Book Review: Timebound by Rysa Walker

Title: Timebound (The Chronos Files, #1)

Author: Rysa Walker

Kindle edition: 366 pages

Published: January 1, 2014 by Skyscape

 (originally published Sept. 15, 2012)

Original Title: Time's Twisted Arrow

Setting: Chicago, IL, USA

Literary Awards: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction & Grand Prize Overall Winner 2013

from Goodreads: 

When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes the old woman is delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when a murder in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from blinking out of existence.

Kate learns that the 1893 killing is part of something much more sinister, and Kate’s genetic ability to time-travel makes her the only one who can stop him. Risking everything, she travels to the Chicago World’s Fair to try to prevent the killing and the chain of events that follows.

Changing the timeline comes with a personal cost, however—if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And regardless of her motives, does she have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?

Alleluialu's Review:

I read this book as our book club's October selection. I had never heard of Rysa Walker or the Timebound series. I really enjoyed this book. It may be hard for some people to keep things straight with the different time lines, but then it was difficult for the characters at times, too. I like Ms. Walker's style. I didn't feel as though I was reading a book for teenagers which I sometimes feel when reading young adult books. The characters were very believable and it felt as though I were there with Kate on her adventures. I liked the fact that I could sense the feelings the characters had for each other, but sexual interactions were not required. The novel moved along well and definitely held my interest. In fact, on the next page, I believe I can purchase the next book in the series, and I am going to do that! If you enjoy time travel, I am sure you are going to like this book.

I rated this book 5 Notes - A Symphony - This book is excellent! I didn't want it to end! That is absolutely how I felt. I wanted to get the next book right away. Luckily it is available! If you want to read Timebound, you can get a copy at your local library, or a Kindle copy from Amazon.com. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Essence by A. L. Waddington

Title: Essence (The Eve series, #1)

Author: A. L. Waddington

Paperback: 308 pages

Published: January 15, 2014

Publisher: Booktrope Publishing

URL: www.alwaddington.com  

from Goodreads:

Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.

Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?

Alleluialu's Review

I was asked by the author to review this book and I am glad I agreed. I am a fan of time travel, but this is no ordinary time travel. I don't want to give anything away, but the concept explored in this story is new and interesting. Jocelyn is a normal teenager, in her words "nothing special". Then she meets Jackson who moves in across the street and she is transported back to another time. It's as if she is dreaming, but it is very real, and Jackson is there, too. As you read this story, and if you are a time travel fan, you are simultaneously reading and trying to figure out how the time travel occurs and why. You have to wait until very near the end to get any answers, but of course not all of them. 

I enjoyed reading this book and I am interested to read the others in the series. I don't understand the relevance of what happened to Olivia in the past has on the story, but that may be explored in future volumes. It seemed as though Jocelyn and Jackson were spending a lot of time dealing with that issue rather than expanding their story. The other criticism I have (and I am not an author, just a reader) is that the ending was very abrupt. It just stopped. Yes, it left me wondering what would happen next, but it didn't lead me anywhere. Luckily, there were a few pages of the next in the series offered right after the ending, so I could bridge that way. 

I think teens and young adults will enjoy this series because it will be relevant to them. It is refreshing that the main characters are not vampires or witches or werewolves, they are just humans that have inherited a very special gift. To find out what Jocelyn will do with her gift, we have to wait for the next in the series.

I have given this book 4 Notes - A Concerto. I really liked the book - you should go find it and read it. You can get your copy at Amazon here OR Barnes & Noble here.