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_ohheyisabella_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, and Abandonment
lunar_song's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
A fun adventure with time travel (think 1700s), thievery, a secret island academy, the Antikythera Mechanism, magic, and futuristic technology. This is very much a young adult read with both sci-fi and fantasy elements.
WARNINGS: Attempted Rape (the main character is almost raped, but fights the attacker off), kidnapping, parental neglect
It’s the first in a series and while it doesn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, many questions are yet to be answered and many plotlines yet to come to a head. Nothing’s really resolved at the end. This book really wouldn’t work as a stand-alone.
The main character, Natasha, is likeable, intelligent, pragmatic, and a little bit morally grey. Between Natasha and some intriguing mysteries yet to be explained, I’m drawn in enough to want to read book 2 despite the lack of resolution at the end of book 1.
THE PREMISE:
Natasha’s just a (mostly) normal 17 year old. After her father left and never came back years ago, her mother basically checked out and gave up, they’ve been barely getting by, and Natasha basically stopped trying and let her grades plummet. Then, things get weird. Natasha gets framed for theft and extorted into attending a reclusive trillionaire’s mysterious Gray Wolf Academy on an island in the middle of nowhere.
Now, Natasha’s terrifying and seemingly random bouts of seeing through time that her father told her to always keep secret are back, she’s already made one enemy among her classmates, and the Grey Wolf Academy clearly teaches students things far more strange and dangerous than a typical high school curriculum, like sword-fighting, thievery, horseback riding, and the fundamentals of general relativity and space-time. The trillionaire running the school says he expects her to help complete his life’s ambition (no pressure or red flags there). Now, Natasha’s trying to rise up ranks at the academy, deal with a crush on the ever-secretive Braxton, and figure out what the academy is for and what the trillionaire head of the academy is really after.
It’s not all bad. In exchange for joining the academy, her mother is being financially taken care of. The part of her that loves fine art and aesthetics is in heaven with all the art, antiques, fancy clothes, and expensive decor at Gray Wolf Academy. One thing’s for sure, Natasha’s got her ambition and sense of adventure back, because apathy is a luxury she can’t afford at Grey Wolf and she’s starting to get the sense that there aren’t many ways to leave the academy and none of them are good. Failing is no longer an option.
THE WORLD:
It’s set in a part fantasy, part sci-fi world. On a reclusive tech trillionaire’s island, there are holograms and tons of technology that’s way ahead of the rest of the world. There’s also enchantments and time travel of a yet to be revealed and seemingly magical origin. Natasha seems to have the unique magical ability to see through time and glimpse things from other time periods. Although, she doesn’t have any control over it. There also seems to be some significance placed on numerology and tarot cards that I can only assume is supposed to be somehow mystically related to time, magic, fate, or Natasha’s abities.
THE CHARACTERS:
The main character, Natasha, can be a bit naive at times, but in a way that’s pretty realistic for her age. It’s not enough to really make her stupid (for her age) and she’s still fairly pragmatic, suspicious, and quick on her feet. She’s empathetic and likeable, but also pragmatic and a little bit morally gray. She’s not overly-forgiving, but she also bides her time for an opportunity for revenge instead of being a shortsighted hothead or tipping her hand prematurely. She lies when it’s smart to and she makes her fair share of mistakes. She’s not above being tempted or distracted. She doesn’t lose all perspective and spill all her secrets to the first guy she crushes on. She also doesn’t trust him completely. Natasha also undergoes growth, getting her ambition and sense of adventure back.
You don’t really get to the other characters very well yet, with the exception of Elodie, a classic antagonist that is impressive, pitiable, dangerous, diabolical, and never boring. Every character seems to be at least a bit morally grey, including Natasha. Most characters have a dark backstory for how they came to Greg Wolf Academy, like Natasha.
This book really keeps you guessing about who’s trustworthy and what hidden agendas and secrets everyone on the island has. Everyone seems to be hiding things.
THE ROMANCE:
There’s a bit of not exactly insta-love, but insta-attraction with the main love interest. However, it doesn’t completely overwhelm the main character’s good sense or, so I’m okay with it. (Although, I’m hoping for another love interest in Killian or a new character in book two cause I’m not liking Braxton and his whole mysterious, secretive, I-protect-people-by-keeping-them-in-dark-and-giving-vague-warnings, guy-with-a-dark-tortured-past-looking-for-redeption-by-getting-the-girl shtick. I thought it was weird and creepy that he Spoilerliked Natasha and gave her a nickname before he even met her because he read her file and basically stalked her at the behest of his boss.)
THE PLOT & ENDING:
It’s a bit predictable at times, but not enough to spoil the major mysteries too much. There were definitely still surprises. The mysteries were interesting and kept my attention.
At times, I thought the pace was bogged down a bit by descriptions of clothes, picking out clothes, and fancy things. The main character had an interest in fashion/fancy things and sometimes these descriptions were relevant to the plot, so it made sense to include them. I’m not really interested in fashion or general fanciness, so I found those (usually brief) digressions a bit boring.
The only major problem with the plot was that it felt…. unfinished. No major plot arcs are resolved. No short-term plot arcs are resolved to give you closure while a long-term arc remains unfinished. You don’t even know what the main antagonist wants or is planning. Add to that a twist introduced at the end of the book that introduced a new plotline and created a mini cliffhanger.
All in all, this book wouldn’t be a complete story as a standalone.This makes it hard to judge the story on its own. It all depends on Book 2 in this series.
I received a free digital advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
WARNINGS: Attempted Rape (the main character is almost raped, but fights the attacker off), kidnapping, parental neglect
It’s the first in a series and while it doesn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, many questions are yet to be answered and many plotlines yet to come to a head. Nothing’s really resolved at the end. This book really wouldn’t work as a stand-alone.
The main character, Natasha, is likeable, intelligent, pragmatic, and a little bit morally grey. Between Natasha and some intriguing mysteries yet to be explained, I’m drawn in enough to want to read book 2 despite the lack of resolution at the end of book 1.
THE PREMISE:
Natasha’s just a (mostly) normal 17 year old. After her father left and never came back years ago, her mother basically checked out and gave up, they’ve been barely getting by, and Natasha basically stopped trying and let her grades plummet. Then, things get weird. Natasha gets framed for theft and extorted into attending a reclusive trillionaire’s mysterious Gray Wolf Academy on an island in the middle of nowhere.
Now, Natasha’s terrifying and seemingly random bouts of seeing through time that her father told her to always keep secret are back, she’s already made one enemy among her classmates, and the Grey Wolf Academy clearly teaches students things far more strange and dangerous than a typical high school curriculum, like sword-fighting, thievery, horseback riding, and the fundamentals of general relativity and space-time. The trillionaire running the school says he expects her to help complete his life’s ambition (no pressure or red flags there). Now, Natasha’s trying to rise up ranks at the academy, deal with a crush on the ever-secretive Braxton, and figure out what the academy is for and what the trillionaire head of the academy is really after.
It’s not all bad. In exchange for joining the academy, her mother is being financially taken care of. The part of her that loves fine art and aesthetics is in heaven with all the art, antiques, fancy clothes, and expensive decor at Gray Wolf Academy. One thing’s for sure, Natasha’s got her ambition and sense of adventure back, because apathy is a luxury she can’t afford at Grey Wolf and she’s starting to get the sense that there aren’t many ways to leave the academy and none of them are good. Failing is no longer an option.
THE WORLD:
It’s set in a part fantasy, part sci-fi world. On a reclusive tech trillionaire’s island, there are holograms and tons of technology that’s way ahead of the rest of the world. There’s also enchantments and time travel of a yet to be revealed and seemingly magical origin. Natasha seems to have the unique magical ability to see through time and glimpse things from other time periods. Although, she doesn’t have any control over it. There also seems to be some significance placed on numerology and tarot cards that I can only assume is supposed to be somehow mystically related to time, magic, fate, or Natasha’s abities.
THE CHARACTERS:
The main character, Natasha, can be a bit naive at times, but in a way that’s pretty realistic for her age. It’s not enough to really make her stupid (for her age) and she’s still fairly pragmatic, suspicious, and quick on her feet. She’s empathetic and likeable, but also pragmatic and a little bit morally gray. She’s not overly-forgiving, but she also bides her time for an opportunity for revenge instead of being a shortsighted hothead or tipping her hand prematurely. She lies when it’s smart to and she makes her fair share of mistakes. She’s not above being tempted or distracted. She doesn’t lose all perspective and spill all her secrets to the first guy she crushes on. She also doesn’t trust him completely. Natasha also undergoes growth, getting her ambition and sense of adventure back.
You don’t really get to the other characters very well yet, with the exception of Elodie, a classic antagonist that is impressive, pitiable, dangerous, diabolical, and never boring. Every character seems to be at least a bit morally grey, including Natasha. Most characters have a dark backstory for how they came to Greg Wolf Academy, like Natasha.
This book really keeps you guessing about who’s trustworthy and what hidden agendas and secrets everyone on the island has. Everyone seems to be hiding things.
THE ROMANCE:
There’s a bit of not exactly insta-love, but insta-attraction with the main love interest. However, it doesn’t completely overwhelm the main character’s good sense or, so I’m okay with it. (Although, I’m hoping for another love interest in Killian or a new character in book two cause I’m not liking Braxton and his whole mysterious, secretive, I-protect-people-by-keeping-them-in-dark-and-giving-vague-warnings, guy-with-a-dark-tortured-past-looking-for-redeption-by-getting-the-girl shtick. I thought it was weird and creepy that he Spoilerliked Natasha and gave her a nickname before he even met her because he read her file and basically stalked her at the behest of his boss.)
THE PLOT & ENDING:
It’s a bit predictable at times, but not enough to spoil the major mysteries too much. There were definitely still surprises. The mysteries were interesting and kept my attention.
At times, I thought the pace was bogged down a bit by descriptions of clothes, picking out clothes, and fancy things. The main character had an interest in fashion/fancy things and sometimes these descriptions were relevant to the plot, so it made sense to include them. I’m not really interested in fashion or general fanciness, so I found those (usually brief) digressions a bit boring.
The only major problem with the plot was that it felt…. unfinished. No major plot arcs are resolved. No short-term plot arcs are resolved to give you closure while a long-term arc remains unfinished. You don’t even know what the main antagonist wants or is planning. Add to that a twist introduced at the end of the book that introduced a new plotline and created a mini cliffhanger.
All in all, this book wouldn’t be a complete story as a standalone.This makes it hard to judge the story on its own. It all depends on Book 2 in this series.
I received a free digital advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Blackmail, coercion, rape attemptelizabeth_delozier's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the first book in a new YA Sci-Fi Romance series. This book was an entertaining enough for my to finish, but I have yet to decide if I will continue the series when the second book releases in early 2023.
The series features an academy of time travelling teens who are collected by Arthur, the head of the school, in order to use the teens to fulfil his own devious plans that have yet to be revealed to the reader and also to act as "collectors" of history. Natasha, our FMC, is essentially vetted for the academy and gaslighted into choosing to drop her previous life to join an academy that she knows nothing about. She soon discovers many secrets of the academy while attempting to move up ranks. All the while, dealing with her feelings for and relationship with Braxton, the guy who brought her to the academy, and realizes that she is unlikely to form bonds she can trust at this school.
If you are here for the time travel - please don't expect the theory to be present or hold much wait to this story. Though, I still enjoyed the time travel component of the story.
Also, the book starts off (prior to the preface) with a lengthy explanation of numerology and tarot that was both uninformative and unnecessary to the story. This is especially true given that it is basically reexplained each time the main character is discussing numerology or tarot with another character or through internal dialogue. Ultimately, the entire use of both numerology and tarot seems like an aspect of the book that could have been left out entirely, putting that effort into enhancing the time travel aspect of the story or perhaps giving us more information of the goings on at the academy, as both of these topics are largely glossed over and the reader expected to just play along, while the author chooses to do basic math for the reader instead. Seems like an odd choice.
What really kept me engaged was the relationship with Braxton, who is a bit of a mystery. We don't know a lot about him and the author does a great job making the reader want to unravel the mystery of his past: why is he at the academy, what does he feel so guilty about, what kinds of shady things has he done at the academy and for Arthur, and are his feelings for Natasha genuine.
If you had asked me at 50% if I would be continuing the series, I would have said no. However, the ending had so many curve balls that I am rather intrigued to see where the next book takes these characters. Whether or not I continue with this series will likely depend on how much I find myself thinking about these characters over the next few months.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Suzy Jackson (primary narrator), Pete Bradbury, and Julian Elfer, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by RB Media in exchange for an honest review.
The series features an academy of time travelling teens who are collected by Arthur, the head of the school, in order to use the teens to fulfil his own devious plans that have yet to be revealed to the reader and also to act as "collectors" of history. Natasha, our FMC, is essentially vetted for the academy and gaslighted into choosing to drop her previous life to join an academy that she knows nothing about. She soon discovers many secrets of the academy while attempting to move up ranks. All the while, dealing with her feelings for and relationship with Braxton, the guy who brought her to the academy, and realizes that she is unlikely to form bonds she can trust at this school.
If you are here for the time travel - please don't expect the theory to be present or hold much wait to this story. Though, I still enjoyed the time travel component of the story.
Also, the book starts off (prior to the preface) with a lengthy explanation of numerology and tarot that was both uninformative and unnecessary to the story. This is especially true given that it is basically reexplained each time the main character is discussing numerology or tarot with another character or through internal dialogue. Ultimately, the entire use of both numerology and tarot seems like an aspect of the book that could have been left out entirely, putting that effort into enhancing the time travel aspect of the story or perhaps giving us more information of the goings on at the academy, as both of these topics are largely glossed over and the reader expected to just play along, while the author chooses to do basic math for the reader instead. Seems like an odd choice.
What really kept me engaged was the relationship with Braxton, who is a bit of a mystery. We don't know a lot about him and the author does a great job making the reader want to unravel the mystery of his past: why is he at the academy, what does he feel so guilty about, what kinds of shady things has he done at the academy and for Arthur, and are his feelings for Natasha genuine.
If you had asked me at 50% if I would be continuing the series, I would have said no. However, the ending had so many curve balls that I am rather intrigued to see where the next book takes these characters. Whether or not I continue with this series will likely depend on how much I find myself thinking about these characters over the next few months.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Suzy Jackson (primary narrator), Pete Bradbury, and Julian Elfer, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by RB Media in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
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