ashleykwbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was awesome! It had a very slow start and some issues but overall... pirates, time travel, myths come to life.. that's everything I've ever wanted in a book! Heidi Heiling has a lovely writing style and you can definitely tell she has roots in Hawaii and NY. Nix is a fun, smart young woman scared of losing all she knows for her fathers dream to have a life with her mother who passed away giving birth to her. Therefore she feels that his sorrow is because of her. They go on a journey across time and myth and discover many things including the meaning of destiny. The whole story ties in so well together from start to finish. The only issue I had was I went into this expecting more time travel adventures and they spent most of the time in Hawaii but after dragging my feet and slowly getting through the first half of the book I was very happy and excited for the middle and conclusion of the book! Also it's super awesome that Heidi wrote a song for her book you can listen to it here:
http://epicreads.tumblr.com/post/139193061311/listen-to-the-song-inspired-by-the-girl-from
http://epicreads.tumblr.com/post/139193061311/listen-to-the-song-inspired-by-the-girl-from
meagan_kay's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, unique time travel read! Not only was this book a great read with fantastic characters, but it taught me a bit of history which is always a good thing (to me at least). I'd definitely recommend it!
bookshop_b's review against another edition
2.0
I thought this book would have everything I could ever ask for in a book. Tall ships, time travel, 1800s fashion, parties, a heist, a tragic love story, a dragon - I mean, I was so keen for this book.
But somehow this book book failed to impress me. Towards the end I had to force myself to finish it because I had made it so far. But the question that is still rattling around my head is - why did I not love this book?
And I still can't find the answer. I think this book and I just didn't click in the way I thought we would. I had imagined a dramatic love story between the two of us but all I ended up with was an unhappy marriage. Like we had fallen in love too quickly without getting to know each other well enough before spending our lives together.
Nevertheless, the book wasn't awful and did make me smile (it was mainly the pearl-eating dragon) but I don't think I'll be reading the second one in a hurry.
But somehow this book book failed to impress me. Towards the end I had to force myself to finish it because I had made it so far. But the question that is still rattling around my head is - why did I not love this book?
And I still can't find the answer. I think this book and I just didn't click in the way I thought we would. I had imagined a dramatic love story between the two of us but all I ended up with was an unhappy marriage. Like we had fallen in love too quickly without getting to know each other well enough before spending our lives together.
Nevertheless, the book wasn't awful and did make me smile (it was mainly the pearl-eating dragon) but I don't think I'll be reading the second one in a hurry.
ttfa's review against another edition
3.0
[3.5 stars]
The difference between my expectation of what I wanted from this book vs what it actually was actually not too bad? I admit I thought the book would have a lot more adventure and travel to a variety of places with the time travel aspect, but I still enjoyed it for the most part, though I do wish it had capitalised on the time travel aspect more.
I think the book was slow at times but it also gave it a nice kind of rhythmn? I quite liked the description as well.
Really, the fact that I continued to read this even though there was a [shudder] love triangle says something. I think there was a 'spark' in this book that kept me going, enough to make me curious about the next book.
The difference between my expectation of what I wanted from this book vs what it actually was actually not too bad? I admit I thought the book would have a lot more adventure and travel to a variety of places with the time travel aspect, but I still enjoyed it for the most part, though I do wish it had capitalised on the time travel aspect more.
I think the book was slow at times but it also gave it a nice kind of rhythmn? I quite liked the description as well.
Really, the fact that I continued to read this even though there was a [shudder] love triangle says something. I think there was a 'spark' in this book that kept me going, enough to make me curious about the next book.
artemistheactivist's review against another edition
5.0
Such a well thought of, thrilling, and loving story. Heidi continued to surprise me with the coolest mixtures of documented history, tales, myths, and legends! I was deeply touched by the thread throughout the book showing the devastating results of colonialist - and human in general - influences and greed on lands, cultures, people, understandings and beliefs, and NATURE....
cjbjork's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
megancrews's review against another edition
3.0
Time-traveling pirates? Count me in. Heidi Helig has offered up just such delicious fare withthe first installment in her new teen series.
Nix, whose father is the captain of The Temptation, has grown up on the ship traveling to any far flung place in time they happen to have a map for, including magical and mythological locales. The eccentric crew members are the closest thing she has to family. But, one place always beckons her father back, the place where he lost Nix’s mother. If he could get back, perhaps he could save her.
Time travel has rules, however. The crew can never use the same map twice, and the map must be an original reflection of the place in time it was created. While the captain would do anything to get his hands on a usable map of 1868 Honolulu, it is hard to find one that will actually work.
To acquire a potentially usable map, the crew will have to pull of more than one major heist. Since piracy is never as simple as it sounds, they must also deal with unforeseen obstacles along the way.
Nix’s complex relationship with her father is especially compelling, though there are also hints of romance. Nix best friend aboard the ship may have deeper feelings, and she also meets an enigmatic stranger who will test her loyalties to the ship and the crew.
Helig’s, a native Hawaiian, ties in a surprising amount of actual history concerning the island at this pivotal time in its history and her descriptions of the place, the people, and the food are magical.
Nix, whose father is the captain of The Temptation, has grown up on the ship traveling to any far flung place in time they happen to have a map for, including magical and mythological locales. The eccentric crew members are the closest thing she has to family. But, one place always beckons her father back, the place where he lost Nix’s mother. If he could get back, perhaps he could save her.
Time travel has rules, however. The crew can never use the same map twice, and the map must be an original reflection of the place in time it was created. While the captain would do anything to get his hands on a usable map of 1868 Honolulu, it is hard to find one that will actually work.
To acquire a potentially usable map, the crew will have to pull of more than one major heist. Since piracy is never as simple as it sounds, they must also deal with unforeseen obstacles along the way.
Nix’s complex relationship with her father is especially compelling, though there are also hints of romance. Nix best friend aboard the ship may have deeper feelings, and she also meets an enigmatic stranger who will test her loyalties to the ship and the crew.
Helig’s, a native Hawaiian, ties in a surprising amount of actual history concerning the island at this pivotal time in its history and her descriptions of the place, the people, and the food are magical.
internationalkris's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed joining Nix and her shipmates for some Navigation through time and space. Even better were the forays into the mystical worlds. If I had the power to travel into any map which destinations would I pick? What a fabulous question for a fictional journey! Interestingly some of our favorite winter vacation movies connected strongly to the themes in this book, namely The Arrival with its holistic understanding of time, La La Land with its alternative ending, and even Rogue One in which the characters pursue their mission despite the cost. Thanks for the great rec NPR!
gwynne104's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
I've read so many 'meh' books lately that I was starting to worry I might need a break from reading. Not so. This book was refreshingly original. The plot was as complicated as it should be (time travel!) and everything was rooted in real history, myth, and legend. Rich literary references and likable but intensely flawed characters were a welcome break from the oversimplified YA I've been picking up lately.