*I read this as an advanced digital copy kindly provided to me through Netgalley*
Prenna is part of a group of people who have time traveled back from *I read this as an advanced digital copy kindly provided to me through Netgalley*
Prenna is part of a group of people who have time traveled back from a future time to our current one. They have secretly arrived in the hopes that they can discover how to prevent the terrible plague that has affected so many of their own people in this future. This plague, which they have no cure for, has left them no choice but to return to a period before it existed in order to have a chance at surviving and eradicating it before it wipes out the entire population.
Prenna and her Mom are the only survivors of what used to be her family. Now they try to achieve normalcy in a world that is so different from the one they used to know. In order to achieve invisibility and not attract attention or discovery from the "time natives" - those who originate from this previous time, they must strictly adhere to a list of 12 rules created by the very first time traveler from their world to this, and strictly reinforced by the leaders of their group. These rules prohibit them from actually creating a new life here, but demand that they integrate enough to remain above suspicion.
Prenna was observed upon entry into the past by a boy, Ethan, who never forgot her strange sudden appearance in the woods and has spent the past two years watching for her to reappear in his life. When she finally does, sophomore year of High School in pre-calc, he calmly sets about befriending her. As the story begins, things are beginning to happen that make Prenna doubt the rules are actually there to "protect" them. She defiantly starts to search for answers to her many questions and despite warnings from her group counselors, begins to discover information that threatens all she has ever believed or known. With help from Ethan, and a strange homeless man, Ben, Prenna defies the rules and risks everything she has for a chance to learn the real truth and perhaps gain a chance for her own happy ever after.
While this book involves time travel and a future generation, it is also full of the classic themes of coming of age and finding the truths of the world around you.
This is a shorter novel, that while ambitious, does not live up to its potential at all. The emotion is missing as well as a lot of explanation or reason for so much of the actions in the story. While it could have been exploring some of the more timely themes it introduces, it chooses to focus on the overriding ambition of the heroine to defy the rules and find love with her hero. I am all for a good love story, but making it more important than all of the other events that would have seemingly been magor to any other heroine in this situation was ludicrous. The story was never cohesive or relatable and lacked the ability to pull me as a reader into it's world or to care enough about what was happening and how or why.
I am still waiting for a sequel to My Name Is Memory from this author so this felt disappointingly like a total waste of time that she could have much better spent on that long-overdue, promised story! ...more
The Fever is a thrill ride into the lives of a group of high school girls who are unexpectedly struck by an undetermined illness. Once the mysterious The Fever is a thrill ride into the lives of a group of high school girls who are unexpectedly struck by an undetermined illness. Once the mysterious "fever" strikes, Deenie, Gabbie, Lise and Skye are propelled into a strange string of events that will forever change who they are and how they see each other. Secrets, loyalty and desire are all explored in Abbotts distinctive way.
The story is both lyrical and titillatingly delicious. Descriptions take on a 3D quality in the hands of this author. She can make you feel, see and experience what would merely be a hair color or emotion in others words. The story is exciting, immersive and totally addictive, making it hard to stop until the very last page.
I enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and fresh and certainly worth my time. Perfect for a quick read with its fascinating characters and suspenseful plot....more
I had not read any of this author's previous books, but this one really intrigued me when I read the synopsis. It turned out to be a very entertainingI had not read any of this author's previous books, but this one really intrigued me when I read the synopsis. It turned out to be a very entertaining read.The setting was believable but original. I felt I could clearly envision both the fictional island and water horses. The invented words and just the entire world that was created for the reader made it kind of magical to me. This tale is really about so much more than the water horse races and that's a really good thing. The emotional back stories and a few different characters besides the main ones having their own chapters really rounded out the story in a very readable, relatable way. It is engrossing, surprisingly funny in a few instances, and full of heart. I totally recommend this to anyone looking for a story to lose themselves in and be swept away into a wild, emotional adventure.