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The Hourglass Trilogy #1
Into The Hourglass
Straddling the fence between ‘childish’ and ‘brilliant,’ physics prodigy Franny White is a heartbeat away from earning her Master’s Degree from Cornell University. Straight-laced and methodical, she has plotted her life’s course down to the last predictable detail. On her 19th birthday, however, she discovers, by chance, that her blood type is the rarest in the world, and that her family’s DNA contains the elusive protein chain necessary for creating the vaccines that will wipe out virtually all illnesses and diseases. When she excitedly tells her parents, she learns that she's not really their child, and as a result, suffers a debilitating panic attack. She falls to the floor, is knocked unconscious, and awakens in a dark forest with a strange man and woman who seem to have kidnapped her. And that's just the beginning of her new, twisted reality!
The mysterious woman informs Franny and the young man, who is also a modern-day New Yorker, that she has transported them 317 years back in time. She then explains that they are the last three immortals on earth, and that they must join forces to somehow destroy the merciless, un-killable psychopath who has an ancient, lethal grudge against their fragile race. If they fail, immortals will disappear forever, and their brutal enemy will re-direct his deadly crusade toward humans, until none remain. As Franny's terrifying destiny reveals itself, she takes solace in the unyielding loyalty of her two companions—the intriguing and passionate Staten Islander who thaws her frigid heart, and the enigmatic, 5,000-year-old woman who quickly becomes their trusted friend and mentor.
On a journey that swerves precariously between romance and tragedy, Franny travels Into The Hourglass, unwittingly alters the course of early American history, and lands in the center of the horrifying conflict that will ultimately determine the future of not only her own kind, but that of all humanity.
The mysterious woman informs Franny and the young man, who is also a modern-day New Yorker, that she has transported them 317 years back in time. She then explains that they are the last three immortals on earth, and that they must join forces to somehow destroy the merciless, un-killable psychopath who has an ancient, lethal grudge against their fragile race. If they fail, immortals will disappear forever, and their brutal enemy will re-direct his deadly crusade toward humans, until none remain. As Franny's terrifying destiny reveals itself, she takes solace in the unyielding loyalty of her two companions—the intriguing and passionate Staten Islander who thaws her frigid heart, and the enigmatic, 5,000-year-old woman who quickly becomes their trusted friend and mentor.
On a journey that swerves precariously between romance and tragedy, Franny travels Into The Hourglass, unwittingly alters the course of early American history, and lands in the center of the horrifying conflict that will ultimately determine the future of not only her own kind, but that of all humanity.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2012
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Marino
4 books1 followerKelly Marino was born and raised in Buena Park, California, in 1962, where she grew up believing in love at first sight, and devoured every romance novel she could find. The moment she did meet the love of her life at the age of 19, she fell instantly in love, got married, and moved with her new husband to his home town of Staten Island, New York.
Fast-forward 30 years: Still married to her Prince Charming, Kelly is a retired Master Cake Decorator, and works as a Graphic Designer at Atlantic Express, the third largest provider of transportation for school children in the US.
Kelly and her husband live with their two kids in Staten Island, where she dreams of being able to write full time, works more hours than she would like, and spends far too much time driving on the island's bumpy streets and roads, swerving around all the rogue potholes.
Kelly is currently working on the sequel to Into The Hourglass, and she welcomes comments from her readers.
Fast-forward 30 years: Still married to her Prince Charming, Kelly is a retired Master Cake Decorator, and works as a Graphic Designer at Atlantic Express, the third largest provider of transportation for school children in the US.
Kelly and her husband live with their two kids in Staten Island, where she dreams of being able to write full time, works more hours than she would like, and spends far too much time driving on the island's bumpy streets and roads, swerving around all the rogue potholes.
Kelly is currently working on the sequel to Into The Hourglass, and she welcomes comments from her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 29, 2012
A fantasy novel means the reader is supposed to suspend disbelief, not the protagonist. Don't get me wrong - Marino expects ignorance on the reader's behalf, as well. Every implausible, jump-the-shark moment was just uttered as fact with a flimsy explanation...and then the scene moved on. That's not even realistic in a fantasy setting; make the characters believable!
Oh, and the overwritten language that somehow managed to be stilting while also fat and flowery was brutal to get through. :-/
Oh, and the overwritten language that somehow managed to be stilting while also fat and flowery was brutal to get through. :-/
March 26, 2013
Pollyannish protagonists. 2 dimensional characters are either pure evil or purely wholesome. Unrealistic. I mean, really...how is it even remotely possible to live for 5000 yrs and NOT ONCE see your reflection?
May 11, 2012
Found this boring. Didn't finish.
August 29, 2012
Into the Hourglass by Kelly Marino is one of those unexpected gems it’s a thrill to discover. It’s a fabulous story in the paranormal genre and fortunately just the first of a trilogy. It’s feisty, bright, organized Franny’s nineteenth birthday and she gets a present she didn’t foresee from her parents - the news that she’s not their child. That explains some of her strange qualities, and also the reason that she faints and enters into another realm with two strangers, a young man, Mike, and a young pregnant woman, Abigail, who is not what she seems at all. Oh yes, and it’s 1693 too. That’s a lot to handle but Franny is made of stern stuff - very stern, immortal stuff and is well able to join in the fight against Yorvik, a merciless killer with a long-lived, anti-immortal grudge, and do her bit to ensure humanity remains a viable species.
It’s a book that’s gritty and gripping, tender and terrifying, romantic and horrific, but above all fresh and incredibly well written. It’s all so plausible and persuasive, paranormal as it is. Marino has an amazing way with words and creates some truly exciting situations and likeable characters. Franny has enough attitude to make her interesting but not obnoxious, and although she’s courageous, she’s scared too and makes mistakes. She’s a good person. There’s a lot of goodness in this book, which is a refreshing change. It’s not soppy, it’s an affirmation of why it's worth protecting humans, even if history may have to change a little. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
It’s a book that’s gritty and gripping, tender and terrifying, romantic and horrific, but above all fresh and incredibly well written. It’s all so plausible and persuasive, paranormal as it is. Marino has an amazing way with words and creates some truly exciting situations and likeable characters. Franny has enough attitude to make her interesting but not obnoxious, and although she’s courageous, she’s scared too and makes mistakes. She’s a good person. There’s a lot of goodness in this book, which is a refreshing change. It’s not soppy, it’s an affirmation of why it's worth protecting humans, even if history may have to change a little. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews