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Adventures of Alexis Davenport #3
Desperate Reflections
In this final book of the Adventures of Alexis Davenport Series, we find Alex dealing with more drama than ever: her first break-up, her mom's new boyfriend, and attempting to learn the secrets of her "gift" on her own. Desperate to stop Drifter, Alex uses her ability to locate the evil Traveler, only to discover that he lives in her time... And he knows who she is. In a final race against time, Alex must discover Drifter's ultimate plan, stop him, and save her family...all before prom.
245 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2014
140 people want to read
About the author
Shay West
12 books92 followersShay West was born in Longmont, CO and earned a doctorate degree in Human Medical Genetics from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical. Dr. West currently lives in Grand Junction, CO with her cat (Oreo), packrat (Rose Tyler), and bearded dragon (Madame Vastra). When not writing novels, she plays with plushie microbes and teaches biology classes at Colorado Mesa University. She is the author of the Portals of Destiny series, the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series, Soul Reapers, and Organ Reapers. She has also been published in several anthologies: Battlespace (military scifi), Orange Karen: Tribute to a Warrior (fundraiser), Ancient New (steampunk/fantasy), and Horror in Bloom.
You can find Dr. West and more of her work at Shay-West.com.
You can find Dr. West and more of her work at Shay-West.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 4, 2014
A compelling YA Time Travel Adventure
Desperate Reflections is the third book in the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series by Shay West. It's the first book of the series I've read. That said, I intend to read the two books that preceded it. The author demonstrates exceptional writing craft. Readers of teen and young adult novels will quickly identify with Alexis Davenport.
Alex is a smart, hard-working high school junior faced with concerns and problems typical of her age group. As the story progresses, we see rich characterizations of Alex, her best friend and confident Jennifer McDonald as well as, Alex's mom Patricia. A relationship with boyfriend Drake has gone stale and when Alex considers calling an end to the relationship, Drake posts a change to his Facebook relationship status. It had been a couple of years since Alex's dad walked out on her mom. Alex is taken aback when mom is courted by a gentleman. To compound matters, she's asked by a teacher to serve as a tutor for indifferent students who are failing to progress in history, her favorite subject, as well as math and science.
In addition to Jenn and a few friends at school she and her mom are close to Aunt Karen and Uncle Mark Reynolds, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corp. These characters provide the foundation for a story that begins as a young adult novel but springboards into a time travel adventure.
Readers are given brief vignettes of Alex's time travels covered in the first two books. Alex has a gift which at times feels like a curse. In her role as a Traveler, she sees girls in the mirror she doesn't recognize. When Alex touches the mirror, her spirit moves back in time into the body of the person in the mirror. When doing so Alex finds herself pitted against an evil drifter Lane Stygian and his master Max Poder. Stygian plans to go back in time and if Alex fails in her mission the fate of history could result in the unthinkable.
Realizing she has a mission ahead Alex gazes into her mirror. The image shifts to one of a stout African American woman. Her eyes showed shock and fear. When Alex touched the mirror, she found herself in a large room that could be present day. She accessed the woman's memory and learned she occupied the body of AJ Jensen, a lance corporal in the Marine Corp and had a meeting within the hour. On her way to the meeting, she first recognizes her uncle Mark but is shocked when she recognized the evil drifter, Stygian. During the meeting, something goes terribly wrong. Ultimately, AJ is murdered by Stygian. To cover the crime, Stygian accuses Captain Reynolds adding another challenge and complication to Alex's life.
The pace of the story quickens at this point. Suspense builds when Alex learns Stygian plans to help Adolph Hitler win World War II. She travels back in time to a hospital in Germany.
After an apparently successful mission, Alex receives a shocking phone call. Again, the pace accelerates. The lives of Alex and her family are on the line. The resourceful Alex is faced with the most difficult challenge of her life and one that leads to a stunning conclusion.
Desperate Reflections, the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series by Shay West features elements of YA, science fiction and adventure stories and fans of these genres should find compelling it. It's one of the best books I have read in some time. Shay West has a new fan!
Desperate Reflections is the third book in the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series by Shay West. It's the first book of the series I've read. That said, I intend to read the two books that preceded it. The author demonstrates exceptional writing craft. Readers of teen and young adult novels will quickly identify with Alexis Davenport.
Alex is a smart, hard-working high school junior faced with concerns and problems typical of her age group. As the story progresses, we see rich characterizations of Alex, her best friend and confident Jennifer McDonald as well as, Alex's mom Patricia. A relationship with boyfriend Drake has gone stale and when Alex considers calling an end to the relationship, Drake posts a change to his Facebook relationship status. It had been a couple of years since Alex's dad walked out on her mom. Alex is taken aback when mom is courted by a gentleman. To compound matters, she's asked by a teacher to serve as a tutor for indifferent students who are failing to progress in history, her favorite subject, as well as math and science.
In addition to Jenn and a few friends at school she and her mom are close to Aunt Karen and Uncle Mark Reynolds, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corp. These characters provide the foundation for a story that begins as a young adult novel but springboards into a time travel adventure.
Readers are given brief vignettes of Alex's time travels covered in the first two books. Alex has a gift which at times feels like a curse. In her role as a Traveler, she sees girls in the mirror she doesn't recognize. When Alex touches the mirror, her spirit moves back in time into the body of the person in the mirror. When doing so Alex finds herself pitted against an evil drifter Lane Stygian and his master Max Poder. Stygian plans to go back in time and if Alex fails in her mission the fate of history could result in the unthinkable.
Realizing she has a mission ahead Alex gazes into her mirror. The image shifts to one of a stout African American woman. Her eyes showed shock and fear. When Alex touched the mirror, she found herself in a large room that could be present day. She accessed the woman's memory and learned she occupied the body of AJ Jensen, a lance corporal in the Marine Corp and had a meeting within the hour. On her way to the meeting, she first recognizes her uncle Mark but is shocked when she recognized the evil drifter, Stygian. During the meeting, something goes terribly wrong. Ultimately, AJ is murdered by Stygian. To cover the crime, Stygian accuses Captain Reynolds adding another challenge and complication to Alex's life.
The pace of the story quickens at this point. Suspense builds when Alex learns Stygian plans to help Adolph Hitler win World War II. She travels back in time to a hospital in Germany.
After an apparently successful mission, Alex receives a shocking phone call. Again, the pace accelerates. The lives of Alex and her family are on the line. The resourceful Alex is faced with the most difficult challenge of her life and one that leads to a stunning conclusion.
Desperate Reflections, the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series by Shay West features elements of YA, science fiction and adventure stories and fans of these genres should find compelling it. It's one of the best books I have read in some time. Shay West has a new fan!
December 16, 2014
Alexis Davenport has managed to prevent Drifter from altering history so far but every dangerous encounter has just been leading up to the unveiling of his true twisted ambition. Alexis makes a desperate attempt to stop Drifter in the modern era only to inadvertently reveal her identity and endanger the lives of everyone she loves. Alexis must now choose a course of action where saving one life could mean the death of millions. This is the final book in the Adventures Of Alexis Davenport trilogy.
Desperate Reflections is one of those rare books I've come across as a reader where I’m continually excited as it unfolds because of how beautifully it’s executed. I knew after the first few chapters that this was going to be an amazing story and it surpassed even those expectations. The story is wonderfully composed with great pacing, engaging narration, and continual suspense. Its portrayal of realistic issues and innovative approach to time travel are further enhanced by great characterization.
Similar to the previous books there are two interwoven storylines. There is the contemporary storyline that deals with Alexis’ everyday life as a teenager. The other storyline focuses on her time traveling adventures and the complications it presents. The storylines are interlaced nicely and support each other without disrupting the story's progression.
Alexis is a wholesome teenager that has gradually matured over the course of the series. Each adventure back in time has tested her resolve and she’s learned to emulate the positive qualities of the women she’s encountered. She’s gained better control over her emotions, become more assertive and eagerly grasps at opportunities for independence.
A couple of years have passed since Alexis’ father walked out on the family leaving them in dire straits. When her mother enters into a new relationship, Alexis reacts with hostility. It’s a moment of great insight into Alexis’ anxieties and residual pain. At the same time it was able to illustrate that a parent is more than their parental role. I liked that the story was able to break down the situation into an understandable dialogue with a healthy perspective. Through the course of the story Alexis identifies the necessity of opening up to others while becoming mindful of the people she allows into her life. It’s an insightful perspective on a situation I rarely see represented in young adult books which makes me wish I had access to it as a teenager.
Overall, this story has a darker intensity then previous books but this adds to the tension further heightening the suspense. In prior books there has always been a slight sense of safety when Alexis and Drifter simultaneously time traveled because there was anonymity and a mirror offered a potential escape. Alexis’ abilities have strengthened to where she can travel to the immediate past, near present without being summoned. Though a versatile ability this enables Drifter to be at his full strength without the vulnerabilities time travel creates. Alexis soon realizes how dangerous her adversary truly is when his plans to alter history are revealed and her loved ones become targets of retribution. Desperate Reflections is an intense and dramatic story that incorporates elements from the previous books to create a satisfying conclusion to the series.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
Desperate Reflections is one of those rare books I've come across as a reader where I’m continually excited as it unfolds because of how beautifully it’s executed. I knew after the first few chapters that this was going to be an amazing story and it surpassed even those expectations. The story is wonderfully composed with great pacing, engaging narration, and continual suspense. Its portrayal of realistic issues and innovative approach to time travel are further enhanced by great characterization.
Similar to the previous books there are two interwoven storylines. There is the contemporary storyline that deals with Alexis’ everyday life as a teenager. The other storyline focuses on her time traveling adventures and the complications it presents. The storylines are interlaced nicely and support each other without disrupting the story's progression.
Alexis is a wholesome teenager that has gradually matured over the course of the series. Each adventure back in time has tested her resolve and she’s learned to emulate the positive qualities of the women she’s encountered. She’s gained better control over her emotions, become more assertive and eagerly grasps at opportunities for independence.
A couple of years have passed since Alexis’ father walked out on the family leaving them in dire straits. When her mother enters into a new relationship, Alexis reacts with hostility. It’s a moment of great insight into Alexis’ anxieties and residual pain. At the same time it was able to illustrate that a parent is more than their parental role. I liked that the story was able to break down the situation into an understandable dialogue with a healthy perspective. Through the course of the story Alexis identifies the necessity of opening up to others while becoming mindful of the people she allows into her life. It’s an insightful perspective on a situation I rarely see represented in young adult books which makes me wish I had access to it as a teenager.
Overall, this story has a darker intensity then previous books but this adds to the tension further heightening the suspense. In prior books there has always been a slight sense of safety when Alexis and Drifter simultaneously time traveled because there was anonymity and a mirror offered a potential escape. Alexis’ abilities have strengthened to where she can travel to the immediate past, near present without being summoned. Though a versatile ability this enables Drifter to be at his full strength without the vulnerabilities time travel creates. Alexis soon realizes how dangerous her adversary truly is when his plans to alter history are revealed and her loved ones become targets of retribution. Desperate Reflections is an intense and dramatic story that incorporates elements from the previous books to create a satisfying conclusion to the series.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
September 7, 2014
So far, Alexis has foiled the Drifter’s attempts at altering history, but his end game is still unclear. Always having found him in the past, she is horrified to find he is actually a man from her present time and in very close proximity to her uncle. When the plan all along is discovered, how will Alexis travel through time and into another’s body without raising suspicions with those around her? A twisted plan for revenge and world dominance from decades before is entwined in the truth of the Drifter’s plans. Will Alexis need to decide who lives and who dies? With those around her being threatened with their own lives, what choice will she have? Does she have what it takes to make the right decision?
Desperate Reflections by talented author, Shay West is the final book in the trilogy surrounding a young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders, no one to train her, and only her backbone and wits to see her through, as her ability to travel time becomes a house of horrors for this girl. Ms. Shay has blended the reality of being a teen that has had major upheavals in her life with a smart and brave young woman who is able to take on the unknown, survive and even thrive, at times. Alexis’ character is pure teen angst one minute and pure heroic genius the next, while dealing with major changes in her “real” life like a bull in a china shop and with the skill of a surgeon after she goes “through” the mirror.
Not for one minute does the tension let up as it travels at warp speed, as witnessed through the eyes of youth. Alexis’ life is part chaos ad part raging storm as she navigates both the maze of life and the threat of the unknown, thanks to the Ms. Shay’s ability to build a world that feels real, and intriguing at the same time. Turmoil, time travel and the possibility of world devastation, lives in the balance, no wonder Alexis is less than gracious at times! How would you feel?
Series: The Adventures of Alexis Davenport Book 3
Publication Date: August 28, 2014
Publisher: Booktrope
Genre: Teen & YA Fantasy, 12 & up
Print Length: 246 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Desperate Reflections by talented author, Shay West is the final book in the trilogy surrounding a young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders, no one to train her, and only her backbone and wits to see her through, as her ability to travel time becomes a house of horrors for this girl. Ms. Shay has blended the reality of being a teen that has had major upheavals in her life with a smart and brave young woman who is able to take on the unknown, survive and even thrive, at times. Alexis’ character is pure teen angst one minute and pure heroic genius the next, while dealing with major changes in her “real” life like a bull in a china shop and with the skill of a surgeon after she goes “through” the mirror.
Not for one minute does the tension let up as it travels at warp speed, as witnessed through the eyes of youth. Alexis’ life is part chaos ad part raging storm as she navigates both the maze of life and the threat of the unknown, thanks to the Ms. Shay’s ability to build a world that feels real, and intriguing at the same time. Turmoil, time travel and the possibility of world devastation, lives in the balance, no wonder Alexis is less than gracious at times! How would you feel?
Series: The Adventures of Alexis Davenport Book 3
Publication Date: August 28, 2014
Publisher: Booktrope
Genre: Teen & YA Fantasy, 12 & up
Print Length: 246 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
February 3, 2015
Good day reader!
Like the other two books in this series, I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review and, honestly, for three quarters of this book, I was thinking it was only going to get three stars but boy, did it get better! Let me explain...
When it is revealed whom the Drifter was to save, and Alex to stop, I was a bit disappointed. So many people go that route that I got the sarcastic "oh great, another one of these" feelings and it kind of turned me off a bit. Thankfully, when it got to that point in the story, it was done well and had a bit of action that lead into the suspenseful climax.
Alex did annoy me at points but, she is a teenager so I guess I'll have to give a pass on that one. Though her reactions to some emotional situations were a bit overdramatic, I understand why she was upset. Her attachment to two characters, and the strain she puts on others because of it, just got old. Most people want to move on to something better in their lives, she seemed like she wanted to go back to when things were bad. My kids aren't teenagers yet so maybe I'll understand in a few years? I don't know. So much emphasis was put on her wanting to get her drivers license and I don't recall if it's ever said if she actually gets it. I know she gets her permit, but the actual license...I assume she gets it?
A lot happened at the Marine base in this book and things got a bit dicey at some points. I didn't know how things were going to play out there and I'm glad when things surprised me (both in a good way, and a bad...I hate knowing before it happens).
What pushed this from a three star to a four star rating was the climax toward the end. When you get inthralled so much in the story and suspense that you jump a foot when the heat ticks on in your own home, you know you're in the zone. When Drifter and Alex collide in the present and meet up at the Monument...fantastic. She had to know he was following her though so why she continued to run into the desert, I don't know. I guess it's why people run up instead of out during a horror movie.
One main "beef" I have with this book is the editing. I don't know if the author used a different editor for this book than for the others, but wow! For most people, it may not be a big deal, but I'm kind of a stickler for things like that in a professional/published manner. I still can't get past that the word "costumer" was used instead of "customer" when they were at one of the shops. There were a few others that made me cringe and reread sections because I had to figure out what exactly was meant. Sure, everyone makes a mistake now and then, but that's why an editor is there and these things should have been caught. Spell check can only do so much.
The price is currently $2.99 for the Kindle Edition and, though I had my own faults with it, it is defiantly worth more. As a conclusion to a trilogy, it was great! I would defiantly buy the 3 pack (currently available for $5.99 for the Kindle Edition), in any format, to keep in my collection.
Like the other two books in this series, I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review and, honestly, for three quarters of this book, I was thinking it was only going to get three stars but boy, did it get better! Let me explain...
When it is revealed whom the Drifter was to save, and Alex to stop, I was a bit disappointed. So many people go that route that I got the sarcastic "oh great, another one of these" feelings and it kind of turned me off a bit. Thankfully, when it got to that point in the story, it was done well and had a bit of action that lead into the suspenseful climax.
Alex did annoy me at points but, she is a teenager so I guess I'll have to give a pass on that one. Though her reactions to some emotional situations were a bit overdramatic, I understand why she was upset. Her attachment to two characters, and the strain she puts on others because of it, just got old. Most people want to move on to something better in their lives, she seemed like she wanted to go back to when things were bad. My kids aren't teenagers yet so maybe I'll understand in a few years? I don't know. So much emphasis was put on her wanting to get her drivers license and I don't recall if it's ever said if she actually gets it. I know she gets her permit, but the actual license...I assume she gets it?
A lot happened at the Marine base in this book and things got a bit dicey at some points. I didn't know how things were going to play out there and I'm glad when things surprised me (both in a good way, and a bad...I hate knowing before it happens).
What pushed this from a three star to a four star rating was the climax toward the end. When you get inthralled so much in the story and suspense that you jump a foot when the heat ticks on in your own home, you know you're in the zone. When Drifter and Alex collide in the present and meet up at the Monument...fantastic. She had to know he was following her though so why she continued to run into the desert, I don't know. I guess it's why people run up instead of out during a horror movie.
One main "beef" I have with this book is the editing. I don't know if the author used a different editor for this book than for the others, but wow! For most people, it may not be a big deal, but I'm kind of a stickler for things like that in a professional/published manner. I still can't get past that the word "costumer" was used instead of "customer" when they were at one of the shops. There were a few others that made me cringe and reread sections because I had to figure out what exactly was meant. Sure, everyone makes a mistake now and then, but that's why an editor is there and these things should have been caught. Spell check can only do so much.
The price is currently $2.99 for the Kindle Edition and, though I had my own faults with it, it is defiantly worth more. As a conclusion to a trilogy, it was great! I would defiantly buy the 3 pack (currently available for $5.99 for the Kindle Edition), in any format, to keep in my collection.
October 11, 2014
Actual Rating: 4.5
Beware: Spoilers for first two books follow.
Alex's powers are steadily growing as she experiments with them and learns more about what she can do. In this book, we see her struggle dramatically with the weight of responsibility put on her by her powers as well as having more family issues to deal with when her mother begins dating again. The tension builds as things get a lot more personal with Drifter and his Master. Alex seeks out some old friends and finally gets the help she has been sorely lacking in. Her life is getting ever more dangerous, and Drifter gets ever more desperate to end her life.
Wow, what a finale. The tension is ridiculous in this book and the emotions are soaring. The thing I told you I was waiting for in the last review? It totally happened and I couldn't be happier. Turns out it was kind of integral that it did and it works out ever so well. It's pure awesome. As said before, you can guess some of the plot, however in this book you can't guess all of it. You're sitting there, entranced, wondering how on earth Alex is going to survive all this.
Ok, there are a couple of things nagging at me. Alex yet again doesn't develop hugely as a character apart from with the whole family thing, but it isn't such a huge development and nothing actually feels life-altering. She will still be the same girl and act in the same way after this book. This is alright really as the pacing and the rest of the plot carry this through, but some extra character arc would have been quite nice.
The other? The mantra. By this point 'Get a grip, Alex' is being used so frequently as Alex begins to completely freak out that it actually begins to grate on you. There are only so many times you can read the exact same sentence before it becomes really boring and kind of annoying. Sometimes it's good to mix up phrasing!
So this book has a great ending. It's full of emotion and has been built up slowly through the books to get to this one final showdown. The book actually gets pretty terrifying as things get very real very quickly. It's no longer about time travel.. it's about a sadistic madman tracking down a teenage girl so he can kill her. I loved that her two lives pretty much collide in this last book. It is a very fulfilling ending, I loved how it played out and how everything came together.
Beware: Spoilers for first two books follow.
Alex's powers are steadily growing as she experiments with them and learns more about what she can do. In this book, we see her struggle dramatically with the weight of responsibility put on her by her powers as well as having more family issues to deal with when her mother begins dating again. The tension builds as things get a lot more personal with Drifter and his Master. Alex seeks out some old friends and finally gets the help she has been sorely lacking in. Her life is getting ever more dangerous, and Drifter gets ever more desperate to end her life.
Wow, what a finale. The tension is ridiculous in this book and the emotions are soaring. The thing I told you I was waiting for in the last review? It totally happened and I couldn't be happier. Turns out it was kind of integral that it did and it works out ever so well. It's pure awesome. As said before, you can guess some of the plot, however in this book you can't guess all of it. You're sitting there, entranced, wondering how on earth Alex is going to survive all this.
Ok, there are a couple of things nagging at me. Alex yet again doesn't develop hugely as a character apart from with the whole family thing, but it isn't such a huge development and nothing actually feels life-altering. She will still be the same girl and act in the same way after this book. This is alright really as the pacing and the rest of the plot carry this through, but some extra character arc would have been quite nice.
The other? The mantra. By this point 'Get a grip, Alex' is being used so frequently as Alex begins to completely freak out that it actually begins to grate on you. There are only so many times you can read the exact same sentence before it becomes really boring and kind of annoying. Sometimes it's good to mix up phrasing!
So this book has a great ending. It's full of emotion and has been built up slowly through the books to get to this one final showdown. The book actually gets pretty terrifying as things get very real very quickly. It's no longer about time travel.. it's about a sadistic madman tracking down a teenage girl so he can kill her. I loved that her two lives pretty much collide in this last book. It is a very fulfilling ending, I loved how it played out and how everything came together.
September 13, 2014
In This final book in the series we find Alexis Davenport dealing with even more issues. She has broken up with her long-time boyfriend. It was funny that it bothered her to find out they were broken up through social media. She has finally been given the okay to get her learner’s permit. This is something everyone has joked about for a long time. She, her mom and aunt have finally reached a point where she has set hours and expectations. Things are going well until she learns her mom has a boyfriend. I found this section to be absolutely hilarious. She began to act like a spoiled little kid who couldn’t have her way. There was a reason, an underlying cause for her behavior, which eventually comes out.
Then we get to the meat and potatoes of this book. Her ability to travel back in time to stop things from happening that would change and have an adverse effect on history. The reasons behind the Drifter’s plan to stop her become clear. She has learned to use her gift to find the Traveler and is shocked to learn he doesn’t live in the past, he lives in the present and through a mistake he now knows who she is. He is set on coming after her.
I sat up to finish the book. I could not sleep until I read the last page. I have recommended the series to our media specialist at school and will soon have all three copies on my own classroom shelves. I wanted to wait until all three were out. I have students who hate when a book comes out and they have to wait forever to read the next one in the series. This is a series you want to read from cover to cover. I can only hope that Shay West comes out with something new soon. She is one of my favorite new authors.
I received an electronic copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Then we get to the meat and potatoes of this book. Her ability to travel back in time to stop things from happening that would change and have an adverse effect on history. The reasons behind the Drifter’s plan to stop her become clear. She has learned to use her gift to find the Traveler and is shocked to learn he doesn’t live in the past, he lives in the present and through a mistake he now knows who she is. He is set on coming after her.
I sat up to finish the book. I could not sleep until I read the last page. I have recommended the series to our media specialist at school and will soon have all three copies on my own classroom shelves. I wanted to wait until all three were out. I have students who hate when a book comes out and they have to wait forever to read the next one in the series. This is a series you want to read from cover to cover. I can only hope that Shay West comes out with something new soon. She is one of my favorite new authors.
I received an electronic copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
July 12, 2015
Desperate Reflections is the final book in the Adventures of Alexis Davenport Series. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me e-book copies to review of this series! I would say that Desperate Reflections has been the darkest book in the series so far, with such a well-designed plot! I enjoyed this just as much, if not, even more than the first two books!
In the final book, we again see the combination of two story lines - Alex's historical adventures and what she faces in her normal life. It is such a great balance that flows so well, so naturally from page to page. The story continues with Alex, who has so far been successful at stopping Drifter. Without giving away too much, things are changing, becoming darker, and there are even more challenges for Alex to face in her adventures. I liked the darkness added into this one and even more mystery, especially as Alex gets older. The story is also full of hidden surprises woven into the plot which I loved. You never really knew what to expect from page to page. I always love stories about time travel and this one is a wonderful adventure!
Not only is the plot engaging and exciting, but you get to see how much Alex changes from the first book to the last book. I really like seeing how much she grew up, changed and matured through the years. She is a realistic character, with flaws that will make her relatable. She also changes a lot throughout the books and becomes a stronger character throughout everything she faces.
I highly recommend this book and this series! It is a YA time travel adventure with an exciting plot, realistic characters, and a perfect balance of history and real life! :)
In the final book, we again see the combination of two story lines - Alex's historical adventures and what she faces in her normal life. It is such a great balance that flows so well, so naturally from page to page. The story continues with Alex, who has so far been successful at stopping Drifter. Without giving away too much, things are changing, becoming darker, and there are even more challenges for Alex to face in her adventures. I liked the darkness added into this one and even more mystery, especially as Alex gets older. The story is also full of hidden surprises woven into the plot which I loved. You never really knew what to expect from page to page. I always love stories about time travel and this one is a wonderful adventure!
Not only is the plot engaging and exciting, but you get to see how much Alex changes from the first book to the last book. I really like seeing how much she grew up, changed and matured through the years. She is a realistic character, with flaws that will make her relatable. She also changes a lot throughout the books and becomes a stronger character throughout everything she faces.
I highly recommend this book and this series! It is a YA time travel adventure with an exciting plot, realistic characters, and a perfect balance of history and real life! :)
January 1, 2015
This is a very overdue review. I don't know why I've been putting off reading this book. The premise was really great and I loved the first two but I can't seem to fully grasp this one. Is it because I didn't want the series to end? Or am I not in the mood? I just don't know.
Okay so this book picked up the events from Twisted Reflections wherein Alex continues to fight Drifter and his Master. It started really good and interesting but I was kinda bored in the middle that I actually was skipping some pages and was looking for action.
To be honest, I was very annoyed with Alex's attitude in this book but it's a fact that she's stronger and more confident in this book compared with the first two. However, her confidence were overshadowed by her stubbornness and a little immaturity when it came to her mother dating someone. I was also bothered with the way she always tell herself to get a grip. I don't know why, but I searched for the phrase on my reader and 18 results came out which means the phrase, "Get a grip, Alex!" appeared in the book 18 times.
The plot was really intriguing. I got the answers I was looking for but the narration somehow fell which makes the book dragging. The ending was a bit abrupt for me and somehow open-ended so I'm wondering if there will actually be another one. Also, there were lesser time-travel scenes but it suited the plot.
Still, this book was a good read. The experience I got from reading this book, and series, in general was spectacular.
Okay so this book picked up the events from Twisted Reflections wherein Alex continues to fight Drifter and his Master. It started really good and interesting but I was kinda bored in the middle that I actually was skipping some pages and was looking for action.
To be honest, I was very annoyed with Alex's attitude in this book but it's a fact that she's stronger and more confident in this book compared with the first two. However, her confidence were overshadowed by her stubbornness and a little immaturity when it came to her mother dating someone. I was also bothered with the way she always tell herself to get a grip. I don't know why, but I searched for the phrase on my reader and 18 results came out which means the phrase, "Get a grip, Alex!" appeared in the book 18 times.
The plot was really intriguing. I got the answers I was looking for but the narration somehow fell which makes the book dragging. The ending was a bit abrupt for me and somehow open-ended so I'm wondering if there will actually be another one. Also, there were lesser time-travel scenes but it suited the plot.
Still, this book was a good read. The experience I got from reading this book, and series, in general was spectacular.
September 5, 2014
Original review at JC's Book Haven
"If I didn't need you to complete my plans, I would kill you where you stand!"
The Good
I really enjoyed the conclusion to the series. The final show down in the past is exciting and at the same time the action gets closer to home. Plus, she gets some more help in her fight with Drifter and his master. Really enjoyed the secondary characters in Desperate Reflections and would love to read a spin off involving Gavin and Sean.
The Bad
I have no real complaints with the 3rd book
The Romance
The romance in Desperate Reflections is great despite our heroine being a bit selfish and bratty for the start of the relationship, and Alex also meets a guy that makes her heart race and her palms sweaty.
Conclusion
This is a great little 3 book series. A nice good clean series, with a different concept on time travel. I had a lot of fun with it and would recommend it without any reservations. The characters are worth getting to know and the adventures are worth having. This is a series I'll be revisiting for sure.
"If I didn't need you to complete my plans, I would kill you where you stand!"
The Good
I really enjoyed the conclusion to the series. The final show down in the past is exciting and at the same time the action gets closer to home. Plus, she gets some more help in her fight with Drifter and his master. Really enjoyed the secondary characters in Desperate Reflections and would love to read a spin off involving Gavin and Sean.
The Bad
I have no real complaints with the 3rd book
The Romance
The romance in Desperate Reflections is great despite our heroine being a bit selfish and bratty for the start of the relationship, and Alex also meets a guy that makes her heart race and her palms sweaty.
Conclusion
This is a great little 3 book series. A nice good clean series, with a different concept on time travel. I had a lot of fun with it and would recommend it without any reservations. The characters are worth getting to know and the adventures are worth having. This is a series I'll be revisiting for sure.
August 17, 2015
*Disclaimer: I read this e-book as part of a review. I received this book for free, in exchange for an objective review. This did not effect my opinion in any way. *
I had the pleasure of reading the second book in this Young Adult Trilogy by Shay West. This book, Desperate Reflections, is the third book in her trilogy, and is just as exciting as the one before. The main character is Alexis Davenport, a young teenage girl capable of traveling back in time to stop the past from being changed negatively. Alex travels back in time to challenge an evil man named the Drifter so that he cannot change the past for the worst. Each time she does this, there is a different outcome. We never know if she will be successful.
Still, while doing all of this, young Alex goes through the typical ups-and downs that all teenagers go through in their day-to-day lives with their parents and their peers. She elucidates on the page the life of any young person, save she is a time traveler trying not to be killed in the body of another by the Drifter.
I had the pleasure of reading the second book in this Young Adult Trilogy by Shay West. This book, Desperate Reflections, is the third book in her trilogy, and is just as exciting as the one before. The main character is Alexis Davenport, a young teenage girl capable of traveling back in time to stop the past from being changed negatively. Alex travels back in time to challenge an evil man named the Drifter so that he cannot change the past for the worst. Each time she does this, there is a different outcome. We never know if she will be successful.
Still, while doing all of this, young Alex goes through the typical ups-and downs that all teenagers go through in their day-to-day lives with their parents and their peers. She elucidates on the page the life of any young person, save she is a time traveler trying not to be killed in the body of another by the Drifter.
October 27, 2015
** A free copy of the book was provided in exchange for an honest review. **
Wonderful conclusion to the series. Loved that this story picked up exactly where the prior book finished. I was glad to see the maturity of the main character begin to shine in her everyday actions. This series was full of action and suspense and I enjoyed the time-traveling ability that was fabulously resolved.
Wonderful conclusion to the series. Loved that this story picked up exactly where the prior book finished. I was glad to see the maturity of the main character begin to shine in her everyday actions. This series was full of action and suspense and I enjoyed the time-traveling ability that was fabulously resolved.
November 19, 2014
An interesting read.
November 7, 2014
Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review
From the revelation at the end of the second book I was eager to start reading the final one and find out what was going to happen. In the three years since discovering her ability Alex is slowly understanding what she is capable of. She is confident if not wary when it comes to travelling and it's clear the various women she's taken over have helped her discover more about herself. With the danger of the Traveller coming closer to home than ever before I'm glad West chose to put more light on the travelling than the school life and she did a good job in concluding the series and wrapping things up nicely.
The story is interesting and engaging as per usual and West adds a lot more intrigue and drama into the story which only adds to the enjoyment. With the Traveller closing in on Alex and she still trying to understand her abilities, there is the ongoing game of cat and mouse that they play both through time and not and the creativity West has in these situations is excellent.
West's strength is certainly in the time travel aspects, but there is also an improvement in her writing about Alex's home and school life compared to previous books and I think this comes down to good representation through the characters. Alex seems to be more settled at school and at home and the pettiness of the past has been put aside meaning she can enjoy herself more. There are still hints of the immature and petulant girl but West's ability to portray these emotions is much more successful and suits the story much better as there is a greater believability and understanding behind them.
The weak point is sometimes in the narrative voice, and while the story is interesting the narration sometimes lets it down. Somehow West is able to write in a way that is engaging and thrilling, while other times the writing and story falters and becomes quite oddly expressed but the interest remains and keeps you reading through these parts.
What stands out in this novel is that Alex certainly seems more confident in herself which reflects how much she has learnt about herself and how she has grown, and she is more open to addressing her feelings about issues in her life. It's a small part of the story but it is great character improvement, especially for Alex.
There are answers given in this book, endings and explanations as well but West keeps some secrets to herself. The ending was really well done and I loved that West used details from earlier books to help Alex along. The story is engaging and at times can be fast paced and filled with tension and suspense, and as usual West makes you nervous about just how far the Traveller will go to stop Alex. I think the time travelling and certainly the conclusion makes up for the faults in the story and you finish feeling like a series has been concluded well and with a bit of mystery remaining. To be picky is to ask for a history on why Alex can travel through time and more detail about it but as a snapshot into her life and not into the grand scheme of things, West's series is one that is intriguing and enjoyable.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/20...
From the revelation at the end of the second book I was eager to start reading the final one and find out what was going to happen. In the three years since discovering her ability Alex is slowly understanding what she is capable of. She is confident if not wary when it comes to travelling and it's clear the various women she's taken over have helped her discover more about herself. With the danger of the Traveller coming closer to home than ever before I'm glad West chose to put more light on the travelling than the school life and she did a good job in concluding the series and wrapping things up nicely.
The story is interesting and engaging as per usual and West adds a lot more intrigue and drama into the story which only adds to the enjoyment. With the Traveller closing in on Alex and she still trying to understand her abilities, there is the ongoing game of cat and mouse that they play both through time and not and the creativity West has in these situations is excellent.
West's strength is certainly in the time travel aspects, but there is also an improvement in her writing about Alex's home and school life compared to previous books and I think this comes down to good representation through the characters. Alex seems to be more settled at school and at home and the pettiness of the past has been put aside meaning she can enjoy herself more. There are still hints of the immature and petulant girl but West's ability to portray these emotions is much more successful and suits the story much better as there is a greater believability and understanding behind them.
The weak point is sometimes in the narrative voice, and while the story is interesting the narration sometimes lets it down. Somehow West is able to write in a way that is engaging and thrilling, while other times the writing and story falters and becomes quite oddly expressed but the interest remains and keeps you reading through these parts.
What stands out in this novel is that Alex certainly seems more confident in herself which reflects how much she has learnt about herself and how she has grown, and she is more open to addressing her feelings about issues in her life. It's a small part of the story but it is great character improvement, especially for Alex.
There are answers given in this book, endings and explanations as well but West keeps some secrets to herself. The ending was really well done and I loved that West used details from earlier books to help Alex along. The story is engaging and at times can be fast paced and filled with tension and suspense, and as usual West makes you nervous about just how far the Traveller will go to stop Alex. I think the time travelling and certainly the conclusion makes up for the faults in the story and you finish feeling like a series has been concluded well and with a bit of mystery remaining. To be picky is to ask for a history on why Alex can travel through time and more detail about it but as a snapshot into her life and not into the grand scheme of things, West's series is one that is intriguing and enjoyable.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/20...
February 2, 2015
I received this book in return for an honest review.
I'm officially obsessed!
Mrs. Shay West has PURE talent with these books! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and it took all I had to not skip to the last few pages because I just HAD to know, but I didn't. Lol. I made it through and so glad I did. There is just so much excitement in this book that I was literally shaking! You want a book that knocks it out of the park? This book is it! (well... the whole series actually. Haha) I'm so glad I gave these books a chance. They might just be the only time travel books I like. Haha, only time will tell. I highly recommend this book (as well as the previous two.) I honestly have no idea what else I could possibly say. These books are truly amazing.
I'm officially obsessed!
Mrs. Shay West has PURE talent with these books! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and it took all I had to not skip to the last few pages because I just HAD to know, but I didn't. Lol. I made it through and so glad I did. There is just so much excitement in this book that I was literally shaking! You want a book that knocks it out of the park? This book is it! (well... the whole series actually. Haha) I'm so glad I gave these books a chance. They might just be the only time travel books I like. Haha, only time will tell. I highly recommend this book (as well as the previous two.) I honestly have no idea what else I could possibly say. These books are truly amazing.
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