What do you think?
Rate this book
Future Shock #1
Future Shock
What do you do when the future is too late, and the present is counting down to an inevitable moment?
Elena Martinez has street smarts, the ability for perfect recall, and a deadline: if she doesn’t find a job before she turns eighteen, she’ll be homeless. But then she gets an unexpected offer from Aether Corporation, the powerful Los Angeles tech giant. Along with four other recruits—Adam, Chris, Trent, and Zoe—Elena is being sent on a secret mission to bring back data from the future. All they have to do is get Aether the information they need, and the five of them will be set for life. It’s an offer Elena can’t refuse.
But something goes wrong when the time travelers arrive in the future. And they are forced to break the only rule they were given—not to look into their own fates. Now they have twenty-four hours to get back to the present and find a way to stop a seemingly inevitable future—and a murder—from happening. But changing the timeline has deadly consequences too. Who can Elena trust as she fights to save her life?
The first book in an unforgettable series about rewriting your destiny in the city of dreams.
Elena Martinez has street smarts, the ability for perfect recall, and a deadline: if she doesn’t find a job before she turns eighteen, she’ll be homeless. But then she gets an unexpected offer from Aether Corporation, the powerful Los Angeles tech giant. Along with four other recruits—Adam, Chris, Trent, and Zoe—Elena is being sent on a secret mission to bring back data from the future. All they have to do is get Aether the information they need, and the five of them will be set for life. It’s an offer Elena can’t refuse.
But something goes wrong when the time travelers arrive in the future. And they are forced to break the only rule they were given—not to look into their own fates. Now they have twenty-four hours to get back to the present and find a way to stop a seemingly inevitable future—and a murder—from happening. But changing the timeline has deadly consequences too. Who can Elena trust as she fights to save her life?
The first book in an unforgettable series about rewriting your destiny in the city of dreams.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2016
132 people are currently reading
3693 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Briggs
46 books2,900 followersElizabeth Briggs is a New York Times and Top 5 Amazon bestselling author of paranormal and fantasy romance featuring twisty plots, plenty of spice, and a guaranteed happy ending. She's a Stage IV cancer warrior who has worked with teens in foster care and volunteered with animal rescue organizations. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter, and a pack of fluffy dogs. Find her online at http://www.elizabethbriggs.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
August 19, 2018
I was after something light and entertaining. Maybe a little romance and adventure.. So I went to the trusty goodreads recommendations to see what the algorithm would point out to me, and I came across this one. I have never read anything by Elizabeth Briggs before and the synopsis sounded exactly like what I was after so I thought I would give it a go. I listened to the audio version of Future shock and I must say it was SO GOOD! Thoroughly fun and entertaining!
Elena who has a eidetic memory and 4 other gifted teenagers are selected by a mega corporation to travel forward in time 10 years and bring technology back to the present. However something goes wrong and they end up in a fight for their lives.
What an exciting read! Lots of action and adventure, and TIME TRAVEL! It was like a mini YA cross between 'Back to the Future' and 'Minority Report'.
I've gone off YA a bit lately, I'm getting a bit sick of the teenage angst - but I am really glad that I found this one. Although there was a bit of angst still, but what YA doesn't have a little bit with the young characters, who are learning what life is about. Apparently Elizabeth Briggs writes a lot of romance and raunchy stuff normally, and this was her first attempt at YA and I must say I am impressed with her writing! It was so easy to get into and I really enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns.
The story was very clever and the romance was cute. I had a few minor issues with Elena and some of the silly decisions that she made, and the rationales behind some of her actions, but overall it was a great story and I am looking forward to reading the next one!
The audio version was very well done. Erin Spencer did a great job at the narration! 7 hours was a nice break from the 27+ hours of fantasy novels I've been listening to lately!
Would I recommend Future Shock?
Yes it was a lot of fun! I thought the characters were great, it had a great twist and lots of action along the way. And TIME TRAVEL!!! Super fun!
I purchased Future Shock on audible.com at my own expense.
For more reviews check out my
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Elena who has a eidetic memory and 4 other gifted teenagers are selected by a mega corporation to travel forward in time 10 years and bring technology back to the present. However something goes wrong and they end up in a fight for their lives.
What an exciting read! Lots of action and adventure, and TIME TRAVEL! It was like a mini YA cross between 'Back to the Future' and 'Minority Report'.
I've gone off YA a bit lately, I'm getting a bit sick of the teenage angst - but I am really glad that I found this one. Although there was a bit of angst still, but what YA doesn't have a little bit with the young characters, who are learning what life is about. Apparently Elizabeth Briggs writes a lot of romance and raunchy stuff normally, and this was her first attempt at YA and I must say I am impressed with her writing! It was so easy to get into and I really enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns.
The story was very clever and the romance was cute. I had a few minor issues with Elena and some of the silly decisions that she made, and the rationales behind some of her actions, but overall it was a great story and I am looking forward to reading the next one!
The audio version was very well done. Erin Spencer did a great job at the narration! 7 hours was a nice break from the 27+ hours of fantasy novels I've been listening to lately!
Would I recommend Future Shock?
Yes it was a lot of fun! I thought the characters were great, it had a great twist and lots of action along the way. And TIME TRAVEL!!! Super fun!
I purchased Future Shock on audible.com at my own expense.
For more reviews check out my
Blog
March 7, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company and NetGalley.)
This was a YA sci-fi story about a group of teens sent to the future.
I totally understood Elena’s helplessness at the beginning of this book, being nearly 18 and about to be kicked out of foster care with nowhere else to go must be really scary, and the fact that no one would give her a job was awful too.
The storyline in this was about Elena and 4 other teens being sent into the future by 30 years by some scientists. Once in the future they begin to worry that they maybe didn’t exist anymore, and decide to look their future selves up, even though they’d been told not to, and from there we got a bit of a mystery unravelling over what had happened to them in the 30 years they’d jumped forward. The pace in this was quite slow though, and I lost interest a bit as the story went along.
The ending to this was okay, although we did get some deaths!
6 out of 10
“I have to know why I’m not in the system. Even if it damages my brain, I need to know my fate.”
This was a YA sci-fi story about a group of teens sent to the future.
I totally understood Elena’s helplessness at the beginning of this book, being nearly 18 and about to be kicked out of foster care with nowhere else to go must be really scary, and the fact that no one would give her a job was awful too.
The storyline in this was about Elena and 4 other teens being sent into the future by 30 years by some scientists. Once in the future they begin to worry that they maybe didn’t exist anymore, and decide to look their future selves up, even though they’d been told not to, and from there we got a bit of a mystery unravelling over what had happened to them in the 30 years they’d jumped forward. The pace in this was quite slow though, and I lost interest a bit as the story went along.
The ending to this was okay, although we did get some deaths!
6 out of 10
October 6, 2017
Situación actual: 4 a.m, acalambrada y entumecida en el sofa, hecha un manojo de emociones por este libro que IBA A MIRAR NO MÁS, NO A LEER, MENOS A TERMINAR. Pero valió 100% la pena.
Muy, muy, muy bueno. Fue empezarlo y nunca más soltarlo.
Por momentos es predecible, pero es original, depara sorpresas, es pura acción y te emociona.
Muy, muy, muy bueno. Fue empezarlo y nunca más soltarlo.
Por momentos es predecible, pero es original, depara sorpresas, es pura acción y te emociona.
August 24, 2016
Elena Martinez is 17 and about to age out of the foster system with no prospects until one day she is offered the chance to participate in a research project with a tech company called the Aether Corporation. A group of five teenagers is recruited to be sent forward in time ten years to collect information on new technology and bring it back to the present. Of course, nothing happens the way it is supposed to, and instead of spending their time completing their specified task, Elena and the rest of the team are soon embroiled in trying to solve the mystery of their own murders, which they find out happened the day after they returned from the future.
This is one of those SF books that is very light on the science and basically just focuses on the drama of the story. I don't hold that against it though, as there have been a lot of good SF books that have essentially just used an SF element to create a setting for good fiction drama. It has a nicely diverse cast of characters, which I appreciated, including a young woman of Mexican descent as the lead character.
It was a moderately satisfying book, but I can't help but feel like it could have been more if it had tried just a little harder. Certainly all the right elements were there, but I felt like something was missing. The characters all had potential but ultimately felt a bit flat. However, it was a fairly quick read and I did enjoy the book enough that I will probably read the sequel, Future Threat, when it comes out.
This is one of those SF books that is very light on the science and basically just focuses on the drama of the story. I don't hold that against it though, as there have been a lot of good SF books that have essentially just used an SF element to create a setting for good fiction drama. It has a nicely diverse cast of characters, which I appreciated, including a young woman of Mexican descent as the lead character.
It was a moderately satisfying book, but I can't help but feel like it could have been more if it had tried just a little harder. Certainly all the right elements were there, but I felt like something was missing. The characters all had potential but ultimately felt a bit flat. However, it was a fairly quick read and I did enjoy the book enough that I will probably read the sequel, Future Threat, when it comes out.
May 31, 2016
Elena Martinez has to find a job before she turns eighteen or she will be homeless and on the streets when she ages out of the foster care system. She's determined, street smart, and has an eidetic memory, but she's having a difficult time finding work. Maybe it's because she's a tatted up Mexican girl with a record, and her father's legacy hanging over head to boot. When she suddenly receives a job offer from the Aether Corporation, an L.A. tech giant, for more money for a day's work than she's ever seen in her life, she jumps at the chance. Aether Corp. has recruited four other teens - Chris, Trent, Zoe, and Adam - for this mission. All five are a part of a secret operation to travel ten years into the future, and bring back any pertinent data. They're only given one rule - do not to look into their own futures. However, something goes wrong when they arrive and they are forced to break that one rule. They now have twenty-four hours to get back to their own time, change the future, and stop a murder. They'll have to be careful, though, because changing the timeline can have deadly consequences.
Going into Future Shock, the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Briggs, I knew that it featured time travel. Honestly, that's a huge reason as to why I wanted to read the book and I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed the execution of this novel from the time travel to the future, a good central mystery, characterizations, and pacing. Also, I really got a kick out of the pop culture references to Doctor Who and Back to the Future!
Usually, I prefer my time travel into the past, but I do like to see how the future can be imagined every now and then. In this novel, they expect to go only ten years into the future, rather than the thirty they actually end up going, so there are quite a few interesting changes between then and now. For example, in thirty years cash is obsolete and payments are made by fingerprint scans that are linked directly to your bank account, cars are entirely self-driving, and many people wear devices called flexis on their face, which are something like having a mental link to a smartphone via a small, transparent sheet of plastic that can display a pattern of the wearer's choice on the surface. I wouldn't doubt a future of self-driving cars and payment via fingerprint at all. I'm not sure about going totally hands free like with these flexis, but I guess only time will tell - I mean, just look at how much technology has changed since 1986. Either way, the time travel aspect is handled well with minimal confusion.
This leads me to the mystery at the heart of the story that Elena and her fellow time travelers need to work out. Due to time travel (and some research), Elena knows the end results, but lacks the details of how exactly they get to that point. They have to work backwards to put together their own personal futures, while also trying to figure out if they've been set up and if there is more to the entire situation than meets the eye. I really enjoyed trying to piece everything together with Elena and her companions and I liked that the novel kept me on my toes with it's quick pacing.
As for our diverse cast of characters, Elena, one tough cookie with a great memory, and Adam, a smart nerd (plus a fan of the Doctor), are the two most well developed characters of the main five. Don't get me wrong - Chris, Trent, and Zoe each had their moments to shine, but I felt they were somewhat lacking in comparison. I also liked that we got to see some of the adults behind Aether Corporation - and I only wish I could have seen more of them. Then again, part of the mystery probably would have unraveled a bit faster if that was the case. Although each of the main five time traveling characters can be somewhat prickly or off-putting for one reason or another, I came to like all of them well enough in turn.
Overall, I had a great time while reading and keeping up with the time travel and mysterious antics in this creative debut YA novel by Elizabeth Briggs. The twists and turns are well executed and the story kept me turning those pages. For me, the time travel and the sci-fi elements really make the story, and the characters plus their mental and emotional baggage, all make this new novel a must read for fans of the genre.
This review also appears on my blog as a part of Brittany @ Space Between The Spines Summer 2016 Review Train and can be found here.
Going into Future Shock, the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Briggs, I knew that it featured time travel. Honestly, that's a huge reason as to why I wanted to read the book and I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed the execution of this novel from the time travel to the future, a good central mystery, characterizations, and pacing. Also, I really got a kick out of the pop culture references to Doctor Who and Back to the Future!
Usually, I prefer my time travel into the past, but I do like to see how the future can be imagined every now and then. In this novel, they expect to go only ten years into the future, rather than the thirty they actually end up going, so there are quite a few interesting changes between then and now. For example, in thirty years cash is obsolete and payments are made by fingerprint scans that are linked directly to your bank account, cars are entirely self-driving, and many people wear devices called flexis on their face, which are something like having a mental link to a smartphone via a small, transparent sheet of plastic that can display a pattern of the wearer's choice on the surface. I wouldn't doubt a future of self-driving cars and payment via fingerprint at all. I'm not sure about going totally hands free like with these flexis, but I guess only time will tell - I mean, just look at how much technology has changed since 1986. Either way, the time travel aspect is handled well with minimal confusion.
This leads me to the mystery at the heart of the story that Elena and her fellow time travelers need to work out. Due to time travel (and some research), Elena knows the end results, but lacks the details of how exactly they get to that point. They have to work backwards to put together their own personal futures, while also trying to figure out if they've been set up and if there is more to the entire situation than meets the eye. I really enjoyed trying to piece everything together with Elena and her companions and I liked that the novel kept me on my toes with it's quick pacing.
As for our diverse cast of characters, Elena, one tough cookie with a great memory, and Adam, a smart nerd (plus a fan of the Doctor), are the two most well developed characters of the main five. Don't get me wrong - Chris, Trent, and Zoe each had their moments to shine, but I felt they were somewhat lacking in comparison. I also liked that we got to see some of the adults behind Aether Corporation - and I only wish I could have seen more of them. Then again, part of the mystery probably would have unraveled a bit faster if that was the case. Although each of the main five time traveling characters can be somewhat prickly or off-putting for one reason or another, I came to like all of them well enough in turn.
Overall, I had a great time while reading and keeping up with the time travel and mysterious antics in this creative debut YA novel by Elizabeth Briggs. The twists and turns are well executed and the story kept me turning those pages. For me, the time travel and the sci-fi elements really make the story, and the characters plus their mental and emotional baggage, all make this new novel a must read for fans of the genre.
This review also appears on my blog as a part of Brittany @ Space Between The Spines Summer 2016 Review Train and can be found here.
February 11, 2017
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for a honest review
MY THOUGHTS
I admit that I have a soft spot for books with time travel. Sure, they're a bit confusing at times, but they are so fascinating. This one wasn't, thankfully, as confusing as previous time travel books I've read and I enjoyed reading it!
Elena Martinez has bounced from foster home to foster home and as she is approaching the age of 18, she'll be kicked out and left on her own. When she's offered an opportunity by a powerful tech company, she can't resist. Not when it means that she can actually have a future. Turns out that she'll get to actually see the future. She, along with a few other teens, will travel to the future, record their findings on the tech there, and return. Sounds easy. Except something goes wrong when they travel to the future. Except the teens can't help but look into what they're own futures are, and what they find out will horrify them.
I had absolutely no clue what this book was about when I picked it up. I make it a rule not to read the synopsis of a book right before reading the book, in case of spoilers. I thought there would be time travel involved, due to the title, but I didn't know for sure. So I was really excited when that bomb dropped! I love time travel in books, especially when folks travel into the future! This book was no different! I thought the time travel was interesting and it was done well. It wasn't a confusing mess like some time travel books. There were some times when I had to tilt my head, but time travel is a strange thing, there's always going to be a little confusion.
The book has strong sci-fi elements, but there's also a lot of mystery. I don't want to say the hows and the whys, as they're spoilers, but there's a lot of mystery elements in this book. It kept me on the edge and it kept me guessing, all throughout the book.
As for characters, I can't say I love any of the characters, but I did like them. Elena is a great MC, but she didn't really strike a chord. She kind of seemed like your average YA MC, except Mexican and with tattoos. I liked all of the supporting characters. I mainly liked how different the teens were and how they interacting with each other.
As for romance, it didn't wow me, but it also didn't distract from the major plot, so that's good. You could tell right away who the love interest was going to be, though that's the case with most YA, and it just felt it an added romance. *shrug*
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Again, I love time travel books, so this one was right up my alley. I loved the sci-fi elements and the mystery. There were some things, like characters and romance, that I was just okay with, but overall I think this is a great sci-fi standalone!
I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for a honest review
MY THOUGHTS
I admit that I have a soft spot for books with time travel. Sure, they're a bit confusing at times, but they are so fascinating. This one wasn't, thankfully, as confusing as previous time travel books I've read and I enjoyed reading it!
Elena Martinez has bounced from foster home to foster home and as she is approaching the age of 18, she'll be kicked out and left on her own. When she's offered an opportunity by a powerful tech company, she can't resist. Not when it means that she can actually have a future. Turns out that she'll get to actually see the future. She, along with a few other teens, will travel to the future, record their findings on the tech there, and return. Sounds easy. Except something goes wrong when they travel to the future. Except the teens can't help but look into what they're own futures are, and what they find out will horrify them.
I had absolutely no clue what this book was about when I picked it up. I make it a rule not to read the synopsis of a book right before reading the book, in case of spoilers. I thought there would be time travel involved, due to the title, but I didn't know for sure. So I was really excited when that bomb dropped! I love time travel in books, especially when folks travel into the future! This book was no different! I thought the time travel was interesting and it was done well. It wasn't a confusing mess like some time travel books. There were some times when I had to tilt my head, but time travel is a strange thing, there's always going to be a little confusion.
The book has strong sci-fi elements, but there's also a lot of mystery. I don't want to say the hows and the whys, as they're spoilers, but there's a lot of mystery elements in this book. It kept me on the edge and it kept me guessing, all throughout the book.
As for characters, I can't say I love any of the characters, but I did like them. Elena is a great MC, but she didn't really strike a chord. She kind of seemed like your average YA MC, except Mexican and with tattoos. I liked all of the supporting characters. I mainly liked how different the teens were and how they interacting with each other.
As for romance, it didn't wow me, but it also didn't distract from the major plot, so that's good. You could tell right away who the love interest was going to be, though that's the case with most YA, and it just felt it an added romance. *shrug*
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Again, I love time travel books, so this one was right up my alley. I loved the sci-fi elements and the mystery. There were some things, like characters and romance, that I was just okay with, but overall I think this is a great sci-fi standalone!
November 4, 2025
Future Shock was a very original time travel, young adult novel.
Elena, a teen with extraordinary skills, is hired by a technological corporation to be sent into the future with a team of other young adults. They are each picked for their unique skills. But the corporation is keeping secrets that has Elena extremely concerned but the money is too good to turn down.
They are told not to check into their future or ask questions about this experiment but the travelers soon discover only one of their team survives to the future and one is accused of killing the rest as well as themselves.
Plots, machinations and betrayal face the time traveling team. They must unravel their future before they return to the past or they will end up murdered. They don't know who they can trust and who is out to get them.
Awesome premise but the storytelling is a little slow going, Future Shock really had that imaginative potential to blow me away. Unfortunately, the pace ended up putting it in between the like it and really like it for me. 3.5 stars
I received this ARC copy of Future Shock from Albert Whitman & Company - AW Teen in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 1, 2016.
Elena, a teen with extraordinary skills, is hired by a technological corporation to be sent into the future with a team of other young adults. They are each picked for their unique skills. But the corporation is keeping secrets that has Elena extremely concerned but the money is too good to turn down.
They are told not to check into their future or ask questions about this experiment but the travelers soon discover only one of their team survives to the future and one is accused of killing the rest as well as themselves.
Plots, machinations and betrayal face the time traveling team. They must unravel their future before they return to the past or they will end up murdered. They don't know who they can trust and who is out to get them.
Awesome premise but the storytelling is a little slow going, Future Shock really had that imaginative potential to blow me away. Unfortunately, the pace ended up putting it in between the like it and really like it for me. 3.5 stars
I received this ARC copy of Future Shock from Albert Whitman & Company - AW Teen in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 1, 2016.
April 2, 2016
Future Shock was a lot of fun with a twist at the end that I did not see coming. And I'm usually not easily surprised by twists, most are too obvious. Not this one. No. I would never have guessed it is was that person.
This book sucked me easily in, because the writing was so easy and - for the loss of a better word - alive.
Another thing that sucked me in was Elena's POV. I loved Elena's POV. She was a good person, trying to help everyone. Don't think she didn't had her flaws. She did. But they made her human and likeable. Because aren't we all annoyed by perfect heroines?
The other kids were just as likeable.
I would recommend this book if you are into sci-fi and fantasy with a touch of romance, but be prepared to have your brain blown with all the time travel talk. And I mean that in a good way. Future Shock will make you think.
And the moment when the title starts to make sense. Best feeling in the world.
Rating: 4 stars
[EDIT: Apparently this will be a series and the second book is called [book:Future Threat|29506205]. Yay! Can't wait]
~ Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion
April 12, 2018
Review originally published on my bookstagram acc: https://www.instagram.com/p/BheRq7qgtcq/
[review in english below]
Gracias a @somosbestya por el ejemplar
.
.
Elena ha sido criada en hogares de acogida durante toda su vida. A los dieciocho años tendrá que dejar su actual hogar y por eso se encuentra en la desesperada búsqueda por un empleo. Pero Elena no es la típica chica mexicana/estadounidense, tiene una memoria prodigiosa. Y cuando una compañía le ofrece ganar una exorbitante suma de dinero, no lo duda. El trabajo parece baste sencillo: ella y un grupo de adolescentes deben viajar al futuro, observar todo lo que encuentran y luego reportar sus observaciones a la compañía. Pero algo sale mal y tendrán 24 horas para volver al presente y detener a un asesino.
•
Empecemos diciendo lo mucho que me sorprendió este libro. No estaba esperando disfrutarlo tanto como lo hice. Como la sinopsis claramente demuestra, este es un libro plagado de acción. Muchas cosas suceden todo el tiempo y el argumento no te da un respiro. Me tuvo en ascuas durante toda la lectura, al punto tal que no podía parar de leer y me lo terminé fumando en menos de 24 horas.
•
Pero no sólo el argumento me resultó entretenido, realmente me gustaron como estaban construidos los personajes. Si me siguen hace rato sabrán que siempre tengo problemas con los personajes en la literatura juvenil. Sin embargo, estos personajes se sintieron increíblemente reales para mí, con sus motivaciones claras y plausibles. Si bien hubo algunos clichés típicos del género, no me arruinaron la lectura para nada.
•
Así que si están buscando un libro divertido, lleno de acción y que los mantenga todo el tiempo con ese deseo de saber más y más, denle una oportunidad a #ShockDelFuturo de #ElizabethBriggs
•
Calificación: 4 marusitas
.
.
.
.
{I was kindly sent this book from a local publisher in exchange for an honest review}
•
Elena was fostered cared her entire life. At the age of 18, she will leave her foster home and that’s why she is desperately looking for a job. But Elena is not your common Mexican American girl, she has a prodigious memory and when a company offers her the opportunity to earn a huge amount of money she doesn’t hesitate. The job seems quite simple; she and a group of teenagers must travel to the future, observe everything they encountered and then report their observations back. But something goes wrong and they have 24 hours to return to their present and stop a killer.
•
Let’s start by saying how much this book took me by surprise. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. As la synopsis clearly states this is an extremely action packed novel. A lot of things are constantly happening and the plot doesn’t give you a brake. It had me all the time at the edge of my seat and I just could not put the book down. I was that invested in the story that I read it in less than 24 hours.
•
But not only was the plot enjoyable, I really liked how the characters were crafted. And if you have been following me for a while, you know I always struggle with how YA authors write their characters. However, these characters felt extremely real to me, their motivations and feelings completely clear and plausible. There were some YA tropes but they did not spoil my enjoyment of this novel at all.
•
So, if you are looking for a fun, action packed read that keeps you at the edge of your seat, give Future Shock a go.
•
Rating: 4 stars
[review in english below]
Gracias a @somosbestya por el ejemplar
.
.
Elena ha sido criada en hogares de acogida durante toda su vida. A los dieciocho años tendrá que dejar su actual hogar y por eso se encuentra en la desesperada búsqueda por un empleo. Pero Elena no es la típica chica mexicana/estadounidense, tiene una memoria prodigiosa. Y cuando una compañía le ofrece ganar una exorbitante suma de dinero, no lo duda. El trabajo parece baste sencillo: ella y un grupo de adolescentes deben viajar al futuro, observar todo lo que encuentran y luego reportar sus observaciones a la compañía. Pero algo sale mal y tendrán 24 horas para volver al presente y detener a un asesino.
•
Empecemos diciendo lo mucho que me sorprendió este libro. No estaba esperando disfrutarlo tanto como lo hice. Como la sinopsis claramente demuestra, este es un libro plagado de acción. Muchas cosas suceden todo el tiempo y el argumento no te da un respiro. Me tuvo en ascuas durante toda la lectura, al punto tal que no podía parar de leer y me lo terminé fumando en menos de 24 horas.
•
Pero no sólo el argumento me resultó entretenido, realmente me gustaron como estaban construidos los personajes. Si me siguen hace rato sabrán que siempre tengo problemas con los personajes en la literatura juvenil. Sin embargo, estos personajes se sintieron increíblemente reales para mí, con sus motivaciones claras y plausibles. Si bien hubo algunos clichés típicos del género, no me arruinaron la lectura para nada.
•
Así que si están buscando un libro divertido, lleno de acción y que los mantenga todo el tiempo con ese deseo de saber más y más, denle una oportunidad a #ShockDelFuturo de #ElizabethBriggs
•
Calificación: 4 marusitas
.
.
.
.
{I was kindly sent this book from a local publisher in exchange for an honest review}
•
Elena was fostered cared her entire life. At the age of 18, she will leave her foster home and that’s why she is desperately looking for a job. But Elena is not your common Mexican American girl, she has a prodigious memory and when a company offers her the opportunity to earn a huge amount of money she doesn’t hesitate. The job seems quite simple; she and a group of teenagers must travel to the future, observe everything they encountered and then report their observations back. But something goes wrong and they have 24 hours to return to their present and stop a killer.
•
Let’s start by saying how much this book took me by surprise. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. As la synopsis clearly states this is an extremely action packed novel. A lot of things are constantly happening and the plot doesn’t give you a brake. It had me all the time at the edge of my seat and I just could not put the book down. I was that invested in the story that I read it in less than 24 hours.
•
But not only was the plot enjoyable, I really liked how the characters were crafted. And if you have been following me for a while, you know I always struggle with how YA authors write their characters. However, these characters felt extremely real to me, their motivations and feelings completely clear and plausible. There were some YA tropes but they did not spoil my enjoyment of this novel at all.
•
So, if you are looking for a fun, action packed read that keeps you at the edge of your seat, give Future Shock a go.
•
Rating: 4 stars
February 6, 2017
“No one wants to hire an underage, inexperienced, tatted-up Mexican girl. Even McDonald’s turned me down.”
About : Elena Martinez has slipped through the cracks of California’s foster care system. Desperate for money and a future, she signs a contract with the corporate tech giant Aether in exchange for money and a college scholarship: time-travel to the future for 24 hours and bring back info about future technology.
The only catch? She can’t look into her own future. It might mess with her mind or keep her from returning safely home. If she just gets the technology and gets back through the time portal, she’ll be set for life.
Elena signs up and, of course, ignores the prohibition on researching her fate. But she doesn’t expect to find herself enmeshed in the mystery of a murder: her own. YA science-fiction authored by Elizabeth Briggs and published April 1st 2016 by Aw Teen.
Thoughts : Future Shock is perfect for romantic sci-fi junkies, and I flew through it despite a few worldbuilding and research goofs.
It starts off a little rough, even helped along by Elena’s strong, captivating voice. The problem is Elizabeth Briggs’ outdated description of the current foster system in California. To give Elena strong motivations and high stakes for accepting Aether's offer, Briggs puts her in a desperate situation:
“In two months I’ll be kicked out of foster care, forced out of my current home, and most likely will have to drop out of school…Once we turn eighteen, they’re done. The instant checks stop coming, we’ll be out on the street.”
Thankfully, I happen to know that this is no longer the case, although it used to be true. My husband works as a juvenile probation officer and he deals every day with kids who’ve been raised by the CA state system. They do have access to financial and college aid, now, after they reach the age of 18. Elizabeth Briggs is describing the system of a decade ago, in Future Shock.
But, hey, this could easily have been set a decade ago, and thankfully the story moves fairly quickly into more plot-relevant terrain. I raced through the story, from here on out, because the pacing never slows and the mystery just gets better and better.
After Elena signs on the dotted line, she and four other teens prepare to travel one decade into the future. They will arrive in the future Aether headquarters and have twenty-four hours to gather as much technology as they can. Sounds almost too good to be true...and Elena knows it. She’s a street-smart Latina and she asks good questions: Why teenagers? And why foster teenagers, at that? I very rarely found myself ahead of the technical thriller plot.
And within the first forty pages, we’re in the future! The teenagers are extremely, entertainingly proactive—wandering into shops and exploring the tech—and I love how Briggs imagines the future with lots of cool goodies and sharp edges. Driverless cars rule the road, and they appear to be a government monopoly, as other types of cars were made illegal several years before.
Unfortunately, a few notes ring false in this future world, such as the fact that prostitution appears to be legal, but cigarettes are banned. I think a future that legalizes prostitution will likely legalize more drugs instead of criminalizing more, although I could be wrong about that. CA did just make cigarettes illegal under age 21, so perhaps Briggs’ future LA is spot on, in this regard.
A few other sketchy points jumped out at me. For one thing, .
Also, the author has apparently never watched Cops. In several action scenes, her cops seem to lack knowledge of basic police training and strategy. For example, in one instance, the police shoot at teenagers who are running away from them. This would be a major exception to police training, which teaches cops not to shoot at suspects who are running away. In several other instances, these teenagers escape situations in which police could have easily radioed in backup to contain the area. These oversights definitely neutered the action scenes, for me.
I was also hoping that Elena’s eidetic memory would play a larger role in the book. Considering how the whole first scene is built around her amazing memory, I was expecting more from that angle. Maybe book II will deal with it more.
But even when I hit hiccups or areas that could have used further development, I never wanted to stop reading Future Shock. The tech elements are a lot of fun, the pace stays in high gear and the mystery just gets better and better. Every chapter ends with terrific motivations to keep reading.
Overall : If you just read fast and don’t look too hard at the deets, I guarantee you’ll have a good time with Future Shock. I do have high hopes for a high-concept series or trilogy. I loved the premise, the mystery, the Latina narrator, the lightning pace, the imaginative setting of a futuristic LA…I hope this series continues. It’s a good thing. I’ll probably pick up book II, at some point.
Recommended To : This can be a great, fast read for romantic-sci-fi junkies. For someone who has stuck mostly to Fantasy, this YA sci-fi thriller could be something really new and fun.
Thanks so much to Elizabeth Briggs, AW Teen and Netgalley for this e-ARC!
If you liked this review, you can read more of my speculative fiction reviews on my blog
About : Elena Martinez has slipped through the cracks of California’s foster care system. Desperate for money and a future, she signs a contract with the corporate tech giant Aether in exchange for money and a college scholarship: time-travel to the future for 24 hours and bring back info about future technology.
The only catch? She can’t look into her own future. It might mess with her mind or keep her from returning safely home. If she just gets the technology and gets back through the time portal, she’ll be set for life.
Elena signs up and, of course, ignores the prohibition on researching her fate. But she doesn’t expect to find herself enmeshed in the mystery of a murder: her own. YA science-fiction authored by Elizabeth Briggs and published April 1st 2016 by Aw Teen.
Thoughts : Future Shock is perfect for romantic sci-fi junkies, and I flew through it despite a few worldbuilding and research goofs.
It starts off a little rough, even helped along by Elena’s strong, captivating voice. The problem is Elizabeth Briggs’ outdated description of the current foster system in California. To give Elena strong motivations and high stakes for accepting Aether's offer, Briggs puts her in a desperate situation:
“In two months I’ll be kicked out of foster care, forced out of my current home, and most likely will have to drop out of school…Once we turn eighteen, they’re done. The instant checks stop coming, we’ll be out on the street.”
Thankfully, I happen to know that this is no longer the case, although it used to be true. My husband works as a juvenile probation officer and he deals every day with kids who’ve been raised by the CA state system. They do have access to financial and college aid, now, after they reach the age of 18. Elizabeth Briggs is describing the system of a decade ago, in Future Shock.
But, hey, this could easily have been set a decade ago, and thankfully the story moves fairly quickly into more plot-relevant terrain. I raced through the story, from here on out, because the pacing never slows and the mystery just gets better and better.
After Elena signs on the dotted line, she and four other teens prepare to travel one decade into the future. They will arrive in the future Aether headquarters and have twenty-four hours to gather as much technology as they can. Sounds almost too good to be true...and Elena knows it. She’s a street-smart Latina and she asks good questions: Why teenagers? And why foster teenagers, at that? I very rarely found myself ahead of the technical thriller plot.
And within the first forty pages, we’re in the future! The teenagers are extremely, entertainingly proactive—wandering into shops and exploring the tech—and I love how Briggs imagines the future with lots of cool goodies and sharp edges. Driverless cars rule the road, and they appear to be a government monopoly, as other types of cars were made illegal several years before.
Unfortunately, a few notes ring false in this future world, such as the fact that prostitution appears to be legal, but cigarettes are banned. I think a future that legalizes prostitution will likely legalize more drugs instead of criminalizing more, although I could be wrong about that. CA did just make cigarettes illegal under age 21, so perhaps Briggs’ future LA is spot on, in this regard.
A few other sketchy points jumped out at me. For one thing, .
Also, the author has apparently never watched Cops. In several action scenes, her cops seem to lack knowledge of basic police training and strategy. For example, in one instance, the police shoot at teenagers who are running away from them. This would be a major exception to police training, which teaches cops not to shoot at suspects who are running away. In several other instances, these teenagers escape situations in which police could have easily radioed in backup to contain the area. These oversights definitely neutered the action scenes, for me.
I was also hoping that Elena’s eidetic memory would play a larger role in the book. Considering how the whole first scene is built around her amazing memory, I was expecting more from that angle. Maybe book II will deal with it more.
But even when I hit hiccups or areas that could have used further development, I never wanted to stop reading Future Shock. The tech elements are a lot of fun, the pace stays in high gear and the mystery just gets better and better. Every chapter ends with terrific motivations to keep reading.
Overall : If you just read fast and don’t look too hard at the deets, I guarantee you’ll have a good time with Future Shock. I do have high hopes for a high-concept series or trilogy. I loved the premise, the mystery, the Latina narrator, the lightning pace, the imaginative setting of a futuristic LA…I hope this series continues. It’s a good thing. I’ll probably pick up book II, at some point.
Recommended To : This can be a great, fast read for romantic-sci-fi junkies. For someone who has stuck mostly to Fantasy, this YA sci-fi thriller could be something really new and fun.
Thanks so much to Elizabeth Briggs, AW Teen and Netgalley for this e-ARC!
If you liked this review, you can read more of my speculative fiction reviews on my blog
April 1, 2016
I'll admit this isn't my usual read but the synopsis just grabbed me and so did the book, once I started reading I just couldn't put it down.
Elena's life hasn't been easy she's been rolling around in foster care for years and she's nearly eighteen which means once the state cheques stop coming she'll be out and on her own so she desperately needs a job but no matter how hard she tries she can't get hired, a seventeen year old Mexican girl with tattoos is obviously not what employers are looking for.
After being rejected yet again Elena is approached by the Aether Corporation, for just one day of her time they'll pay her a huge amount. Elena finds herself in a group of five gifted teenagers who've been recruited for a special project, a project which involves them being sent into the future where they soon realise things are not as they seem, something is clearly wrong and they find themselves alone in a future they know nothing about with money they can't spend and identities which no longer exist, well only one of them exists, they've no idea what's going on or who they can trust.
I'm not saying anymore because I don't want to spoil this for you I'll just say it's a fascinating book which promises so much and it kept me completely hooked from the first page to the last.
I was gifted with a copy of the book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2017
Elena Martinez has to make plans quickly before she ages out of the foster care system. She applies for jobs but gets no offers and is feeling hopeless. Even though Elena has had a rough life she still has dreams and goals that she wants to work toward. After all of the setbacks on the job front an opportunity comes out of the blue and seems too good to be true. Elena feels it's her only choice though to be able to be independent.
I enjoyed the gritty feeling of the story. It made the story more real. All of the characters had so much going on and I enjoyed learning more about them. Elena and Chloe were definitely my favorites. Elena had to act so hard but felt lonely and needed someone she could count on. Chloe was more insecure but started to have more confidence in herself as the story progressed.
The book had lots of action that grabbed and held my attention. I was always wondering what was going to happen next. The time travel parts were interesting with no long drawn out explanations.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable exciting read.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I enjoyed the gritty feeling of the story. It made the story more real. All of the characters had so much going on and I enjoyed learning more about them. Elena and Chloe were definitely my favorites. Elena had to act so hard but felt lonely and needed someone she could count on. Chloe was more insecure but started to have more confidence in herself as the story progressed.
The book had lots of action that grabbed and held my attention. I was always wondering what was going to happen next. The time travel parts were interesting with no long drawn out explanations.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable exciting read.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
May 3, 2016
WOW! What a rollercoaster!
I was totally captivated by the awesome plot.
Somehow Briggs always get me all caught up in her books. She does things big and dramatic. Her books aren't slow subtle kind of stories- nope it's all or nothing: fast, dynamic and captivating. Future Shock is in many ways very different than her previous novels, yet it does have that element in common with them. They all are plot driven.
And when it comes to plots, Briggs just out did herself with this one. There are quite a few twists and turns, and two I didn't see coming. Well actually, I kinda expected something, anything- But I would have never guessed the particular event.
The entire book happens over a span of a week- but so much happened, never a dull moment. All the guessing kept me occupied, but so many things did unfold as well.
The most amazing thing however, I didn't only get to know the MCs during this adventure. They all had some pretty interesting character growth as well.
The entire book is written from Elena's POV. And to be frank I wasn't a huge fan of her in the beginning. I found her melodramatic, which is totally unfair, considering her situation. But she was just so poor me, everything is so unfair, yet also so agro. She kinda went on my nerves.
Then we get to meet her companions: Trent, Chris, Zoe and Adam.
Each of them bringing a different skill to their mission, or at least that's what we were told. It started off with rather typecast characters and as time goes one, we get to know them and they slowly slowly become this unique group of youngsters.
The most changes we get to see in Elena, some of her changes in fact were choices that effected the outcome of the story- which is beyond clever IMO. And at the end I realised I totally can identify with her, I care for her and I really like her. Pretty amazing considering that I thought she was totally annoying about 10% in.
I am still reeling from the book. I actually didn't really expect this. I don't exactly know what I expected, but not this. I think I kinda expected something more paranormal. I ain't complaining however. I like the idea of time-traveling stories, the question if we can change the future and the mystery of the storyline had me guessing right until the end.
Great concept and captivating plot make this an enjoyable read.
And now all I can do is wondering where Briggs will take the story next!
I was totally captivated by the awesome plot.
Somehow Briggs always get me all caught up in her books. She does things big and dramatic. Her books aren't slow subtle kind of stories- nope it's all or nothing: fast, dynamic and captivating. Future Shock is in many ways very different than her previous novels, yet it does have that element in common with them. They all are plot driven.
And when it comes to plots, Briggs just out did herself with this one. There are quite a few twists and turns, and two I didn't see coming. Well actually, I kinda expected something, anything- But I would have never guessed the particular event.
The entire book happens over a span of a week- but so much happened, never a dull moment. All the guessing kept me occupied, but so many things did unfold as well.
The most amazing thing however, I didn't only get to know the MCs during this adventure. They all had some pretty interesting character growth as well.
The entire book is written from Elena's POV. And to be frank I wasn't a huge fan of her in the beginning. I found her melodramatic, which is totally unfair, considering her situation. But she was just so poor me, everything is so unfair, yet also so agro. She kinda went on my nerves.
Then we get to meet her companions: Trent, Chris, Zoe and Adam.
Each of them bringing a different skill to their mission, or at least that's what we were told. It started off with rather typecast characters and as time goes one, we get to know them and they slowly slowly become this unique group of youngsters.
The most changes we get to see in Elena, some of her changes in fact were choices that effected the outcome of the story- which is beyond clever IMO. And at the end I realised I totally can identify with her, I care for her and I really like her. Pretty amazing considering that I thought she was totally annoying about 10% in.
I am still reeling from the book. I actually didn't really expect this. I don't exactly know what I expected, but not this. I think I kinda expected something more paranormal. I ain't complaining however. I like the idea of time-traveling stories, the question if we can change the future and the mystery of the storyline had me guessing right until the end.
Great concept and captivating plot make this an enjoyable read.
And now all I can do is wondering where Briggs will take the story next!
March 20, 2016
What I really loved about this book was the casual representation. It’s not every day you see a Latina Mexican teenage girl with tattoos as the main character. Backed up by a bisexual secondary character, the representation was refreshing and really gave the book an added edge.
Some of the plot was rather predictable at times, but it was a fast paced story. And everyone loves a bit of time travel. Mainly set over a 24 hour period, it definitely kept me hooked and wanting to read more.
I think what made this book was the fleshed out characters. Elena, Zoe, Trent and Chris were all great, deep characters. I found Adam wooden and ‘typical’, but he did add an extra aspect to the story. But the relationships and friendships developed, especially Chris and Trent, really made the characters likeable and interesting.
While this book didn’t really stand out, it was a good read that kept me interested, and the representation was a breath of fresh air to a genre usually confined to straight white males or Mary Sue characters.
Some of the plot was rather predictable at times, but it was a fast paced story. And everyone loves a bit of time travel. Mainly set over a 24 hour period, it definitely kept me hooked and wanting to read more.
I think what made this book was the fleshed out characters. Elena, Zoe, Trent and Chris were all great, deep characters. I found Adam wooden and ‘typical’, but he did add an extra aspect to the story. But the relationships and friendships developed, especially Chris and Trent, really made the characters likeable and interesting.
While this book didn’t really stand out, it was a good read that kept me interested, and the representation was a breath of fresh air to a genre usually confined to straight white males or Mary Sue characters.
March 29, 2016
3.5 stars Solidly entertaining, action-packed scifi--especially if you're familiar with LA. (Ripley's T-Rex FTW!) Some aspects and secondary characters could have been developed more, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Review to come.
Review to come.
March 7, 2016
Wow! I had a feeling is like this but not as much as I did! I loved it! Great story and awesome characters! I heard somewhere that this may be a series and I truly hope so! I'd love to read more!
February 13, 2019
I first read this book in July 2017. I had fallen out of love with YA in previous years, wasn't a huge fan of sci-fi or reading a lot about time travel, so it was a surprise that I decided to read this one but I'm glad I did. I re-read this book in November 2018 so I could move on and complete the trilogy.
Elena is two months from being ejected by the foster care system and still cannot find a job as nobody seems interested in hiring her. Help comes when a tech company offers her the chance to take part in their tests for more money than she could have hoped for. Despite her suspicions that she isn't being told the truth and that she is being used in some way, Elena feels she has little choice but to agree. This money will set her up for life and give her a future, which she doesn't have at the moment. She is teamed with Chris, Adam, Trent and Zoe, each with different complementary skills for the task ahead. They are being sent ten years into the future for 24 hours to gather information on technology and come back. The scientists are confident that the employees of the company ten years in the future will be there to meet them and assist with the mission. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot. They arrive in the future to discover that the tech company is gone and the building is deserted so there is nobody there to guide them. As they start to explore the local area, it becomes clear that they are thirty years into the future and don't recognise any of the technology being used in everyday life, which makes them stand out in the wrong way. As instructed, they start to note what they can to take back, through Zoe's drawing skills and with the use of Elena's memory. It is when they try to buy something that they discover that all citizens are entered in a computer database and if you aren't on it, you can't buy...but why is only Adam in it? Why are the other four not there? It is then that they decide to break the golden rule of the Aether Corporation not to look up information about their future selves...
I grew tired of YA fiction several years ago because of the tropes and the same tired plots. I liked the idea of this one so I risked giving it a try and I really enjoyed it. Part of what made this book was the characters. I liked Elena as the MC as she wants to find a better future for herself and help her foster sister too. She is struggling to get anyone to give her a chance at a job and the offer from the company just seems to be the answer to her prayers. I had sympathy for her and liked the way she stood up for Adam when she first meets him, and how capable she is having been through the foster care system. She is also the smart one who is questioning the situation, and is disturbed before the trip to discover that they are not the first attempt to go into the future. What went wrong with that mission and why are Aether claiming that they are the first to be sent?
I grew to like the group dynamic. I wasn't sure I was going to like Trent and Chris when they were fighting with Adam but as soon as they got to the future and started working together, I grew to like them all. Things start to get interesting when the group start wondering about why Adam is the only one in the database. Does this mean that in thirty years time the rest of them are dead? It is decided that they should try to find Zoe's sister who might still live in the future city and see what she can tell them about her. What she says is shocking and leads to a very tense visit to the library to find out more about their future selves and past events. I very much enjoyed this twist in the story and what we find out there starts off a chain reaction of events that is fast paced and entertaining. I don't want to go into any more detail but I will hint at getting help from a couple of future selves which is fascinating. I liked the idea that there was an event in the past that Elena wanted to change but was at a loss as to how she would be able to do it, wanting to keep the details from her new friends.
It wasn't a complicated story despite the time travel and science elements. It doesn't focus on how the time travel works and the reader is told very quickly that it works without a ton of heavy tech explanations, which I liked. It was more a story about finding out your future and trying to change it in the space of a few hours. It was tense and dramatic and I kept wondering how they could change things. Also the way it ends sets things up for all kinds of sequels. Time travel fascinates me and if it is done well, it can be quite exciting. This was a book that did it well and I'm interested to see what happens next so I'm going to grab book two as soon as I can. I recommend this to those interested in time travel and trying to change your destiny. There is also some minor romance in the background but it does fit the story nicely without becoming more important than the plot and the book is well paced throughout.
The book had the perfect balance between characters and plot, working in harmony together. I would be interested in other books by the author in the future.
Elena is two months from being ejected by the foster care system and still cannot find a job as nobody seems interested in hiring her. Help comes when a tech company offers her the chance to take part in their tests for more money than she could have hoped for. Despite her suspicions that she isn't being told the truth and that she is being used in some way, Elena feels she has little choice but to agree. This money will set her up for life and give her a future, which she doesn't have at the moment. She is teamed with Chris, Adam, Trent and Zoe, each with different complementary skills for the task ahead. They are being sent ten years into the future for 24 hours to gather information on technology and come back. The scientists are confident that the employees of the company ten years in the future will be there to meet them and assist with the mission. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot. They arrive in the future to discover that the tech company is gone and the building is deserted so there is nobody there to guide them. As they start to explore the local area, it becomes clear that they are thirty years into the future and don't recognise any of the technology being used in everyday life, which makes them stand out in the wrong way. As instructed, they start to note what they can to take back, through Zoe's drawing skills and with the use of Elena's memory. It is when they try to buy something that they discover that all citizens are entered in a computer database and if you aren't on it, you can't buy...but why is only Adam in it? Why are the other four not there? It is then that they decide to break the golden rule of the Aether Corporation not to look up information about their future selves...
I grew tired of YA fiction several years ago because of the tropes and the same tired plots. I liked the idea of this one so I risked giving it a try and I really enjoyed it. Part of what made this book was the characters. I liked Elena as the MC as she wants to find a better future for herself and help her foster sister too. She is struggling to get anyone to give her a chance at a job and the offer from the company just seems to be the answer to her prayers. I had sympathy for her and liked the way she stood up for Adam when she first meets him, and how capable she is having been through the foster care system. She is also the smart one who is questioning the situation, and is disturbed before the trip to discover that they are not the first attempt to go into the future. What went wrong with that mission and why are Aether claiming that they are the first to be sent?
I grew to like the group dynamic. I wasn't sure I was going to like Trent and Chris when they were fighting with Adam but as soon as they got to the future and started working together, I grew to like them all. Things start to get interesting when the group start wondering about why Adam is the only one in the database. Does this mean that in thirty years time the rest of them are dead? It is decided that they should try to find Zoe's sister who might still live in the future city and see what she can tell them about her. What she says is shocking and leads to a very tense visit to the library to find out more about their future selves and past events. I very much enjoyed this twist in the story and what we find out there starts off a chain reaction of events that is fast paced and entertaining. I don't want to go into any more detail but I will hint at getting help from a couple of future selves which is fascinating. I liked the idea that there was an event in the past that Elena wanted to change but was at a loss as to how she would be able to do it, wanting to keep the details from her new friends.
It wasn't a complicated story despite the time travel and science elements. It doesn't focus on how the time travel works and the reader is told very quickly that it works without a ton of heavy tech explanations, which I liked. It was more a story about finding out your future and trying to change it in the space of a few hours. It was tense and dramatic and I kept wondering how they could change things. Also the way it ends sets things up for all kinds of sequels. Time travel fascinates me and if it is done well, it can be quite exciting. This was a book that did it well and I'm interested to see what happens next so I'm going to grab book two as soon as I can. I recommend this to those interested in time travel and trying to change your destiny. There is also some minor romance in the background but it does fit the story nicely without becoming more important than the plot and the book is well paced throughout.
The book had the perfect balance between characters and plot, working in harmony together. I would be interested in other books by the author in the future.
March 22, 2016
4 "I want to visit the future" STARS
ARC via NetGalley - THANK YOU!
Elena (my TVD and Stelena heart is singing) is a badass seventeen year old with an eidetic memory who wants a good future -- something not so easy to accomplish with a past (and present) like hers. She'll soon be out of the foster care system and has nothing in sight - no job, no money, no house. When she's recruited by a large company to take part in an experiment for a LOT of money, she says yes. Of course, 'cause the girl has nothing to lose and isn't dumb.
The fact that Elena is truly desperate provides a good enough motive for the way she jumps into the opportunity. I believe most people in her shoes would do the same. Especially if the experiment was to travel to the future. Yay! Future. Who wouldn't want THAT? Sounds pretty perfect so far.
Yeah, right.
Of course shit was bound to happen when they got there, right?
And a lot of shit DID happen, which means this was one of those books that kept going, going and going until you thought there was nowhere else to go, but it opened up a new road and marched on. Fun, huh?
Elizabeth Briggs brought a future with super cool cars, weird clothing and an Internet device connected to people's brain. Man, I want that last one sooo bad. I remember saying this about her other book - More than Comics (see review here), but I thought the world building needed a little bit more work. Not much, but other than specific details, most of which I've already listed, there could be more about the"30 years from now" world to bring the futuristic image to life. I wish I'd seen more. Maybe that's me wishing the book was a bit longer, which is a good thing, right?
Other than that, Elizabeth wrote likable characters -- I didn't want anything bad to happen to them -- and a story that kept the reader interested and wanting more. I was pleasantly surprised by the big reveal, and I definitely didn't know it'd end that way, so yay for that.
Elizabeth Briggs is a great author, and be it YA or NA, grabbing one of her books is turning out to be always a good choice.
February 11, 2016
FAVORITE READ OF 2016!!!
Yes, you read that right. I found the very first book to go on my Favorite Reads of 2016 list!
When I received an email saying this book was available on NetGalley I couldn't request a copy fast enough. I have read (and loved) Elizabeth's Chasing the Dream series, which is very different from Future Shock, so I already know she's an amazing writer. And being a huge fan of the Back to the Future trilogy I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis, and eager to jump into this YA take on time travel.
Honestly, this is probably the first time where I have NOT been able to guess where the story is going, or what the outcome might be. There are just so many twists and turns, and secrets that kept me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I wasn't convinced it was over! Elizabeth did an amazing job with the story building, character development, and flow/pacing. Each detail was just perfectly on point, making this a truly flawless work of art.
I won't bother paraphrasing the blurb because you can read that for yourself to get an idea of what the book is about. But, one thing I will say is to be prepared to fully immerse yourself into this book, because once you start there's no stopping. You will be hooked from the very beginning, and won't be able to tear your eyes away until the last page. Future Shock is without a doubt, the most captivating, action packed, page turner I have ever read! Nothing I say in this review will even come close to doing it justice, so you'll have to just trust me and GO FOR IT!
Yes, you read that right. I found the very first book to go on my Favorite Reads of 2016 list!
When I received an email saying this book was available on NetGalley I couldn't request a copy fast enough. I have read (and loved) Elizabeth's Chasing the Dream series, which is very different from Future Shock, so I already know she's an amazing writer. And being a huge fan of the Back to the Future trilogy I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis, and eager to jump into this YA take on time travel.
Honestly, this is probably the first time where I have NOT been able to guess where the story is going, or what the outcome might be. There are just so many twists and turns, and secrets that kept me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I wasn't convinced it was over! Elizabeth did an amazing job with the story building, character development, and flow/pacing. Each detail was just perfectly on point, making this a truly flawless work of art.
I won't bother paraphrasing the blurb because you can read that for yourself to get an idea of what the book is about. But, one thing I will say is to be prepared to fully immerse yourself into this book, because once you start there's no stopping. You will be hooked from the very beginning, and won't be able to tear your eyes away until the last page. Future Shock is without a doubt, the most captivating, action packed, page turner I have ever read! Nothing I say in this review will even come close to doing it justice, so you'll have to just trust me and GO FOR IT!
April 11, 2016
3.5/5
Future Shock is one of the better YA time travel books I’ve read. A lot of time I struggle with the explanation of the time travel. Here, I thought it was interesting and easy to understand. At the center of this book is our protagonist, Elena, a smart, brave and strong young woman who has had to face a shit ton of messes in her life. She genuinely wanted to make her life better and was ready to go to lengths to fix her situation. Despite that though, I didn’t think Elena was that memorable. I feel like in a couple of weeks I would have forgotten all about her, which doesn’t mean she’s a bad character, just that nothing makes her stand out from other YA sci fi books. The secondary cast of the other kids chosen by the Aether Corporation to travel into the future made for an entertaining crew, who initially were very wary of each other but grew to trust each other as the story progressed and banded together to save themselves from the future they saw. The story itself was entertaining, but I’ll admit it was predictable and I was able to foresee quite a few twists. There’s a bit of a romance and it’s sweet, but once again nothing spectacular. While overall, this wasn’t the greatest book it was entertaining and I recommend it for those who enjoy time travel books.
January 23, 2016
If you want a high-octane story, this is it! The mystery that develops when five teens travel forward in time kept me completely invested in what was happening throughout the entire book. Not to mention the characters are fleshed out and believable, and the main character, Elena, is someone you're destined to root for. This is a fast-paced read that's sure to have you flipping the pages to find out more.
February 19, 2016
ARC review coming soon!
March 28, 2016
Initial Impressions 3/3/16: 3 - 3.5 stars
I actually had kind of a hard time with this book in the beginning and unfortunately, that really kind of set the tone. I liked and disliked that the book really didn't waste time hopping to the time travel aspects. It was great that there wasn't an overly detailed amount of set-up and the time travel did happen relatively early in the book to get straight to the action. I really would have liked some more intro to how this concept was possible, why they wanted to do it (or why they wanted the kids to think they were doing it), and a little bit of the science behind it. Instead, it was sort of like, "Okay, you're here. Okay, into the future! BYE" It felt very quick and I just wanted a bit more intro.
I also had a hard time with some of the advances that were expected to be thirty years into the future. Being that we just hit the actual date that was in Back to the Future Part II and we made fun of things like flying cars, hoverboards, and silly technology, I couldn't shake that feeling like there were a few TOO many big changes for 30 years later. BttF was just an easy parallel to make because of the same time leap.
Once the book started progressing, it really got into the plot which was the exciting part! There were some nice twists and some cool surprises. I still did have a little trouble with the writing -- not that it was "bad" but I just wasn't clicking with it for some reason and I was having a hard time staying engaged with the characters. I really didn't want to stop reading but I did a thing that I NEVER do... and I skipped ahead. GASP. I wanted to see what was happening and if I did want to keep reading to get there. I only spoiled a little bit for myself and thought it was a cool twist so I kept on reading and mostly liked how the book wrapped up.
This was such a weird read for me and I don't know why. For some reason I just didn't fully click with it and I just couldn't shake the feeling like I was looking for something MORE. It was a quick read and had some interesting ideas but I just wished I had gotten more hooked.
Silly but real mash-ups I felt: Back to the Future meets Hot Tub Time Machine 2 meets The Breakfast Club
Review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 3/28/16: I'm always so impressed with the different ways authors explain how time travel is possible in their stories and I’m constantly floored by the way science and fiction blend. FUTURE SHOCK ended up not really working for me on that level so it was a hard adjustment to make while reading.
As a whole, this book was… okay for me. The very first chapter started out great and the book really didn’t waste any time getting into the meat of the story. That’s usually something I appreciate because it’s hard when I get halfway through a book to feel a chance in pacing or action, but with FUTURE SHOCK, I really felt like things moved a little too fast. There didn’t seem to be much explanation at all about how the time travel worked and yes, the teens involved in this project were in great need of the money that they were offered in exchange for participating but I feel like someone should have asked a few more questions before BAM, kids in the future. It was a little hard to make such a quick leap from not even knowing time travel was possible to fully accepting and not even needing answers before agreeing to be shot ahead in time.
Aside from the characters getting to know more about the process, I personally also wanted to know so much more. How was it possible? Who designed the technology? What’s the science behind it? I felt like the book glossed over the explanation and it was mentioned briefly instead of really being a solid part of groundwork that made up the book.
FUTURE SHOCK just felt a little inside the box for me. The time travel aspect felt like something I’ve read so many times before and there wasn’t too much that made this book really stand apart from the rest. There were a few twists that kept me reading and there were a couple dynamic characters (although two of the secondary characters felt exactly the same to me) but it just felt like it fit into too many different molds and didn’t really stand out as something unique and noteworthy. I waffled back and forth for a while, wondering if I really wanted to continue and I did something I NEVER do — I skipped to the end to see if it was worth reading. I actually did like the little twist that I discovered (YES, I spoiled the book for myself. Let’s all gasp!) so I kept on reading but I still didn’t find myself as engaged as I had hoped. Once the book wrapped up, I was still happy with the twist but I still found myself feeling less than impressed.
Don’t get me wrong — FUTURE SHOCK wasn’t a bad book. I just didn’t feel like it stood out at all for me. It was a solid, middle-of-the-road read but not one I’d really lean towards recommending. There are just so many more impressive and creative time travel or alternate universe stories that I would recommend first. It was nice to read a stand alone though because so often time travel books turn into series so it was great to read it and have the full story.
I actually had kind of a hard time with this book in the beginning and unfortunately, that really kind of set the tone. I liked and disliked that the book really didn't waste time hopping to the time travel aspects. It was great that there wasn't an overly detailed amount of set-up and the time travel did happen relatively early in the book to get straight to the action. I really would have liked some more intro to how this concept was possible, why they wanted to do it (or why they wanted the kids to think they were doing it), and a little bit of the science behind it. Instead, it was sort of like, "Okay, you're here. Okay, into the future! BYE" It felt very quick and I just wanted a bit more intro.
I also had a hard time with some of the advances that were expected to be thirty years into the future. Being that we just hit the actual date that was in Back to the Future Part II and we made fun of things like flying cars, hoverboards, and silly technology, I couldn't shake that feeling like there were a few TOO many big changes for 30 years later. BttF was just an easy parallel to make because of the same time leap.
Once the book started progressing, it really got into the plot which was the exciting part! There were some nice twists and some cool surprises. I still did have a little trouble with the writing -- not that it was "bad" but I just wasn't clicking with it for some reason and I was having a hard time staying engaged with the characters. I really didn't want to stop reading but I did a thing that I NEVER do... and I skipped ahead. GASP. I wanted to see what was happening and if I did want to keep reading to get there. I only spoiled a little bit for myself and thought it was a cool twist so I kept on reading and mostly liked how the book wrapped up.
This was such a weird read for me and I don't know why. For some reason I just didn't fully click with it and I just couldn't shake the feeling like I was looking for something MORE. It was a quick read and had some interesting ideas but I just wished I had gotten more hooked.
Silly but real mash-ups I felt: Back to the Future meets Hot Tub Time Machine 2 meets The Breakfast Club
Review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 3/28/16: I'm always so impressed with the different ways authors explain how time travel is possible in their stories and I’m constantly floored by the way science and fiction blend. FUTURE SHOCK ended up not really working for me on that level so it was a hard adjustment to make while reading.
As a whole, this book was… okay for me. The very first chapter started out great and the book really didn’t waste any time getting into the meat of the story. That’s usually something I appreciate because it’s hard when I get halfway through a book to feel a chance in pacing or action, but with FUTURE SHOCK, I really felt like things moved a little too fast. There didn’t seem to be much explanation at all about how the time travel worked and yes, the teens involved in this project were in great need of the money that they were offered in exchange for participating but I feel like someone should have asked a few more questions before BAM, kids in the future. It was a little hard to make such a quick leap from not even knowing time travel was possible to fully accepting and not even needing answers before agreeing to be shot ahead in time.
Aside from the characters getting to know more about the process, I personally also wanted to know so much more. How was it possible? Who designed the technology? What’s the science behind it? I felt like the book glossed over the explanation and it was mentioned briefly instead of really being a solid part of groundwork that made up the book.
FUTURE SHOCK just felt a little inside the box for me. The time travel aspect felt like something I’ve read so many times before and there wasn’t too much that made this book really stand apart from the rest. There were a few twists that kept me reading and there were a couple dynamic characters (although two of the secondary characters felt exactly the same to me) but it just felt like it fit into too many different molds and didn’t really stand out as something unique and noteworthy. I waffled back and forth for a while, wondering if I really wanted to continue and I did something I NEVER do — I skipped to the end to see if it was worth reading. I actually did like the little twist that I discovered (YES, I spoiled the book for myself. Let’s all gasp!) so I kept on reading but I still didn’t find myself as engaged as I had hoped. Once the book wrapped up, I was still happy with the twist but I still found myself feeling less than impressed.
Don’t get me wrong — FUTURE SHOCK wasn’t a bad book. I just didn’t feel like it stood out at all for me. It was a solid, middle-of-the-road read but not one I’d really lean towards recommending. There are just so many more impressive and creative time travel or alternate universe stories that I would recommend first. It was nice to read a stand alone though because so often time travel books turn into series so it was great to read it and have the full story.
May 26, 2020
Jamas había leído un libro de viajes en el tiempo, y este la verdad que me dejo un buen sabor de boca. Desde un principio me gusto que la autora no se va por las ramas para empezar la historia, es concisa y va al grano. Los secretos que se van revelando a través de la trama no te dejan soltar el libro no por nada lo leí en un día.
April 25, 2016
Really good read/listen, ladies and gentlemen.
Elena has an eidetic memory, no job prospects because no one wants to hire young inexperienced Mexicans even to a sh*tty restaurant, and only two months before she is forced to the streets from her foster home. And all she wants is a decent future. A university degree, a job as a social worker, that sort of thing... Then comes an offer she can't refuse - a ridiculous amount of money for one day of work in a confidential, super secret project in a powerful corporation.
Saying yes means meeting another 4 participants with their unique talents - Trent with his lockpicks, a mechanic, Chris, a young genius, Adam and an incredible artist, Zoe, who can draw from memory in minute detail. Saying yes means going into the future for 24 hours and reporting back everything they would see or hear or do.
There are only two rules: get back to the portal in time and do not look up what would happen in your own future. *smirks* We are talking about a bunch of 17-year old! When do they ever follow rules?
Things go wrong from the very beginning in a futuristic city of Los Angeles. The team is forced to look into their future, and what they find shocks them to the core. Only one of them survives, another one is a killer, and now they need to solve the puzzle: what goes wrong when they go back into their present? What do they need to do to change their future?
It's a well-paced, entertaining sci-fi thriller, which will keep you on your toes and wouldn't let your mind wander. The characters are done well, the future is clever and intriguing and believable, and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook very much. Quite looking forward to the next in the series, and easily recommend Future Shock in any format.
* * *
Очень хорошая книга, неважно будете ли вы её читать или слушать.
Элана обладает эйдетической памятью и доживает последние 2 месяца в фостер-доме в полной панике. Она никак не может найти работу перед тем как её вышвырнут на улицу в 18 лет, так как никто не хочет нанимать молодую, неопытную мексиканку... Всё, чего она отчаянно хочет - это нормальное будущее - колледж, работа в сфере социальных проблем, семья. И внезапно она получает предложение, от которого невозможно отказаться - день работы в сверх-секретном проекте от известной корпорации за кучу денег.
Элану знакомят с её командой - четырьмя подростками того же, что и она возраста, со своими специфическими талантами. Трент знает как взламывать замки, Крис - хороший механик, Зоуи - необычайно талантливый художник, кторый с точностью воспроизводит на бумаге всё, на что она когда-то мельком взглянула, а Адам... Адам - самый настоящий гений. Всё, что от пятёрки требуется - это провести 24 часа в будущем, куда их отправит корпорация и проект "Кронос", из него вернуться вовремя и обо всём рассказать. После многочисленных медицинских тестов, команду отправляют на 10 лет вперед.
Или нет? По выходу из машины, всё катится к чертям. Команда прыгнула на 30 лет вперёд, где их никто не ждёт. Технология настолько продвинута, что их деньги и образы недействительны, и единственный, кого узнаёт компьютерная система - это Адам.
Так что пятеро нарушают главное правило проекта - не смотреть, что произойдёт с ними в будущем, и узнают, что все они умрут по возращению при таинственных обстаятельствах. Все, кроме Адама. Естественно, остальная часть сюжета - это погоня за следами расследования в собственную смерть, чтобы её предотвратить.
Книга - необычная, не загруженная элементами научной фантастики, и читается очень легко. Акцент здесь на сюжете и развитии характеров, действие движется очень быстро и увлекательно. Мне ну очень понравилось, и в следующий раз за книгу Элизабет Бриггз я возьмусь без колебаний.
Elena has an eidetic memory, no job prospects because no one wants to hire young inexperienced Mexicans even to a sh*tty restaurant, and only two months before she is forced to the streets from her foster home. And all she wants is a decent future. A university degree, a job as a social worker, that sort of thing... Then comes an offer she can't refuse - a ridiculous amount of money for one day of work in a confidential, super secret project in a powerful corporation.
Saying yes means meeting another 4 participants with their unique talents - Trent with his lockpicks, a mechanic, Chris, a young genius, Adam and an incredible artist, Zoe, who can draw from memory in minute detail. Saying yes means going into the future for 24 hours and reporting back everything they would see or hear or do.
There are only two rules: get back to the portal in time and do not look up what would happen in your own future. *smirks* We are talking about a bunch of 17-year old! When do they ever follow rules?
Things go wrong from the very beginning in a futuristic city of Los Angeles. The team is forced to look into their future, and what they find shocks them to the core. Only one of them survives, another one is a killer, and now they need to solve the puzzle: what goes wrong when they go back into their present? What do they need to do to change their future?
It's a well-paced, entertaining sci-fi thriller, which will keep you on your toes and wouldn't let your mind wander. The characters are done well, the future is clever and intriguing and believable, and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook very much. Quite looking forward to the next in the series, and easily recommend Future Shock in any format.
* * *
Очень хорошая книга, неважно будете ли вы её читать или слушать.
Элана обладает эйдетической памятью и доживает последние 2 месяца в фостер-доме в полной панике. Она никак не может найти работу перед тем как её вышвырнут на улицу в 18 лет, так как никто не хочет нанимать молодую, неопытную мексиканку... Всё, чего она отчаянно хочет - это нормальное будущее - колледж, работа в сфере социальных проблем, семья. И внезапно она получает предложение, от которого невозможно отказаться - день работы в сверх-секретном проекте от известной корпорации за кучу денег.
Элану знакомят с её командой - четырьмя подростками того же, что и она возраста, со своими специфическими талантами. Трент знает как взламывать замки, Крис - хороший механик, Зоуи - необычайно талантливый художник, кторый с точностью воспроизводит на бумаге всё, на что она когда-то мельком взглянула, а Адам... Адам - самый настоящий гений. Всё, что от пятёрки требуется - это провести 24 часа в будущем, куда их отправит корпорация и проект "Кронос", из него вернуться вовремя и обо всём рассказать. После многочисленных медицинских тестов, команду отправляют на 10 лет вперед.
Или нет? По выходу из машины, всё катится к чертям. Команда прыгнула на 30 лет вперёд, где их никто не ждёт. Технология настолько продвинута, что их деньги и образы недействительны, и единственный, кого узнаёт компьютерная система - это Адам.
Так что пятеро нарушают главное правило проекта - не смотреть, что произойдёт с ними в будущем, и узнают, что все они умрут по возращению при таинственных обстаятельствах. Все, кроме Адама. Естественно, остальная часть сюжета - это погоня за следами расследования в собственную смерть, чтобы её предотвратить.
Книга - необычная, не загруженная элементами научной фантастики, и читается очень легко. Акцент здесь на сюжете и развитии характеров, действие движется очень быстро и увлекательно. Мне ну очень понравилось, и в следующий раз за книгу Элизабет Бриггз я возьмусь без колебаний.
December 25, 2016
Elena has an eidetic memory and she tries to hide this as well as she can, so it won't bring her any trouble. Someone found out about it though as she's being approached by a company called the Aether Corporation to be part of a special project. In return she'll receive quite a sum of money which will enable her to go to college. The project is interesting, together with four others she will be sent to the future where she has to gather information. In exchange she will be generously rewarded.
A group of five highly skilled teens has been recruited and even though they all have trust issues Elena likes the people she's working with. When they arrive they instantly know something went wrong. They'd received instructions up front, but it's obvious that they're on their own. There's no team of people present to welcome them, instead they start their journey in an empty building. They discover nothing in the mission is going according to plan. They are not supposed to meet their future selves or to look into their own life stories, but in order to survive and go home they have to take a look at their pasts. Will Elena and her friends be able to save themselves?
Future Shock is a gripping story about time traveling. I loved the fact that Elena is being sent to a date that isn't too far away. It makes everything that's changed and the things that are taking place believable. The time she ends up in isn't that different from the present, while at the same time there's still a lot of progress. There are several exciting new developments. Elizabeth Briggs describes them in a fun and vivid way, which made her story come to life extremely well. I'm curious to see if any of her ideas will be real some day.
Elena doesn't care much about gadgets and acquiring stuff, but she does care about justice. She's down to earth and brave and she fights for her ideals. I loved her character because she's tough, but also has a sensitive side. Elena isn't afraid to stand up for herself and for others. That made her interesting to read about. I liked how she's being thoroughly described, there are colorful descriptions of what she's like on the inside and the outside. Her beautiful tattoos and her phenomenal memory are nice details and they add to her fierceness. It's the complete picture that makes her so fabulous.
Elizabeth Briggs has written a story about a fascinating subject. I loved her creative ideas about the future. She makes it come to life really well. Her writing style has a great flow. Because Elena has exactly 24 hours in the future time is an essential factor, therefore all chapters start with the time, I liked that. There are plenty of secrets to be revealed during the short stay in the future and I couldn't wait to find out what they were. I enjoyed the riveting ending very much and think Future Shock is a fantastic adrenaline-packed story.
A group of five highly skilled teens has been recruited and even though they all have trust issues Elena likes the people she's working with. When they arrive they instantly know something went wrong. They'd received instructions up front, but it's obvious that they're on their own. There's no team of people present to welcome them, instead they start their journey in an empty building. They discover nothing in the mission is going according to plan. They are not supposed to meet their future selves or to look into their own life stories, but in order to survive and go home they have to take a look at their pasts. Will Elena and her friends be able to save themselves?
Future Shock is a gripping story about time traveling. I loved the fact that Elena is being sent to a date that isn't too far away. It makes everything that's changed and the things that are taking place believable. The time she ends up in isn't that different from the present, while at the same time there's still a lot of progress. There are several exciting new developments. Elizabeth Briggs describes them in a fun and vivid way, which made her story come to life extremely well. I'm curious to see if any of her ideas will be real some day.
Elena doesn't care much about gadgets and acquiring stuff, but she does care about justice. She's down to earth and brave and she fights for her ideals. I loved her character because she's tough, but also has a sensitive side. Elena isn't afraid to stand up for herself and for others. That made her interesting to read about. I liked how she's being thoroughly described, there are colorful descriptions of what she's like on the inside and the outside. Her beautiful tattoos and her phenomenal memory are nice details and they add to her fierceness. It's the complete picture that makes her so fabulous.
Elizabeth Briggs has written a story about a fascinating subject. I loved her creative ideas about the future. She makes it come to life really well. Her writing style has a great flow. Because Elena has exactly 24 hours in the future time is an essential factor, therefore all chapters start with the time, I liked that. There are plenty of secrets to be revealed during the short stay in the future and I couldn't wait to find out what they were. I enjoyed the riveting ending very much and think Future Shock is a fantastic adrenaline-packed story.
August 1, 2017
Such a great read I could not put it down. That is also saying something as most of the time I seem to have an allergic reaction to Young Adult but with the element of a dash of Sci-fi or maybe fantasy has made the book one of the first YA books that I have enjoyed in a while.
I’m going to try and not ruin it with spoilers so forgive me if I am vague or if I give anything away.
Now ever since I have seen ‘Back to the Future’ I love the concept of time travel. I also had a thing for Michael J. Fox in the film. So I jump at the chance when there is one to read a book about time travel.
Elena Martinez is about to ease out of the foster care system at the age of seventeen she is looking for a job but no one seems to want to employ her. She has an eidetic memory. She is strong and silent. Has a slight okay major temper but is loyal to a fault but not that trusting although her limits are tested here.
A once in a lifetime opportunity arises and with the amount of money that is being offered she can’t say no although she has a gut feeling that something is off. But a day of research at the tech company Aether doesn’t seem too bad for that much money she can’t say no.
While at Aether Corporation she is not the only one that has been recruited. There are four others who have signed up. Chris, Trent & Zoe who are also in foster care and Adam who isn’t in foster care but has his reasons for doing it.
There is some romance between Adam and Elena and you can feel the chemistry between them. There was always some doubt to why Adam was doing it but it wasn’t what it seems.
There are so many twists and turns to the story that I didn’t case right up until the end when Elena guessed as well who it was only then did it click. There were two things where I was disappointed, I can’t and I won’t say what but it adds to the story.
There are rules that they have to stick to in regards to Project Chronos but landing thirty years in the future and not ten then yes I would break the rules as well.
I received a copy in exchange for a honest review but let me be honest I wouldn’t have bought this book under normal circumstances for the price of over 8 € that is pretty steep, I’m usually willing to spend 6 € on a book and even that is pushing it.
Book received by Albert Whitman & Company via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Review can also be found at http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
I’m going to try and not ruin it with spoilers so forgive me if I am vague or if I give anything away.
Now ever since I have seen ‘Back to the Future’ I love the concept of time travel. I also had a thing for Michael J. Fox in the film. So I jump at the chance when there is one to read a book about time travel.
Elena Martinez is about to ease out of the foster care system at the age of seventeen she is looking for a job but no one seems to want to employ her. She has an eidetic memory. She is strong and silent. Has a slight okay major temper but is loyal to a fault but not that trusting although her limits are tested here.
A once in a lifetime opportunity arises and with the amount of money that is being offered she can’t say no although she has a gut feeling that something is off. But a day of research at the tech company Aether doesn’t seem too bad for that much money she can’t say no.
While at Aether Corporation she is not the only one that has been recruited. There are four others who have signed up. Chris, Trent & Zoe who are also in foster care and Adam who isn’t in foster care but has his reasons for doing it.
There is some romance between Adam and Elena and you can feel the chemistry between them. There was always some doubt to why Adam was doing it but it wasn’t what it seems.
There are so many twists and turns to the story that I didn’t case right up until the end when Elena guessed as well who it was only then did it click. There were two things where I was disappointed, I can’t and I won’t say what but it adds to the story.
There are rules that they have to stick to in regards to Project Chronos but landing thirty years in the future and not ten then yes I would break the rules as well.
I received a copy in exchange for a honest review but let me be honest I wouldn’t have bought this book under normal circumstances for the price of over 8 € that is pretty steep, I’m usually willing to spend 6 € on a book and even that is pushing it.
Book received by Albert Whitman & Company via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Review can also be found at http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
May 19, 2016
Review to come!
Update 5/18/16:
See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I was very intrigued by the blurb for this story, and Elizabeth Briggs definitely didn't disappoint. Right from the start this novel grips the reader and takes them on an exciting time-traveling journey 30 years in the future. I loved the fact that you knew early on certain characters weren't going to be alive in the future Elena and her friends were visiting, but nevertheless I was excited to see if this future would come to fruition or if the group could change everything. My biggest complaint though is that I felt the book was a bit slow. I do think that some parts could have been edited out and the story wouldn't have suffered at all. However, I will say that the twist blew me away. I never expected the person that was behind everything to be the "villain" of the story, but it made for an excellent ending.
“I have to know why I’m not in the system. Even if it damages my brain, I need to know my fate.”
This story drew me in instantly, and kept me interested until the end. Elena is a very likable main character, and very much human. The flaws she had made her much more relatable, but I loved her never-give-up spirit. Elena is definitely tough and willing to go to great lengths to right wrongs of the past. The one thing that I did appreciate was the fact that Ms. Briggs carried Elena's worries over her violent tendencies (which she got from her father) throughout the book. This was always a thought in the back of Elena's mind, and it took one character to help her to see that she wasn't a bad person at all...in fact she was the exact opposite of her father. The other characters were just as likable as Elena, and each had their own unique personality that allowed for the formation of a cohesive group. I will say that I wish we got a little more from some characters because I ended up feeling like I knew so much more about certain characters and not others.
Overall, this was an exciting, fun time-traveling book that will appeal to many sci-fi fans. I will say that I'm surprised this is a series simply because everything was wrapped up nicely in the end. Nevertheless, I would be interested in reading the next book to see what new adventures Ms. Briggs has in store for these Elena and her friends!
Happy reading :)
Update 5/18/16:
See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I was very intrigued by the blurb for this story, and Elizabeth Briggs definitely didn't disappoint. Right from the start this novel grips the reader and takes them on an exciting time-traveling journey 30 years in the future. I loved the fact that you knew early on certain characters weren't going to be alive in the future Elena and her friends were visiting, but nevertheless I was excited to see if this future would come to fruition or if the group could change everything. My biggest complaint though is that I felt the book was a bit slow. I do think that some parts could have been edited out and the story wouldn't have suffered at all. However, I will say that the twist blew me away. I never expected the person that was behind everything to be the "villain" of the story, but it made for an excellent ending.
“I have to know why I’m not in the system. Even if it damages my brain, I need to know my fate.”
This story drew me in instantly, and kept me interested until the end. Elena is a very likable main character, and very much human. The flaws she had made her much more relatable, but I loved her never-give-up spirit. Elena is definitely tough and willing to go to great lengths to right wrongs of the past. The one thing that I did appreciate was the fact that Ms. Briggs carried Elena's worries over her violent tendencies (which she got from her father) throughout the book. This was always a thought in the back of Elena's mind, and it took one character to help her to see that she wasn't a bad person at all...in fact she was the exact opposite of her father. The other characters were just as likable as Elena, and each had their own unique personality that allowed for the formation of a cohesive group. I will say that I wish we got a little more from some characters because I ended up feeling like I knew so much more about certain characters and not others.
Overall, this was an exciting, fun time-traveling book that will appeal to many sci-fi fans. I will say that I'm surprised this is a series simply because everything was wrapped up nicely in the end. Nevertheless, I would be interested in reading the next book to see what new adventures Ms. Briggs has in store for these Elena and her friends!
Happy reading :)
February 14, 2017
(Pure Textuality.com)Fascinating. That’s one word I would use to describe this book. Amazing also fits as well. Once started, this is a book you would have trouble putting down. I think I stayed up all night reading because of how exciting this book ultimately ended up being.
Elena Martinez is seventeen and in the foster care system. She’s close to aging out of the system and has no idea how she is going to live in a couple of months. When a famous corporation approaches her and asks her to join a special study in return for enough money to send her to college and set her up in her new life, she jumps at the chance. it’s super top secret, will only involve a 24 hour period, and three of the four others involved are also in the foster care system. Each of the teens has a talent. Elena has an eidetic memory, meaning she never forgets anything. There’s an artist and a genius as well in the group. Their job? Go forward ten years into the future and bring back some of the new technology. Future? The teens are immediately pretty much scared out of their wits, but they all need the money, so it happens. Once in the future, nothing happens the way it should. Of course.
This ended up being a mystery of pretty epic proportions when it comes to each of the teens. Suffice it to say that things in the future are really different, and nothing they thought it would be. This book is guaranteed to have the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the read. When you put five older teens together in a horrible situation, in a completely different world, it made for an exciting time and a wild ride.
This was my first read by Briggs, but if this read is any indication of her talent, this author’s work needs to go on my must read list. Well written, the characters practically jump off the pages, Elena and the genius, Adam, in particular. That said, all of the teens were well realized by the author. I thought the premise was completely unique and the pacing well done. The author’s vision of the future was extremely intriguing as well. There’s even a possible romance happening.
I would recommend this to older young adults to adults-older due to some graphic violence. It also has a lot to say about the problems within the foster care system. I loved the whole thing and have nothing bad to say about any of it. This was truly one of the best books I have read lately. Highly recommended!
Elena Martinez is seventeen and in the foster care system. She’s close to aging out of the system and has no idea how she is going to live in a couple of months. When a famous corporation approaches her and asks her to join a special study in return for enough money to send her to college and set her up in her new life, she jumps at the chance. it’s super top secret, will only involve a 24 hour period, and three of the four others involved are also in the foster care system. Each of the teens has a talent. Elena has an eidetic memory, meaning she never forgets anything. There’s an artist and a genius as well in the group. Their job? Go forward ten years into the future and bring back some of the new technology. Future? The teens are immediately pretty much scared out of their wits, but they all need the money, so it happens. Once in the future, nothing happens the way it should. Of course.
This ended up being a mystery of pretty epic proportions when it comes to each of the teens. Suffice it to say that things in the future are really different, and nothing they thought it would be. This book is guaranteed to have the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the read. When you put five older teens together in a horrible situation, in a completely different world, it made for an exciting time and a wild ride.
This was my first read by Briggs, but if this read is any indication of her talent, this author’s work needs to go on my must read list. Well written, the characters practically jump off the pages, Elena and the genius, Adam, in particular. That said, all of the teens were well realized by the author. I thought the premise was completely unique and the pacing well done. The author’s vision of the future was extremely intriguing as well. There’s even a possible romance happening.
I would recommend this to older young adults to adults-older due to some graphic violence. It also has a lot to say about the problems within the foster care system. I loved the whole thing and have nothing bad to say about any of it. This was truly one of the best books I have read lately. Highly recommended!
August 29, 2016
This novel drew me in right away because it combines two of my favorite genres -- science fiction, and young adult fiction. Besides, I love the very striking cover! So, right away, my expectations soared for a great reading experience!
I'm very happy to say that I was not disappointed in the least. Briggs delivers an exciting, riveting tale with wonderful characters and non-stop action. At the same time, she skillfully weaves in social commentary, as well as philosophical speculations about the nature of Time, into the plot, without being in the least bit boring. She even includes romance and a mystery -- some of the teen characters have been murdered in present time, something they discover when they travel to the future. So, in addition to their mission, they must also attempt to solve this mystery, so as to prevent the murders from taking place.
The world-building is totally awesome, due to its intricate detail. It's entirely believable, as well; the author's extrapolations from today's technology are indeed very plausible. I was especially impressed with the developments in future Internet technology Briggs envisioned. They were also rather scary, as they reflected an increasing intrusion on individual privacy. Unfortunately, I can see them happening within a span of less than 30 years -- perhaps 10 or 15, instead.
The whole setup of this story is just incredibly fascinating, as well as addictive. The characters are thrown into the future with very little preparation, other than the vague instruction to get information about future technology. From there, they basically have to wing it. The reader is never certain that they will manage to survive, as well as alter the inevitable course of their own lives. I was totally unable to put the book down, spending every available moment on it, driving relentlessly forward until I finally finished it.
Briggs's narration is very descriptive, very visual. The whole novel unfolded before me in a series of mental pictures. In fact, I would love it if this book were to be made into a movie! I would definitely be one of the first people in line!
Briggs has wonderfully brought her characters to life. She is really able to get into their heads so perfectly that we think and feel what they do. This is a great author's crowning achievement, and Briggs can definitely be categorized as a great author!
The female protagonist, Elena Martinez, is just the sort of underdog character I LOVE to see triumph in the end. Born with a photographic memory, she feels like an outcast everywhere she goes. I immediately found myself relating to her because of this. Adding to her appeal is the fact that she's Mexican, a foster kid who has already seen too much of the rough, seedy side of life. What's really great about her is that she's a scrapper. She's willing to fight for what she considers right, and will just not give up. Beneath her outer toughness, though, there's a very sensitive, very intelligent young woman who is determined to not let her previous sad experiences get the best of her. She's the one who emerges as the leader of the group of teens sent into the future. Her determination, resourcefulness, and courage end up saving the day. In fact, the whole plot really hinges on her. Of course, she's not perfect, but she realizes that she needs to work on her flaws. Her good qualities, though, more than compensate for these flaws. I just can't say enough great things about her!
Adam O'Neill, the brilliant young scientist who falls in love with Elena, is also a wonderful character. He hides a great sorrow in his life, which is his motivation for joining the time-travel mission. He's such an understanding person, especially with Elena. Right away, he's able to see beyond her rough exterior to her inner vulnerability. At no point in the novel does he talk down to her, or attempt to control her in any way. He respects and admires her, becoming her staunchest ally as the novel progresses. Even when he seems to have betrayed her, Elena still trusts him, just because of his innate goodness. I also like that he's a very down-to-earth guy. He never brags about his intelligence, or even about his future scientific accomplishments.
The romance between Elena and Adam is very sweet, although, in this first novel of the series, it's not developed very far. That's because the mission, and the solving of the mystery central to the novel, take priority. Since there are more books to come, I'm sure Briggs will take this relationship further. Still, there is some sizzling passion in this first novel!
The secondary characters were fantastic, as well! Sometimes, such characters can actually make a novel less enjoyable. That's definitely not the case here! Chris, Trent, and Zoe come across as such vivid, likable people! Chris and Trent were antagonistic toward Adam at the beginning of the mission. As the plot developed, however, it was really wonderful to see how they, along with the other three teens, really pulled together, and started working as a team. I especially liked Chris, because of his sincere concern for the future of his son. As for Zoe, she was a talented artist, so right away I liked her, too! She was pretty shy, and yet, was nevertheless willing to go beyond her comfort zone in order to help the group succeed in their mission. I initially liked Trent the least, but in the end, he turned out to be a pretty good guy.
Another great thing about this novel is that Aether Corporation, the technology company behind the time travel experiment, is not described as a ruthless, uncaring entity, interested only in profits. Their scientists are realistically portrayed as regular -- although brilliant -- people who make mistakes. Some of them might be in it only for the money, but not all of them fit this cliché.
Overall, I was thoroughly delighted with this novel, which I know I will re-read sometime in the near future! It's really got everything -- romance, a very detailed future scenario, mystery, and nail-biting suspense! I'm SO anxiously looking forward to the release of Future Threat, the next installment in this very exciting, amazing series!!
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog, A NIGHT’S DREAM OF BOOKS.
http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com
I'm very happy to say that I was not disappointed in the least. Briggs delivers an exciting, riveting tale with wonderful characters and non-stop action. At the same time, she skillfully weaves in social commentary, as well as philosophical speculations about the nature of Time, into the plot, without being in the least bit boring. She even includes romance and a mystery -- some of the teen characters have been murdered in present time, something they discover when they travel to the future. So, in addition to their mission, they must also attempt to solve this mystery, so as to prevent the murders from taking place.
The world-building is totally awesome, due to its intricate detail. It's entirely believable, as well; the author's extrapolations from today's technology are indeed very plausible. I was especially impressed with the developments in future Internet technology Briggs envisioned. They were also rather scary, as they reflected an increasing intrusion on individual privacy. Unfortunately, I can see them happening within a span of less than 30 years -- perhaps 10 or 15, instead.
The whole setup of this story is just incredibly fascinating, as well as addictive. The characters are thrown into the future with very little preparation, other than the vague instruction to get information about future technology. From there, they basically have to wing it. The reader is never certain that they will manage to survive, as well as alter the inevitable course of their own lives. I was totally unable to put the book down, spending every available moment on it, driving relentlessly forward until I finally finished it.
Briggs's narration is very descriptive, very visual. The whole novel unfolded before me in a series of mental pictures. In fact, I would love it if this book were to be made into a movie! I would definitely be one of the first people in line!
Briggs has wonderfully brought her characters to life. She is really able to get into their heads so perfectly that we think and feel what they do. This is a great author's crowning achievement, and Briggs can definitely be categorized as a great author!
The female protagonist, Elena Martinez, is just the sort of underdog character I LOVE to see triumph in the end. Born with a photographic memory, she feels like an outcast everywhere she goes. I immediately found myself relating to her because of this. Adding to her appeal is the fact that she's Mexican, a foster kid who has already seen too much of the rough, seedy side of life. What's really great about her is that she's a scrapper. She's willing to fight for what she considers right, and will just not give up. Beneath her outer toughness, though, there's a very sensitive, very intelligent young woman who is determined to not let her previous sad experiences get the best of her. She's the one who emerges as the leader of the group of teens sent into the future. Her determination, resourcefulness, and courage end up saving the day. In fact, the whole plot really hinges on her. Of course, she's not perfect, but she realizes that she needs to work on her flaws. Her good qualities, though, more than compensate for these flaws. I just can't say enough great things about her!
Adam O'Neill, the brilliant young scientist who falls in love with Elena, is also a wonderful character. He hides a great sorrow in his life, which is his motivation for joining the time-travel mission. He's such an understanding person, especially with Elena. Right away, he's able to see beyond her rough exterior to her inner vulnerability. At no point in the novel does he talk down to her, or attempt to control her in any way. He respects and admires her, becoming her staunchest ally as the novel progresses. Even when he seems to have betrayed her, Elena still trusts him, just because of his innate goodness. I also like that he's a very down-to-earth guy. He never brags about his intelligence, or even about his future scientific accomplishments.
The romance between Elena and Adam is very sweet, although, in this first novel of the series, it's not developed very far. That's because the mission, and the solving of the mystery central to the novel, take priority. Since there are more books to come, I'm sure Briggs will take this relationship further. Still, there is some sizzling passion in this first novel!
The secondary characters were fantastic, as well! Sometimes, such characters can actually make a novel less enjoyable. That's definitely not the case here! Chris, Trent, and Zoe come across as such vivid, likable people! Chris and Trent were antagonistic toward Adam at the beginning of the mission. As the plot developed, however, it was really wonderful to see how they, along with the other three teens, really pulled together, and started working as a team. I especially liked Chris, because of his sincere concern for the future of his son. As for Zoe, she was a talented artist, so right away I liked her, too! She was pretty shy, and yet, was nevertheless willing to go beyond her comfort zone in order to help the group succeed in their mission. I initially liked Trent the least, but in the end, he turned out to be a pretty good guy.
Another great thing about this novel is that Aether Corporation, the technology company behind the time travel experiment, is not described as a ruthless, uncaring entity, interested only in profits. Their scientists are realistically portrayed as regular -- although brilliant -- people who make mistakes. Some of them might be in it only for the money, but not all of them fit this cliché.
Overall, I was thoroughly delighted with this novel, which I know I will re-read sometime in the near future! It's really got everything -- romance, a very detailed future scenario, mystery, and nail-biting suspense! I'm SO anxiously looking forward to the release of Future Threat, the next installment in this very exciting, amazing series!!
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog, A NIGHT’S DREAM OF BOOKS.
http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews