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One Way Fare
Superpowers suck. If you just want to live a normal life, Null City is only a Metro ride away. After one day there, imps become baristas, and hellhounds become poodles. Demons settle down, become parents, join the PTA, and worry about their taxes.
Null City is the only sanctuary for Gaby Parker and Leila Rice, two young women confronting cataclysmic forces waging an unseen war between Heaven and Hell. Gaby and her younger brother and sister are already targets in the war that cost their parents' lives. Should they forsake the powers that complete their souls and flee to Null City? Meanwhile, Leila has inherited a French chateau, a mysterious legacy, and a prophecy that she will end the world. Gaby and Leila become catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City.
It just would have been nice if someone told them the angels were all on the other side.
Null City is the only sanctuary for Gaby Parker and Leila Rice, two young women confronting cataclysmic forces waging an unseen war between Heaven and Hell. Gaby and her younger brother and sister are already targets in the war that cost their parents' lives. Should they forsake the powers that complete their souls and flee to Null City? Meanwhile, Leila has inherited a French chateau, a mysterious legacy, and a prophecy that she will end the world. Gaby and Leila become catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City.
It just would have been nice if someone told them the angels were all on the other side.
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First published September 4, 2013
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About the author
Barb Taub
11 books65 followersBARB TAUB is a humor and urban fantasy author, caffeinated AussieDog wrangler, Yankee expat, and travel junkie. Following her daring daytime escape to England, Barb has lived in a medieval castle, a Hobbit House, and a magic Scottish Isle. You can find her online at https://barbtaub.com/
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 24, 2016
“Suppose neutral angels were able to talk Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles – into settling out of court. What would be the terms of the compromise? Specifically, how would they divide the assets of their early kingdom?” – Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates (2000)
I really only picked up the book as it was advertised on one of my “Free Today” book emails. You know the ones, and if you don’t, why not? So anyway, there it was, and the cover caught my eye. It was the first in a series, free, written by an author I hadn’t heard of. Why not?
Now, here is the thing. One Way Fare had a fairly interesting blurb, though I was a bit leery of the whole “Angels and Demons” shtick. Honestly? The whole Hellhound/Poodle thing is what really caught my attention. And you know what? For all that the Angels/Demons/Time Travel thing is normally so not my thing, well, I was entranced. I mean, really, truly entranced. Taub’s writing is unique. She has shaken up a couple of genres, and written her characters, and her story, in ways that held me rapt from page one.
In the room made of light, they plan the end of Hell.
The thing is . . . I’m rooting for Hell in this one. No, really. I mean, Lucifer is The Morning Star – which the oldest Latin texts portray as either John the Baptist, or Jesus himself. After all, it isn’t until much later that texts were converted to the concept of The Morning Star as being “Satan,” an evil character. Let’s face it – the ideation of “God vs Lucifer” is based in the takeover of various Egyptian, Canaanite and Jewish tales of gods who fought fiercely amongst themselves for power. To the victor go the spoils – an the right to tell the tales in any way they see fit.
Taub’s Hell is a nightmare for anyone who considers intellectualism to be threatening (you know, Right Wing Republicans, that sort of thing). As Ray Williams, in Anti-Intellectualism and the “Dumbing Down” of America (Psychology Today, July 07, 2014), says, “There is a growing and disturbing trend of anti-intellectual elitism in American culture. It’s the dismissal of science, the arts, and humanities and their replacement by entertainment, self-righteousness, ignorance, and deliberate gullibility.”
Ha! Send me to Hell, because this place is Interesting! And a whole “Hell” of a lot more inclusive than “Heaven” could ever hope to be. Or even “Haven,” the place where the Fallen Angels who want to recreate the “Heaven” they were thrown from, exist. So, a bunch of pissy Angels want to destroy Hell – and they don’t care that, “Not only will that strategy lead to massive death and destruction for humans, but it could mean war between Fallen and Angels.” Wow, total narcissism really can be deadly! (I still wish I could remember the book I read, I think it was in the late 70’s or early 80’s, where ‘god’ is so busy staring into a mirror admiring himself – well, keep telling a guy he is handsome, you just know that spells spoiled rotten, self-centered ego maniac, right? – he allows the universe to go down in flames around him.)
Then, of course, there is the time travel aspect of the book. Honestly, I am not usually a time travel book lover. They never seem to get the continuity right. But Taub proved me wrong. Her writing makes sense. “I have a theory about time. Things can’t happen if they didn’t.” And what is even more crushing? Things still happen if they did. Taub holds all of the timelines tightly in her grasp, flowing backwards and forwards, building a gossamer web of linkages that never left me thinking “Huh? What just happened?”
This series is now at the top of my “Must Read New (to me) Series.” I already downloaded the second, DON’T TOUCH, Null City Book 2. There are some issues that weren’t tied up all the way in book 1, and I look forward with great eagerness to see how they carry forward through the series. One Way Fare is edgy, imaginative, and deeply unusual compared to my usual experience with this type of book. Highly recommended!
And remember this – “Why do they blame me for all their little failings? They use my name as if I spent my entire days sitting on their shoulders, forcing them to commits acts they would otherwise find repulsive. ‘The devil made me do it.’ I have never made one of them do anything. Never. They live their own tiny lives. I do not live their lives for them.” ― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 4: Season of Mists
I really only picked up the book as it was advertised on one of my “Free Today” book emails. You know the ones, and if you don’t, why not? So anyway, there it was, and the cover caught my eye. It was the first in a series, free, written by an author I hadn’t heard of. Why not?
Now, here is the thing. One Way Fare had a fairly interesting blurb, though I was a bit leery of the whole “Angels and Demons” shtick. Honestly? The whole Hellhound/Poodle thing is what really caught my attention. And you know what? For all that the Angels/Demons/Time Travel thing is normally so not my thing, well, I was entranced. I mean, really, truly entranced. Taub’s writing is unique. She has shaken up a couple of genres, and written her characters, and her story, in ways that held me rapt from page one.
In the room made of light, they plan the end of Hell.
The thing is . . . I’m rooting for Hell in this one. No, really. I mean, Lucifer is The Morning Star – which the oldest Latin texts portray as either John the Baptist, or Jesus himself. After all, it isn’t until much later that texts were converted to the concept of The Morning Star as being “Satan,” an evil character. Let’s face it – the ideation of “God vs Lucifer” is based in the takeover of various Egyptian, Canaanite and Jewish tales of gods who fought fiercely amongst themselves for power. To the victor go the spoils – an the right to tell the tales in any way they see fit.
Taub’s Hell is a nightmare for anyone who considers intellectualism to be threatening (you know, Right Wing Republicans, that sort of thing). As Ray Williams, in Anti-Intellectualism and the “Dumbing Down” of America (Psychology Today, July 07, 2014), says, “There is a growing and disturbing trend of anti-intellectual elitism in American culture. It’s the dismissal of science, the arts, and humanities and their replacement by entertainment, self-righteousness, ignorance, and deliberate gullibility.”
Ha! Send me to Hell, because this place is Interesting! And a whole “Hell” of a lot more inclusive than “Heaven” could ever hope to be. Or even “Haven,” the place where the Fallen Angels who want to recreate the “Heaven” they were thrown from, exist. So, a bunch of pissy Angels want to destroy Hell – and they don’t care that, “Not only will that strategy lead to massive death and destruction for humans, but it could mean war between Fallen and Angels.” Wow, total narcissism really can be deadly! (I still wish I could remember the book I read, I think it was in the late 70’s or early 80’s, where ‘god’ is so busy staring into a mirror admiring himself – well, keep telling a guy he is handsome, you just know that spells spoiled rotten, self-centered ego maniac, right? – he allows the universe to go down in flames around him.)
Then, of course, there is the time travel aspect of the book. Honestly, I am not usually a time travel book lover. They never seem to get the continuity right. But Taub proved me wrong. Her writing makes sense. “I have a theory about time. Things can’t happen if they didn’t.” And what is even more crushing? Things still happen if they did. Taub holds all of the timelines tightly in her grasp, flowing backwards and forwards, building a gossamer web of linkages that never left me thinking “Huh? What just happened?”
This series is now at the top of my “Must Read New (to me) Series.” I already downloaded the second, DON’T TOUCH, Null City Book 2. There are some issues that weren’t tied up all the way in book 1, and I look forward with great eagerness to see how they carry forward through the series. One Way Fare is edgy, imaginative, and deeply unusual compared to my usual experience with this type of book. Highly recommended!
And remember this – “Why do they blame me for all their little failings? They use my name as if I spent my entire days sitting on their shoulders, forcing them to commits acts they would otherwise find repulsive. ‘The devil made me do it.’ I have never made one of them do anything. Never. They live their own tiny lives. I do not live their lives for them.” ― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 4: Season of Mists
September 15, 2014
Barb Taub has a way of making you laugh out loud even when she’s not trying to be funny…oh, I don’t know, maybe she is trying, but it comes across so very casually that it sneaks up on you and grabs you in the ribs. I mean what would life be like in Hell if you couldn’t order a Grande Caramel Macchiato, right?
“One Way Fare: Null City Book One” is a contemporary fantasy and it is fantastic. The author’s humor and wit come out in both the character dialogue and the narration. The plot is clever, and convoluted, which made for a very interesting read. There is time travel, (2012, 1972, 1890’s) and history, beyond ancient, the time goes back to the very origin of the universe…what could have, might have occurred, in the realm of heaven and hell. Sounds heavy, but with its modern day references it is a very light and often funny read.
Creatively fascinating, cleverly constructed characters Gaby and Leila, endowed with their own unique talents, are on a mission to save the world, but angels, Watchers and Fallen, have their own Courts, and Gifts and Haven are at war, complicating the mission. Flaws become assets. The supporting characters were just as much fun as the main ones. Perfect touches of romance sweeten the story. Null City is supposed to be a place of refuge but the costs are dear.
The writing is clean and well done. I enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for something that stimulates the imagination and challenges your concept of reality, take an exciting ride on the METRO and explore. I’m looking forward to the next read: “Don’t Touch: Null City Book Two”.
“One Way Fare: Null City Book One” is a contemporary fantasy and it is fantastic. The author’s humor and wit come out in both the character dialogue and the narration. The plot is clever, and convoluted, which made for a very interesting read. There is time travel, (2012, 1972, 1890’s) and history, beyond ancient, the time goes back to the very origin of the universe…what could have, might have occurred, in the realm of heaven and hell. Sounds heavy, but with its modern day references it is a very light and often funny read.
Creatively fascinating, cleverly constructed characters Gaby and Leila, endowed with their own unique talents, are on a mission to save the world, but angels, Watchers and Fallen, have their own Courts, and Gifts and Haven are at war, complicating the mission. Flaws become assets. The supporting characters were just as much fun as the main ones. Perfect touches of romance sweeten the story. Null City is supposed to be a place of refuge but the costs are dear.
The writing is clean and well done. I enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for something that stimulates the imagination and challenges your concept of reality, take an exciting ride on the METRO and explore. I’m looking forward to the next read: “Don’t Touch: Null City Book Two”.
February 11, 2016
There was so much to like about this book I really, really wanted to be wowed by it as much as all the other reviewers, but there were just too many blips for me. Let me explain.
This book has a cracking good start – as a character, Gaby bounces off the page. Her Gift, or harmonia, is that of order – absolutely perfect for an accountant. Her boundless enthusiasm for her profession defies all that we – normal people, that is – assume about accountants. And she gets to work for a wickedly handsome rock star, although his figures (and I do mean numbers) are more fascinating to her than he is. If that sounds plain weird, well, it isn’t. There’s humour, great mystery, awesomely brilliant dialogue, terrific momentum, and I was totally hooked.
Then we are introduced to Leila. She’s one fun character, with her own clear personality and dialogue - to re-iterate, the dialogue in this whole book just superb - BUT I was totally bounced out of the narrative at the point where Thomas announces that his grandfather is several hundred years old, and then starts warning Leila about pitchfork-wielding peasants just before he grabs her and takes her on the run – AND SHE JUST ACCEPTS IT. No effort to rationalise, nor does she think Thomas might be insane (and probably dangerous), she just accepts it hook, line and sinker and off they go. Nor does she question the assertion that the Metro will take them to 1890 (the year, not the time).
Now, the Metro is a brilliant invention – it carries people between not only places, but also time. And ‘Mind the Gap’ is hilarious. I did, however, find it difficult to visualise this specific passage: ‘she fell asleep bolt upright on the floor, wedged into the corner’. Hmmm – let’s try that one, shall we?
Sticking for a while with the (for me) negatives:
• point of view is variable – most of the time with a single character, but then randomly head hopping, and sometimes authorial.
• The characters are fabulously well drawn, but I didn’t notice much growth through the course of the book. Yes, they endured a lot, but it didn’t seem to change them all that much.
• At one point Gaby and Luic die. Then they are on the Metro station. The fact they are dead doesn’t actually seem to make much difference to them, or anyone around them. Yes, there is a bit of explanation later, but too late for my suspension of disbelief.
• At around the 50% mark, we get a fair sized info dump on the various factions, which only served to confuse me even more. We have Heaven, Hell, Haven, Gifts, Watcher Court, Fallen Court, Raquia, Nephilim, and Angels, plus a book that appears to be made out of jewellery, not to mention Null City (or several Null Cities). Too much to get my head around, sorry.
• The story jumps around in time quite a lot. Aside from the 1890s, where there is an obvious difference in the way women are treated, I could really have done with more time-specific details to ‘place’ the different eras. The characters continue with what they are doing pretty much regardless of when they are, which is no help in anchoring the reader in the various time zones.
• At around 75%, I began to struggle. Having lost Luic, Gaby falls for Thomas’s hundreds-of-years-old grandfather, Sebastian, who she insists of calling Max. As far as I could tell, she fell for him simply because there were no other candidates available. I didn’t find him at all engaging, and wondered what the hell she saw in him.
I apologise again for sounding so negative, because there was an awful lot to like as well: I absolutely loved the interlude in Fallen Court, where Gaby brings order to chaos with clever incentives for imps, who are totally self-motivated, and Leila starts an infernal coffee shop chain.
And the ending is excellent. I’m so glad I stuck it out – all the pieces slotted into place, and everything became clear, leaving just the right amount of threads dangling for the next book.
I suspect other readers may not be as bothered by the stumbling points I encountered, but this was my honest experience, hence the 3 stars.
This book has a cracking good start – as a character, Gaby bounces off the page. Her Gift, or harmonia, is that of order – absolutely perfect for an accountant. Her boundless enthusiasm for her profession defies all that we – normal people, that is – assume about accountants. And she gets to work for a wickedly handsome rock star, although his figures (and I do mean numbers) are more fascinating to her than he is. If that sounds plain weird, well, it isn’t. There’s humour, great mystery, awesomely brilliant dialogue, terrific momentum, and I was totally hooked.
Then we are introduced to Leila. She’s one fun character, with her own clear personality and dialogue - to re-iterate, the dialogue in this whole book just superb - BUT I was totally bounced out of the narrative at the point where Thomas announces that his grandfather is several hundred years old, and then starts warning Leila about pitchfork-wielding peasants just before he grabs her and takes her on the run – AND SHE JUST ACCEPTS IT. No effort to rationalise, nor does she think Thomas might be insane (and probably dangerous), she just accepts it hook, line and sinker and off they go. Nor does she question the assertion that the Metro will take them to 1890 (the year, not the time).
Now, the Metro is a brilliant invention – it carries people between not only places, but also time. And ‘Mind the Gap’ is hilarious. I did, however, find it difficult to visualise this specific passage: ‘she fell asleep bolt upright on the floor, wedged into the corner’. Hmmm – let’s try that one, shall we?
Sticking for a while with the (for me) negatives:
• point of view is variable – most of the time with a single character, but then randomly head hopping, and sometimes authorial.
• The characters are fabulously well drawn, but I didn’t notice much growth through the course of the book. Yes, they endured a lot, but it didn’t seem to change them all that much.
• At one point Gaby and Luic die. Then they are on the Metro station. The fact they are dead doesn’t actually seem to make much difference to them, or anyone around them. Yes, there is a bit of explanation later, but too late for my suspension of disbelief.
• At around the 50% mark, we get a fair sized info dump on the various factions, which only served to confuse me even more. We have Heaven, Hell, Haven, Gifts, Watcher Court, Fallen Court, Raquia, Nephilim, and Angels, plus a book that appears to be made out of jewellery, not to mention Null City (or several Null Cities). Too much to get my head around, sorry.
• The story jumps around in time quite a lot. Aside from the 1890s, where there is an obvious difference in the way women are treated, I could really have done with more time-specific details to ‘place’ the different eras. The characters continue with what they are doing pretty much regardless of when they are, which is no help in anchoring the reader in the various time zones.
• At around 75%, I began to struggle. Having lost Luic, Gaby falls for Thomas’s hundreds-of-years-old grandfather, Sebastian, who she insists of calling Max. As far as I could tell, she fell for him simply because there were no other candidates available. I didn’t find him at all engaging, and wondered what the hell she saw in him.
I apologise again for sounding so negative, because there was an awful lot to like as well: I absolutely loved the interlude in Fallen Court, where Gaby brings order to chaos with clever incentives for imps, who are totally self-motivated, and Leila starts an infernal coffee shop chain.
And the ending is excellent. I’m so glad I stuck it out – all the pieces slotted into place, and everything became clear, leaving just the right amount of threads dangling for the next book.
I suspect other readers may not be as bothered by the stumbling points I encountered, but this was my honest experience, hence the 3 stars.
October 6, 2013
I knew the author of this funny, intricate fantasy must have a younger, hip co-author, and so Ms. Taub does--her daughter, who is fluent in current media and the funny, flip lingo of her generation. The heroines, Gaby and Leila, aren’t ordinary people. Each has a special gift and a pivotal connection to the fate of the universe. They don’t know each other at the beginning, but they soon realize they are in danger. Accompanied by handsome fellows who share their gifts/superpowers—from (perhaps!) angelic (or is it demonic?) ancestry, they begin journeys which will take them back and forth (and round and round) through time, even into “hell” and “heaven”.
This is a craftily-written page turner, with a plot twist and/or cliff-hanger around every corner. I think the guys on the Big Bang Theory © would like it as much as I did—and you probably will too.
February 4, 2016
One Way Fare is an Urban Fantasy story and I really didn't know what to expect from just the book cover and even the book description, but it blew me away. I really, really enjoyed it. There are delightful sharp witted characters and a storyline with echoes of "Back To The Future" but with so much more depth, twists and it's own agenda.
The tale involves a war between the Fallen and Angels, humans and a fourth group who hold powers. There is Null City and a marvellous Metro train which takes passengers back and forth through time. The ticket machine was brilliant it kept reminding me of the "Zoltar speaks" fortune telling machine in the film Big.
In 1972 Gaby Parker works for Accounts-On-Demand in Seattle, she has been requested to help sort out the accounts for Luic Le Muir, a top musician. Gaby has a gift where she can see patterns in numbers, it makes her OCD but she soon believes she has found a route to Luic's draining financial resources, but he's not going to like her answers.
In 2012 Leila heads to Provence, France, having just been gifted jewels and a Chateau from her birth mother's family. She's met by Thomas Chapel who reveals he must guard Leila from the locals who soon turn nasty. Just when it's needed the local fountain shows a Metro sign and they descend to a magical platform and safety, alighting on the train which arrives calling itself the 1890 Metro.
Thomas has told her about Nephilium, mixes of Angel and human off-spring and they have a choice about their future when the train stops outside Null City. They can stay in Null City, but they will forget all their non-human life details, or they can travel on further and take their places in a prophecy to help save Null City and stop the war.
This was fun, Gaby and Leila will both have to meet to take their parts in the prophecy, so there are scenes in various time lines and the Metro train is useful transport. There are complexities and twists which kept me on my toes, but I was eager to keep the pages turning and urged the characters onwards. Fabulous read, I think I might just have to read the second book in the series.
The tale involves a war between the Fallen and Angels, humans and a fourth group who hold powers. There is Null City and a marvellous Metro train which takes passengers back and forth through time. The ticket machine was brilliant it kept reminding me of the "Zoltar speaks" fortune telling machine in the film Big.
In 1972 Gaby Parker works for Accounts-On-Demand in Seattle, she has been requested to help sort out the accounts for Luic Le Muir, a top musician. Gaby has a gift where she can see patterns in numbers, it makes her OCD but she soon believes she has found a route to Luic's draining financial resources, but he's not going to like her answers.
In 2012 Leila heads to Provence, France, having just been gifted jewels and a Chateau from her birth mother's family. She's met by Thomas Chapel who reveals he must guard Leila from the locals who soon turn nasty. Just when it's needed the local fountain shows a Metro sign and they descend to a magical platform and safety, alighting on the train which arrives calling itself the 1890 Metro.
Thomas has told her about Nephilium, mixes of Angel and human off-spring and they have a choice about their future when the train stops outside Null City. They can stay in Null City, but they will forget all their non-human life details, or they can travel on further and take their places in a prophecy to help save Null City and stop the war.
This was fun, Gaby and Leila will both have to meet to take their parts in the prophecy, so there are scenes in various time lines and the Metro train is useful transport. There are complexities and twists which kept me on my toes, but I was eager to keep the pages turning and urged the characters onwards. Fabulous read, I think I might just have to read the second book in the series.
October 7, 2013
One Way Fare by Barb Tarb and Hannah Taub a fast-paced fantasy involving several timelines and two kickass heroines, Gaby and Leila. The main characters in this delightful novel are humans with superpowers that manifest they grow to adulthood. They belong to factions who are warring with each other, putting the fate of the world at risk. To further complicate matters, each side is supported by a cadre of supernatural characters who are angels of some variety (or are they demons)?
Somewhere in Seattle is a place known as Null City, where those weighed down by their frenetic superpowered lives can retreat to safety. But this sanctuary will be destroyed if the primary characters don't come together at a critical nexus in the past. To reach this key point on the timeline, Gaby, Leila and a small number of associates can ride the Metro, but the space/time-traveling train is finicky about whom it grants a ticket to ride. Its fares, tailored to the individual, are also punishingly high.
This was one of those books that I hated to put down. The fast-paced action had me turning the pages furiously. The dialogue is great, with many laugh out loud moments. How can you not love a tale that makes witty pop-culture references to such things as the Evil Overlords list, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Star Trek/Star Wars debate, and the Princess Bride? And, in a hilarious reminder of how much things have changed even in my lifetime, it totally makes sense that the 1970s characters regard the term "Grande Caramel Macchiato Light" as secret code.
I did have a few minor criticisms. Although I loved the fast pace, there were moments when I wanted the authors to slow down and give us more of a visual sense of, say, 1890s Seattle. It might also have been wise to take a hint from Buffy regarding the high cost of bringing somebody back from the dead. There was also a romantic switch-a-roo that I didn't completely buy. But in general, I loved this novel, and look forward to more from this talented team of authors.
Somewhere in Seattle is a place known as Null City, where those weighed down by their frenetic superpowered lives can retreat to safety. But this sanctuary will be destroyed if the primary characters don't come together at a critical nexus in the past. To reach this key point on the timeline, Gaby, Leila and a small number of associates can ride the Metro, but the space/time-traveling train is finicky about whom it grants a ticket to ride. Its fares, tailored to the individual, are also punishingly high.
This was one of those books that I hated to put down. The fast-paced action had me turning the pages furiously. The dialogue is great, with many laugh out loud moments. How can you not love a tale that makes witty pop-culture references to such things as the Evil Overlords list, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Star Trek/Star Wars debate, and the Princess Bride? And, in a hilarious reminder of how much things have changed even in my lifetime, it totally makes sense that the 1970s characters regard the term "Grande Caramel Macchiato Light" as secret code.
I did have a few minor criticisms. Although I loved the fast pace, there were moments when I wanted the authors to slow down and give us more of a visual sense of, say, 1890s Seattle. It might also have been wise to take a hint from Buffy regarding the high cost of bringing somebody back from the dead. There was also a romantic switch-a-roo that I didn't completely buy. But in general, I loved this novel, and look forward to more from this talented team of authors.
November 22, 2013
One Way Fare is the first book in a series by Barb Taub and Hannah Taub. It is the story of two young women, Gaby and Leia, from different times, who come together to confront the war that is being waged between Heaven and Hell. It is about a place where the bad guys such as imps, hellhounds and demons settle down to worry about the daily drudgery of life.
That sanctuary is a place called Null City, a city unlike any other. To live there one must forsake all their powers gained by their birth.
Too bad no one told them what side the angels were on.
This book is written well and is a fast-paced, interesting novel. I can’t say I enjoyed popping through time so much as it made the book seemed convoluted and unorganized at times, I can say I enjoyed the story told in each of the places. Each area was explained in such detail that there were many times I felt I was there.
Gaby is an accountant, who at first glance appears to be obsessive about everything therefore making her better with numbers than with people. I might have agreed totally with that assessment until I saw her with her younger siblings. Why she is that way is very unique and intriguing.
Leia, on the other hand, is the typical teenager of the time who loves her family and collects Jimmy Cho shoes. She also hates her biological mother and father, calling them the donors, so much that it rings true to someone of her temperament. But when put to the ultimate test, she quickly becomes a quick thinker and a woman who can take charge.
Though there were a few things that I felt were not true to the time or the situation, such as how easily it was for two young people to so thoroughly integrate themselves into Seattle society in the 1890s, I do feel the book was overall written very well. This is definitely a new and different take on the war in Heaven and how it applies to those within their realm. I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a different outlook on the war between heaven and hell.
That sanctuary is a place called Null City, a city unlike any other. To live there one must forsake all their powers gained by their birth.
Too bad no one told them what side the angels were on.
This book is written well and is a fast-paced, interesting novel. I can’t say I enjoyed popping through time so much as it made the book seemed convoluted and unorganized at times, I can say I enjoyed the story told in each of the places. Each area was explained in such detail that there were many times I felt I was there.
Gaby is an accountant, who at first glance appears to be obsessive about everything therefore making her better with numbers than with people. I might have agreed totally with that assessment until I saw her with her younger siblings. Why she is that way is very unique and intriguing.
Leia, on the other hand, is the typical teenager of the time who loves her family and collects Jimmy Cho shoes. She also hates her biological mother and father, calling them the donors, so much that it rings true to someone of her temperament. But when put to the ultimate test, she quickly becomes a quick thinker and a woman who can take charge.
Though there were a few things that I felt were not true to the time or the situation, such as how easily it was for two young people to so thoroughly integrate themselves into Seattle society in the 1890s, I do feel the book was overall written very well. This is definitely a new and different take on the war in Heaven and how it applies to those within their realm. I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a different outlook on the war between heaven and hell.
July 21, 2016
One Way Fare is the first book in a series by Barb Taub and Hannah Taub. It's a fast-paced fantasy involving several timelines and two heroines, Gaby and Leila, who come together to confront the war that is being waged between Heaven and Hell.
Gaby is an accountant, who at first glance appears to Have OCD about everything! As it turns out Gaby is harmonia, gifted with the ability to see patterns in just about anything.
She lives in 1972 Seattle with her younger brother and sister after the death of their parents.
Leia, on the other hand, is from 2012 and a typical teenager who lives in France with adoptive parents and hating her birth mother and father, calling them the donors.
she has just inherited a chateau in the French countryside from her biological parents, and soon the ride begins.
They don't know each other at the beginning, yet the danger which comes rushing into their lives like a runaway train soon brings them together.
Each has a special gift and a pivotal connection to the fate of the universe. they begin the hectic journeys which will take them back and forth through time,
visit hell, battle angels and all in a desperate effort to save themselves, humanity and Null City.
Null City is a sanctuary where any gifted can go to live a "normal" life, giving up their gifts to be there.
Gaby and Leila are funny and tough and they fight with each other and everyone around them. They make pop- culture references to such things as the evil overlords list, Star trek, Star wars, Princess Bride and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Along the way they fall in love with two strong, good- looking men who also have gifts and also help in the fight.
Null City is a fun story with original heroes and an imaginative plot, with some laugh out loud area's. Definitely worth reading.
November 20, 2013
With an intriguing premise--a war between Heaven and Hell, and protagonists that not only time travel but also dimension travel--this story will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Gaby is a harmonia, gifted with the ability to see patterns in just about anything (so she becomes an accountant--one of the many humorous pokes in the book). She lives in 1972 Seattle with her younger brother and sister after the death of their parents. Leila's story picks up in France in 2012. Living with adoptive parents her entire life, she has just inherited a chateau in the French countryside from her actual bloodline. It turns out her father is a demon.
As the complicated story plays out, Gaby and Leila eventually meet (via time travel) and join forces to stop a cataclysmic war, both finding love along the way. While the premise may sound outrageous, Gaby and Leila are likable (Gaby being the calm to Leila's chronic snarkiness), the historical details are rich and layered (they spend time in 1890 Seattle), and you'll smile at the modern-day cultural references.
An excellent tale by a mother-daughter team and a strong beginning to what is certain to be a compelling series.
As the complicated story plays out, Gaby and Leila eventually meet (via time travel) and join forces to stop a cataclysmic war, both finding love along the way. While the premise may sound outrageous, Gaby and Leila are likable (Gaby being the calm to Leila's chronic snarkiness), the historical details are rich and layered (they spend time in 1890 Seattle), and you'll smile at the modern-day cultural references.
An excellent tale by a mother-daughter team and a strong beginning to what is certain to be a compelling series.
August 10, 2016
This is an amazing story of fantasy, time and dimension travel and strong heroines with superpowers.
Gaby Parker lives with her younger twin brother and sister, who she is looking after and taking care of after the murder of their parents, in 1970’s Seattle. She is a Harmonia, which gives her the ability to see patterns in mostly everything…
Leila Rice, living with her adoptive parents, unaware she is a Nephilim, born of the union between a human and an angel. In 2012 she travels to France to claim the inheritance
left by her birth parents…
A very fast-moving plot told in several timelines with compelling and well-defined characters. Gaby and Leila are strong protagonists, both fun and feisty.
Full review at http://wp.me/p47cK4-Q6
Gaby Parker lives with her younger twin brother and sister, who she is looking after and taking care of after the murder of their parents, in 1970’s Seattle. She is a Harmonia, which gives her the ability to see patterns in mostly everything…
Leila Rice, living with her adoptive parents, unaware she is a Nephilim, born of the union between a human and an angel. In 2012 she travels to France to claim the inheritance
left by her birth parents…
A very fast-moving plot told in several timelines with compelling and well-defined characters. Gaby and Leila are strong protagonists, both fun and feisty.
Full review at http://wp.me/p47cK4-Q6
January 22, 2014
Strong writing, two strong female leads, and a unique world make for a solid read. If I could give it another half-star, I would.
I'm sure a part of my problem with One Way Fare was due to the piecemeal nature of my reading schedule -- 15 minutes at a time is NOT the way to read a book, and I've tried to look past that. More important, it got too paranormal for my taste. Really enjoyed the first few chapters, when it was clear it WAS paranormal but hadn't yet descended deeply into its singular para-ness. Ms. Taub's writing is very good, so if this genre is your cup of tea, go for it!
I'm sure a part of my problem with One Way Fare was due to the piecemeal nature of my reading schedule -- 15 minutes at a time is NOT the way to read a book, and I've tried to look past that. More important, it got too paranormal for my taste. Really enjoyed the first few chapters, when it was clear it WAS paranormal but hadn't yet descended deeply into its singular para-ness. Ms. Taub's writing is very good, so if this genre is your cup of tea, go for it!
December 30, 2014
Who needs Santa when you’ve got a sister-in-law to fill your stocking with books like this?
Would I recommend it?
We are watching my year old nephew this week and I’ve been jumping up and down volunteering to put him down for naps and bedtime. He snuggles into my chest, I pop open the book, and by the time I’m ready to stop reading and put him down he is soundly asleep.
Check out my review of the Null City books by Barb Taub if you haven’t yet. The sale on her novellas lasts for a few more days yet, but don’t skip this one- it’s the best of the bunch!
Would I recommend it?
We are watching my year old nephew this week and I’ve been jumping up and down volunteering to put him down for naps and bedtime. He snuggles into my chest, I pop open the book, and by the time I’m ready to stop reading and put him down he is soundly asleep.
Check out my review of the Null City books by Barb Taub if you haven’t yet. The sale on her novellas lasts for a few more days yet, but don’t skip this one- it’s the best of the bunch!
August 12, 2014
4.5/5.0
This is either the weirdest story ever or the most brilliant. It will stick with a reader for days trying to decide, and the fact alone makes it absolutely brilliant.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
This is either the weirdest story ever or the most brilliant. It will stick with a reader for days trying to decide, and the fact alone makes it absolutely brilliant.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
July 14, 2015
An unusual story
An unusual story
This was a really engaging story told from two different viewpoints. While I am not a fan of switching between main characters, the story was intriguing and keep me hooked.
An unusual story
This was a really engaging story told from two different viewpoints. While I am not a fan of switching between main characters, the story was intriguing and keep me hooked.
August 12, 2016
Hmmm, 3ish/5?
Read my full review on Forever Young Adult.
Read my full review on Forever Young Adult.
Read
December 3, 2015Graded By: Mandy W.
Read the review here.
Read the review here.
July 4, 2015
When Gaby Parker goes to sort out the accounting anomalies for Luic little does either of them know that they are being brought together for a much higher purpose. Gaby is a Harmonia, she loves order, sees patterns and has responsibilities in the form of her younger brother and sister as their parents are dead. Luic is a rock star, I imagined something along the lines of Steve Tyler! But so strong are Gaby’s gifts that she says of Luic, “Sure he was pretty - but this was accounting.’ Brilliant!
Leila Rice, adopted, inherits a chateau where she meets Thomas, both are Nephilim and with much reluctance Thomas has been matched with her as her Protector.
At the beginning of this book we see the stories of both Gaby and Leila told in alternate chapters. As more and more connections are made eventually their stories become one as they find they are being brought together as the catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City. Wars are being waged between Heaven and Hell, Haven and Gifts and with very few clues Gaby and Leila have to do something about saving Null City, the place of safety for all with special powers. Although go there and you have to give up those powers and live a normal life.
This is a complex fantastical tale that spins back and forth through time as Gaby and Leila try to find each other and the answers to the reasons why they need to.
There are many surprises along the way, the reveal of Leila’s father to name by one and plenty of moments that will bring you a smile and have you chuckling throughout the tale. I loved the term ‘Celestially disabled’ in particular and the name of Leila’s coffee shop - priceless! And no I’m not giving that away here...
Highly creative and very well written this book is filled with thoroughly likeable characters, both good and evil. There are strong women and gallant hero’s, romance, true love and sadly, but beautifully done, the heartbreaking parting of people I didn’t want to part.
Some of the best bits for me were the wonderful links that connected throughout the story even right back to the Authors Note at the front. I love it when that amount of attention to detail has been given to a book.
Originally told and tightly written this is a highly entertaining start to a series of fantasy books that are a joy to read.
Leila Rice, adopted, inherits a chateau where she meets Thomas, both are Nephilim and with much reluctance Thomas has been matched with her as her Protector.
At the beginning of this book we see the stories of both Gaby and Leila told in alternate chapters. As more and more connections are made eventually their stories become one as they find they are being brought together as the catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City. Wars are being waged between Heaven and Hell, Haven and Gifts and with very few clues Gaby and Leila have to do something about saving Null City, the place of safety for all with special powers. Although go there and you have to give up those powers and live a normal life.
This is a complex fantastical tale that spins back and forth through time as Gaby and Leila try to find each other and the answers to the reasons why they need to.
There are many surprises along the way, the reveal of Leila’s father to name by one and plenty of moments that will bring you a smile and have you chuckling throughout the tale. I loved the term ‘Celestially disabled’ in particular and the name of Leila’s coffee shop - priceless! And no I’m not giving that away here...
Highly creative and very well written this book is filled with thoroughly likeable characters, both good and evil. There are strong women and gallant hero’s, romance, true love and sadly, but beautifully done, the heartbreaking parting of people I didn’t want to part.
Some of the best bits for me were the wonderful links that connected throughout the story even right back to the Authors Note at the front. I love it when that amount of attention to detail has been given to a book.
Originally told and tightly written this is a highly entertaining start to a series of fantasy books that are a joy to read.
July 26, 2014
Title: One Way Fare by Barb Taub and Hannah Taub
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
What do you get when you have a demon, a half-angel, an accountant with superpowers, and a rock star? A group destined to save the world, apparently.
When the fate of a magical city that allows those with special gifts to live a normal life is threatened, Gaby, Luic, Thomas, and Leila must find a way to save the city and keep history intact. It may be harder than they thought – the angels aren’t necessarily on their side.
One Way Fare was an enjoyable book – the story was interesting, and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. I liked the time travel aspects, and the characters were pretty fun to read, too. I did have a few minor problems, though. Without revealing too much, one of the girls ended up with the wrong guy (in my opinion) – there was almost too much emphasis on quoting things I’m not familiar with (I’ve only seen Princess Bride once, and I have no idea what the Evil Overlord’s Manual is …) – and the pacing of the story was a little off. Granted, I usually pick the wrong guy in love triangles, am perfectly aware that I’m hopelessly ignorant of popular culture, and I often have trouble following pacing (mainly because I read too fast). So do take those complaints with a grain of salt.
That said, I did find the book enjoyable, and I’ll definitely pick up the next one to find out what happens next. After all, there are still siblings missing – and maybe there’s still hope for my favorite character.
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
What do you get when you have a demon, a half-angel, an accountant with superpowers, and a rock star? A group destined to save the world, apparently.
When the fate of a magical city that allows those with special gifts to live a normal life is threatened, Gaby, Luic, Thomas, and Leila must find a way to save the city and keep history intact. It may be harder than they thought – the angels aren’t necessarily on their side.
One Way Fare was an enjoyable book – the story was interesting, and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. I liked the time travel aspects, and the characters were pretty fun to read, too. I did have a few minor problems, though. Without revealing too much, one of the girls ended up with the wrong guy (in my opinion) – there was almost too much emphasis on quoting things I’m not familiar with (I’ve only seen Princess Bride once, and I have no idea what the Evil Overlord’s Manual is …) – and the pacing of the story was a little off. Granted, I usually pick the wrong guy in love triangles, am perfectly aware that I’m hopelessly ignorant of popular culture, and I often have trouble following pacing (mainly because I read too fast). So do take those complaints with a grain of salt.
That said, I did find the book enjoyable, and I’ll definitely pick up the next one to find out what happens next. After all, there are still siblings missing – and maybe there’s still hope for my favorite character.
July 17, 2016
This book is a roaring time-travel adventure with trains, angels, arson, humor, romance and lots of action and explosives. It's fantastic. It's as if Neil Gaimain, Georgette Heyer, and Dr. Who had a train obsessed baby. I loved it!
Gaby Parker and Leila Rice are stark opposites. Gaby is an analytical nurturer, working as a temp accountant while raising her siblings. Leila is a spoiled rich girl who just inherited a French castle. But they have two things in common, mysterious powers and deadly enemies.
When shadowy forces track them down, Leila and Gaby enter a Gaimanesque world of magic subways, mystical knives, magical treasures and deadly dangers. The girls are brave and plucky though, and they quickly learn to manage the hazards of time travel and heavenly politics. But, as the forces of good and evil gather for a showdown, Leila and Gaby must figure out which side they’re on and who they can trust.
The answer may be, no one.
One Way Fare is a rip-roaring, time-travel adventure featuring snarky heroines dealing with their unreliable allies and dark legacies. From Leila’s majestic (if somewhat ramshackle) French castle to Gaby’s rock-star clients, the book has plenty of urban fantasy glamour. The main draw, however, is the heroines’ sharp humor and the patchwork worldbuilding featuring gold-rush San Francisco, Victorian subway stations, and the French countryside. The action is non-stop with plenty of thrills and spills. A great read all-around.
February 3, 2016
Review from Mary Rosenblum, best-selling author and instructor at the prestigious Clarion West Writers Workshop.
Mary says, "This is such a fine book, with strong and compelling characters, a rocketing pace, and a fun and fully invented world where heaven meets earth and earth sometimes beats out heaven! It’s well worth the read."
Mary says, "This is such a fine book, with strong and compelling characters, a rocketing pace, and a fun and fully invented world where heaven meets earth and earth sometimes beats out heaven! It’s well worth the read."
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