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Shift
Seventeen-year-old Perry Teasdale is a dreamer. She’s not the kind of dreamer who waltzes through fields of wildflowers, twirling her skirts in a starry-eyed daze; or the kind who aspires to be the biggest rock star the world has ever known (not that she’d complain, if that accidentally happened). She’s the kind of dreamer who can’t get a decent night’s rest, because her sleep is flooded with scenes from other worlds—ones that seem as real as life itself. Mind-blowing dreams may sound like loads of fun, but when they start to bleed into Perry’s waking hours—confusing the line between dream and reality, and keeping her in a sleep-deprived fog no amount of caffeine can cure—Perry’s not exactly thrilled. Try as she might to shake the dreams from her mind, they keep gaining speed, growing ever more vivid and intense…until that hazy boundary between real and imaginary fades away, and Perry is forced to consider the Her dreams seem real, because they are. When disaster strikes, sending Perry’s newfound normalcy into a tailspin, she takes the only logical path a whirlwind tour of the multiverse, scouring an ever-growing assortment of alternate realities for the missing piece—the missing person—to put her life together again. Along the way, Perry enlists the help of an ancient wise woman (who may be a tad homicidal); a nerdy-in-all-the-right-ways mathematician (who knows all of Perry’s secrets, even before introducing himself); and a sword (because you can never go wrong with a sword). At times hilarious—at times heartbreaking—Shift is sure to be, well, one of those two things.
550 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
5 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
M.A. George
7 books77 followersM. A. George is part mother of two adorable children, part super top secret agent…Oops, probably just lost that job.
Writing is what keeps her up into the wee hours of the night. Fortunately, she has a lot of energy (Read: caffeine is her friend). She has a bit of an obsession with music (It does a fantastic job of tuning out rambunctious children while she attempts to focus).
She sincerely hopes people out there enjoy reading her work as much as she enjoys writing it. And if anyone hears of work for a super top secret agent, she’s now available (Discretion guaranteed…).
Writing is what keeps her up into the wee hours of the night. Fortunately, she has a lot of energy (Read: caffeine is her friend). She has a bit of an obsession with music (It does a fantastic job of tuning out rambunctious children while she attempts to focus).
She sincerely hopes people out there enjoy reading her work as much as she enjoys writing it. And if anyone hears of work for a super top secret agent, she’s now available (Discretion guaranteed…).
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 15, 2019
I recived a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
A great book. Great story with great characters. Actually the characters are the greatest thing about the book. The character development, leads to great developments in the story itself.
I also liked that M.A George does not leave anything undone, or puts anything in by chance everything in this story has a reason. No matter which reality it is in everything comes together.
There are plenty of geek jokes and references that were definitely not wasted on me. To me this just made the characters more relatable and likable.
Another thing I really liked was that George followed his own set of rules. In some sci-fi stories authors seem to think anything can be put in without any grounding. The best authors know this should not be the case. This is definatly a strength in this book.
On a personal note I would not have minded a bit more action in this book. However the characters and story were so strong I could easily overlook that. I really did like that Perry was sceptical about what was going on. As a reader it was great watching her go through all the possibilities to find her own way, the same with the other characters.
A great book. I would love too see all these characters again, in any scape or incarnation, or even just to see what happens next.
A great book. Great story with great characters. Actually the characters are the greatest thing about the book. The character development, leads to great developments in the story itself.
I also liked that M.A George does not leave anything undone, or puts anything in by chance everything in this story has a reason. No matter which reality it is in everything comes together.
There are plenty of geek jokes and references that were definitely not wasted on me. To me this just made the characters more relatable and likable.
Another thing I really liked was that George followed his own set of rules. In some sci-fi stories authors seem to think anything can be put in without any grounding. The best authors know this should not be the case. This is definatly a strength in this book.
On a personal note I would not have minded a bit more action in this book. However the characters and story were so strong I could easily overlook that. I really did like that Perry was sceptical about what was going on. As a reader it was great watching her go through all the possibilities to find her own way, the same with the other characters.
A great book. I would love too see all these characters again, in any scape or incarnation, or even just to see what happens next.
July 1, 2025
Ok, so I got this book free in exchange for review. I wasn't too psyched because a) I picked this book because it was the only YA on the list and b) it's told in first person present tense, which isn't my preference.
Despite these, it made my favorites shelf (plus the to-read-again shelf!).
The characters are well developed, the storyline is strong - and it had me going down quite a few wrong turns and dead ends trying to figure it out, the descriptions are vivid, and... the nerd-geeky references are hilarious!
One of my biggest pet-peeves is when a book can't make me laugh-out-loud while reading. I mean, I get it, some books are supposed to be tragic, but I like at least one point where I can smile/laugh. Shift did not disappoint!
And the characters...... ugh! I love them so much - the romance angle is actually really cute and I loved them both. Yeah, it's kinda freaky at first because of all the different Scapes, but the LI actually tries! Also, Perry doesn't go insane lovey-dovey when he comes along. She keeps her badassery up - and I can relate to her on so many levels it's not even funny.
The plot was fairly simplistic: travel romantically across the multiverse to save bro. But I honestly didn't care that much reading - yeah, I wanted them to have to save worlds and stuff like that too, but it's ok :)
Overall, an amazing, wacky, thought-provoking, stay-up-all-night-and-read story that made me feel right at home. 13/10 exceeded expectations, recommended for fans of The Lunar Chronicles.
Despite these, it made my favorites shelf (plus the to-read-again shelf!).
The characters are well developed, the storyline is strong - and it had me going down quite a few wrong turns and dead ends trying to figure it out, the descriptions are vivid, and... the nerd-geeky references are hilarious!
One of my biggest pet-peeves is when a book can't make me laugh-out-loud while reading. I mean, I get it, some books are supposed to be tragic, but I like at least one point where I can smile/laugh. Shift did not disappoint!
And the characters...... ugh! I love them so much - the romance angle is actually really cute and I loved them both. Yeah, it's kinda freaky at first because of all the different Scapes, but the LI actually tries! Also, Perry doesn't go insane lovey-dovey when he comes along. She keeps her badassery up - and I can relate to her on so many levels it's not even funny.
The plot was fairly simplistic: travel romantically across the multiverse to save bro. But I honestly didn't care that much reading - yeah, I wanted them to have to save worlds and stuff like that too, but it's ok :)
Overall, an amazing, wacky, thought-provoking, stay-up-all-night-and-read story that made me feel right at home. 13/10 exceeded expectations, recommended for fans of The Lunar Chronicles.
April 25, 2018
Who, me, biased in my five-star rating?
This story has been a long time in the making, but I'm thrilled to finally see it ready to leave the nest. Perry is a protagonist full of sass, who will do anything to save the people she cares about, and I hope readers will adore her as much as I do.
Mark your calendars for June 1st. Thanks for reading!
This story has been a long time in the making, but I'm thrilled to finally see it ready to leave the nest. Perry is a protagonist full of sass, who will do anything to save the people she cares about, and I hope readers will adore her as much as I do.
Mark your calendars for June 1st. Thanks for reading!
June 14, 2018
Ms. George has become one of my favorite authors. She just keeps getting better and better. This time we have brother and sister Ezra and Perry. Ezra is in college and Perry is a senior in high school. They are best of friends who lost their parents and live with Aunt Jess. Perry has super vivid dreams that feel like they actually happened. She is also an artist and draws her dreams, which the pictures are all over her bedroom wall. Then one weekend she and Aunt Jess visit Ezra in college and she meets Ezra's best friend Max who looks super familiar to Perry. Ezra reveals to Perry that they are not regular humans but people who can shift to different scapes. Not different planets or time travel but different varieties of their realities. So in other words, they are living simultaneously in different scapes experiencing different lives. I read a book once that we have lives that are parallel with the one we are aware of. Some past lives might start a few years before our current lives and continue past this life we are aware of. More and more I believe it. Lately there have been books I have read that have not come out yet and I know exactly what is going to happen. Not by guessing but I know exactly what the characters are going to say, where they are going to be and what they are going to do like I have read the book before. So this theory that Ms. George has presented that some of us could be living in different scapes and living different lives makes sense to me.
Ms. George does a fantastic job giving life to the characters, she totally sucked me into their lives and made me stay up WAY past my bedtime to finish this book. I have read all of her books and I think this is my favorite so far. What a fantastic story and fun characters. I loved how spunky Perry was, how she spoke her mind and didn't seem to let anything get her down. Well done. Do not miss this book if you like this type of genre.
Ms. George does a fantastic job giving life to the characters, she totally sucked me into their lives and made me stay up WAY past my bedtime to finish this book. I have read all of her books and I think this is my favorite so far. What a fantastic story and fun characters. I loved how spunky Perry was, how she spoke her mind and didn't seem to let anything get her down. Well done. Do not miss this book if you like this type of genre.
June 3, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. How could I resist? I love Ms. George's writing. The minute I open one of her books I know I am in for a fun ride. Shift is no exception. I added to my sleep deficit by spending too many hours after bedtime looking for a good place to stop reading for the night. But I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters in this story.
I finished Aqua, which I also loved, a bit ago and couldn't wait for more. My biggest disappointment was that this book is a stand-alone. I love a long and deep series. But for those that don't like that this will be more up your alley. Still, I won't rate this lower than five stars as it kept me going.
I can't wait for more!
I finished Aqua, which I also loved, a bit ago and couldn't wait for more. My biggest disappointment was that this book is a stand-alone. I love a long and deep series. But for those that don't like that this will be more up your alley. Still, I won't rate this lower than five stars as it kept me going.
I can't wait for more!
May 16, 2018
What an amazingly creative world this author has created with this book. Seriously, it blows my mind the way authors minds work.
I love the idea of multiple universes and people who are the same or similar in each of them. Even more than that, I love the idea of people who can travel among those universes and carry with them the knowledge of each one. How amazingly unique and complicated. I love the author's use of language and math and science in the story.
Perry is a fantastic character. She's witty and strong and smart. She doesn't take any crap and I really enjoy seeing strong female characters in works of fiction. Especially works that are, or can be Young Adult. I adore the idea of encouraging our young women to be strong and smart and that those qualities will make them more attractive, not less so.
Max is an amazing character as well. I love that the "hero" in the story is a smart "geeky" guy instead of a jock or burly muscle guy. In fact, the burly muscular guy is the one that's cast in the most unflattering light. I like that pretty much every aspect of this book showcases intelligence as a virtue.
In addition to all of that, the story itself is very riveting. I was drawn in from page one and had a lot of difficulty putting the book down.
*I was given an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed.*
I love the idea of multiple universes and people who are the same or similar in each of them. Even more than that, I love the idea of people who can travel among those universes and carry with them the knowledge of each one. How amazingly unique and complicated. I love the author's use of language and math and science in the story.
Perry is a fantastic character. She's witty and strong and smart. She doesn't take any crap and I really enjoy seeing strong female characters in works of fiction. Especially works that are, or can be Young Adult. I adore the idea of encouraging our young women to be strong and smart and that those qualities will make them more attractive, not less so.
Max is an amazing character as well. I love that the "hero" in the story is a smart "geeky" guy instead of a jock or burly muscle guy. In fact, the burly muscular guy is the one that's cast in the most unflattering light. I like that pretty much every aspect of this book showcases intelligence as a virtue.
In addition to all of that, the story itself is very riveting. I was drawn in from page one and had a lot of difficulty putting the book down.
*I was given an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed.*
May 7, 2018
"I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review!"
This book guys, OMG this book.
How in the multiverse did you think of this Ms. George? How are your neurons wired? How can a mere human make something so amazing?
Are you sure you don't reside in some parallel universe?
It is rare that I find a book that changes my perspective on life. I have a hard time finding my words right now since I just finished it. This is a book that I want to live in.
I loved the characters throughout the multiverse, I loved the plot, I loved the struggle, I loved the love. There is not one thing I didn't love about this book. I even loved Thaelia, if that's not love, I don't know what is.
Amazing concept, witty banter, transcendent friendship.
This is a book for all ages. I highly recommend it for ages 13+ and even lower, it will be such an eyeopener for young minds.
I figure there was so much effort put into this book, it turned up brilliant. Everybody should read this.
This book guys, OMG this book.
How in the multiverse did you think of this Ms. George? How are your neurons wired? How can a mere human make something so amazing?
Are you sure you don't reside in some parallel universe?
It is rare that I find a book that changes my perspective on life. I have a hard time finding my words right now since I just finished it. This is a book that I want to live in.
I loved the characters throughout the multiverse, I loved the plot, I loved the struggle, I loved the love. There is not one thing I didn't love about this book. I even loved Thaelia, if that's not love, I don't know what is.
Amazing concept, witty banter, transcendent friendship.
This is a book for all ages. I highly recommend it for ages 13+ and even lower, it will be such an eyeopener for young minds.
I figure there was so much effort put into this book, it turned up brilliant. Everybody should read this.
June 6, 2018
First off I want to say thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised by it. This book is told from Perry's POV so you learn what is going on when she does. Even though she is clueless as to what is going on she is such a strong, fierce, badass woman and I love seeing female characters who can take care of themselves and aren't afraid to put people in their place if need be.
Max is the hero of the story and I love how he is smart and geeky and not your typical jock type hero (which is fine as well) but it's nice to have the "underdogs" come out on top.
Y'all know if there's a romance present I have to talk about it. While the romance in this could probably pass as cheesy I absolutely loved it. It was so cute and adorable even though I highly doubt any guy in the real world would do/say the things Max did I still couldn't help but root for them.
The word building was amazing. You would think with all the different worlds that are mentioned you would get confused but I didn't. The author did an amazing job a differentiating between each of the worlds you visit and paints a very clear picture of each one.
The one thing that bothered me is that it ended abruptly in my opinion. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger or anything I just felt like it could have used more.
If you haven't read this book yet I would definitely recommend it.
This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised by it. This book is told from Perry's POV so you learn what is going on when she does. Even though she is clueless as to what is going on she is such a strong, fierce, badass woman and I love seeing female characters who can take care of themselves and aren't afraid to put people in their place if need be.
Max is the hero of the story and I love how he is smart and geeky and not your typical jock type hero (which is fine as well) but it's nice to have the "underdogs" come out on top.
Y'all know if there's a romance present I have to talk about it. While the romance in this could probably pass as cheesy I absolutely loved it. It was so cute and adorable even though I highly doubt any guy in the real world would do/say the things Max did I still couldn't help but root for them.
The word building was amazing. You would think with all the different worlds that are mentioned you would get confused but I didn't. The author did an amazing job a differentiating between each of the worlds you visit and paints a very clear picture of each one.
The one thing that bothered me is that it ended abruptly in my opinion. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger or anything I just felt like it could have used more.
If you haven't read this book yet I would definitely recommend it.
June 9, 2018
I was sent a copy of this book to read and review by the author and it was AMAZING. I’m not just saying that, I promise. I am BLOWN AWAY by how outstanding this novel was. I laughed, I cried, I fangirled. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!!! I was engaged from the first sentence to the last.
The characters and the sibling relationships were AMAZING. The writing was beautiful and flawless!!
There wasn’t much of a plot as this was a very character-based and world-based book, but it really worked!
And the concept of the different Scapes and Shifters?? SO FREAKING INCREDIBLE!
I loved everything about this book, and I NEED MORE of Perry and Ezra and Max and Kellen!!! And Thaelia of course ;)
I highly recommend! Check out my blog for a full review!
The characters and the sibling relationships were AMAZING. The writing was beautiful and flawless!!
There wasn’t much of a plot as this was a very character-based and world-based book, but it really worked!
And the concept of the different Scapes and Shifters?? SO FREAKING INCREDIBLE!
I loved everything about this book, and I NEED MORE of Perry and Ezra and Max and Kellen!!! And Thaelia of course ;)
I highly recommend! Check out my blog for a full review!
June 21, 2018
An alternate-worlds novel, and a good one. Once I'd suspended my disbelief about identical people being born in extremely different worlds (there's a kind of gesture towards making this vaguely plausible, and you really have to accept it in order for the premise to work), I didn't find anything else that was hard to credit in a plot-hole sense.
The plot moved along nicely, in fact, driven by a quest that was fresh and original, with a cast of appealing-but-flawed characters led by the first-person viewpoint character, a determined, capable, snarky young woman.
Overall, highly enjoyable.
I received a copy from Netgalley for review.
The plot moved along nicely, in fact, driven by a quest that was fresh and original, with a cast of appealing-but-flawed characters led by the first-person viewpoint character, a determined, capable, snarky young woman.
Overall, highly enjoyable.
I received a copy from Netgalley for review.
August 5, 2018
The beginning of Shift is confusing, please don't let this turn you off, it's meant to be that way. I loved this book, even when I found myself lost, I enjoyed the narrative. Perry has a strong voice and the story itself moved swiftly despite its length. At the end, I found myself wanting to know more. I loved the multiverse idea and how it was utilized throughout the books. Each world felt different enough that getting them confused would be impossible. Impressive, considering how many of them there were.
I would've liked to have learned more about Nalya and her brother Kellen, but the three main characters were solid. Unlike in many YA novels, the romance felt authentic, like it truly had transcended across universes. (And there was no love triangle, which is always a plus.)
A fun, action-packed story that has me hoping for more delving into the other worlds depicted.
I would've liked to have learned more about Nalya and her brother Kellen, but the three main characters were solid. Unlike in many YA novels, the romance felt authentic, like it truly had transcended across universes. (And there was no love triangle, which is always a plus.)
A fun, action-packed story that has me hoping for more delving into the other worlds depicted.
March 7, 2019
If this had spent more time on the complexities and possibilities of this multiverse set-up, it could have been 4 stars. Unfortunately, the focus of this story was the adventure/drama/romance angle, rather than "intellectual" concept. Nevertheless, it was entertaining and well enough written. If there was a sequel, I would probably read it.
September 7, 2018
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Upon coming across Shift, I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. I mean, what's not interesting about a dreamer that actually hops to different realities? I don't read a lot of books with plots like this, which makes it easy to get me interested if done right.
We follow Perry, the young woman who shifts without knowing (at least, until she's told about it and finally realizes it for herself). She's extremely friend and family-orientated, which is a strong, yet dangerous trait to have. I didn't much like her all that much, mostly due to the fact that she came off as ditzy and not too bright despite her nerdy tendencies. However, regardless of the lack of connection to her on my part, her character development was clear as day and suited her character very well, gaining my favor.
The story itself is interesting with a plot that is pretty unique and I don't know why, but I just had such a hard time getting into it. Maybe it's just because lately, I've been feeling pretty unmotivated and not all that 100%, so I'm not going to judge too harshly. I mean, it was entertaining when I did read and with the originality of it, it really helped me enjoy the rest of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed it for a majority of it. I kind of wish things didn't end the way it did because it removes the sense of urgency and negates the emotions I had when things started to go down the way it did. I certainly recommend it to lovers of Sci-fi and those interested in alternate realities.
July 9, 2018
*I received this book from Netgalley. My review is completely my own opinions and thoughts.*
I found this book to be very enjoyable. It had a mic of adventure, romance, violence, and mystery. It took me a little bit to understand what was going on, which is why I gave it a 4 instead of 5 as it was confusing as they jumped into different timelines. Once I got the hang of it though I accepted it would take me a second to figure out where they were. I think having a thing saying where they were would have been a little better, like a captain's log.
What I enjoyed most about this series were the characters. They were all well-rounded, individual, and I could easily tell them apart. My favorite character was Max as he was adorable, geeky, and a gentleman. I don't want to give spoilers about him but I really liked his development and wish I could learn a bit more about him. I loved the timeline his "primary" is from though.
As for the main character, Perry, I liked her but sometimes I was like OMG shut up and pay attention to the *can't say or it's a spoil*. But again, that was her personality and the author stayed true to that. I just know people like that and I sometimes want to put my hand over their mouth so I can hear what the other person is saying.
The different world were awesome and I enjoyed how the author designed them and how Perry could transport and figure things out in each scape. I wanted to be able to travel just like that, it would be so cool! This made the book be one of my favorite worlds I would want to live in, as long as I was a shifter with Max.
To conclude, I loved this book but the beginning was sort of confusing. I enjoyed the characters and the ending made me cry almost. Everyone who loves sci-fi should check out this book!
I found this book to be very enjoyable. It had a mic of adventure, romance, violence, and mystery. It took me a little bit to understand what was going on, which is why I gave it a 4 instead of 5 as it was confusing as they jumped into different timelines. Once I got the hang of it though I accepted it would take me a second to figure out where they were. I think having a thing saying where they were would have been a little better, like a captain's log.
What I enjoyed most about this series were the characters. They were all well-rounded, individual, and I could easily tell them apart. My favorite character was Max as he was adorable, geeky, and a gentleman. I don't want to give spoilers about him but I really liked his development and wish I could learn a bit more about him. I loved the timeline his "primary" is from though.
As for the main character, Perry, I liked her but sometimes I was like OMG shut up and pay attention to the *can't say or it's a spoil*. But again, that was her personality and the author stayed true to that. I just know people like that and I sometimes want to put my hand over their mouth so I can hear what the other person is saying.
The different world were awesome and I enjoyed how the author designed them and how Perry could transport and figure things out in each scape. I wanted to be able to travel just like that, it would be so cool! This made the book be one of my favorite worlds I would want to live in, as long as I was a shifter with Max.
To conclude, I loved this book but the beginning was sort of confusing. I enjoyed the characters and the ending made me cry almost. Everyone who loves sci-fi should check out this book!
July 15, 2018
I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!
I'm a huge sci-fi nerd and can talk for hours about the idea of a multiverse or metaverse. I'm always there with my hand raised ready to sign up for a new story that has anything to do with such a concept. Over the years I've read some wonderful parallel universe stories and some really terrible ones as well. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed Shift and loved the idea behind it.
Imagine if Parallel universes a real and that infinite versions of people exist all at once. Now take it a step further and imagine if you could shift between these universes and explore the differences between them. What I liked about Shift is that we're not taking the usual time travel or different planet route into the multiverses or scapes, but using science and even dream recall hello Max. How awesome would that be?!
When Perry and her Aunt go to visit her brother Ezra at uni, she's in for one heck of a surprise when she meets his friend Max. Max is quite literally the man of her dreams...
Perry is a straight talking and creative YA lead. I wasn't expecting to like her as much as I did. Although I didn't always agree with her, I appreciated her strength and determination as well as her fab dream paintings. Max is nerd girl heaven. He's smart and adoringly charming - oh the cuteness!!
We meet a plethora of characters along the way - it was certainly entertaining getting to met them all. The plot is fun and clever - the idea that they are living many different lives simultaneously is really intriguing and works well here.
4 Stars in my Sky!
View on the blog here!
I'm a huge sci-fi nerd and can talk for hours about the idea of a multiverse or metaverse. I'm always there with my hand raised ready to sign up for a new story that has anything to do with such a concept. Over the years I've read some wonderful parallel universe stories and some really terrible ones as well. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed Shift and loved the idea behind it.
Imagine if Parallel universes a real and that infinite versions of people exist all at once. Now take it a step further and imagine if you could shift between these universes and explore the differences between them. What I liked about Shift is that we're not taking the usual time travel or different planet route into the multiverses or scapes, but using science and even dream recall hello Max. How awesome would that be?!
When Perry and her Aunt go to visit her brother Ezra at uni, she's in for one heck of a surprise when she meets his friend Max. Max is quite literally the man of her dreams...
Perry is a straight talking and creative YA lead. I wasn't expecting to like her as much as I did. Although I didn't always agree with her, I appreciated her strength and determination as well as her fab dream paintings. Max is nerd girl heaven. He's smart and adoringly charming - oh the cuteness!!
We meet a plethora of characters along the way - it was certainly entertaining getting to met them all. The plot is fun and clever - the idea that they are living many different lives simultaneously is really intriguing and works well here.
4 Stars in my Sky!
View on the blog here!
July 13, 2018
This is an incredibly well-written read. The author creates a multitude of worlds - each of which is interesting enough that I would have read about it on its own - and yet the story is cohesive.
The character development is very well-executed, which I think demonstrates the author's clear skill as the protagonists travel between worlds. There are a couple of characters that I wish had been better developed, but the ones that were most important to the story were exceptional, so I can overlook those about whom I was curious!
Perry - the central character - is such a strong young woman who knows herself and holds her own. I wish more novels had female characters as strong and realistic as she is.
There were a couple of loose threads that I wish had been tightened up a bit, but given the sheer volume to be addressed, I think the author did an excellent job with tidying up the plot.
This was a thrilling read and I will definitely be checking out more of this author's works. (Honestly, I wish there were more about this world - I think there's a lot left to mine when it comes to these worlds, the themes, and some of the more mysterious characters).
I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
The character development is very well-executed, which I think demonstrates the author's clear skill as the protagonists travel between worlds. There are a couple of characters that I wish had been better developed, but the ones that were most important to the story were exceptional, so I can overlook those about whom I was curious!
Perry - the central character - is such a strong young woman who knows herself and holds her own. I wish more novels had female characters as strong and realistic as she is.
There were a couple of loose threads that I wish had been tightened up a bit, but given the sheer volume to be addressed, I think the author did an excellent job with tidying up the plot.
This was a thrilling read and I will definitely be checking out more of this author's works. (Honestly, I wish there were more about this world - I think there's a lot left to mine when it comes to these worlds, the themes, and some of the more mysterious characters).
I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
August 29, 2018
After having increasingly vivid and exhausting dreams, Peregrine “Perry” discovers that she is a Shifter who can exist in multiple versions of reality. With the assistance of her older brother Evan and his friend Max, Perry begins to learn how to control this newly discovered ability. Then, out of nowhere, tragedy strikes and Peregrine finds herself on a journey full of adventure, pain, and, of course, love.
Perry is stubborn, full of sarcasm and definitely has a “flair for the dramatic”. Like many female leads in YA, she just doesn’t know what she has...until she loses it. However, she still comes off as very human instead of like a stereotype. Ezra however, is the stereotypical older sibling. He’s super overprotective of his little sister and 100% enjoys teasing her pretty much whenever the opportunity arises. The banter between the two is remarkably realistic. Max came off as a bit of a cliché to me, unfortunately. He has a weird hero complex that is constantly competing with this “I’m a nobody” mentality thing that I found annoying. Secondary characters like Aunt Jess, Nalya, and Kellen were far more interesting to me than Max was. I did adore how nerdy he was though. (also a huge fan of the different types of nerdiness that most of the characters represented) That leaves Thaelia. Oh my goodness did I enjoy her. I would absolutely read a book just from her point of view. She is equally as stubborn as Perry and seems to be the only one who matches her snarkiness. Her apathetic way of caring makes it easy to believe that she is a very old creature.
The concept of this story was what attracted me to it and I still think it is one of the more interesting ideas I have come across this year. Unfortunately, it comes off as if this main idea for the book was not fully thought out. Whenever something pops up in the story that really needs explanation, all you (and Perry) get is “It’s complicated”. This was my biggest annoyance with this book. I also was not a fan of just how fast it moved (I know, a weird, rare complaint.) The characters are never given time to breathe and fully deal with what is going on. Something important happens and we just move on. For me, this took away from the impact that these events should have had.
Regardless of the multiple annoyances and flaws, I did enjoy Shift. The end left off in a way that, yeah, could totally be a standalone or could also become a series. I was also left with many questions (most of which had to deal with Kellen and Nalya) and how Ezra’s fate impacts other realities...but I’m guessing it’s complicated.
*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Perry is stubborn, full of sarcasm and definitely has a “flair for the dramatic”. Like many female leads in YA, she just doesn’t know what she has...until she loses it. However, she still comes off as very human instead of like a stereotype. Ezra however, is the stereotypical older sibling. He’s super overprotective of his little sister and 100% enjoys teasing her pretty much whenever the opportunity arises. The banter between the two is remarkably realistic. Max came off as a bit of a cliché to me, unfortunately. He has a weird hero complex that is constantly competing with this “I’m a nobody” mentality thing that I found annoying. Secondary characters like Aunt Jess, Nalya, and Kellen were far more interesting to me than Max was. I did adore how nerdy he was though. (also a huge fan of the different types of nerdiness that most of the characters represented) That leaves Thaelia. Oh my goodness did I enjoy her. I would absolutely read a book just from her point of view. She is equally as stubborn as Perry and seems to be the only one who matches her snarkiness. Her apathetic way of caring makes it easy to believe that she is a very old creature.
The concept of this story was what attracted me to it and I still think it is one of the more interesting ideas I have come across this year. Unfortunately, it comes off as if this main idea for the book was not fully thought out. Whenever something pops up in the story that really needs explanation, all you (and Perry) get is “It’s complicated”. This was my biggest annoyance with this book. I also was not a fan of just how fast it moved (I know, a weird, rare complaint.) The characters are never given time to breathe and fully deal with what is going on. Something important happens and we just move on. For me, this took away from the impact that these events should have had.
Regardless of the multiple annoyances and flaws, I did enjoy Shift. The end left off in a way that, yeah, could totally be a standalone or could also become a series. I was also left with many questions (most of which had to deal with Kellen and Nalya) and how Ezra’s fate impacts other realities...but I’m guessing it’s complicated.
*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2018
I enjoyed this! It's a neat twist on idea of multiverses, though that's more of a backdrop to the main story, which is about the characters and what they're willing to do for those they love.
The characters are interesting across the board, from main character Perry all the way to self-absorbed Kellen and mysterious-and-possibly-deranged Thaelia. Perry does get stuck in "I'm mad and will dig myself into a hole" mode quite a bit, but it's not too bad. The relationships between the characters are well-done and you find yourself rooting for them throughout.
The multiverse is also very cool, an excuse to use every setting you can think of under the sun with good reason. The rules for Shifting (especially from a Heliador point of view) aren't always clear, but that's not a bad thing.
Overall an enjoyable and solid book with great characters, great relationships, and cool worldbuilding. I'd recommend it.
The characters are interesting across the board, from main character Perry all the way to self-absorbed Kellen and mysterious-and-possibly-deranged Thaelia. Perry does get stuck in "I'm mad and will dig myself into a hole" mode quite a bit, but it's not too bad. The relationships between the characters are well-done and you find yourself rooting for them throughout.
The multiverse is also very cool, an excuse to use every setting you can think of under the sun with good reason. The rules for Shifting (especially from a Heliador point of view) aren't always clear, but that's not a bad thing.
Overall an enjoyable and solid book with great characters, great relationships, and cool worldbuilding. I'd recommend it.
August 21, 2018
What a fun read! I don’t read too much science fiction but this felt very fantasy and I love that, so it worked for me!
Our protagonist is a very spunky and sarcastic girl. At times I thought the sarcasm could use a break and just about then she would be serious for a minute. Great timing there. I do love her personality and the other characters too. I might have a book boyfriend in Max. What a dreamy character. In love and loyal to the end. Ahhh it makes my heart flutter and that’s rare.
There is some jumping around in the first few chapters but I followed along with no problems. It’s how she must have felt, jumping from alternate world to alternate world, also known as Scapes. A little hard for her to accept at first but in time she can’t deny it’s real.
It was a great read and I would be interested in a sequel. The ending is wrapped up nicely I just want more adventures now that everyone knows what’s going on, me and the characters!
Our protagonist is a very spunky and sarcastic girl. At times I thought the sarcasm could use a break and just about then she would be serious for a minute. Great timing there. I do love her personality and the other characters too. I might have a book boyfriend in Max. What a dreamy character. In love and loyal to the end. Ahhh it makes my heart flutter and that’s rare.
There is some jumping around in the first few chapters but I followed along with no problems. It’s how she must have felt, jumping from alternate world to alternate world, also known as Scapes. A little hard for her to accept at first but in time she can’t deny it’s real.
It was a great read and I would be interested in a sequel. The ending is wrapped up nicely I just want more adventures now that everyone knows what’s going on, me and the characters!
October 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, there was a surprise on every page which kept me on my toes and made it so that I needed to find out what happened next. I liked all the characters and felt like I knew all of them personally by the end of the book. I laughed and I cried at some of the sad scenes. One thing that kept nagging at me though was throughout the whole book the story reminded me of something familiar and it took me most of the book to figure it out. This book reminds me of a TV show I used to watch when I was kid: Quantum Leap.
I received this book from For Love of a Book group ARC reads.
I received this book from For Love of a Book group ARC reads.
July 14, 2018
Fantastic story with an original plot.
A little slow to start, with the jumping around from ‘dream’ to ‘dream’, but once passed that a very good read.
I loved that the protagonist didn’t immediately fall in love with the hero like in most stories of this type.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
A little slow to start, with the jumping around from ‘dream’ to ‘dream’, but once passed that a very good read.
I loved that the protagonist didn’t immediately fall in love with the hero like in most stories of this type.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
"I received an ARC copy of this book."
What a fantastic read. This book was so different. Had a strong female lead. She was smart and funny. I love when the FMC doesn't take any crap from anyone. Also loved Max. You have to read it to hear about him *sigh*.. let's just say I love nerdy. I just really loved this book.
What a fantastic read. This book was so different. Had a strong female lead. She was smart and funny. I love when the FMC doesn't take any crap from anyone. Also loved Max. You have to read it to hear about him *sigh*.. let's just say I love nerdy. I just really loved this book.
August 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept of the dream world that Perry has is intertwined with the waking world.
June 26, 2018
This book was SOOO addicting!
George manages to transport you to a whole new world where Perry, a shifter, can transport into different dimensions. Yet when tragedy strikes while in one, she must enlist some help along the way in order to save someone she cares about.
The writing in this book is so witty and ironic and hilarious, that I was seriously laughing aloud through the whole book. Perry is a very likable protagonist. I literally could not wait to hear what comes out of her mouth next because it was always more entertaining than the last. The other main characters of this novel are equally entertaining.
I could not put this book down, I had to keep reading in order to find out what happened next. And boy, did this book deliver!! The plot line is intricate and intriguing and hooks you from the beginning. Nothing of this book is short of creative and amazing!
I will be recommending this masterpiece to all of my friends and checking out her other novels ASAP because I'm totally sold on this author after Shift!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
George manages to transport you to a whole new world where Perry, a shifter, can transport into different dimensions. Yet when tragedy strikes while in one, she must enlist some help along the way in order to save someone she cares about.
The writing in this book is so witty and ironic and hilarious, that I was seriously laughing aloud through the whole book. Perry is a very likable protagonist. I literally could not wait to hear what comes out of her mouth next because it was always more entertaining than the last. The other main characters of this novel are equally entertaining.
I could not put this book down, I had to keep reading in order to find out what happened next. And boy, did this book deliver!! The plot line is intricate and intriguing and hooks you from the beginning. Nothing of this book is short of creative and amazing!
I will be recommending this masterpiece to all of my friends and checking out her other novels ASAP because I'm totally sold on this author after Shift!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2018
Meet Perry, one teenage girl with a vivid dreamlife. Until the reality hits that her dreams aren’t really dreams at all, but alternate realities in which she lives. M.A.George hits it out of the ballpark with this fantasy/scifi book that brings into question all of our realities. Are we really dreaming or are we visiting another Scape that we inhabit.
It’s a crazy concept, but one that George handles with ease. Perry’s primary locale is right there in Oregon where she lives with her crazy Aunt Jessamine. Her brother Ezra lives not far away on campus at Oregon State. Perry thinks she just has these life-like dreams that keep her sleepwalking through her days, but suddenly, it comes to her that she’s not just dreaming.
The title of the book gives away the concept here. Perry is “shifting” through different worlds. She’s not the only one who can do it, but there are plenty in every world who can’t. Like learning a new language, Perry struggles to grasp these concepts. When something tragic happens in one of her Scapes, she doesn’t have time to ease into the Shifting. This tragedy has to be rectified quickly.
George’s dialogue flows easily through the story. I found her descriptions of the different worlds captivating. The alternate realities are everything from caveman to space age. Fascinating yet familiar, everything is so well described that it’s easy to picture each place that Perry visits. I’d liken this book to traveling with the Doctor. You’re going to see a lot of new and fantastic things.
Loved this book. Truly hoping that it doesn’t end at this one, because I can see where this world will lend itself to many future books in the multiverse. Perry and Max are both very likable protagonists. I’m wondering where they will end up next.
It’s a crazy concept, but one that George handles with ease. Perry’s primary locale is right there in Oregon where she lives with her crazy Aunt Jessamine. Her brother Ezra lives not far away on campus at Oregon State. Perry thinks she just has these life-like dreams that keep her sleepwalking through her days, but suddenly, it comes to her that she’s not just dreaming.
The title of the book gives away the concept here. Perry is “shifting” through different worlds. She’s not the only one who can do it, but there are plenty in every world who can’t. Like learning a new language, Perry struggles to grasp these concepts. When something tragic happens in one of her Scapes, she doesn’t have time to ease into the Shifting. This tragedy has to be rectified quickly.
George’s dialogue flows easily through the story. I found her descriptions of the different worlds captivating. The alternate realities are everything from caveman to space age. Fascinating yet familiar, everything is so well described that it’s easy to picture each place that Perry visits. I’d liken this book to traveling with the Doctor. You’re going to see a lot of new and fantastic things.
Loved this book. Truly hoping that it doesn’t end at this one, because I can see where this world will lend itself to many future books in the multiverse. Perry and Max are both very likable protagonists. I’m wondering where they will end up next.
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