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The Shadow of Light #1
Link: The Shadow of Light Book 1
For seventeen-year-old Kira, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than being surrounded by friends and huddled beside a campfire deep in the woods. And with a birthday in the peak of summer, that includes late night swims under the stars.
Or at least, it used to.
Kira’s relaxing contemplation of the universe is interrupted when a piece of it falls, colliding with her and starting a chain of events that could unexpectedly lead to the one thing in her life that's missing—her father.
Tossed into a pieced-together world of carnivals and gypsies, an old-fashioned farmhouse, and the alluring presence of a boy from another planet, Kira discovers she’s been transported to the center of a black hole, and there’s more to the story than science can explain. She’s now linked by starlight to the world inside the darkness. And her star is dying.
If she doesn’t return home before the star’s light disappears and her link breaks, she’ll be trapped forever. But she’s not the only one ensnared, and with time running out, she’ll have to find a way to save a part of her past and a part of her future, or risk losing everything she loves.
Dreamy, fluid, and beautiful, Link pairs the mystery of science fiction with the minor-key melody of a dark fantasy, creating a tale that is as human as it is out of this world.
Or at least, it used to.
Kira’s relaxing contemplation of the universe is interrupted when a piece of it falls, colliding with her and starting a chain of events that could unexpectedly lead to the one thing in her life that's missing—her father.
Tossed into a pieced-together world of carnivals and gypsies, an old-fashioned farmhouse, and the alluring presence of a boy from another planet, Kira discovers she’s been transported to the center of a black hole, and there’s more to the story than science can explain. She’s now linked by starlight to the world inside the darkness. And her star is dying.
If she doesn’t return home before the star’s light disappears and her link breaks, she’ll be trapped forever. But she’s not the only one ensnared, and with time running out, she’ll have to find a way to save a part of her past and a part of her future, or risk losing everything she loves.
Dreamy, fluid, and beautiful, Link pairs the mystery of science fiction with the minor-key melody of a dark fantasy, creating a tale that is as human as it is out of this world.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2015
About the author
Summer Wier
4 books60 followersSummer Wier grew up spending Saturdays with a maxed out library card and her nose in a book. But as much as she loved reading, and even writing, both took the back seat when it came to career choices. With her sights set on law school, corporate greatness, and even a hankering to become the first female president, she set off to conquer the world. As life would have it, though, she didn't attend law school, nor did she become president (although, one day, your vote may be appreciated), finding her strengths, instead, in accounting and business management. After finishing her MBA, she revived her love for reading and began writing with dreams of finishing a book of her own. When Summer isn't working, reading, or writing, she's trying to keep up with two energetic girls and her husband, and dreaming of the mountains of Montana.
Her debut YA sci-fi, LINK, releases Sept 29, 2015.
Her debut YA sci-fi, LINK, releases Sept 29, 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 11, 2016
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
2.5
32%: "It seems totally random, I know."
50%: "How random."
92%: "Does any of this make sense to you?"
Conclusion: metaliterature!
(I'll be serious from now on, I promise.)
I think this is the biggest case of brilliant idea thrown out of the window I've ever witnessed.
•The premise is astonishingly original. It's daring and new and fascinating. It has a great strength, which is its blend of science fiction and fantasy. It has also an equally great weakness, which is its blend of science fiction and fantasy.
I swear I haven't gone insane.
The book attempted to make this blend, and that's definitely positive, because, as I said, the initial idea was captivating ideed; but the development is so poor it made me want to cry with disappointment. It's confused while it tries its best to be as specific as possible, it aims to go as close to sounding scientific as it can, but all it gets to produce is a vague sciency babble that, mixed with several talks of destiny and predestination and prophecies, felt as random as ever.
•Even if the world-building had been good, a ridiculous number of scenes just show Kira and her friends in everyday situations like eating together or doing other totally not-instrumental-in-going-on-with-our-story activities. Which brings me to how boring the slowness of this plot was. And also to how little I connected with these characters in spite of all the time I had to get to know them. I'm not even in the least interested in knowing what will happen in the next book.
•The fact that . Also, until the mist was cleared I was extremely dissatisfied with , but then it was explained (it had to be, or else the randomness degree of this story would have skyrocketed), and very cleverly so, and this pleasantly surprised me. At least, the explanation in itself was convincing even though the context (=every other thing) remained blurred, but it was nonetheless better than nothing.
➽ So, as you see, there is very little to sum up: outstanding premise, weak development. It left such a sour taste in my mouth.
2.5
32%: "It seems totally random, I know."
50%: "How random."
92%: "Does any of this make sense to you?"
Conclusion: metaliterature!
(I'll be serious from now on, I promise.)
I think this is the biggest case of brilliant idea thrown out of the window I've ever witnessed.
•The premise is astonishingly original. It's daring and new and fascinating. It has a great strength, which is its blend of science fiction and fantasy. It has also an equally great weakness, which is its blend of science fiction and fantasy.
I swear I haven't gone insane.
The book attempted to make this blend, and that's definitely positive, because, as I said, the initial idea was captivating ideed; but the development is so poor it made me want to cry with disappointment. It's confused while it tries its best to be as specific as possible, it aims to go as close to sounding scientific as it can, but all it gets to produce is a vague sciency babble that, mixed with several talks of destiny and predestination and prophecies, felt as random as ever.
•Even if the world-building had been good, a ridiculous number of scenes just show Kira and her friends in everyday situations like eating together or doing other totally not-instrumental-in-going-on-with-our-story activities. Which brings me to how boring the slowness of this plot was. And also to how little I connected with these characters in spite of all the time I had to get to know them. I'm not even in the least interested in knowing what will happen in the next book.
•The fact that . Also, until the mist was cleared I was extremely dissatisfied with , but then it was explained (it had to be, or else the randomness degree of this story would have skyrocketed), and very cleverly so, and this pleasantly surprised me. At least, the explanation in itself was convincing even though the context (=every other thing) remained blurred, but it was nonetheless better than nothing.
➽ So, as you see, there is very little to sum up: outstanding premise, weak development. It left such a sour taste in my mouth.
October 13, 2015
Summer, a time of youthful fun, campfires, parties, and good friends enjoying the freedom of swimming under stars twinkling in the night, sounds like teen heaven, right? What if the unbelievable happened and your world became split in two and you had one foot in each world? Kira was the only one still swimming when an object fell from the sky and she finds herself in a mirror world and has only a limited amount of time to get back to Earth’s world before “her” star dies.
Summer Wier’s Link opens new doors into the science fiction, fantasy genre for young adults without playing the angst-filled romance card. Instead, she has used an imagination that must be as wide as the universe to tell a tale of black holes, magical links to stars and a race to return before being trapped forever. What Kira did not expect to find was the one man who could fill a hole in her heart, a man that went missing years before, a man forced into this world by another’s desperate ploy.
Travel to the heart of a black hole to a world of huge differences and great similarities where Kira meets both friend and foe in her desperate attempt to go back home. Prophecies predicted her coming, as well as the results, now Kira must go home before it’s too late.
Remember science class; the discussion of black holes? Too bad teachers didn’t have a way to explain them with as much intrigue as Summer Wier! Beautifully written, Ms. Wier tells her tale in such a way that one cannot help but feel a sense of wonder at the vastness of the universe, as well as the prospect of another “Earth-type” world traveling its own path. Her characters are, well, human! Full of life, emotion, they come to life and practically jump off the pages. Complex twists, endearing moments and a sense of urgency come through loud and clear as we are transported along with Kira into a fantasy that will stick with you as you make up your own, “what ifs.”
I received this copy from Reuts Publications in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Shadow of Light - Book 1
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: REUTS Publications, LLC
ISBN-10: 1942111010
ISBN-13: 978-1942111016
Genre: YA Fantasy - Ages 12+
Print Length: 315 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Summer Wier’s Link opens new doors into the science fiction, fantasy genre for young adults without playing the angst-filled romance card. Instead, she has used an imagination that must be as wide as the universe to tell a tale of black holes, magical links to stars and a race to return before being trapped forever. What Kira did not expect to find was the one man who could fill a hole in her heart, a man that went missing years before, a man forced into this world by another’s desperate ploy.
Travel to the heart of a black hole to a world of huge differences and great similarities where Kira meets both friend and foe in her desperate attempt to go back home. Prophecies predicted her coming, as well as the results, now Kira must go home before it’s too late.
Remember science class; the discussion of black holes? Too bad teachers didn’t have a way to explain them with as much intrigue as Summer Wier! Beautifully written, Ms. Wier tells her tale in such a way that one cannot help but feel a sense of wonder at the vastness of the universe, as well as the prospect of another “Earth-type” world traveling its own path. Her characters are, well, human! Full of life, emotion, they come to life and practically jump off the pages. Complex twists, endearing moments and a sense of urgency come through loud and clear as we are transported along with Kira into a fantasy that will stick with you as you make up your own, “what ifs.”
I received this copy from Reuts Publications in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Shadow of Light - Book 1
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: REUTS Publications, LLC
ISBN-10: 1942111010
ISBN-13: 978-1942111016
Genre: YA Fantasy - Ages 12+
Print Length: 315 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 1, 2015
This amazing book is at last out in the big wide world!
As one of Summer’s critique partners I’ve seen this book grow from its early stages into the fabulous story it is now.
A YA Sci-fi Fantasy, LINK is based on pieces of scientific evidence, but Summer has taken elements of fact and merged them with fiction. The result is a spell-binding and wondrous story.
Summer’s prose is addictive and easy to read. The worlds she writes about come to life on the pages and kept me turning eagerly to the next. With a mix of ‘good guys’, and ‘bad guys’, LINK comes together to treat us to a mystery that has still only partly unfolded. I am seriously looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
As one of Summer’s critique partners I’ve seen this book grow from its early stages into the fabulous story it is now.
A YA Sci-fi Fantasy, LINK is based on pieces of scientific evidence, but Summer has taken elements of fact and merged them with fiction. The result is a spell-binding and wondrous story.
Summer’s prose is addictive and easy to read. The worlds she writes about come to life on the pages and kept me turning eagerly to the next. With a mix of ‘good guys’, and ‘bad guys’, LINK comes together to treat us to a mystery that has still only partly unfolded. I am seriously looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 2, 2015
**I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
Since the dawn of space exploration, humanity has been continually asking many questions: is there life out there? What lies in wait for us beyond the edges of our planet? We've been making significant strides in recent years with the myriad space probes and satellites soaring through the cosmos, but it still takes nine years for something travelling from Earth to make it to Pluto -- the furthest planet in our solar system. Despite all of the advances being made in the past half-century, it's hard to tell when we're going to be able to tell if our planet is the only hospitable one in the known universe. Well, unless, that is, we learn how to harness teleportation through black holes using the "shadow of light." Since we can't even convince politicians that climate change is real, I doubt we'll get to that point any time soon.
But it's that exact "impossible" scenario in which seventeen-year-old Kira finds herself after a star crash lands in her local lake as she's taking a dip. After the impact, she wakes up in a world similar to her own, but instead of being surrounded by her friends at her birthday party, she ends up in the care of a mysterious -- yet oddly beautiful -- stranger. It doesn't take Kira long to figure out that she's able to shift between this world and her regular life on her home planet, Thaer. However, she learns that the only reason why she's able to transport between the two is because of the rapidly-fading link created as a bridge once the star literally crashed her birthday party. Once the link is gone for good, she's stuck in whichever dimension she's in for the rest of her life. However, the mystery of her father's disappearance many years ago still hangs in the back of her head; could it have something to do with the Shadow of Light she's hearing about? What if the Shadow could be harnessed for evil?
One of the things that impressed me most about Link is its refreshingly unique plot. I've mentioned in the past my thoughts on the complete saturation of dystopian futures within the young adult genre; while some can argue that Link has its roots in the aforementioned genre, the ultimate journey through which the plot travels is far, far detached from what one would expect. It's nice to see things take place outside of Post-Destruction Middle America -- or on Earth in general, really. It's interesting to see topics like clone planets and interdimensional travel covered outside the realm of a space opera. Furthermore, I love the descriptions Wier used to paint the scenes throughout the novel: "Beams of muted light floated in on rays of dust through windows," "glowing spheres pouring intimate light over a quiet landscape." Lyrical phrases such as these elegantly floated in the prose that made imagining Thaer and Asulon a breeze. The author really makes no secret of her ability to bend language to her will to create wonderful passages through the book. Although there is the old YA standby of a love triangle in this book, I didn't find myself ultimately irritated by it like I do with most romantic subplots. The attraction between Kira and Zane is genuine and it doesn't feel like a tired trope when they do declare their feelings for each other, since it was pretty much laid bare that it was going to happen within the first few pages. I also just really, really love Kira's mom; she's been through a lot in her life and Wier does an excellent job with her backstory to make her a sympathetic character. I hope we get to see more of her in the coming books.
There are a few bits that irked me from time to time while going through the book. One of the larger things -- and I don't know if this is intentional or not because the story never takes us to Earth -- is that Wier kept swapping "astronomical" with "astrological" when talking about things happening in space. This was a common occurrence through the text. For those not in the know, "astronomical" pertains to things relating to astronomy -- the study of the cosmos. "Astrological" refers to things related to the psudoscience of the connection of astronomical phenomena and human life. What further irritated me about this was that an entire scene played out between Kira's friends Faye and Fischer where they explained the difference between the two. Playing into that, things started to get muddy every time Wier started to explain the physics behind some things like links between planets and the Black Hole dimension. While I appreciate her taking the time to try to explain these more complicated concepts to people who may not have a background in these particular sciences, I feel like a bit more revision would have cleared up the spottier areas. Like I have a vague idea of how the links are supposed to work, but it still doesn't explain how each planet is chosen to set up a link, why only individual people are targeted to use links, and so forth. Maybe the next book will explain these concepts more, but here's hoping.
To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect from this book just judging by the beautiful cover and synopsis, but I certainly was pleased with the end result. Wier truly has a great talent for storytelling that's present in the way she writes her characters and scenes that make it an utter joy to get lost in the pages. However, there are a few snags when it comes to the physics of the story that might make liberal arts majors -- such as myself -- scratch their heads a bit to figure out the mechanics of the Shadow of Light. Overall, the book was a nice, refreshing young adult read that leaves me wanting more.
Since the dawn of space exploration, humanity has been continually asking many questions: is there life out there? What lies in wait for us beyond the edges of our planet? We've been making significant strides in recent years with the myriad space probes and satellites soaring through the cosmos, but it still takes nine years for something travelling from Earth to make it to Pluto -- the furthest planet in our solar system. Despite all of the advances being made in the past half-century, it's hard to tell when we're going to be able to tell if our planet is the only hospitable one in the known universe. Well, unless, that is, we learn how to harness teleportation through black holes using the "shadow of light." Since we can't even convince politicians that climate change is real, I doubt we'll get to that point any time soon.
But it's that exact "impossible" scenario in which seventeen-year-old Kira finds herself after a star crash lands in her local lake as she's taking a dip. After the impact, she wakes up in a world similar to her own, but instead of being surrounded by her friends at her birthday party, she ends up in the care of a mysterious -- yet oddly beautiful -- stranger. It doesn't take Kira long to figure out that she's able to shift between this world and her regular life on her home planet, Thaer. However, she learns that the only reason why she's able to transport between the two is because of the rapidly-fading link created as a bridge once the star literally crashed her birthday party. Once the link is gone for good, she's stuck in whichever dimension she's in for the rest of her life. However, the mystery of her father's disappearance many years ago still hangs in the back of her head; could it have something to do with the Shadow of Light she's hearing about? What if the Shadow could be harnessed for evil?
One of the things that impressed me most about Link is its refreshingly unique plot. I've mentioned in the past my thoughts on the complete saturation of dystopian futures within the young adult genre; while some can argue that Link has its roots in the aforementioned genre, the ultimate journey through which the plot travels is far, far detached from what one would expect. It's nice to see things take place outside of Post-Destruction Middle America -- or on Earth in general, really. It's interesting to see topics like clone planets and interdimensional travel covered outside the realm of a space opera. Furthermore, I love the descriptions Wier used to paint the scenes throughout the novel: "Beams of muted light floated in on rays of dust through windows," "glowing spheres pouring intimate light over a quiet landscape." Lyrical phrases such as these elegantly floated in the prose that made imagining Thaer and Asulon a breeze. The author really makes no secret of her ability to bend language to her will to create wonderful passages through the book. Although there is the old YA standby of a love triangle in this book, I didn't find myself ultimately irritated by it like I do with most romantic subplots. The attraction between Kira and Zane is genuine and it doesn't feel like a tired trope when they do declare their feelings for each other, since it was pretty much laid bare that it was going to happen within the first few pages. I also just really, really love Kira's mom; she's been through a lot in her life and Wier does an excellent job with her backstory to make her a sympathetic character. I hope we get to see more of her in the coming books.
There are a few bits that irked me from time to time while going through the book. One of the larger things -- and I don't know if this is intentional or not because the story never takes us to Earth -- is that Wier kept swapping "astronomical" with "astrological" when talking about things happening in space. This was a common occurrence through the text. For those not in the know, "astronomical" pertains to things relating to astronomy -- the study of the cosmos. "Astrological" refers to things related to the psudoscience of the connection of astronomical phenomena and human life. What further irritated me about this was that an entire scene played out between Kira's friends Faye and Fischer where they explained the difference between the two. Playing into that, things started to get muddy every time Wier started to explain the physics behind some things like links between planets and the Black Hole dimension. While I appreciate her taking the time to try to explain these more complicated concepts to people who may not have a background in these particular sciences, I feel like a bit more revision would have cleared up the spottier areas. Like I have a vague idea of how the links are supposed to work, but it still doesn't explain how each planet is chosen to set up a link, why only individual people are targeted to use links, and so forth. Maybe the next book will explain these concepts more, but here's hoping.
To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect from this book just judging by the beautiful cover and synopsis, but I certainly was pleased with the end result. Wier truly has a great talent for storytelling that's present in the way she writes her characters and scenes that make it an utter joy to get lost in the pages. However, there are a few snags when it comes to the physics of the story that might make liberal arts majors -- such as myself -- scratch their heads a bit to figure out the mechanics of the Shadow of Light. Overall, the book was a nice, refreshing young adult read that leaves me wanting more.
November 1, 2015
More Reviews Like This Can Be Found On Adventures with a Book Nerd.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 out of 5
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, but there were things that really bugged me. One of those things being that I never really figured out what was going on in this book. In this book we follow Kira, who lives with her mother, and spends the rest of her time with her three best friends. All of that changes though when she gets hit by a star while she is swimming in the lake. This causes her to travel to a different planet, Asulon, where there are strange things going on.
I really liked Kira in the beginning of this book. She was not perfect, but she was really human. I could see myself making the same decisions as her. As the book went on though, I thought that she was making more and more reckless and stupid decisions. Causing me to like her less and less.
The ideas of space in this book were so cool! You can tell that Wier did her research on black holes, stars, and all things space. The cool thing is that she was able to mix the space element with magic to make a really cool atmosphere. Another cool thing with the space and magic were portals. All of these things together made the book even better.
I hated the romance in this book. First lets talk about Zane. I liked Zane. I definitely enjoyed reading about him, but we barely get to see him! They had probably the most real life relationship I have read about in YA. Best Friends first, and then the relationship when they were both ready. Evan on the other hand, I did not like at all. Their relationship; insta-love. There was no chemistry, Evan just seemed to fall in love with her because she was the first teenage girl he met. It was very annoying, and I wish that we got to see more of Kira and Zane's relationship.
I also found that this book was really a set up book. This book sets up the rest of the series. I was able to guess where the plot was going and just got confused sometimes. Overall though, this was an okay book with a really cool space and magic combination. With an okay cast of characters and a semi cliffhanger, I will be reading the next book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 out of 5
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, but there were things that really bugged me. One of those things being that I never really figured out what was going on in this book. In this book we follow Kira, who lives with her mother, and spends the rest of her time with her three best friends. All of that changes though when she gets hit by a star while she is swimming in the lake. This causes her to travel to a different planet, Asulon, where there are strange things going on.
I really liked Kira in the beginning of this book. She was not perfect, but she was really human. I could see myself making the same decisions as her. As the book went on though, I thought that she was making more and more reckless and stupid decisions. Causing me to like her less and less.
The ideas of space in this book were so cool! You can tell that Wier did her research on black holes, stars, and all things space. The cool thing is that she was able to mix the space element with magic to make a really cool atmosphere. Another cool thing with the space and magic were portals. All of these things together made the book even better.
I hated the romance in this book. First lets talk about Zane. I liked Zane. I definitely enjoyed reading about him, but we barely get to see him! They had probably the most real life relationship I have read about in YA. Best Friends first, and then the relationship when they were both ready. Evan on the other hand, I did not like at all. Their relationship; insta-love. There was no chemistry, Evan just seemed to fall in love with her because she was the first teenage girl he met. It was very annoying, and I wish that we got to see more of Kira and Zane's relationship.
I also found that this book was really a set up book. This book sets up the rest of the series. I was able to guess where the plot was going and just got confused sometimes. Overall though, this was an okay book with a really cool space and magic combination. With an okay cast of characters and a semi cliffhanger, I will be reading the next book.
December 20, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this by this book. It's not that I thought I wouldn't enjoy it, I just wasn't too sure what to expect. It turned out to be a really entertaining and thought-provoking story with exciting worlds and people.
I loved the world that was created in this book - everything was so delightfully sci-fi, but still very human and relatable. I thought the existence of a world inside a black hole (AKA the shadow of light) was really unique, and all the sciencey talk about it was very convincing. I also liked the way the mirror worlds tied into this. I did think the ending was a little confusing - all the light/dark stuff was just kind of dumped on us at the end. However, it did fit into the story by having the information revealed there, so I shouldn't complain too much. I just would have liked it to be a little more spread out so I had more time to get my head around all of it.
For the most part, all the characters were really good. While the supporting characters could have had a bit more depth, and Kira could have had a bit more development throughout the story, I thought all the characters fit into the story really well. The only character I didn't like very much was Zane. I found him to be quite annoying - he was kinda possessive of Kira, and acted pretty entitled. Like, because of the fact that he had always been friends with Kira and had been there for her, he felt that he deserved to be her boyfriend. I think the problem I had with this was that it was clearly supposed to be romantic, but it just felt a little off to me. To be honest, Evan (a boy in the black hole world) was quite similar. He tried to emotionally manipulate Kira into staying with him, instead of going back to her own world. Thankfully, both of these guys had other redeeming traits/actions, so they weren't all bad - they were actually fairly likeable in the end.
I found this to be a really refreshing and interesting book, and it is a very solid debut from Wier. I really look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I loved the world that was created in this book - everything was so delightfully sci-fi, but still very human and relatable. I thought the existence of a world inside a black hole (AKA the shadow of light) was really unique, and all the sciencey talk about it was very convincing. I also liked the way the mirror worlds tied into this. I did think the ending was a little confusing - all the light/dark stuff was just kind of dumped on us at the end. However, it did fit into the story by having the information revealed there, so I shouldn't complain too much. I just would have liked it to be a little more spread out so I had more time to get my head around all of it.
For the most part, all the characters were really good. While the supporting characters could have had a bit more depth, and Kira could have had a bit more development throughout the story, I thought all the characters fit into the story really well. The only character I didn't like very much was Zane. I found him to be quite annoying - he was kinda possessive of Kira, and acted pretty entitled. Like, because of the fact that he had always been friends with Kira and had been there for her, he felt that he deserved to be her boyfriend. I think the problem I had with this was that it was clearly supposed to be romantic, but it just felt a little off to me. To be honest, Evan (a boy in the black hole world) was quite similar. He tried to emotionally manipulate Kira into staying with him, instead of going back to her own world. Thankfully, both of these guys had other redeeming traits/actions, so they weren't all bad - they were actually fairly likeable in the end.
I found this to be a really refreshing and interesting book, and it is a very solid debut from Wier. I really look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
December 12, 2015
Read this review and more on my blog.
I received a free copy of Link for my honest opinion
It is not very often that I want books to be longer than they are, but with Link, I felt that important information and character development was left out due to its short length.
Link started out very intriguingly, and it only got better from there. There were a few great plot twists that I did not see coming! These unexpected plot twists, and my curiosity of what the ball of light was kept the pages turning.
I found the concept of black holes very interesting, as I have a set way of thinking about them (like they appear in the movie Interstellar). Wier managed to create multiple worlds that has their own personality. I would love to read more about the other worlds, and how they are connected via the black hole in the next instalment.
I was not able to get too emotionally attached to the characters due to the short length of Link, but I still did love them. I cannot wait to rea the rest of this trilogy!
I would recommend Link to science fiction and YA fans.
I received a free copy of Link for my honest opinion
It is not very often that I want books to be longer than they are, but with Link, I felt that important information and character development was left out due to its short length.
Link started out very intriguingly, and it only got better from there. There were a few great plot twists that I did not see coming! These unexpected plot twists, and my curiosity of what the ball of light was kept the pages turning.
I found the concept of black holes very interesting, as I have a set way of thinking about them (like they appear in the movie Interstellar). Wier managed to create multiple worlds that has their own personality. I would love to read more about the other worlds, and how they are connected via the black hole in the next instalment.
I was not able to get too emotionally attached to the characters due to the short length of Link, but I still did love them. I cannot wait to rea the rest of this trilogy!
I would recommend Link to science fiction and YA fans.
June 23, 2015
Had the enormous privilege of seeing this book in its earliest form and I loved it THEN. Can't wait to get my hands on the finished product!
January 5, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
LINK wasn’t at all like what I expected. I imagined a hard sci-fi read revolving around the idea that black holes aren’t the endless pits of blackness many presume.
LINK, in my opinion, is a light sci-fi with some more fantasy-feeling elements at times, and the combination worked well for this story.
LINK opens with the protagonist, Kira, sitting around a bonfire at the edge of a lake with a few of her friends. Even though Kira struck me as a bit of a downer initially--what with the moping about her mother forging fake birthday cards from her absent father--I really enjoyed this opening scene. The group as a whole was playful and relatable, their conversations and mannerisms realistic. I loved the marshmallow fight! During this opening scene, Kira ventures out for a swim, and her world is turned upside down when a bright light falls from the sky, driving her beneath the water. She’s rescued by her longtime friend and love interest #1, Zane. I adored Zane, and I really wish he’d have seen more page time. Anyway, Kira suddenly finds her consciousness skipping between her world (which isn’t earth—more on this in a bit) and Asulon, where she meets love interest #2, Evan, and this creepy, carnie fortune teller with a cryptic warning:
“End of starlight, link undone.
Choice of lives, or trapped in one.”
So begins the race to unravel the mystery behind the link allowing her to pass between worlds before it breaks.
I'm torn about how to review this book. I loved Kira's relationships while she was in her world, but I ran into a bit of a snag at the mention of two moons. Two moons, I thought; well, maybe they aren't on Earth. Except they're hanging out at bonfires, roasting marshmallows, talking about school, living in normal homes with normal parents, and other very Earth-like things. Eventually, I convinced myself the two moons thing was a typo and moved on. Come to find out, Kira is actually from Thaer, which is Earth's mirror planet. Which I was totally on board with. Until Evan says, "Bless you," to Kira, and she has no idea what he's talking about.
One could argue that the planets mirror one another, not the people, so naturally people might evolve or grow in such a way that their creations/inventions aren't identical. The English and German languages (bless you and gesundheit respectively) were created by humans, as were marshmallows. And yet, somehow Earth and Thaer both have the English language and marshmallows. But they don't both have "bless you or gesundheit."
Why? Why such a random variation? Seriously, I argue with myself over the weirdest stuff sometimes...
In spite of my mental wandering during Kira's trips back to Thaer, they were my absolute favorite, because Zane:
I’m all for long-time friendships turning into something more in a natural, unhurried way.
“When our lips parted, I smiled. ‘Wow.’
‘Yeah, wow.’ He rubbed his lips together, pressing them as if to stamp the taste of our kiss into his memory. ‘It’s about time.’"
*fans self*
But inevitably, Kira's consciousness would slip back to Asulon, a truly magical world within a blackhole. The carnival, the core, it was all absolutely breath-taking...and creepy, but creepy in a good way. It's literally a mashup of several worlds, since every person brings a part of their own world with them. The science that offered the inspiration for this was pretty awesome. And yet, everything seemed pretty familiar. I don't recall seeing anything that was all that different from anything we have here on Earth. Surely there would be something that other worlds have that we don't... Odd animals, clothing, plants, people who aren't human, humans who don't act like humans from Earth or Thaer, something...
And then there was Evan, who was instantly attracted to Kira, for no apparent reason other than that she was the only girl his age. The whole bad-boy vibe Kira initially described never came through for me. Evan struck me as needy and constantly guilt-trips Kira about staying with him. I get that he’s stuck on this alternate world, but common. He can’t have a hobby? What’s worse was that Kira actually expressed interest in him. Feel sorry for him, fine. I certainly did. But leave her friends, her mother, everything she’s ever known behind for this guy? Leave Zane for this guy? So when this happened:
“Fire blazed through my body—a jolt of addicting adrenaline and an unwanted shock, all at once. I clenched my fists, but slowly my fingers fall as our lips parted and he rested his forehead against mine. This was a first kiss. This was a last kiss. This was goodbye.”
I wanted to swoon, because I love the emotion. I love the way it is written. But my heart was back with Zane, and I ended up:
I feel like I would have enjoyed Kira’s visits to Asulon a lot more if Evan had been anyone other than a potential love interest, because his characterization worked. It was understandable. I just didn't like the ease with which Kira could respond to both guys. Every time Evan popped in, I found myself putting the book down. I think these gaps in reading may have ruined the climax for me, because I never truly understood motivation for wanting to hurt Kira.
Overall, though, Wier has set the tone for an interesting series, and I'm positively alight with curiosity!
LINK wasn’t at all like what I expected. I imagined a hard sci-fi read revolving around the idea that black holes aren’t the endless pits of blackness many presume.
LINK, in my opinion, is a light sci-fi with some more fantasy-feeling elements at times, and the combination worked well for this story.
LINK opens with the protagonist, Kira, sitting around a bonfire at the edge of a lake with a few of her friends. Even though Kira struck me as a bit of a downer initially--what with the moping about her mother forging fake birthday cards from her absent father--I really enjoyed this opening scene. The group as a whole was playful and relatable, their conversations and mannerisms realistic. I loved the marshmallow fight! During this opening scene, Kira ventures out for a swim, and her world is turned upside down when a bright light falls from the sky, driving her beneath the water. She’s rescued by her longtime friend and love interest #1, Zane. I adored Zane, and I really wish he’d have seen more page time. Anyway, Kira suddenly finds her consciousness skipping between her world (which isn’t earth—more on this in a bit) and Asulon, where she meets love interest #2, Evan, and this creepy, carnie fortune teller with a cryptic warning:
“End of starlight, link undone.
Choice of lives, or trapped in one.”
So begins the race to unravel the mystery behind the link allowing her to pass between worlds before it breaks.
I'm torn about how to review this book. I loved Kira's relationships while she was in her world, but I ran into a bit of a snag at the mention of two moons. Two moons, I thought; well, maybe they aren't on Earth. Except they're hanging out at bonfires, roasting marshmallows, talking about school, living in normal homes with normal parents, and other very Earth-like things. Eventually, I convinced myself the two moons thing was a typo and moved on. Come to find out, Kira is actually from Thaer, which is Earth's mirror planet. Which I was totally on board with. Until Evan says, "Bless you," to Kira, and she has no idea what he's talking about.
One could argue that the planets mirror one another, not the people, so naturally people might evolve or grow in such a way that their creations/inventions aren't identical. The English and German languages (bless you and gesundheit respectively) were created by humans, as were marshmallows. And yet, somehow Earth and Thaer both have the English language and marshmallows. But they don't both have "bless you or gesundheit."
Why? Why such a random variation? Seriously, I argue with myself over the weirdest stuff sometimes...
In spite of my mental wandering during Kira's trips back to Thaer, they were my absolute favorite, because Zane:
I’m all for long-time friendships turning into something more in a natural, unhurried way.
“When our lips parted, I smiled. ‘Wow.’
‘Yeah, wow.’ He rubbed his lips together, pressing them as if to stamp the taste of our kiss into his memory. ‘It’s about time.’"
*fans self*
But inevitably, Kira's consciousness would slip back to Asulon, a truly magical world within a blackhole. The carnival, the core, it was all absolutely breath-taking...and creepy, but creepy in a good way. It's literally a mashup of several worlds, since every person brings a part of their own world with them. The science that offered the inspiration for this was pretty awesome. And yet, everything seemed pretty familiar. I don't recall seeing anything that was all that different from anything we have here on Earth. Surely there would be something that other worlds have that we don't... Odd animals, clothing, plants, people who aren't human, humans who don't act like humans from Earth or Thaer, something...
And then there was Evan, who was instantly attracted to Kira, for no apparent reason other than that she was the only girl his age. The whole bad-boy vibe Kira initially described never came through for me. Evan struck me as needy and constantly guilt-trips Kira about staying with him. I get that he’s stuck on this alternate world, but common. He can’t have a hobby? What’s worse was that Kira actually expressed interest in him. Feel sorry for him, fine. I certainly did. But leave her friends, her mother, everything she’s ever known behind for this guy? Leave Zane for this guy? So when this happened:
“Fire blazed through my body—a jolt of addicting adrenaline and an unwanted shock, all at once. I clenched my fists, but slowly my fingers fall as our lips parted and he rested his forehead against mine. This was a first kiss. This was a last kiss. This was goodbye.”
I wanted to swoon, because I love the emotion. I love the way it is written. But my heart was back with Zane, and I ended up:
I feel like I would have enjoyed Kira’s visits to Asulon a lot more if Evan had been anyone other than a potential love interest, because his characterization worked. It was understandable. I just didn't like the ease with which Kira could respond to both guys. Every time Evan popped in, I found myself putting the book down. I think these gaps in reading may have ruined the climax for me, because I never truly understood motivation for wanting to hurt Kira.
Overall, though, Wier has set the tone for an interesting series, and I'm positively alight with curiosity!
January 25, 2016
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for a honest review
MY THOUGHTS
This book sounded really interesting, so I decided to pick it up! This book is a very interesting sci-fi, and wasn't what I expected, but still an interesting book. Some aspects of it fell short for me, but I still liked this book.
Kira is celebrating her birthday with her friends when a piece of the sky hits her. Literally. Now instead of dreams, Kira sleeps into another world. An odd one populated by only a handful of people, including a boy that Kira can't help but be interested in (despite her long crush on one of her friends). Kira quickly founds out that her dreams, and the boy, are real and that there's a real danger that she could be stuck in this other world. While Kira and her friends try to piece things together she will find more than she expected, including information on her father who went missing years ago.
I loved how interesting this book was! So much science and still so unique! I love the idea of parallel universes (pretty much my favorite thing to read in books, ever), while this was not about parallel worlds, it was very similar. The idea of the other worlds, black holes, and the dream factor was very interesting! Still, while I loved the idea, some parts I had a hard time believing. For example:
The characters in this book were great and I liked them. Though, they felt a bit like you're average YA characters to me, not that that's a bad thing. So, really, there's not much I can say about them. Though I did like how Kira didn't keep her friends in the dark, like most MCs in YA.
As for romance, it was just strange. I'm about confused by if there was a love triangle. I liked Zane, Kira's friend, and their romance felt entirely realistic. It was a cute friend to more relationship. Evan, the boy from the other world, confused me. I liked him and it seemed like there was supposed to be something there, but it fell flat. It was really unclear and ,honestly, a bit unbelievable.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I did like this book. Some factor fell flat, but this book has a very interesting and unique storyline. I'm curious to see where the rest of the series will go.
I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for a honest review
MY THOUGHTS
This book sounded really interesting, so I decided to pick it up! This book is a very interesting sci-fi, and wasn't what I expected, but still an interesting book. Some aspects of it fell short for me, but I still liked this book.
Kira is celebrating her birthday with her friends when a piece of the sky hits her. Literally. Now instead of dreams, Kira sleeps into another world. An odd one populated by only a handful of people, including a boy that Kira can't help but be interested in (despite her long crush on one of her friends). Kira quickly founds out that her dreams, and the boy, are real and that there's a real danger that she could be stuck in this other world. While Kira and her friends try to piece things together she will find more than she expected, including information on her father who went missing years ago.
I loved how interesting this book was! So much science and still so unique! I love the idea of parallel universes (pretty much my favorite thing to read in books, ever), while this was not about parallel worlds, it was very similar. The idea of the other worlds, black holes, and the dream factor was very interesting! Still, while I loved the idea, some parts I had a hard time believing. For example:
The characters in this book were great and I liked them. Though, they felt a bit like you're average YA characters to me, not that that's a bad thing. So, really, there's not much I can say about them. Though I did like how Kira didn't keep her friends in the dark, like most MCs in YA.
As for romance, it was just strange. I'm about confused by if there was a love triangle. I liked Zane, Kira's friend, and their romance felt entirely realistic. It was a cute friend to more relationship. Evan, the boy from the other world, confused me. I liked him and it seemed like there was supposed to be something there, but it fell flat. It was really unclear and ,honestly, a bit unbelievable.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I did like this book. Some factor fell flat, but this book has a very interesting and unique storyline. I'm curious to see where the rest of the series will go.
July 19, 2015
This is one of those books where the author's imagination oozes. From page one, the world, or should I say worlds, that Wier creates jump off the page. And from page one, I enjoyed spending time with Kira as she comes to term with many facets of her life, not just in a plot-driven science fiction-y type of way, but her emotional demons. Kira's character became real to me and the tension Wier created oftentimes had my eyes jumping further down the page so I could see what was coming. There's some science in this book, and sometimes my brain dulls when there's science, but Wier did a good job of putting the pieces together and layering information. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm curious to see how Kira's story will continue in Book 2.
March 25, 2015
I found the ideas in this book very unique. Summer Wier has created a world where things aren't always as they seem, and that's what I loved about it. With perfect pace she reveals secrets, twists, and 'OMG' moments that kept me turning the page.
The main character Kira has guts, and even when she gets tossed between these strange worlds and learns that her whole life is about to change she doesn't give up. Her determination and need for the truth keep pushing her forward, and while she knows she needs help to find the answers, this is her journey and she owns it.
There is also a certain young man in the book (who isn't mentioned in the blurb) that I grew quite fond of. ;). I think you will too.
I think books are too spelled out these days. I like a book that makes me stop and think, and that's what this book does. There is one twist in particular that caught me completely off guard, but it was the BEST twist I've read in a while. :) This book is face paced, intriguing, and full of twists and turns. Definitely an excellent YA Science-Fiction read.
The main character Kira has guts, and even when she gets tossed between these strange worlds and learns that her whole life is about to change she doesn't give up. Her determination and need for the truth keep pushing her forward, and while she knows she needs help to find the answers, this is her journey and she owns it.
There is also a certain young man in the book (who isn't mentioned in the blurb) that I grew quite fond of. ;). I think you will too.
I think books are too spelled out these days. I like a book that makes me stop and think, and that's what this book does. There is one twist in particular that caught me completely off guard, but it was the BEST twist I've read in a while. :) This book is face paced, intriguing, and full of twists and turns. Definitely an excellent YA Science-Fiction read.
September 29, 2015
Kira and her friends enjoy the night by the lake. The stars are bright and there is slight romance in the air. Until the star falls.
And Kira is hit by it.
From the beginning of the book, we have already the mystery set. Where did Kira go? What is this mysterious fair? And why a boy showed her a bright star?
These are the questions Kira must answer in a race against time in order to find a way to save herself and in the proccess to find more about her father.
The best part of the book I believe it was the many dimensions which are introduced in the book. Kira lives in an alternative Earth which is similar to our own, even if some parts are different. Although I was worried about the development of a love triangle, that didn't happen and I am grateful.
LINK left many parts unsaid, which is good for the mystery of the story! I can't wait for the next books of the series!
And Kira is hit by it.
From the beginning of the book, we have already the mystery set. Where did Kira go? What is this mysterious fair? And why a boy showed her a bright star?
These are the questions Kira must answer in a race against time in order to find a way to save herself and in the proccess to find more about her father.
The best part of the book I believe it was the many dimensions which are introduced in the book. Kira lives in an alternative Earth which is similar to our own, even if some parts are different. Although I was worried about the development of a love triangle, that didn't happen and I am grateful.
LINK left many parts unsaid, which is good for the mystery of the story! I can't wait for the next books of the series!
October 11, 2015
***Read and loved an early version of this. I can't wait for the final product!
REVIEW of Published Version
I love this book. The premise is so unique and well thought out. Traveling to another world through a dying star that's being sucked into a black hole? That's pretty neat. And the best part is that it's well executed. The characters are believable and likable, and leave you wondering what's happening below the surface.
I'm all about love interests, but this one I'm really torn about who I want to see Kira end up with. For most of the book I was all about Zane, I love a good lifelong friend turned lover story, but at the end, Evan really made me waver. I just don't know, which is why I need book 2!
How Kira is all connected into everything shows how well plotted out this series is going to be. This is a must read, and a clean read for an added bonus.
REVIEW of Published Version
I love this book. The premise is so unique and well thought out. Traveling to another world through a dying star that's being sucked into a black hole? That's pretty neat. And the best part is that it's well executed. The characters are believable and likable, and leave you wondering what's happening below the surface.
I'm all about love interests, but this one I'm really torn about who I want to see Kira end up with. For most of the book I was all about Zane, I love a good lifelong friend turned lover story, but at the end, Evan really made me waver. I just don't know, which is why I need book 2!
How Kira is all connected into everything shows how well plotted out this series is going to be. This is a must read, and a clean read for an added bonus.
April 29, 2018
Link is a terrific story that blew me away with its uniqueness. Even though I read the summary, I have to be honest, I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
At first, I was a bit confused with everything, but as the story went on, things got clearer, making it a lot easier for me to understand the plot and what was going on in the scenes. I have to be a bit honest, I would have preferred a bit more information in the beginning because I didn't know that this... (more via website)
October 6, 2015
Great imaginative clean read. I haven't read a lot of sci-fi, but I really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy
October 21, 2015
Let me start by saying: this book is kind of magical. Through the use of parallel worlds, Wier manages to transport the reader to a truly fascinating planet located inside a black hole, providing an Alice-in-Wonderland type atmosphere that’s kind of breathtaking. Every time Kira visited this new world left me absolutely entranced.
Now, here’s what I’m talking about: Kira lives on a planet that’s like Earth, but it’s not Earth. One night while swimming, a piece of the universe collides with her and sends her to a strange farmhouse in a place she’s never seen, surrounded by strange caves and carnivals and inhabited by some mysterious figures, including the mystifying Evan and the angry Mags. As she transports back and forth between this world and her own, trying to solve the mystery of the power she’s been granted, her star’s dying, and whichever world she’s in when it finally goes out? Well, she might just be stuck there.
Combining an otherworldly plot with such mysterious characters, LINK exists somewhere near “captivating.” Kira’s resourceful and easy to connect to, and I think my second favorite character had to be Evan, whose sometimes overwhelmingly dependent character had roots buried so deep into the otherworld called Asulon that his present personality obviously remains deeply rooted in his somewhat traumatic past. Simply: he’s a character who doesn’t need an explanation: as the reader, it’s so easy to connect the dots between his past and present, and understand why he’s so eager to be around Kira, while also wary of casting suspicion on the only other people he’s ever lived around.
Basically I just wanted to give Evan a big hug and never leave him.
And along this backdrop of world-jumping and dying stars – and the growing threat of entire worlds and planets being destroyed with a strange astronomical power – lies the backdrop of Kira’s father, missing since before she can remember, and the suspicious feeling that he might just be closer than you think.
Before I forget to mention it: the science! I enjoyed every moment of it. I wanted a lot more, though, because the idea of black holes actually containing self-sufficient worlds protected by the shadows of starlight and other strange forces? Seriously wicked. It definitely sets the stage for what I have no doubt will be an exciting sci-fi trilogy, bringing a fresh and new look at the stars and parallel worlds, and inviting the reader to imagine the endless possibilities.
And yet . . . my one caveat would have to be that I feel like it only sets the stage, but falls slightly short in the area of explanations and even explorations of the environment and the world that Kira lives in. I was absolutely fascinated by the obvious fact from page one that Kira lives on a planet that’s very much like Earth, and yet isn’t. Yet it’s not until a little over halfway through the novel that we even find out what the name of the planet is, and that was most of the information we got. With all of the talk of Kira’s future and the future of her friends, and the careers they were interested in, I was itching for just a bit more development of the world and Kira’s natural environment, and more about perhaps how this world is different from Earth.
So the world-building fell a bit flat. Which I still find a bit odd for my tastes, since the “sanctuary” planet of Asulon was so incredibly vivid, far more than Kira’s home planet.
Overall, I’m just an absolute sucker for science fiction, and the science behind this novel is captivating. Definitely can’t wait to see what else Summer Wier’s got up her sleeves.
Now, here’s what I’m talking about: Kira lives on a planet that’s like Earth, but it’s not Earth. One night while swimming, a piece of the universe collides with her and sends her to a strange farmhouse in a place she’s never seen, surrounded by strange caves and carnivals and inhabited by some mysterious figures, including the mystifying Evan and the angry Mags. As she transports back and forth between this world and her own, trying to solve the mystery of the power she’s been granted, her star’s dying, and whichever world she’s in when it finally goes out? Well, she might just be stuck there.
Combining an otherworldly plot with such mysterious characters, LINK exists somewhere near “captivating.” Kira’s resourceful and easy to connect to, and I think my second favorite character had to be Evan, whose sometimes overwhelmingly dependent character had roots buried so deep into the otherworld called Asulon that his present personality obviously remains deeply rooted in his somewhat traumatic past. Simply: he’s a character who doesn’t need an explanation: as the reader, it’s so easy to connect the dots between his past and present, and understand why he’s so eager to be around Kira, while also wary of casting suspicion on the only other people he’s ever lived around.
Basically I just wanted to give Evan a big hug and never leave him.
And along this backdrop of world-jumping and dying stars – and the growing threat of entire worlds and planets being destroyed with a strange astronomical power – lies the backdrop of Kira’s father, missing since before she can remember, and the suspicious feeling that he might just be closer than you think.
Before I forget to mention it: the science! I enjoyed every moment of it. I wanted a lot more, though, because the idea of black holes actually containing self-sufficient worlds protected by the shadows of starlight and other strange forces? Seriously wicked. It definitely sets the stage for what I have no doubt will be an exciting sci-fi trilogy, bringing a fresh and new look at the stars and parallel worlds, and inviting the reader to imagine the endless possibilities.
And yet . . . my one caveat would have to be that I feel like it only sets the stage, but falls slightly short in the area of explanations and even explorations of the environment and the world that Kira lives in. I was absolutely fascinated by the obvious fact from page one that Kira lives on a planet that’s very much like Earth, and yet isn’t. Yet it’s not until a little over halfway through the novel that we even find out what the name of the planet is, and that was most of the information we got. With all of the talk of Kira’s future and the future of her friends, and the careers they were interested in, I was itching for just a bit more development of the world and Kira’s natural environment, and more about perhaps how this world is different from Earth.
So the world-building fell a bit flat. Which I still find a bit odd for my tastes, since the “sanctuary” planet of Asulon was so incredibly vivid, far more than Kira’s home planet.
Overall, I’m just an absolute sucker for science fiction, and the science behind this novel is captivating. Definitely can’t wait to see what else Summer Wier’s got up her sleeves.
December 29, 2015
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was.... good with an exceptionally awsome concept but it failed to make a lasting impact on me. I guess the romantic aspect bothered me too much but I did enjoy the plot which was laced with suspense and it was quite a thrilling ride.
Kira is a typical teenager who was spending her birthday with her friends when she decides to go swimming in the lake under the starry sky but things turn upside down when a piece of it falls on the lake starting a chain of events. She finds herself in a mirror world and has only a limited amount of time to get back to her world before her star dies and she gets there stuck permanently. But things are not as easy as they sound because first, she has no control over the time travel and second, something far more deeper and dangerous is at play here which might destroy her entire world.
One of the things that I liked about this book was the perfect blend of magic and scientific elements. After Kira gets hit by a star while she is swimming in the lake, it causes her to travel to a different planet, Asulon, where there are people like her from different planets, who are stuck there permanently. I liked the theory of black hole and the mystery about her father was well maintained, though I could guess he was going to play a major factor. Though some of it did happen, I'm intrigued to see how it all plays out. Some parts were a bit confusing, I would have liked a bit more explanation and I'm hoping I'm going to get my answers in the next book.
The characters were okay, I couldn't emotionally connect with them. I did like Kira, she was a typical teenager living her life surrounded by her friends and her mother. I liked the mother-daughter relationship which we rarely get to see in YA novels. The friendship between Faye and Kira was sweet as well. However I had a major problem with the romance. There was the dreaded love triangle which felt absolutely unnecessary. There was Zane who was Kira’s childhood friend and the relationship between them was slowly evolving into something more and then there's Evan, whom she met on Asulon. The relationship between them was totally insta-love which I hated because she was the only girl his age he ever met. Basically I didn't like either of the relationships, there was absolutely no spark or chemistry between them. And I hated Kira’s attitude when it came to the boys, she totally forgot the other guy whenever she was with one of them. It was so annoying.
Overall, Link was a good read. Though I couldn't connect with the characters much but I enjoyed the plot and the unique concept. The writing was simple and smooth and it was fast paced. I would have loved if some aspects were a bit more simplified but nonetheless I'm interested to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Recommend it?
Yes.
*I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was.... good with an exceptionally awsome concept but it failed to make a lasting impact on me. I guess the romantic aspect bothered me too much but I did enjoy the plot which was laced with suspense and it was quite a thrilling ride.
Kira is a typical teenager who was spending her birthday with her friends when she decides to go swimming in the lake under the starry sky but things turn upside down when a piece of it falls on the lake starting a chain of events. She finds herself in a mirror world and has only a limited amount of time to get back to her world before her star dies and she gets there stuck permanently. But things are not as easy as they sound because first, she has no control over the time travel and second, something far more deeper and dangerous is at play here which might destroy her entire world.
One of the things that I liked about this book was the perfect blend of magic and scientific elements. After Kira gets hit by a star while she is swimming in the lake, it causes her to travel to a different planet, Asulon, where there are people like her from different planets, who are stuck there permanently. I liked the theory of black hole and the mystery about her father was well maintained, though I could guess he was going to play a major factor. Though some of it did happen, I'm intrigued to see how it all plays out. Some parts were a bit confusing, I would have liked a bit more explanation and I'm hoping I'm going to get my answers in the next book.
The characters were okay, I couldn't emotionally connect with them. I did like Kira, she was a typical teenager living her life surrounded by her friends and her mother. I liked the mother-daughter relationship which we rarely get to see in YA novels. The friendship between Faye and Kira was sweet as well. However I had a major problem with the romance. There was the dreaded love triangle which felt absolutely unnecessary. There was Zane who was Kira’s childhood friend and the relationship between them was slowly evolving into something more and then there's Evan, whom she met on Asulon. The relationship between them was totally insta-love which I hated because she was the only girl his age he ever met. Basically I didn't like either of the relationships, there was absolutely no spark or chemistry between them. And I hated Kira’s attitude when it came to the boys, she totally forgot the other guy whenever she was with one of them. It was so annoying.
Overall, Link was a good read. Though I couldn't connect with the characters much but I enjoyed the plot and the unique concept. The writing was simple and smooth and it was fast paced. I would have loved if some aspects were a bit more simplified but nonetheless I'm interested to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Recommend it?
Yes.
October 24, 2015
I recived this book in exchange for a honest review.
*4.5-5 stars*
I just finished this book and I loved this. If you love sci-fi this is the perfect book for you.
This book is amazing!
The writing:
When I requested this book I read the blurb and thought: 'this sounds really good'. However, it took me a while to read it. So when I started I didn't remember what was it about, I just only remembered it was a sci-fi and seemed good. You can say I went into it knowing almost nothing and that was amazing. The writing is so good it makes you belive something and you don't doubt it and then boom! Surprise! What you thought you knew? Wrong! I just loved how it made me want to know more, to keep reading and finding new things.
The story:
LOVED IT In case it wasn't clear before.
This is about a girl who is in a lake swimming with her friends and suddenly she almost drown beause something hit her deep into the water. And then everytime she sleeps, she travels to other world. Okay, that sounds kind of amazing but never anything is just that easy.
I really loved the theme of this book, all the theories, the stars, the idea of this book was really amazing and I think it was really well developed. For me, it was unique too, because I have read other sci-fi but never like this one.
There is a love triangle. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It wasn't bad.
It has some unexpected twists.
The characters:
Kira: I really liked her. She cared for the others and appreciated things. She tries to help as much as she can and is a good friend.
Zane: He has half of my heart. He was so sweet, loyal, reliable, good friend. He was there anytime, he supported Kira in everything and I think he is what we all want (or I least I do!). I want someone in my life like Zane, but he is in a book so I will just read him for now.
Evan: He has the other half of my heart. He was sweet, kind, honest and reliable. He helped Kira in everything he could and really cared about her.
(Yes, as you can see my heart was divided while I read this book)
Faye: She gave me the besties-girly-fussy vibe. She was realiable and very loyal. She is an amazing best friend for Kira, supporting everytime.
Fisch: Nerd vibe everywhere but I loved it!
I would love to read more about all of them, as single characters and as a group.
I just need to know what happens. I need the next book. I can't belive it ended like that but sure it leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book and I hope it will be as amazing as this one!
Recommended for people who likes sci-fi,YA,romance and mystery.
"There are somethings we cannot control. If you don't enjoy the happy moments, hoping to avoid the sad ones, life ends up being pretty empty."
*4.5-5 stars*
I just finished this book and I loved this. If you love sci-fi this is the perfect book for you.
This book is amazing!
The writing:
When I requested this book I read the blurb and thought: 'this sounds really good'. However, it took me a while to read it. So when I started I didn't remember what was it about, I just only remembered it was a sci-fi and seemed good. You can say I went into it knowing almost nothing and that was amazing. The writing is so good it makes you belive something and you don't doubt it and then boom! Surprise! What you thought you knew? Wrong! I just loved how it made me want to know more, to keep reading and finding new things.
The story:
LOVED IT In case it wasn't clear before.
This is about a girl who is in a lake swimming with her friends and suddenly she almost drown beause something hit her deep into the water. And then everytime she sleeps, she travels to other world. Okay, that sounds kind of amazing but never anything is just that easy.
I really loved the theme of this book, all the theories, the stars, the idea of this book was really amazing and I think it was really well developed. For me, it was unique too, because I have read other sci-fi but never like this one.
There is a love triangle. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It wasn't bad.
It has some unexpected twists.
The characters:
Kira: I really liked her. She cared for the others and appreciated things. She tries to help as much as she can and is a good friend.
Zane: He has half of my heart. He was so sweet, loyal, reliable, good friend. He was there anytime, he supported Kira in everything and I think he is what we all want (or I least I do!). I want someone in my life like Zane, but he is in a book so I will just read him for now.
Evan: He has the other half of my heart. He was sweet, kind, honest and reliable. He helped Kira in everything he could and really cared about her.
(Yes, as you can see my heart was divided while I read this book)
Faye: She gave me the besties-girly-fussy vibe. She was realiable and very loyal. She is an amazing best friend for Kira, supporting everytime.
Fisch: Nerd vibe everywhere but I loved it!
I would love to read more about all of them, as single characters and as a group.
I just need to know what happens. I need the next book. I can't belive it ended like that but sure it leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book and I hope it will be as amazing as this one!
Recommended for people who likes sci-fi,YA,romance and mystery.
"There are somethings we cannot control. If you don't enjoy the happy moments, hoping to avoid the sad ones, life ends up being pretty empty."
December 18, 2015
Link is, in a word, unique. I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a book quite like it. It’s solidly science fiction, but I’ll admit that for the first third (up until a certain scene I can’t talk about because it would spoil it), I did wonder if it wasn’t actually dark fantasy. The truth is, it’s sort of both, crossing and blending the genres in a way that’s wholly original and entirely fascinating.
The thing I love about this one is that it’s not nearly as straight-forward as it seems at a glance. Yes, it is YA, and as such, features the usual teenage angst and romantic sub-plot, but it’s also handled in a way that feels authentic and doesn’t detract from the multi-layered plot that forms around it. Kira approaches her situation with all the acumen and maturity expected of a seventeen-year-old who’s suddenly had everything she’s known ripped away.
Mystery, adventure, and even danger face Kira as she struggles to come to terms not only with the fact that there’s more to the universe than she ever imagined, but also with the truth behind her past and her own identity. Wier manages to keep what is arguably a very personal journey for Kira at the center of the story, weaving an intricate and even somewhat plausible world (as a recent discovery by Stephen Hawking supports) around a framework that is easy to relate to and entirely human. The relationship between Kira and her mom is especially poignant, and something not often seen in YA literature, where absentee parental figures tend to reign.
The first in a trilogy, Link sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting and refreshingly original contribution to the genre. With simplistic prose that is at once lyrical and genuine, Wier paints a splendid, sometimes emotional tale that barely scratches the surface of what her world has to offer. She’s definitely a debut author to keep an eye on, and I, for one, can’t wait for the second installment.
The thing I love about this one is that it’s not nearly as straight-forward as it seems at a glance. Yes, it is YA, and as such, features the usual teenage angst and romantic sub-plot, but it’s also handled in a way that feels authentic and doesn’t detract from the multi-layered plot that forms around it. Kira approaches her situation with all the acumen and maturity expected of a seventeen-year-old who’s suddenly had everything she’s known ripped away.
Mystery, adventure, and even danger face Kira as she struggles to come to terms not only with the fact that there’s more to the universe than she ever imagined, but also with the truth behind her past and her own identity. Wier manages to keep what is arguably a very personal journey for Kira at the center of the story, weaving an intricate and even somewhat plausible world (as a recent discovery by Stephen Hawking supports) around a framework that is easy to relate to and entirely human. The relationship between Kira and her mom is especially poignant, and something not often seen in YA literature, where absentee parental figures tend to reign.
The first in a trilogy, Link sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting and refreshingly original contribution to the genre. With simplistic prose that is at once lyrical and genuine, Wier paints a splendid, sometimes emotional tale that barely scratches the surface of what her world has to offer. She’s definitely a debut author to keep an eye on, and I, for one, can’t wait for the second installment.
August 1, 2015
As soon as I heard the premise of this book, I waited impatiently to get my hands on it. I received Link as an ARC for an honest review. It is an intelligent, fast-paced YA fantasy I would recommend to any reader. My expectations were high, but they were blown away by the complexity Wier expertly created. The MC Kira has her world turned upside-down (or...mirrored) when she discovers she is linked to a dying star that allows her to cross over onto a new planet. But there are prophecies Kira must find out, about her MIA father, a professor with a hidden agenda, and the secret of the shadow of light, before her own star dies and she is permanently trapped on the wrong planet.
This book is a MIND MELD. The theories Wier presents about black holes and how she weaves them into a page-turning plot was so impressive, I just could not put this down. She peaks your curiosity over and over and keeps it fast-paced with intelligent and absolutely fascinating world-building. The characters that Wier created added to Kira's conflict and had me invested and rooting for them. I felt like I was there with Kira the whole time, and I did not want the book to be over. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Standing ovation.
This book is a MIND MELD. The theories Wier presents about black holes and how she weaves them into a page-turning plot was so impressive, I just could not put this down. She peaks your curiosity over and over and keeps it fast-paced with intelligent and absolutely fascinating world-building. The characters that Wier created added to Kira's conflict and had me invested and rooting for them. I felt like I was there with Kira the whole time, and I did not want the book to be over. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Standing ovation.
September 29, 2015
For those of you interested in a YA Sci-Fi, dimension traveling, black hole science, teen romance/angst novel, then READ THIS NOW! I won't be offended if you don't finish this review because instead you're buying the book.
What I love about the book is the creative angle the author shows us for dimensional travel as well as alternate worlds. The author also does a great job of building suspense with the main character and the decisions she must make (no spoilers here). It makes me excited for the rest of the series.
The ONLY reason I'm giving this 4 instead of 5 stars is that for me personally, at the start of the book, it was difficult for me to feel grounded in either of the worlds presented. However, that feeling dissipated after several chapters as the world building got stronger and clearer.
Are you still reading this review? Why? Go and get this book now. No need to thank me. You're welcome.
What I love about the book is the creative angle the author shows us for dimensional travel as well as alternate worlds. The author also does a great job of building suspense with the main character and the decisions she must make (no spoilers here). It makes me excited for the rest of the series.
The ONLY reason I'm giving this 4 instead of 5 stars is that for me personally, at the start of the book, it was difficult for me to feel grounded in either of the worlds presented. However, that feeling dissipated after several chapters as the world building got stronger and clearer.
Are you still reading this review? Why? Go and get this book now. No need to thank me. You're welcome.
October 24, 2015
This is a beautifully written book! I was enthralled by the writing from the first chapter. This book has the most unique parallel universe and sci-fi I have ever read in a young adult book before. The characters are also well written and you become emotionally invested in Kira's quest to find answers about herself, her star, and her father! I also loved the plot and how the author was capable of weaving sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy so effortlessly. I liked that the ending left some questions unanswered so I will be able to get invested over a series of books which I love to do! This is a book I would recommend to everyone based on the great writing technique, characters, plot, and world built! This book is in my top three best books of the year!
Please check out my site for more reviews and giveaways!
Please check out my site for more reviews and giveaways!
September 29, 2015
LINK is the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi, without being too “sciencey.” (READ: it doesn’t go into laborious detail like The Martian does.) And of course there is just the right touch of romance.
Wier’s description of the “other world” makes you wish it was a reality. The writing and the premise made my imagination run wild with the endless possibilities of the universe. I was hooked by the story line, and honestly could not put the book down.
I want to say more but I don’t want to spoil any of the twists and turns in the story. You really must read the book.
Wier’s description of the “other world” makes you wish it was a reality. The writing and the premise made my imagination run wild with the endless possibilities of the universe. I was hooked by the story line, and honestly could not put the book down.
I want to say more but I don’t want to spoil any of the twists and turns in the story. You really must read the book.
December 2, 2015
REUTs LINK 3.5/5
It is evident that Wier has done her research. The mechanics of this world Wier has created are complex, and fascinating - it is the selling point of this story; the originality of her core idea. So she has to get points for that. However, what is the strength of her novel, also to turns out to be her downfall.
FULL REVIEW (WITH GiFS): http://anothermisfit.weebly.com/book-...
It is evident that Wier has done her research. The mechanics of this world Wier has created are complex, and fascinating - it is the selling point of this story; the originality of her core idea. So she has to get points for that. However, what is the strength of her novel, also to turns out to be her downfall.
FULL REVIEW (WITH GiFS): http://anothermisfit.weebly.com/book-...
October 4, 2015
A fabulous read! A great premise, full of twists and turns and a bit of mystery and romance. The visuals make my mind happy dance. The science-y stuff goes a little over my head, but I didn't care. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Protect the light!
Protect the light!
December 3, 2015
3.5 stars. Good story with great potential to keep getting better
January 30, 2016
My Impressions: Oooo…Teen angst, a pining romance, daddy issues, adventure, intergalactic intrigue, BFF and birthday shopping. The plot is packed and the better for it. Add to that…Bouncy, fresh dialogue that’s realistically juvenile without being silly or grating (a hazard in some YA books, but not this one). Some mature topics like parenting and abandonment issues were explored. This made the story richer. Kira, the heroine, had a good life but also a real life, with complex issues and multi-layered interactions with the people around her….not some bland ‘perfect’ existence.
World-Building: Subtle, very subtle…but ultimately effective! I was only very vaguely aware that I was being set up for a major reveal (which of course I won’t reveal here). But, wow….and while I was totally shocked, after the reveal, I could see how there were some hints (subtle mind you, but hints all the same). Good build up. I got lost a bit in some of the astrological/scientific explanations, but it didn’t take away from the story. Asulon, the other world, had just the right amount of…otherworldly-feel about it. Though I had some questions…some things I was confused about…
How inhabited is Asulon? First it appeared as though its only a few people there…3 or 4…and a small band of gypsies…(hence Evan’s loneliness) but then later there’s mention of kids and an allusion to procreation, which to me means there should be more people there. I mean, if they can procreate and they’ve been there for years (at least 2 decades judging from the Professor’s implied age)…Wouldn’t there be folks of all ages there? And why don’t the folks interact more with Kira and Evan? Particularly with Evan since he’s a long-time resident and probably knows everyone. Also, what about nutrition? Vitamins? What happens when people get sick? Do they get sick? Is there a doctor? Do people die there or is there perpetual life (eh, unless one is murdered, that is)? How does the ecosystem work there, with only fractured pieces of things? Also, why is there no cohesive society or social order, government, school system, commerce, everyone seemed to be doing their own thing. So many questions…So little time. Of course, I realize that some of these questions may answer themselves in subsequent books or when I re-read (which I will). No worries, I just have a curious mind.
The Love Story: A very sweet, low key romance between life-long besties turned boyfriend/girlfriend. Sigh. If I *had* to complain, I would say…don’t be so stingy, give us more! But I’m sure that will happen in the next book.
Minor Beef: Not sure I like the triangle brewing…but this is more of a personal preference thing, so I won’t gripe too much.
Extra Touch: Kira has very realistic conflicts with her moms, friends, and boyfriend. I love this. The characters disagree with good reason…about logical things that make sense. They have what I like to call ’emotional intelligence’. If something doesn’t feel right…it usually isn’t. And the heroine has a very good sense of this, which I found very refreshing. I hate contrived misunderstandings and baseless arguments…thankfully, nary a one was found here.
The Verdict: Two Thumbs up! Good Read…Looking forward to the sequel.
World-Building: Subtle, very subtle…but ultimately effective! I was only very vaguely aware that I was being set up for a major reveal (which of course I won’t reveal here). But, wow….and while I was totally shocked, after the reveal, I could see how there were some hints (subtle mind you, but hints all the same). Good build up. I got lost a bit in some of the astrological/scientific explanations, but it didn’t take away from the story. Asulon, the other world, had just the right amount of…otherworldly-feel about it. Though I had some questions…some things I was confused about…
How inhabited is Asulon? First it appeared as though its only a few people there…3 or 4…and a small band of gypsies…(hence Evan’s loneliness) but then later there’s mention of kids and an allusion to procreation, which to me means there should be more people there. I mean, if they can procreate and they’ve been there for years (at least 2 decades judging from the Professor’s implied age)…Wouldn’t there be folks of all ages there? And why don’t the folks interact more with Kira and Evan? Particularly with Evan since he’s a long-time resident and probably knows everyone. Also, what about nutrition? Vitamins? What happens when people get sick? Do they get sick? Is there a doctor? Do people die there or is there perpetual life (eh, unless one is murdered, that is)? How does the ecosystem work there, with only fractured pieces of things? Also, why is there no cohesive society or social order, government, school system, commerce, everyone seemed to be doing their own thing. So many questions…So little time. Of course, I realize that some of these questions may answer themselves in subsequent books or when I re-read (which I will). No worries, I just have a curious mind.
The Love Story: A very sweet, low key romance between life-long besties turned boyfriend/girlfriend. Sigh. If I *had* to complain, I would say…don’t be so stingy, give us more! But I’m sure that will happen in the next book.
Minor Beef: Not sure I like the triangle brewing…but this is more of a personal preference thing, so I won’t gripe too much.
Extra Touch: Kira has very realistic conflicts with her moms, friends, and boyfriend. I love this. The characters disagree with good reason…about logical things that make sense. They have what I like to call ’emotional intelligence’. If something doesn’t feel right…it usually isn’t. And the heroine has a very good sense of this, which I found very refreshing. I hate contrived misunderstandings and baseless arguments…thankfully, nary a one was found here.
The Verdict: Two Thumbs up! Good Read…Looking forward to the sequel.
February 10, 2016
You can also find this review on my blog: Wings of Nephilim
Favorite Quote:
"I knew what that look meant. One of her astrological-reading-séance-hypnosis thingies."
I received an ARC of: LINK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have no idea what I expected going into LINK from the description to be honest but what I got was phenomenal. LINK was such a wild ride. It was most definitely unexpected in a good way and to me it was a fun and new idea. I have personally not read too many sci-fi novels but I have never read even close to this kind of plot before. Which I find refreshing. I don't really want to spoil that because it was written so well that I was confused and learned what was going right along with Kira (our lovely lead).
This book was intoxicating. I was trying to figure out what was going on, how things could potentially work out, twists, turns, and a lovely mother/daughter relationship you just don't see very often in YA. Most YA books either have no parents or never mention their parents.
Kira was a strong lead. She made choices I agreed with and had a good dose of common sense. She trusted her friends instead of creating unnecessary drama about not telling them things (OMG REAL FRIENDSHIP??) and was quite likable. I really felt for her situation as she realized what was happening to her. Also while she fought with her mother, she also worked to make it right and as someone gotten past (mostly haha) the fighting with her mother and being friends with her mother I really liked to see this in a novel. Also Faye was absolutely fabulous. I think the whole fortune-telling/séance/astrological reading a fun aspect to explore and something I've wanted to delve into myself. I wish there was more of that and hope for more in the future books. I'd like to see Faye have a bigger role in the next books too.
The romance was...different than usual. It was all light-hearted and fluffy, nothing lusty or heart-pounding. Now I do hate a love triangle so that is my only complaint I can find about this book at all. I have a pretty good idea of how the romance angle will end though. Not giving my theories but I'll see if I'm right in future books. Which I will most definitely be reading the next one as soon as I can.
I found the astrological and space theories quite interesting, I'm of course no scientist but even if I was I go into these kind of novels not expecting anything with concrete real evidence. It's the lovely Summer Wier's world and she can make things work however she wants. I'm just glad she bothered to explain the sciency parts of it at all. I enjoyed reading the theories quite a bit.
As to the plot I was intrigued and wanting more. There was not exactly a cliff hanger at the end but there is so much left undone! So many things that we need to see happen and I need to see happen. I can't wait for the next book so I can see where it goes next because LINK was fascinating. I blew through it and it was such an easy read. A lot of fun and hopefully the next book isn't forever away.
Favorite Quote:
"I knew what that look meant. One of her astrological-reading-séance-hypnosis thingies."
I received an ARC of: LINK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have no idea what I expected going into LINK from the description to be honest but what I got was phenomenal. LINK was such a wild ride. It was most definitely unexpected in a good way and to me it was a fun and new idea. I have personally not read too many sci-fi novels but I have never read even close to this kind of plot before. Which I find refreshing. I don't really want to spoil that because it was written so well that I was confused and learned what was going right along with Kira (our lovely lead).
This book was intoxicating. I was trying to figure out what was going on, how things could potentially work out, twists, turns, and a lovely mother/daughter relationship you just don't see very often in YA. Most YA books either have no parents or never mention their parents.
Kira was a strong lead. She made choices I agreed with and had a good dose of common sense. She trusted her friends instead of creating unnecessary drama about not telling them things (OMG REAL FRIENDSHIP??) and was quite likable. I really felt for her situation as she realized what was happening to her. Also while she fought with her mother, she also worked to make it right and as someone gotten past (mostly haha) the fighting with her mother and being friends with her mother I really liked to see this in a novel. Also Faye was absolutely fabulous. I think the whole fortune-telling/séance/astrological reading a fun aspect to explore and something I've wanted to delve into myself. I wish there was more of that and hope for more in the future books. I'd like to see Faye have a bigger role in the next books too.
The romance was...different than usual. It was all light-hearted and fluffy, nothing lusty or heart-pounding. Now I do hate a love triangle so that is my only complaint I can find about this book at all. I have a pretty good idea of how the romance angle will end though. Not giving my theories but I'll see if I'm right in future books. Which I will most definitely be reading the next one as soon as I can.
I found the astrological and space theories quite interesting, I'm of course no scientist but even if I was I go into these kind of novels not expecting anything with concrete real evidence. It's the lovely Summer Wier's world and she can make things work however she wants. I'm just glad she bothered to explain the sciency parts of it at all. I enjoyed reading the theories quite a bit.
As to the plot I was intrigued and wanting more. There was not exactly a cliff hanger at the end but there is so much left undone! So many things that we need to see happen and I need to see happen. I can't wait for the next book so I can see where it goes next because LINK was fascinating. I blew through it and it was such an easy read. A lot of fun and hopefully the next book isn't forever away.
March 31, 2016
That is such a beautiful cover. I really try not to judge a book by its cover, but it is the first thing that you usually see. The cover is what caught my eye, but the blurb is what drew me in.
I really don't know how to explain this book. It's not really like any other book I've read, but I'm still pretty new to sci-fi and fantasy, though they've become a couple of my favorite genres. I mean, I went YEARS on just historical romance novels, hundreds of them. They tend to be a bit predictable and that is what ultimately pulled me into new genres. I like twists, and the unknown. Amanda Quicks Arcane Society Series and J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter Series were that bridge in genres for me.
It's really fun to read a book and not know where the story is going until you get there. This book did that for me.
Spoilers beyond this point.
A good bit of my time in the beginning was spent trying to figure out the setting. I was thinking that it was outside of the US (Australia kept popping into my head), and I was right in a way, it was definitely out of the US, it was a completely different world.
I never really made a personal connection with Kira but that didn't detract from the story. It was like watching a good movie, it was interesting. The only thing I really didn't care for was the love triangle. Even though she was thinking no, I shouldn't, she never actually said it to Evan. Next thing you know, she's back in Zanes arms.
She does tell him that she has a boyfriend at the end of the book, but I really wish she had been more upfront from the beginning, even though technically Kira and Zane weren't gf/bf the whole time. He was there and that was something, enough of something that it should have been mentioned.
So, I'm not very knowledgeable of astronomy or astrology, I do find it fascinating though. LINK is written well; I was never lost in the explanations, and could imagine everything as I read it.
I got that excited, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat feeling while reading. It was kind of like the feeling I get right before I watch a new episode of Doctor Who. The possibilities are endless.
Light vs Dark, Life vs Destruction.
And this book is just the beginning! I can't wait to see where this story goes.
I did receive this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I really don't know how to explain this book. It's not really like any other book I've read, but I'm still pretty new to sci-fi and fantasy, though they've become a couple of my favorite genres. I mean, I went YEARS on just historical romance novels, hundreds of them. They tend to be a bit predictable and that is what ultimately pulled me into new genres. I like twists, and the unknown. Amanda Quicks Arcane Society Series and J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter Series were that bridge in genres for me.
It's really fun to read a book and not know where the story is going until you get there. This book did that for me.
Spoilers beyond this point.
A good bit of my time in the beginning was spent trying to figure out the setting. I was thinking that it was outside of the US (Australia kept popping into my head), and I was right in a way, it was definitely out of the US, it was a completely different world.
I never really made a personal connection with Kira but that didn't detract from the story. It was like watching a good movie, it was interesting. The only thing I really didn't care for was the love triangle. Even though she was thinking no, I shouldn't, she never actually said it to Evan. Next thing you know, she's back in Zanes arms.
She does tell him that she has a boyfriend at the end of the book, but I really wish she had been more upfront from the beginning, even though technically Kira and Zane weren't gf/bf the whole time. He was there and that was something, enough of something that it should have been mentioned.
So, I'm not very knowledgeable of astronomy or astrology, I do find it fascinating though. LINK is written well; I was never lost in the explanations, and could imagine everything as I read it.
I got that excited, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat feeling while reading. It was kind of like the feeling I get right before I watch a new episode of Doctor Who. The possibilities are endless.
Light vs Dark, Life vs Destruction.
And this book is just the beginning! I can't wait to see where this story goes.
I did receive this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
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