Extracted

The Lost Imperials #1

by Sherry D. Ficklin, Tyler Jolley

Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

Genres: Steampunk, Time Travel, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

310 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2013

About the author

Sherry is the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
Sherry also writes contemporary romance under the pen name SJ Noble. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin.

Reviews

[Tyler Jolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AMAZING. How do I know? I co-wrote it, that's how!

[Sherry Ficklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, this is MY book, so I think it's amazing! I hope you all agree!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Time travel, steampunk, Rifters, and fixed points in time! It’s enough to make this Whovian* drool. These are the reasons I agreed to read Extracted the first book of The Lost Imperials series by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley. Gads, this was delightful, and I quickly became caught up in the action and characters. Mini review: original, fast-paced and an excellent start to an exciting new series with limitless possibilities.

The tale is told in dual prospective. Lex and Ember are rifters. When they joined the war, they lost the memory of their past lives. One works for the Tesla Institute led by Nicola Tesla and the other works for a rogue group of rifters called the Hollows run by Claymore. Both the Tesla and Hollows believe they are preserving the timeline against the other. When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a rift, the only way to save her is to go back into his own time-line. To do this safely, he must obtain a gadget known as the “Dox” from the Tesla headquarters. When he rifts, he discovers Ember and their memories come flooding back. The tale that unfolds kept me riveted from the world building to the characters.

The authors do an excellent job of giving each character voice allowing me to connect with them. Ember is strong, opinionated and questions everything. She has a love interest, but she is a leader first, and I admired her strength. Lex, how could I not love Lex, he is ready to die trying to save his girl. *swoon* He is strong, honest, and not quick to temper. The dual perspective really worked for this tale, not only because it allowed me to get inside Lex and Ember’s heads but also because it introduced us to both the Tesla and Hollow rifters. The authors provided solid, unique secondary characters. Stein, Lex’s girlfriend is bad-ass, with a little snark as she tells it like it is. Ethan is sure and a little cocky, but when it comes to Ember he is all gooey on the inside and I loved it. I really liked Nobel; he is a wizard with gadgets and gizmos. Gloves, oh my just wait till you meet him. Other characters added to the tale and weaved their way into my heart. Hey peeps, no love triangles or insta-love. The romances are secondary but help flesh out the characters.

Extracted was a fresh, unique and exciting beginning to the Lost Imperial series. It nailed time travel in a way that even the non-geek will enjoy. The world building was solid and rather than an info dump we were fed information throughout the tale. I love when an author paints a world in such a way that I can see it. It created a wonderful book high for me as I traveled alongside them. The pacing was beautifully done, from the alternating chapters to the converging of the two main character’s timeline. There were heart-stopping moments, chaos, elation and twists that made me smile. As a Dr. Who fan, I am familiar with the whole time continuum and the effects of time travel. The author’s grasp and take on fixed points was delightful. It had an air of believability; the plot was tight, and they felt in control of this epic world. While I still have questions, the tale wrapped up nicely after an intense and climatic event. They provided hints of what is to come, and I closed the book giddy with anticipation.

I recommend Extracted to fans of time travel, steampunk, fantasy and science fiction. Extracted is one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure to read in 2013. I am anxiously awaiting news regarding book two of the Lost Imperials.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the time I picked this one up I was so ready for something different and fun and filled with steampunk. It has been way too long since I have read a good steampunk novel that I was seriously starting to have withdrawals.

I found something to ease my craving and more in Extracted. Jolley and Ficklin really are a dynamic duo. Throw in the steampunk factor and add in some time traveling along with some historic details and you have one heck of a ride that you won't want to get off from.

Jolley and Ficklin did a fabulous job with this action packed, non stop fun, debut novel. The characters are loveable and the changing point of views was so well done, they blended and meshed seamlessly. Each main character (and even the secondary characters) added an element to the story that wouldn't have been there otherwise. They felt fleshed out and tangible. I felt like I knew them and cared for them instantly.

The world building isn’t lacking either, it gives you just enough to answer those pesky questions that pop up along the ride and leave enough hints along the way that let you know there is so much more to the story than the first glance, so much more to be devoured and discovered.

How the Rifters work, The Hollows and the Telsa Institute were.. well, you really need to read this to find out all about them because it was so ingenious and creative how they all came together, how time travel all works and how memories are not something to take lightly and should never be forgotten that I can't even begin to explain it. How the things that hold their world together are unimaginable and so precious. With time travel being always on the cusps of creating a rift or a paradox or messing up all their futures altogether, it is a wonder how it was all pulled together, explained and understood, but it was and it was done well.

Lex is one swoon worthy male. Strong, loyal, loving and fierce, he is one book boyfriend you will want to have and claim as your own.

Ember was a great heroine. Strong, fierce, sweet and full of compassion. But don't let her loving side fool you, this girl knows how to kick butt and isn't shy about it. She takes charge when needed and I loved that about her. She sees the good in people even when they don't always deserve it.

Flynn, Gloves, Stein, Ethan, Kara, and Nobel were all fascinating characters in and of themselves. I have always said that secondary characters can make or break a good book, regardless of how fabulous the main characters are and in this case, they all added to the mystery and greatness that made up the pages of this novel.

I really look forward to reading the next installment.

[Mitticus · Rating 2 out of 5]

+Digital copy gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+

Even though I love the steampunk-art style, to tell the truth, I am not a big fan of steampunk novels. But, the 'time-travel' thing get my attention in this case.

“The time stream is a very unique organism. Every time that exists in the past, present, and future, and every event in it, has a unique frequency.”

This book contain many action scenes, between two groups. The goal? Ah, that's the problem: I have no clue. Basically, is a war between the Tesla Institute and the Hollows. A time war.

Through the eyes of two protagonist from either side: Ember (from Tesla), and Lex (from the Hollows), and their POVs, we follow this strange race between the groups. Tesla Institute presented as a very controled place, testing their people, ruled by a brain. Yep, not kidding.


And the Hollow's rifters as misfits, anarquic and thieves.

I’ve heard rumors about kids who rift for the first time accidentally. I shudder, imagining how frightening that must be, just landing in the stream and not knowing how you got there. Even worse, the ones who are lucky enough to find their way out of the stream usually land in some random place in time with few memories of who they were or what they did. It’s those lost children the Hollows like to recruit. Strays, Tesla calls them. Mutts.

But the idea of who is in the wrong here start to change among the story, one is starting to seem some mad scientist after some kind of inmortality? But the divition between the two groups still is unknown, something more happen in the past that is hinted .

With so many things left hanging, confusing , and without answers...like Who is Claymore? And how he/it do that?:
Staring us down, Gloves adds, “Your whole existence is because of Claymore.”
And how they discovered about the snails and he Contra??

Other thing that bothers me is any time Stein (the love interest of Lex) is mentioned is to talk about her beauty, even as her worst. Even if I enjoy a good kick-ass heroine , to me exalting the beauty of the bleeding , hurting girl is really weird and disturbing.

Next to me, Stein groans. I lean over and give her a shake. She rolls onto her side in the grass, pressing her face against the ground. I can see angry red burns crisscrossing her exposed skin. She’s breathing hard, probably trying to get a grip on the pain. A chunk of her hair is melted into a glob just below her chin, but otherwise, she looks all right.
And a moment later:
“Maybe we should go get cleaned up and bandaged first?” Ethan says, pointing to my foot, which I’m holding up gingerly. “Besides, Stein is pushing the no shirt, no shoes, no service policy.”
I look over and see that he’s right. Her shirt is mostly shredded. Somehow, it still manages to look good on her.

EXCUSE ME? she is hurt, burned, bleeding, but because hert shirt is ripped she look 'GOOD'?

Overall, what is the goal of the teams? what they want accomplished?
I don't know.

_Clever use of some ideas atributed to the original Tesla.
_Not really sure about using the imperial characters.
_I'm curious enought to be willing to read the next book.

[Renee Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, exciting read! I was completely drawn in by the fascinating and unique steampunk world of EXTRACTED. From the cool gadgets, to the interesting and endearing cast of characters. Plus, there's time travel! And romance! What more could you ask for, right?

The plot is fast paced and action-packed, filled with twists and turns. I was hooked all the way through to the pulse-pounding conclusion. Such a unique concept! I can't say more without giving away spoilers.

Put this one on your TBR pile. It's an exciting ride you won't soon forget.

[J.A. Belfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure what expect from Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler Jolley, as I could clearly see from the cover that it contains elements of steampunk, and the most experience I’d had with steampunk was from reading Something Strange and Deadly, so I headed into it pretty blind. And reluctantly so.
I say reluctantly, because it also had vibes of sci-fi and fantasy, with its promise of time-travel, and if you know me, then you know sci-fi is something I run away from (fast). However, the time-travel element won me over, so I opened the first page and just hoped they didn’t bamboozle me with too much tech-talk.
And, they didn’t. Mostly, anyway. That isn’t to say this book isn’t filled with imaginative genius, because it pretty much is (in my opinion). More that the genius is there at just the right level and description that it didn’t bog down my reading pace or stall my brain. And that pacing in here? Man, it’s just quite awesome. Usually, with sci-fi, fantasy, anything that requires too much brain power on my behalf, can take me DAYS!!!!! to read. Extracted took me only 2.somethingsmall, thanks to the great action after action after action that is this book. Seriously.
The opening chapter boots us from one end to the other with its kicka$$ speed and content, and every following chapter did exactly the same. I’d expected the pace and action to slow once we’d been suckered in, which is what usually happens, but with Extracted, the reader barely has time to breathe.
To be honest, for the first 40%-ish of the book, I did wonder where it was all going. Because we have two POVs, Lex and Ember, who are on opposing ‘sides’, and for a while, it seems as though we’re spending a little time with each of them in random scenes, with random mini-adventures, with no apparent connection. It didn’t bother or frustrate me, though, as I trusted in the authors to be giving me something relevant rather than Lala-Land waffle, and trying to figure out how it would all weave together was a truly enjoyable challenge. But I didn’t figure it all out—which isn’t a bad thing, because that just made the AHA! moment all the greater. I mean, dude! I really, really, really didn’t see it coming. And I love when a book pulls that off.
Okay, so I realise like it probably seems like I’m waffling mindlessly, but this is a very hard review to write without giving any spoilers away, so maybe I should just natter about the characters and whatnot instead.
Lex. I loved Lex. From the off. He’s cool, he’s hawt, he’s tough, and he gives a damn. Great, great, GREAT believable MC, who makes that insta-connection I love in characters pretty darn easy.
Ember. So … imagine Lex … but a female version. Yeah, I think that sums her up. So, win number 2 on the character front, then.
Ethan. Le sigh. Okay, so I loved Lex. BUT I fancied the freaking pants off Ethan (which probably makes me kind of a lech considering my age, but we won’t discuss that *cough*). He’s as headstrong as Lex but with slightly (and only slightly) less attitude.
Stein. She’s hot and kicka$$ in an arrogant yet almost sexy kind of way. She certainly seems to be perceived as sexy to other characters—whatever their gender. I’d love to see more of that oozing from the page in the following books so I can feel it slightly more, too. And I want some of that pizzazz back that I felt between her and Lex that was there before … um … ‘something’ happened. *shifty eyes*
Around those, we have Kara (yeah, um, I had her number), and Nobel (loved this dude—so cool), and all of the lesser mentioned part of the team but no less colourful. Plus, we had the bigwigs who kind of preside over them all—each side as seemingly control-freaky as the other, in their own way, so it was difficult for a while to figure out whose team, exactly, the reader should be batting for. And I loved how everything in here ties in to actual history. I’ll admit, AS I read the book, I had no idea who Tesla was ‘based’ on (I failed history at school—no joke), but I’d read the author blurb on the front cover that mentioned about the book rewriting history (or words to that effect) and so wondered over it, and then in the back of the book amongst the authors notes, the history references are explained. It’s also pretty easy to Google the history behind the premise of this book. I didn’t need that to make the story credible to me, but it certainly made it a whole lot cooler.
So, what about the plot? Well, as I already mentioned above that there didn’t seem to be a solid plot for a while, even though there is just something about the expert way in which its written that reassures you it’s coming, you just have to be patient. And I loved the plot. I love the ‘hinted at’ possibility of a certain someone that could (translate: most probably will) spill over into the next book and make a reappearance like a dodgy Terminator. And I loved all the twists and turns, the actions, the reveals … yeah, it’s a cool story, for sure.
The only gripes I have are in the consistency of the writing. There were times when the writing was really quite brilliant, times when the writing was okay, and times when the writing stumbled my reading flow slightly. But when it was brilliant, it was very brilliant, and I wanted to see more of that brilliance and a little less of the stumbling—especially during the very high action scenes. Because there were a good few scenes in there that I couldn’t follow. Now, admittedly, that might have been in part due to me and my personal struggles with sci-fi and whatnot, but an action scene is an action scene, and I had more than one occasion when I couldn’t place characters’ positions, or how far away certain things/people were, or … well, you get the picture. And I’m a clarity girl—I need it if I’m going to read with complete ease. Also, there were a few occasions where actions were duplicated. I don’t mean, the same action verb was used repetitively. I mean, I counted at least 3/4 occasions where a character would hand something to another character (for example), and then a few paragraphs later, they would hand over, again, the very thing they’d already handed over. However, this was an uncorrected proof that I read, so those errors may well have been caught before this goes to print, but it did trip my flow. So, these couple of bugbears of mine are responsible for the lack of star, because if I’d gone the entire read without confusion, I’d have coloured myself wowed (considering the genre/s), and this would have been an easy 5 stars.
So to sum up: historically fun, imaginatively brilliant, with action and action and more action, with great characterisation, Extracted is a mightily woven tale that should earn itself a spot on many a time-travel lovers bookcase, and I, for one, am very much looking forward to book 2.
And to sum it up in one word: Cool!

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly likable characters benefit this moderately sketchy steampunk time-travel series...

Book Title: Extracted
Author: Sherry Ficklin & Tyler Jolley
Series: The Lost Imperials #1
Genre: Steampunk, Time-Travel, YA
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Source: *I received a Netgalley Arc in exchange for honest review

☆My Pick for Book Theme Song: I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin


Ratings Breakdown

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
The Feels: 3.5/5
Addictiveness: 3.5/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 2/5
Backdrop (World Building): 3.8/5
Originality: 4/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Ending: 3/5. Cliffhanger: Yes

Will I continue this series? I think so…

3.5/5 STARS

My Thoughts

The first few chapters of this are very scattered, I just couldn't make sense of anything, and I really wanted to DNF…but I hung in there and slowly, things started clicking together. Not fully together, but enough that I enjoyed the story. By the end, despite the major editing flaws*, I was actually feeling like I might want to explore this world further.

I adored the characters in this book, Lex & Ember...Stein and Ethan, plus many more...the only issue is keeping all of them straight in your head.

Sex Factor: None at all.

*Every chapter in this book is headed with a name whose head you're in and one of the last chapters is labeled wrong, that screwed me all up and I had reread that entire chapter.

[Belkis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I didn't know what to expect form this book. All I knew was that I'd been wanting to read it since before it's release. The book blurb and bookcover were just so intriguing and made it sound like something up my literary alley and boy was it ever! Loved the fact that it mixed the mystery of the Romanov family, time travel/paradoxes, and steampunk elements. Such an interesting story! Can't wait to find out what happens next. Need book 2 ASAP!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read ALL YEAR! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I totally would. I wish I could. True story. So much so, I'm not even sure of where to start my review. So first I'll start by thanking Spencer Hill Press for providing me with an early copy (uncorrected proof) of this book at BEA. This was the one I was most excited to get, so I got on line right away! Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
Welcome to the war.
The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.
The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.
Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.
When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.
Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

So, in all honesty, I am not really sure where to start with this review. And it's taken me a long time to even formulate just a bit to put down on paper because I have so many feelings that I want to share. If you like time traveling, if you like science function, if you like kick butt main characters, then this book will draw you in and never let you go.

Let me start with the cover. If anyone knows me, they know I am a HUGE fan of Lisa Amowitz and her designs. This cover is NO exception. It is absolutely gorgeous. I love the color scheme, how it totally incorporates that Steampunk feel to it, plus the male model is quite handsome. And the lightening is quite an interesting touch, seeing as this book revolves around Tesla. I have nothing negative to say about this cover in any way. It's my favorite cover of any book in 2013. The cover completely suits this book, I beg you to tell me otherwise!

The characters, oh, so many feelings are evoked when I think about them. I'm always concerned with books that are told in two points of view. I'm afraid I won't be able to tell the characters apart, or I'll get too confused with who is speaking and what's going on. Not so with this book because the characters are so well defined in their personalities that you can't possibly mistake one for the other when reading their chapters. Ficklin and Jolley have done a masterful job in fleshing out each character's quirks and traits, making them relatable and realistic, and lovable all at the same time!
Let's start with Ember. She is TOUGH. It's so great to see a heroine who is not lolly-gagging after a guy and pouting the entire time as she tries to get him. She's all about doing the job and keeping her team safe. She knows who her family and friends are even if she can't remember her past. It's amazing to watch her grow and change as she finds out who she is and what has happened to her. Of course, her romance is a great part of this book. What I liked most about it is that it was not the central part of what was going on. She knew she had to take care of things, even if she also knew that she couldn't live without the one she loved. And she's funny and quirky and just all around amazing.
Lex, well, he is up there with swoon worthy book boyfriends in my opinion. Not only is he good looking, but he's sweet and honest and pure. And he is completely and totally loyal, to a fault (which you'll understand when you read the book, no spoilers from me). He, like Ember, is not afraid to go after what he wants. And he is also funny. I love his connection to Ember and how they share the fact that they have both lost memories but are slowly getting them back.
And there is so much to say about all the secondary characters in this book. Stein is certainly strong, smart and stubborn. And I love how Ethan is so cocky, yet it doesn't seem to bother Ember. Their banter is phenomenal and you can totally see that they get each other. Kara is an amazing best friend, although she did get me mad at one point in the book and I wanted to throttle her a bit. But in the end she redeemed herself. As for Nobel, he is a true best friend to Lex for sure. Super supportive and just downright probably one of the smartest out of the whole crew! Both Teslas and Claymore are equally creepy in their own way. And Gloves, well, you'll have to go ahead and get to know him because you will for sure find him to be one of the most interesting characters you have ever met.

One of the most amazing things about this book being in two POV is how seamlessly Ficklin and Jolley's writing come together. If there weren't two authors listed on the front, I would never have guessed that it was written by two people. Every chapter plays out right in your mind. You can actually see what is going on, as if you're watching a movie in wide screen. There are no breaks in continuity, no missing plot pieces. It's as if Ficklin and Jolley are the same person, but believe me, I've met them, they are not. And, since I have met them, I can totally see each of their personalities in the characters they have written. It's amazing!

And the plot, how the authors kept things straight in their minds, I will never know! Just think, these characters are constantly traveling back in time, but trying not to alter things, and definitely trying not to meet themselves in the process. It's a fine line that they walk. And when they do return to the same timeline, they take a chance of ripping a hole in the seam of the time continuum. Yup, it's not easy to get all that straight. But Sherry and Tyler totally managed it and there are no holes, there are no inconsistencies. The flow continues on and on and you're amazed at how well it all comes together. It's fast paced and fun, with some heart stopping moments where you are sure to catch your breath. I could not help but turn page after page once I started. There's nothing boring, nothing slow about this book in the least. It's completely original and unlike any other time travel story I have read. Plus, it incorporates elements of Steampunk which are just amazing from gadgets that terrorize the Rifters, to things that help keep them grounded and give them the ability to get back to their own time line. It is ingenious, creative and inventive.

Honestly, there's not much more I can say without delving into the story and giving away all the plot secrets. This is a must read of this year. By far my favorite book I have picked up and read. I'm sorry it took me so long after BEA to get to it (I wanted to start it once it was in my hand but other commitments didn't allow that to happen!). One thing I can tell you is that the book does not end on a cliff hanger, there is certainly an opening for the next one in the series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it and see what adventures Ember and Lex will go on next.

5/5 hard fist bumps from me for sure (or an A+++++++++++!)

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Once in awhile a book will come along and completely blow me away. I don't even know where to begin. I've read my share of sci-fi books before, but this is the stuff that makes my reading escape an entertaining and solid experience. Ficklin and Jolley are bright new voices in science fiction genre with their explosive novel, Extracted!

First off, I have to applaud the writing here. Ficklin and Jolley gotz skills. You would never know this was co-written by two different authors. Chapter after chapter the flow and pace of the story is smooth, controlled and engaging. The voices were pitch perfect and the tone of the book was filled with wild action and stunning intrigue. There is so much depth in this story and so different then any other time travel book out there. The concept is really very cool. I love the idea of time travel, but this one is mind-bending on a whole new level of awesome. I love the idea of the time stream not only being a window into history, but being some kind of tangible force making it almost physically alive. I also love the idea of combining two characters, Ember and Lex who are rivalry time travelers and connecting them to an important historical family, but with no memory of who they were or what they meant to each other. That conflict made the story even more exciting then it already was, keeping me invested and enthralled from the first page till it's gripping conclusion.

There is a lot happening here plot wise, so I'm not going to try to explain it since I think readers will want to discover all the mind boggling twist and turns this book has to offer. It's not hard to follow, mind you, but near the end of the book it starts to go from complicated to crazy-complicated and I had to really concentrate on every word to make sure that I wasn't missing anything. But once everything is said and done, it left me feeling satisfied and in awe. The ending is also really decent without any cliffhangers to drive us insane, but there is still enough questions that makes me want the second book that much sooner.

I really love all of these characters. All of them are tremendously kick-ass in their own ways that make them easy to connect with and enjoy.
Lex is a natural leader. He's a confident in control character who is loyal and brave. I love that he doesn't even hesitate when it come to finding a way to get Stein back no matter the consequences. Stein is my kind of girl. She's a feisty little thing that's strong and smart. She doesn't need a man to protect her, she's fierce enough that she can hold her own but still excepts help when she needs it. Ember is a lot more powerful and strong then she believes, but she doubts herself and her abilities. Somewhere in her (erased) memories she knows she's failed someone and she can't shake the feeling that it'll happen again. It was really great to see her confidence grow throughout the story. Ethan is a lot like Lex, but he has a playful coolness and a punk arrogance about him that makes you want to hug instantly. Nobel is also another character that I really enjoyed. He's an awesome friend and a genius when it comes to the time tech gadgets that were pretty wicked stuff.
The romance in this book is very light but the moments we did get were warm and sweet. It may not have been the main focus of the book but it still wraps around the intentions and actions that lead these characters to go to the extreme, which was pretty romantic when you think about it.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book and mighty impressed. The concept is captivating, engaging and fascinating. The story-line is pulse pounding amazing, the writing is effortless and effective and these characters will climb into your heart and never let go. I can't wait to see where Ficklin & Jolley will take this next. This is one time travel experience that will have you begging for more.
Brilliantly done!

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 time-bending stars!

‘Extracted’ is the first in a series of steampunk time-travel novels; the best I’ve ever read!

Authors Ficklin and Jolley seamlessly integrate steampunk inventions, clothing, and accessories into a clear to follow and fast-paced plot. The main characters and their significant others are developed and complex. It was a joy to read such fleshed out characters, to understand their motivations and to agree with their thoughts completely.

‘Extracted’ is told through the duel points of view of Lex and Ember, which blend together to provide readers with a more complete picture of the story than either character has on their own. When the story begins, Lex is a member of the Hallows, and Ember is a student of the Tesla Institute. They are time travelers, but on opposite sides of the war between the Hallows and the Institute; each group asserting that they protect changes in the time stream from the other.

Each group has their own method by which they travel through time, clearly explained and easy to understand. However, both methods lead to each traveler losing their memory on their first trip into the time stream. When Lex and Ember run into each other, their memories come flooding back and create even more questions than they answer for the reader.

Though there are two additional published books (Prodigal and Riven), and one future release (Absolution) in The Lost Imperials series, ‘Extracted’ does not end on a cliffhanger. It is clear that the story can now go in any direction, and to any time period, but there is no annoying feeling of absence so often present in cliffhangers. Excited to spend more time in this universe and with these characters. Onward to read ‘Prodigal!’

I recommend this page-turner to any reader who enjoys time travel, steampunk, YA and fantasy.

Currently available for only $0.99 on Amazon!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to post a review everywhere when it gets closer to release date--but I'm telling you... this book is awesome! One of my best reads this summer. Oh--and no, I'm not biased just because I designed the cover. It's really that good!

Follow-up That time is here! EXTRACTED came out today, and in honor of that auspicious event, here is the rest of my review:

This book is action-packed, incredibly imaginative and reads like a screen play. Basically, I could not put it down, and every time I tried, it taunted me into picking it back up again to continue reading.

I really enjoyed knowing that the two different points of view were written by different authors. Both Sherry and Tyler have their own distinctive style, yet meld very nicely together to form a cohesive and exciting narrative. Your really have to focus to make sure you don't miss any delicious detail, but it's worth it!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel requires a lot of concentration from me. I tend to get lost in the worlds and times that these people travel and I suspect that if I were to travel this way I would end up in a space suit with dinosaurs running around. That being said, I have read a few time travel stories and have really enjoyed them. This is one of those.

I can't really explain the happenings in this book because like I said it requires a lot of concentration and I would only end up confusing you instead of giving you a review. But I can say that Ember and Ethan and Lex and Stein have a very exciting time. The book is very well written and I could actually keep up. I enjoyed the four main characters and got to be really close with them.

If you enjoy time travel this is a great one to read.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Historical, Steampunk, Science Fiction
*Rating* 4.0

*MY Thoughts*

Extracted is the first installment in co-authors Sherry Ficklin & Tyler Folley's The Lost Imperials series. Extracted is a story that is being re-released by Clean Team Publishing with additional material. It is a story that has all my favorite elements; Steampunk, Time Travel, Science Fiction, and Alternative History with historical figures. Extracted alternates narratives between two individuals who are on the opposite sides of time traveling war and have no memories of their past.

*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

*Published: August 15th 2016 by Clean Teen Publishing

[Kara Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extracted was originally published a few years ago, but this edition is apparently “expanded” and contains “bonus material”. I don’t know about that, but I do know that I had never heard of this series until now, and that makes me sad. I’m glad that I got a copy of this to review through NetGalley, because Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley have written some fun and original time travel here.

The setup is easy to explain and quite exciting: the two protagonists belong to two competing factions of time travellers. Does that not sound intriguing? The book alternates between their viewpoints, so we get to see Ember’s training as part of the technologically-advanced Tesla Institute and Lex’s fun times as part of the grittier Hollows. To up the stakes, your first time travel journey wipes away most of your long-term memories, giving you a suspiciously clean slate. As Ember and Lex’s timelines converge, their past identities become important while all hell breaks loose.

The idea of competing time travel factions is brilliant. I picture the Tesla Institute as being brightly lit, chrome and white, while the Hollows’ Wardenclyffe Tower is much dingier and dirtier. We see rival time travellers on occasion, of course, but Ficklin and Jolley have distilled the idea down into a simple, eminently workable concept. I love the somewhat divergent philosophies of the two groups, with the Teslas’ reliance on a technological Tether to “rift” through the time-stream while the Hollows use biologically-produced “Contra” pills to rift. More importantly, Ficklin and Jolley pull of the tight-rope walk of not making either faction seem superior in terms of ideology.

For the first half of the book or so, we get to see both approaches to time travel. We hear Ember and the Teslas criticize the irresponsibility of the Hollows while Lex and his buddies put down the Teslas. Of course, one can’t help but wonder if the truth of the matter is somewhere in between the two stories … but Ficklin and Jolley don’t rush us to this crisis. We get to see a sufficient amount of time travel first, enough to establish ground rules without too much exposition.

Time travel stories often go wrong by trying to exploit the mechanics of time travel in a mind-bendy way but then failing to live up to its expectations. Ficklin and Jolley walk another fine line here, but I think they succeed. Extracted is full of predestination paradoxes and information loops and other timey-wimey goodness, but at the end, it all makes sense. Well, as much sense as any time travel story can.

While time travel becomes a vehicle for conflict, and helps create that conflict, this is still ultimately a story about humans and human relationships. You might think, this being YA, that Ember and Lex are destined to fall in lurrrrve, maybe with a lurrrrve triangle sneaking in somewhere there. I don’t want to spoil it; I’ll just say the truth is more complex than that. I love how Extracted continuously and consistently raises the stakes and has characters adapt to the situation at hand: enemies become allies as the situation dictates, even if there is reluctance on both sides. I like that everyone has a part to play, but that not everyone plays the same part. Kara and Ethan are a great example like this: they are both forced to choose between their loyalty to Ember as a friend and their loyalty to Tesla. They make different choices, consistent with their characters. As situations change and the characters learn new information, their loyalties, alliances, and choices change accordingly, even as they seek to achieve their unchanging goals.

It’s a little bit selfish of Lex to risk a universe-destroying paradox just to save someone he loves, but hey, if Superman can do it for Lois Lane, I guess Lex gets one.

(No, Lex is not secretly Lex Luthor. You get that spoiler for free.)

If I have any complaint or critique, it’s merely that parts of this book are not as deep as I’d like. One of the early scenes, where we first see Lex and the rest of the Hollows at their hideout, gave me serious PTSD flashbacks to Shadowhunters and its secret facility. I kept picturing Lex and Stein in terrible fake leather outfits play fighting before they go off to clubs (because young people all hang out in clubs and wear fake leather like a network TV ripoff of Blade, right?). The impromptu fight/training sequence between those two felt a little too much like an attempt to establish Extracted as a “cool” and “hip” action book. Similarly, there is a very awkward name-drop that foreshadows Ember and Lex’s connected identities. For a book so deeply connected to the Lost Imperials and a specific moment in history, Ficklin and Jolley do little to explore that connection beyond that single scene and a few other throwaway bits of exposition.

I guess one of the benefits of republication is that I don’t have to wait to read the next books in the series! Extracted is everything I look for in a good time travel novel, so I look forward to tracking down the next books and continuing the story of the fight between Teslas, Hollows, and whatever else lurks out there in the time-stream.

(Just a note, more for my sake than anyone else’s, but this is my 100th finished book of 2016!)

[Michelle Pickett]

I was so excited to get my copy of “Extracted!” I couldn’t wait to delve into the world Sherry and Tyler created. And what a world it is! The world building in the book is incredible, so imaginative. Of course, knowing the authors, I expected no less. But I still wasn’t prepared for how involved it was. I felt like I was transported to different worlds with Lex and Ember.

The characters, though, were what I was really interested in. I was anxious to see how Sherry and Tyler’s writing combined into one cohesive story line. They both have their unique style and voice, but it is incredible how they meld together to make the characters just jump off the page. I was so impressed by how Sherry’s “Ember” and Tyler’s “Lex” were so obviously different, but how well they fit together at the same time. I can’t explain how well the two person/two character dynamic was done. As an author I was interested in how working with another author would translate on the page—Sherry and Tyler just nailed it. It’s just, wow!

The story is outstanding. Well thought out, fast paced, and bubbling with excitement. It’s one of the most original, imaginative, intricate stories I think I’ve read. I don’t even know how to review the book without giving away some important morsel of spoiler information. I think this is definitely a book you need to experience yourself…not have a reviewer summarize for you. But be warned—you will need to block out some time in your calendar because once you pick this book up, you aren’t going to leave it willing until you reach the last page….and then you’re going to start cursing like a sailor at last call, because, if you’re like me, you’ll want the second book in the series like, yesterday!

Bottom line: I knew this book was going to be good, but I had no idea that it would blow me away, because I’ll let you in on a secret—I don’t really care for the steampunk genre (yeah, yeah, stop yelling at me). And, I don’t really get into time travel, either. So when I say I liked a steampunk, time-travel story…well, it’s not just “good” it’s fan-friggin’-tastic.

Wait! Are you still reading this? Why? You should be running, and I do mean running, to buy your copy of “Extracted” by Sherry Ficklin (Hey, roomie!) and Tyler Jolley (Fist bump). They are great people. I had an opportunity to meet them at Book Expo America in NYC last year and they are two extremely nice—and wonderfully crazy—people. But apart from being awesome people, they are incredibly talented authors.

If “Extracted” is an indication of the work Ficklin and Jolley will produce in the years to come, we’ll be seeing them around A LOT! And that’s, to use Sherry’s favorite word, Fan-tas-tic!

Hey, Sherry and Tyler! Can’t wait to see “Extracted” on the big screen…I have a feeling. :)

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extracted is one of those novels that will leave you on the edge of your seating, turning the pages in anticipation of what wonderful things you'll find on the next page. The book centers around time time travelers called Rifters. The main characters are Lex and Ember and the story is told from both their points of view with Ficklin writing Ember's character and Jolley writing Lex's. Both the authors did an excellent job in writing their characters and bringing the story together. I loved Lex's character, he's a totally hot and swoon-worthy book boyfriend, and Ember is quite the heroine. There are quite a few secondary characters that were fun to get to know and added so much to the story. Lex and Ember are in the midst of, as well as part of a time war, and find themselves torn between the two rival factions that are battling it out, the Hollows and The Telsa Institute.

Extracted is filled with nonstop heart-pounding action, adventure, danger, and a little romance. If you are looking for something different and/or are a fan of steampunk, science fiction, and time travel, then this is just the book for you. I found it to be a very entertaining and enjoyable read that will get your blood pumping, and I think this is something teens and adults alike would enjoy.

Favorite Quote:
We've never formally been introduced to the students from the Tesla Institute because every time we meet, things go from zero to face punch too quickly for small talk.

[Erika]

You had me at time travelers and time war.


As soon as I saw those words I thought Doctor Who. I've been waiting for something like this.


Please be awesome.

[Judith Graves]

Brother and sister bound to opposing factions, each fighting to preserve the balance of time - talk about sibling rivalry. But as Lex and Ember unearth the origins of their respective leaders they are forced to decide where their true loyalties lie. Authors, Ficklin and Jolley, have hammered out a clockwork tale filled with mystery, action, and alternate history. Once the gears of this book lock you into place, prepare to be EXTRACTED from the here and now, and thrust into a daring new world.

[Dvora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! The only problem is that I personally have difficulty with time travel books, I get confused easily. That being said, my heart was ripped out of my body at one particular part and just when I thought things were going to be OK, it happened all over again. I was so emotional I couldn't believe how invested my feelings became a part of this book. Amazing story, different than I have ever read before. I can't wait to read the second book!!!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extracted had an interesting, Telsa based, steampunk and time travel plot.

There are two fractions of time traveling teenagers that purpose for traveling seem to be at odds. Secret plots, hidden agendas and deceptions abound as these teens traverse an ever changing world.

The premise was exactly what I love to read, but something fell short for me in the world building and characters and I just could not connect to this story.

[harshini]

ARGHH!!!! Did I see Nicola Tesla!!!????? I NEED this book!!

[Brigid ✩]

Oh man, this sounds really badass.

[Alexandra]

Deleted prologue scene available to read free on author's website,

http://thelostimperials.com/bonus/

[Robyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kindle Daily Deal from sometime in December

Blech.

First, if you are in any way a fan of Nikola Tesla, don't pick up this book. I know it's tempting, he's mentioned in the plot synopsis in an important role. Don't do it. This book takes a real person, Tesla, and changes everything about his personality, turning him into an obsessive sociopath. How kind is that? Let's make sure that teens who read this book come away thinking that the only person in the book who was a historical figure is a real asshole!

Only one of these characters has redeeming qualities, and that person is weak. Everybody else is a horrible human being, motivated by really unpleasant things, to do unacceptable activities. Conveniently, in two very small groups that cover a wide age range, each of the two main characters gets to be partnered up with someone of the opposite gender that they can "fall in love with"! Hooray! Except that there is never any reason shown for the two main characters to even particular like the people they love, let alone actually have serious romantic and intimate feelings for them. They're just convenient, the right age, and the opposite gender. It's not love, either. What is written in this book isn't even strong enough to be puppy love or teen crushes. How people can think this is romantic, I cannot fathom. I guess the same people who think Romeo and Juliet is an epic love story.

So let's move on to the scifi, shall we? The laughably ridiculous pseudo-science written into this book is insulting to the reader. You can't just string some sciencey words together and pretend that explains anything. "I'll throw some gears into a grinder and they'll become nanites, and that'll be the solution because, well, nanites!" NO. "Binds to your neural pathways, so that brings you right on back here!" NO. If you know nothing about science and don't feel like researching it, don't effing write it. And on that same theme, if you've not bothered to spend any time learning about time travel fiction and the way that works, don't write a time travel novel. "I've created a paradox that is unravelling time itself! Of course there are still times and places I can travel to. Of course this is happening here and there in time, not everywhere at once. Of course it's caused time to overlap itself but I can still go to a given time, do what I planned to do there, and leave that time, returning to the time I started from. Obviously a paradox that unravels the entire existence of time and the time stream wouldn't happen at every time and every place at once simultaneously and instantaneously. That's...oh, wait."

I'm not even giving this a spoiler tag, because it starts so early in the book. The Romanovs? Really?! Because that hasn't been done to death over the past 100 years? In what way was that even necessary? The main characters showed none of the traits of their former selves except a sudden ability to speak Russian once they know who they are (convenient, that), everything else has apparently been trained out of them in her case or...I don't know why it's all gone in his case. So they are these two people in name only, and the only apparent reason is to make them seem extra special and because apparently people with royal blood are better rifters.

Seriously, nothing redeeming here. Waste of a couple hours of my time.

Update: I can't believe I forgot to mention this, I remembered while driving to an appointment today and had to come back and add it. It is not ok to have your main character, the person that readers are supposed to like best and identify with, the sole person who has redeeming qualities...it is NOT OK to have her body-shame, even if she does it behind the person's back (especially if she does it behind the person's back). Just as it would be unacceptable to have Ember mock a female stranger for being fat, it is just as unacceptable to have her use the line that she "wanted to give this chick a sandwich" because "who even wears a size 2, anyway?" and other anti-thin comments. How would teen readers who are a natural size 2 feel about that? How would teen readers who are naturally thin and constantly have people harping on them to "eat a sandwich" or "get some meat on those bones" feel? How would teen readers who see those horrible memes with "real women have curves" feel to be reading a story and maybe liking Ember and suddenly Ember is hating on a 16 year old that she doesn't even know, just because she's thin? I am disgusted that a grown man and woman would write that into a book aimed at teens. It is irresponsible and cruel.

[Amy Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Actual rating 3.5 stars.

As you all know, I am always worried when reading a book about time travel. It can get confusing and lose me pretty easily. If they get too much into the science aspect, I feel like I am back in school again. Luckily, this one didn't lose me... completely. There are two different methods of time travel in this, so there was a bit of confusion at some points. I was able to grasp it all eventually though, so it didn't ruin my enjoyment of this at all. It was also full of action which I loved. It was exciting and kept my attention. This is told from two different POV's, Lex and Ember. Though I didn't enjoy some of the characters, and was easily annoyed at times, I did fall easily into the story and felt that I was engaged in the story. I was looking forward to the outcome and loved where it ended up.

Lex is who's POV we start with. He is on a mission to steal some plans from the past that will benefit his home base. He is part of the Hollows, a group of people who can travel through the time stream. Otherwise known as Rifters. He is tough and cocky. I did like him though. He is also very devoted, a great friend, and will do anything for those he cares about. Even if it means tearing apart time to do it. When he meets Ember, things take a turn and he questions everything he has ever known. Unfortunately, I don't think it made him stronger. In fact, I thought that it made him more emotional and distracted. He is still a great Rifter, but he lets his past and his possible future get the best of him a little. Though I don't think it made him stronger, I do think it made him more real. I tried to place myself in his shoes, and I don't know that I would do things any differently.

Ember is part of Tesla, The Hollows enemies. She is one chick I would not want to mess with. She could kick my butt through time no problem!! Under her toughness though, she is compassionate and sensitive. She is having dreams of what can only be her past and she seems to be unraveling. When she meets Lex, her memories come flooding back and it's quite emotional for her. She knows that she needs to find him even though he is supposed to be the enemy. He will never be an enemy to her. When she finds him, they go on some pretty insane missions and mess with the time stream to the point of possible destruction.

Now onto the time travel aspect. They are both from different sets of Rifters which travel through time in completely different ways. This is where I was confused at first, but really it's just different technologies. Tesla uses machine type tech with rings, arm cuffs, and ear pieces to converse with Tesla. The Hollows use Contra, a type of pill that can transport them to specific times and places. Neither was gone into in great detail, just enough for you to get the general idea of it. There is a lot more to it than that though, but I can't really say much more without ruining anything. Just that there paths were destined to cross at some point.

The action in this was awesome. It was keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel the tension type action. We get the lulls in between things, but it is very much one thing after another, ensuring that you won't get bored with this. It had me turning pages until my eyes were heavy and I literally couldn't read more without falling asleep. Even if you aren't a fan of time travel, this book is quite an adventure. This was a fun and tension filled read that many will enjoy!!

*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

First I have to start by saying that ever since I heard about this book and I when I saw the cover (isn’t it gorgeous?) I knew I had to read it, it sounded really great! I haven’t read much steampunk related books but still that genre seems so appealing and fascinating to me, and also, I quite like the idea of time traveling so yeah all these elements made me wanted to read it even more. And now that I have read it, let me tell you it went beyond the expectations I had, it’s an amazing story!!

Kudos to Sherry and Tyler for creating this super cool book, it brings in my opinion a very unique and original twist to the time travel genre. Despite bring a co-written book you really can’t find any loose points or anything; it all comes together smoothly and seamlessly. The story is fast paced, there’s lots of action and even when there isn’t the story doesn’t become boring at any point, it’s all very engaging to the reader and the characters are flawed but relatable and easy to get attached to. We have a dual POV in Extracted, Lex and Ember’s. each of them is really different and believable and most importantly it works great in the story.

There are references to historical characters and events that I’m pretty much most of all had heard of at some point, and that was one of the things I enjoyed the most as a bit of a history geek and to have that included and being part of the plot was really original in my opinion. We also have elements like all the tech that comes with it being steampunk, the time travel rules and knowledge which at first was a bit intimidating for me because I was scared it might be a bit too much information but it wasn’t the case, so rest assured on that account.

About the characters.
I really liked them both. Lex is courageous, brave, funny, loyal and he cares deeply for his loved ones and his friends, don’t tell you don’t like him already. And then we have Ember, who shares lots of Lex’s traits, that courage and kindness and she is not a damsel in distress, she can totally fend for herself, which I personally love because it’s not every day you find characters like her, we often find girls who need to be saved or girls that can do it but that might have come across as arrogant or that have some other flaws but Ember is a pretty cool girl.

We also have some secondary characters like Stein, another badass girl, Ethan who I loved as much as Lex, Nobel, a pretty great guy too; and we have some other characters but these are like the main group and as I said at first, they are all really easy to like, and personally I’d love to learn and read more about them. They may not be the leads but trust me the main characters definitely need this guys, and I have a feeling they’ll keep being important for them or maybe we will discover more about their backgrounds. Speaking of that, let me tell you the background of Lex and Ember were one of the things I liked the most, I’m not gonna say anything about it because, really guys you should all read this book and discover it by yourselves, but it’s great, the mix of historical characters in this story just adds to the awesomeness of this story.

And it’s because I loved it so much I don’t want to spoil this to you, I could just keep talking on and on about the what happens, and the Hollows or people at the Tesla Institute, the dangers they face, the time traveling of course but honesty, Extracted is that book you need to read, even if you’re that versed in sci-fi or steampunk it won’t be a problem at all, I mean I’m far from being an expert on the subject but I enjoyed this so very much!!

[Yael Itamar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It combines steampunk, time travel, and a fast-moving plot. I highly recommend it for people who enjoy science fiction, alternate history, gadgets, action, and snappy dialogue.

As for the characters: Upon first read, it was hard to see them beyond their role in the story and their immediate relationships to each other (friend, sibling, boyfriend/girlfriend). But when I flipped through it a second time, I noticed many more personal details that really made the characters come alive--what they wore ("Her grey cargo pants have been haphazardly patched over with what I assume are pieces of the Hollows' common room sofa"), what they collected ("Pieces of fabric, drab costume jewelry. Feathers. A set of brass knuckles"), etc.

There were also several elements I appreciated from a feminist perspective, and I'm not just talking about kickass females. More specifically, it was the fact that those kickass females also had personalities, were allowed to like pretty things, and most importantly, had meaningful relationships with other females. One criticism of the YA genre that I keep seeing over and over again is the lack of female friendships. It often seems like female "friends" only exist as passive gossip buddies or as backstabbing sluts, something which was definitely not the case in Extracted. The female characters had actual conversations with each other, and when they fought, it was over legitimately conflicting ideals.

One of my issues with this novel is the worldbuilding. The novel did a great job with the details (ie, steampunk tech), but not so much with the big-picture. For instance, it seemed like the Tesla Institute and the Hollow Tower existed in a vacuum. Where (and when) are these institutions located? For instance, one of the characters from the Tesla Institute talks about going to the beach a lot, but other than that, I know nothing about the where-and-when. Is the Tesla Institute located somewhere in the modern United States, or is it in some futuristic steampunk world where everyone knows about time travel? (Given that the dialogue is very 21st century and that it doesn't seem like a lot of other people know about Rifting, I would assume the former.)

Additionally, I'm a little hazy on Tesla's agenda, but I assume that future books will expand upon that.

[Haven Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*CONTAINS SPOLIERS*

When I first started reading this book I was a little apprehensive. I really didn't think I would be able to get into it, let alone finish it. I think a large part of that had to do with the writing style coupled with the POV. It left me feeling a bit detached from the charecters and the book for most of the beginning. I felt that it was more going through the motions in getting everything set up for the big reveal. Which in that respect I didn't find it that hard to figure out that Ember was infact Anastasia Romanov and Lex was her brother. I figured that out the first time the mentioned the Romanov legand in the class. But I think that it really started to find its footing about the middle of the book. Though that being said, I feel that Ember and Lex's first meeting when they realize that they are brother and sister was rather rushed and just throughn at the reader. But after that I really started to get into the book, I could connect with the characters and the book really became interesting. I finally started to actually really like Stein and Ethan, who at first I was kind of iffy about. I think as a whole the group of Ember, Lex, Ethan, Stein were well placed together, and they played off each other well. Despite misgivings at the beginning of the book I deffinitly look forward to reading book two, im intrigued to find out what happened to our group.

The other thing that I was a bit surprised about with this book was the historical characters. As some one who knows a bit and is interested in both Nikola Tesla and the Romanov family (and the legand surrounding them), it felt odd that they would be put in the same book together. Although I know it is a time traveling book, so prolific historical figures aren't that supprising to see in the same book, its just that Tesla and the Romanov's seems like almost polar opposits of each other. In the sense of, if you think of a book containing Nikola Tesla, even a fictional one, you would never expect to have the Romanovs in it as well. And this stand for the opposite to. You would never think of them together, but as odd as it was to have that in this book, I think the authors accomplished this task well. And blended the two Historical characters and events well.