Saturday, December 20, 2014

{Book Review} A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1): Claudia Gray

Rating: 87%
Series: Firebird Trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Page Count: 357
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Nobles

Goodreads Synopsis: Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father's killer through multiple dimensions. Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You, the first book in the Firebird trilogy, explores an amazingly intricate multiverse where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.


Who Would I Recommend This Book To?
Fans of Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc (P.K. Hezro) & Dissonance (Erica O'Rouke) & Pivot Point   (Kasie West)

Background & Backstory
I heard about this book about a month before it came out, read it (mostly) because of the gorgeous cover, and read it. Not that much of a back story.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?
Tons of buildup.... but not explosive ending.

Make It A Sequel Or a Standalone? 95% of the time, I agree wholeheartedly with the author's choice to make a book a standalone or leave it open ended for a sequel. (There is the case, of course, where I want to author to write more books, but you get my point) However, with A Thousand Pieces of You, I don't think there should be a sequel with the way Gray set things up. I feel like it would have been easier to add an extra 50 pages and call it a day. There is definitely set-up for a sequel, I just felt that I wasn't convinced that I immediately NEED the sequel. All of the action and suspense 

Premise | 100%: I'm not sure this book's premise could have gotten any better. It was about a girl chasing down her father's murderer through various parallel universes. That just sounds like the "it" book of premise AND cover. Parallel Universes as well as Time Travel are two incredibly difficult concepts for scientists, let alone everyday people to grasp. Yet, fiction gives people the chance to invent their own answers and theories and no one can LEGITIMATELY challenge an author on their scientific integrity because it's assumed there is none. With that said, the way Claudia Gray both explained and sculpted the parallel universes was so easy to understand and mind boggling at the same time. 

Different Universes | 60%: The universes were extremely interesting because each one was created if something happened/some choice was made in the past that effects the current time when the traveler jumps between universes. The ones Marguerite spent the most time in were the most developed. Especially the Russian one where she was royalty (for an image of that universe, look at the bottom half of the ATPOY cover). There was also one where she and her family lived in an underwater colony (which was an extremely interesting concept). Besides that, they were all extremely similar and I felt there wasn't enough differentiation between them to make a comment. Although the VERY first one she jumps through is featured on the top half of the cover and looks so futuristic-ey and cool.

Romance | 70%: It was hard for me to differentiate my feelings for the romance and characters because in each universe, although the same person, the person has been effected in different ways.... and is therefore different in mannerisms and characteristics, such as hobbies. For example, Marguerite is a drawer in one world, a painter in another. Therefore, her relationship with both Theo and Paul is different. Without spoiling things, I would like to say that Marguerite and Paul's relationship in Russia makes me want to swoon.

Originality | 90%: There has never been a popularized, Young Adult book with Parallel Universes that isn't an extremely complicated Science-Fiction. It's hard to answer, "What books can I read that are like A Thousand Pieces of You?" because there are literally no other ones like ATPOY. The premise is completely original and the plot is a basic murder mystery with the added bonus of different personalities and conditions in different universes. No biggie, right?

Cover | 100%: A Thousand Pieces of You won with a landslide in the Book Shimmy Awards for the Cover Lust award with over HALF of the votes. It's gorgeous online and even better in person. (Although the texture could be better) On top of that, the font is one that I haven't seen before that looks incredible against the dark purple naked book.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read The Sequel?
40%
Like I JUST said, I thought it would have been good as a standalone because the build-up for the next book isn't very large. I'm not dying to know what will happen, but if I have the time, I will definitely get around to it.... eventually.

Conclusion: A completely original premise with a gorgeous cover to match and a sizzling romance people are sure to enjoy.


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