Thursday, January 10, 2013

Review: Vortex by Julie Cross

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I received this book for free from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Vortex by Julie CrossVortex by Julie Cross
Series: Tempest #2
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on January 15th 2013
Genres: Sci-Fi, Time-Travel, YA
Source: St. Martin's Press
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four-stars

Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.

This review contains no spoilers of either Vortex or Tempest

As much as I get fascinated by time travel–especially when it’s created as well as in this series–it can get extremely complicated. Like Tempest, this novel is not to be read with a wandering mind, or you will find yourself in the middle of a complex story with no idea where you are–or when. For this reason, it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy reads that are as intelligent as they are fun, then this series is for you!

When we left Jackson in Tempest, we had learned just how intricate this whole time travel business was. Not to mention how heartbreaking to see Jackson’s heart torn apart over a girl that has no clue who he is–being from a different time and/or parallel world and all. The romance in this series is one that really pulls at your heartstrings in a way that makes you feel absolutely hopeless. It doesn’t just stem from a traditional break-up, or at an extreme, death, in a way, it’s worse than that. Jackson is still madly in love with Holly but unfortunately the Holly he loves is not the Holly in his world. How do you heal from that? She doesn’t remember know who he is, and as if this wasn’t enough, he has to see her being happy with someone else. I felt all sorts of emotions when it came to this aspect of the plot. I both loved and hated it. I loved the originality and heart of the story, but I hated the sense that it’s unfixable, especially when you can see even under these circumstances just how much chemistry there is between them. A truly frustrating situation, for sure. I loved it! *sobs*

It’s extremely rare that I can get into a time travel story without leaving logic on the backburner. Julie really put a lot of effort into making the time travel a scientific notion that becomes, not feasible obviously, but believable nonetheless. This is where the novel becomes complicated, however, and you have to pay close attention, or even make yourself some graphics and notes to be able to follow 100% accurately. Don’t worry, though, even if you’re lost you can still grasp what is happening in the large sense. I will admit that I stopped trying to keep myself situated in the years, alternate worlds, and different jump abilities (some alter the present, some don’t). I think my brain fizzled, somewhere around 2007, alternate world C, full jump. O_O I’m telling you, it’s pretty freaking fantastic. This also welcomes twists and discoveries that you would never see coming, as well as my personal favorite–glimpses into very ominous futures.

This leads me to the ending: Our hectic journey into this big swirling time-travel mess (I say this positively, of course!) ends in a heart-grasping cliffhanger. Cliffhangers don’t always work, sometimes they’re created for dramatic effect or to lure us into the next book, but in this case I felt it was very fitting to the story. It made sense; it completely fit the expectations of such a story–time travel does have dire consequences, and Julie adapted it into a gripping ending. It also leaves me baffled when I try to foresee what she has in store for us in book 3.

New characters are introduced, deeper time travel and its consequences are explored, a more profound look into Jackson’s life reveals things that are both intriguing and distressing–a rewarding sequel to a one of a kind time-travel series!

four-stars

4 Hot Espressos

Up to Me by M. Leighton Exclusive!

Posted by on 01/09/2013 • 7 Comments

Xpresso Reads is happy to be part of the release week event hosted by AToMR tours. I’m sure you have seen these books around they’re making a big splash in the blogoverse lately, and although I haven’t read them yet, the amazing reviews I’ve been seeing have put the first book on my Kobo! Today you can take a sneak peek at the second book in the series, and you can enter to book 1!

Up to Me M. Leighton Series: The Bad Boys, #2 Publication date: January 6th, 2013      

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside…

Waiting on Wednesday (68)

Posted by on 01/09/2013 • 28 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine  and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

One Dark Between Sonia Gensler Release date: August 2013by Knopf Books for Young Readers

A supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge…

The Cadet of Tildor Interview & Giveaway

Posted by on 01/08/2013 • 13 Comments

Today I’m happy to be a part of the Cadet of Tildor tour organized by AToMR Tours. Find the full tour schedule here. I have Alex here for an interview today, and then you can enter to win a pretty fab giveaway! 🙂

The Cadet of Tildor Alex Lidell Publication date: January 10th 2013by Dial      

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown’s inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her…

Review: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell

Posted by on 01/08/2013 • 0 Comments

The Cadet of TildorAlex LidellPublication date: January 10th 2013by Dial

 

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown’s inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve…

Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Posted by on 01/07/2013 • 42 Comments

Touch of Death Kelly Hashway Series: Touch of Death #1 Publication date: January 15th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press 

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned…

Xpresso Weekly: Stacking the Shelves (37)

Posted by on 01/06/2013 • 44 Comments

Xpresso Weekly is my edition of Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews featuring the books I got this week, and I also mention blog news/happenings of the past week. This week at Xpresso Reads

How’s everyone enjoying 2013 so far? I had a great vacation, but now I’m kind of paying for it by being extremely busy. But when you love your job it ain’t so bad! So hey, I just realized I never officially announced it but I’m sure you have noticed something different on the blog! I sure hope so 😉 Xpresso Reads needed a change. I outgrew the pink and girly, wanting something more chic and grown up so I decided to give it a makeover. Thanks so much for all the lovely comments on it…

Fresh Batch (January 6th – 12th)

Posted by on 01/05/2013 • 23 Comments

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavor of the week: Shadowlands Kate Brian Publication date: January 8th 2013by Hyperion

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye. Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new…