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Mercury
Aboard the colony ship, Mercury, 19-year-old Lucy yearns to know more about her deceased father, much to the ire of her mother, the captain.
When a mysterious meteor strands Lucy twenty years in the past, she finds herself face-to-face with her teenage mother and realizes they may have more in common than she originally thought.
As rifts in space threaten to destroy the Mercury, Lucy looks for a way to save the ship and, with any luck, get back to her own time.
When a mysterious meteor strands Lucy twenty years in the past, she finds herself face-to-face with her teenage mother and realizes they may have more in common than she originally thought.
As rifts in space threaten to destroy the Mercury, Lucy looks for a way to save the ship and, with any luck, get back to her own time.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
7809 people want to read
About the author
Lloyd Hall
3 books73 followersLloyd Hall (he/him) is an indie author and bookbinder born and raised in the coastal Connecticut town of Short Beach. He’s known for his Young Adult Sci-Fi books, The Wardenclyffe Series which has won various awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for his first book, Wardenclyffe, and the Reader’s Favorite award for his second book, Mercury. While not working on his novels, Lloyd is also the editor for an independent literary journal.
Before working as an author, Lloyd was an accomplished fashion designer, costume designer, and milliner, designing custom hats for opera and Broadway shows. After hanging up his literal and metaphorical hats, he channeled his love of storytelling into his first book, Wardenclyffe. He now lives a cozy life in California where he’s busy working on the last book in his series.
Before working as an author, Lloyd was an accomplished fashion designer, costume designer, and milliner, designing custom hats for opera and Broadway shows. After hanging up his literal and metaphorical hats, he channeled his love of storytelling into his first book, Wardenclyffe. He now lives a cozy life in California where he’s busy working on the last book in his series.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 20, 2023
At first, I didn't really connect with Lucy's character, but when I realized the weak connection she had with her mother, the loneliness she felt, it made me connect with her.
I really liked the group she came to know, in her mother's youth.
There was a theory for the ending, but it didn't happen. It would be a good way to close a standalone (if my theory happened, of course). However, the ending as it stands left a lot open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed this sci-fi focused on difficult decisions, rebellion and friendship, family and rapprochement.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity of getting to know this author's work.
I really liked the group she came to know, in her mother's youth.
There was a theory for the ending, but it didn't happen. It would be a good way to close a standalone (if my theory happened, of course). However, the ending as it stands left a lot open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed this sci-fi focused on difficult decisions, rebellion and friendship, family and rapprochement.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity of getting to know this author's work.
April 23, 2023
This book was VERY aesthetically pleasing with the imagery, the illustrations throughout, and the book itself and its layout. I was hoping for a bit MORE plot wise, I just needed a little something more and I can't quite place my finger on what exactly. Perhaps even MORE imagery and "show not tell"-ing? There's just something missing!
One more thing I really liked, though, was how emotionally driven it was! It was fueled by so many emotions and Lucy's journey through space and time was really emotion-based and for me personally, I really liked it!
Overall, 3/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
One more thing I really liked, though, was how emotionally driven it was! It was fueled by so many emotions and Lucy's journey through space and time was really emotion-based and for me personally, I really liked it!
Overall, 3/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
April 8, 2023
CLIFFHANGER WHY?!
No but seriously, this book was great. It’s such a quick read and it almost makes me sad that it was so short. I found myself wanting the story to be longer, just so I could stay in this world.
The story is very straight forward- there’s no unnecessary filler that just makes the story drag. Lucy doesn’t mince words and cuts straight to the chase. “I’m from the future. I don’t know how I got here.” And I love that everyone just fully embraced that.
The technology described is amazing, and each device had a logical purpose to it.
All of the characters were well written with complete backstories and character arcs. I crave more to this story and hope there will be a sequel.
My only complaint is literally just that it was so short. It could easily be a 300-400 page book with potential to become a saga. Absolutely loved it.
No but seriously, this book was great. It’s such a quick read and it almost makes me sad that it was so short. I found myself wanting the story to be longer, just so I could stay in this world.
The story is very straight forward- there’s no unnecessary filler that just makes the story drag. Lucy doesn’t mince words and cuts straight to the chase. “I’m from the future. I don’t know how I got here.” And I love that everyone just fully embraced that.
The technology described is amazing, and each device had a logical purpose to it.
All of the characters were well written with complete backstories and character arcs. I crave more to this story and hope there will be a sequel.
My only complaint is literally just that it was so short. It could easily be a 300-400 page book with potential to become a saga. Absolutely loved it.
June 26, 2023
I received this ARC for an honest review of the book. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing it to me
Read if you like
🦋Time travels
🦋Adventures and suspense
🦋Sci- fi
🦋Fantasy
The writing is absolutely terrific. I love how the past perfectly lines up with the future. I like how it is straightforward and has no unnecessary drags. The main character is hilarious which automatically makes me like her. She is determined and adventurous, I’d have liked it if she had a bit more depth in her character. Her mother’s character is so flawlessly written it is realistic and I adored seeing the change in the dynamics of their relationship The storyline and setting are unique and the twists were great.
I kinda hoped for a bit more from the plot but all in all, I really liked the book. The story was really good and I couldn't put it down. It ends on a cliffhanger and I’m really excited for the next part.
I picked this one up mostly because of the pretty cover and I was awestruck by those illustrations throughout the book.
I think it is best for teens but adults can enjoy it too’
Highly recommend
Read if you like
🦋Time travels
🦋Adventures and suspense
🦋Sci- fi
🦋Fantasy
The writing is absolutely terrific. I love how the past perfectly lines up with the future. I like how it is straightforward and has no unnecessary drags. The main character is hilarious which automatically makes me like her. She is determined and adventurous, I’d have liked it if she had a bit more depth in her character. Her mother’s character is so flawlessly written it is realistic and I adored seeing the change in the dynamics of their relationship The storyline and setting are unique and the twists were great.
I kinda hoped for a bit more from the plot but all in all, I really liked the book. The story was really good and I couldn't put it down. It ends on a cliffhanger and I’m really excited for the next part.
I picked this one up mostly because of the pretty cover and I was awestruck by those illustrations throughout the book.
I think it is best for teens but adults can enjoy it too’
Highly recommend
January 27, 2024
Right from the start, this story is well-written and has an interesting voice. I’m not usually a fan of first person narrative but the protagonist of this one was able to carry it off with a mixture of humour, self-deprecation and a narration style that I would classify as “yep, that’s me. I bet you’re wondering how I got here.”
The setting also pops. Lucy, our protagonist, has been on a ship – some kind of generation ship? The titular Mercury, as it happens – all her life and we open on her being caught and arrested, not for the first time, for exploring in a “quarantined” part of the ship. The ship’s been damaged, and AI devices have been removed or otherwise disables, except for a few in this damaged action. The mysterious backstory is immediately compelling.
Speaking of AI … I was a fan of Chip the infodump cube, and feel like he could have been used more (although it was probably more than ample for normal readers).
Following her arrest, Lucy is given a stern talking-to by her mother, who is captain of the Mercury. This locked them in my mind as Beckett Mariner and Carol Freeman from Star Trek: Lower Decks. But they could do worse. We learn that the ship is no longer moving, and is in pretty dire straits otherwise. Lucy and her mother get into a fight over well-trodden sore points, and are interrupted by the ship experiencing another nasty accident. Lucy loses a foot in the process, and it is replaced with a metal prosthetic, which struck me as immediately interesting because her mother has a metal foot as well.
When Lucy again goes rogue, finds her way to the strange glowy-interior’d meteorite that just hit the ship, and touches it and finds herself in a whole and undamaged Mercury full of strangers, it could only mean that she’d gone back in time and was about to become her own mother. No possible other explanation could exist.
Well, our esteemed storyteller has a bit more in store for us than that, and indeed it seemed like the captain’s metal foot was something of a red herring. What we get next is a little akin to Pratchett’s Night Watch, wherein our protagonist explores a not-too-distant past of the author’s constructed world. While Mercury‘s jump-back isn’t quite as well-earned as Night Watch‘s – after all, Vimes was stepping back into an Ankh-Morpork with at least twenty books written about it, whereas Lucy does it with about one-third of a book to stand on – it still feels solid. That is, I feel, a function of the author’s familiarity with the world. If the storyteller is confident, the reader feels in good hands.
So. Lucy winds up in the past and from here on in the story is one big old time travel paradox-fest with all the Back to the Future classics. Needless to say, I loved it. There were occasional frustrating moments that seemed to be “just so the plot can happen”, like Lucy not immediately explaining how she got to when she was. I suppose this is so she can tell the young-generation friend-group she runs into (she does get oddly free rein on the past-Mercury, considering she’s just appeared out of nowhere), and it is a little more impactful that way. But these slight tweaks to the fabric of narrative reality are forgivable in my view. Like I said, I trusted the author at this point.
I won’t go into further spoilery details. It’s worth reading, and I think I’ve already given away enough. Although to be fair, the time-travel bit is in the book blurb so it was only a spoiler to me and other non-blurb-readers, and not a big one. Suffice to say, there is a whole lot going on and Lucy has to get to the bottom of it in order to save the past – and the future.
It all comes full circle at the end with Wardenclyffe, Earth, and Bit – all of which, I assume, make sense if you’ve read book 1 but as far as I’m concerned was a good ending to this one as a stand-alone or a book 1 of a series too. It wasn’t a story-ruining confusion so much as an aha-moment when we realise that there is more going on and this all links back to a larger series arc. Excellent stuff. I’ll be checking out book 1 as soon as I have time.
A good, exciting sci-fi story and nice handling of character and time travel in general. And with some great illustrations, by the way, from what looks like a Finnish artist? At least Minna Ollikainen is a Finnish name. So there we go, suomi mainittu.
Oh, and one other little style / character note: having, like, a fifth person ask a time traveller about time travel isn’t too much, Lucy. Time travellers don’t get to groan when a fifth person asks them what the fuck is going on. Time travellers have to explain that shit as many times as necessary and they don’t get to be over it.
Got it? Okay, good. We’re moving on to the meters.
Sex-o-meter
Helena and Attacus probably fucked, didn’t they, for Helena to be pregnant and him to be the father. Sure. No, but seriously, this is mostly a young-adults-having-rebellious-adventure type story (not necessarily Young Adult genre sci-fi, but not not that, either), and there’s not much call for sex in it. It’s fine. We can be horny on our own time. Just to upcycle an earlier bit, I’ll give this one a Phillip J Fry being beaten up by Biff Tannen out of a possible Marty McFly porking Mildred Fry.
Gore-o-meter
Nothing really. There are quite a few deaths, but they’re mostly pretty tidy. Not a gory one. Half a bloody ragged quivering flesh-gobbet out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
Naturally, as a time travel sci-fi this one is rich in WTFium which is the element that powers most time travel narratives. Good stuff, and the epilogue added a good blindfold-on-and-spin-around-seven-times kick in the pants to finish us off with. Well played. Mercury gets a dude with a sack on his head getting the fuck blasted out of him by a blunderbuss in a cornfield out of a possible kid getting creamed by a falling jet engine in his bedroom.
My Final Verdict
What more can I say? I liked it. Four stars!
The setting also pops. Lucy, our protagonist, has been on a ship – some kind of generation ship? The titular Mercury, as it happens – all her life and we open on her being caught and arrested, not for the first time, for exploring in a “quarantined” part of the ship. The ship’s been damaged, and AI devices have been removed or otherwise disables, except for a few in this damaged action. The mysterious backstory is immediately compelling.
Speaking of AI … I was a fan of Chip the infodump cube, and feel like he could have been used more (although it was probably more than ample for normal readers).
Following her arrest, Lucy is given a stern talking-to by her mother, who is captain of the Mercury. This locked them in my mind as Beckett Mariner and Carol Freeman from Star Trek: Lower Decks. But they could do worse. We learn that the ship is no longer moving, and is in pretty dire straits otherwise. Lucy and her mother get into a fight over well-trodden sore points, and are interrupted by the ship experiencing another nasty accident. Lucy loses a foot in the process, and it is replaced with a metal prosthetic, which struck me as immediately interesting because her mother has a metal foot as well.
When Lucy again goes rogue, finds her way to the strange glowy-interior’d meteorite that just hit the ship, and touches it and finds herself in a whole and undamaged Mercury full of strangers, it could only mean that she’d gone back in time and was about to become her own mother. No possible other explanation could exist.
Well, our esteemed storyteller has a bit more in store for us than that, and indeed it seemed like the captain’s metal foot was something of a red herring. What we get next is a little akin to Pratchett’s Night Watch, wherein our protagonist explores a not-too-distant past of the author’s constructed world. While Mercury‘s jump-back isn’t quite as well-earned as Night Watch‘s – after all, Vimes was stepping back into an Ankh-Morpork with at least twenty books written about it, whereas Lucy does it with about one-third of a book to stand on – it still feels solid. That is, I feel, a function of the author’s familiarity with the world. If the storyteller is confident, the reader feels in good hands.
So. Lucy winds up in the past and from here on in the story is one big old time travel paradox-fest with all the Back to the Future classics. Needless to say, I loved it. There were occasional frustrating moments that seemed to be “just so the plot can happen”, like Lucy not immediately explaining how she got to when she was. I suppose this is so she can tell the young-generation friend-group she runs into (she does get oddly free rein on the past-Mercury, considering she’s just appeared out of nowhere), and it is a little more impactful that way. But these slight tweaks to the fabric of narrative reality are forgivable in my view. Like I said, I trusted the author at this point.
I won’t go into further spoilery details. It’s worth reading, and I think I’ve already given away enough. Although to be fair, the time-travel bit is in the book blurb so it was only a spoiler to me and other non-blurb-readers, and not a big one. Suffice to say, there is a whole lot going on and Lucy has to get to the bottom of it in order to save the past – and the future.
It all comes full circle at the end with Wardenclyffe, Earth, and Bit – all of which, I assume, make sense if you’ve read book 1 but as far as I’m concerned was a good ending to this one as a stand-alone or a book 1 of a series too. It wasn’t a story-ruining confusion so much as an aha-moment when we realise that there is more going on and this all links back to a larger series arc. Excellent stuff. I’ll be checking out book 1 as soon as I have time.
A good, exciting sci-fi story and nice handling of character and time travel in general. And with some great illustrations, by the way, from what looks like a Finnish artist? At least Minna Ollikainen is a Finnish name. So there we go, suomi mainittu.
Oh, and one other little style / character note: having, like, a fifth person ask a time traveller about time travel isn’t too much, Lucy. Time travellers don’t get to groan when a fifth person asks them what the fuck is going on. Time travellers have to explain that shit as many times as necessary and they don’t get to be over it.
Got it? Okay, good. We’re moving on to the meters.
Sex-o-meter
Helena and Attacus probably fucked, didn’t they, for Helena to be pregnant and him to be the father. Sure. No, but seriously, this is mostly a young-adults-having-rebellious-adventure type story (not necessarily Young Adult genre sci-fi, but not not that, either), and there’s not much call for sex in it. It’s fine. We can be horny on our own time. Just to upcycle an earlier bit, I’ll give this one a Phillip J Fry being beaten up by Biff Tannen out of a possible Marty McFly porking Mildred Fry.
Gore-o-meter
Nothing really. There are quite a few deaths, but they’re mostly pretty tidy. Not a gory one. Half a bloody ragged quivering flesh-gobbet out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
Naturally, as a time travel sci-fi this one is rich in WTFium which is the element that powers most time travel narratives. Good stuff, and the epilogue added a good blindfold-on-and-spin-around-seven-times kick in the pants to finish us off with. Well played. Mercury gets a dude with a sack on his head getting the fuck blasted out of him by a blunderbuss in a cornfield out of a possible kid getting creamed by a falling jet engine in his bedroom.
My Final Verdict
What more can I say? I liked it. Four stars!
July 26, 2023
"Mercury" by Lloyd Hall is a thrilling YA Time Travel Fiction novel that takes readers on an exhilarating journey through space and time. The story revolves around 19-year-old Lucy, who embarks on the colony ship, Mercury, in search of answers about her late father. However, her quest for knowledge puts her at odds with her mother, who also happens to be the captain of the ship.
The novel immediately hooks readers with its intriguing premise of time travel and the mysteries surrounding Lucy's father. Lloyd Hall skillfully weaves a captivating narrative, seamlessly blending elements of science fiction and family drama, making "Mercury" a compelling and emotionally charged read.
As Lucy becomes stranded in the past after a mysterious meteor encounter, the plot takes an exciting turn. Coming face-to-face with her teenage mother opens up a world of possibilities, leading Lucy to discover unexpected connections and deeper truths about her family history. The exploration of complex mother-daughter dynamics adds depth and relatability to the story, allowing readers to empathize with Lucy's emotional journey.
Amidst the personal revelations, the imminent danger faced by the Mercury due to rifts in space creates a constant sense of tension and urgency, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Lucy's determination to save the ship and find a way back to her own time intensifies the stakes, making for a gripping and fast-paced narrative.
Lloyd Hall's writing style is evocative and vivid, immersing readers in the futuristic setting of the colony ship and the nostalgic atmosphere of the past. The author's attention to detail and well-crafted world-building contribute to the novel's immersive experience, making the world of "Mercury" feel both familiar and excitingly futuristic.
"Mercury" is a stellar YA Time Travel Fiction novel that will undoubtedly leave readers captivated and yearning for more. With its skillful blend of science fiction, family drama, and thrilling suspense, Lloyd Hall's novel is a standout in the genre, offering an unforgettable reading adventure for young adult and science fiction enthusiasts alike.
The novel immediately hooks readers with its intriguing premise of time travel and the mysteries surrounding Lucy's father. Lloyd Hall skillfully weaves a captivating narrative, seamlessly blending elements of science fiction and family drama, making "Mercury" a compelling and emotionally charged read.
As Lucy becomes stranded in the past after a mysterious meteor encounter, the plot takes an exciting turn. Coming face-to-face with her teenage mother opens up a world of possibilities, leading Lucy to discover unexpected connections and deeper truths about her family history. The exploration of complex mother-daughter dynamics adds depth and relatability to the story, allowing readers to empathize with Lucy's emotional journey.
Amidst the personal revelations, the imminent danger faced by the Mercury due to rifts in space creates a constant sense of tension and urgency, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Lucy's determination to save the ship and find a way back to her own time intensifies the stakes, making for a gripping and fast-paced narrative.
Lloyd Hall's writing style is evocative and vivid, immersing readers in the futuristic setting of the colony ship and the nostalgic atmosphere of the past. The author's attention to detail and well-crafted world-building contribute to the novel's immersive experience, making the world of "Mercury" feel both familiar and excitingly futuristic.
"Mercury" is a stellar YA Time Travel Fiction novel that will undoubtedly leave readers captivated and yearning for more. With its skillful blend of science fiction, family drama, and thrilling suspense, Lloyd Hall's novel is a standout in the genre, offering an unforgettable reading adventure for young adult and science fiction enthusiasts alike.
July 4, 2023
Thank you Net Galley and Lloyd Hall for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I really wanted to like this book - I mean we're talking about time traveling, spaceships, distant mother, and a mysterious death of father (until it's later revealed). What not to like about those tropes?
However, I felt disappointed when I reached the end of this book. I felt like there should've been more done with the plot and the characters that could've helped improve this book. It also didn't help there is a major cliffhanger at the end, which I will assume will continue onto book three of the series.
What I did love about this book was the connection of events from when Lucy traveled back in time to when she arrived back. I thought that was so unique and was my favorite part of the book! The way the author described it and made it into a twist I wasn't expecting!
The main plot of the book was for Lucy to get back to her own time after being sent back in time. The other plot of the book was Lucy running into her mother as a teenager and getting to know who her father was. The author did a fantastic job with building a relationship between Lucy and her teenage mother, but I wished there were more done with the father. I would've expected Lucy to want to know him way more than what she did. I felt there was so much more the author could've done with Lucy and her father.
There was too much telling for me going on in this book and wished the author worked on showing more. The writing felt bland and at times, I was confused with what was going on. I think if there were more descriptions, I think it would've helped my confusion.
Overall, I give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating. This book would be great for those who love time-travel and rebuilding a relationship with their mother. The recommended audience would be young adult, as it's listed as.
I really wanted to like this book - I mean we're talking about time traveling, spaceships, distant mother, and a mysterious death of father (until it's later revealed). What not to like about those tropes?
However, I felt disappointed when I reached the end of this book. I felt like there should've been more done with the plot and the characters that could've helped improve this book. It also didn't help there is a major cliffhanger at the end, which I will assume will continue onto book three of the series.
What I did love about this book was the connection of events from when Lucy traveled back in time to when she arrived back. I thought that was so unique and was my favorite part of the book! The way the author described it and made it into a twist I wasn't expecting!
The main plot of the book was for Lucy to get back to her own time after being sent back in time. The other plot of the book was Lucy running into her mother as a teenager and getting to know who her father was. The author did a fantastic job with building a relationship between Lucy and her teenage mother, but I wished there were more done with the father. I would've expected Lucy to want to know him way more than what she did. I felt there was so much more the author could've done with Lucy and her father.
There was too much telling for me going on in this book and wished the author worked on showing more. The writing felt bland and at times, I was confused with what was going on. I think if there were more descriptions, I think it would've helped my confusion.
Overall, I give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating. This book would be great for those who love time-travel and rebuilding a relationship with their mother. The recommended audience would be young adult, as it's listed as.
July 3, 2023
Mercury is a sci-fi YA book following Lucy who's living on the spaceship "Mercury". Her curiosity and adventurous spirit gets her in trouble with the captain of the ship, who is also her mother. During an emergency on the ship, Lucy suddenly finds herself 21 years in the past that opens up some interesting opportunities.
I've seen reviews saying they absolutely loved the writing style of the book, but it was not my cup of tea. It feels very jumbled and unfocused at times, and it can be hard to follow along with jumping to and from thoughts without warning or indication. In the end I think this is personal preference.
The book introduces several characters that feels OK, but they're not really fleshed out. Even Lucy is a bit of a stranger after reading to me, but I think this has to do with the writing style. Both characters and surroundings have varying degrees of description, where it can swing from too little to too much and anything in between. The book does have several strong female characters though.
The illustrations used in the book is a good enough reason to give it a read. The whole book is very aesthetically pleasing, and the illustrations absolutely add to the book. I think Mercury has a strong premise, and the story is engaging. The pacing of the book is great where you don't get down periods where nothing happen. The message about forgiveness and understanding is very clear throughout the book (even if it isn't always for Lucy). In my opinion it is a very strong book for teens/YA, and I think I could have really loved it if I were younger. It adresses several problems that are relevant for that age group, without having the morals spoon fed on every page.
I've seen reviews saying they absolutely loved the writing style of the book, but it was not my cup of tea. It feels very jumbled and unfocused at times, and it can be hard to follow along with jumping to and from thoughts without warning or indication. In the end I think this is personal preference.
The book introduces several characters that feels OK, but they're not really fleshed out. Even Lucy is a bit of a stranger after reading to me, but I think this has to do with the writing style. Both characters and surroundings have varying degrees of description, where it can swing from too little to too much and anything in between. The book does have several strong female characters though.
The illustrations used in the book is a good enough reason to give it a read. The whole book is very aesthetically pleasing, and the illustrations absolutely add to the book. I think Mercury has a strong premise, and the story is engaging. The pacing of the book is great where you don't get down periods where nothing happen. The message about forgiveness and understanding is very clear throughout the book (even if it isn't always for Lucy). In my opinion it is a very strong book for teens/YA, and I think I could have really loved it if I were younger. It adresses several problems that are relevant for that age group, without having the morals spoon fed on every page.
November 24, 2023
(Actual: 4.75⭐, rounded up) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher(s) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review and/or promotion. I loved this book! The cover (and the title tbh) were what immediately drew me into requesting this ARC, and I'm so, so happy I didn't leave from it disappointed. I love emotional, character-driven stories where yes, the plot matters of course— but it's not the Most Important Thing™, you know? And I feel like toeing that line can be especially tricky when it falls under a genre such as Science Fiction. Which is why this book, to me, succeeds in fitting that bill almost exactly. Mercury is fast-paced, aesthetically pleasing, and atmospheric in how it presents itself to us as the reader; it even has illustrations woven in throughout, which I really appreciated. This book tackles topics related to the inner turmoil we all face regarding making difficult decisions, rebelling against authority, and sorting through complicated interpersonal familial & social relationships. It's a quick read (less than 300 pages) with an open-ending that leaves room for a possible Part 2 should the author choose to go that route. As it stands however, when reviewing this book though at its face value - meaning, as a standalone story - I still found the end to be satisfying enough for me to walk away without nitpicking too much. If I had to critique anything , I would say that I wish it were longer so that certain scenes could be expanded on more fully (we all know I'm a lover of showing rather than simply telling), but again, I still enjoyed myself and would honestly recommend this to anyone looking for something unique to read.
October 13, 2023
Mercury by Lloyd Hall is a YA sci-fi adventure in which the main character travels not only through space but through time as well.
The book had great potential. I found the concept of traveling back in time and hanging out with one's parents really cool and I wanted to see more. However, because the story is so short, I felt like the characters and plot were not developed to the level I wanted.
The plot is extremely fast-paced, which I appreciated immensely (I read about 80% in one day), but the reactions of some characters felt either underdeveloped or overexaggerated.
I also found it a bit hard to connect with Lucy. Once again, because the story was so short and quick, there wasn't much time to completely develop. I liked the found family vibes of Helena's friend group, but the book didn't develop their relationships much.
Additionally, the book ends on a cliffhanger, and judging by the other book the author has written (which he says is not a requirement to read this one), it would be helpful to read Mercury as a sequel to Wardenclyffe.
I did enjoy reading this book and the artwork was gorgeous, but it left me wanting in some areas. Anyone looking for a short sci-fi read for a YA audience would like this book more than I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Actual Rating: 2.75/5
The book had great potential. I found the concept of traveling back in time and hanging out with one's parents really cool and I wanted to see more. However, because the story is so short, I felt like the characters and plot were not developed to the level I wanted.
The plot is extremely fast-paced, which I appreciated immensely (I read about 80% in one day), but the reactions of some characters felt either underdeveloped or overexaggerated.
I also found it a bit hard to connect with Lucy. Once again, because the story was so short and quick, there wasn't much time to completely develop. I liked the found family vibes of Helena's friend group, but the book didn't develop their relationships much.
Additionally, the book ends on a cliffhanger, and judging by the other book the author has written (which he says is not a requirement to read this one), it would be helpful to read Mercury as a sequel to Wardenclyffe.
I did enjoy reading this book and the artwork was gorgeous, but it left me wanting in some areas. Anyone looking for a short sci-fi read for a YA audience would like this book more than I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Actual Rating: 2.75/5
September 27, 2023
3.5 stars
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced, there's a lot happening and it never gets boring. It did, however, take me a long time to realise that the main character is not 16 but quite a bit older. This was mainly due to the behaviour of the main cast being so much younger than what you would expect from a 20/21 year old.
The other thing I found a bit jarring (minor spoilers) is that non of the other characters really questioned our main characters time travelling explanation, or asked her any questions about the future, but just let het run along and let her be a kid (again, quite young behaviour) which I did not think would be very realistic.
The sudden change of heart of Helena at the end of the timeline in the past felt a bit like an overreaction and not really in line with her character. Maybe it could have worked if all the characters were a bit more fleshed out but the whole story had such a happy and fun vibe to it that the change of character felt really out of place. (I also still don't understand why Atticus just couldn't run for the door, seemed like there was enough time but oh well)
All these things aside though, it was a very fun and quick read and did not hinder me in my enjoyment of the story. The open ending hinted at a possible sequel and brought a prequel in the same series to my attention, so will definitely check that out!
*I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced, there's a lot happening and it never gets boring. It did, however, take me a long time to realise that the main character is not 16 but quite a bit older. This was mainly due to the behaviour of the main cast being so much younger than what you would expect from a 20/21 year old.
The other thing I found a bit jarring (minor spoilers) is that non of the other characters really questioned our main characters time travelling explanation, or asked her any questions about the future, but just let het run along and let her be a kid (again, quite young behaviour) which I did not think would be very realistic.
The sudden change of heart of Helena at the end of the timeline in the past felt a bit like an overreaction and not really in line with her character. Maybe it could have worked if all the characters were a bit more fleshed out but the whole story had such a happy and fun vibe to it that the change of character felt really out of place. (I also still don't understand why Atticus just couldn't run for the door, seemed like there was enough time but oh well)
All these things aside though, it was a very fun and quick read and did not hinder me in my enjoyment of the story. The open ending hinted at a possible sequel and brought a prequel in the same series to my attention, so will definitely check that out!
*I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
Mercury was such an incredible sci-fi book, I loved the plot of this book and the time travel part was so fun to read about. I was so excited to find out what was going to happen, firstly with the time travel and then Lucy trying to return to her present day. I found myself so eager to pick up this book and continue this adventure with Lucy. The adventure didn’t end when she time travelled back to the present either.
I thought Lucy was a great main character, she was thrown into a time zone, unintentionally, and she embraced it. She used her knowledge of the present day Mercury in the past and she utilised that while she was in the past. She also went through a lot of emotional feelings while in the past as she was met with a younger version of her mother and her father, who she never met in the present day.
I absolutely loved reading this book and the pace was maintained throughout. With it being a short book, the author added so much information into the story and it was beautifully written. I also loved the ending and it ties this instalment to the series. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series. I have to mention how amazing the artwork is in this book. I found it encapsulated the beauty of this world perfectly. Also, the cover is so simple, yet so impactful. Thank you to Lloyd Hall for asking me to review your book, I highly recommend this series!
I thought Lucy was a great main character, she was thrown into a time zone, unintentionally, and she embraced it. She used her knowledge of the present day Mercury in the past and she utilised that while she was in the past. She also went through a lot of emotional feelings while in the past as she was met with a younger version of her mother and her father, who she never met in the present day.
I absolutely loved reading this book and the pace was maintained throughout. With it being a short book, the author added so much information into the story and it was beautifully written. I also loved the ending and it ties this instalment to the series. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series. I have to mention how amazing the artwork is in this book. I found it encapsulated the beauty of this world perfectly. Also, the cover is so simple, yet so impactful. Thank you to Lloyd Hall for asking me to review your book, I highly recommend this series!
June 28, 2023
Mercury by Lloyd Hall is a Future/Space YA adventure with time travel, secrets, and high stakes that will leave readers excited for the future of this series,
The MC of this is a young woman named Lucy who gives you pirate vibes before you learn more about her and her ties to Mercury's Capt. And then you will get Star War's Han Solo vibes (sassy/cocky/hidden backstory).
Lucy struggles with everything being kept from her, including who her father is and about him as well as the closed-off areas of the space ship.
Lloyd for me wrote a dynamic world and female characters, which was awesome and I can't wait to find out more about their adventures now that Lucy has gotten so many answers and so many more questions.
The MC of this is a young woman named Lucy who gives you pirate vibes before you learn more about her and her ties to Mercury's Capt. And then you will get Star War's Han Solo vibes (sassy/cocky/hidden backstory).
Lucy struggles with everything being kept from her, including who her father is and about him as well as the closed-off areas of the space ship.
Lloyd for me wrote a dynamic world and female characters, which was awesome and I can't wait to find out more about their adventures now that Lucy has gotten so many answers and so many more questions.
August 24, 2023
Excellent read! I had the privilege of reading Lloyd's first book, Wardenclyffe, which I throughly enjoyed, so I had high expectations for Mercury. The book itself is so beautiful with an amazing cover and thoughtful illustrations. Lloyd is especially gifted in building a world that the reader is invited to explore and one where everything makes sense and is so easy to visualize. The characters were very well developed and it was easy to identify with each one and to sincerely care about their individual journeys. I think having read Wardenclyffe previously, it made reading Mercury a richer experience, although it is an excellent reading experience as a stand-alone book as well. I am hoping for may more novels from this author and look forward to reading them.
September 6, 2023
Mercury by Lloyd Hall truly came out of no where for me. I had such a fun time getting to know the characters and will be looking for the first book ASAP. I did not realize this was a sequel but I am so glad I requested to read this. I love a good space adventure with a little bit of time distortion, action, and drama. I do feel like this was the perfect length for what I was looking for right now and Lucy, the stubborn but determined teen want to know more about herself and her past. I'm giving this book 5 stars because I really enjoyed it and read it within about 2 sittings. If a book can keep me hooked that easily, I don't have any reason not to recommend it to others. It was fun and sometimes that's exactly what I need in a book.
July 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC.
The premise of this book initially pulled me in because it encompasses all of my favorite things: space, time travel, and mother-daughter relationships.
I had a really difficult time connecting with Lucy's character from the get-go. This probably prevented me from connecting with the story as a whole because much of it was "telling" and very minimal "showing." I did enjoy the progression of the story as it was well-paced.
The graphics and animations were a great touch and added more depth to the overall mood of the story. I think a younger version of myself might have thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The premise of this book initially pulled me in because it encompasses all of my favorite things: space, time travel, and mother-daughter relationships.
I had a really difficult time connecting with Lucy's character from the get-go. This probably prevented me from connecting with the story as a whole because much of it was "telling" and very minimal "showing." I did enjoy the progression of the story as it was well-paced.
The graphics and animations were a great touch and added more depth to the overall mood of the story. I think a younger version of myself might have thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 21, 2023
I Received this book for an early review from NetGalley
First, let me say how much I enjoyed the art and graphics in this novel. Younger me would have been obsessed with the storyline and characters. Older me still enjoyed it, but I had a harder time staying focused on the story. There were some points in this story where I felt it was too chaotic, and not in a good way. Way too much happening without enough explanation.
But even with that being said, I do think it has a great premise and I did enjoy the characters. The cliffhanger was a little surprising, but I'm hoping for a sequel!
First, let me say how much I enjoyed the art and graphics in this novel. Younger me would have been obsessed with the storyline and characters. Older me still enjoyed it, but I had a harder time staying focused on the story. There were some points in this story where I felt it was too chaotic, and not in a good way. Way too much happening without enough explanation.
But even with that being said, I do think it has a great premise and I did enjoy the characters. The cliffhanger was a little surprising, but I'm hoping for a sequel!
November 10, 2023
Mercury is a thrilling roller coaster of a read, delivering an action-packed and fast-paced narrative that grabs hold from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end. Despite its brevity, the book manages to pack a powerful punch, weaving together a gripping storyline with dynamic characters and intense moments that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The author's skillful writing propels the narrative forward with a relentless pace, making Mercury a concise yet exhilarating experience for those seeking a quick, adrenaline-fueled literary escape.
August 30, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the eARC.
I really liked the premise of this book but found the execution to be slightly juvenile for myself in terms of the writing. I do think this book would be perfect for teen readers who are interested in sci-fi. I did think this was an enjoyable read and would read a sequel. I really grew to love Lucy and the characters and I enjoyed seeing them on their journey and hope there is more coming.
I really liked the premise of this book but found the execution to be slightly juvenile for myself in terms of the writing. I do think this book would be perfect for teen readers who are interested in sci-fi. I did think this was an enjoyable read and would read a sequel. I really grew to love Lucy and the characters and I enjoyed seeing them on their journey and hope there is more coming.
September 20, 2023
When i downloaded this I didn't realise it was book 2 in a series. However i didnt feel lost or like I was missing anything diving straight in.
I really enjoyed this book. The time travelling dynamic was done really well and there was a few twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved the development of the relationships between Lucy and the friends she makes along the way.
The ending definitely made me want to pick up book 3 so I'll be keeping an eye out!
I really enjoyed this book. The time travelling dynamic was done really well and there was a few twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved the development of the relationships between Lucy and the friends she makes along the way.
The ending definitely made me want to pick up book 3 so I'll be keeping an eye out!
December 7, 2023
this was an interesting spacey time warp journey. I enjoyed the main characters and all the side characters. the mc was put in a lot of harrowing situations at the start and that made for an enticing read. I would say overall that this was a quaint spacey story that had some heartwarming moments. I would definitely recommend it to anyone remoted interested in sci fi. there is another book by this author that I would love to read as well.
June 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Lloyd Hall for the ARC. It was a quick read as it definitely held my attention. The story of time travel was what grabbed my interest and it was a great time travel read. The main character was well-developed and was great to follow. I will say the end was a complete surprise.
September 1, 2023
If you enjoy young adult science fiction this one is highly recommended. Involving time travel with characters developed with insight and sensitivity the author creates a believable sense of place.
June 7, 2023
Mercury was really entertaining and unique with its setting.
The imagery drew me into the story, particularly after I got used to the initially kind of robotic-sounding writing style.
The illustrations were also an amazing addition to the story.
Lucy was an intriguing and determined character. It was interesting to see the dynamic between Lucy and her mother in the present and the past, and how the years in-between changed Lucy's mother, Helena.
I found Helena to be a complex character whose development was realistic based on her experiences. Helena's friend group was also a fun and diverse assortment of characters.
I particularly loved how past events fit perfectly into the actual present time.
I really wanted the book to be a little longer, especially with the ending!
The imagery drew me into the story, particularly after I got used to the initially kind of robotic-sounding writing style.
The illustrations were also an amazing addition to the story.
Lucy was an intriguing and determined character. It was interesting to see the dynamic between Lucy and her mother in the present and the past, and how the years in-between changed Lucy's mother, Helena.
I found Helena to be a complex character whose development was realistic based on her experiences. Helena's friend group was also a fun and diverse assortment of characters.
I particularly loved how past events fit perfectly into the actual present time.
I really wanted the book to be a little longer, especially with the ending!
July 4, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Lloyd Hall for the ARC. It was a quick read as it definitely held my attention. The story of time travel was what grabbed my interest and it was a great time travel read. The main character was well-developed and was great to follow. I will say the end was a complete surprise.
August 23, 2023
Idk, i honestly don't know what i just read, but i know that it's ya and sci fi and i you like short books it's for you , that's it.
April 6, 2024
Enjoyable, fast read. Story could be fleshed out way more and some parts had weird logic, but overall good.
April 29, 2024
So glad I read this!
April 27, 2023
I would have gone absolutely feral for this book when I was younger! Unfortunately, i now am a little bit too old to fully enjoy it. It still manages to give me that sense of nostalgia though.
It is very well written and thought out, but I just didn’t get that caught up in the story. I enjoyed it, and it is definitely something I would read, so I don’t know why. Sometimes books are just like that I guess.
The characters felt pretty fleshed out. Some felt a little flat, but not to the point where it took away from the story.
The illustrations! I love them! It adds a little break in the text that makes the message land better. Absolutely gorgeous too, I could definitely have them printed on my wall.
It is very well written and thought out, but I just didn’t get that caught up in the story. I enjoyed it, and it is definitely something I would read, so I don’t know why. Sometimes books are just like that I guess.
The characters felt pretty fleshed out. Some felt a little flat, but not to the point where it took away from the story.
The illustrations! I love them! It adds a little break in the text that makes the message land better. Absolutely gorgeous too, I could definitely have them printed on my wall.
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