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Hourglass Door #1
The Hourglass Door
His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?
Abby's senior year of high school is textbook perfect, until she meets Dante Alexander, a foreign-exchange student from Italy. Time behaves differently when they are together - too fast or slow or seeming to stop.
When the band Zero Hour performs at the local hangout, they have a bizarre influence over their audience, and Abby's best friend, Valerie, is caught in their snare. Dante helped Leonardo Da Vinci build a time machine, then was sent 500+ years into the future as punishment when falsely accused of being a traitor. As past and present collide, Abby learns she holds a special power over time itself.
Abby's senior year of high school is textbook perfect, until she meets Dante Alexander, a foreign-exchange student from Italy. Time behaves differently when they are together - too fast or slow or seeming to stop.
When the band Zero Hour performs at the local hangout, they have a bizarre influence over their audience, and Abby's best friend, Valerie, is caught in their snare. Dante helped Leonardo Da Vinci build a time machine, then was sent 500+ years into the future as punishment when falsely accused of being a traitor. As past and present collide, Abby learns she holds a special power over time itself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2009
132 people are currently reading
10683 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Mangum
28 books897 followersLisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997.
Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello.
Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,867 reviews
October 5, 2009
Average teen drawn to mysterious, beautiful, dangerous guy who just happens to be basically immortal ... sound familiar? This read very much like Twilight -- especially in the beginning -- but I was pleased to find that a) the characters weren't annoying (oops ... sorry Twilight fans) and b) the storyline was better, smarter (what do you expect with all the references to Shakespeare and Dante's Inferno?)
And it probably says something that I could hardly put this book down, even from the first page. Totally readable and very well written (loved the word choice throughout, but wow, the prologue was downright lyrical).
My complaints? Hopefully this isn't too much of a spoiler (but seriously, the book is called The Hourglass Door): this book deals with time travel -- and any stories with time travel in them leave me with the feeling that my brain's going to explode trying to contemplate the paradoxes associated with it. And secondly (and this was a beef I had with Twilight, too), what's with all the teenage girls going for the dangerous guys? And what's with all the kissing?? (Yeah, I am so not a teenage girl, am I?)
Also, a warning: you are going to want to pick up the sequel immediately after reading this, and you won't be able to get it until summer 2010. Where's that time machine when you need it??
And it probably says something that I could hardly put this book down, even from the first page. Totally readable and very well written (loved the word choice throughout, but wow, the prologue was downright lyrical).
My complaints? Hopefully this isn't too much of a spoiler (but seriously, the book is called The Hourglass Door): this book deals with time travel -- and any stories with time travel in them leave me with the feeling that my brain's going to explode trying to contemplate the paradoxes associated with it. And secondly (and this was a beef I had with Twilight, too), what's with all the teenage girls going for the dangerous guys? And what's with all the kissing?? (Yeah, I am so not a teenage girl, am I?)
Also, a warning: you are going to want to pick up the sequel immediately after reading this, and you won't be able to get it until summer 2010. Where's that time machine when you need it??
April 4, 2009
While the plot was intriguing and kept me interested in reading to find out what happens, the character development was poor and I was not emotionally attached to any of the characters. I'm not even sure what the main character looked like really.
December 12, 2012
I absolutely loved The Hourglass Door! This is, obviously, the first novel I've ever read by Lisa Mangum and I don't hesitate to say that she, along with many others, has a beautiful talent. Her writing it wonderful! Although she started the book with the writing style that I typically try to stay away from, I was instantly captivated. I had been told that this particular writing style could be quite effective when used correctly and add more emphasis to a story. This is the first time I've ever found that to be true.
Lisa Mangum has crafted a beautifully, unforgettable novel full of love and mystery.
This is easily one of my favorite books. The plot was wonderfully balanced between action, mystery, and love. There were times when she'd begin to reveal something and you'd be able to guess exactly what it was, but only moments before you read the revelation a few lines later. I found that so....smart. Instead of leaving the reader wondering the whole time, she'd bring something up and just as you guess what the answer is, boom. You read it. I don't know if she did that to play to her strengths or not but I think it was smart.
I really enjoyed reading how Abby and Dante fall in love. For the first 200 pages or so, he comes so close but pulls away from Abby. You can literally feel how close they are to falling in love. The final moment is kept tantalizingly close yet so far at the same time. It was beautifully done. This is possibly by far, the best romance novel I've ever read.
Lisa Mangum has crafted a beautifully, unforgettable novel full of love and mystery.
This is easily one of my favorite books. The plot was wonderfully balanced between action, mystery, and love. There were times when she'd begin to reveal something and you'd be able to guess exactly what it was, but only moments before you read the revelation a few lines later. I found that so....smart. Instead of leaving the reader wondering the whole time, she'd bring something up and just as you guess what the answer is, boom. You read it. I don't know if she did that to play to her strengths or not but I think it was smart.
I really enjoyed reading how Abby and Dante fall in love. For the first 200 pages or so, he comes so close but pulls away from Abby. You can literally feel how close they are to falling in love. The final moment is kept tantalizingly close yet so far at the same time. It was beautifully done. This is possibly by far, the best romance novel I've ever read.
November 16, 2025
The Hourglass Door is a really amazing book. Mangum has a really beautiful way of writing, flowing like, with beautiful imagery and choice of words; it was magical. The plot is so intricate, every little detail thought out perfectly. Her plot and base to the story was well thought out. It just kind of befuddles me. Not her writing, but the concept itself. Time is interesting, and trying to explain what time is and how it works is a hard feat. But Lisa Mangum does so with an amazing ability. She explains thoroughly the concept of time and how it works, and instead of leaving me utterly confused and making my brain hurt from trying to understand it all, I felt like it’s real, and completely believable, and makes me anxious to learn more about it. The way she writes and explains things flow together in a slow harmonized effect that wrapped around me, and held me in a peaceful, blissful, captivation. A beautiful, brilliant read.
August 9, 2011
To be very honest with you all, I had to force my way through this book. The book just took too long to get going – I was more than halfway through it before I thought to myself “what is supposed to be happening here?” Here’s a breakdown of some of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
The Bad: * Like I said before, it took way too long to get going. For a paranormal/sci-fi book, there was too much time spent on our main character’s (Abby) normal life. I wanted to read a book about time travel, not about random teenagers.
* Also, I had no emotional connections to the characters. I never felt bad for the one character that goes insane; I didn’t hate the bad guys or feel sorry for the good ones. Altogether, I just couldn’t relate to the characters…and therefore, felt no investment in their lives.
The Good: * I would say that the only saving grace for this novel is the main male character, Dante. His old-school way of speaking, interesting personality and romantic nature are the only reason I kept reading this novel. Still, as much as I wanted to fall in love with him, it just wasn’t there for me.
The Ugly: *Lisa Mangum’s way of writing is filled with an insane amount of similes that not only distract you from the story, but don’t really help in the actual descriptions. A smile can only be “as full as blushing rosebuds” or eyes can only be “staring into you like dandelions in the wind” before enough is enough.
Now, I know that there are many people who really enjoyed this book. I’m happy that you found it entertaining and fun, but as for me this book just didn’t cut it. I also understand that there are other books out there that don’t have the best writing (ahem...Twilight), but at least those books have such a great story line, that you don’t even think about the writing. The story in The Hourglass Door just wasn’t great enough for me to overlook the writing or the slow storyline.
The Bad: * Like I said before, it took way too long to get going. For a paranormal/sci-fi book, there was too much time spent on our main character’s (Abby) normal life. I wanted to read a book about time travel, not about random teenagers.
* Also, I had no emotional connections to the characters. I never felt bad for the one character that goes insane; I didn’t hate the bad guys or feel sorry for the good ones. Altogether, I just couldn’t relate to the characters…and therefore, felt no investment in their lives.
The Good: * I would say that the only saving grace for this novel is the main male character, Dante. His old-school way of speaking, interesting personality and romantic nature are the only reason I kept reading this novel. Still, as much as I wanted to fall in love with him, it just wasn’t there for me.
The Ugly: *Lisa Mangum’s way of writing is filled with an insane amount of similes that not only distract you from the story, but don’t really help in the actual descriptions. A smile can only be “as full as blushing rosebuds” or eyes can only be “staring into you like dandelions in the wind” before enough is enough.
Now, I know that there are many people who really enjoyed this book. I’m happy that you found it entertaining and fun, but as for me this book just didn’t cut it. I also understand that there are other books out there that don’t have the best writing (ahem...Twilight), but at least those books have such a great story line, that you don’t even think about the writing. The story in The Hourglass Door just wasn’t great enough for me to overlook the writing or the slow storyline.
June 25, 2011
SECOND READ: 6/25/11
Re-reading before starting the last book in the trilogy. There was so much in this part of the story that I forgot about. And it was fun to catch little bits that I missed the first time around, especially now that I know a bit more about the story and can pick out hints and clues and understand things that Abby didn't yet. Now on to THE GOLDEN SPIRAL!
FIRST READ: 8/9/09
Wow! WOW! I really liked this book ... dare I say that I LOVED it? The beginning was a bit slow, so I guess I can't quite go that far. It wasn't boring, it just took a while to introduce everyone and get the story set up. But because of the prologue I was very intrigued to keep going. I was sufficiently hooked by Page 100 (thanks to a wonderful 1-hour pedicure), deeply invested by Page 200, and completely unable to put the book down by Page 300.
I know there are no "new" stories to be told, but this one felt very fresh and unique. I've been reading A LOT of YA and I just haven't come across a story/mythos quite like this one yet. I don't even know how to describe it ... urban fantasy? historical? sci-fi? paranormal? contemporary? I can't wait for the next 2 books in the series to know how the story ends! Dante & Abby are fantastic!
This book definitely ends on a cliff-hanger, so be warned.
If you've read this book I'd love to know what you think of the prologue ... did you re-read it after finishing the book? I have some ideas on what some of it might mean but I won't write my ideas here yet.
Re-reading before starting the last book in the trilogy. There was so much in this part of the story that I forgot about. And it was fun to catch little bits that I missed the first time around, especially now that I know a bit more about the story and can pick out hints and clues and understand things that Abby didn't yet. Now on to THE GOLDEN SPIRAL!
FIRST READ: 8/9/09
Wow! WOW! I really liked this book ... dare I say that I LOVED it? The beginning was a bit slow, so I guess I can't quite go that far. It wasn't boring, it just took a while to introduce everyone and get the story set up. But because of the prologue I was very intrigued to keep going. I was sufficiently hooked by Page 100 (thanks to a wonderful 1-hour pedicure), deeply invested by Page 200, and completely unable to put the book down by Page 300.
I know there are no "new" stories to be told, but this one felt very fresh and unique. I've been reading A LOT of YA and I just haven't come across a story/mythos quite like this one yet. I don't even know how to describe it ... urban fantasy? historical? sci-fi? paranormal? contemporary? I can't wait for the next 2 books in the series to know how the story ends! Dante & Abby are fantastic!
This book definitely ends on a cliff-hanger, so be warned.
If you've read this book I'd love to know what you think of the prologue ... did you re-read it after finishing the book? I have some ideas on what some of it might mean but I won't write my ideas here yet.
April 4, 2012
I read this book incredibly fast, but unfortunately it was because I was taking the "quick like a band-aid" approach to finishing it. I thought the internal dialogue of the main character was juvenile and obnoxious. The plot was bizarre, and not even the romance was enough to keep me entertained. I'm usually very easy to please when it comes to wanting to read a "mindless entertainment" book, but this fell so short that I will not be reading the sequels.
July 4, 2019
1.5 stars rounded to 1.
Aside from creepy teachers who face no repercussions, a cardboard cutout for a main character, a third of the book being unnecessary, and a plot that was either badly explained or actually made no sense, this book was mildly entertaining so I couldn’t just give it one star and added in the .5 stars.
Let’s talk about the #1 problem. In chapter 2 (or something like that) Dave, the high school theatre director, is frustrated with his students who are too scared to do a stage kiss. To “solve” this problem he kisses Abby, the main character and the assistant director who’s also in HIGH SCHOOL. He apparently does this to show that stage kisses don’t mean anything?? But right afterward the students only laugh and the only thing Abby cares about is the fact that her first kiss was with Dave. Um, excuse me??? Dave is a full-grown man who is your TEACHER. HE SHOULD BE FIRED. But nothing happens and he doesn’t lose his job. I’ll probably be killing him myself I guess.
Speaking of kissing, Jason’s character is so unbelievable. I mean I get it, there are people who are very meticulous in their planning and just don’t like surprises. But to the point that after dating this girl for a year he won’t kiss her until just before midnight on their birthday?? I’m sorry but I don’t know anyone who once they have the titles “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” wait a whole YEAR to kiss each other. Additionally, Abby kinda low-key cheated on Jason with Dante? Like maybe she didn’t kiss him or whatever, but she TOTALLY went on a date with him (working breakfast whatever all you did at that breakfast was flirt) and didn’t even TRY to stop herself from flirting with him. Like, being attracted to him, whatever. But you have to decide which boy you’re going to like and I’d be much more mad at her than Jason was.
But also, why do boys in YA fiction have to taste like something when they kiss?? Like really?? At least it’s not like Red Queen where Cal tastes like “salt and ash” or something disgusting like that, but why Dante be tasting like cinnamon? Does he eat some snickerdoodles or something before eating her?? Does anyone else question this?
(Kind of unrelated, but when Abby still likes Jason she smells him and says something about how his scents are “sweat and leather” or “sweat and sawdust.” I’m not really sure but apparently he always smells like sweat and that’s really gross and why does she like that)
Getting off of relationships, literally almost a third of the book is unnecessary. I could EASILY cut out almost a third of the book and probably no one would notice. It takes way too long for the main action to start (like the plot finally starts 4/6 of the way through the book and the majority of what came before could just not happen).
Did anyone understand the time machine?? I sure didn’t. # I’m looking at you Lisa mangum. MAYBE it gets better explained in later books, but this time machine made in RENAISSANCE Italy would not logically be made with science or whatever, it needs to be magic. Where’s the magical explanation? I sure don’t see it. The whole thing with the door was really weird and I don’t understand. Also, WHAT MAKES ABBY SO SPECIAL?? Maybe it’s explained later (won’t be reading later lol), but I feel like she’s just a normal annoying teenage girl (I am a teenage girl and every teenager is annoying don’t @ me) Zero Hour was evil but like, why? I know that what they did to Valerie was pretty messed up, but they just kinda wanna be normal people. Why don’t we help them??
And then the end. Dante gives Abby the instructions on how to build another time machine. What??? I thought this whole problem existed because y’all messed with the time river thing and now you gave a probably emotionally unstable teen the power to this? And then a heckin teenage boy is supposed to build it??? It seems like a time machine should be much harder to build than that. But Dante also asks Abby to come back in time to him. I mean I guess there’s nothing wrong in offering her an invitation to do so, but why does she accept?? “Oh, she’s in love.” Whatever. She’s a TEENAGE girl who likes this guy for three months at MOST. Some teenagers find the person they’re going to marry, but certainly not most. Even if they do, there are multiple people who you can love, you just find the one you like best and when they one you like best is currently living in 1400s Italy, it seems to me that you move on and continue living with the people you’ve known since you were born and have been friends with for so much longer than three months. Maybe you’d do it, but 0/10 just the fact that I’m a woman is enough to make me not want to go back to the 1400s—not to mention my family and friends (AND GOOGLE—I WOULD DIE).
(But also, do y’all remember that part where Dante destroyed that beautiful mask that Amanda probably spent HOURS making? I do and that was a 0/10 don’t care how mad/sad/whatever you are, you respect that piece of art someone created for you >:()
Aside from creepy teachers who face no repercussions, a cardboard cutout for a main character, a third of the book being unnecessary, and a plot that was either badly explained or actually made no sense, this book was mildly entertaining so I couldn’t just give it one star and added in the .5 stars.
Let’s talk about the #1 problem. In chapter 2 (or something like that) Dave, the high school theatre director, is frustrated with his students who are too scared to do a stage kiss. To “solve” this problem he kisses Abby, the main character and the assistant director who’s also in HIGH SCHOOL. He apparently does this to show that stage kisses don’t mean anything?? But right afterward the students only laugh and the only thing Abby cares about is the fact that her first kiss was with Dave. Um, excuse me??? Dave is a full-grown man who is your TEACHER. HE SHOULD BE FIRED. But nothing happens and he doesn’t lose his job. I’ll probably be killing him myself I guess.
Speaking of kissing, Jason’s character is so unbelievable. I mean I get it, there are people who are very meticulous in their planning and just don’t like surprises. But to the point that after dating this girl for a year he won’t kiss her until just before midnight on their birthday?? I’m sorry but I don’t know anyone who once they have the titles “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” wait a whole YEAR to kiss each other. Additionally, Abby kinda low-key cheated on Jason with Dante? Like maybe she didn’t kiss him or whatever, but she TOTALLY went on a date with him (working breakfast whatever all you did at that breakfast was flirt) and didn’t even TRY to stop herself from flirting with him. Like, being attracted to him, whatever. But you have to decide which boy you’re going to like and I’d be much more mad at her than Jason was.
But also, why do boys in YA fiction have to taste like something when they kiss?? Like really?? At least it’s not like Red Queen where Cal tastes like “salt and ash” or something disgusting like that, but why Dante be tasting like cinnamon? Does he eat some snickerdoodles or something before eating her?? Does anyone else question this?
(Kind of unrelated, but when Abby still likes Jason she smells him and says something about how his scents are “sweat and leather” or “sweat and sawdust.” I’m not really sure but apparently he always smells like sweat and that’s really gross and why does she like that)
Getting off of relationships, literally almost a third of the book is unnecessary. I could EASILY cut out almost a third of the book and probably no one would notice. It takes way too long for the main action to start (like the plot finally starts 4/6 of the way through the book and the majority of what came before could just not happen).
Did anyone understand the time machine?? I sure didn’t. # I’m looking at you Lisa mangum. MAYBE it gets better explained in later books, but this time machine made in RENAISSANCE Italy would not logically be made with science or whatever, it needs to be magic. Where’s the magical explanation? I sure don’t see it. The whole thing with the door was really weird and I don’t understand. Also, WHAT MAKES ABBY SO SPECIAL?? Maybe it’s explained later (won’t be reading later lol), but I feel like she’s just a normal annoying teenage girl (I am a teenage girl and every teenager is annoying don’t @ me) Zero Hour was evil but like, why? I know that what they did to Valerie was pretty messed up, but they just kinda wanna be normal people. Why don’t we help them??
And then the end. Dante gives Abby the instructions on how to build another time machine. What??? I thought this whole problem existed because y’all messed with the time river thing and now you gave a probably emotionally unstable teen the power to this? And then a heckin teenage boy is supposed to build it??? It seems like a time machine should be much harder to build than that. But Dante also asks Abby to come back in time to him. I mean I guess there’s nothing wrong in offering her an invitation to do so, but why does she accept?? “Oh, she’s in love.” Whatever. She’s a TEENAGE girl who likes this guy for three months at MOST. Some teenagers find the person they’re going to marry, but certainly not most. Even if they do, there are multiple people who you can love, you just find the one you like best and when they one you like best is currently living in 1400s Italy, it seems to me that you move on and continue living with the people you’ve known since you were born and have been friends with for so much longer than three months. Maybe you’d do it, but 0/10 just the fact that I’m a woman is enough to make me not want to go back to the 1400s—not to mention my family and friends (AND GOOGLE—I WOULD DIE).
(But also, do y’all remember that part where Dante destroyed that beautiful mask that Amanda probably spent HOURS making? I do and that was a 0/10 don’t care how mad/sad/whatever you are, you respect that piece of art someone created for you >:()
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2009
Okay, so I had been told that this one was going to be the next big “Twilight.” Please, please, please do not allow yourself to make comparisons if you want to enjoy this book. I am sure that particular spurious rumor originated from the coincidence that one of the main characters is a handsome seemingly 17 year old boy who is actually several hundred years old and immortal (oh, and by the way, he might harm the mortal girl he loves if he is not careful around her). I’ll admit, it sounds a little too familiar. Aside from this obvious connection, most of the storyline is quite original and has more to do with time travel than vampires. (In fact, there is not a single vampire appearance in the book!)
I could tell from the first page of the prologue that I would enjoy the writer’s sense of humor. However, I was a little worried at the choppy and disjointed flow in the prologue. This is quickly overcome in the first chapter. The story is quickly paced and engaging. The emotions are a little over the top and melodramatic at times (even the main guy gets a little overly sulky at times). But, hey, it’s teenagers. I even overcame my annoyance with the sarcastic banter between teenage friends which was all too realistic.
I have to admit that I generally do not like stories that make me want the main character to ditch her current established relationship for a suddenly new, hot exotic guy in town. And since this one starts off that way, I had to make myself keep reading with hope that the resolution would be acceptable. And for me, it was. The new, exotic guy would have been more appealing to me if I had not watched “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” with my kids. The seemingly sincere, Italian, romantic heartthrob was many times revolting to me because of my predisposed loathing for that type of character. But, I think most readers would probably just swoon over him without reserve.
I generally liked the author’s style of writing with her continual descriptive metaphors. However, despite how impressed I was at the imagery, at times there were so many metaphors that they seemed superfluous and actually slowed the pace of the plot. I also occasionally came across passages that had unclear innuendo and found myself rereading pages several times before things clicked. Although most of what makes this book captivating is its mysticism, I found the explanation too drawn out. There are small clues along the way that seemed intentionally vague. (…perhaps to encourage foreshadowing?) I longed for answers to why the mysterious guy from the past was there, how the band members controlled people, exactly how the time warp works, and why it is that touching Abby in the beginning freezes her time but doesn’t later. These are not revealed in detail until the end and could have been exposed earlier without distracting from the action of the plot.
The ending was agonizing and did not turn out exactly how I had hoped. However, book two seems to imply that the issues I had with the ending will be resolved eventually. Overall, this was an enjoyable, worthwhile read. I give it 3 1/2 stars.
I could tell from the first page of the prologue that I would enjoy the writer’s sense of humor. However, I was a little worried at the choppy and disjointed flow in the prologue. This is quickly overcome in the first chapter. The story is quickly paced and engaging. The emotions are a little over the top and melodramatic at times (even the main guy gets a little overly sulky at times). But, hey, it’s teenagers. I even overcame my annoyance with the sarcastic banter between teenage friends which was all too realistic.
I have to admit that I generally do not like stories that make me want the main character to ditch her current established relationship for a suddenly new, hot exotic guy in town. And since this one starts off that way, I had to make myself keep reading with hope that the resolution would be acceptable. And for me, it was. The new, exotic guy would have been more appealing to me if I had not watched “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” with my kids. The seemingly sincere, Italian, romantic heartthrob was many times revolting to me because of my predisposed loathing for that type of character. But, I think most readers would probably just swoon over him without reserve.
I generally liked the author’s style of writing with her continual descriptive metaphors. However, despite how impressed I was at the imagery, at times there were so many metaphors that they seemed superfluous and actually slowed the pace of the plot. I also occasionally came across passages that had unclear innuendo and found myself rereading pages several times before things clicked. Although most of what makes this book captivating is its mysticism, I found the explanation too drawn out. There are small clues along the way that seemed intentionally vague. (…perhaps to encourage foreshadowing?) I longed for answers to why the mysterious guy from the past was there, how the band members controlled people, exactly how the time warp works, and why it is that touching Abby in the beginning freezes her time but doesn’t later. These are not revealed in detail until the end and could have been exposed earlier without distracting from the action of the plot.
The ending was agonizing and did not turn out exactly how I had hoped. However, book two seems to imply that the issues I had with the ending will be resolved eventually. Overall, this was an enjoyable, worthwhile read. I give it 3 1/2 stars.
May 26, 2010
Decent debut effort w/room for more
In Lisa Magnum's debut novel, The Hourglass Door, Abby is in her final year of high school with everything in place - a dependable boyfriend, two best friends, and an assistant director position for the school play. Inside, though, she's itching for more. After alluring Italian exchange student Dante walks into her life, things begin to change. Time stops, literally, when Abby is with Dante, and he has many secrets (days-long disappearances, gloves around his wrists all the time) that may put both of them in mortal danger.
Magnum's writing was easily readable, and the story centers on an original concept for a paranormal romance that includes historical and inventive components (no wolves, vampires, zombies, or fallen angels here). The story arc was interesting, and pacing was pretty good. The first half of the book depicts a strong net of family and supportive characters for the main character, Abby, which is often not seen in other books.
However, character development wasn't nearly as strong. The two main characters, Abby and Dante, were likeable, but I didn't love them or their romance. The familiar set-up of a good girl being drawn to a threatening guy was similar to almost all other paranormal romances. Side characters seemed like caricatures after the first half of the book, and character inconsistencies in behavior cropped up. In the writing, some phrases and descriptions became noticeably repetitive. Though the language and actions in the book were very clean, which many people may like, the characters' dialogue sometimes suffered for it by seeming fake. Despite these clean parameters, there's also one action between a student and a teacher that I couldn't believe could happen without repercussions. Some inconsistencies or unexplained portions of the supernatural events and their mythology provided plot holes. The ending was fairly conclusive, but there was an obvious set-up for a sequel, which left things feeling somewhat unfinished.
In all, this was a decent debut novel from Magnum with a unique concept for a typical young adult paranormal romance. Though I didn't think about the book much after I closed the cover, I plan to check out the sequel, The Golden Spiral (Book 2 in the Hourglass Door Trilogy), when it comes to the library. I'd like to see where Magnum takes the mythology and the relationships between Abby, Dante, and the other characters.
In Lisa Magnum's debut novel, The Hourglass Door, Abby is in her final year of high school with everything in place - a dependable boyfriend, two best friends, and an assistant director position for the school play. Inside, though, she's itching for more. After alluring Italian exchange student Dante walks into her life, things begin to change. Time stops, literally, when Abby is with Dante, and he has many secrets (days-long disappearances, gloves around his wrists all the time) that may put both of them in mortal danger.
Magnum's writing was easily readable, and the story centers on an original concept for a paranormal romance that includes historical and inventive components (no wolves, vampires, zombies, or fallen angels here). The story arc was interesting, and pacing was pretty good. The first half of the book depicts a strong net of family and supportive characters for the main character, Abby, which is often not seen in other books.
However, character development wasn't nearly as strong. The two main characters, Abby and Dante, were likeable, but I didn't love them or their romance. The familiar set-up of a good girl being drawn to a threatening guy was similar to almost all other paranormal romances. Side characters seemed like caricatures after the first half of the book, and character inconsistencies in behavior cropped up. In the writing, some phrases and descriptions became noticeably repetitive. Though the language and actions in the book were very clean, which many people may like, the characters' dialogue sometimes suffered for it by seeming fake. Despite these clean parameters, there's also one action between a student and a teacher that I couldn't believe could happen without repercussions. Some inconsistencies or unexplained portions of the supernatural events and their mythology provided plot holes. The ending was fairly conclusive, but there was an obvious set-up for a sequel, which left things feeling somewhat unfinished.
In all, this was a decent debut novel from Magnum with a unique concept for a typical young adult paranormal romance. Though I didn't think about the book much after I closed the cover, I plan to check out the sequel, The Golden Spiral (Book 2 in the Hourglass Door Trilogy), when it comes to the library. I'd like to see where Magnum takes the mythology and the relationships between Abby, Dante, and the other characters.
March 15, 2010
Dante Alexander . . . exchange student? I don’t think so.
Weird things happen around Dante Alexander, the new exchange student from Italy, and Abby Edmunds has been sucked into the backlash. What she doesn't know is his disturbing history. There is much more to Dante than meets the eye - and what meets the eye is not unimpressive!
Abby Edmunds leads a charmed life. The perfect boyfriend, sweet friends, good grades, ok social life . . . it is not enough. All that she wants is a little spontaneity, a little adventure. She is not happy anymore, being Miss Predictable. She grew up with a nice boy-next-door – they were best friends, so who is she dating now? Jason – the boy-next-door – big surprise! She has been planning to go to college with her friends Natalie and Valerie since forever –so where does she apply? State. Nothing in her life is “without limits” everything is boxed up and tied with a nice little bow. So when she sees the application to Emery College - and the heading “Life Without Limits” she is intrigued. She signs the snippet of paper and puts in motion a roller-coaster ride which will change her dull, conventional life into something right out of a mystery novel!
Dante knows that it is dangerous to trust . . . years of experience have taught him that, but something about Abby just begs for trust. She is without guile, innocent and pure enough to believe, and to keep his secrets forever. What will happen when Dante bares his soul?
This is a story of secrets and traitors, love and loosing. The beautiful language and words make this writing almost lyrical and poetic. The references to literature are well placed and interesting. I loved the excerpts from Shakespeare, Homer and the Aeneid. They are insights into beautiful works of art that are appreciated by the characters with a reverence that is refreshing! The glances into classic culture are sweet glimpses of the deeper themes of a novel.
Dante is both dangerous and tortured. He is a good man, a sweet boy. Life has not been fair to him and yet he strives for goodness, to find meaning, and happiness in this life to which he was sentenced. He is far from perfect, and yet in his imperfectness we find the only perfection a human can strive for – the determination to always try to do your best.
Abby is a strong female lead. She does what she wills . . . she puts the good of others before her own heart. She is put into impossible situations; and she emerges victorious. She is confused and scared, but she finds within herself the attribute that will make her a force to be reckoned with – she is unfailingly courageous.
This is a great novel, a superb story. Its genius will withstand the river of time. . .
Weird things happen around Dante Alexander, the new exchange student from Italy, and Abby Edmunds has been sucked into the backlash. What she doesn't know is his disturbing history. There is much more to Dante than meets the eye - and what meets the eye is not unimpressive!
Abby Edmunds leads a charmed life. The perfect boyfriend, sweet friends, good grades, ok social life . . . it is not enough. All that she wants is a little spontaneity, a little adventure. She is not happy anymore, being Miss Predictable. She grew up with a nice boy-next-door – they were best friends, so who is she dating now? Jason – the boy-next-door – big surprise! She has been planning to go to college with her friends Natalie and Valerie since forever –so where does she apply? State. Nothing in her life is “without limits” everything is boxed up and tied with a nice little bow. So when she sees the application to Emery College - and the heading “Life Without Limits” she is intrigued. She signs the snippet of paper and puts in motion a roller-coaster ride which will change her dull, conventional life into something right out of a mystery novel!
Dante knows that it is dangerous to trust . . . years of experience have taught him that, but something about Abby just begs for trust. She is without guile, innocent and pure enough to believe, and to keep his secrets forever. What will happen when Dante bares his soul?
This is a story of secrets and traitors, love and loosing. The beautiful language and words make this writing almost lyrical and poetic. The references to literature are well placed and interesting. I loved the excerpts from Shakespeare, Homer and the Aeneid. They are insights into beautiful works of art that are appreciated by the characters with a reverence that is refreshing! The glances into classic culture are sweet glimpses of the deeper themes of a novel.
Dante is both dangerous and tortured. He is a good man, a sweet boy. Life has not been fair to him and yet he strives for goodness, to find meaning, and happiness in this life to which he was sentenced. He is far from perfect, and yet in his imperfectness we find the only perfection a human can strive for – the determination to always try to do your best.
Abby is a strong female lead. She does what she wills . . . she puts the good of others before her own heart. She is put into impossible situations; and she emerges victorious. She is confused and scared, but she finds within herself the attribute that will make her a force to be reckoned with – she is unfailingly courageous.
This is a great novel, a superb story. Its genius will withstand the river of time. . .
September 7, 2010
This was a nice book. Interesting, but it didn't knock me out of the ball park.
The author almost lost me when I thought she was going to go for a predictable cliff-hanger, I think she made a good choice on the ending.
I like that there is an interesting plot. Mangum gives us good character development on Abby, her friends, her drama teacher, but ultimately I think she fails in truly charming us with Dante. I don't think she gave us enough time to bring us to the level of feeling that Abby claims to have for him. When Abby finally says that she loves Dante, it falls flat. They're interesting apart, but I think they lacked chemistry.
I am really looking forward to the next book and what part those around Abby will play in it. I have to assume since the author gave us so much of these characters that they will affect the next book greatly.
Little update: After reading Hush, Hush I can see where this book failed me and I'm not quite as interested in reading The Golden Spiral as I was before.
The author almost lost me when I thought she was going to go for a predictable cliff-hanger, I think she made a good choice on the ending.
I like that there is an interesting plot. Mangum gives us good character development on Abby, her friends, her drama teacher, but ultimately I think she fails in truly charming us with Dante. I don't think she gave us enough time to bring us to the level of feeling that Abby claims to have for him. When Abby finally says that she loves Dante, it falls flat. They're interesting apart, but I think they lacked chemistry.
I am really looking forward to the next book and what part those around Abby will play in it. I have to assume since the author gave us so much of these characters that they will affect the next book greatly.
Little update: After reading Hush, Hush I can see where this book failed me and I'm not quite as interested in reading The Golden Spiral as I was before.
November 16, 2012
Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com
Abby is enjoying her senior year of high school. She has a cute boyfriend, great friends, and the possibility of a college education. But everything in her world changes when Dante Alexander, a foreign exchange student from Italy, walks into the auditorium during play rehearsal.
Abby is drawn to Dante and, before she knows it, their lives are intertwined. But Dante isn't who Abby thinks he is, and she is drawn into a mystery reaching all the way back into sixteenth-century Florence.
Everything she's worked so hard for, everything she thought she wanted, is threatened by the dangerous truth of Dante's past. Only Abby can make things right, but is she strong enough to open THE HOURGLASS DOOR?
The premise of the book sounded interesting, but I never imagined the adventure I'd find when I opened THE HOURGLASS DOOR. Abby and Dante's world is intoxicating and I didn't want to leave.
Though the beginning was a bit rough for me, the rest of Mangum's book flowed smoothly and effortlessly and led me through a tale I'll not soon forget.
Abby and Dante are characters I look forward to meeting again in the upcoming continuation of THE GOLDEN SPIRAL. Its release date can't come soon enough for me!
Abby is enjoying her senior year of high school. She has a cute boyfriend, great friends, and the possibility of a college education. But everything in her world changes when Dante Alexander, a foreign exchange student from Italy, walks into the auditorium during play rehearsal.
Abby is drawn to Dante and, before she knows it, their lives are intertwined. But Dante isn't who Abby thinks he is, and she is drawn into a mystery reaching all the way back into sixteenth-century Florence.
Everything she's worked so hard for, everything she thought she wanted, is threatened by the dangerous truth of Dante's past. Only Abby can make things right, but is she strong enough to open THE HOURGLASS DOOR?
The premise of the book sounded interesting, but I never imagined the adventure I'd find when I opened THE HOURGLASS DOOR. Abby and Dante's world is intoxicating and I didn't want to leave.
Though the beginning was a bit rough for me, the rest of Mangum's book flowed smoothly and effortlessly and led me through a tale I'll not soon forget.
Abby and Dante are characters I look forward to meeting again in the upcoming continuation of THE GOLDEN SPIRAL. Its release date can't come soon enough for me!
September 13, 2009
At work, I heard this book described as being like 'Twilight but much better.' Riiiight. Now, most people are familiar with my strong opinions on Stephenie Meyer's writing skills (or lack thereof). Yet from what I've read, 'The Hourglass Door' is, if at all possible, much much worse. I made it fifty pages before feeling like I'd be poisoned by cheese if forced to continue. If in the right mood, gorgeous Dante (yes, that's right: Dante) and his stylish peacoat might actually be a source of amusement. But for anyone seeking something deeper than a kiddy pool, I'd steer clear of this one. I am aware that having read only fifty pages of a text hardly qualifies me to write a review, but I felt compelled to warn others away from this mess of a novel. Who knew a writer was capable of making Stephenie Meyer shine by comparison?
June 29, 2009
Okay, so I had my review for this book written in my head about 1/3 of the way through it, but I kept reading in hopes of changing that review the minute the story started looking up. Ugh, more hope wasted on a book that just was not worth the 400 pages! This story had no exceptional draw, no believable romance, and WAY too much teen lingo from a few decades ago! For pity's sake, the main charcter at one point teases her friends and warns them not to "muss" her hair...are you kidding? I am well out of my teens and I don't think I have ever even heard my Grandma use that word let alone any teenagers I know! Some other phrases that were equally out of place: "my best girl", "going steady"...these just don't sit well in a teen novel written in the present. This book is no comparison to the Twlight series. I think the author would like the potential readers to think this book is comparable, but that is just not the case. The premise for this book is enticing enough, but the story has no action, no exciting climax, it didn't even get remotely interesting until about 300 pages into it and even then I didn't care about the characters and their drama. Not to mention the author way overuses descriptive details to the point of detracting from the story. Sometimes less really is more. I gave this book 2 stars and I think that was being generous! Had I known this was the first book in a series I would never have read it in the first place as I have no desire to continue on. Yet again, another synopsis on the inside cover of the book has led me astray, will I ever learn my lesson?
March 31, 2010
Hmmm … Cool. Over all, pretty good. The plot was interesting, although not entirely original. The writing was decent. The characters were likable. I wasn't crazy about it, but I did enjoy it and I look forward to reading the sequel to find out what happens! The ending was a cliffhanger …
I sort of had issues with the plot. While I thought the time-travel aspect was cool, the rest of it felt like a billion other books I've read. It followed the common Twilight-esque premise: Smart girl lives in a small quiet town and then some mysterious/mystical and extremely sexy boy shows up and seems drawn to her for no apparent reason. They hang out and stare into each others' eyes and say dopey lovey-dovey things to each other, but the guy keeps being like "Nooo we cannot be together because I am DANGEROUS! RAWWRRR!" And the girl's like "I do not care! Boohooo!" And you know the whole vicious cycle. Anyway, as clichéd as this type of plot is, there's a reason why it's a cliché––because it appeals to us female readers. So, it's not that I didn't like it. I did like it. Just saying it was nothing too special.
I wasn't crazy about the writing, either. It was pretty good for the most part, just kind of repetitive and there were a lot of dialogue tags.
Anyway, over all, it was good. If you're looking for something similar to Twilight or you're just looking for something fun to read, check it out.
I sort of had issues with the plot. While I thought the time-travel aspect was cool, the rest of it felt like a billion other books I've read. It followed the common Twilight-esque premise: Smart girl lives in a small quiet town and then some mysterious/mystical and extremely sexy boy shows up and seems drawn to her for no apparent reason. They hang out and stare into each others' eyes and say dopey lovey-dovey things to each other, but the guy keeps being like "Nooo we cannot be together because I am DANGEROUS! RAWWRRR!" And the girl's like "I do not care! Boohooo!" And you know the whole vicious cycle. Anyway, as clichéd as this type of plot is, there's a reason why it's a cliché––because it appeals to us female readers. So, it's not that I didn't like it. I did like it. Just saying it was nothing too special.
I wasn't crazy about the writing, either. It was pretty good for the most part, just kind of repetitive and there were a lot of dialogue tags.
Anyway, over all, it was good. If you're looking for something similar to Twilight or you're just looking for something fun to read, check it out.
March 2, 2010
The Original Review - Here!
When I read the synopsis of this book I just knew that I wanted to have it. The premise sounds unique and captivating. After reading the story I knew for sure that it is all of this and more. I would say that aside the pretty well done romantic story, I was hooked by the major theme of the story: “time traveling”. The way the author manages to create the world in present time with the complicated themes that surrounded the story is just exquisite. The mayor compliments I can give to Mangum is how she introduces a real historical character that is “part” of the story without carrying away the main story itself. All the rules related to spiritual themes are magnificent. I liked Abby as a character. She is one those characters that is simply genuine. The way the story is related between the characters is surprisingly good and interesting. The ending was just like: “I want the sequel NOW”. The Hourglass Door is a story with an unique premise that has something about everything: romance, time traveling and spiritual themes. The Hourglass Door is the first of a three book series.
When I read the synopsis of this book I just knew that I wanted to have it. The premise sounds unique and captivating. After reading the story I knew for sure that it is all of this and more. I would say that aside the pretty well done romantic story, I was hooked by the major theme of the story: “time traveling”. The way the author manages to create the world in present time with the complicated themes that surrounded the story is just exquisite. The mayor compliments I can give to Mangum is how she introduces a real historical character that is “part” of the story without carrying away the main story itself. All the rules related to spiritual themes are magnificent. I liked Abby as a character. She is one those characters that is simply genuine. The way the story is related between the characters is surprisingly good and interesting. The ending was just like: “I want the sequel NOW”. The Hourglass Door is a story with an unique premise that has something about everything: romance, time traveling and spiritual themes. The Hourglass Door is the first of a three book series.
November 30, 2020
This is my second time reading The Hourglass Door, and my love for the novel has only increased. Lisa Mangum is an incredible author with powerful descriptions. Her style of writing was able to get me hooked quickly; it provokes a natural interest. For example the very first line in the book says, “It is the counting that saves him.” Both times I read it that first line immediately drew me in. This being the second time I read the book, I noticed so much more. There was some heavy foreshadowing that I missed out on entirely the first time. The flow of her writing was gorgeous; it never felt choppy or forced. It is very much a teen novel however, so sometimes the emotions are a bit embellished. I’d recommend it to anyone who wanted a cute romance with a science fiction fantasy twist.
May 24, 2011
I freely admit that reading this book while stranded at the Dallas airport for hours due to an end-of-the-world lightning storm that was rattling the windows fully affected my opinion of this book. The prose seemed like it was trying too hard to be pretty, or maybe that was just my grumpy mood speaking.
P.S. A drama teacher SOOOO could not get away with what "Dave" did. Not ever. That was just...strange.
P.P.S. Does a heroine named Abby make anyone else think of a toddler? That name only came into fashion in the last ten years or so, so my mental picture of an "Abby" is always of a litte kid.
P.S. A drama teacher SOOOO could not get away with what "Dave" did. Not ever. That was just...strange.
P.P.S. Does a heroine named Abby make anyone else think of a toddler? That name only came into fashion in the last ten years or so, so my mental picture of an "Abby" is always of a litte kid.
March 18, 2020
This is one of those rare books that comes along and just reminds you how truly amazing a book can be. The way she writes this books is what makes it the best. Some of the ideas in it seem like they may not work but then she puts it in her words and you completely love the idea. Amazing story, amazing charcters.
May 22, 2024
This book reads exactly like it was written in 2009. And you know what? It hit the spot. I’ve read a lot of newer fiction and something a little older was refreshing. The beginning was unbelievably cringy and I was going to be disappointed that I bought it. BUT THEN THE WORLD BUILDING. THE CONFLICT. THE WAY EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER AT THE END. I don’t think Mangum’s writing is particularly great, but good glory she can plot. I had so many ideas for my own stories come from this, and for that, I am grateful.
I will also note that I read most of this listening to Vivaldi cello concertos, which I felt thematically appropriate.
I will also note that I read most of this listening to Vivaldi cello concertos, which I felt thematically appropriate.
August 27, 2019
Interesting concept here. I found that I rather enjoy the concept of time travel. And the wonderful characters enhance this novel quite a bit. It never explained why Abby was so special so I'm hoping that information will be in the next novel.
February 21, 2024
Wow, this book was awesome.
I'd definitely recommend this to all YA lovers and fantasy enthusiasts. A very original plot, well-rounded and likable characters (always a plus) and quite a bit of action/romance along the way. Very nice! :D
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the sequel, The Golden Spiral. First of all, I have to mention the cover design. It's beautiful, especially for a first-time author (honest to goodness, sometimes I think debut authors get jipped on cover art) and I definitely appreciate a good pretty cover!
The Hourglass Door is an especially fun read because it's quite different from a lot of other YA books floating around out there. There aren't any paranormal creatures in this book (which accounts for I'd say half of the YA fantasy genre); instead we are immersed in a story about time travel. Don't worry - that's not really a spoiler. It's actually pretty original, too: Yes, Mangum isn't the first person to write about time-traveling, but she certainly thought up a lot of really cool twists that makes reading Hourglass a fun and exhilarating experience.
I also have to give props to Mangum for creating a functional love story. I absolutely loved Abby and Dante (for the most part) because their relationship made sense. Let's face it - as much as we all love paranormal romance, sometimes those said romances can be a little on the dysfunctional side. That's not really a judgment, because it's fiction, not real life, but still...I'll admit to reading love stories in YA books and going, "Huh?" "What?" "Yeah right!" and "Ohhhhkay..." That doesn't happen here. Why? Pretty much because for all Dante's intrigue, he's not really dangerous. Now, the book tries to portray him as being edgy, but really every scene that Mangum puts him in, he behaves like a model protagonist. And to that, I say "It's about blooming TIME!" He's not arrogant. He's not a two-timer. He doesn't treat the MC like crap. Hey, what's not to love? And you know, it was just nice to read a clean story. I can't stress enough how delightful that was. Lisa Mangum is a great author, and definitely has my respect :)
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I'd definitely recommend this to all YA lovers and fantasy enthusiasts. A very original plot, well-rounded and likable characters (always a plus) and quite a bit of action/romance along the way. Very nice! :D
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the sequel, The Golden Spiral. First of all, I have to mention the cover design. It's beautiful, especially for a first-time author (honest to goodness, sometimes I think debut authors get jipped on cover art) and I definitely appreciate a good pretty cover!
The Hourglass Door is an especially fun read because it's quite different from a lot of other YA books floating around out there. There aren't any paranormal creatures in this book (which accounts for I'd say half of the YA fantasy genre); instead we are immersed in a story about time travel. Don't worry - that's not really a spoiler. It's actually pretty original, too: Yes, Mangum isn't the first person to write about time-traveling, but she certainly thought up a lot of really cool twists that makes reading Hourglass a fun and exhilarating experience.
I also have to give props to Mangum for creating a functional love story. I absolutely loved Abby and Dante (for the most part) because their relationship made sense. Let's face it - as much as we all love paranormal romance, sometimes those said romances can be a little on the dysfunctional side. That's not really a judgment, because it's fiction, not real life, but still...I'll admit to reading love stories in YA books and going, "Huh?" "What?" "Yeah right!" and "Ohhhhkay..." That doesn't happen here. Why? Pretty much because for all Dante's intrigue, he's not really dangerous. Now, the book tries to portray him as being edgy, but really every scene that Mangum puts him in, he behaves like a model protagonist. And to that, I say "It's about blooming TIME!" He's not arrogant. He's not a two-timer. He doesn't treat the MC like crap. Hey, what's not to love? And you know, it was just nice to read a clean story. I can't stress enough how delightful that was. Lisa Mangum is a great author, and definitely has my respect :)
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February 23, 2011
Young adult, easy, entertaining.
Abby is leading a predictable life.....dating the neighbor boy Jason, applying to state college with her best friend in hopes of rooming together and getting matching dogs.
Then Dante shows up out of no where...hot, mysterious, and Italian. Soon Abby is living without limits. She and Jason break up and Abby and Dante are desperately smitten with each other. Abby finds that Dante may be more than hot, he might also be dangerous. Dante confesses that he has come here from the 1400's through a time machine made by himself and DaVinci.
I love Abby and Dante. I want them to be together forever! What a sucker for romance. My biggest complaint is that I found this series while it was new and now I have to wait for the follow up books to be published.
Abby is leading a predictable life.....dating the neighbor boy Jason, applying to state college with her best friend in hopes of rooming together and getting matching dogs.
Then Dante shows up out of no where...hot, mysterious, and Italian. Soon Abby is living without limits. She and Jason break up and Abby and Dante are desperately smitten with each other. Abby finds that Dante may be more than hot, he might also be dangerous. Dante confesses that he has come here from the 1400's through a time machine made by himself and DaVinci.
I love Abby and Dante. I want them to be together forever! What a sucker for romance. My biggest complaint is that I found this series while it was new and now I have to wait for the follow up books to be published.
May 31, 2011
I gave this book two stars only because the author explored some literary topics of Shakespeare, Virgil, and Dante. Otherwise it is smarmy schlock!!!!!! It is painfully obvious that it is written by a Mormon, and her true literary values, if they ever existed in the first place, have been overshadowed by preposterous ideas of pristinely 'clean' books.
Why can't people write decent Christian fiction like Gilead or Silas Marner?????!!!!!
I understand and fully admit that this is not a review, but an outlet to express my frustration over the lost time. I could have read a better book. Sigh. And I have no intention to write a decent well-structured review - way too much trouble :-(((((
Why can't people write decent Christian fiction like Gilead or Silas Marner?????!!!!!
I understand and fully admit that this is not a review, but an outlet to express my frustration over the lost time. I could have read a better book. Sigh. And I have no intention to write a decent well-structured review - way too much trouble :-(((((
May 10, 2009
So I guess Stephenie Meyer has inspired some writers to invent new fantasy-romance conundrums. In The Hourglass Door, instead of a species conflict (human/vampire or mortal/immortal), we simply have a moment-in-time problem. I wished I had spent my moment in time reading something else, as The Hourglass Door doesn't begin to come near the inventive mind and expressive pen of the Twilight Series. I know it is unfair to compare, but what else can I do when so clearly this novel does nothing but invite that comparison.
I finished this book against my better judgment, hoping that somehow Lisa Mangum would pull it all together in some magical author sleight-of-hand. Oh, well. There's always Paris.
I finished this book against my better judgment, hoping that somehow Lisa Mangum would pull it all together in some magical author sleight-of-hand. Oh, well. There's always Paris.
December 25, 2016
Que libro tan raro.
La historia se me hizo algo tediosa, puede que fuera porque comencé a leerlo con un terrible dolor de cabeza lo que hizo que me costara mucho engancharme con la historia.
Los personajes ni los amé ni los odié. Abby tiene sus malos momentos pero también tiene un montón de cosas buenas. Dante es adorable.
Mi mayor problema para conectar con la historia fueron las explicaciones que la autora dio, demasiado complicado y a al mismo tiempo me resultó simple e ilógico. Esperaba algo diferente, a eso le sumo que tuve una sensación de Déjà vu a lo largo de la historia, como si ya hubiera leido esto o al menos algo muy, pero muy parecido.
La historia se me hizo algo tediosa, puede que fuera porque comencé a leerlo con un terrible dolor de cabeza lo que hizo que me costara mucho engancharme con la historia.
Los personajes ni los amé ni los odié. Abby tiene sus malos momentos pero también tiene un montón de cosas buenas. Dante es adorable.
Mi mayor problema para conectar con la historia fueron las explicaciones que la autora dio, demasiado complicado y a al mismo tiempo me resultó simple e ilógico. Esperaba algo diferente, a eso le sumo que tuve una sensación de Déjà vu a lo largo de la historia, como si ya hubiera leido esto o al menos algo muy, pero muy parecido.
November 11, 2014
This book was pretty much bad YA Divine Comedy fan fiction...but it was YA DIVINE COMEDY FAN FICTION, so of course I loved it. I mean, his name is Dante, and her middle name is Beatrice, and lots of other stuff that I can't mention because spoilers. But it was so great, and the voice was awesome. The style and the plot felt a little like the Pendragon series to me, which I'm totally cool with. =) The Hourglass Door was such a fun read, and I would totally recommend it if you like really nerdy, romantic, and/or classic good-vs.-evil YA.
July 10, 2023
Reread 06/2023 review- 3.95～4.1 stars. Well, I'm pleasantly surprised that my rating didn't change too much. It wasn't easy to put down 🤗
Because, in the past when I've gone back and tried to reread some of the YA/Adult romance books I did 13 or so years ago, I end up really disliking them or dnfing. 🤔
Original 08/2010 review- 5 stars. Time is really complicated yet beautiful at times.
Because, in the past when I've gone back and tried to reread some of the YA/Adult romance books I did 13 or so years ago, I end up really disliking them or dnfing. 🤔
Original 08/2010 review- 5 stars. Time is really complicated yet beautiful at times.
May 26, 2009
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It kept thinking that the author was trying too hard to recreate a "Twilight" type of book-- she came up short in my opinion! I thought the writing was a little over the top, it really put me off rather than drew me in. It was entertaining though and I will probably read the sequels just to find out what happens.
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