Review: Twist by Karen Akins

Twist by Karen Akins

Publisher-St. Martin's Griffin

Released-March 31st 2015

Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

The unbelievably thrilling sequel to the time-travel YA novel Loop.Bree Bennis finally has it all—a non-comatose mother, an uber-hot (albeit anachronistic) boyfriend named Finn, and a newfound mission to protect the timeline from those who would skew it for their own gain. But when she leans over one day to smooch said boyfriend, her lips meet those of her arch-nemesis Wyck instead. The timeline has been altered, and Bree is caught in the crosshairs. But when she goes back to repair the damage, she is stopped by none other than her Future Self, who delivers an urgent message: Someone is kidnapping Shifters from the distant past. It’s up to Bree to stop them. But first, she has to figure out who…and why.To follow the trail of chronocrumbs, Bree reluctantly accepts her new undercover gig as Wyck’s girlfriend. Everything goes spiffy until Finn shows up in the 23rd century on the eager arm of a gorgeous fellow Shifter. Blark. Even as Bree struggles with jealousy, she battles the nagging dread that Finn might be better off with someone less chronologically complicated. Her worst fear is confirmed when Finn becomes the kidnapper’s next victim. As Bree zeroes in on the culprit, they unravel her life one timeline-change at a time. She realizes that she alone has the power to save herself and everyone she loves. But to do that, she may lose Finn forever.

My Thoughts:

Karen Akins debut novel, Loop was one of my favorite book in 2014 and my favorite time travel book ever so needless to say I couldn't wait to make grabby hands for the next installement, Twist! I didn't think it was possible but I think I loved this one even more. Filled with non-stop action and pure entertainment from the first page right, intill the end.

Between the spontaneous time travelling, the responsibility of the reverter and trying to maintain a cross-century relationship, Bree is a busy girl, but she's finally happy with the way things have been, but all that changes one night when someone decides to change their timeline and changing Bree's in the process. Shifters are being kidnapped, her once friend Wyck is either the good guy or the bad guy and her boyfriend Finn is the next victim in ICE's plans. It's a race against time and an inevitable fate to save the ones she loves the most, but Bree may end up losing more then she's willing to give up.

Wow! What a mind-bender! Akins really knows how to write some awesome time travelling craziness. Man, my mind is still whirling with everything that's happened. There is so much going on here plot wise I wouldn't even be able to sum it up even if I wanted to, but one things for sure, I could not stop reading this page turning adventure. Time travel books has always been a hard sell for me, I adore the concept mind you but couldn't always get into them till now. I think it's the way Akins tells this story, it's incredibly exhilarating and a heart stopping adventure combined with humor, hug-worthy moments and a passion for the space-time continuum. I was always connected and invested with each character and while I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a little confused at one point or another, I was still completely aware with everything happening. So in short, there was a lot to process but dame if it wasn't a blast doing it.

I adore Bree and Finn! Seriously, they're one of my favorite  couples evah. They give a whole new meaning to complicated long distance relationship, but they make it work. I love their humor and little quirks, I love how they take mundane activities or everyday sayings and jumble it up in such an amusing and adorable way. It's those little things that made me fall more in love with them throughout the story. Bree is amazing in this book, she takes charge, doesn't give up and tries with everything she has while Finn is still the steady, strong, protective and fun loving guy we meet in the first book. Their love story is so dame sweet and it makes my heart happy just thinking about them. The ending is truly bittersweet but when I think of a different way it could have been I realize that Akins really did deliver a perfectly fitted ending that ties up the story in a satisfying and hopeful way. 

Bottom line, I loved this book. It has everything I love in an escape, from rip roaring time travel goodness, to head spinning-heart aching romance. This was such a solid sequel and so much fun to read. Loved! I can't wait to see what Akins does next, I'll follow her anywhere.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               5 Snowflakes

Review: Loop by Karen Akins

Loop by Karen Akins
Publisher-St. Martin's Griffin
Realeased- Oct 21st 2014
Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her. Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.

My Thoughts:
To be perfectly honest, I almost gave up on this book within the first few chapters. For some reason I have the hardest time with time travel novels, I'm completely fascinated with them mind you, but the mind-spinning technology, time jumping from past, present and future and always feeling like I'm missing the bigger picture, makes me wonder if this particular genre is really for me. Loop was all of above, but still had me fascinatingly curious. So, I stuck it out. And you know what happened? It got interesting! So interesting that I couldn't put it down and before I knew it I was done and willing more pages to magically appear. Finally! I have a favourite time travel book and it's LOOP my friends! This is one helluva addicting ride.

There is so much I want to say about this riveting story and yet I don't think I can give it the justice it truly deserves. I can't believe this is Akins debut novel. The way she writes is absolutely outstanding. The time travel concept was so much more then just futuristic gadgets, lingo and terminology (which there was a lot of ) it was preciously detailed and mind-blowing to comprehend, but at the same time it was refreshing and blast to read. There were times I felt overwhelmed and even intimidated with just how big the story is since there was just so.much.happening. But it's such an unstoppable read that I needed the answers just as badly as the characters did. Which brings me to another factor. It's mysterious as hell. This is not one of those books that you can just skim through peeps, this is the kind of book that is so evasively written and enthusiastic with information overload without any real explanations as to the hows and whys, you literally are scrabbling for clues (past, present and future) to see if you can figure out the answers and who's behind everything. And once the revelation hit me, I was floored. It's thought provoking and frustrating and makes you crazy, but in the best way. I had so much fun trying to make rhyme or reason with any of it that I simple forgot to be unnerved. My experience was a dazed one, but in one of the most satisfying and entertaining ways possible.

With any kind of time travel novel, you have to take it with enough suspended belief for the book to seem somewhat plausible, but what I loved about this was, as the book started to unfold, it almost felt entirely possible. And that had a lot to do with all these amazingly well developed character who bring this outrageous story to life.

Bree Bennis is a feisty firecracker of a character, she always seems to be on a mission and not just the time travelling kind. I really loved her voice and what she was initially fighting for, but there are times where I waned to just shake her straight. For an intelligent time travel student who's a stickler for believing in protocol she doesn't seem to mind bending The Rules when it's on her own terms and she's not a very open minded creature when it comes to Finn's speculations. She constantly doubts and rejects anything he's suspicious of and I couldn't help hate how bitter and snappy she was with him. Now mind you, our girl is under a huge amount of stress and pressure and eventually she calms down long enough to finally see who's on her side, and who isn't. She's got great snark and I love that no matter what she did wrong, she faces the consequences and stops at nothing to fix it.

I absolutely adore Finn Masterson! This guy is so freaken adorable I just want to hug him to death. His comedic timing with futuristic things was absolutely hilarious. I loved his reactions and his go with the flow attitude, his confidence, his protective nature and how passionate he is about Bree. He's my new favourite guy! The romance in this is super freaken sweet. These two bicker and banter pretty much the entire length of the novel, but even their fighting has a playful energy that is irresistible. Still, I thought it was perfectly paced, not rushed but gradually bubbling till that inevitable moment. Definitely gush-worthy stuff that made my heart happy.  

There is a long list of secondary characters that I loved to pieces. They all brought in so much depth to this already complex story that I couldn't see any of this without them. But I will give a shout out to Mimi. She was so flippen cute!

Bottom line, I had such a blast reading this book. It's a futuristic time travel sci-fi adventure that will have your head spinning and heart pounding. It's sharp, smart and consuming from start to finish and it only left me begging for more. I can't wait to find out what happens next! Bring on TWIST!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                  5 Snowflakes