to different settings, perhaps settings that they have never visited, but have heard tons about, all mixed with the mystery of "Where's Paul?" or "What is Marguerite's life like in this universe?" all throughout. The questions seriously never ended in my end, but they were not out of confusion, but out of curiosity, and some were answered, some I know will be answered in the last novel.

I still am in utter shock that these beautiful characters will be leaving us in the next book. I AM GOING TO THROW THAT IDEA OUT OF MY HEAD NOW OR ELSE I'LL GET SAD. This is such a complex, event-crazed story that I felt so overwhelmed after I finished reading. I began reading this late at night, had to stop at around sixty pages, and then finished it in a sitting the next day, today. Afterwards, my head was pounding, but sometimes these side effects do not matter at all to me. Especially when the book that effected me so much was astonishing.

I love rating books five stars, and this is one of the most stellar ones yet. I needed a refreshing read that will make me smile, because this certainly turned out fabulous. How is someone able to rate this less than five stars? *cries of shock* I wish I could reread it over and over again and go crazy and create an Instagram page and promote it fifty million times and... my dreams won't come true, hah. My dreams did come true when we travelled to San Francisco yet again (though in a dystopian setting, I'm pretty sure), Paris, New York City and Russia once more. Every step or universe that Marguerite took into consideration, she experienced something new and a thousand new secrets were revealed to her, things that she didn't even know about herself in her reality universe.

"Ten thousand skies, and a million worlds, and it still wouldn't be enough for me to share with you. Nothing less than forever will do" (421).

I've saved this bit to chat about the romance. Is there a love triangle? Kind of. I mean, we definitely did see it in the first novel, where Marguerite was torn between Theo and Paul for the whole novel, until she realizes who she really loves, but this book was a slight bit more complicated, only for the reason that Marguerite is eventually found in a situation where she is in a setting where she is in love with Theo, hilariously. They even travel to this world (the war-torn San Francisco) and end up in the weirdest situation when they get there. It was hilariously awkward, and it made the book ten times more entertaining, proving that even book fictional characters don't have it perfect from time to time. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE SIDE I AM REALLY ON AT THE MOMENT. My feelings are still all over the place because I ship Tharguerite and I also ship Parguerite. I CAN'T PICK. We see a lot of Theo in this one, since he is Marguerite's travelling companion, doing so much for her and showing her that he will always be there, waiting for Marguerite if things don't end up well behind her and Paul. But there's also the dedication that Marguerite has for her and Paul's relationship, and how she is willing to do just about anything to save him. It is truly obvious that he loves her with all of his heart, and I loved their intimate moments.

As usual, we are fortunate to be able to get appearances of Marguerite's parents and Josie. I love Marguerite's relationship with her family—it's truly important for the reason that she is making all of these sacrifices, going travelling and finding out answers for them. She loves her "parents," even in the other universes where they truly aren't... themselves. I could definitely admit that more than a few tears sprawled on my face from time to time, and I was strongly awaiting a reunion for the Caines.

THAT CLIFFHANGER, PLOT TWIST AND SECRET THAT IS REVEALED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT MARGUERITE HAS EVER KNOWN. WOW. HOLY MOLY FIREBIRDS. I don't know how I could wait any longer. Seriously, if you thought the last book was full of twists and jaw-dropping turns, wait for this one. Everything that you thought you knew about the anatomy of the world(s) that Claudia Gray created is absolutely inauthentic. Fake. Lied about. My stomach weirdly churns when I think about it all over again.

Ten Thousand Skies Above You is certainly the best title I have read this year. I constantly say that when I read five-star reads, but this is pure seriousness. Marguerite, Theo and Paul are going to sit with me in my dreams tonight, I know it. I NEED BOOK THREE WITH ALL MY MIGHT, AND I JUST CANNOT STOP GOING CRAZY OVER THIS. The cover is completely gorgeous, just as the novel is (which is even more prettier). From the first page, I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed, and I am still struggling with the fact that I waited this long to finally pick it up. This book deserves ten thousand stars. 

What is the best sequel you have read? Do you enjoy Claudia Gray/Amy Vincent's work?

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig // Time-Traveling Awesomeness

The Girl From Everywhere (The Girl From Everywhere #1), by Heidi Heilig
Publication: February 16, 2016, by Greenwillow Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical, Fantasy, Time-Traveling, Romance
Pages: 443
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: ½

Nix has spent her entire life aboard her father’s ship, sailing across the centuries, across the world, across myth and imagination.
As long as her father has a map for it, he can sail to any time, any place, real or imagined: nineteenth-century China, the land from One Thousand and One Nights, a mythic version of Africa. Along the way they have found crewmates and friends, and even a disarming thief who could come to mean much more to Nix.
But the end to it all looms closer every day.
Her father is obsessed with obtaining the one map, 1868 Honolulu, that could take him back to his lost love, Nix’s mother. Even though getting it—and going there—could erase Nix’s very existence.
For the first time, Nix is entering unknown waters.
She could find herself, find her family, find her own fantastical ability, her own epic love.
Or she could disappear.

My Thoughts:

This four point five star rating I am handing Heidi Heilig's debut time-traveling adventure romance (add in whatever genre you can think of and this book has it) is not exactly what it seems like. Honestly? Forget about that four point five and picture this book as a perfect ten. The Girl From Everywhere was mystical, dashing, magical, stunning and just oh-so-good, unlike my initial expectations. PEOPLE. I find that it's better to expect the worst than the best, even in reality. I initially expected a boring, un-understandable read for me with this one, but I flew through it in a sitting, and after it was over, I picked up my library copy and held it against my heart. (I get a little cheesy when I like a book so much). Oh, and why should you treat this as a perfect rating? Because the book was practically perfect. I will touch on a minor thing that set me off from granting this five stars, but it barely affected me in any manner. By the way, I just noticed the girl in the water on the cover of this book after reading. I LOVE THOSE SURPRISES. That's mega-cool.

The Girl From Everywhere has such a perfect title for the 443 pages that are stamped inside of this beautiful cover. It explains our heroine, Nix, so well. I'm so giddy with this book that I don't even know where my review should really begin. This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year, and perhaps ever. I cannot fangirl about it more than I already have and will.

For some reason, I expected this to be bad. Why? Because in the past, I have never enjoyed books about time-traveling mixed with historical events and myths. Okay, first of all, myths are rarely incorporated into YA these days, so that's a first... or second. Heidi Heilig writes about something that's deep in her heart, and I bet that she is seriously passionate about: Hawaiian culture. HOLY LEIS AND PINEAPPLES. I love Hawaii, I want to go there so bad. I mean, I always wanted to fly to the island of Oahu, be lei-ed (or whatever they call it), yell "Ohana means family" and say Aloha to every person I meet there. But now? This book introduced Hawaiian culture to me and it was so interesting to read about the most gorgeous islands in the world... back in the day, specifically in the nineteenth century. 

HOW DOES HEIDI DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY? There's so much diversity in The Girl From Everywhere that I cannot stop squealing. We have Kashmir (HOLY I LOVE HIM, I'LL GET TO HIM SOON), who is from Persia when Nix and her father, Slate, find him, and there's also Bee, who is African. Bee's a crew member on The Temptation, the ship that Nix and her father time-travel or Navigate with. She's lesbian too, which shows us how DEDICATED this book is. I loved reading about each and every place that Nix Navigated to, including New York City and how she retold events from the past when they went to Scandia and how they saw dragons in the Baltic Sea.

"It was only the nervous shifting of his eyes that hinted at discomfort, but not with the city, nor with being on land. With his own skin. No matter where we went, he never felt at home. I recognized that feeling. I'd inherited it" (35).

Basically, The Girl From Everywhere is about our heroine, Nix, whose mother died when she gave birth to her. Her father, who is the captain of the ship that they, among others, time-travel, or Navigate with, called The Temptation, has never gotten over the fact that his true love is gone. He and Nix travel through time using maps that they find, going back centuries or millenniums into the past. Now, they are on the search for Nix's mother back in the past in Honolulu, Hawaii. That scares Nix, because she knows that she could possibly disappear if they do find her.

I was on the edge of my seat for the whole novel. Although it's about five hundred pages long, I couldn't stop reading from the moment I began the story. Heidi Heilig writes so casually, yet absolutely lyrically and different, perhaps more poetic than I would've expected. I loved everything about this story, how it teaches readers about culture, myth and the beautiful parts of loving life. I wish that I could GRAB ALL OF THE MAPS AND NAVIGATE MYSELF. It's a different twist on time-travel, and it's for a good reason.

You see, I always need some kind of description of the gears of time-traveling in a book I read. That's so important for me. Heilig did not info-dump on us, making up some weird explanations for why what Nix and her father do works. It was brief, yet unimaginable because no author has ever explored a bookish world like Heidi had. 

I don't understand the issues people had with this glorious story. It was racing, perfectly paced, and now? My life depends on the sequel. Honestly, a sequel isn't needed because the story ended off perfectly and we readers could imagine a continuing ending that works, but THERE IS ONE COMING AND DAMN, I NEED IT. I NEED HARPERCOLLINS TO SEND ME A COPY ASAP. I'LL TAKE A MANUSCRIPT THAT'S ALL WRITTEN OVER, IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. Or, I could ask my favourite couple, Nix and Kashmir, to personally deliver it. *twiddles eyebrows*

Nix is your dream definition of a heroine. I loved her personality, and how she dealt with the situation she was in. She had every right to be confused and feel discomfort with her life, because she was taken away from what was supposed to be her future. It was interesting for us to get a first-hand look at the life she would've had if her father hadn't began Navigating for Nix's mother in the past, in nineteenth century Hawaii. She wasn't one of those protagonists who hated everyone around her for unexplainable reasons, you know? I found myself totally relating to her wanderlust, and NOW I WANT TO TRAVEL. People with severe wanderlust, this book is for you to take a trip with.

"Paradise is a promise no god bothers to keep. There's only now, and tomorrow nothing will be the same, whether we like it or not" (390).

KASHMIR AND BLAKE. Guys, we have a slight love triangle here, but unless you're really affected by them, you'll be fine. Blake is a character we are introduced to halfway through the novel, and he is living in the Hawaii that Nix visits with The Temptation. He hides this secret that he is also a mapmaker, and Nix is immediately drawn to his mysteriousness. I would be, too. I loved Blake and his mysterious character, but honestly? My heart is for the gorgeous Kashmir. Kashmir is Nix's best friend, and they have known each other for a long time. He is also a thief, and helps Nix's father to all of the deeds that Nix herself would never want to do. AGH. My heart flutters like hell when he's in a chapter. I need them to be together. She's kind of torn between the two, and I wonder how the next book will patch things up. AND GUYS. THE ENDING? Nix is well... *SPOILER* stuck with them both. Hah. *SPOILER ENDS*

So what I had a slight issue with was the ending itself. That was just chaotic and I found that it happened so fast that I didn't know what exactly happened. I still don't even know. I don't know how Nix's father made the decision that he did, and I had to go over the last chapter or so a few times, but it still was foggy. I need a greater explanation, PLEASE. But that's cool, fine. I LOVE THIS BOOK, OH EM GEE. 

The Girl From Everywhere is one of the most stunning debuts I have ever read. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (who cares about the love triangle? It works!), a heroine who is one of a kind, and a plot slash story that I cannot get out of my head. This book seems like a dream, I can't believe I was so fortunate to read it, because it's unlike anything that my brain would ever come up with in a million years. Who knows? Maybe I could Navigate into 2017 and grab a copy from the amazing Heidi herself. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST.

What is the best debut you have read recently? What have you heard about this amazing story?

The Yearbook by Carol Masciola // Meh.

The Yearbook, by Carol Masciola
Publication: October 2, 2015, by Merit Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical, Time-Traveling
Pages: 224
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

Misfit teen Lola Lundy has every right to her anger and her misery. She’s failing in school, living in a group home, and social workers keep watching her like hawks, waiting for her to show signs of the horrible mental illness that cost Lola’s mother her life. Then, one night, she falls asleep in a storage room in her high school library, where she’s seen an old yearbook—from the days when the place was an upscale academy for young scholars instead of a dump. When Lola wakes, it’s to a scene that is nothing short of impossible.
Lola quickly determines that she’s gone back to the past—eighty years in the past, to be exact. The Fall Frolic dance is going full blast in the gym, and there she makes an instant connection with the brainy and provocative Peter Hemmings, class of ’24. His face is familiar, because she’s seen his senior portrait in the yearbook. By night’s end, Lola thinks she sees hope for her disastrous present: She’ll make a new future for herself in the past. But is it real? Or has the major mental illness in Lola’s family background finally claimed her? Has she slipped through a crack in time, or into a romantic hallucination she created in her own mind, wishing on the ragged pages of a yearbook from a more graceful time long ago?

My Thoughts:

With so much insta-love that it hurts (well, there's only a case of it and I didn't like it) and the fact that the main idea that the plot is centred around, time-traveling, is not explained, as well as the absolute boredom I experienced, The Yearbook by Carol Masciola was not a good read that I could recommend to others. I received this book in return for a review a while ago, and the fact that the cover is extremely bland and how it pushes me away from reading it made me un-intrigued. To be perfectly honest, there were some good aspects of this whole story, like the fact that the protagonist, Lola, was exactly like I would want her to be, and how the whole story began.

I wanted to like this one, a lot. I have heard of many similar stories, except this is even COOLER. When I first read the summary, I was instantly intrigued because the protagonist time travels after seeing a yearbook in her high school library, of the class of 1924. Who wouldn't want to go back almost a hundred years back in time and get to see how life was back then? Knowing everything that occurred after that year, it's interesting to see what life was like for the many people who didn't see what was coming. But then, of course, there were dark, dumb moments that didn't work out for me. I swear, Lola spent almost a whole chapter searching for things that she obviously knew weren't around in the States during 1924, like pizza. I mean, she went searching for pizza. That was definitely a low for me.

So as I mentioned, the plot is basically very self-explanatory here. A girl takes a blast to the past, but she goes crazy. Carol Masciola does have a good idea by turning this into a story about mental illness as well, but it kind of didn't make sense as it occurred. I have no idea how this time-traveling idea came to be. Usually, even if the story is mostly contemporary or historical, we readers get to see the reasons why the time-traveling happens. Here? Nada. And it makes sense that we do get something, a little something. I usually don't really like science-fiction mixed in with a story that is supposed to be talking about something else, but it was needed in this novel, no doubt about it. That was my biggest complaint.

Lola Lundy is your teenage example of a rebellious girl. She undergoes this character development who makes her someone who doesn't care about anything to someone who does care and falls in love. I really liked that cutesy aspect added in. But there were too many plot holes, plot pieces of boringness that made me just want to rip my hair out. Except I didn't. I actually ended up finishing this book because I have definitely seen worse. I felt like the story moved like molasses, though.

I hate reading bad books. The Yearbook wasn't horrible at all, but there were points where I just wanted to stop reading and wasting my time. It was boring, and things didn't click together and make sense. You had to guess and see if you're correct the whole time while reading. Don't even get me started about Peter (although he was cute and made me squirm of joy). WHY DID LOLA HAVE TO GO HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HIM RIGHT AWAY. Guys—love at first sight doesn't have to occur in every YA book, okay? There are a few exceptions, but this wasn't one of them.

The Yearbook is a time-traveling, mystery kind of historical read (yes, I'm mixing all of the genres together here) that some will really enjoy, and some will not. I have read many better time-traveling stories, like Claudia Gray's A Thousand Pieces of You, which mixed in romance and a more scientific feel all together. If you enjoy those kinds of stories where you have to keep guessing and making these theories so you don't get confused in the midst of it, then this story is most definitely for you. Don't get me wrong, fellas—I enjoyed the characters!

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is the latest time-traveling book you have read? Do you enjoy time-traveling as a subject in YA?

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood // The Gorgeous Cover Kind of Fooled Me

The Square Root of Summer, by Harriet Reuter Hapgood
Publication: May 3, 2016, by Roaring Brook Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Time-Traveling
Pages: 295
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

Gottie H. Oppenheimer is losing time. Literally. When the fabric of the universe around her seaside town begins to fray, she's hurtled through wormholes to her past:
To last summer, when her grandfather Grey died. To the afternoon she fell in love with Jason, who wouldn't even hold her hand at the funeral. To the day her best friend Thomas moved away and left her behind with a scar on her hand and a black hole in her memory.
Although Grey is still gone, Jason and Thomas are back, and Gottie's past, present, and future are about to collide—and someone's heart is about to be broken.
With time travel, quantum physics, and sweeping romance, The Square Root of Summer is an exponentially enthralling story about love, loss, and trying to figure it all out, from stunning debut YA voice, Harriet Reuter Hapgood.

My Thoughts:

I was kind of fooled by this beautiful cover, my lovely reviewers. Kind of. Slightly. I'm kidding. I was a LITTLE MORE than SLIGHTLY fooled by this cover and the time-traveling premise of Harriet Reuter Hapgood's debut novel that was released at the perfect moment—before summer and before allergy season (which has hit now), before I get the sniffles and am not able to look at books for a few days because my eyes are blurry. 'Twas a perfect period of time to release the book, but surely not a perfect story overall. I found this one to be too good to be true. In fact, it was not as math-based or philosophically inclined as I expected when I requested it for review.

The Square Root of Summer was supposed to be what you first thought: about time traveling and rewinding. I saw this more of a coming of age, moving story about a girl who is trying to discover what memories are important in life and what should she keep in mind as she makes new decisions and all of that jazz. This was mostly focused on the ever-building romance between Gottie and Thomas, two "best friends" who have known each other since birth and were separated by Thomas moving. He comes back, and things speed up once more even though they were separated for a real long time and y'know... once we become teenagers, shiz changes. Greatly, sometimes, even. I do not want to head back to my eleven-year-old life, let's just say that.

I liked this one, don't get me wrong. Hapgood delivers a good message in this story, proving that we all have what it takes to form bonds (once again) with people who may be our enemies (even though it has never happened to me), or with people who we lost ages ago. 

Five Reasons Why I Gave This 3.5 Stars:

1. It missed the "WOW factor." I think y'all get it. I just was not able to see the thing that draws me in so much and keeps me drawn in. I read this because I was initially intrigued, but that seemed to fade away after I kept reading and things started to speed up, or in this case, s l o w down. I wanted more mathematical concepts explained, more theoretical stuff, less fluff. WHY THE FLUFF, HARRIET?!

2. I loved Gottie. Once in a while us readers are introduced to a protagonist who is so relatable that we feel like the book is strictly about our lives and it turns out to be kind of... creepy. Gottie was that person for me. When I read a book, I do not go into it expecting to be able to relate to every single character and feel like it's my life. But when it does happen, it turns out to be a factor that just makes me enjoy the book even more. I even had this conversation with my friends today. We laughed and anchored about a book that was supposedly "so bad" to others but I loved it. I turn out to be the black sheep in those senses a few times while reading. This? I was equal with everyone else. This is not a five star read, but Gottie's lovely, cheery character made everything a touch better. 

3. It's different. Uniqueness is that DEFINITE factor that makes me smile a bit. Jokes. A LOT. I love diversity in themes, and this definitely had it. I love ROMANCE WITH TIME TRAVELING. And this time-traveling had a twist, my friends! Let's head into the Tardis or whatever you Whowards or whatever call it. *wink*

4. You will enjoy it. I'm pretty sure it's everyone's cup of tea. I mean, there's a bitter taste at the start, but things do get better.

5. Thomas is smoking. Not as in cigarettes but as in HOT FACTOR. I ship Gottie and him so hard. *giggles*

"Thomas didn't belong on his side of the hedge, where the lawn was neatly clipped and his scary dad's rules were practically laminated. And I didn't quite belong on mine, where we were allowed to roam free. It wasn't about like or love—we were always together. We shared a brain. And now he's coming back..." (15)

The Square Root of Summer is that beachy read for your science nerds. Or for anyone, for that matter. I loved its depth, characters and diversity in themes, compared to your typical contemporary romance featuring long-lost lovers. Boom, this is the perfect book to add to your TBR list right now. This instant. This time period. Or, you could just go back in time and pretend that you did it already. You're a genius.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is the most 'mathematical' YA book you've read? Isn't this cover gorgeous?

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs // A Terrifying, Beautiful Ending

Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3), by Ransom Riggs
Publication: September 22, 2015, by Quirk Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Time Traveling, Fantasy
Pages: 458
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ½

The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.
They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

My Thoughts:

Library of Souls initially was one of my most anticipated series finales ever. Did I stress the word "ever" quite a bit? Ransom Riggs is a favourite author of mine and the way he portrays time traveling through Jacob's perspective is truly lovely. I have been waiting for this book to be released for ages, and it has seemed that Hollow City came to my heart years and years ago. Since I know that a lot of us are fans of the trilogy who might have been there from the start and continued to read every book as they were released, it is difficult to remember what happened in the past.

Thankfully, Ransom Riggs did a stellar job at reminding us of who was who, and what had just happened. The rest of the two books passed by in a blur, and I was hesitant to read this novel only because of what happened before. Without going too much into detail, Mr. Riggs hit the greatness spot-on and gave readers a gorgeous experience of the world of the peculiar characters with strange, eerie talents.

You see, every novel incorporates a new adventure for the characters. This time around, Jacob and his friends are travelling to Victorian London to Devil's Acre, which the author will go into more detail throughout the story. Without beginning a whole new plot, the author does hand readers a new experience and adventure which compliments the plot quite nicely. Now, it is the end of the adventure and thrilling fantasy where Jacob has to really understand what his life will consist of afterwards, making his grandfather proud, in a way.

"That was the most unthinkable of all. I could never; I loved Emma, and I'd told her so, and I wouldn't leave her behind for anything. And not because I was noble or brave or chivalrous. I'm not any of those things. I was afraid that leaving her behind would rip me in half." (19)

One of the reasons why I love this series so much is for the characters. They are all a different kind of person, all contain different personality traits and flaws. They are imperfect, and not only physically, as Ransom chose photos to compliment them, but they also admit their imperfections. Jacob, a natural, "normal" human, admits his flaws of being selfish, of desiring so much and never wanting to lose the things that he loves. He is so smart but amazing, as are the rest of them. Some characters are easy to forget about, but I will never forget about these. I actually encourage you to test me in a few years. I cannot promise that I will remember, but I do have high hopes that I will.

This series was really the first to introduce me to Victorian, gothic fantasy. There is time travelling, and a bunch of creepy references to abnormal powers that Riggs' characters contain. But the adventure of the crew heading on an adventure to Devil's Acre is memorable. The descriptions are so vivid, I could picture the setting perfectly, with its London grey skies and rain pouring, the voice of Addison whining and Jacob and Emma's chemistry. There is actually an one in a million chance for a book to make me feel this way, and I am glad to admit that this one sure did.

"One's peculiarity is a sacred gift," Emma said. "To sell it cheapens what is most special about us." It sounded like she was parroting a platitude that had been drilled into her from an early age." (104)

The ending was rough, aside from everything. I could ask for more, I wanted more, actually. It seemed like the sequel could have been a nicer finish than this one, because nothing new occurred that made me rip my eyeballs out of my sockets... that kind of thing if you don't picture the gore. Sorry to get that image in your mind, just, never mind. Questions were answered, la la dee dah, and there is slight chance for some kind of peculiar continuation (see my play of words there?) but that's. It. This was satisfying, and a happy ending when the whole SERIES IS DARK AND GLOOMY. I WANT DARK AND GLOOMY. I WANT SERIOUS FEELS. None of that people, I apologize.

Aside from everything, this is the worst book of the series. I hate typing in those rapid, DARING sentences into reviews, especially when I really, REALLY enjoyed the other books of the series, but the truth has to come out. But please, do not jump on me, fellow fangirls, because it was not hideous or bad or anything. The ending was not pleasing, there was boredom, and that is it. You cannot go back into a story and expect a different reaction unless your tastes have changed, which I somewhat hope that mine will change in a few years. This series is beautiful, and it is a sad farewell from my side, but I do promise that I will get back to it someday because it cannot leave my world like that. Library of Souls does have its place in a library in my legit soul. That is intended.

What do you think about rereading a great series with a horrible ending? Would you want to? Would you expect something different to come out of it the second time around?

Reaching Through Time by Lurlene McDaniel // Time-Travel Portrayed Quickly and Interestingly

Reaching Through Time: Three Novellas, by Lurlene McDaniel
Publication: August 9, 2011, by Delacorte Press BFYR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Time-Traveling
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ½

What's Happened to Me?     Sarah finds herself in a strange place, and she can recall only one thing—her name. A young man, Heath de Charon, explains to Sarah that he found her unconscious on the grounds of his family's estate and has been caring for her. Sarah is thankful, but when she starts hearing voices that whisper for her to come back, she is confused, and desperate to find out where she really belongs.
When the Clock Chimes     Drake Iverson lands a summer job on Sandstone Mountain. There are no computers; he has to do all the work by hand in a large leather-bound book. He doesn't mind, as long as he can be near Gina, who is pretty and kind. But when Gina falls ill, Drake is asked to leave. He is determined to find out what happened to Gina and to uncover other mysteries he encounters on Sandstone Mountain.
The Mysteries of Chance     Dylan Sorenson offers his help to a girl who seems to be in distress. The girl, Maura, explains that she's simply overwhelmed by the heat and quickly runs off. But Maura is soon drawn back to Dylan and a friendship and budding romance begins. However, Maura doesn't reveal the whole truth about herself, and Dylan has secrets of his own. Can their relationship withstand the deception?

My Thoughts:

So for some reason, I was super excited for this book although I have not really been into the subject of time-traveling. I have read Lurlene McDaniel's work in the past, the amazing Hit and Run, but this? To tell you the truth, the only reason why I actually picked it up was because it was in the bargain section, and I recognized the author's name. Reaching Through Time was short, quick and a breeze, with one story that I actually adored. So, really, let me just break my thoughts of each story down to make it simpler.

What Happened to Me?: So this would probably noted as the worst of the three. How many stars would I give it? 3. So basically the concept is about a girl thinking she has woken up in a weird place. Readers first suspect that she is in the afterlife or in a parallel universe, trying to get back home. But then again, she has amnesia and barely remembers who she is, what is her name, where is she or what has happened to her. The person who "saves her" is named Heath, and he is filthy rich. Sarah then tries to solve the mystery and get back to her family, as she knows Heath certainly is not. 

I liked the revelation of who Heath really was and where Sarah is, but the points and details in-between were too storylike. Fairy-tale like. This is supposed to be a YA novel, not one about a teenage girl going on horses and someone falling in love with someone who is strictly forbidden in a way. I mean, there were some captivating things about this novella, but then again, it's not the right thing for me either. McDaniel's writing can either leave you obsessed or disgruntle. 

 It is evident that if you are a preteen, this short story might mesmerize you. Trust me.

   

When the Clock Chimes: YES. Reading this novella was like watching America's Got Talent or American Idol, watching the judges make certain individuals feel like they obtain the most memorable talent the show has ever seen. When the Clock Chimes was racing and left me aching for a full novel. It takes place in a span of fifty pages, and I was enchanted from the first one. This features a male protagonist named Drake, who has just moved to a small rural area of North Carolina where he immediately signs up for a summer job, working at the house of an ex-Harvard professor. He has a daughter named Gina, who Drake is attracted to, but as he sees that his boss feels weird with the fact that there's a romance between them, Drake tries to back off but his feelings make sure that he knows it's impossible. 

If you enjoy time traveling, this story has everything you've ever wanted. A pure, innocent love story, mystery and a time machine. I am glad that I actually got to devour this all in one sitting. I cannot get enough of it. 

The Mysteries of Chance: So as we read on, we're able to tell that all three stories focus on one kind of virtue: chance, forbidden love and finding yourself. Instead of the protagonist having to time travel and get into some mystery world, here we have the side character jumping into our male protagonist's world. Dylan saves a girl named Maura who he immediately thinks of as strange, but she quickly denies that nothing's wrong with her. I guess you can tell what is coming next. I wasn't too into this one either, but enjoyed the romance. 

Reaching Through Time practically can leave you bursting. Bursting to research and see if these kinds of stories are possible, because really, who knows? McDaniel portrays her writing with brilliant protagonists who just seem lost in modern day society and end up trying something new. It's not something I may want to read again, but I enjoyed it either way for a few hours and sittings.

What do you think of novellas being featured in a full-length novel?