Sunday, January 10, 2016

Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

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Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Publisher-Disney-Hyperion
Released- Jan 5th 2016
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

My Thoughts:
What a sensational book!! I've been really fortunate to have read so many time travel books that I absolutely adored. I haven't always been lucky with this genre but it's one of my favorites, so I'm happy to say that along with Karen Akins Loop series and my most recent time travel escape, Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor, Bracken's Passenger adds to the string of great time travel books that keeps me wanting and begging more from this thrilling universe.

I've always been a huge fan of Bracken since her debut novel, Brightly Woven, but I think this is her best book ever. This book has it all. Thrilling adventure, stunning settings, fantastic writing and likeable amazing characters that will hook you from minute one till that evil cliffhanger of an ending. And I do mean evilI really loved how Bracken created such a vast world of adventure and wonderment. I loved seeing all the different centuries and kept anticipating what timeline we'll see next. Everything felt so real, like I was being transported through time by the eyes of these characters. What lush and violent worlds filled with so much danger and daring excitement. I really have to hand it to Bracken, she did her homework, her words make everything feel so crisp and alive. I don't want to say anything about the plot since I think readers will want to discover everything this book has to offer, and dame, does it offer a lot, but I will say that it's excellently paced with suspense and mystery and even though I'm not a huge historical fan, I couldn't seem to get enough of this history. Never a dull or dragged out moment here folks, this was pure solid entertainment.

I really loved Etta and Nicholas, they are so wonderful individually and together. Etta is a true firecracker, so much fearless feist and fight with a sharp mind and a big beautiful heart to go with it. It's rare to see a character like Nicholas these days, or maybe I'm just reading the wrong kind of books, but Nicholas has such an old-charm about him that makes me smile. He's an honourable and loyal man that lives by his promises. I really loved the romance even though it's fragile and so uncertain but it was the spontaneous warmth and the intimately sweet moments that I couldn't seem to get enough of. My heart can't help want a happily ever after once this is all said and done. 

Bottom line, Passenger was such a great read. It's the kind of journey that will throw you from your own reality and into a whole new world, and real, what more can I ask for in an escape? Except perhaps the next book and the answers to that evil cliffhanger of an ending! A fantastic read! 

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                               4.5 Snowflakes


8 comments:

  1. Great review! I am really looking forward to reading this book, I actually haven't read any of Alexandra's books but all of them are on the top of my tbr :) Can't wait to get to this one :)

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  2. Thanks! I love her books, I really hope you do too!:)

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  3. I have yet to read anything by Bracken which I feel is some sort of a bookish-sin. I've had Darkest Minds on my tbr shelf since it came out I think and I own a copy so I have no excuse XD I was lucky enough to nab a copy of Passenger at BEA this year so I do plan on reading that one soon as well. I LOVE time-travel and even though it can be hit-or-miss, I can never resist the draw hehe! The characters sound fantastic and the historical aspect sounds like it delivers too! Fantastic review Tina^^

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  4. Squee! So happy to see how much you loved this one! And YAY for a fellow Brightly Woven fan! (I feel like a lot of people forget about that one since it was her debut and an Egmont book - versus her Disney books). Bracken is hands down one of my favorite authors! I'm usually not a time-travel fan, but I really liked this one. It's too bad about the ending though - Wayfarer needs to be here RIGHT NOW! :D

    Fabulous review, Tina!

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  5. Yay! I've read this twice now. So glad you love this. Awesome review!

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  6. I've been dying to read this one since I first read the synopsis, and now I want it even more! :)

    Majanka @ I Heart Reading

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  7. I wasn't enjoying this book until about the half way mark. I love Bracken's writing, no doubt. But I had issues with the flash backs within flash backs and I kept having to re-read those parts to know when I was back in the present. She addresses the time travel pretty well, though I've seen it done better. Overall I liked the store, though I wasn't convinced on the romance, to be honest. But that didn't take up a huge part of the plot, so it was well done enough for me not to care so much. I'm interested to see where Bracken takes the next book for sure. I think the last 25% is what bumped this from a 3 to a 4 for me. Nice review!

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  8. I really enjoyed this one too! Definitely looking forward to the next one - I actually loved the cliff hanger :)

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