Wednesday, March 2, 2016

‘The Syndicate’ (Timewaves #1) by Sophie Davis

5 stars!

‘The Syndicate’ is a time travel fantasy novel which allows readers to enjoy a glimpse of a cleverly imagined 2446 and follow the main character, Stassi, to 1925 Paris for several hundred pages of fashion and intrigue.  Employed as Runners for the Syndicate, Stassi and her partner Gaige, are trained and prepared for time jumps on behalf of wealthy Syndicate clients who pay handsomely to own a piece of history.  This particular run has them gracefully infiltrating the artsy group of Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein.

The authors brilliantly begin with a fast-passed prologue during which Stassi and Gaige complete a previous run.  Much is revealed about their friendship, their typical time jumps, and future technology, all while the characters are in the midst of action.  The friendships between Stassi, her jump partner Gaige, and her roommate Molly, are quite charming throughout the entire book.  The story contains just enough romance to be enjoyable, without it driving the plot.

There comes a point in this novel where Stassi and Gaige have three mysteries to solve, including discovering the identity of a French serial killer who was not in their history books.  If ‘Phantom of the Opera’ frightened you as a child; beware.

Available on Amazon now!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘Cruel Beauty’ (Cruel Beauty Universe #1) by Rosamund Hodge

4.5 stars

This clever and well-written enchanting tale combines elements from Greek mythology and Beauty and the Beast. While not quite a fairy-tale retelling, 'Cruel Beauty' will appeal to those readers. Highly recommended for YA fans.

Get 'Cruel Beauty' on Amazon, or from your local library today!