A Thousand Pieces Of You by Claudia Gray

A Thousand Pieces Of You by Claudia Gray

Release Date - November 4, 2014

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 368 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

A novel with parallel universes offers up endless possibilities. You're only as restricted as your imagination, and Claudia Gray shows that she is going to take full advantage of this fact in her new series. A fun, twisty, and engaging read that will immediately make you wish that you could time travel yourself.

The world building, obviously, is stunning. There is not just one world being explored and built, but many. The ease in which it all ties together and blends into the story is well crafted and executed. The novel truly shines when focusing on the endless possibilities that time/space travel opens up. When and where can our characters go? The answer, much to my delight, is anywhere and everywhere. There are rules and logic built into the theory and laws of the world, which add another layer to the story. There is thought and planning put into the dynamics at play in this novel, and it shows.

Every single thing that you think you know going into this novel will be shattered. There are so many twists, turns, and reveals that you'll be totally engrossed. I am talking 'miss your bus stop, and stay up until two in the morning' engrossed. You may think you know what is going on, and how the story will go, but Claudia Gray offers up surprises at every turn.

I hesitate to call this science fiction but there are elements of it throughout the entire novel. It's sort of 'sci-fi light' and very accessible to those who think this type of novel may not be for them. Multiple universes, and time travel can get intricate and complicated but Claudia Gray keeps it clear and concise. Those looking for an in depth time travel/science heavy novel may be disappointed, as this is much more mystery and character driven than it appears.

While the story is moved forward by the characters, I didn't feel like I got to know them as well as I would have liked. They are interesting, and there are hints of things to come. This is a series that revolves around its complicated world building, and plot rather than its characters though. The potential is there for more character growth and development in the future installments, and I hope it is utilized.

The romance in this story is extremely steamy with plenty to swoon over. These connections are really captivating, and immediately makes you invested in the people involved. This love triangle works, and it's because both boys involved have secrets they are hiding. Their true intentions are always hidden and it creates an element of extra danger to the emotional ties Marguerite (and the reader) is developing with both guys. The two boys have a connection and purpose outside the triangle which adds a depth to the romance and the story. It makes the romance feel organic, instead of forced into the story.

A book that offers up plenty of fun, romance, and surprises. It's world building opens up the entire world, with limitless possibilities. It's one trip you'll want to take, as it can lead anywhere. I eagerly await it's sequels to see how the world, it's characters and the mystery deepens and changes.

Fateful by Claudia Grey

Fateful by Claudia Grey
Release Date – September 13, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins (HarperTeen)
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 356
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic

I am fascinated by the story of the Titanic and was very excited when I heard about this novel. I wasn’t really sure if this was going to work, or if it would be awkward. Luckily, it’s anything but awkward. It’s a interesting tale that drew me in right from the beginning.

This was my first novel by Claudia Grey, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Her writing style, at least for this novel, is perfect. She immediately makes you feel like you’re back in 1912. The language conjures up that time period effortlessly, while allowing current readers to enjoy it as well.

The amount of research that had to have be done to write this novel is astounding. The Titanic is fully described and detailed in the novel. I felt like I was on board the ship, and could easily picture the different decks, and areas on board. As you are reading, knowing the outcome of the Titanic, you can’t help but feel a sense of impending panic. You know what’s going to happen and as these characters are dealing with other, very intense (hello, werewolves) issues you dread what is coming.

The characters are well written, fully developed and interesting. Tess Davies is strong willed, intelligent, and sticks to what she believes in. She is also loyal, and very kind. Every time she did something that would anger her employers I had to cheer because she was doing what she wanted.

Alec is noble, a gentleman, and wants very badly to do the right thing. He does not wish to cause anyone harm. He is a good match for Tess, and you hope for a happy ending to their story.

The other characters are just as interesting. I loved to dislike Mikhail, and Lady Regina. Ned, George, Irene and Myriam were all great characters that you ended up caring about. It makes it jarring to realize that not all of them will make it off the Titanic at the end of our story.

The ending, when the Titanic starts to sink, is pulse pounding. I could almost feel what it would be like to be aboard during this horrific event. The panic, the confusion and terror that would have been experienced is something I can only imagine. Claudia manages to give a taste of what it might have been like.

This is a story that while intriguing for it’s paranormal aspects, could stand on it’s Titanic storyline alone, and is one I recommend to anyone interested in either. Don’t be surprised if you want to watch the movie once finished though.