ARC Review: Wayfarer (Passenger #2) by Alexandra Bracken
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Series: Passenger #2
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Published January 12th 2017 by Quercus Children's Books
Goodreads Synopsis
All Etta Spencer wanted was to make her violin debut when she was thrust into a treacherous world where the struggle for power could alter history. After losing the one thing that would have allowed her to protect the Timeline, and the one person worth fighting for, Etta awakens alone in an unknown place and time, exposed to the threat of the two groups who would rather see her dead than succeed. When help arrives, it comes from the last person Etta ever expected - Julian Ironwood, the Grand Master's heir who has long been presumed dead, and whose dangerous alliance with a man from Etta's past could put them both at risk.
Meanwhile, Nicholas and Sophia are racing through time in order to locate Etta and the missing astrolabe with Ironwood travelers hot on their trail. They cross paths with a mercenary-for-hire, a cheeky girl named Li Min who quickly develops a flirtation with Sophia. But as the three of them attempt to evade their pursuers, Nicholas soon realises that one of his companions may have ulterior motives.
As Etta and Nicholas fight to make their way back to one another, from Imperial Russia to the Vatican catacombs, time is rapidly shifting and changing into something unrecognisable ... and might just run out on both of them.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Following the ending of Passenger, I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy, so I was grateful when I was approved for an ARC on NetGalley. Picking up not long after Passenger ended, Wayfarer begins with Etta as a prisoner for the Thorns, separated from Nicholas. Julian Ironwood is there, and they work together to steal the astrolabe from Cyrus. Nicholas, now working with Sophia, seek out Rose, only to end up owing people more favours than they should do. The only saving grace is the mysterious Li Min, who helps them even though she is keeping something secret too. For most of the book, Etta and Nicholas are separated, and though the main aim is to ensure Cyrus has no access to the astrolabe, they have the ulterior motive of reuniting.
I love Etta and Nicholas as much in this book, as I did in the previous one. They haven't lost their get up and go, and fight through their own fears and emotions to do just what they need to to get the astrolabe, and be together again. I also loved from Bracken developed the secondary characters - such as Sophia and Julian - into more of a pivotal role in the plot.
The story was long, and there were many time jumps, but for some of them, especially Carthage, I loved learning about the history. Yeah, maybe the book could've been a bit shorter, but the world building was fantastic, as if Bracken had spent ages doing research. However, because parts of the book felt a bit unnecessary, I could only give the book 4 stars. I did enjoy it, and would recommend the book, but in some respects, I do see where other bloggers are coming from when they say the book didn't live up to their hopes.
Dates Read:
Rating
4 Stars
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