Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Review (Giveaway): Loop by Karen Akins



Title: Loop (Loop #1)
Author:
Karen Akins
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (Macmillan)
Release Date: October 21, 2014
Acquired Via:
Publisher

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels...at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.


My Review

Time travel books have always been very hit-or-miss with me, especially in YA. I found Karen Akins' debut, Loop, to be a fun read and very near to the bullseye. It has a very likable heroine, a love interest that I can stand behind, and reasonable enough science to back the time travel up.

Though I say that the science in Loop backs up the story, I don't want you to start thinking it's Michael Crichton-level science. It's just enough to make sense to young people and anyone who isn't pursuing a degree in Physics. It's set about 150 years in our future, so there's quite a bit that I was able to take at face value because we've come a long way in the past few years. (Funny story - about ten years ago, my college professor told me that it would be impossible for computers to get any smaller. HA!) The time travel aspect has a bit of fantasy around it, but I can totally see the technology alluded to in Loop coming about. I was willing to buy the concept, and that's the biggest struggle for me.

Bree, the main character, was a flawed young lady who didn't pay as much attention to the rules as she would have you believe. As soon as we meet her, we see her breaking a major Shifter law in order to pay her mother's bills. Then she pretends to hold someone at gunpoint. Do you see the pattern? Yes, she has her reasons, but who doesn't enjoy reading about a girl who thumbs her nose at the powers-that-be?

The romantic bit is twisty-turny, so I don't want to ruin it for you today. Sorry. I liked the build-up, and I think you probably will, too.

Speaking of twists, yes, there was a part that made me gasp.



So if you're looking for a time travel book that won't confuse you and has characters that you enjoy rooting for, I highly recommend Loop. It's one of the better books of its type.

- 4/5 Stars -

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Fishpond



Giveaway

Thanks to our wonderful friends at St. Martin's Press, I have a copy of Loop by Karen Akins up for grabs for a lucky winner. All you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

US ONLY
Ends at 12:01am CST on November 5th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received an advance digital copy of the book for reviewing purposes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way affected the outcome. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.

12 comments:

  1. Definitely the Wayfarer series by MG Buehlren :)

    thank you so very much :)

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  2. this looks and sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing ;)

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  3. It's hard to improve on H.G. Wells, but the movie Frequency had a great atmosphere.

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  4. It's a more recent novel, but I adore Marking Time by April White. It's so well written and engaging. YA with all sorts of paranormal stuff to it! I also really enjoyed Screwing Up Time by CM Keller. Recommend them both :)

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  5. So far my favorite time travel book is the Outlander series!

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  6. Loved Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Devereux :)

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You are going to put words in my box?! *squeezes you* Now I shall stalk YOUR blog!