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Mortal Beloved #1
The Messenger
Do you remember the first time you fell in love?
Read The Messenger (Mortal Beloved, Book One) and feel that beautiful—again.
Sixteen-year-old Madeline’s meant to fall in love with Samuel in every lifetime. But she meets him for the first time when she accidentally time travels into the past—hundreds years before she’s even born!
Their relationship is forbidden—Samuel’s half Native, Madeline’s white. Every rendezvous they share must be secret. Each moment they spend together tempts the odds that they’ll be discovered and brutally punished. But their love is fated—they musk risk all.
Danger intensifies when Madeline learns she’s in the past not only to fall in love, but also to claim her birth right as a Messenger—a soul who can slip through time’s fabric at will.
Deadly Hunters, dark-souled time travelers, crave Madeline’s powers and seek to seduce or kill her. Can Madeline find her way back to the future in time to save herself and Samuel?
Read The Messenger (Mortal Beloved, Book One) and feel that beautiful—again.
Sixteen-year-old Madeline’s meant to fall in love with Samuel in every lifetime. But she meets him for the first time when she accidentally time travels into the past—hundreds years before she’s even born!
Their relationship is forbidden—Samuel’s half Native, Madeline’s white. Every rendezvous they share must be secret. Each moment they spend together tempts the odds that they’ll be discovered and brutally punished. But their love is fated—they musk risk all.
Danger intensifies when Madeline learns she’s in the past not only to fall in love, but also to claim her birth right as a Messenger—a soul who can slip through time’s fabric at will.
Deadly Hunters, dark-souled time travelers, crave Madeline’s powers and seek to seduce or kill her. Can Madeline find her way back to the future in time to save herself and Samuel?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2012
390 people are currently reading
2591 people want to read
About the author
Pamela DuMond
61 books385 followersUSA Today Best author Pamela DuMond writes merry mysteries, modern fairytales, and smart romance.
Pam pitched the "Erin Brockovich" story to Hollywood, was featured on “ABC 20/20," is repped for TV/Film/Lit by Italia Gandolfo at GHLiterary.com, and was a contracted writer for Pixelberry Studios.
Pam's books include the hilarious Part-time Princess © 2014 Rom-Com series, Annie Graceland cozy mysteries, Mortal Beloved 'romantasy' time travel, Courtesan "addicting" psychological thrillers, etc. #Iwritemyownbooks
Pam lives in NC where she consumes audiobooks, swims like a mermaid, and is bossed by cats. Sign up for her newsletter at www.pameladumond.com.
Pam pitched the "Erin Brockovich" story to Hollywood, was featured on “ABC 20/20," is repped for TV/Film/Lit by Italia Gandolfo at GHLiterary.com, and was a contracted writer for Pixelberry Studios.
Pam's books include the hilarious Part-time Princess © 2014 Rom-Com series, Annie Graceland cozy mysteries, Mortal Beloved 'romantasy' time travel, Courtesan "addicting" psychological thrillers, etc. #Iwritemyownbooks
Pam lives in NC where she consumes audiobooks, swims like a mermaid, and is bossed by cats. Sign up for her newsletter at www.pameladumond.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 2, 2014
The Messenger's Handbook is a YA romantic time travel thriller. It's inspired by all the fabulous YA romance adventure/thrillers already out there, as well as Last of the Mohicans, the movie, directed by Michael Mann. I wanted to create a fierce, dangerous love story set during the confines of a real War. I wanted my sixteen year old heroine, Madeline, to arc over the course of the story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The Messenger's Handbook: What if you discovered that your soul mate lived three centuries before you were even born? Madeline learns that falling in love, and falling through time doesn’t have to be accidental, could be deadly, but is worth the fight of her life.
The Messenger's Handbook: What if you discovered that your soul mate lived three centuries before you were even born? Madeline learns that falling in love, and falling through time doesn’t have to be accidental, could be deadly, but is worth the fight of her life.
February 19, 2015
The best way for be to describe how I felt after reading this book would be that I felt let down.
The description of the book sounded so interesting, because I love the idea of time travel and I love romance! At first, I was really enjoying the book. Well, I enjoyed the prologue. It was interesting, had action, and it had mystery. However, I was pretty bored after the prologue. I couldn't really connect with the main character, Madeline. Despite that, I decided to keep reading, because I really wanted to get to the time travel portion of the book.
I loved the time travel in this book. It made the book exciting at those points, and I really liked the "Messenger" concept of the book. I won't say much about the "Messenger", because I don't want to give away any spoilers. However, I wish there was more development of the history of the "Messenger". The world building was awesome, but I wanted more of it. I felt like there wasn't enough development of a lot of things in this book. For example, I felt like the romance should have been developed more. The plot was okay. It dragged at some points and it was high paced at other points. It was never very constant, which was disappointing.
However, my biggest complaint about this book is Madeline. I could not stand her. She did so many dumb things through out the book. I constantly was either rolling my eyes at her or screaming at my book because she was so dumb. Madeline really made the book unenjoyable. I wanted to tell her to stop talking, because she was just so annoying. She was in the 1600s and would say words like "whatevs"?
Overall, the book had great potential. I think I would have liked the book a lot more if Madeline wasn't such a horrible main character. Everything else had potential to be really interesting. I will not be reading the next book, because I hated Madeline so much. This book would be great if was rewritten so that Madeline was less annoying, the plot was better paced, and more things were developed through out the story.
MissDaemon
2.5 / 5 Fangs
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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The description of the book sounded so interesting, because I love the idea of time travel and I love romance! At first, I was really enjoying the book. Well, I enjoyed the prologue. It was interesting, had action, and it had mystery. However, I was pretty bored after the prologue. I couldn't really connect with the main character, Madeline. Despite that, I decided to keep reading, because I really wanted to get to the time travel portion of the book.
I loved the time travel in this book. It made the book exciting at those points, and I really liked the "Messenger" concept of the book. I won't say much about the "Messenger", because I don't want to give away any spoilers. However, I wish there was more development of the history of the "Messenger". The world building was awesome, but I wanted more of it. I felt like there wasn't enough development of a lot of things in this book. For example, I felt like the romance should have been developed more. The plot was okay. It dragged at some points and it was high paced at other points. It was never very constant, which was disappointing.
However, my biggest complaint about this book is Madeline. I could not stand her. She did so many dumb things through out the book. I constantly was either rolling my eyes at her or screaming at my book because she was so dumb. Madeline really made the book unenjoyable. I wanted to tell her to stop talking, because she was just so annoying. She was in the 1600s and would say words like "whatevs"?
Overall, the book had great potential. I think I would have liked the book a lot more if Madeline wasn't such a horrible main character. Everything else had potential to be really interesting. I will not be reading the next book, because I hated Madeline so much. This book would be great if was rewritten so that Madeline was less annoying, the plot was better paced, and more things were developed through out the story.
MissDaemon
2.5 / 5 Fangs
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
January 13, 2015
[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
If I had to describe The Messenger in one word it would be ‘disappointing.’
The prologue started off promisingly enough, with a girl (obviously the main character) running through the woods in a panic. Okay, that sounds cool; let’s get on with the main event! My excitement dampened throughout the first few chapters because of the pretty stereotypical “main character who has lost her parent in a horrific accident years ago” but I soldiered on. When I got to when Madeline time-travelled I got pretty excited because I like time travel stories, which is why I requested this book in the first place. Then that point in the story is where the true disappointment set in.
It’s hard to enjoy a book when you absolutely cannot stand the main character and I couldn’t stand Madeline. I just wanted to reach in and slap her across her loud mouth. Constantly. Okay, she’s a little disoriented when she travels back in time, I’ll grant her that. But once she gets on her feet and realizes “I better play along with these people or they’ll call me a witch and hang me” she then proceeds to act like a modern stereotypical American teenager. She blurts out things at inappropriate times, uses modern slang (!) and generally acts like she wants people to start lynching her. I get it, not all teenagers are smart and would instantly adapt to the 1600s. Calling such a transition a culture shock would be quite an understatement. But really? Using the word ‘whatevs’ is definitely not going to ease people’s suspicions about you. Ugh.
Aside from a narrator that really is Too Stupid To Live, the book’s premise isn’t all that bad. Sure, it’s not the most original but the whole Messenger angle was sort of interesting. Special people go back in time to right wrongs and/or meet their destiny. Hunters try to prevent this. Unfortunately, Pamela DuMond never really gets into fleshing the whole story of the Messengers out because Madeline’s stupidity gets her mentor accused of witchcraft. Even the little knowledge Samuel has isn’t really enough to satisfy my curiosity. I know this is the first book in a series but even that doesn’t really excuse the fact that we get more questions than answers. So I give Pamela DuMond marks for potentially awesome world-building, but I can’t honestly say much about it because we didn’t learn all that much about it.
The plot is okay, but it’s also nothing to brag about. It’s not fast, but not too slow and it was interesting enough to keep me reading even though I began to really loathe Madeline. My only real complaint about the plot was that while some things were focused on too much, other things were neglected, like the growing attraction between Madeline and Samuel. Yes, they spend some time together but in those interactions I really wasn’t feeling the sparks fly. It just kind of felt contrived by the author because of course all YA novels have to have some romance.
Overall, the book would not be a bad book if not for the fact Madeline is just a really horrible main character. Sadly for us, though, we’re pretty much stuck in her head the whole time so there is no escaping the fact that The Messenger fell flat on its face. It had so much potential and did not live up to it.
I give this book 1/5 stars.
If I had to describe The Messenger in one word it would be ‘disappointing.’
The prologue started off promisingly enough, with a girl (obviously the main character) running through the woods in a panic. Okay, that sounds cool; let’s get on with the main event! My excitement dampened throughout the first few chapters because of the pretty stereotypical “main character who has lost her parent in a horrific accident years ago” but I soldiered on. When I got to when Madeline time-travelled I got pretty excited because I like time travel stories, which is why I requested this book in the first place. Then that point in the story is where the true disappointment set in.
It’s hard to enjoy a book when you absolutely cannot stand the main character and I couldn’t stand Madeline. I just wanted to reach in and slap her across her loud mouth. Constantly. Okay, she’s a little disoriented when she travels back in time, I’ll grant her that. But once she gets on her feet and realizes “I better play along with these people or they’ll call me a witch and hang me” she then proceeds to act like a modern stereotypical American teenager. She blurts out things at inappropriate times, uses modern slang (!) and generally acts like she wants people to start lynching her. I get it, not all teenagers are smart and would instantly adapt to the 1600s. Calling such a transition a culture shock would be quite an understatement. But really? Using the word ‘whatevs’ is definitely not going to ease people’s suspicions about you. Ugh.
Aside from a narrator that really is Too Stupid To Live, the book’s premise isn’t all that bad. Sure, it’s not the most original but the whole Messenger angle was sort of interesting. Special people go back in time to right wrongs and/or meet their destiny. Hunters try to prevent this. Unfortunately, Pamela DuMond never really gets into fleshing the whole story of the Messengers out because Madeline’s stupidity gets her mentor accused of witchcraft. Even the little knowledge Samuel has isn’t really enough to satisfy my curiosity. I know this is the first book in a series but even that doesn’t really excuse the fact that we get more questions than answers. So I give Pamela DuMond marks for potentially awesome world-building, but I can’t honestly say much about it because we didn’t learn all that much about it.
The plot is okay, but it’s also nothing to brag about. It’s not fast, but not too slow and it was interesting enough to keep me reading even though I began to really loathe Madeline. My only real complaint about the plot was that while some things were focused on too much, other things were neglected, like the growing attraction between Madeline and Samuel. Yes, they spend some time together but in those interactions I really wasn’t feeling the sparks fly. It just kind of felt contrived by the author because of course all YA novels have to have some romance.
Overall, the book would not be a bad book if not for the fact Madeline is just a really horrible main character. Sadly for us, though, we’re pretty much stuck in her head the whole time so there is no escaping the fact that The Messenger fell flat on its face. It had so much potential and did not live up to it.
I give this book 1/5 stars.
August 13, 2012
You can read this review on my blog http://onlectus.blogspot.com/2012/07/...
How to start reviewing a book you don’t like? There, I said it from the beginning so you don’t have to read through the end to find that out.
The prologue starts promising, with Madeline (or Abigail) running in the forest trying to reach a spot that would take her time traveling. I just got excited with this opening … to become quickly bored with the rest of the book.
Thanks to a “lucky” accident, Madeline travels 300 years back in time. “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon, anyone? Unlike Gabaldon’s story, Madeline is no outlander as she lands in the Rhode Island, US, of 1675, the sole survivor of a massacre and a war going between the Wampanoag Natives and subjects of King Charles II.
Oddly enough, once she’s kind of figured she has time traveled, you’d think she’d be discreet about it, but no, she tells everything to a woman that, also oddly enough, believes her flat out. Really, no questions of where are you coming from…?
Oh, yes! There is a romance going on between a 300 years –younger?- boy and Madeline (now Abigail). So probably you will enjoy how they fell in love 300 years ago.
Obviously, I fast forwarded the get it over with. Oh! Yes, the book also has other little mysteries such as the disappearance of Madeline’s mother during a car accident (however, it doesn’t take a genius to put 2 and 2 together).
So, sadly, because I bought the book, I stopped reading at 34% (in my Kindle). No, I do not wish to know how it ends. Period.
How to start reviewing a book you don’t like? There, I said it from the beginning so you don’t have to read through the end to find that out.
The prologue starts promising, with Madeline (or Abigail) running in the forest trying to reach a spot that would take her time traveling. I just got excited with this opening … to become quickly bored with the rest of the book.
Thanks to a “lucky” accident, Madeline travels 300 years back in time. “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon, anyone? Unlike Gabaldon’s story, Madeline is no outlander as she lands in the Rhode Island, US, of 1675, the sole survivor of a massacre and a war going between the Wampanoag Natives and subjects of King Charles II.
Oddly enough, once she’s kind of figured she has time traveled, you’d think she’d be discreet about it, but no, she tells everything to a woman that, also oddly enough, believes her flat out. Really, no questions of where are you coming from…?
Oh, yes! There is a romance going on between a 300 years –younger?- boy and Madeline (now Abigail). So probably you will enjoy how they fell in love 300 years ago.
Obviously, I fast forwarded the get it over with. Oh! Yes, the book also has other little mysteries such as the disappearance of Madeline’s mother during a car accident (however, it doesn’t take a genius to put 2 and 2 together).
So, sadly, because I bought the book, I stopped reading at 34% (in my Kindle). No, I do not wish to know how it ends. Period.
July 8, 2015
First of all, that cover is literally to die for. One of my favorites! Reminds me a bit of Entwined. Gorgeous but it draws you in! Very lovely.
Now for the innards! This was a very well rounded book. That may not sound like a compliment but let me explain why I think it is. First of all the plot is really interesting. The whole soul mate thing was an added twist that I didn’t even think about while reading and was quite pleased as the relationship between Samuel and Madeline grows. It’s very well done.
Secondly, the characters are great. The Reverend had me steaming at the ears. I wanted to shake that guy! I know it sounds like I am a violent person but really I swear to you, I am not! But this guy brought any violence I may have lurking inside, out! He was such a jerk!! It doesn’t help that this plot was in 1675 and if you haven’t heard they did not have great patience with anyone or thing that was different which is highly upsetting to me. But honestly for the times, this guy was the epitome of what these scared, little colonizers were thinking and he was strong enough, powerful enough, and willful enough to voice his sordid opinion. Sadly!
There are a few other characters that shape Madeline’s life, whether for good or for bad but it did seem like there were quite a few villains. I did not trust anyone! Well, honestly that also includes people that were absolutely not villains but the times and that age just scared me so much. I really didn’t want them calling her a witch and the things she does definitely does stand out! It’s nearly horrific in a way.
The ending was very unexpected. I should have expected it but totally didn’t and I’m not kicking myself. There are clues but they are spread out and so few that I didn’t even THINK about where this would end, I just knew I hoped it would go where I wanted. Pamela Dumond does a fabulous job of tying it all together and then dropping us over a cliffhanger!
Now for the innards! This was a very well rounded book. That may not sound like a compliment but let me explain why I think it is. First of all the plot is really interesting. The whole soul mate thing was an added twist that I didn’t even think about while reading and was quite pleased as the relationship between Samuel and Madeline grows. It’s very well done.
Secondly, the characters are great. The Reverend had me steaming at the ears. I wanted to shake that guy! I know it sounds like I am a violent person but really I swear to you, I am not! But this guy brought any violence I may have lurking inside, out! He was such a jerk!! It doesn’t help that this plot was in 1675 and if you haven’t heard they did not have great patience with anyone or thing that was different which is highly upsetting to me. But honestly for the times, this guy was the epitome of what these scared, little colonizers were thinking and he was strong enough, powerful enough, and willful enough to voice his sordid opinion. Sadly!
There are a few other characters that shape Madeline’s life, whether for good or for bad but it did seem like there were quite a few villains. I did not trust anyone! Well, honestly that also includes people that were absolutely not villains but the times and that age just scared me so much. I really didn’t want them calling her a witch and the things she does definitely does stand out! It’s nearly horrific in a way.
The ending was very unexpected. I should have expected it but totally didn’t and I’m not kicking myself. There are clues but they are spread out and so few that I didn’t even THINK about where this would end, I just knew I hoped it would go where I wanted. Pamela Dumond does a fabulous job of tying it all together and then dropping us over a cliffhanger!
Read
February 10, 2023Read This Book If…:
…you love time-traveling stories!
…you have a guilty pleasure for historical romances.
…diverse stories involving race and racism resonate with you.
…you enjoy books that leave you hanging in suspense until the very last page.
I really enjoy time traveling books! I just wish I read more of them. The Messenger combines my interest in time-travel with historical fiction, and I really love that combination because there is always that major predicament: is the main character going to stay in the past or will he/she chose to return to their present day? I will not spoil Madeline’s decision, but I will tell you that the book had me in total suspense until the very last paragraph.
The majority of Madeline’s time travelling adventure revolves around Samuel, a Native American with a soft heart and healer’s hands. As Madeline discovers more about her inexplicable trip to the past, she begins to feel a pull towards Samuel that even three hundred years of history cannot deter.
But Madeline’s time-traveling abilities open up so many questions regarding her past and her family. And Madeline isn’t the only one with these fantastical abilities–the longer she stays in Colonial America, the more she realizes that her abilities are so much greater than herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Messenger! There were several times when I could not put this book down. The one thing that bothers me is that a second book hasn’t been published or announced yet! I need to know what happens next!! BUT, this book has been optioned for a movie or TV series, which would be really interesting to see :)
…you love time-traveling stories!
…you have a guilty pleasure for historical romances.
…diverse stories involving race and racism resonate with you.
…you enjoy books that leave you hanging in suspense until the very last page.
I really enjoy time traveling books! I just wish I read more of them. The Messenger combines my interest in time-travel with historical fiction, and I really love that combination because there is always that major predicament: is the main character going to stay in the past or will he/she chose to return to their present day? I will not spoil Madeline’s decision, but I will tell you that the book had me in total suspense until the very last paragraph.
The majority of Madeline’s time travelling adventure revolves around Samuel, a Native American with a soft heart and healer’s hands. As Madeline discovers more about her inexplicable trip to the past, she begins to feel a pull towards Samuel that even three hundred years of history cannot deter.
But Madeline’s time-traveling abilities open up so many questions regarding her past and her family. And Madeline isn’t the only one with these fantastical abilities–the longer she stays in Colonial America, the more she realizes that her abilities are so much greater than herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Messenger! There were several times when I could not put this book down. The one thing that bothers me is that a second book hasn’t been published or announced yet! I need to know what happens next!! BUT, this book has been optioned for a movie or TV series, which would be really interesting to see :)
May 25, 2012
I had both likes and dislikes in this book. And even some loves. Let me start out by saying the author is a really strong writer. She knows how to keep a reader's attention, and the characters were beyond excellent. I loved the creepiness of Malachi. This is a promising start to the series.
SPOILER ALERT...
However, I didn't think there was enough information on the Messengers, and I had so many questions as I read. Who were they supposed to give messages to? Who chose who they were supposed to give messages to? Who created this group of time-traveling people?
Next, why did the Hunters want to eradicate the Messengers? Had the Messengers done something to them? That wasn't fully explained.
At the end of the book, I was glad Samuel reappeared, but it was never mentioned in the book that he could time travel too without drinking the poison (unless I missed it).
Overall, I'm giving this book 4 stars because not answering the questions may have been intentional. I'm just not a reader who happens to like having some open-ended questions. Still, the lack of information didn't detract from the excellent writing skills the author possesses and the effective way she has of maintaining a reader's attention. The author's love for this genre is evident in the writing, and I'll definitely read another book by Pamela DuMond.
SPOILER ALERT...
However, I didn't think there was enough information on the Messengers, and I had so many questions as I read. Who were they supposed to give messages to? Who chose who they were supposed to give messages to? Who created this group of time-traveling people?
Next, why did the Hunters want to eradicate the Messengers? Had the Messengers done something to them? That wasn't fully explained.
At the end of the book, I was glad Samuel reappeared, but it was never mentioned in the book that he could time travel too without drinking the poison (unless I missed it).
Overall, I'm giving this book 4 stars because not answering the questions may have been intentional. I'm just not a reader who happens to like having some open-ended questions. Still, the lack of information didn't detract from the excellent writing skills the author possesses and the effective way she has of maintaining a reader's attention. The author's love for this genre is evident in the writing, and I'll definitely read another book by Pamela DuMond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2012
I would like to thank AToMR Blog Tours for allowing me to read this book and be a part of the tour. I have to say that I love time traveling books. This book held me captive because not only did it have time traveling in it but it had Native American history in it. I love the combination of both.
Madeline and her mother are in a car accident and Madelines mother has disappeared. When everything settles Madeline is given a book that her mother has passed down to her. In the book she reads about family secrets and things she never knew. She is once again put in harms way and is thrown back into another time where she must save the person she loves. She finds out she is a Messenger and she can travel through time to deliver messages.
Madeline must figure out how t time travel with Samuel before it is to late. She must learn things fast and she will have to figure out who to trust in the end. This will be one trip Madeline will have to do alone because she has no one there to help her out. What will Madeline do? Will she be able to get Samuel home safe? Will she come back to her present time? Come along for a magical story with lots of twists and turns. This is one series to watch out for!
Madeline and her mother are in a car accident and Madelines mother has disappeared. When everything settles Madeline is given a book that her mother has passed down to her. In the book she reads about family secrets and things she never knew. She is once again put in harms way and is thrown back into another time where she must save the person she loves. She finds out she is a Messenger and she can travel through time to deliver messages.
Madeline must figure out how t time travel with Samuel before it is to late. She must learn things fast and she will have to figure out who to trust in the end. This will be one trip Madeline will have to do alone because she has no one there to help her out. What will Madeline do? Will she be able to get Samuel home safe? Will she come back to her present time? Come along for a magical story with lots of twists and turns. This is one series to watch out for!
January 10, 2015
Madeline travels back in time to King Philip’s War in Rhode Island in 1675. There she learns she is a Messenger, someone who is able to carry messages through time and trains to be a warrior. She also learns she has a soul mate named Jamie, oops, I means Samuel. Yes, sounds like a YA Outlander, doesn’t it? I preferred it to Outlander!
The time period is not one that I have read about before. Samuel is half- Native American which adds to the suspense. The author does not rush into the romance in this book. She takes it slow. I thought this was not only refreshing but also more realistic.
When Madeline first arrives in 1675, she befriends a girl named Elizabeth who thinks that Madeline is her cousin. In a lot of time travel stories, the traveler keeps the fact that he is from another time and place a secret. In this story, Madeline is open with Elizabeth about who she really is. This makes it fun to watch a friendship grow between two different people. Through humor and kindness they make it work.
Highly recommended for Young Adults who love time travel and romance.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
The time period is not one that I have read about before. Samuel is half- Native American which adds to the suspense. The author does not rush into the romance in this book. She takes it slow. I thought this was not only refreshing but also more realistic.
When Madeline first arrives in 1675, she befriends a girl named Elizabeth who thinks that Madeline is her cousin. In a lot of time travel stories, the traveler keeps the fact that he is from another time and place a secret. In this story, Madeline is open with Elizabeth about who she really is. This makes it fun to watch a friendship grow between two different people. Through humor and kindness they make it work.
Highly recommended for Young Adults who love time travel and romance.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2012
This isn't the kind of book I would normally go for and the cover actually put me off, It was going for free so I thought I would give it a chance. I am so glad I did, The story of the book was brilliant. I could not put it down. I loved Madeline, she was intriguing and funny and I enjoyed her story, Samuel I wanted to stick my hands in and grab him by the breeches and pull him out, I loved him, he was my kind of dream man. I finished this book at 4am and went straight on to Amazon to see if there was a book after this one but sadly no, I was sooooo dissapointed. The story is different, keeps you engaged the whole time, you feel like you are part of the story. BUY IT, you wont regret it.
January 6, 2014
An fun story about facing your fears, love and time travel. In time travel books, it is key to get down the story about time traveling and Ms. DuMond does it right. She crafted a rich and detailed story that stands apart from others. While Madeline is not the most lovable character at first, as she begins to experience more in the past and grows, the more you care for her. I gotta say, Samuel is a hunk! I really enjoyed this book! Can't wait to read what happens next.
March 27, 2013
All I can say is the 2nd book better be coming and SOON!
I fell totally in LOVE with this book! The writing was great, not a literary masterpiece, but who wants that? Those are boring!
Great Love story, great time-traveling story, great mixing of genres! I totally LOVED it!
Completely recommend adventerous YA readers to enjoy this book!
I fell totally in LOVE with this book! The writing was great, not a literary masterpiece, but who wants that? Those are boring!
Great Love story, great time-traveling story, great mixing of genres! I totally LOVED it!
Completely recommend adventerous YA readers to enjoy this book!
October 10, 2013
Wonderful read for all YA paranormal/time travel fans!
The description was so vivid I saw the story as a film in my head the entire time.
Highly recommended.
The description was so vivid I saw the story as a film in my head the entire time.
Highly recommended.
May 6, 2022
The Messenger is a time-travel YA series. The book is done well and kept me wanting to know what was happening next.
First, the plot is riveting. The whole soul mate thing was an added twist that I didn’t even think about while reading, and I was pleased as the relationship between Samuel and Madeline grew.
A few other characters shaped Madeline’s life, whether for good or evil, but it did seem like there were quite a few villains. I did not trust anyone.
This period is not one that I have read about before. Samuel is half-Native American, which adds to the suspense. Pamela DuMond does not rush into the romance in this book, and she takes it slow. I thought this was not only refreshing but also more realistic.
I am looking forward to reading the following books of the series because I want to find out what will happen to the main characters.
First, the plot is riveting. The whole soul mate thing was an added twist that I didn’t even think about while reading, and I was pleased as the relationship between Samuel and Madeline grew.
A few other characters shaped Madeline’s life, whether for good or evil, but it did seem like there were quite a few villains. I did not trust anyone.
This period is not one that I have read about before. Samuel is half-Native American, which adds to the suspense. Pamela DuMond does not rush into the romance in this book, and she takes it slow. I thought this was not only refreshing but also more realistic.
I am looking forward to reading the following books of the series because I want to find out what will happen to the main characters.
August 11, 2019
To start off. DNF 50%...
Sorry, it just didn’t catch my interest. I found myself in a reading slump because I couldn’t get through this one.
I liked the concept of “Messengers,” but in the 50% that I read, this hardly came through. There also was no strong end goal - I felt like I was in a little boat being aimlessly tossed about by the waves. Much of the time, Madeline simply helped Elizabeth, did Yoga in the barn, and hung out with Samuel. Despite this, the opening was strong. There was conflict and intrigue and Madeline was a hurting character, so there was a lot of room for growth.
Anyways, I think it will check out at this point. I hope you guys had an amazing weekend!
See ya later!
Sorry, it just didn’t catch my interest. I found myself in a reading slump because I couldn’t get through this one.
I liked the concept of “Messengers,” but in the 50% that I read, this hardly came through. There also was no strong end goal - I felt like I was in a little boat being aimlessly tossed about by the waves. Much of the time, Madeline simply helped Elizabeth, did Yoga in the barn, and hung out with Samuel. Despite this, the opening was strong. There was conflict and intrigue and Madeline was a hurting character, so there was a lot of room for growth.
Anyways, I think it will check out at this point. I hope you guys had an amazing weekend!
See ya later!
October 1, 2015
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
**I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
This book was seriously freaking good! I enjoyed it so much. After reading a few reviews I was a bit hesitant but it wouldn't have been fair to the book so I decided to give it a try nonetheless. Also, I'm not much into historical fiction but this book really changed my opinion. And boy, I just loved the ride! The plot was intriguing and the characters were pretty great. It was pretty fast paced and I flew through the book, there was not a single dull moment and it was throughly entertaining.
Madeline is a normal girl, atleast she thought so before she finds herself in 1675 during the war between King Philip and the colonizers. At first she thinks she is having a nightmare until the truth sinks in, that she has actually time travelled. There she finds everybody calling her Abigail. Only two people believe her that she is not Abigail but Madeline- Samuel and an older woman named Angeni. She learns from them that she is a Messenger who can travel through time and help pass messages, even help change people's lives. She slowly falls in love with Samuel, her soul mate. Things begin to fall in place until disaster strikes and they have to run for their lives. Everything takes a drastic turn and Madeline has to take a painful decesion- either she has to let go of Samuel or save her life.
The plot was intriguing. I loved the concept of the messenger. Though I have to admit, at times it was a bit confusing and I had to read a few portions again and again to clear it. Madeline finds out that she is a Messenger but she is still naive and vulnerable and she needs training to improve. I liked seeing how she coped up with things and discovered herself. I loved the mystery surrounding her mother and I loved the plot twist, when it was revealed I was genuinely surprised. I also loved the seeing the different culture of that time, the author managed to capture the essence and potray it beautifully. I liked the soul mate thing, it added an intersting twist to the story and their romance which was developed slowly which I definitely liked though I wanted a bit more depth and passion. I simply loved everything, the action and the chasing was pretty good and I was satisfied how everything was executed.
The characters were diverse and pretty great. I really liked every one of them. Madeline (I love this name!) was an awsome character, she was sweet, caring, honest and compassionate. I mostly liked her inner monologues, they were fun to read and added humour to the story. She didn't want to believe that she has travelled through time but when she finally accepted it, she handled it maturely. She was a pretty relatable character. I loved how she fiercely wanted to protect Angeni when they captured her for a crime she didn't commit. I liked Samuel very much. He was a bit mysterious, loyal and caring. I liked how he believed Madeline's true story at the first go. They both knew their relationship wouldn't be accepted in the society but they couldn't help but fall for each other. I really liked their relationship.
I loved the side characters as well. Elizabeth, Abigail's cousin was a great character. She was sweet and cared genuinely for Madeline even though she was different from the previous Abigail she had known. And I definitely loved Angeni, she had this motherly aura, you can't help but love her. I felt so sad when Madeline helplessly tried to save her but couldn't. I also liked Madeline's two best friends, Chaka and Aaron. I hope to see more of them in the next book.
I enjoyed the writing of The Messenger. It was simple and easy to read. I easily breezed through this book and finished it in two sittings. I would have finished it early but it was already passed 3 am last night so I had to close the book though I didn't want to. It was pretty intersting and addicting. The pace was pretty fast and I loved it. I raced through the book and couldn't wait to learn what happened next.
Overall, The Messenger was a book which I loved very much. I enjoyed the concept of it. The plot was intriguing but a bit confusing at times. The characters were pretty great and diverse and I fell in love with them. I loved the romance though I wanted a bit more depth and passion. The writing was simple and smooth and the pace was pretty fast and I enjoyed it throughly. This book was pretty interesting from the start and the way it ended, with that cliffhanger, I would have died if I didn't have the second book with me right now. So I'm gonna stop talking now and start the next book in this series.
Recommend it?
Definitely yes if you like time travel stories and historical fiction, even if you don't you should give it a try.
**I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
“He smiled, leaned his head down, and cradled my face in his rough palms. He pulled me to him and said, ‘Madeline. I do not care where you are from—the future, the past, a star in the sky. I will love you here, now. I do not care what people think. I will love you in the past. I will love you in the future. I will love you, forever, Madeline.’ And he kissed me.”
-Madeline.
This book was seriously freaking good! I enjoyed it so much. After reading a few reviews I was a bit hesitant but it wouldn't have been fair to the book so I decided to give it a try nonetheless. Also, I'm not much into historical fiction but this book really changed my opinion. And boy, I just loved the ride! The plot was intriguing and the characters were pretty great. It was pretty fast paced and I flew through the book, there was not a single dull moment and it was throughly entertaining.
Madeline is a normal girl, atleast she thought so before she finds herself in 1675 during the war between King Philip and the colonizers. At first she thinks she is having a nightmare until the truth sinks in, that she has actually time travelled. There she finds everybody calling her Abigail. Only two people believe her that she is not Abigail but Madeline- Samuel and an older woman named Angeni. She learns from them that she is a Messenger who can travel through time and help pass messages, even help change people's lives. She slowly falls in love with Samuel, her soul mate. Things begin to fall in place until disaster strikes and they have to run for their lives. Everything takes a drastic turn and Madeline has to take a painful decesion- either she has to let go of Samuel or save her life.
The plot was intriguing. I loved the concept of the messenger. Though I have to admit, at times it was a bit confusing and I had to read a few portions again and again to clear it. Madeline finds out that she is a Messenger but she is still naive and vulnerable and she needs training to improve. I liked seeing how she coped up with things and discovered herself. I loved the mystery surrounding her mother and I loved the plot twist, when it was revealed I was genuinely surprised. I also loved the seeing the different culture of that time, the author managed to capture the essence and potray it beautifully. I liked the soul mate thing, it added an intersting twist to the story and their romance which was developed slowly which I definitely liked though I wanted a bit more depth and passion. I simply loved everything, the action and the chasing was pretty good and I was satisfied how everything was executed.
The characters were diverse and pretty great. I really liked every one of them. Madeline (I love this name!) was an awsome character, she was sweet, caring, honest and compassionate. I mostly liked her inner monologues, they were fun to read and added humour to the story. She didn't want to believe that she has travelled through time but when she finally accepted it, she handled it maturely. She was a pretty relatable character. I loved how she fiercely wanted to protect Angeni when they captured her for a crime she didn't commit. I liked Samuel very much. He was a bit mysterious, loyal and caring. I liked how he believed Madeline's true story at the first go. They both knew their relationship wouldn't be accepted in the society but they couldn't help but fall for each other. I really liked their relationship.
I loved the side characters as well. Elizabeth, Abigail's cousin was a great character. She was sweet and cared genuinely for Madeline even though she was different from the previous Abigail she had known. And I definitely loved Angeni, she had this motherly aura, you can't help but love her. I felt so sad when Madeline helplessly tried to save her but couldn't. I also liked Madeline's two best friends, Chaka and Aaron. I hope to see more of them in the next book.
I enjoyed the writing of The Messenger. It was simple and easy to read. I easily breezed through this book and finished it in two sittings. I would have finished it early but it was already passed 3 am last night so I had to close the book though I didn't want to. It was pretty intersting and addicting. The pace was pretty fast and I loved it. I raced through the book and couldn't wait to learn what happened next.
Overall, The Messenger was a book which I loved very much. I enjoyed the concept of it. The plot was intriguing but a bit confusing at times. The characters were pretty great and diverse and I fell in love with them. I loved the romance though I wanted a bit more depth and passion. The writing was simple and smooth and the pace was pretty fast and I enjoyed it throughly. This book was pretty interesting from the start and the way it ended, with that cliffhanger, I would have died if I didn't have the second book with me right now. So I'm gonna stop talking now and start the next book in this series.
Recommend it?
Definitely yes if you like time travel stories and historical fiction, even if you don't you should give it a try.
February 5, 2020
After Madeline is accidentally pushed off of a train platform, she finds herself waking up in 1675 in the midst of a battlefield in King Philip's War. With colonists dead around her and a bloody gash on her forehead, Madeline - known in colonial times as Abigail - is the only survivor, but she's certain that she must be dreaming. How can she have fallen over 300 years back in time?
However, for someone who has woken up in a different time period she's remarkably chill. Almost running away within the first couple of days, she soon gives up and settles down, blindly accepting the wisdom of a local woman who claims that she is a Messenger. Next thing you know, Madeline is falling in instalove with a colonist called Samuel, learning how to tend fires and helping her 'cousin' Elizabeth with running the schoolhouse. All's well that ends well.
But it's not quite that easy. Next thing you know Madeline is being stalked by a Hunter who knows she is a Messenger and is desperate to get revenge. Despite the fact that Madeline has had no training at all, she - SPOILER ALERT - manages to miraculously save her life by teleporting back to modern day times, where she bumps into modern day Samuel and seconds later is confronted by the man who is hunting her... And then the book just ends.
Honestly, I was tempted to give The Messenger three stars because even though it was a bit cliched I really enjoyed the concept and I thought the plot was nice and absorbing, but the last few chapters just really annoyed me. The book starts with a flashforward and I'd been looking forward to finding out how Madeline found herself in such a situation, but it didn't feel authentic when it got there. It also doesn't help that Madeline makes it sound as though she's been trained as a Messenger, when in all reality she's only been given a couple of pieces of advice - I wouldn't even call them 'lessons' as such, and as a reader you still have no real knowledge of how Messengers work (or Hunters or Healers, who are touched upon very briefly).
The ending was rushed, and leaving it on such a hammy cliffhanger irritated me, particularly as it ends under 75% into the NetGalley version which I was reading - the last 25% is a preview of one of Pamela DuMond's other books, and it isn't even a sampler of the second book in the Mortal Beloved series! I felt a little cheated and was really glad that I hadn't spent money on this book, and it's certainly made me think twice about continuing on with the series: these books are short enough, without making the last fifty pages part of a completely different story.
However, for someone who has woken up in a different time period she's remarkably chill. Almost running away within the first couple of days, she soon gives up and settles down, blindly accepting the wisdom of a local woman who claims that she is a Messenger. Next thing you know, Madeline is falling in instalove with a colonist called Samuel, learning how to tend fires and helping her 'cousin' Elizabeth with running the schoolhouse. All's well that ends well.
But it's not quite that easy. Next thing you know Madeline is being stalked by a Hunter who knows she is a Messenger and is desperate to get revenge. Despite the fact that Madeline has had no training at all, she - SPOILER ALERT - manages to miraculously save her life by teleporting back to modern day times, where she bumps into modern day Samuel and seconds later is confronted by the man who is hunting her... And then the book just ends.
Honestly, I was tempted to give The Messenger three stars because even though it was a bit cliched I really enjoyed the concept and I thought the plot was nice and absorbing, but the last few chapters just really annoyed me. The book starts with a flashforward and I'd been looking forward to finding out how Madeline found herself in such a situation, but it didn't feel authentic when it got there. It also doesn't help that Madeline makes it sound as though she's been trained as a Messenger, when in all reality she's only been given a couple of pieces of advice - I wouldn't even call them 'lessons' as such, and as a reader you still have no real knowledge of how Messengers work (or Hunters or Healers, who are touched upon very briefly).
The ending was rushed, and leaving it on such a hammy cliffhanger irritated me, particularly as it ends under 75% into the NetGalley version which I was reading - the last 25% is a preview of one of Pamela DuMond's other books, and it isn't even a sampler of the second book in the Mortal Beloved series! I felt a little cheated and was really glad that I hadn't spent money on this book, and it's certainly made me think twice about continuing on with the series: these books are short enough, without making the last fifty pages part of a completely different story.
January 3, 2016
Goodness sake. This book was not for me.
Let's start with the cover...what's with the short cropped hair on one side?
I didn't care for the main character, Madeline. It's as though she's written to be a "typical" teenager, but she seems far less capable than that. Some of her outbursts and lack of ability or attempt to fit in when she travels back to the 1600's are just astounding for a 16 year old.
The way that Madeline uses current vernacular and phrases would have gotten her hung. There was one point that she wonders to herself, "...Did they even have dentists here?"
Another time, she off-handedly mentions arthroscopic knee surgery as though the person from the 1600's would even get that reference.
She sure loves her yoga and it seems like it was thrown in because it's something the author is into. If the book had mentioned that she took it up to manage anxiety, then it would have been sewn into the narrative more easily.
She also keeps meeting the ancestors of people she knows in the current day that just happen to have the same last name and look and act just like their current-day counterparts. How likely is it that she would know so many in the current day from this one settlement?
Then there is the instalove and soul mates over ages. HUGE pet-peeve. That's all I'm going to say about that.
She grew up without her mother at a young age. When she first wakes up back in time, she thinks she sees her mom but never seems to think that maybe this is how her mom disappeared, or to look for her.
The messenger chant made me crack up..."Sa. Ta. Na. Ma." Sounds like something Pebbles Flintstone would say, but that's just me.
The villain could have had better background as well.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let's start with the cover...what's with the short cropped hair on one side?
I didn't care for the main character, Madeline. It's as though she's written to be a "typical" teenager, but she seems far less capable than that. Some of her outbursts and lack of ability or attempt to fit in when she travels back to the 1600's are just astounding for a 16 year old.
The way that Madeline uses current vernacular and phrases would have gotten her hung. There was one point that she wonders to herself, "...Did they even have dentists here?"
Another time, she off-handedly mentions arthroscopic knee surgery as though the person from the 1600's would even get that reference.
She sure loves her yoga and it seems like it was thrown in because it's something the author is into. If the book had mentioned that she took it up to manage anxiety, then it would have been sewn into the narrative more easily.
She also keeps meeting the ancestors of people she knows in the current day that just happen to have the same last name and look and act just like their current-day counterparts. How likely is it that she would know so many in the current day from this one settlement?
Then there is the instalove and soul mates over ages. HUGE pet-peeve. That's all I'm going to say about that.
She grew up without her mother at a young age. When she first wakes up back in time, she thinks she sees her mom but never seems to think that maybe this is how her mom disappeared, or to look for her.
The messenger chant made me crack up..."Sa. Ta. Na. Ma." Sounds like something Pebbles Flintstone would say, but that's just me.
The villain could have had better background as well.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2015
Netgalley. Thank you for a copy of this book.
The Messenger is a fairly short book. It is about one hundred pages. A bit more than that. Typically, I don't read short stories, but I guess that this one counts as one. Anyway, I believe The Messenger fits the best in YA Historical Fiction. But anyway, let's talk a bit more about The Messenger.
I have to say that even though The Messenger is short, it is slow. It is really slow, and I couldn't really get into it for the most part. There is quite a number of things to remember, and the world building isn't very good either. There isn't enough details, and some parts of it felt repeated over and over again. A bit redundant.
Is it boring? Hmm... I would say at least 30 percent of the book is boring while the rest is mostly okay. The Messenger isn't exceptional, but it isn't bad. There is some work that needs to be done, and maybe, there should be a little bit more... mystery. Or at least, the book should evoke a little more emotions from the reader. Honestly, I didn't feel any of that.
There isn't that life in The Messenger. It is dry. A bit flakey and hard to take in.
The romance isn't fitting at all. There are some parts where I'm like... Huh? What is going on? The romance probably isn't inconsistent at all, but there are some parts that seems to be disconnected. Imagine a line. A straight line. Then you take a finger and follow the line. All of the sudden, there seems to be some breaks in the line. That is what the romance is like. Some odd parts. Some parts that didn't quite click right.
Honestly, I feel like The Messenger is more like a first draft than a final draft. There is a lot of things to work out, and there isn't... smoothness in the storyline.
I'm not even going to start about Madeline.
The world-building is still... Well, there are cracks. I didn't quite understand everything. There are Hunters, Healers, and Messengers. Hunters... Well, I don't get why they are hunting Madeline. Healers... I wish I have more information on them. And Messengers... Well, I wish that there is more information on that, too. It feels uncomfortable not knowing about everything.
Overall, I think The Messenger isn't a bad book (not bad enough to make me throw my computer across the room). But it needs a lot of work.
Rating: Two out of Five
The Messenger is a fairly short book. It is about one hundred pages. A bit more than that. Typically, I don't read short stories, but I guess that this one counts as one. Anyway, I believe The Messenger fits the best in YA Historical Fiction. But anyway, let's talk a bit more about The Messenger.
I have to say that even though The Messenger is short, it is slow. It is really slow, and I couldn't really get into it for the most part. There is quite a number of things to remember, and the world building isn't very good either. There isn't enough details, and some parts of it felt repeated over and over again. A bit redundant.
Is it boring? Hmm... I would say at least 30 percent of the book is boring while the rest is mostly okay. The Messenger isn't exceptional, but it isn't bad. There is some work that needs to be done, and maybe, there should be a little bit more... mystery. Or at least, the book should evoke a little more emotions from the reader. Honestly, I didn't feel any of that.
There isn't that life in The Messenger. It is dry. A bit flakey and hard to take in.
The romance isn't fitting at all. There are some parts where I'm like... Huh? What is going on? The romance probably isn't inconsistent at all, but there are some parts that seems to be disconnected. Imagine a line. A straight line. Then you take a finger and follow the line. All of the sudden, there seems to be some breaks in the line. That is what the romance is like. Some odd parts. Some parts that didn't quite click right.
Honestly, I feel like The Messenger is more like a first draft than a final draft. There is a lot of things to work out, and there isn't... smoothness in the storyline.
I'm not even going to start about Madeline.
The world-building is still... Well, there are cracks. I didn't quite understand everything. There are Hunters, Healers, and Messengers. Hunters... Well, I don't get why they are hunting Madeline. Healers... I wish I have more information on them. And Messengers... Well, I wish that there is more information on that, too. It feels uncomfortable not knowing about everything.
Overall, I think The Messenger isn't a bad book (not bad enough to make me throw my computer across the room). But it needs a lot of work.
Rating: Two out of Five
October 26, 2012
The Messenger by Pamela DuMond is the perfect mixture of so many different elements. With time-travel you get a bit of historical fiction mixed with present day, but there is also romance, mystery and a little action. After an accident, Madeline wakes up in colonial Rhode Island in 1675, and in the middle of a war between the colonist and the Native Americans. She discovers that in this time she is known as Abigail. Since Madeline is from the future, it does make for a bit of awkward, sometimes funny situations, but it also leads the colonist to begin to wonder if she may be a witch or a spy for the enemy.
To try to get back to her present day or “real” life, Madeline needs to train with the old medicine woman. The problem is that Samuel, a gorgeous man who is a mix of both races proves to be a distraction. Madeline is not so sure if she wants to go back, if it means leave Samuel 300 years in the past. Along the way, Madeline must also try to remember what happened the day her mother disappeared.
I really like Madeline, because she is very headstrong and independent, which is fun to read, but not so great when you are trying to fit into colonial times. I also like her relationship with Samuel, as it grows and changes over time. Madeline also really learns to survive on her own, and overcome her anxiety issues as she tries to figure how to go back. Samuel is also a great love interest because he is so sweet and loving. I liked seen a love interest that is not the typical bad boy, and the only thing that made the romance so forbidden is the fact that Samuel is part Native American. This is a sad fact of the time, and I really like how Pamela DuMond incorporated it.
The Messenger captured my interest pretty much right off the bat, and it held it until the very end. As the action, and puzzle pieces fall together, I could not put it down. It is also a quick read that picks up pace. I would really recommend this to fans of time travel, historical fiction, or even mystery fans. Pamela DuMond weaves a great combination of elements into a beautiful story. I will be reading the next Mortal Beloved book, because I am hooked!
**Unabridged Bookshelf received a copy of this book for the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review**
To try to get back to her present day or “real” life, Madeline needs to train with the old medicine woman. The problem is that Samuel, a gorgeous man who is a mix of both races proves to be a distraction. Madeline is not so sure if she wants to go back, if it means leave Samuel 300 years in the past. Along the way, Madeline must also try to remember what happened the day her mother disappeared.
I really like Madeline, because she is very headstrong and independent, which is fun to read, but not so great when you are trying to fit into colonial times. I also like her relationship with Samuel, as it grows and changes over time. Madeline also really learns to survive on her own, and overcome her anxiety issues as she tries to figure how to go back. Samuel is also a great love interest because he is so sweet and loving. I liked seen a love interest that is not the typical bad boy, and the only thing that made the romance so forbidden is the fact that Samuel is part Native American. This is a sad fact of the time, and I really like how Pamela DuMond incorporated it.
The Messenger captured my interest pretty much right off the bat, and it held it until the very end. As the action, and puzzle pieces fall together, I could not put it down. It is also a quick read that picks up pace. I would really recommend this to fans of time travel, historical fiction, or even mystery fans. Pamela DuMond weaves a great combination of elements into a beautiful story. I will be reading the next Mortal Beloved book, because I am hooked!
**Unabridged Bookshelf received a copy of this book for the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review**
December 16, 2014
http://angreads.blogspot.com
As an Outlander fan, the description immediately caught my attention. I'm a huge fan of history, so the fact this was a time traveling book about actual historical events got me really excited. This was a very good YA/historical fantasy book.
I didn't like Madeline for most of the book. I found her to be whiny, whimpy, and hateful. She seemed to have a serious dislike for rich people. I get it, we are all jealous of those who have more money than us, but her best friend was rich! Also, I understand why she was so whimpy. The accident with her and her mother was traumatic and of course she would be afraid to be around dangerous situations. She grew on me towards the ending of the book, when she finally grew some balls and decided to take matters in her own hands. One thing I think she should have done was try to blend in with her 1675 surroundings more. She could have tried not sounding like someone for the future. Considering how dangerous that time period was because of all the witch trials and superstitions, she could have been more careful.
I loved Samuel. He was the kind of guy you immediately fall in love with when you are reading about it. I mean, he nursed a dying horse back to health! If that's not swoon worthy, I don't know what is! Speaking of love, the romance was a little quick for me. Madeline saw him and was immediately drawn in by his good looks. We are all human and attraction is important, but considering she had just fallen over 400 years into the past, I think his looks should have been put on the back burner.
The plot was good, and even though it was a little slow for the majority 0f the book, it was still enough to keep me interested. The action towards the end made up for the pacing.
Speaking of the ending, holy cliffhanger! I must have book two now to see what happens.
Fans of time travel and historical fantasy will enjoy this one!
Thank you Netgalley and Pamela DuMond for providing the e-pub in exchange for an honest review.
As an Outlander fan, the description immediately caught my attention. I'm a huge fan of history, so the fact this was a time traveling book about actual historical events got me really excited. This was a very good YA/historical fantasy book.
I didn't like Madeline for most of the book. I found her to be whiny, whimpy, and hateful. She seemed to have a serious dislike for rich people. I get it, we are all jealous of those who have more money than us, but her best friend was rich! Also, I understand why she was so whimpy. The accident with her and her mother was traumatic and of course she would be afraid to be around dangerous situations. She grew on me towards the ending of the book, when she finally grew some balls and decided to take matters in her own hands. One thing I think she should have done was try to blend in with her 1675 surroundings more. She could have tried not sounding like someone for the future. Considering how dangerous that time period was because of all the witch trials and superstitions, she could have been more careful.
I loved Samuel. He was the kind of guy you immediately fall in love with when you are reading about it. I mean, he nursed a dying horse back to health! If that's not swoon worthy, I don't know what is! Speaking of love, the romance was a little quick for me. Madeline saw him and was immediately drawn in by his good looks. We are all human and attraction is important, but considering she had just fallen over 400 years into the past, I think his looks should have been put on the back burner.
The plot was good, and even though it was a little slow for the majority 0f the book, it was still enough to keep me interested. The action towards the end made up for the pacing.
Speaking of the ending, holy cliffhanger! I must have book two now to see what happens.
Fans of time travel and historical fantasy will enjoy this one!
Thank you Netgalley and Pamela DuMond for providing the e-pub in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2012
I really wish I could give this book the stars that the story itself deserves, but the execution and lack of a proper editor hinder me from doing so.
If you are a fan of My Name is Memory, then you will definitely like the premise of The Messenger's Handbook. But you'll also find yourself, like me, comparing the two, which isn't good. MNiM is executed flawlessly aside from the still lacking sequel. Brashares' debut adult novel is well composed, precisely edited, and told with the fewest inconsistencies and holes I've ever read in such a complex story.
TMH on the other hand reads as a rough draft. It badly needs a good editor to go through it with a fine tooth comb, sculpting and molding what is there into a beautiful, and potentially best-selling, novel. Unfortunately, that best-selling novel is hiding under the poor sentence structure, inconsistent tense, and a few crucial holes that, if filled in, could catapult this story from ok to amazing.
All of that to say, I'd read Ms. Dumond's sequel to TMH in a heartbeat: well edited or not. TMH does leave you wanting to know more of Samuel and Madeline's story and that alone is worth reading any sequel for. I just hope that this author cares more about the story she has birthed than she does the number of followers, reviews or the size of the paycheck from the publishers. I've alway felt that authors who withhold required sequels because they don't have enough followers, publishers won't pay enough or they just get their panties all in a bunch, are some of the most selfish people out there and don't deserve to have the satisfaction of even a single follower.
So Ms. Dumond, if you are reading this, write your sequel for the fans no matter how few and far between they might seem. Remember writing is about the passion of the storytelling, not the greed of publicity or the size of a paycheck.
If you are a fan of My Name is Memory, then you will definitely like the premise of The Messenger's Handbook. But you'll also find yourself, like me, comparing the two, which isn't good. MNiM is executed flawlessly aside from the still lacking sequel. Brashares' debut adult novel is well composed, precisely edited, and told with the fewest inconsistencies and holes I've ever read in such a complex story.
TMH on the other hand reads as a rough draft. It badly needs a good editor to go through it with a fine tooth comb, sculpting and molding what is there into a beautiful, and potentially best-selling, novel. Unfortunately, that best-selling novel is hiding under the poor sentence structure, inconsistent tense, and a few crucial holes that, if filled in, could catapult this story from ok to amazing.
All of that to say, I'd read Ms. Dumond's sequel to TMH in a heartbeat: well edited or not. TMH does leave you wanting to know more of Samuel and Madeline's story and that alone is worth reading any sequel for. I just hope that this author cares more about the story she has birthed than she does the number of followers, reviews or the size of the paycheck from the publishers. I've alway felt that authors who withhold required sequels because they don't have enough followers, publishers won't pay enough or they just get their panties all in a bunch, are some of the most selfish people out there and don't deserve to have the satisfaction of even a single follower.
So Ms. Dumond, if you are reading this, write your sequel for the fans no matter how few and far between they might seem. Remember writing is about the passion of the storytelling, not the greed of publicity or the size of a paycheck.
September 8, 2015
*This book was given to me by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.*
Madeline is just a 16 years old teenager woth anxiety problems... what she doesn't know is that she's a Messenger, a soul that can surpase time and space and bring messages of vital importance to one's life..
One day she travels to the Americas, hundreds of years before her time and falls in love with Samuel, a half-native boy that she can't love because their love is forbidden by the rules of a antiquated society.
Can Madelin live an impossible love? Can she escape the deadly Hunters that try to kill her? And, most important, can she be a Messenger?
I have to start by saiyng that I came to this book with little to no knowledge of what it was about and I did not regret it!
An adventure that surpases human logic while debating the antiquated and outdated rules of society that make you appreciate what you have and also teach you about family values and how important family is to you (even if you don't know it yet).
The way the author was able to create a new and refreshing story with characters that are tangible and at the same time spiritual and timeless. We all have Maddies and Samuels inside of us and we all want to experience their kind of love and companionship.
This book is a great start for a series and I really liked the way it ended: just on the right spot, not to soon that you were sad but soon enough that you urgently need to read the next installment.
If you like timeless journeys and a breathtaking learning experience about society's values with history and love in the mix, in a way that is so well blend together that you can't distinguish reality from fiction, then this book is right for you.
On my blog at:
http://thebewitchedreader.blogspot.pt...
Madeline is just a 16 years old teenager woth anxiety problems... what she doesn't know is that she's a Messenger, a soul that can surpase time and space and bring messages of vital importance to one's life..
One day she travels to the Americas, hundreds of years before her time and falls in love with Samuel, a half-native boy that she can't love because their love is forbidden by the rules of a antiquated society.
Can Madelin live an impossible love? Can she escape the deadly Hunters that try to kill her? And, most important, can she be a Messenger?
I have to start by saiyng that I came to this book with little to no knowledge of what it was about and I did not regret it!
An adventure that surpases human logic while debating the antiquated and outdated rules of society that make you appreciate what you have and also teach you about family values and how important family is to you (even if you don't know it yet).
The way the author was able to create a new and refreshing story with characters that are tangible and at the same time spiritual and timeless. We all have Maddies and Samuels inside of us and we all want to experience their kind of love and companionship.
This book is a great start for a series and I really liked the way it ended: just on the right spot, not to soon that you were sad but soon enough that you urgently need to read the next installment.
If you like timeless journeys and a breathtaking learning experience about society's values with history and love in the mix, in a way that is so well blend together that you can't distinguish reality from fiction, then this book is right for you.
On my blog at:
http://thebewitchedreader.blogspot.pt...
November 11, 2015
Awesome! Highly recommended
I have enjoyed Pamela DuMond's humorous mystery series, but while they are well written, they do not emphasize the high quality of writing that I found to stand out in this novel. For the most part, I have turned away from "darker" novels in the last few years, but as a DuMond fan, I had to try this one and luckily for me, I won a copy of the ebook from the author! The realistic depiction of social inequities, political manipulations, and harsh realities of earlier times that are mirrored in the present offered sad and frustrating moments made this book awesome even stronger. The history was well written and built into the story which is not always an easy job.
I loved the characters once I got to know the main character; that did take a bit but it was worth it, Dumond wove the modern past, the historical past and the "present" together well beautifully. It took the whole book for me to understand the job of the "messenger" but my discovery coincided with Madeline's so it was fair and appropriate. Although the protagonist is sixteen years old, the story is not a "young adult" book, it is a winner for readers of any age.
I see the romance between Madeline and Samuel as a potential topic of our time. I can't wait to see where this series leads.
Note: I seldom give 5 stars on Goodreads unless I have read as book several time because I am comparing these books to the best I ever read. At other sites, I rate according to how much I recommend a book to others. This is a 5 star recommendation.
I have enjoyed Pamela DuMond's humorous mystery series, but while they are well written, they do not emphasize the high quality of writing that I found to stand out in this novel. For the most part, I have turned away from "darker" novels in the last few years, but as a DuMond fan, I had to try this one and luckily for me, I won a copy of the ebook from the author! The realistic depiction of social inequities, political manipulations, and harsh realities of earlier times that are mirrored in the present offered sad and frustrating moments made this book awesome even stronger. The history was well written and built into the story which is not always an easy job.
I loved the characters once I got to know the main character; that did take a bit but it was worth it, Dumond wove the modern past, the historical past and the "present" together well beautifully. It took the whole book for me to understand the job of the "messenger" but my discovery coincided with Madeline's so it was fair and appropriate. Although the protagonist is sixteen years old, the story is not a "young adult" book, it is a winner for readers of any age.
I see the romance between Madeline and Samuel as a potential topic of our time. I can't wait to see where this series leads.
Note: I seldom give 5 stars on Goodreads unless I have read as book several time because I am comparing these books to the best I ever read. At other sites, I rate according to how much I recommend a book to others. This is a 5 star recommendation.
July 2, 2012
This young adult novel is strong on romance. Unlike most romance novels that are slow and rudderless, this book has a fast pace that employs a lot of thriller elements to keep the main plot moving. I especially loved the historical setting of 1675 as a backdrop. It’s a time of superstitions and blind faith among a group of colonists rigid in their ways and beliefs. In their eyes, almost everything is seen as witchcraft. And they wouldn’t hesitate to hang a teen girl who acted “strange.”
I also loved the way the Messengers traveled through time. They actually inhabit another person’s body…after they’re dead. This creates great suspense throughout the story as Madeline tries to make sense of her new identity while trying to figure out just who to trust and who to fear.
The Messenger’s Handbook is the first novel in this time-traveler series. It has some real potential and I look forward to seeing where the second book will take us.
I also loved the way the Messengers traveled through time. They actually inhabit another person’s body…after they’re dead. This creates great suspense throughout the story as Madeline tries to make sense of her new identity while trying to figure out just who to trust and who to fear.
The Messenger’s Handbook is the first novel in this time-traveler series. It has some real potential and I look forward to seeing where the second book will take us.
August 18, 2013
Like some other reviewers indicated, I really enjoyed the premise of this story - the plot was a lot of fun and benefited from some unique ideas. The biggest detractor was a lack of thorough editing. The writing was solid and the story was fun, but really needed a good editor to clean up some basic grammar and punctuation issues.
That having been said, I love time travel novels - I've always had a fascination with the past and any time a story can weave an ancestral mystery into a present day story, I'm always excited to see what they come up with. The only disappointment with the story itself was knowing I'd have to wait for the next novel in the series to see what happens.
That having been said, I love time travel novels - I've always had a fascination with the past and any time a story can weave an ancestral mystery into a present day story, I'm always excited to see what they come up with. The only disappointment with the story itself was knowing I'd have to wait for the next novel in the series to see what happens.
April 21, 2015
The major problems I had with The Messenger involved the writing. First and foremost, who even thinks it is okay to use texting abbreviations in narration? I saw "WTH?" - not as dialogue (which isn't really okay either), not as a text/email/etc - AS NARRATION. No. Just... no.
I also didn't like the main character. She came off as super immature, very whiny, and overall it wasn't enjoyable being in her head.
And, stereotypical mean girls.
... Not to mention the summary on Goodreads is completely different from the one on NetGalley, which I find bizarre. If I'd read the GR summary first I wouldn't have even requested it. Time travel romance? Ick.
I also didn't like the main character. She came off as super immature, very whiny, and overall it wasn't enjoyable being in her head.
And, stereotypical mean girls.
... Not to mention the summary on Goodreads is completely different from the one on NetGalley, which I find bizarre. If I'd read the GR summary first I wouldn't have even requested it. Time travel romance? Ick.
April 21, 2018
Time travel is tops on my short list of wishes. While I would not wish to live through colonial times, Madeline/Abigail's culture shock was entertaining. The book was vivid with imagery and detail. I felt like towards the end, I knew how most of the characters were going to end up...it was still fun finding out how they got there. The book read like a movie in my mind. I could see one being made, after all, the author has experience with Erin Brokovich.
June 6, 2012
When Madeline is kicked out of her regular life, she grows by leaps and bounds and she becomes stronger and more real to me. I really liked the last 15 or chapters when the story really began to move. And like all romantics, I love the idea of an everlasting soul mate and the wisdom to love the best we can in this life we're now in. There's a great setup for more...
July 5, 2013
What a great book! I like how the story has been told and the way things are described. Pamela's humor definitely spice up the story. To me, it's more like watching a movie than reading a book. Madeline is a real fighter, Samuel is a real lover and Angeni is a real caretaker. Malachi, is really evil!
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