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「２年前に来て、俺を捜しておくれ」
この短い言葉がアイスホッケーをするおてんば娘、アリゾナを異次元の世界に追いやってしまう。
突如、彼女は華やかなチアリーダーの生活を送っている自分を見いだすのだった。彼女のパパとの幸福な生活から、彼女の忌み嫌うママとの生活に移行してしまった彼女。
アリゾナ・ダーリーとして皆に知られる彼女は、本当はアリゾナ・スティーブンスだったのだ。
真実を見つけようとする葛藤の中で確かなことは二つ。彼女の母がこれに関わっていること、そして彼女はもとの生活に戻ることを望んでいることだった。
しかしケランに出会った彼女は...
「ポータル」はポータル・クロニクルズシリーズの第１巻目です。
この短い言葉がアイスホッケーをするおてんば娘、アリゾナを異次元の世界に追いやってしまう。
突如、彼女は華やかなチアリーダーの生活を送っている自分を見いだすのだった。彼女のパパとの幸福な生活から、彼女の忌み嫌うママとの生活に移行してしまった彼女。
アリゾナ・ダーリーとして皆に知られる彼女は、本当はアリゾナ・スティーブンスだったのだ。
真実を見つけようとする葛藤の中で確かなことは二つ。彼女の母がこれに関わっていること、そして彼女はもとの生活に戻ることを望んでいることだった。
しかしケランに出会った彼女は...
「ポータル」はポータル・クロニクルズシリーズの第１巻目です。
First published August 27, 2012
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About the author
Imogen Rose
22 books589 followersImogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, the Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
November 4, 2016
Liked the concept and idea behind this but I'm not sure I loved the whole story or the MC as much as I should have. The writing was okay, hopefully it gets stronger as the series continues.
January 26, 2011
No. Just. No. I enjoy young adult novels and sometimes young adult novels aren't the most shining examples of great writing but Portal goes beyond any amount of shallow, lazy writing a young adult novel has the excuse to contain.
Let me the number the injuries:
1. One day, our main character, Arizona, wakes up in a different place, in a different time, with a different FATHER. Does she freak out? Lose her marbles? No. She calmly 'plays along' and constantly gives us the vague excuse that she doesn't get along with her mother and if she asks strange questions, her mom will ship her off to an asylum. That's PRETTY frail, in my opinion.
2. First person, present tense is not an easy perspective to write and Imogen Rose doesn't have the talent to pull it off. It's stilted, awkward, monotonous, and distracting.
3. Speaking of stilted and awkward, the dialogue in this book is some of the worst I've ever read. It physically pained me to read it. ALL of the characters speak in choppy, topic-hopping sentences.
4. Cheesy. That's all I can really say. Even for young adult, this is overly cheesy and predictable.
5. Back to point number one, this girl has been transported through time and suddenly has a different family. Not only does she not freak out, after two days, she's more concerned with joining the boys's hockey team than she is with, oh, I don't know, FIGURING OUT HOW SHE ENDED UP IN AN ALTERNATE REALITY. Mmk.
6. All the men, seriously, all of them, drive motorcycles. That's not hot; that's stupid.
7. Even for a young adult novel, Portal name drops designer and brand names like the author had a quota for each (short) chapter. I'd like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable about such things, but when the author starts name-dropping brands/designers that I've never even heard of, things just become confusing and I become distracted.
8. Bad writing. Overall, just... bad. An example of the weird, confusing, awkward scenes: No less than three times within the first twenty percent of the novel was Arizona asked (in choppy, cringe-worthy dialogue) to take the dog for a walk and every single time we (the reader) get a short, choppy paragraph that details Arizona taking the dog outside, only to decide a walk is NOT what the doctor ordered. Then we have to read about Arizona walking the dog in a circle around the house or something for one sentence and cut to next scene. NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES. What the hell??
I'm not finishing this. I still need a couple neurons to fire to get me through my last semester of college and this novel is likely to kill them off. Creating a could-not-finish shelf in honor of Imogen Rose.
Let me the number the injuries:
1. One day, our main character, Arizona, wakes up in a different place, in a different time, with a different FATHER. Does she freak out? Lose her marbles? No. She calmly 'plays along' and constantly gives us the vague excuse that she doesn't get along with her mother and if she asks strange questions, her mom will ship her off to an asylum. That's PRETTY frail, in my opinion.
2. First person, present tense is not an easy perspective to write and Imogen Rose doesn't have the talent to pull it off. It's stilted, awkward, monotonous, and distracting.
3. Speaking of stilted and awkward, the dialogue in this book is some of the worst I've ever read. It physically pained me to read it. ALL of the characters speak in choppy, topic-hopping sentences.
4. Cheesy. That's all I can really say. Even for young adult, this is overly cheesy and predictable.
5. Back to point number one, this girl has been transported through time and suddenly has a different family. Not only does she not freak out, after two days, she's more concerned with joining the boys's hockey team than she is with, oh, I don't know, FIGURING OUT HOW SHE ENDED UP IN AN ALTERNATE REALITY. Mmk.
6. All the men, seriously, all of them, drive motorcycles. That's not hot; that's stupid.
7. Even for a young adult novel, Portal name drops designer and brand names like the author had a quota for each (short) chapter. I'd like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable about such things, but when the author starts name-dropping brands/designers that I've never even heard of, things just become confusing and I become distracted.
8. Bad writing. Overall, just... bad. An example of the weird, confusing, awkward scenes: No less than three times within the first twenty percent of the novel was Arizona asked (in choppy, cringe-worthy dialogue) to take the dog for a walk and every single time we (the reader) get a short, choppy paragraph that details Arizona taking the dog outside, only to decide a walk is NOT what the doctor ordered. Then we have to read about Arizona walking the dog in a circle around the house or something for one sentence and cut to next scene. NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES. What the hell??
I'm not finishing this. I still need a couple neurons to fire to get me through my last semester of college and this novel is likely to kill them off. Creating a could-not-finish shelf in honor of Imogen Rose.
June 25, 2010
I love the use of time travel in this book. I haven't seen it done in quite this way before, and I think it added an original twist to the paranormal romance genre. Arizona was funny and tough (in a good away) as a leading lady.
The prologue had me hooked, but the first chapter did bog me down a little with product placement - but don't let that deter you! The story quickly picks up rhythm and moves forward in a fun way. The romance hits just right, and Arizona's relationships with her friends and family fleshed out the story wonderfully.
It is the first book in a trilogy, and the end definitely leaves you wanting more, but that's never a bad thing.
I'd highly recommend this book to any fan of sci fi and romance.
The prologue had me hooked, but the first chapter did bog me down a little with product placement - but don't let that deter you! The story quickly picks up rhythm and moves forward in a fun way. The romance hits just right, and Arizona's relationships with her friends and family fleshed out the story wonderfully.
It is the first book in a trilogy, and the end definitely leaves you wanting more, but that's never a bad thing.
I'd highly recommend this book to any fan of sci fi and romance.
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March 21, 2015This is my book.
May 4, 2011
I really wanted to like this book. And parts of it were enjoyable. I certainly wouldn't characterize the book as a complete waste of money. But there were several problems that kept me from rating this above three stars.
First, the good. The premise of this novel is highly imaginative and has great potential. The author is obviously writing to her intended audience- teens. Which is, of course, a good thing if you are a teen. Not so much if you are an adult.
Now for the bad. As several reviews have already mentioned- there is a lot of product placement in this book. Almost to the point that it is distracting. The author also gets bogged down in the mundane. I don't know how many times I read the line "I got out of the shower, threw on a hoodie and jeans, and my Uggs." Hoodies are referenced at least 15 times throughout the book. Clothing references and descriptions of every day activities were just unnecessary and resulted in a sluggish feel at times.
Another annoying aspect of the book was the relationship between the main character, Arizona, and her love interest, Kellan. Arizona is supposed to be this strong, independent tom-boyish figure, but whenever Kellan is around she seems to become frail and needy. For instance there are several scenes where he has to physically pick her up and carry her. One instance is in a hotel lobby where he "picked me up and carried me over to the seats where he held me silently while I composed myself." It was just kind of weird picturing this scene. It's fine to be upset and need a hug, but to be carried around like an invalid? It just seemed to suggest an unhealthy attachment.
The science fiction/fantasy aspects of this novel had great potential, but they just weren't fleshed out very well. It definitely seemed like more of a romance/teen drama than a science fiction or fantasy novel. Which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the reader.
My last negative comment involves the characterization in this novel. Everyone is amazing and talented and beautiful. Arizona's mom is beautiful and intelligent and has a highly lucrative and esteemed job. Arizona's "step" dad is a musician, rides a motorcycle, and is, of course, good looking. Arizona's brother is intelligent, also rides a motorcycle, is a talented athlete, and is good looking. Arizona's friends are all beautiful and talented. Arizona's little sister is an up and coming Hollywood starlet. Arizona is smart, great at hockey, and- you guessed it- beautiful. It just got a little boring and made it hard to identify with these characters who seemed just a little too perfect to be believable.
Objectionable content: This book was fairly clean, although there were a few things parents might want to consider. There were a few mild profanities interspersed throughout the book. There is a scene that involves fake i.d.'s and a club- underage drinking included. Nothing explicit in terms of sexual situations. The most Arizona and her boyfriend do is kiss. The parents all seem to bend over backwards to appease their children. They seem to worry more about being their kids' friends than authority figures.
All in all, I just can't glowingly endorse this book as a highly enjoyable read. The book had a lot of potential, and I think the author has raw talent. Hopefully her second book in this series will improve and she will be able to overcome some of the problems that plagued this first installment.
First, the good. The premise of this novel is highly imaginative and has great potential. The author is obviously writing to her intended audience- teens. Which is, of course, a good thing if you are a teen. Not so much if you are an adult.
Now for the bad. As several reviews have already mentioned- there is a lot of product placement in this book. Almost to the point that it is distracting. The author also gets bogged down in the mundane. I don't know how many times I read the line "I got out of the shower, threw on a hoodie and jeans, and my Uggs." Hoodies are referenced at least 15 times throughout the book. Clothing references and descriptions of every day activities were just unnecessary and resulted in a sluggish feel at times.
Another annoying aspect of the book was the relationship between the main character, Arizona, and her love interest, Kellan. Arizona is supposed to be this strong, independent tom-boyish figure, but whenever Kellan is around she seems to become frail and needy. For instance there are several scenes where he has to physically pick her up and carry her. One instance is in a hotel lobby where he "picked me up and carried me over to the seats where he held me silently while I composed myself." It was just kind of weird picturing this scene. It's fine to be upset and need a hug, but to be carried around like an invalid? It just seemed to suggest an unhealthy attachment.
The science fiction/fantasy aspects of this novel had great potential, but they just weren't fleshed out very well. It definitely seemed like more of a romance/teen drama than a science fiction or fantasy novel. Which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the reader.
My last negative comment involves the characterization in this novel. Everyone is amazing and talented and beautiful. Arizona's mom is beautiful and intelligent and has a highly lucrative and esteemed job. Arizona's "step" dad is a musician, rides a motorcycle, and is, of course, good looking. Arizona's brother is intelligent, also rides a motorcycle, is a talented athlete, and is good looking. Arizona's friends are all beautiful and talented. Arizona's little sister is an up and coming Hollywood starlet. Arizona is smart, great at hockey, and- you guessed it- beautiful. It just got a little boring and made it hard to identify with these characters who seemed just a little too perfect to be believable.
Objectionable content: This book was fairly clean, although there were a few things parents might want to consider. There were a few mild profanities interspersed throughout the book. There is a scene that involves fake i.d.'s and a club- underage drinking included. Nothing explicit in terms of sexual situations. The most Arizona and her boyfriend do is kiss. The parents all seem to bend over backwards to appease their children. They seem to worry more about being their kids' friends than authority figures.
All in all, I just can't glowingly endorse this book as a highly enjoyable read. The book had a lot of potential, and I think the author has raw talent. Hopefully her second book in this series will improve and she will be able to overcome some of the problems that plagued this first installment.
September 6, 2010
From the initial sample I read, the premise seemed interesting, which was why I decided to continue reading. The story in general showed a lot of promise, but the further on I read, the more I felt that it had fallen vastly short of my expectations.
For starters, the story as well as the characters' interactions came across as very unrealistic and contrived. I found it difficult to believe that Arizona would adapt so readily to this new world that within a day or two, her foremost concern shifted to making the school's hockey team rather than finding out exactly why she was in this alternate reality in the first place, especially considering how all the signs pointed to her mother knowing more than she let on.
All throughout the book, the story seemed to lack direction and focus, and the sometimes random/abrupt shifts in perspective didn't help either. It almost seemed as if there were two separate stories spliced together in an unfortunate science experiment gone wrong, because it often diverged to other subplots that were irrelevant to the main plot and just wasted pages that could have been devoted instead towards explaining the mechanics behind the "portal".
Some of the dialogue sounded wooden and stilted to my ears, and didn't really mesh with what I'd expect real people to say. Most of the characters either fell flat and were forgettable, or behaved in perplexing ways. There were also numerous grammatical errors, so the story would benefit from additional editing.
I will say that it seems like I'm one of the lone dissenters and that most people appear to have enjoyed it, so it is possible that this just wasn't my thing.
For starters, the story as well as the characters' interactions came across as very unrealistic and contrived. I found it difficult to believe that Arizona would adapt so readily to this new world that within a day or two, her foremost concern shifted to making the school's hockey team rather than finding out exactly why she was in this alternate reality in the first place, especially considering how all the signs pointed to her mother knowing more than she let on.
All throughout the book, the story seemed to lack direction and focus, and the sometimes random/abrupt shifts in perspective didn't help either. It almost seemed as if there were two separate stories spliced together in an unfortunate science experiment gone wrong, because it often diverged to other subplots that were irrelevant to the main plot and just wasted pages that could have been devoted instead towards explaining the mechanics behind the "portal".
Some of the dialogue sounded wooden and stilted to my ears, and didn't really mesh with what I'd expect real people to say. Most of the characters either fell flat and were forgettable, or behaved in perplexing ways. There were also numerous grammatical errors, so the story would benefit from additional editing.
I will say that it seems like I'm one of the lone dissenters and that most people appear to have enjoyed it, so it is possible that this just wasn't my thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2015
This was awful. I liked parts but the rest was a little ridiculous. The narrator made the teens sound like they were from Clueless!! Full review to come.
March 22, 2011
I have to admit I'm astonished at the number of high reviews for this book. Where to begin? While I found the premise of this book initially interesting, I couldn't help but be disappointed in this book for numerous reasons. The dialogue was painful at times, I'm not sure the author had a good handle on the ages of her characters in respect to dialogue....and character development, come to think of it. Dialogue should be used to reveal things about the characters or to move the plot along, and at times it felt like neither was being accomplished.
I don't think the characters were very well developed or fleshed out, as I'm not sure I could tell you much about the characters beyond the superficial. Arizona herself was a bit of a mystery....is she a tough hockey chick or is she this girly-girl? I'm not sure and the author didn't seem to know either.
Character development and dialogue aside, the thing that bugged me the most was the "name-dropping" of all these high end items. iPhones, Louboutin, Hummers, Harleys and random designer hand bags abound....I mean some of that specificity is ok. But the author has turned Arizona's life into a materialistic wonderland. Throw in a seemingly perfect family, amazing friends, and a couple hot "ripped" guys who adore her, and you have to wonder just why Arizona misses her old life so much, because for most of the book it seems like she's forgotten all about it while enjoying all the perks of her new life.
Other things that drove me a little crazy....a shift from first person to third person narration throughout the story. It got a little confusing at times and maybe could've been helped simply by an "Arizona" or an "Olivia" over their respective chapters.....or just a total shift to third person. Also, a little more focus and a bit more credibility would have been nice in regards to the whole sci-fi aspect of this story. The sci-fi part of this book felt so tagged on, with more focus being on a budding romance, hockey, and running around on motorcycles with new friends.
I think this story had real potential. It just really needed a few more re-writes and a little red pen to become a bit more polished and to find it's voice.
I don't think the characters were very well developed or fleshed out, as I'm not sure I could tell you much about the characters beyond the superficial. Arizona herself was a bit of a mystery....is she a tough hockey chick or is she this girly-girl? I'm not sure and the author didn't seem to know either.
Character development and dialogue aside, the thing that bugged me the most was the "name-dropping" of all these high end items. iPhones, Louboutin, Hummers, Harleys and random designer hand bags abound....I mean some of that specificity is ok. But the author has turned Arizona's life into a materialistic wonderland. Throw in a seemingly perfect family, amazing friends, and a couple hot "ripped" guys who adore her, and you have to wonder just why Arizona misses her old life so much, because for most of the book it seems like she's forgotten all about it while enjoying all the perks of her new life.
Other things that drove me a little crazy....a shift from first person to third person narration throughout the story. It got a little confusing at times and maybe could've been helped simply by an "Arizona" or an "Olivia" over their respective chapters.....or just a total shift to third person. Also, a little more focus and a bit more credibility would have been nice in regards to the whole sci-fi aspect of this story. The sci-fi part of this book felt so tagged on, with more focus being on a budding romance, hockey, and running around on motorcycles with new friends.
I think this story had real potential. It just really needed a few more re-writes and a little red pen to become a bit more polished and to find it's voice.
September 29, 2010
Portal is a great story. The characters are detailed and well-defined, and there were plenty of plot twists and turns. The formatting was beautifully done and the book was very readable. I did feel there were a few paradoxes - but in fairness those may be explained and made clear in the sequels.
The main stumbling block, for me, was the dialog. It was horribly stilted, in some places almost painful. It didn't read the way real people talk. Here are a couple of examples from a scene at the hospital:
"We're Arizona Darley's parents. She has just been admitted?"
"They are taking her up to X-ray in a moment. I'll take you to her."
"She is being taken up to x-ray now. She said that she's absolutely fine, but I guess they want to make sure. She is right there on the gurney."
"Nothing broken, she is fine and can head home."
Additionally, the author switches from first person to third person, sometimes following Arizona, the daughter, and at other times following her mother, Olivia. I was actually okay with that - it let me be privy to details that I wouldn't have known about had she stayed with Arizona throughout the novel. One last quibble: the kids are supposed to be American, but they use "Briticisms" - "car parks", "bagsies", hockey "kits" (rather than the American "parking lot", "dibs" and "uniform") to name a few. It's a bit jarring.
I'd love to get the next book in the series as I'd really like to know what happens next, but truthfully I don't think I can get past the stiffness of the prose and dialog so I'll probably pass on Equilibrium.
The main stumbling block, for me, was the dialog. It was horribly stilted, in some places almost painful. It didn't read the way real people talk. Here are a couple of examples from a scene at the hospital:
"We're Arizona Darley's parents. She has just been admitted?"
"They are taking her up to X-ray in a moment. I'll take you to her."
"She is being taken up to x-ray now. She said that she's absolutely fine, but I guess they want to make sure. She is right there on the gurney."
"Nothing broken, she is fine and can head home."
Additionally, the author switches from first person to third person, sometimes following Arizona, the daughter, and at other times following her mother, Olivia. I was actually okay with that - it let me be privy to details that I wouldn't have known about had she stayed with Arizona throughout the novel. One last quibble: the kids are supposed to be American, but they use "Briticisms" - "car parks", "bagsies", hockey "kits" (rather than the American "parking lot", "dibs" and "uniform") to name a few. It's a bit jarring.
I'd love to get the next book in the series as I'd really like to know what happens next, but truthfully I don't think I can get past the stiffness of the prose and dialog so I'll probably pass on Equilibrium.
October 29, 2010
An interesting premise, let down by a distinct lack of substance both plot wise and with the characters. The book is clearly aimed towards the YA audience so I can overlook the endless talk about clothes, nail polish, ripped abs, brushing lips and ice hockey.
My main gripe with this book is the lack of suspense and urgency in the writing - it starts with a lot of promise as the protagonist tries to make sense of her situation. Then a few chapters in, the reader is basically handed the whole plot on a silver platter, told from another character's point of view. I found the shift in perspectives very distracting, almost lazy, the author choosing to use this third person's viewpoint to explain things rather than the let the reader unravel the mysteries through the eyes of the main character.
Instead, she goes continues about her daily life, oblivious and more concerned with making the hockey team than finding the cause or a solution to her predicament. Not only until the last pages does the plot and mystery pick up again, only to be left hanging for the next book.
I did enjoy the interactions between the characters, especially the solidarity between family members and her close friends but they ultimately lacked depth.
My main gripe with this book is the lack of suspense and urgency in the writing - it starts with a lot of promise as the protagonist tries to make sense of her situation. Then a few chapters in, the reader is basically handed the whole plot on a silver platter, told from another character's point of view. I found the shift in perspectives very distracting, almost lazy, the author choosing to use this third person's viewpoint to explain things rather than the let the reader unravel the mysteries through the eyes of the main character.
Instead, she goes continues about her daily life, oblivious and more concerned with making the hockey team than finding the cause or a solution to her predicament. Not only until the last pages does the plot and mystery pick up again, only to be left hanging for the next book.
I did enjoy the interactions between the characters, especially the solidarity between family members and her close friends but they ultimately lacked depth.
January 6, 2012
I have been sitting on this book for a while now (4 months to be exact) and I have to say “shame on me.” See… I have this problem (it’s actually much worse than the OCD thing) it’s the inability to read what I’m told. Yes.. I know… this entire statement is completely ludicrous since I spend most of my time telling all of you what to read. (deal with it) See… when I was a junior in high school I was forced to read “A Farewell To Arms” by Earnest Hemingway and I hated it. Not the “reading” but the book itself. (Really?? Did EVERYONE have to die?) Ever since then I have turned into the reluctant reader. I avoid the bestseller list like its the plague, I hid in fear when the book “The Shack” came out, and when everyone was screaming for me to read “Freedom” I shrugged and said “eh… maybe.” The “Oprah” tag is a guaranteed killer for me, and when more than 5 people in one week send me an email telling me that I just “HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK,” chances are… I’m going to immediately file it under bin 13. (Do not pass go, do not collect $200.) Every once in blue moon however this “little issue” bites me in the ass. This is one of those times.
It’s confusing enough being a a teenage girl, but for Arizona Stevens things just got a whole lot more complicated. After waking up in a car, that is only vaguely similar to the one she is used to, she notices that things aren’t quite what they were before she escaped to the magical world of slumber-ville. Her little sister has blonde highlights, her mother is nice, and there’s a man she has never seen before suddenly being referred to as dad. The weirdest thing? She remembers almost everyone, but doesn’t know who they are. Will Arizona ever figure out who she is? Why is it suddenly 8 months earlier, and how does someone suddenly wake up one morning with a love for pricey things and an older brother named Harry?
It’s been a while since I have felt completely sucked in by a book. Interested? Yes.. without a doubt, but enraptured? Not so much. “Portal” by Imogen Rose did exactly that. Not only was I completely in love with its characters from chapter 2, I was flipping pages so fast that I’m certain at some point I saw puffs of smoke. The idea of using time travel as the fuel for a good love story is not a new one (see The Time Travelers Wife) but writing it cleanly and easy to follow is. There were no necessary time stamps, no where-are-we-and-who-are-you’s. Nope… this was just a good old fashioned “What the hell?” with a double dose of “Awe… what a sweetie.” There is “impending drama” of this I can assure you, (Portal is only book 1 in the series) but in a very calculated (and might I add genius move) Rose only baited that hook and bailed. (You sneaky sneaky girl) I will stress patience with the first chapter however…it’s a little choppy and the dialogue is a tad rigid, but no worries, the tummy flutters in Rose’s writing seem to settle down and the remainder of the book is as smooth as the Gerber baby’s bottom. The only advice I have for Rose; find an alternative to repetitive name use. I felt like I was saying (in my head) “Arizona” every five seconds. (Honey, dear, sunshine, baby girl… anything, just use your imagination.) Other than that? We have a winner on our hands.
This one is an indie charm ladies and gents, with a promising future (ha) of more to come. Scoop it up, not because I said so.. but because life is to short to read crappy books, and everyone likes a good love story.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Just because you liked them in one life doesn’t mean you’re obligated to like them in this one. Knock a bitch out. She deserves it.
It’s confusing enough being a a teenage girl, but for Arizona Stevens things just got a whole lot more complicated. After waking up in a car, that is only vaguely similar to the one she is used to, she notices that things aren’t quite what they were before she escaped to the magical world of slumber-ville. Her little sister has blonde highlights, her mother is nice, and there’s a man she has never seen before suddenly being referred to as dad. The weirdest thing? She remembers almost everyone, but doesn’t know who they are. Will Arizona ever figure out who she is? Why is it suddenly 8 months earlier, and how does someone suddenly wake up one morning with a love for pricey things and an older brother named Harry?
It’s been a while since I have felt completely sucked in by a book. Interested? Yes.. without a doubt, but enraptured? Not so much. “Portal” by Imogen Rose did exactly that. Not only was I completely in love with its characters from chapter 2, I was flipping pages so fast that I’m certain at some point I saw puffs of smoke. The idea of using time travel as the fuel for a good love story is not a new one (see The Time Travelers Wife) but writing it cleanly and easy to follow is. There were no necessary time stamps, no where-are-we-and-who-are-you’s. Nope… this was just a good old fashioned “What the hell?” with a double dose of “Awe… what a sweetie.” There is “impending drama” of this I can assure you, (Portal is only book 1 in the series) but in a very calculated (and might I add genius move) Rose only baited that hook and bailed. (You sneaky sneaky girl) I will stress patience with the first chapter however…it’s a little choppy and the dialogue is a tad rigid, but no worries, the tummy flutters in Rose’s writing seem to settle down and the remainder of the book is as smooth as the Gerber baby’s bottom. The only advice I have for Rose; find an alternative to repetitive name use. I felt like I was saying (in my head) “Arizona” every five seconds. (Honey, dear, sunshine, baby girl… anything, just use your imagination.) Other than that? We have a winner on our hands.
This one is an indie charm ladies and gents, with a promising future (ha) of more to come. Scoop it up, not because I said so.. but because life is to short to read crappy books, and everyone likes a good love story.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Just because you liked them in one life doesn’t mean you’re obligated to like them in this one. Knock a bitch out. She deserves it.
June 14, 2010
So many times when I read an independent author, the main thing that sticks out to me is that the author didn't have their work edited properly. I would lay dollars to doughnuts that this particular author did. I'm sure there's some grammar issues or something, but it obviously wasn't glaring because I did not notice anything. Hats off to the author for a well-written polished end product. Lately, I've read some real dogs in the Indie world, so this was a fabulous change of pace just at the right time.
The story is slow to start but it eventually pulls you in and doesn't let you go. At some point, I was so frustrated by a Science point (more on that in a minute) that I really wanted to put it down, but I was too busy wondering what was going to happen with Arizona that I just couldn't put it down. I'm really glad that I didn't because I would have missed on a really great storyline!
My one problem with this book, and I'm still giving it five stars because I have faith the author is going to explain it in subsequent books is that the mother doesn't seem to age. I don't want to give away too much, but every time travel book I've read the people still age. I'm a little disturbed by the whole thing. Maybe she did age, but it didn't seem like anyone noticed. Hmmm...
I've seen people say "If you liked Twilight..." No. I won't say this book is better than Twilight, but it's different, the writing is a little more mature, there's some young love in it, but not once did I want them to knock it off already and get on with the story. It's a little less angsty. I think to compare it to Twilight is doing it a disservice. (nevermind that there aren't any vampires).
Give it a read if you like YA fiction and a little bit of time travel / science fiction. I'm not a big SciFi fan, but this was well done!
UPDATE: The author actually emailed me to explain the time difference. I get confused easily, I suppose. I'm still not 100% sure, but at least I feel like I "get it" more now :) Thanks to Imogen for taking the time!
The story is slow to start but it eventually pulls you in and doesn't let you go. At some point, I was so frustrated by a Science point (more on that in a minute) that I really wanted to put it down, but I was too busy wondering what was going to happen with Arizona that I just couldn't put it down. I'm really glad that I didn't because I would have missed on a really great storyline!
My one problem with this book, and I'm still giving it five stars because I have faith the author is going to explain it in subsequent books is that the mother doesn't seem to age. I don't want to give away too much, but every time travel book I've read the people still age. I'm a little disturbed by the whole thing. Maybe she did age, but it didn't seem like anyone noticed. Hmmm...
I've seen people say "If you liked Twilight..." No. I won't say this book is better than Twilight, but it's different, the writing is a little more mature, there's some young love in it, but not once did I want them to knock it off already and get on with the story. It's a little less angsty. I think to compare it to Twilight is doing it a disservice. (nevermind that there aren't any vampires).
Give it a read if you like YA fiction and a little bit of time travel / science fiction. I'm not a big SciFi fan, but this was well done!
UPDATE: The author actually emailed me to explain the time difference. I get confused easily, I suppose. I'm still not 100% sure, but at least I feel like I "get it" more now :) Thanks to Imogen for taking the time!
February 15, 2011
I started this read, not really knowing what I was getting myself into.
I had seen Imogen Rose on the Kindle forums, being ever helpful, and also noticed that people were saying some pretty nice things about her book. Ever in the search for a new good writer, I took a peak at the books description and thought to my self: "Hmm.. why not?"
Why not indeed!
Now, I read a lot... well compared to many people I've met in here, though, I barely read at all... but I mostly read a lot of Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels. I do, however, like to periodically delve into the young adult genre. So this book, as a premise, seems to fit my bill exactly. A Sci-Fi book for young adults.. good combo, no?
Well, it must be said right up front that this is not a Science Fiction book... not by any stretch of the imagination. It's a young adult romance novel with a different, yet tasty flavor. If you're a Sci-Fi nut (much as I am) and come to this book wanting good Sci-Fi, you will be disappointed. Come to it looking for some teenage romance, and you will get much more than you asked for.
This book definitely could have been better, and I agree with some of the points the negative reviews have mentioned (for instance, I had started really hating all the label-name-dropping near the end), but I think perhaps I brought the correct attitude to the table when I started reading it; namely, I wasn't expecting anything at all so I couldn't be disappointed. Quite on the contrary, I was just happily surprised at how good this first effort is. I started the book last night and had to sleep a third of the way through, then picked it up this morning again and couldn't put it down until I finished. I don't know what it is, but I was completely hooked. Above all, it was an enjoyable and absorbing read, and for me that is the hallmark of a great book and a great writer, so despite it's faults I give it 4/5.
Imogen Rose will no doubt mature in her writing, and I'm off to buy the second installment right now. You should buy this one if you haven't already ;)
I had seen Imogen Rose on the Kindle forums, being ever helpful, and also noticed that people were saying some pretty nice things about her book. Ever in the search for a new good writer, I took a peak at the books description and thought to my self: "Hmm.. why not?"
Why not indeed!
Now, I read a lot... well compared to many people I've met in here, though, I barely read at all... but I mostly read a lot of Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels. I do, however, like to periodically delve into the young adult genre. So this book, as a premise, seems to fit my bill exactly. A Sci-Fi book for young adults.. good combo, no?
Well, it must be said right up front that this is not a Science Fiction book... not by any stretch of the imagination. It's a young adult romance novel with a different, yet tasty flavor. If you're a Sci-Fi nut (much as I am) and come to this book wanting good Sci-Fi, you will be disappointed. Come to it looking for some teenage romance, and you will get much more than you asked for.
This book definitely could have been better, and I agree with some of the points the negative reviews have mentioned (for instance, I had started really hating all the label-name-dropping near the end), but I think perhaps I brought the correct attitude to the table when I started reading it; namely, I wasn't expecting anything at all so I couldn't be disappointed. Quite on the contrary, I was just happily surprised at how good this first effort is. I started the book last night and had to sleep a third of the way through, then picked it up this morning again and couldn't put it down until I finished. I don't know what it is, but I was completely hooked. Above all, it was an enjoyable and absorbing read, and for me that is the hallmark of a great book and a great writer, so despite it's faults I give it 4/5.
Imogen Rose will no doubt mature in her writing, and I'm off to buy the second installment right now. You should buy this one if you haven't already ;)
April 11, 2010
I must admit I am a Twilight fan and I thought it would be hard to find anything that could come close to what I felt for Stephanie Meyer’s novels, but Portal by Imogen Rose is a close call. No, not vampires. No, not werewolves.
Her science fiction romantic journey takes the reader on a completely different kind of experience -a time bending, dimension leaping swirl of page turning anticipation, heartfelt passions, and familial relationships. With well developed and complicated characters and a twisting plot, this novel was hard to put down and I am intrigued to find out how the sequel will deal with the issues.
Imogen Rose sets up a fantastical world within the realm of possibility, by structuring a story that revolves around a physicist named Olivia (Arizona’s mother), who is unhappily married and is told by a musician named Rupert, to meet her two years ago. The story unfolds, but this time Arizona is not living the life she knew, but is also affected by the choices her mother, Olivia has made, and her world becomes a series of memories she never had.
To complicate matters, Arizona finds herself dating the handsome Kellan, the love of her (new) life, for eight years and while she is finding this new dimension full of surprises, this is one surprise she may not want to let go of...
This was a definite Sci-Fi-Romance, that fans of that genre are not going to want to miss!
Five stars out of five!
Reviewed April 11, 2010
By: Ami Blackwelder
http://hotgossiphotreviews.blogspot.com
Her science fiction romantic journey takes the reader on a completely different kind of experience -a time bending, dimension leaping swirl of page turning anticipation, heartfelt passions, and familial relationships. With well developed and complicated characters and a twisting plot, this novel was hard to put down and I am intrigued to find out how the sequel will deal with the issues.
Imogen Rose sets up a fantastical world within the realm of possibility, by structuring a story that revolves around a physicist named Olivia (Arizona’s mother), who is unhappily married and is told by a musician named Rupert, to meet her two years ago. The story unfolds, but this time Arizona is not living the life she knew, but is also affected by the choices her mother, Olivia has made, and her world becomes a series of memories she never had.
To complicate matters, Arizona finds herself dating the handsome Kellan, the love of her (new) life, for eight years and while she is finding this new dimension full of surprises, this is one surprise she may not want to let go of...
This was a definite Sci-Fi-Romance, that fans of that genre are not going to want to miss!
Five stars out of five!
Reviewed April 11, 2010
By: Ami Blackwelder
http://hotgossiphotreviews.blogspot.com
January 25, 2011
There were a lot of plot gaps. I think the idea was interesting; however, I feel like not enough was explained. I still have no idea how the portal concept would work. When you go through the portal is it another dimension and if so, what age is the person who goes through. Wouldn't the mother then be extremely old seeing as she had an 8 and 16 year old by the time she went back two years before she had one of the children. Does she somehow travel back into her younger self? If so, then how would a child conceived in one "self" be able to travel back with her? Am I overthinking this? Then, how did Harry end up the oldest brother if he was a baby when 8 year old Arizona and baby Ella were brought back or did he and Arizona only meet when she was 8? And then if it's a different dimension how would there not be a parallel mother and Ella when Arizona went back, since there is a parallel Dillard in her dimension? I just ended up with so many questions about the concept it distracted the hell out of me.
In the beginning, using the Stevens version of A was a good way to explain why she didn't lash out finding herself in this alternate dimension since she feared a psych eval because anyone else would have freaked out and demanded to know what was going on. I do feel like it's a bit like she was turned into a Stepford child when they brought her over, why wouldn't they acknowledge that Rupert was not her father. Anyway, there was some merit to the story because I am curious, but there were just so many gaps!!! Maybe the next book will clear it up?
In the beginning, using the Stevens version of A was a good way to explain why she didn't lash out finding herself in this alternate dimension since she feared a psych eval because anyone else would have freaked out and demanded to know what was going on. I do feel like it's a bit like she was turned into a Stepford child when they brought her over, why wouldn't they acknowledge that Rupert was not her father. Anyway, there was some merit to the story because I am curious, but there were just so many gaps!!! Maybe the next book will clear it up?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2011
I became curious about this book because Imogen Rose is one of those rare phenom authors who started out self-publishing online and ended up getting signed to a real print publisher. So this book must be a stunner, right?
I went in expecting it to be addictive teen junk à la "Twilight." Well, if reading "Twilight" is like eating a bag of Cheetos, then reading "Portal" is like picking potato chip crumbs and stale Cheerios out of the crevices of your sofa. The characters are so one-dimensional and they behave in such bizarre, illogical ways that it's impossible to become fully engaged in the story because you're always going, "Huh??"
Arizona finds out that she's somehow been . Um, what?!
The book is also plagued by a host of other problems: Shoddy science. Shlocky, poorly-developed romances. Awkward, stilted dialogue. Bad Brit-speak. Constant name-dropping of luxury brands.
Blech.
I went in expecting it to be addictive teen junk à la "Twilight." Well, if reading "Twilight" is like eating a bag of Cheetos, then reading "Portal" is like picking potato chip crumbs and stale Cheerios out of the crevices of your sofa. The characters are so one-dimensional and they behave in such bizarre, illogical ways that it's impossible to become fully engaged in the story because you're always going, "Huh??"
Arizona finds out that she's somehow been . Um, what?!
The book is also plagued by a host of other problems: Shoddy science. Shlocky, poorly-developed romances. Awkward, stilted dialogue. Bad Brit-speak. Constant name-dropping of luxury brands.
Blech.
July 29, 2010
Mention fantasy or sci-fi and my mind conjures vampires, hobbits, trekkies, and alternative worlds I have no interest in visiting. Recently I’ve found these genres are much broader than I’d previously realized. I’m capable of suspending disbelief a bit (all fiction requires some of that anyway). On the fringes of these genres just a little suspension of disbelief is enough. This was the case with “Portal,” the first book in the “Portal Chronicles” series.
Teenager Arizona Stevens wakes up to find her world slightly off axis. Her mother, sister, and dog are unchanged. But a new home across the country and a man she’s never seen who thinks he’s her father if disorienting. Why does everyone think it’s a year earlier? How is her dead Grandmother here? Who are these “friends” she’s never seen and, if she’s never seen them, how does she know their names? Is she going crazy? How Arizona copes with the situation is one all teenagers or anyone who ever was a teenager will find both entertaining and suspense filled.
Teenager Arizona Stevens wakes up to find her world slightly off axis. Her mother, sister, and dog are unchanged. But a new home across the country and a man she’s never seen who thinks he’s her father if disorienting. Why does everyone think it’s a year earlier? How is her dead Grandmother here? Who are these “friends” she’s never seen and, if she’s never seen them, how does she know their names? Is she going crazy? How Arizona copes with the situation is one all teenagers or anyone who ever was a teenager will find both entertaining and suspense filled.
July 10, 2011
This book needs a good editor. There is so much extra "junk" that detracts from the story, I found myself skipping over pages. I didn't need to read over and over again about Olivia and Rupert's escapades. I got that they were madly in love in the first 20 pages. The other 5 times they ran away from their problems to be alone was just annoying and made me not like them. The story wasn't about Olivia. It was about Arizona, her daughter. That was the interesting part of the story.
Other things I didn't like:
1. constantly adding brand names into descriptions. I really don't care about the name brand of the bag Olivia is carrying. I got that she's into expensive brands right away. No need to keep name dropping. It was distracting.
2. Does everyone in this parrallel diminsion ride a Harley. It was borderline ridiculous.
What I did like:
The concept of the portal was interesting. And I did like Arizona's story. With some serious editing and character development, this story could be greatly improved.
Other things I didn't like:
1. constantly adding brand names into descriptions. I really don't care about the name brand of the bag Olivia is carrying. I got that she's into expensive brands right away. No need to keep name dropping. It was distracting.
2. Does everyone in this parrallel diminsion ride a Harley. It was borderline ridiculous.
What I did like:
The concept of the portal was interesting. And I did like Arizona's story. With some serious editing and character development, this story could be greatly improved.
June 22, 2011
I was really looking forward to reading this book, given the number of rave reviews it was getting, but there is no way I could recommend it to anyone. There's a good idea there somewhere that shows promise, and I think given a few rewrites and some serious editing, this could morph into a seriously good book. But as it stands, Portal reads like a very rough first draft that's been committed to paper and pushed out as a finished product. The whole thing just doesn't mesh together well, and there are all kinds of holes and inconsistencies in the plot. The constant (constant!) brand-namedropping just grates and seems to serve no purpose whatsoever. It worked somehow in American Psycho, but here? Not so much.
I know this book is the first part of a trilogy, but while reading it I got the impression that Rose herself didn't have the answers to my questions, and I have no desire to buy the second and third books in the series to figure out if the author finally worked out what she wanted from this book.
I know this book is the first part of a trilogy, but while reading it I got the impression that Rose herself didn't have the answers to my questions, and I have no desire to buy the second and third books in the series to figure out if the author finally worked out what she wanted from this book.
February 13, 2011
I bought this book because it was very cheap for the Kindle, and it has a time travel/alternate reality theme. It is intended for young adults, so perhaps I was expecting too much from it, but I thought it was very badly written. The teenage heroine bounces around her life texting her friends and selecting her branded clothes, simply accepting without too much protest the odd things that seem to be happening. Most of the book is written in the first person, with some jarring jumps to other characters' viewpoints for exposition purposes. The dialogue is repetitive and banal, and, maybe it's just me, but all the characters seem to be absurdly *nice*. Even the statutory bad guys are not terribly evil.
The best I can say for it is that I finished it. Apparently it's the first of a series, but I won't be bothering with the rest.
The best I can say for it is that I finished it. Apparently it's the first of a series, but I won't be bothering with the rest.
June 8, 2010
Portal is an exciting adventure into the unknown. Arizona, the main character, is ripped from the life she loves and thrust into a strange, but not all-together unfamiliar new life. As memories from a life she hasn't truly lived start to surface, she has to decide if she should stay and live out this exciting new life or return to the one she thought she missed so much. Somewhere in between, she must discover how she got here in the first place. Imogen keeps us guessing throughout the whole book. Every turn of the page is another mystery and keeps the reader on the edge of her seat. Portal is truly a magnificent work of art and would be enjoyed not only by young adults, but readers of all ages.
January 24, 2011
I acquired the second book in this series, Equilibrium, from a first reads giveaway. However, I thought I should read the first book before the second so I bought Portal for my nook. The plot is promising and fresh. Sometimes the dialog made me cringe, but I am not a teenage girl so that probably explains my issues with the dialog.
The grammatical errors, though, really made me insane. I realize that this is a self-published book, but it made me want to grab a red pen every time I came across a punctuation or spelling error. I think the book would have been ten times better with a good editor.
I have moved on to Equilibrium. Here's hoping for less grammatical errors.
The grammatical errors, though, really made me insane. I realize that this is a self-published book, but it made me want to grab a red pen every time I came across a punctuation or spelling error. I think the book would have been ten times better with a good editor.
I have moved on to Equilibrium. Here's hoping for less grammatical errors.
February 25, 2011
The storyline was intriguing.
However....I almost couldn't stand to read it. The dialogue felt very staged. It was NOT how people really talk. And the characters actions didn't feel genuine. No one I know would ever react to those situations that way. It reminded me of when I was 5 years old playing Barbies. Very forced, 'you will do what I say you will do', unrealistic dialogue. I felt the author is rather immature with her writing. Maybe as Ms. Rose writes more books and becomes more experienced, her writing will gain some maturity.
I will probably continue reading this series for the sake of finding out what happens, not for any love I have for the characters or writing style. It's kind of like a train wreck: How much more confusing and unrealistic can it get?
However....I almost couldn't stand to read it. The dialogue felt very staged. It was NOT how people really talk. And the characters actions didn't feel genuine. No one I know would ever react to those situations that way. It reminded me of when I was 5 years old playing Barbies. Very forced, 'you will do what I say you will do', unrealistic dialogue. I felt the author is rather immature with her writing. Maybe as Ms. Rose writes more books and becomes more experienced, her writing will gain some maturity.
I will probably continue reading this series for the sake of finding out what happens, not for any love I have for the characters or writing style. It's kind of like a train wreck: How much more confusing and unrealistic can it get?
March 7, 2011
This is a self-published book that shows why editors are a good thing. In this case, she needed someone to say "you need more detail here". The dialogue was stilted and no one spoke the way adults speak, much less teenagers.
And, of course, there's the fact that someone invented a portal to allow you to travel to alternate universes and no one seems to think that's a big deal - "You invented a portal. I knew you could do it. Good job."
I liked it. I'll read the sequels, but this could have been so much better, given how well thought out the premise was.
And, of course, there's the fact that someone invented a portal to allow you to travel to alternate universes and no one seems to think that's a big deal - "You invented a portal. I knew you could do it. Good job."
I liked it. I'll read the sequels, but this could have been so much better, given how well thought out the premise was.
January 18, 2011
The book was just OK. The storyline sounded interesting and is a theme I usually would be interested in, but I found myself not caring much. Probably because the main character didn't really care much that she had transported back through time to a different life. She seemed to become easily absorbed in her new life and personality quite quickly! Another problem was the dialogue. A bit stiff and definitely not the way California teenagers would be talking to each other.
September 24, 2012
Die Portal-Chroniken ist ein Jugendroman, der aber auch Potenzial hat, erwachsene Leser zu begeistern. Gekonnt webt die Autorin dazu eine Liebesgeschichte, spannende Handlungselemente und witzige Teenager-Konflikte ein. Zudem plaudert sie im ersten Band nicht alle Geheimnisse rund um die Zeitsprünge aus, sodass genügend Neugier auf den zweiten Teil geschürt wird. Imogen Rose hat mit ihrem flotten Schreibstil guten Fantasy-Stoff für die Jugend geliefert.
July 28, 2010
This book is poorly written and poorly edited. Rose employs an overwhelming number of unnecessary references to fashion labels and name brands and an alarming overuse of slang. And who uses LOL in a novel? The plot is fairly engaging, but leaves you hanging, which is why I read the second book. I'm not going to bother with the third one.
September 8, 2010
Not my cup o' tea.
1. For every interesting thought about interdimensional travel, there were probably a hundred references to putting on lip gloss or hoodies.
2. There were a lot of distracting typos.
3. The author occasionally uses a verb (like "chuckle") that seems inappropriate for the scenario and just distracts you right out of your suspension of disbelief.
1. For every interesting thought about interdimensional travel, there were probably a hundred references to putting on lip gloss or hoodies.
2. There were a lot of distracting typos.
3. The author occasionally uses a verb (like "chuckle") that seems inappropriate for the scenario and just distracts you right out of your suspension of disbelief.
September 28, 2011
I remember the very beginning when the switch first happened, I thought " No she didn't, she did not just start the book that way"... Now that I am on book 2, I couldn't imagine any other way. This book was beyond amazing. By the time Arizona was Arizona Darley I was hooked and I mean completely hooked! I loved everything about this book!!!
November 29, 2010
I really really wanted to like this book because it was such an interesting premise. But the writing is not good, the dialogue is stilted and unnatural and the mechanics behind the "portal" are vague and confusing. Perhaps the author explains it in greater depth in the subsequent books but unfortunately, I'm just not interested in reading more.
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