Content Warning: Slavery, sexual assault, violence, torture and suicide
Format I Read: Audiobook
Grade: Outstanding
Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother.
Note: I received a free digital ARC of the book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
1967: Four female scientists invent a time-travel machine. They are on the cusp of fame: the pioneers who opened the world to new possibilities. But then one of them suffers a breakdown and puts the whole project in peril.
2017: Ruby knows her beloved Granny Bee was a pioneer, but they never talk about the past. Though time travel is now big business, Bee has never been part of it. Then they receive a message from the future–a newspaper clipping reporting the mysterious death of an elderly lady.
2018: When Odette discovered the body, she went into shock. Blood everywhere, bullet wounds, flesh. But when the inquest fails to answer any of her questions, Odette is frustrated. Who is this dead woman that haunts her dreams? And why is everyone determined to cover up her murder?
Six months ago Aether Corporation sent Elena, Adam, and three other recruits on a trip to the future where they brought back secret information – but not everyone made it back to the present alive. But Aether’s not done with her – or Adam, or fellow survivor, Chris. The travelers on Aether’s latest mission to the future have gone missing, and Elena and her friends are drafted into the rescue effort. Now every trip through time reveals new complications, and more lives lost – or never born. Elena and Adam must risk everything – including their relationship – to save their friends.
Thoughts
Note: I received an e-copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
There’s friendships, family issues and an actually believable relationship in here as well, and I enjoyed all of that. The plot got more intricate and the stakes were higher as compared to Future Shock.This was my second series involving time-travel this year and I’ve loved it so far. I felt that this book was better than the first, so I’m eagerly anticipating the third, which I’m hoping will be bigger in scale.
I recommend this book to fans of sci-fi and time travel, adventure and a strong female main character of colour.
For the music, I didn’t listen to anything while reading, so I don’t have a particular recommendation for this. Any futuristic kind of soundtrack should be a good accompaniment, in my opinion.
To keep your taste buds busy, I’d suggest some cool fusion food with cuisines of your choice to go with the feel of the book. I just had some warm soup because I had a cold.
Published: By Disney Hyperion on 5th January, 2016
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Summary
Passenger is a story that revolves around Etta Spencer, a violin prodigy, whose worries escalate from her solo debut as a professional artist to surviving in a part of the world in a time completely unfamiliar to her because of the legacy of her family. She’s forced to retrieve a powerful object in return for her mother’s life for the chief of the Ironwood family, who has managed to monopolise time travelling. Nicholas Carter, a legal pirate, accompanies her in her travel through time and space, but harbours a secret of his own.
Thoughts
I loved the way the main character, Etta, made sense of the world around her using sounds and melodies, which made the viewpoint of the character unique and refreshing. The fact that Etta knows nothing of the legacy she has inherited or about the characters adds enough mystery to the story to keep the reader turning the pages. I liked the authenticity in the description of the different places and timelines. Passenger was exciting and wonderful enough to pull me into its world, but the ending bothered me a bit, hence only 4 stars.
I would recommend the book to fans of YA fantasy, time travel or romance, adventurers at heart and “legal pirates”.
For the music, I was reminded strongly of Payphone by Maroon 5, which I think fits the romantic aspects best. Another good option is Who You Really Are from the OST of BBC’s Sherlock (Track #11 in The Final Problem), which is easier to listen to it has no lyrics to distract from the reading experience.
Any salty food would go well as a snack while reading this book.
