The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
fictionalkate's review against another edition
5.0
When Marguerite Caine's parents invent a device which makes the idea of travelling between universes a reality, it ends in murder. With her father gone, Marguerite (along with science geek Theo) use the device to track down the murderer. But nothing is every as simple as it seems and they are led on a chase though multiple dimensions before they can find the person responsible and find the truth.
To sum my feelings up for this book in one word? Epic.
Alternate realities, parallel universes and the Firebird - a device which can help travel between them. A Thousand Pieces of You is a mind-blowing, heart wrenching, one of a kind read. I couldn't put it down. Between Marguerite's determination to track down her father's murderer and finding different facets of herself in the most impossible places - this book blew me away. I loved it.
One of the things which is first apparent about A Thousand Pieces of You is how well crafted the universe is. Each dimension is entirely believable within the realm of this novel because of how ingeniously simple they are. Each one is so very like the real world with slight changes which result in these universes being so very different from the world we know. There was no point whilst reading that I didn't completely believe Marguerite, Theo and Paul were wherever they were supposed to be at any specific time.
Taking the reader from the present day to a futuristic London, historical Russia and other realms was incredible. All the universes visited felt authentic despite being world apart in so many ways. Marguerite was a character who embraced her reality in order to get justice for her father. But despite her gung-ho attitude to retribution, Marguerite was real and beautifully complex. She didn't let the worlds around her overshadow her own thoughts and feelings. Her ability to remain true to herself despite being other versions of the girl she's been her whole life was admirable.
The supporting cast was also great in their own ways. There is a romance in this novel which I feel even the most cynical love triangle critics will appreciated how it is handled. The romance adds to Marguerite's confusion but in no way detracts from the overall story. I enjoyed how the parents were a constant presence despite being "off-screen" so to speak for most of the novel.
To put it simply - I loved this book. The story is so strong even non sci-fi fans will be able to appreciate the creative and inventive concepts within the novel. There are twists and turns I wasn't expecting but loved discovering as they unfolded. The characters are strong and their authenticity made this book feel realistic despite the impossibilities of inter-dimensional travel. The story is complete on its own but I'm delighted that there is a sequel in the works. A Thousand Pieces of You was a pleasure to read and I can definitely say it has been one of my favourite reads of 2014.
Note: I recommend this book for fans of Distruption or Between the Lives (both by Jessica Shirvington), or All Our Yesterdays (by Cristin Terrill).
Thanks to Harper Collins YA Australia for the review copy
To sum my feelings up for this book in one word? Epic.
Alternate realities, parallel universes and the Firebird - a device which can help travel between them. A Thousand Pieces of You is a mind-blowing, heart wrenching, one of a kind read. I couldn't put it down. Between Marguerite's determination to track down her father's murderer and finding different facets of herself in the most impossible places - this book blew me away. I loved it.
One of the things which is first apparent about A Thousand Pieces of You is how well crafted the universe is. Each dimension is entirely believable within the realm of this novel because of how ingeniously simple they are. Each one is so very like the real world with slight changes which result in these universes being so very different from the world we know. There was no point whilst reading that I didn't completely believe Marguerite, Theo and Paul were wherever they were supposed to be at any specific time.
Taking the reader from the present day to a futuristic London, historical Russia and other realms was incredible. All the universes visited felt authentic despite being world apart in so many ways. Marguerite was a character who embraced her reality in order to get justice for her father. But despite her gung-ho attitude to retribution, Marguerite was real and beautifully complex. She didn't let the worlds around her overshadow her own thoughts and feelings. Her ability to remain true to herself despite being other versions of the girl she's been her whole life was admirable.
The supporting cast was also great in their own ways. There is a romance in this novel which I feel even the most cynical love triangle critics will appreciated how it is handled. The romance adds to Marguerite's confusion but in no way detracts from the overall story. I enjoyed how the parents were a constant presence despite being "off-screen" so to speak for most of the novel.
To put it simply - I loved this book. The story is so strong even non sci-fi fans will be able to appreciate the creative and inventive concepts within the novel. There are twists and turns I wasn't expecting but loved discovering as they unfolded. The characters are strong and their authenticity made this book feel realistic despite the impossibilities of inter-dimensional travel. The story is complete on its own but I'm delighted that there is a sequel in the works. A Thousand Pieces of You was a pleasure to read and I can definitely say it has been one of my favourite reads of 2014.
Note: I recommend this book for fans of Distruption or Between the Lives (both by Jessica Shirvington), or All Our Yesterdays (by Cristin Terrill).
Thanks to Harper Collins YA Australia for the review copy
sophievigeant's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
spiringvenus's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by TikTok. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, and even though some plot points are predictable (I called it at 15% read) there were other twists that took me by surprise.
Things I liked:
Marguerite and Paul in Russia
Thinking about fate and ethics in relation to the multiverse
All of the brothers and sisters
Marguerite’s artistry and not being a science whiz
Things I didn’t like:
Predictable plot points
Some things were a little too convenient (Firebird is magically given back)
Marguerite didn't even go to her dad’s funeral before she plots revenge
Things I liked:
Marguerite and Paul in Russia
Thinking about fate and ethics in relation to the multiverse
All of the brothers and sisters
Marguerite’s artistry and not being a science whiz
Things I didn’t like:
Predictable plot points
Some things were a little too convenient (Firebird is magically given back)
Marguerite didn't even go to her dad’s funeral before she plots revenge
vanessamariebooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. Link to video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL471ud2sUU
usandalgona's review against another edition
I didn't like the writing at first, got used to it, and tore through some 150 pages. Then I started getting bored, started figuring stuff out and it just wasn't worth it for me.
There's no research into physics, not even a little. I think it would've been awesome to talk more about waves beyond resonance. And it'd be cool to creatively think up an explanation behind maintaining consciousness while traveling between dimensions. I do like physics and its concepts, so that obviously forms a lot of my bias for this kind of critique. But just something to think about for my own writing as well. How crucial research is when undergoing this kind of project.
If you don't at least provide some creative explanation for the fundamentals of the Firebird, I don't really see the point in reading it. The premise itself is fascinating but...
Also it's easy to guess that Paul already knows about a potential Marguerite double who betrays him, so he's not telling her everything. I checked with another book in the series by looking at the summary and there is apparently a Marguerite double. I just wished there was more beyond that. More depth. More something.
All of the significant events are remarkably predictable. Which is unfortunate. But I enjoyed the first few pages while tearing through them, so it's not bad. It just could've used its potential a lot better. I kind of see this as a missed opportunity.
There's no research into physics, not even a little. I think it would've been awesome to talk more about waves beyond resonance. And it'd be cool to creatively think up an explanation behind maintaining consciousness while traveling between dimensions. I do like physics and its concepts, so that obviously forms a lot of my bias for this kind of critique. But just something to think about for my own writing as well. How crucial research is when undergoing this kind of project.
If you don't at least provide some creative explanation for the fundamentals of the Firebird, I don't really see the point in reading it. The premise itself is fascinating but...
Also it's easy to guess that Paul already knows about a potential Marguerite double who betrays him, so he's not telling her everything. I checked with another book in the series by looking at the summary and there is apparently a Marguerite double. I just wished there was more beyond that. More depth. More something.
All of the significant events are remarkably predictable. Which is unfortunate. But I enjoyed the first few pages while tearing through them, so it's not bad. It just could've used its potential a lot better. I kind of see this as a missed opportunity.
foreverburningred's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! It was sci-fi with romance thrown in. I usually don't do sci-fi because i'm super picky about it. I saw the cover of this book and i'll admit I was super shallow and picked it up because of that. It's so pretty. Don't judge me. The synopsis sounded great to me so I jumped in and i'm glad I did.
It follows Marguerite who's dad has been murdered. His alleged murderer has fled to another dimension via the Firebird, a device Marguerite's parents invented for dimension hopping. These different worlds were described so well for me. I have issues with not being able to picture people (google face blind if you're interested) so I focus a lot on the settings. It was really well done. Marguerite also finds herself falling in love with an unlikely character.
My only issue with this book was the foundation for the romance between the two characters (No spoilers). It felt like we just rushed in with no real background. The story does jump to past memories to give us a feel for Marguerite and the one she falls in love with. However, this wasn't enough to me. I didn't feel the connection as well as I wanted to because of this.
Otherwise, a great book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
It follows Marguerite who's dad has been murdered. His alleged murderer has fled to another dimension via the Firebird, a device Marguerite's parents invented for dimension hopping. These different worlds were described so well for me. I have issues with not being able to picture people (google face blind if you're interested) so I focus a lot on the settings. It was really well done. Marguerite also finds herself falling in love with an unlikely character.
My only issue with this book was the foundation for the romance between the two characters (No spoilers). It felt like we just rushed in with no real background. The story does jump to past memories to give us a feel for Marguerite and the one she falls in love with. However, this wasn't enough to me. I didn't feel the connection as well as I wanted to because of this.
Otherwise, a great book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
no_gardenofeden's review against another edition
2.0
No quería hacer una reseña que pudiera ofender a Gray o a sus fans, pero, sinceramente, ¿qué cojones ha sido eso?
Cuando me enteré de la existencia de este libro gracias a una lectura conjunta que hicieron varios booktubers (a los que la mayoría de los cuales tomo como referencia para próximas lecturas) tuve que hacerme con él "right away", por el gran hype que me creó la existencia de un libro que tratase un tema que me llamase tanto la atención como es el de las realidades alternativas.
Sin embargo, A Thousand Pieces of You ha resultado ser una solemne y aburrida decepción. Para ser un tema tan amplio, pudiendo marcarse escenas de acción épicas, increíbles escenarios y grandes cambios en la trama, Gray da mucha más importancia a un amor "azúcar glass" forzado que digo yo, que no viene a cuento, y que es más plano que una tabla de planchar... Eso, acompañado de los mil y un pasajes de "voy a intentar meter algo de acción pero no me sale", no sé, ya me entendéis.
Le doy una estrella por tratar el tema de las realidades alternativas que, a pesar de que la novela se me haya hecho un infierno, Gray construye una buena base sobre la que fundamentarse, y sobre todo, dejando muy claro como funcionan los viajes interdimensionales. Y la segunda estrella la añado para no darle TAN baja puntuación, con el motivo de que habiendo leído el libro he conseguido recuperarme del parón que tenía (maldito Doctor Who ¬¬') y recuperar las ganas de leer algo por lo que realmente merezca la pena perder el tiempo.
El único motivo por el que lo he terminado ha sido por ver si la autora se dignaba ha marcarse un GRAN plot-twist (y no las mierdas previsibles que hay en este libro), que, sin ánimo de hacer spoilers, no he encontrado en la novela. Lo único que quería era terminarlo y dejarlo en la fila de atrás de la estantería.
Sinceramente, nunca había leído nada de Gray y dudo mucho que vuelva a hacerlo.
Cuando me enteré de la existencia de este libro gracias a una lectura conjunta que hicieron varios booktubers (a los que la mayoría de los cuales tomo como referencia para próximas lecturas) tuve que hacerme con él "right away", por el gran hype que me creó la existencia de un libro que tratase un tema que me llamase tanto la atención como es el de las realidades alternativas.
Sin embargo, A Thousand Pieces of You ha resultado ser una solemne y aburrida decepción. Para ser un tema tan amplio, pudiendo marcarse escenas de acción épicas, increíbles escenarios y grandes cambios en la trama, Gray da mucha más importancia a un amor "azúcar glass" forzado que digo yo, que no viene a cuento, y que es más plano que una tabla de planchar... Eso, acompañado de los mil y un pasajes de "voy a intentar meter algo de acción pero no me sale", no sé, ya me entendéis.
Le doy una estrella por tratar el tema de las realidades alternativas que, a pesar de que la novela se me haya hecho un infierno, Gray construye una buena base sobre la que fundamentarse, y sobre todo, dejando muy claro como funcionan los viajes interdimensionales. Y la segunda estrella la añado para no darle TAN baja puntuación, con el motivo de que habiendo leído el libro he conseguido recuperarme del parón que tenía (maldito Doctor Who ¬¬') y recuperar las ganas de leer algo por lo que realmente merezca la pena perder el tiempo.
El único motivo por el que lo he terminado ha sido por ver si la autora se dignaba ha marcarse un GRAN plot-twist (y no las mierdas previsibles que hay en este libro), que, sin ánimo de hacer spoilers, no he encontrado en la novela. Lo único que quería era terminarlo y dejarlo en la fila de atrás de la estantería.
Sinceramente, nunca había leído nada de Gray y dudo mucho que vuelva a hacerlo.
marisamoo's review against another edition
2.0
I WANTED TO LOVE THIS SO MUCH
Review can be found also at twoamreaders.blogspot.com
Genre: Ehhhh sci-fi ish romance
Feelings: No .-.
Happiness: A few bits I liked
Cuteness: no -.- Besides sibling cute
Fast pacing: no
Series: Yes
Read if you like: Romance
Content: Some swearing. And a few scenes that REAALLLYY didn't need to be there
In one sentence... The love story between two teens traveling through dimensions trying to solve a mystery
Overall:
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
This review has VERY LIGHT SPOILERS.
The Lovely Bits:
Obviously the cover is the best part of this book. I seriously think this is one of the most gorgeous covers of 2014. I love city-scapes on covers, as well as watercolors, so this cover really did it for me.
The changing settings and atmosphere was really very lovely. I loved the Russian setting, and the peek into different lives. I also appreciated the fact that this is one of the few books I have read that acknowledged real things, like girl stuff. Very few books actually have that as an event in a story.
Really... Meg was a fine character when you saw her with her family and friends. I like her little sass-offs with her siblings in the different universes. I liked watching her talk with her parents. I /liked/ her when she wasn't being defined by her relationship to Theo and Paul.
The Less Lovely Bits:
The romance. Okay. I am a huge hopeless romantic. I love romance. A lot. I thought for sure I would like this. A romance taking places in different dimension? Yes!
No.
This book tried so freaking hard.
It tried to be funny. It tried to be cute. It tried to be epic sci-fi. It tried to have a strong willed main character. It tried to be eloquent and have lovely passages describing grief and pain. It tried...too hard. And I think after I've read so many more books that have beautifully described pain...this one did nothing to me.
The prose was so lacking it made me want to cry and steal to cover away to give to a different book. But what made it worse is the prose was trying not to be lacking.
The romance was gag-worthy. They were the type of couple I really should like. But after so many attempts at little cute couple catch-phrases,,, I was done. They weren't real to me. I simply did not care about their relationship.
Meg. When she was talking about Theo and Paul, I was so done with her.
To begin with she was so gullible. Barely halfway through the whole synopsis the book talked about was over and we find out that Paul IS NOT the killer. And Meg gets all "OMG good because I love you!"
Cringe.
Meg was so cringe-worthy at times. Of course, yes, she is flat chested and -not like other girls-. What's wrong with other girls? Why must every character be categorized as odd duck to be liked?
And I really wasn't buying her whole art thing. Her hobby should have been endearing but it was not. And all the scenes when she goes on about how guys are all over her and she thinks Paul or whoever are impressed? Ugh.
And certain scenes. The swearing. The objectifying of woman in certain scenes. The sex. The extent of the tongue-kissing descriptions. See, normally scenes don't bug me that much. It's annoying, but it's a thing that happened. Unless its explicit, it normally doesn't bug me. But in this book it did.
See, here is what happened. When I saw that cover, I went into the book expecting something whimsical and eloquent story.
I didn't get it.
In the end, I did like it. It was far from perfect, but I don't think I regret reading it. While I don't see myself recommending it to many people, I don't think I will be too upset over buying it. There were scenes and moments I loved, and the cover will look amazing on my shelf.
And yes, I will be reading the next books. It is unlikely I will buy them, but I will hold on to the hope that the stories will get better.
Either that, or I hope the covers get ugly so I don't feel so distraught at the waste.
Review can be found also at twoamreaders.blogspot.com
Genre: Ehhhh sci-fi ish romance
Feelings: No .-.
Happiness: A few bits I liked
Cuteness: no -.- Besides sibling cute
Fast pacing: no
Series: Yes
Read if you like: Romance
Content: Some swearing. And a few scenes that REAALLLYY didn't need to be there
In one sentence... The love story between two teens traveling through dimensions trying to solve a mystery
Overall:
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
This review has VERY LIGHT SPOILERS.
The Lovely Bits:
Obviously the cover is the best part of this book. I seriously think this is one of the most gorgeous covers of 2014. I love city-scapes on covers, as well as watercolors, so this cover really did it for me.
The changing settings and atmosphere was really very lovely. I loved the Russian setting, and the peek into different lives. I also appreciated the fact that this is one of the few books I have read that acknowledged real things, like girl stuff. Very few books actually have that as an event in a story.
Really... Meg was a fine character when you saw her with her family and friends. I like her little sass-offs with her siblings in the different universes. I liked watching her talk with her parents. I /liked/ her when she wasn't being defined by her relationship to Theo and Paul.
The Less Lovely Bits:
The romance. Okay. I am a huge hopeless romantic. I love romance. A lot. I thought for sure I would like this. A romance taking places in different dimension? Yes!
No.
This book tried so freaking hard.
It tried to be funny. It tried to be cute. It tried to be epic sci-fi. It tried to have a strong willed main character. It tried to be eloquent and have lovely passages describing grief and pain. It tried...too hard. And I think after I've read so many more books that have beautifully described pain...this one did nothing to me.
The prose was so lacking it made me want to cry and steal to cover away to give to a different book. But what made it worse is the prose was trying not to be lacking.
The romance was gag-worthy. They were the type of couple I really should like. But after so many attempts at little cute couple catch-phrases,,, I was done. They weren't real to me. I simply did not care about their relationship.
Meg. When she was talking about Theo and Paul, I was so done with her.
To begin with she was so gullible. Barely halfway through the whole synopsis the book talked about was over and we find out that Paul IS NOT the killer. And Meg gets all "OMG good because I love you!"
Cringe.
Meg was so cringe-worthy at times. Of course, yes, she is flat chested and -not like other girls-. What's wrong with other girls? Why must every character be categorized as odd duck to be liked?
And I really wasn't buying her whole art thing. Her hobby should have been endearing but it was not. And all the scenes when she goes on about how guys are all over her and she thinks Paul or whoever are impressed? Ugh.
And certain scenes. The swearing. The objectifying of woman in certain scenes. The sex. The extent of the tongue-kissing descriptions. See, normally scenes don't bug me that much. It's annoying, but it's a thing that happened. Unless its explicit, it normally doesn't bug me. But in this book it did.
See, here is what happened. When I saw that cover, I went into the book expecting something whimsical and eloquent story.
I didn't get it.
In the end, I did like it. It was far from perfect, but I don't think I regret reading it. While I don't see myself recommending it to many people, I don't think I will be too upset over buying it. There were scenes and moments I loved, and the cover will look amazing on my shelf.
And yes, I will be reading the next books. It is unlikely I will buy them, but I will hold on to the hope that the stories will get better.
Either that, or I hope the covers get ugly so I don't feel so distraught at the waste.