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Firmament #5
Gestern
Andi Lloyd is more comfortable than most with interstellar travel, but she's not prepared for the perils and peculiarities of a world she has all but forgotten—the planet Earth. As the Surveyor undergoes repairs, her brother August receives a message with news that will send both of them across the world to a place he never wanted to visit again.
Neither of them are prepared to be thrust into a world of political intrigue amid the tangled forests and crumbling ruins of Austria. They aren't prepared to encounter wild animals and endure cross-country hikes. And they definitely aren't prepared to face it all alone.
But despite the dangers they must press on into the unknown to find a way to save Andi's life, to decide the fate of Earth itself—and to rescue a lonely girl who just happens to be their little sister.
Neither of them are prepared to be thrust into a world of political intrigue amid the tangled forests and crumbling ruins of Austria. They aren't prepared to encounter wild animals and endure cross-country hikes. And they definitely aren't prepared to face it all alone.
But despite the dangers they must press on into the unknown to find a way to save Andi's life, to decide the fate of Earth itself—and to rescue a lonely girl who just happens to be their little sister.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
J. Grace Pennington
44 books144 followersJ. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could talk, and writing them down since age five. Now she lives in the great state of Texas, where she writes as much as adult life permits. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading good books, having adventures with her husband and daughters, and looking up at the stars.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2017
Age Appropriate For: 10 and up for violent and mildly scary scenes.
Best for Ages: 12-25
Anyone who read Reversal Zone will know that it left you desperate for the next book. I was so privileged to be part of the advanced reader team. This book was not a disappointment.
The first thing that people will find is that this takes place on Earth. It is a different feel from the other books set in space, but we don’t lose sight of the space age technology, or forget the peril that we are in. Andi, after all, has a limited time to get what she needs to survive. It only takes one message to send her, August, and Crash on an adventure to save a little girl.
This book really focuses on August and Andi’s relationship. I really enjoyed seeing them discover more about each other outside the starship setting. As August is a much beloved character in this series, many will be happy to learn more about him and see how the adventure affects him.
I love seeing how Andi is growing and changing. As she is being stretched and placed in new situations, you see her maturing and coming into her own. I look forward to seeing how the next book or two develops her character.
One of my favorite aspects is to watch how well Pennington wove the story. So many things are not as they appear and leave you second guessing everything. I know I was surprised by the twists in the story, which doesn’t happen a lot to me. However, this story once again left me in need of the next book. I hope it comes out soon!
I highly recommend this book and series to those who like stories of adventure, sci-fi, and young-adult fiction.
Best for Ages: 12-25
Anyone who read Reversal Zone will know that it left you desperate for the next book. I was so privileged to be part of the advanced reader team. This book was not a disappointment.
The first thing that people will find is that this takes place on Earth. It is a different feel from the other books set in space, but we don’t lose sight of the space age technology, or forget the peril that we are in. Andi, after all, has a limited time to get what she needs to survive. It only takes one message to send her, August, and Crash on an adventure to save a little girl.
This book really focuses on August and Andi’s relationship. I really enjoyed seeing them discover more about each other outside the starship setting. As August is a much beloved character in this series, many will be happy to learn more about him and see how the adventure affects him.
I love seeing how Andi is growing and changing. As she is being stretched and placed in new situations, you see her maturing and coming into her own. I look forward to seeing how the next book or two develops her character.
One of my favorite aspects is to watch how well Pennington wove the story. So many things are not as they appear and leave you second guessing everything. I know I was surprised by the twists in the story, which doesn’t happen a lot to me. However, this story once again left me in need of the next book. I hope it comes out soon!
I highly recommend this book and series to those who like stories of adventure, sci-fi, and young-adult fiction.
October 20, 2019
This. Book. Where do I even start? Grace's books are always amazing. There hasn't been a single one that hasn't wowed me. My personal favorites, though, are the ones belonging to the Firmament series.
The first two Firmament books were my favorites. They are just very special to me. But Gestern. Just wow. It completely and totally pulled me out of my Blades of Acktar hangover and gave me a Firmament one. There was staying up late to read, reading during lunch, reading during my 15 minute break at work...And then it ended! Hurry up with the next one, Grace!
Gestern has a very different feel from the previous four books, primarily because it takes place almost entirely on Earth. Not only that, but it also focuses on Andi and August and their family history, something we haven't seen much of in awhile. The sci-fi aspect of this book then, is more along the lines of evil scientist experimenting on people--a concept certain of my family and friends will probably tell you I'm a little too fond of. I loved seeing the sibling relationship between Andi and August grow, and I also loved the bonding between them and their little sister Ursula (though I kinda wish she had a different name...sea witch and all that). I loved Ursula. She was so sweet and adorable, and she kept making me think of a little girl of the same age that I know.
Grace's plot twists are fabulous as always. It took me quite some time to figure out who they could trust and who was actually a bad guy. It's so twisty turny. And that cliffhanger ending! Grace can't get book six published soon enough. I'm so going to have to buy the rest of the paperbacks (kindle just isn't good enough) and give the series a reread. I love them so much.
So what are you doing still here? Go buy the Firmament series and drop everything on your schedule because you won't be able to stop reading! Grace hasn't been nicknamed the sleep stealer for nothing. ;)
The first two Firmament books were my favorites. They are just very special to me. But Gestern. Just wow. It completely and totally pulled me out of my Blades of Acktar hangover and gave me a Firmament one. There was staying up late to read, reading during lunch, reading during my 15 minute break at work...And then it ended! Hurry up with the next one, Grace!
Gestern has a very different feel from the previous four books, primarily because it takes place almost entirely on Earth. Not only that, but it also focuses on Andi and August and their family history, something we haven't seen much of in awhile. The sci-fi aspect of this book then, is more along the lines of evil scientist experimenting on people--a concept certain of my family and friends will probably tell you I'm a little too fond of. I loved seeing the sibling relationship between Andi and August grow, and I also loved the bonding between them and their little sister Ursula (though I kinda wish she had a different name...sea witch and all that). I loved Ursula. She was so sweet and adorable, and she kept making me think of a little girl of the same age that I know.
Grace's plot twists are fabulous as always. It took me quite some time to figure out who they could trust and who was actually a bad guy. It's so twisty turny. And that cliffhanger ending! Grace can't get book six published soon enough. I'm so going to have to buy the rest of the paperbacks (kindle just isn't good enough) and give the series a reread. I love them so much.
So what are you doing still here? Go buy the Firmament series and drop everything on your schedule because you won't be able to stop reading! Grace hasn't been nicknamed the sleep stealer for nothing. ;)
August 27, 2017
Title: Firmament: Gestern
Written By: J. Grace Pennington
Genre: Christian Science Fiction
Recommended Ages: 13 & up
Introduction:
I have read all of the books in the Firmament series and loved each one. In Radialloy, I fell in love with Andi. In In His Image, I fell in love with her unique spin on aliens in space. Then came Reversal Zone which, as the title suggests, reverses many things. I’m not sure exactly what I fell in love with in that book, but the uniqueness of the plot really drew me in.
Next comes this book, Gestern. There are so many twists and turns, you could almost get whiplash. But it’s a good kind of whiplash. The kind that leaves you begging the author to hurry up with the next book.
Characters: 1/1
Grace has always done a great job developing her characters. This book is no different. Andi’s struggles to forgive, August learning to be confident and push himself, Crash’s desire to change. It all came through vividly to combine into an excellent story.
Dialogue: 1/1
The wit, pain, struggle, and everything else made for some great dialogue.
Plot/storyline: 1/1
As I mentioned early, the plot and storyline kept me on my toes the whole book through. I never knew quite where the story was going to head next.
Overall writing quality: 1/1
Tres bon. Or should I try to find the German words for very good? Sehr gut. There were a few editing issues that I found, but since I had an Advanced Reader Copy, I’m going under the assumption that it still had one more edit to do before publication.
Un-put-down-ability: 1/1
Let’s just say I have enough experience with the Firmament series to know better than to start reading it before bed assuming I’ll be able to stop and put it down sometime. So I started reading it one morning, had to put it down for a while (but didn’t want to) and finished it later that day. Make sure you set aside enough time to start and finish the book.
Conclusion: 5/5
Even if you don’t particularly care for science fiction (like me), you might still enjoy this book. Especially since most of it didn’t have much of a sci-fi feel. They were on a space ship for a little while at the beginning, but then most of the book was on Earth with more of an adventurous type of storyline. I highly recommend this book. It’s clean, full of surprises, Christian, but not preachy, and very well written.
Written By: J. Grace Pennington
Genre: Christian Science Fiction
Recommended Ages: 13 & up
Introduction:
I have read all of the books in the Firmament series and loved each one. In Radialloy, I fell in love with Andi. In In His Image, I fell in love with her unique spin on aliens in space. Then came Reversal Zone which, as the title suggests, reverses many things. I’m not sure exactly what I fell in love with in that book, but the uniqueness of the plot really drew me in.
Next comes this book, Gestern. There are so many twists and turns, you could almost get whiplash. But it’s a good kind of whiplash. The kind that leaves you begging the author to hurry up with the next book.
Characters: 1/1
Grace has always done a great job developing her characters. This book is no different. Andi’s struggles to forgive, August learning to be confident and push himself, Crash’s desire to change. It all came through vividly to combine into an excellent story.
Dialogue: 1/1
The wit, pain, struggle, and everything else made for some great dialogue.
Plot/storyline: 1/1
As I mentioned early, the plot and storyline kept me on my toes the whole book through. I never knew quite where the story was going to head next.
Overall writing quality: 1/1
Tres bon. Or should I try to find the German words for very good? Sehr gut. There were a few editing issues that I found, but since I had an Advanced Reader Copy, I’m going under the assumption that it still had one more edit to do before publication.
Un-put-down-ability: 1/1
Let’s just say I have enough experience with the Firmament series to know better than to start reading it before bed assuming I’ll be able to stop and put it down sometime. So I started reading it one morning, had to put it down for a while (but didn’t want to) and finished it later that day. Make sure you set aside enough time to start and finish the book.
Conclusion: 5/5
Even if you don’t particularly care for science fiction (like me), you might still enjoy this book. Especially since most of it didn’t have much of a sci-fi feel. They were on a space ship for a little while at the beginning, but then most of the book was on Earth with more of an adventurous type of storyline. I highly recommend this book. It’s clean, full of surprises, Christian, but not preachy, and very well written.
April 10, 2020
Me, reading the synopsis: Hmmm… will this translate okay from set in space to set on Earth?
Me, reading the actual book: Ha, ha, Kate! You worry too much.
I really loved that this book picked up almost directly where the previous one stopped. Seeing how the fallout from the “reversal zone” affected the characters was cool. Andi’s reluctance to trust Crash again mixed with her deep love for him is so real and subtle. I also have some wonderings about how Almira is acting and some hopeful guesses. ;)
Guys, things for all the books are tying together! O.o. I was a bit surprised by how this one connected with the first book. ;) I loved the on-the-run plotline mixed with some mystery, and Andi and August bonding as siblings was sweet. (Yay for more August backstory!) And they did a pretty fantastic job at the mission, plus that team-up = awesomeness. I really liked the man they were working with. He was complicated and a bit tragic, and I really hope we get to see more of him.
Ursula is officially the sweetest. <3 She and Andi were sooo adorable together, especially with the doll. The end, in regards to her, felt like a little bit of a cop-out, but it was sweet. ;)
Just a note, there was some mild peril and mentions of possible medical experimentation on humans and definite experimentation on animals.
Best quotes: “You know if you don’t reply to my messages within ten seconds I’ll assume you’re dead, right?” he went on as he let go of me. I chuckled. “Of course.”
I had no idea that merely listening to a six-year-old could be so tiring.
Altogether, this was great, and I can’t wait to read the next book. Stakes have been RAISED. XD
Me, reading the actual book: Ha, ha, Kate! You worry too much.
I really loved that this book picked up almost directly where the previous one stopped. Seeing how the fallout from the “reversal zone” affected the characters was cool. Andi’s reluctance to trust Crash again mixed with her deep love for him is so real and subtle. I also have some wonderings about how Almira is acting and some hopeful guesses. ;)
Guys, things for all the books are tying together! O.o. I was a bit surprised by how this one connected with the first book. ;) I loved the on-the-run plotline mixed with some mystery, and Andi and August bonding as siblings was sweet. (Yay for more August backstory!) And they did a pretty fantastic job at the mission, plus that team-up = awesomeness. I really liked the man they were working with. He was complicated and a bit tragic, and I really hope we get to see more of him.
Ursula is officially the sweetest. <3 She and Andi were sooo adorable together, especially with the doll. The end, in regards to her, felt like a little bit of a cop-out, but it was sweet. ;)
Just a note, there was some mild peril and mentions of possible medical experimentation on humans and definite experimentation on animals.
Best quotes: “You know if you don’t reply to my messages within ten seconds I’ll assume you’re dead, right?” he went on as he let go of me. I chuckled. “Of course.”
I had no idea that merely listening to a six-year-old could be so tiring.
Altogether, this was great, and I can’t wait to read the next book. Stakes have been RAISED. XD
August 28, 2017
For once in my life, I outsmarted a book. Even though I bought this at eleven at night, I managed to restrain myself and not start it till the next morning. Of coarse, once I started reading it, nothing else got done all day long.
The characters were amazing. I always love watching Andi grow and learn new things. I especially related to her during this one as she struggles to accept all the changes that have been going on in her life. Everything from growing up, to finding her siblings. Even though I haven't been through what Andi's been through, the feelings were super relatable.
The idea of facing your Gestern, your yesterday, was something I hadn't thought much about. Being only eighteen I'm inclined to think there isn't much in my yesterday. But this book really got me to thinking that even young adults have Gesterns they don't want to face. And that's how, even though I wasn't reading the book, Pennington managed to make me loose sleep because I was thinking about this concept. And I can't complain over the lost sleep, its one of the things that makes her books so amazing.
I loved how August's and Andi's relationship grows. They are such awesome siblings.
Overall, this was an awesome continuation of the Firmament series. As always, I really need the next book though.
The characters were amazing. I always love watching Andi grow and learn new things. I especially related to her during this one as she struggles to accept all the changes that have been going on in her life. Everything from growing up, to finding her siblings. Even though I haven't been through what Andi's been through, the feelings were super relatable.
The idea of facing your Gestern, your yesterday, was something I hadn't thought much about. Being only eighteen I'm inclined to think there isn't much in my yesterday. But this book really got me to thinking that even young adults have Gesterns they don't want to face. And that's how, even though I wasn't reading the book, Pennington managed to make me loose sleep because I was thinking about this concept. And I can't complain over the lost sleep, its one of the things that makes her books so amazing.
I loved how August's and Andi's relationship grows. They are such awesome siblings.
Overall, this was an awesome continuation of the Firmament series. As always, I really need the next book though.
January 6, 2018
Wow. Yeah, I'm back to just--wow.
This story had so many twists I wasn't expecting. Not that I thought things would be easy, but when they reached what I thought would be about the three-quarter mark and I was still only halfway in, I gave up trying to guess. And all the little glimpses of what was going on with the other characters served to ratchet the suspense up every single time. I'm starting to feel a lot like Andi--not sure whether I can still rely on my own judgment. I certainly can't rely on my expectations!
Crash is--definitely back. I shared Andi's frustration with him at the beginning, but I loved the scene where she realized how much she still trusted him in spite of everything. August is still as sweet and gentle and protective as ever but growing in some ways, too--willing to step out of his comfort zone, to take risks, and even to take charge in order to do what needs to be done. I love the scene where he and Andi are sharing random details about their lives. I also love her observation that "searching 'getting to know your newly discovered brother' didn't exactly yield pages of helpful information on the internet." Sounds so much like the kind of thing I would have tried!
Andi's realization that she needed to face her past as much as August did--and realize that she couldn't hold on to it--was very bittersweet. I think I love her past as much as she does (although, granted, I've only had glimpses of it before all the trouble started), and I can totally relate to her desire not to have things change. (As long as it didn't involve losing August--that I would not be okay with.) :)
The book started with a revelation that left me gasping in sympathy with the characters (even though I knew what was coming) and ended with so many cliffhangers, I'm not sure I can count them. I have no idea what's going to happen--except that there are still thirteen more books, so I'm assuming all of them can't die--but that's about as far as I trust myself at this point. I know from experience that writing is a lot more work than it sounds like, but...I need the next book! So badly!
One note that has nothing to do with the story--in the "Special Thanks" section at the beginning, the author mentions that without her editor's intervention, she "would overuse the word 'slightly' to the point of ridiculousness." I laughed out loud, but only because I recently discovered that I share the very same crutch word. She gets me on so many levels! :D
This story had so many twists I wasn't expecting. Not that I thought things would be easy, but when they reached what I thought would be about the three-quarter mark and I was still only halfway in, I gave up trying to guess. And all the little glimpses of what was going on with the other characters served to ratchet the suspense up every single time. I'm starting to feel a lot like Andi--not sure whether I can still rely on my own judgment. I certainly can't rely on my expectations!
Crash is--definitely back. I shared Andi's frustration with him at the beginning, but I loved the scene where she realized how much she still trusted him in spite of everything. August is still as sweet and gentle and protective as ever but growing in some ways, too--willing to step out of his comfort zone, to take risks, and even to take charge in order to do what needs to be done. I love the scene where he and Andi are sharing random details about their lives. I also love her observation that "searching 'getting to know your newly discovered brother' didn't exactly yield pages of helpful information on the internet." Sounds so much like the kind of thing I would have tried!
Andi's realization that she needed to face her past as much as August did--and realize that she couldn't hold on to it--was very bittersweet. I think I love her past as much as she does (although, granted, I've only had glimpses of it before all the trouble started), and I can totally relate to her desire not to have things change. (As long as it didn't involve losing August--that I would not be okay with.) :)
The book started with a revelation that left me gasping in sympathy with the characters (even though I knew what was coming) and ended with so many cliffhangers, I'm not sure I can count them. I have no idea what's going to happen--except that there are still thirteen more books, so I'm assuming all of them can't die--but that's about as far as I trust myself at this point. I know from experience that writing is a lot more work than it sounds like, but...I need the next book! So badly!
One note that has nothing to do with the story--in the "Special Thanks" section at the beginning, the author mentions that without her editor's intervention, she "would overuse the word 'slightly' to the point of ridiculousness." I laughed out loud, but only because I recently discovered that I share the very same crutch word. She gets me on so many levels! :D
December 18, 2017
3.5 stars. I had mixed feelings about this entry in the Firmament series—some things about it I really liked, and others I didn't. It started rather slowly, but once the plot finally did get going the suspense was terrific. I liked the way it experimented with different points of view and parallel storylines, instead of sticking exclusively to Andi's usual first-person narration, to build the suspense. I liked the way it explores Andi and August's relationship further (and after the hints dropped about August's past, I really hope future books go into that a little further, as my mind was zinging with as many questions marks as Andi's was at certain moments!).
Where it fell flat for me was in the development of the setting, or lack thereof. This installment takes place on a futuristic version of earth, but aside from some scattered references to fictional technology and inventions, I never got a clear idea of what the surroundings were supposed to look like. What kind of buildings were in the cities; was there any surrounding natural landscape left? And when the scene shifts to Austria, one of the most gorgeous countries in the world, there's no real description of the scenery aside from a few brief references to forests and lakes. (I did appreciate the Sound of Music reference, which I'd wondered whether there would be.) The futuristic Austria is evidently supposed to have passed through some sort of economic or governmental crisis, but we're never told exactly what happened or why, either.
The ending is good, though—the overarching subplot involving the radialloy that's been developing since the first book continues to grow more complex, and we've got a whale of a cliffhanger (almost a double or triple cliffhanger, since there are big questions about what's become of several supporting characters too). Readers who have become interested in the fate of the Firmament characters will be left impatient to see what happens in the next book.
Where it fell flat for me was in the development of the setting, or lack thereof. This installment takes place on a futuristic version of earth, but aside from some scattered references to fictional technology and inventions, I never got a clear idea of what the surroundings were supposed to look like. What kind of buildings were in the cities; was there any surrounding natural landscape left? And when the scene shifts to Austria, one of the most gorgeous countries in the world, there's no real description of the scenery aside from a few brief references to forests and lakes. (I did appreciate the Sound of Music reference, which I'd wondered whether there would be.) The futuristic Austria is evidently supposed to have passed through some sort of economic or governmental crisis, but we're never told exactly what happened or why, either.
The ending is good, though—the overarching subplot involving the radialloy that's been developing since the first book continues to grow more complex, and we've got a whale of a cliffhanger (almost a double or triple cliffhanger, since there are big questions about what's become of several supporting characters too). Readers who have become interested in the fate of the Firmament characters will be left impatient to see what happens in the next book.
December 7, 2017
When I received my ARC, I immediately scrapped my plans for the day and curled up with this book. By the end of the day, I had finished it, and was left with a serious book hangover. IT WAS JUST SO GOOD!
The book starts out surprisingly slowly, but picks up soon, and ends with quite a few cliffhangers. This book had a different feel from the others, as it was set almost wholly on Earth.
I'm struggling with writing a coherent review. I don't think I'll quite manage it. So prepare yourself for fangirling.
It was so good. It was so exciting and oh, the poor characters. Ursula was adorable and cute, August was tortured and sweet, and Andi was brave and too trusting and SPOILER she's dying... END SPOILER
This book was really amazing, and everyone needs to read it immediately.
And now I really need the next book...
The book starts out surprisingly slowly, but picks up soon, and ends with quite a few cliffhangers. This book had a different feel from the others, as it was set almost wholly on Earth.
I'm struggling with writing a coherent review. I don't think I'll quite manage it. So prepare yourself for fangirling.
It was so good. It was so exciting and oh, the poor characters. Ursula was adorable and cute, August was tortured and sweet, and Andi was brave and too trusting and SPOILER she's dying... END SPOILER
This book was really amazing, and everyone needs to read it immediately.
And now I really need the next book...
December 3, 2017
These books get more intense with each installment and I love it.
The tension in this one ended differently, but on another level it also kind of just cranked it up like 100 degrees of suspense and crazy.
I liked seeing deeper into August, and the developments in the plot were intriguing. o.o I need so many answers.
And also there's Crash.... WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON.
The tension in this one ended differently, but on another level it also kind of just cranked it up like 100 degrees of suspense and crazy.
I liked seeing deeper into August, and the developments in the plot were intriguing. o.o I need so many answers.
And also there's Crash.... WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON.
June 30, 2020
(I don’t feel like this is one of my better reviews? So just focus on the 5 star rating and read the Firmament series ASAP.)
Gestern was SO different than the previous books, but it works!
I enjoyed seeing Andi and August’s relationship develop, and just getting to know August better. The focus on family in general was great. It was also really neat seeing what Earth looked like and the different technology and things on there, (*cough* train underneath the Atlantic!! *cough*) since before we’ve just seen life inside of the Surveyor. I also liked seeing Austria and its culture involved instead of just going the typical route and setting it in the US.
Things happen in this one, y’all. Major things. Remember the cliffhanger in Reversal Zone? Yep, it includes that, but the stakes have definitely been raised. The tension is real.
It’s slightly terrifying that there’s only one book left that’s published?? and then I’ll have to actually wait for the next installment?? *cue distant screaming*
Okay, this is strictly a personal opinion, but... I’m really not a fan of the name Ursula? I know, I know, that’s so insignificant and petty, but... honestly, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you don’t like one of the character names, that’s pretty good.
Overall, although Gestern may not have been my favorite of the series, it was definitely enjoyable. It picked where Reversal Zone left off and rocketed things in a totally different direction... which is good! It keeps things hopping. :)
Content: Squeaky clean!
Gestern was SO different than the previous books, but it works!
I enjoyed seeing Andi and August’s relationship develop, and just getting to know August better. The focus on family in general was great. It was also really neat seeing what Earth looked like and the different technology and things on there, (*cough* train underneath the Atlantic!! *cough*) since before we’ve just seen life inside of the Surveyor. I also liked seeing Austria and its culture involved instead of just going the typical route and setting it in the US.
Things happen in this one, y’all. Major things. Remember the cliffhanger in Reversal Zone? Yep, it includes that, but the stakes have definitely been raised. The tension is real.
It’s slightly terrifying that there’s only one book left that’s published?? and then I’ll have to actually wait for the next installment?? *cue distant screaming*
Okay, this is strictly a personal opinion, but... I’m really not a fan of the name Ursula? I know, I know, that’s so insignificant and petty, but... honestly, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you don’t like one of the character names, that’s pretty good.
Overall, although Gestern may not have been my favorite of the series, it was definitely enjoyable. It picked where Reversal Zone left off and rocketed things in a totally different direction... which is good! It keeps things hopping. :)
Content: Squeaky clean!
March 31, 2018
Absolutely Enthralling!
I have always loved J. Grace Pennington’s works, especially her Firmament series. They are exciting, the characters are relatable, and they are clean!
My favorite aspect of Gestern was getting to see more of August (💚), and his and Andi’s relationship. Since the moment he was introduced, August has been my favorite character, second only (maybe) to Andi. I was thrilled to see so much of the dear boy in this book and sincerely hope that the trend continues!
The plot was awfully interesting, riddled with twists that EVEN I didn’t see coming! It wasn’t a super long read, and like all the other Firmament books, it left me champing at the bit for more!
My only criticisms of Gestern are two things I have struggled with in J. Grace Pennington’s works:
1) With Ms. Pennington, I often have a very hard time picturing the surroundings, I don’t have this problem regularly-so I don’t think it’s me.
2) With Pennington’s books, I often when the characters are having conversations in which plot connections are made or secrets get revealed, I feel lost. I understand where we are in the story after the conversation well enough that I can continue to read, but I’m not exactly sure how the characters reached the conclusions they did.
Other than that, Gestern was a complete page turner!
Marvelously done, Ms. Pennington! Gestern is a work of art and a book I will be returning to!
I cannot wait for the next book!
I have always loved J. Grace Pennington’s works, especially her Firmament series. They are exciting, the characters are relatable, and they are clean!
My favorite aspect of Gestern was getting to see more of August (💚), and his and Andi’s relationship. Since the moment he was introduced, August has been my favorite character, second only (maybe) to Andi. I was thrilled to see so much of the dear boy in this book and sincerely hope that the trend continues!
The plot was awfully interesting, riddled with twists that EVEN I didn’t see coming! It wasn’t a super long read, and like all the other Firmament books, it left me champing at the bit for more!
My only criticisms of Gestern are two things I have struggled with in J. Grace Pennington’s works:
1) With Ms. Pennington, I often have a very hard time picturing the surroundings, I don’t have this problem regularly-so I don’t think it’s me.
2) With Pennington’s books, I often when the characters are having conversations in which plot connections are made or secrets get revealed, I feel lost. I understand where we are in the story after the conversation well enough that I can continue to read, but I’m not exactly sure how the characters reached the conclusions they did.
Other than that, Gestern was a complete page turner!
Marvelously done, Ms. Pennington! Gestern is a work of art and a book I will be returning to!
I cannot wait for the next book!
April 26, 2020
Oh my. Things happen. So many plot twists, some of which I suspected, others I didn’t, and most of which were very satisfying. To skip, though...the ending was pretty amazing, all except for Dred... I need more closure on what exactly happened to him and if he plays roles later or not.
Loved the family dynamics, all of them. Loved the themes, especially the spiritual ones. Set on earth, it was a bit different and somewhat complicated, but interesting. The author did a good job portraying earth and the space characters’ reactions to it.
Some medical stuff, a bit of violence.
Loved the family dynamics, all of them. Loved the themes, especially the spiritual ones. Set on earth, it was a bit different and somewhat complicated, but interesting. The author did a good job portraying earth and the space characters’ reactions to it.
Some medical stuff, a bit of violence.
September 18, 2025
From high-flying in The Surveyor (spaceship)... to crumbling castles in Austria... the Firmament series covers ALL ground possible. And it's a fun ride.
This plot was getting pretty rough there for a while (rather riveting), with me not knowing what's going to happen to Andi and her team as they set out on a treacherous journey across different climates.
As always from J. Grace Pennington, this is a good, clean adventure.
This plot was getting pretty rough there for a while (rather riveting), with me not knowing what's going to happen to Andi and her team as they set out on a treacherous journey across different climates.
As always from J. Grace Pennington, this is a good, clean adventure.
December 31, 2025
Reviewing after I read No Man and if ONLY I’D HAVE KNOWN WHAT FRESH HELL AWAITED I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THIS ONE SO MUCH MORE. Still screaming, crying, throwing up. Pray for me as I head into Eleftheria
Recommended 10+ for violence, mentions of dying/death, and those topics/other topics younger readers may not understand.
Recommended 10+ for violence, mentions of dying/death, and those topics/other topics younger readers may not understand.
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