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Tempest #2
Vortex
Julie Cross's Vortex is the thrilling second installment of the Tempest series, in which the world hangs in the balance as a lovelorn Jackson must choose who to save.
Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.
Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.
358 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2013
76 people are currently reading
5538 people want to read
About the author
Julie Cross
24 books1,701 followersJulie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
January 13, 2013
This review contains no spoilers of either Vortex or Tempest
As much as I get fascinated by time travel--especially when it's created as well as in this series--it can get extremely complicated. Like Tempest, this novel is not to be read with a wandering mind, or you will find yourself in the middle of a complex story with no idea where you are--or when. For this reason, it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy reads that are as intelligent as they are fun, then this series is for you!
When we left Jackson in Tempest, we had learned just how intricate this whole time travel business was. Not to mention how heartbreaking to see Jackson's heart torn apart over a girl that has no clue who he is--being from a different time and/or parallel world and all. The romance in this series is one that really pulls at your heartstrings in a way that makes you feel absolutely hopeless. It doesn't just stem from a traditional break-up, or at an extreme, death, in a way, it's worse than that. Jackson is still madly in love with Holly but unfortunately the Holly he loves is not the Holly in his world. How do you heal from that? She doesn'tremember know who he is, and as if this wasn't enough, he has to see her being happy with someone else. I felt all sorts of emotions when it came to this aspect of the plot. I both loved and hated it. I loved the originality and heart of the story, but I hated the sense that it's unfixable, especially when you can see even under these circumstances just how much chemistry there is between them. A truly frustrating situation, for sure. I loved it! *sobs*
It's extremely rare that I can get into a time travel story without leaving logic on the backburner. Julie really put a lot of effort into making the time travel a scientific notion that becomes, not feasible obviously, but believable nonetheless. This is where the novel becomes complicated, however, and you have to pay close attention, or even make yourself some graphics and notes to be able to follow 100% accurately. Don't worry, though, even if you're lost you can still grasp what is happening in the large sense. I will admit that I stopped trying to keep myself situated in the years, alternate worlds, and different jump abilities (some alter the present, some don't). I think my brain fizzled, somewhere around 2007, alternate world C, full jump. O_O I'm telling you, it's pretty freaking fantastic. This also welcomes twists and discoveries that you would never see coming, as well as my personal favorite--glimpses into very ominous futures.
This leads me to the ending: Our hectic journey into this big swirling time-travel mess (I say this positively, of course!) ends in a heart-grasping cliffhanger. Cliffhangers don't always work, sometimes they're created for dramatic effect or to lure us into the next book, but in this case I felt it was very fitting to the story. It made sense; it completely fit the expectations of such a story--time travel does have dire consequences, and Julie adapted it into a gripping ending. It also leaves me baffled when I try to foresee what she has in store for us in book 3.
New characters are introduced, deeper time travel and its consequences are explored, a more profound look into Jackson's life reveals things that are both intriguing and distressing--a rewarding sequel to a one of a kind time-travel series!
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
As much as I get fascinated by time travel--especially when it's created as well as in this series--it can get extremely complicated. Like Tempest, this novel is not to be read with a wandering mind, or you will find yourself in the middle of a complex story with no idea where you are--or when. For this reason, it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy reads that are as intelligent as they are fun, then this series is for you!
When we left Jackson in Tempest, we had learned just how intricate this whole time travel business was. Not to mention how heartbreaking to see Jackson's heart torn apart over a girl that has no clue who he is--being from a different time and/or parallel world and all. The romance in this series is one that really pulls at your heartstrings in a way that makes you feel absolutely hopeless. It doesn't just stem from a traditional break-up, or at an extreme, death, in a way, it's worse than that. Jackson is still madly in love with Holly but unfortunately the Holly he loves is not the Holly in his world. How do you heal from that? She doesn't
It's extremely rare that I can get into a time travel story without leaving logic on the backburner. Julie really put a lot of effort into making the time travel a scientific notion that becomes, not feasible obviously, but believable nonetheless. This is where the novel becomes complicated, however, and you have to pay close attention, or even make yourself some graphics and notes to be able to follow 100% accurately. Don't worry, though, even if you're lost you can still grasp what is happening in the large sense. I will admit that I stopped trying to keep myself situated in the years, alternate worlds, and different jump abilities (some alter the present, some don't). I think my brain fizzled, somewhere around 2007, alternate world C, full jump. O_O I'm telling you, it's pretty freaking fantastic. This also welcomes twists and discoveries that you would never see coming, as well as my personal favorite--glimpses into very ominous futures.
This leads me to the ending: Our hectic journey into this big swirling time-travel mess (I say this positively, of course!) ends in a heart-grasping cliffhanger. Cliffhangers don't always work, sometimes they're created for dramatic effect or to lure us into the next book, but in this case I felt it was very fitting to the story. It made sense; it completely fit the expectations of such a story--time travel does have dire consequences, and Julie adapted it into a gripping ending. It also leaves me baffled when I try to foresee what she has in store for us in book 3.
New characters are introduced, deeper time travel and its consequences are explored, a more profound look into Jackson's life reveals things that are both intriguing and distressing--a rewarding sequel to a one of a kind time-travel series!
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
July 25, 2015
I hate cliff hangers and this cliff hanger is killing me! The book was really good but I felt like it was dragging much more than the first book. Although I enjoyed this book, I found it a little bit boring at times. Throughout this book, I was put through so many negative moods because of the incidents that occurred. It was interesting but at some points it gets really boring. I wouldn't say this book is amazing but it was very enjoyable.
I liked how there were many things that I didn't see coming and many plot twists. This book messes with your brain and at points of the book, I am confused on which character to trust. This was one of the components of the book that I really enjoyed and one of the things that made me want to keep reading. After getting so many questions answered, we all have more questions.
The characters were a bit annoying in this book, and the new characters introduced were very nice. I wasn't a huge fan of Stewert though... The character development was unbelievable, Holly and Jackson changed so much. (It wasn't a good change...) Adam is always amazing and probably my most favorite character from this series. :(
I'm going to finish the last book in the series but I feel like this series is going downhill. I'm hoping that the last book gets better and makes the series a lot more interesting than how it was in this book. I was really disappointed when I was reading this book because I had so many expectations. But other than that, if you like books that have to do with time-travel, you can pick this book up, if you want. I hope the third book gets better and plus, I NEED TO READ THE THIRD BOOK AFTER WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!
I liked how there were many things that I didn't see coming and many plot twists. This book messes with your brain and at points of the book, I am confused on which character to trust. This was one of the components of the book that I really enjoyed and one of the things that made me want to keep reading. After getting so many questions answered, we all have more questions.
The characters were a bit annoying in this book, and the new characters introduced were very nice. I wasn't a huge fan of Stewert though... The character development was unbelievable, Holly and Jackson changed so much. (It wasn't a good change...) Adam is always amazing and probably my most favorite character from this series. :(
I'm going to finish the last book in the series but I feel like this series is going downhill. I'm hoping that the last book gets better and makes the series a lot more interesting than how it was in this book. I was really disappointed when I was reading this book because I had so many expectations. But other than that, if you like books that have to do with time-travel, you can pick this book up, if you want. I hope the third book gets better and plus, I NEED TO READ THE THIRD BOOK AFTER WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!
March 6, 2013
Originally reviewed at: http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/...
Having read Tempest, the first book in the series, last year, I was really looking forward to reading the second installment and I’m glad to say Julie Cross didn’t disappoint. While I had some issues with the characters at the beginning of the first book, Vortex just grabbed me at the first chapter and made me keep on reading right until the end.
The story pretty much picks up where Tempest ended and since it’s been about a year since I’ve read that book, I spent the first 50 pages trying to figure out what the heck is going on. I didn’t have time to re-read the previous book but in a hindsight, I should have. So here’s tip number one for you: if you haven’t read the first book yet, do so. It’s not one of those series that can be read in any order. I did read Tempest but I was still confused at first. Which leads us to tip number two: if you’ve read the first book but you don’t remember everything (names of the EOTs and minor characters, or how this whole half-jump/complete jump theory works) then make sure to take the time to read it again because you’ll have no idea what’s going on in Vortex. I did manage to get into the story and loved everything about it but still, once I have a bit more time I’ll need to sit down and read both books again.
In terms of the plot, I think there’s less time travelling in this book than what we had in Tempest. The main focus is rather on the fight between the EOTs, Eyewall, and Tempest and the characters themselves, which I didn’t mind at all. While I wasn’t a big fan of Jackson in book #1, I absolutely loved him in Vortex. Also, there are quite a few new characters – like Lily Kendrick, Jackson’s CIA partner – as well as some people we’ve already met, like Stewart (who must be one of my favourite YA characters ever) and Jackson’s dad. Although I really missed Adam, who only plays a minor role in this book, and his conversations with Jackson but the intricate and fast-paced plot and the new characters definitely make up for it. The only character I still don’t get or managed to get used to is Holly – I still think she acts like a spoilt brat and I don’t know what Jackson saw in her.
And as for the ending: Holy Mother of God. Talk about a cliffhanger! I’ve seriously no idea what’s coming next but I’m fairly sure it’s going to be amazing. If you like young adult fiction and you’re looking for an unpredictable and cleverly-written book, look no further. But be prepared, you’ll be hooked. And don’t say I didn’t warn you! ;)
Having read Tempest, the first book in the series, last year, I was really looking forward to reading the second installment and I’m glad to say Julie Cross didn’t disappoint. While I had some issues with the characters at the beginning of the first book, Vortex just grabbed me at the first chapter and made me keep on reading right until the end.
The story pretty much picks up where Tempest ended and since it’s been about a year since I’ve read that book, I spent the first 50 pages trying to figure out what the heck is going on. I didn’t have time to re-read the previous book but in a hindsight, I should have. So here’s tip number one for you: if you haven’t read the first book yet, do so. It’s not one of those series that can be read in any order. I did read Tempest but I was still confused at first. Which leads us to tip number two: if you’ve read the first book but you don’t remember everything (names of the EOTs and minor characters, or how this whole half-jump/complete jump theory works) then make sure to take the time to read it again because you’ll have no idea what’s going on in Vortex. I did manage to get into the story and loved everything about it but still, once I have a bit more time I’ll need to sit down and read both books again.
In terms of the plot, I think there’s less time travelling in this book than what we had in Tempest. The main focus is rather on the fight between the EOTs, Eyewall, and Tempest and the characters themselves, which I didn’t mind at all. While I wasn’t a big fan of Jackson in book #1, I absolutely loved him in Vortex. Also, there are quite a few new characters – like Lily Kendrick, Jackson’s CIA partner – as well as some people we’ve already met, like Stewart (who must be one of my favourite YA characters ever) and Jackson’s dad. Although I really missed Adam, who only plays a minor role in this book, and his conversations with Jackson but the intricate and fast-paced plot and the new characters definitely make up for it. The only character I still don’t get or managed to get used to is Holly – I still think she acts like a spoilt brat and I don’t know what Jackson saw in her.
And as for the ending: Holy Mother of God. Talk about a cliffhanger! I’ve seriously no idea what’s coming next but I’m fairly sure it’s going to be amazing. If you like young adult fiction and you’re looking for an unpredictable and cleverly-written book, look no further. But be prepared, you’ll be hooked. And don’t say I didn’t warn you! ;)
June 14, 2013
Vortex is an excellent book for people like me who occasionally suffer from book ADD. It is an attention-grabber that will pull you in with its prologue and refuse to let go. Cross has no trouble securing reader interest and I’m pretty sure she just grins wickedly when we beg for more. And make no mistake, I am begging. More, please!
In Vortex, Jackson struggles to reorganize his life and find a way to live without two people who mean the most to him. He begins training with the Tempest unit of the CIA, desperate to fight the Enemies of Time and keep Holly safe. Although talented and intelligent, Jackson doesn’t have it easy and being the boss’s son doesn’t help him gain confidence of his peers.
Even with all the action and CIA training, Vortex was a much more contemplative book than its predecessor. Its focus was Jackson’s growth and his relationships, be it with his father, his colleagues or Holly. That’s not to say it wasn’t exciting – Cross kept throwing Jackson in impossible situations from which he had to dig himself out. The Enemies of Time were never more dangerous, but even more dangerous were the enemies Jackson didn’t see coming.
Readers who considered Holly plain and unworthy of Jackson’s attention will be relieved by her absence in Vortex. I was, too, but for very different reasons. Away from Holly, but with her safety at the forefront of his mind, Jackson was able to grow tremendously, to become a responsible adult, one worthy of both admiration and affection. It was amazing to watch Jackson become the man he is now. The second he decided to put someone else’s life above his own, he became more mature and collected, far more focused than he ever was. The other Tempest operatives kept misjudging him because of his father and he endured it all with patience and grace.
Adam’s absence was a bit harder to endure. He was my favorite in Tempest (I always fall for the geeky best friend) and without his humorous input, Jackson’s adventures simply weren’t the same. I’m not sure when (or even if) he’ll be back, but I’ll keep my fingers tightly crossed.
Vortex is a read rich with jaw dropping surprises, and the game is always changing. I tend to struggle with the concept of time travel and that proved true here as well. Cross doesn’t really do recaps and since I’d forgotten most of the details from Tempest, I was more than a little lost at the beginning. The truth is, this book will punish you severely if your mind strays to your lunch plans, shoe shopping or bills, but if you give it your full attention, you will be rewarded.
In Vortex, Jackson struggles to reorganize his life and find a way to live without two people who mean the most to him. He begins training with the Tempest unit of the CIA, desperate to fight the Enemies of Time and keep Holly safe. Although talented and intelligent, Jackson doesn’t have it easy and being the boss’s son doesn’t help him gain confidence of his peers.
Even with all the action and CIA training, Vortex was a much more contemplative book than its predecessor. Its focus was Jackson’s growth and his relationships, be it with his father, his colleagues or Holly. That’s not to say it wasn’t exciting – Cross kept throwing Jackson in impossible situations from which he had to dig himself out. The Enemies of Time were never more dangerous, but even more dangerous were the enemies Jackson didn’t see coming.
Readers who considered Holly plain and unworthy of Jackson’s attention will be relieved by her absence in Vortex. I was, too, but for very different reasons. Away from Holly, but with her safety at the forefront of his mind, Jackson was able to grow tremendously, to become a responsible adult, one worthy of both admiration and affection. It was amazing to watch Jackson become the man he is now. The second he decided to put someone else’s life above his own, he became more mature and collected, far more focused than he ever was. The other Tempest operatives kept misjudging him because of his father and he endured it all with patience and grace.
Adam’s absence was a bit harder to endure. He was my favorite in Tempest (I always fall for the geeky best friend) and without his humorous input, Jackson’s adventures simply weren’t the same. I’m not sure when (or even if) he’ll be back, but I’ll keep my fingers tightly crossed.
Vortex is a read rich with jaw dropping surprises, and the game is always changing. I tend to struggle with the concept of time travel and that proved true here as well. Cross doesn’t really do recaps and since I’d forgotten most of the details from Tempest, I was more than a little lost at the beginning. The truth is, this book will punish you severely if your mind strays to your lunch plans, shoe shopping or bills, but if you give it your full attention, you will be rewarded.
September 2, 2016
It was definitely a bad idea to go so long between reading book 1 and book 2. The parallel and jumping is still confusing, but even more so now because I don't remember the whens and hows and of the other Jacksons.
Even more confusing are the additional people added to the mix - people that didn't jump before and didn't know before.....now are suddenly pulling guns and taking sides. I don't like Stewart much but I do really like Kendrick and Mason.
*sigh* I think I caught just enough to read the next one but I can't go very long before I read it.
Even more confusing are the additional people added to the mix - people that didn't jump before and didn't know before.....now are suddenly pulling guns and taking sides. I don't like Stewart much but I do really like Kendrick and Mason.
*sigh* I think I caught just enough to read the next one but I can't go very long before I read it.
November 9, 2017
This is a complicated story. It should say "try and keep up" on the inside cover.
I'm glad I own the print book as well as the audio, because I needed to go back several times to figure out what happened. But overall, it was a great read with good characters.
Matthew Brown is fantastic on audio.
I'm glad I own the print book as well as the audio, because I needed to go back several times to figure out what happened. But overall, it was a great read with good characters.
Matthew Brown is fantastic on audio.
February 10, 2017
Originally Posted at: Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek
At the end of “Tempest,” I was heartbroken for Jackson, but I was proud of him. He sacrificed his happiness and his normal life to protect the girl he loves. Vortex is the aftermath of that sacrifice. For me, “Vortex” is devastating. Jackson’s life is in shambles. He trusts no one and has no one to confide in. In his new life as an agent of the CIA division called Tempest, he is demeaned and treated like a joke. He gets no respect and no loyalty. Worst of all he cannot contact the two people he wants to see most.
“Tempest” and “Votex” are parts of the same story, but they aredifferent books. In “Tempest,” Jackson is lost. He has no idea who he is or what he is capable of. Most of all he has seen the girl he loves get murdered and he will do anything to prevent those events from happening. “Tempest” is raw with emotion. It is filled with confusion and self-discovery. “Vortex” is a whole new world, literally. Jackson goes from a confused boy to a focused young man. He is alone, undervalued and resented, but Jackson keeps trucking. He is determined to learn more about his abilities and the enemies of time. He was unprepared to face his enemies before and he will do anything to prevent having to see someone he loves die, again.
The first few chapters of this book were difficult for me to get into. The reason being that I love Jackson so much I wanted him to be ok and he is not. The second reason is that there is a lack of emotional connection in the first third of this installment that was very prevalent in “Tempest.” Jackson is cut off emotionally, he is traumatized, suspicious and on constant guard. He has a very good reason to be this way. I stuck with it and was so relieved and engaged at the first sign of life returning to this character.
There is a saying that has run in my family for the last twenty years or so. When watching TV or reading a book, members of my family have been known to say, “I could write these things.” For some reason we can almost always see the ending or twist of a story coming. When other people jump in shock to find that the killer is under the bed, I’ve been known to nod my head, because somehow I knew that the killer was there the whole time. That being said, there are moments in “Vortex,” that left me SHOCKED. I am not often surpised. There are reveals about a main character that I just did not see coming. I didn’t see it coming and I am not sure what it will mean for Jackson, but it is such an interesting twist.
The one failing of this book is the end. The end is not bad; it just gets a bit confusing. Characters pop up and I am not sure how they can possibly be there. Jackson’s enemies and his role in the universe get more complicated and a lot vaster than he expected. I gave this book four stars instead of five, because the ending just kind of rushes at us and I am not sure exactly what it all means. I was gripped and entertained, but my first thought on conclusion of the book was “What?”
Honestly, read this book. The ending lost me for a few minutes, but I caught right up. It is obvious that Julie Cross left things up in the air, because she intends to explain it all in the sequel. I am not a huge fan of Sci-Fi literature, but I love this series. Julie Cross takes her readers to so many different emotional, mental and scientific places. This series is as smart as it is entertaining and as emotional as it is thought provoking. This series works, because of its plot is good, the writing is fantastic and the main character is someone you will root for until the end.
Here’s the thing about Jackson Meyer. Girls spend their time wishing for “I love you, but I want to kill you” Edward Cullen and “I love you so much I want kill myself” Travis Maddox when they should be wishing for a Jackson Meyer. Jackson’s love for Holly is a force of nature, but it never tramples. It is intense, but never frightening. Jackson and Holly’s love is so powerful time and space cannot stop him from loving her and doing everything in his power to protect her. I want someone to love me that much.
Read
August 4, 2013Vortex opens where Tempest left off, but I can only compare Vortex to whatever your county fair's wildest, most unpredictable ride is. (Mine, for reference, was called the Himalaya, and it was equal parts fun and terrifying.) Vortex is not a slow novel, and it is not a mild novel. Vortex is one twist and turn after another, thrilling emotional highs and devastating lows that brought real tears to my eyes.
Once again we follow Jackson as he ventures deeper into the world of Tempest, the CIA branch that exists to fight EOTs (Enemies of Time,) or rogue time travelers. Julie Cross weaves this second installment right into your heart with growth from Jackson, and other characters like his dad, Kevin, and CIA agent Jenni Stewart. I was tense reading Vortex. I was BROKEN reading Vortex, because I kept sinking right into Jackson's story so effortlessly. Both old and new characters immediately felt like real people, for the duration of Vortex. And something that was as genius as it was frustrating is how time travel and notions of parallel universes come into play to show us familiar characters in ways and places we - and I - NEVER expected to find them. Scenes I never thought I'd see but hoped for are in Vortex, which conspired to leave me shaken or hopeful.
Plot-wise, Cross steps everything up a few notches, in terms of mysteries, secrets, and danger. There were several moments where I found myself re-reading paragraphs to make sure I'd read them right. And more than once, I literally had to pause in my reading to wrap my head around an explanation, or an answer that only raised more questions. Vortex is brilliantly crafted, with a pace that is never boring.
The heart of Vortex is Jackson. If Jackson wasn't as compelling a character, as REAL a character as he is, these books wouldn't be quite as amazing. They'd be a good science fiction story with an awesome plot, but Jackson and his love for Holly makes Tempest and Vortex soar to the top of my mental "favorite books" list. Jackson reads like a real guy, with faults and good qualities that make you want to hug him, then give him a good shake. I felt so lost when he did, so happy when he did, so confused when he did. Jackson is an amazing conduit to carry emotions right to the reader, emotions I was still reeling from a few hours after finishing Vortex. I have rarely been as enamored with a character as I am with Jackson, or as proud of him at times.
Final Thought: Vortex gathers speed from the onset, hurtling toward a dizzying conclusion that literally left me rigid and with tears in my eyes. The wait for Timestorm seems infinite, and I am sure I'll be re-reading these books again in preparation for the third book. Julie Cross is a talented story-teller who knows how to pull a reader into her story and keep them there.
Once again we follow Jackson as he ventures deeper into the world of Tempest, the CIA branch that exists to fight EOTs (Enemies of Time,) or rogue time travelers. Julie Cross weaves this second installment right into your heart with growth from Jackson, and other characters like his dad, Kevin, and CIA agent Jenni Stewart. I was tense reading Vortex. I was BROKEN reading Vortex, because I kept sinking right into Jackson's story so effortlessly. Both old and new characters immediately felt like real people, for the duration of Vortex. And something that was as genius as it was frustrating is how time travel and notions of parallel universes come into play to show us familiar characters in ways and places we - and I - NEVER expected to find them. Scenes I never thought I'd see but hoped for are in Vortex, which conspired to leave me shaken or hopeful.
Plot-wise, Cross steps everything up a few notches, in terms of mysteries, secrets, and danger. There were several moments where I found myself re-reading paragraphs to make sure I'd read them right. And more than once, I literally had to pause in my reading to wrap my head around an explanation, or an answer that only raised more questions. Vortex is brilliantly crafted, with a pace that is never boring.
The heart of Vortex is Jackson. If Jackson wasn't as compelling a character, as REAL a character as he is, these books wouldn't be quite as amazing. They'd be a good science fiction story with an awesome plot, but Jackson and his love for Holly makes Tempest and Vortex soar to the top of my mental "favorite books" list. Jackson reads like a real guy, with faults and good qualities that make you want to hug him, then give him a good shake. I felt so lost when he did, so happy when he did, so confused when he did. Jackson is an amazing conduit to carry emotions right to the reader, emotions I was still reeling from a few hours after finishing Vortex. I have rarely been as enamored with a character as I am with Jackson, or as proud of him at times.
Final Thought: Vortex gathers speed from the onset, hurtling toward a dizzying conclusion that literally left me rigid and with tears in my eyes. The wait for Timestorm seems infinite, and I am sure I'll be re-reading these books again in preparation for the third book. Julie Cross is a talented story-teller who knows how to pull a reader into her story and keep them there.
October 14, 2014
After erasing the time he spent with Holly and his friend Adam, Jackson Meyer has joined Tempest, a secret division of the CIA that deals with the so-called Enemies of the Time, a group of people jumping from one timeline to another, changing our world’s future. Jackson takes to training like slipping on a well worn shoe but it soon becomes apparent the big sacrifice he made regarding Holly was in vain. While dealing with his assignments by the CIA and deaths and disappearances of those closest to him, Jackson realizes that despite removing himself from Holly's life for her own protection she is still in grave danger as someone else has different plans in mind, plans that leave Jackson no choice but to try and save the one girl he ever truly loved.
Vortex is a fantastic addition to a series that already blew my mind with its first installment, Tempest. It hits all the right buttons, as I was reading it I could practically see myself checking off items of a list of things I love the most in books in addition to this series being written from a boy's perspective, a thing that is fairly new to me but one I've come to enjoy every time I come across it. Vortex captivated me with its fast paced plot, an array of wonderful characters from both sides of the good vs. bad spectrum and a love story that is just perfect to read for any heart bleeding romantic like I am.
One of my favorite things in this series is the development of the father and son relationship. Jackson and his dad went from being emotionally distant after the death of Jackson's sister to being confidants after Jackson sacrifices his time with Holly for her safety. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between Jackson and his partner Lily and the bickering between him and Stewart. But my absolute favorite is Jackson's relationship with Holly or rather the loss of it. Reading about Jackson dealing with losing the first girl he ever said I love you too was heart breaking and some incredibly emotionally powerful lines were written in regard to it. I teared up quite a few times during Vortex, including while reading pages from Jackson’s personal diary where entries where written as letter to Adam. Those packed quite an emotional punch.
I love the plot of this book and where it took the characters. There were a few instances that completely blew me away and I'm still trying to process them. I hope that Jackson's ability to time travel and change the outcome of events means that some of the losses, the deaths of some of the characters are not permanent. Because I just cannot deal with losing one particular character. As far as his death is concerned my feet are permanently planted in the land of denial. I refuse to accept that he is well and truly gone. Just no.
I'm eager to find out what happens next in this series, especially after that ending in Vortex. Things have gone beyond my imagination and I'm extremely curious to find out where the author is going to take us readers next.
Vortex is a fantastic addition to a series that already blew my mind with its first installment, Tempest. It hits all the right buttons, as I was reading it I could practically see myself checking off items of a list of things I love the most in books in addition to this series being written from a boy's perspective, a thing that is fairly new to me but one I've come to enjoy every time I come across it. Vortex captivated me with its fast paced plot, an array of wonderful characters from both sides of the good vs. bad spectrum and a love story that is just perfect to read for any heart bleeding romantic like I am.
One of my favorite things in this series is the development of the father and son relationship. Jackson and his dad went from being emotionally distant after the death of Jackson's sister to being confidants after Jackson sacrifices his time with Holly for her safety. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between Jackson and his partner Lily and the bickering between him and Stewart. But my absolute favorite is Jackson's relationship with Holly or rather the loss of it. Reading about Jackson dealing with losing the first girl he ever said I love you too was heart breaking and some incredibly emotionally powerful lines were written in regard to it. I teared up quite a few times during Vortex, including while reading pages from Jackson’s personal diary where entries where written as letter to Adam. Those packed quite an emotional punch.
I love the plot of this book and where it took the characters. There were a few instances that completely blew me away and I'm still trying to process them. I hope that Jackson's ability to time travel and change the outcome of events means that some of the losses, the deaths of some of the characters are not permanent. Because I just cannot deal with losing one particular character. As far as his death is concerned my feet are permanently planted in the land of denial. I refuse to accept that he is well and truly gone. Just no.
I'm eager to find out what happens next in this series, especially after that ending in Vortex. Things have gone beyond my imagination and I'm extremely curious to find out where the author is going to take us readers next.
January 31, 2013
It's been a while since I read the first book in the series, Tempest which I really liked, so when I began this I was a little lost. The author didn't sum up what happened in the first book at all which would have helped. Also, I was surprised by the language used in this book. I don't remember the other book having a lot of swearing, but like I said its been a while since I read it so I could be wrong. This book gets pretty heavy with the mythology of time-travel which I often found convoluted and distracting from the overall plot line. I don't think I'll be reading the next book in the series if its like this one.
Want to read
May 1, 2016I have to wait a yeaaaaaaar A yeaaar!!!!!! come on people it's not faaaaair!! *sobs*
September 30, 2013
Zitat:
„Tempest hat sich auf die Fahnen geschrieben, die Welt vor Veränderung unserer Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft auf unnatürlichen und unmoralischen Wegen zu bewahren.“
(S. 25)
„Du musst dich erst in deine Rolle einfühlen. Sie ein charmanter, sexy Typ.“
Offenbar war ich das also noch nicht.
(S. 87)
Inhalt:
Jackson hat eine sehr schwere Entscheidung getroffen, die erste uneigennützige Tat in seinem ganzen Leben: Er hat Holly nicht kennengelernt.
Um sich abzulenken, geht er zu seinem Vater und erklärt diesem, was in der Zukunft passiert ist und dass er von nun an für Tempest arbeiten will.
Er wird zusammen mit den anderen Agenten ausgebildet. Bei einem Prüfungseinsatz passiert es dann: Feinde der Zeit greifen ihn und seine Team-Partnerin an. Entgegen aller Erwartungen blickt Jackson in viele bekannte Gesichter. Totgeglaubte Gesichter.
Die Feinde der Zeit drehen wieder fleißig am Geschichtsrad der Welt, im Auftrag einer Organisation namens Eyewall. Jackson wird gemeinsam mit seiner Partnerin Kendrick und seinem Vater auf einen echten Einsatz geschickt. Dort trifft Jackson wieder auf die junge Zeitreisende Emily, die erneute Warnungen im Gepäck hat. Noch immer hat Jackson niemandem von ihr erzählt.
Die EOTs (Feinde der Zeit) haben eine Organisation in der Gegenwart gegründet und auf die Zeitreisenden angesetzt, ebenfalls eine Untergruppierung der CIA: Eyewall, der durchaus das ein oder andere bekannte Gesicht angehört. Wem kann Jackson noch trauen?
Meinung:
Ich wurde bereits vorgewarnt, dass sich der Einstieg etwas schwieriger gestalten könnte. Dennoch wurde ich auf den ersten Seiten stets noch verwirrter. Julie Cross hat mir kaum einen Rückblick auf Vergangenes gewährt, was es mir sehr erschwerte, wieder in die Geschichte einzutauchen und mich an alles zu erinnern.
Nachdem Jackson, in dem Glauben, Holly „gerettet“ zu haben, in das Ausbildungsteam von Tempest aufgenommen wird, gibt es ebenfalls nur ein paar winzige Wiederholungen von Julie Cross‘ Theorie zu den Zeitreisen. In Form von Jacksons Tagebuch, das an seinen (nicht mehr) besten Freund Adam gerichtet ist, gibt er seine Gedanken zu den von ihm hergestellten Parallelwelten und Zeitschienen preis.
Um ehrlich zu sein, las ich während des Buches oft über die Zeitreisetheorien drüber, ohne mir genauere Gedanken zu machen oder darüber zu grübeln, mir gar Zeichnungen zu machen, um die Thesen festzuhalten. Denn ich bin mir nicht ganz sicher, ob sich mir die Logik des Ganzen einfach nicht erschließen will oder ob es tatsächlich nicht immer ganz logisch ist.
Ich nahm daher einfach alles als gegeben und konzentrierte mich auf die actionreiche Story drumherum, die sowieso die Hauptrolle in dem Buch spielt.
Der Protagonist Jackson Meyer natürlich mittendrin. Er schildert uns erneut aus Ich-Perspektive die Ereignisse und wir sind immer mitten im Zeitgeschehen. Durch seine uneigennützige Entscheidung, Holly besser von sich fern zu halten, ist er gereift. Er benimmt sich nicht mehr ganz so kindisch wie noch im ersten Teil. Er versucht, alles wieder gut zu machen. Jedoch wird die Liste, was er alles korrigieren sollte, im Laufe des Buches länger und länger. Jackson ist noch nicht über Holly hinweg, was ihn in eine prekäre Situation bringt, als er einer ganz anderen Version von ihr plötzlich gegenübersteht.
Die Mit-Auszubildenden Agenten wissen nicht, dass er einer der „Feinde“, im Prinzip selbst ein EOT (Enemy of Time) ist, der durch die Zeit reisen kann. Der Rest von Tempest ist auf verschiedene Fachgebiete spezialisiert, selbst zukünftige Technologie ist darunter, aber Jacksons Fähigkeit schlägt alles und daher muss sie verheimlicht werden.
Die Mit-Agenten bei Tempest boten eine Fülle an neuen Charakteren, die für jeden Geschmack etwas zu bieten haben.
Agent Stewart, neben Jacksons Partnerin Kendrick die einzige Frau, ist nicht gerade gut auf Jackson zu sprechen. Sie schwärzt ihn an und macht ihm das Leben schwer. Liegt es nur daran, dass sie sich fürchtet, Jackson könnte ernsthafte Konkurrenz sein? Anfangs hätte ich nie gedacht, wie sich die Beziehung zwischen Jackson und Stewart noch verändern wird. Ihre sehr interessante Vergangenheit und ihre ganz besondere Beziehung zu Tempest haben es in sich.
Dadurch, dass Jackson noch die Warnung im Hinterkopf hat, niemandem zu vertrauen, hat es auch seine Partnerin Kendrick nicht leicht. Jackson spann ein Netz aus Schwindel und Lügen, bis er diese nicht weiterführen konnte. Doch Kendrick steht ihm zur Seite. Denn keine/r versteht Jacksons innerste Beweggründe so gut wie sie.
Wie bereits erwähnt, war es manchmal sehr schwer, den „technischen Details“ zu den Zeitreisen zu folgen. Halbsprünge, ganze Sprünge, Supersprünge oder doch ein Thomas-Sprung? Zeitschienen, Paralleluniversen und der Vortex.
All dies konnte mir jedoch nicht den Spaß an der actionreichen Geschichte verderben. Denn hier konnte mir Julie Cross wieder einiges bieten. „Feinde der Zeit“ wimmelt von Einsätzen, Kampfszenen, futuristischen Waffen und anderen „Agentenspielchen“. Die Spannung kam dabei nie zu kurz, der Humor ebenso wenig, die Zuordnung zu „gut“ und „böse“ fiel immer schwerer.
Durch zahlreiche Intrigen und Verkettungen erfahren wir etwas über die von der Autorin geschaffene Zukunft und erhalten kurz vor Ende noch einen ganz besonderen Einblick. Die Folgen davon führten zu einem „bösen“ Abschluss des Buches und gleichzeitig zu hohen Erwartungen an den nächsten Einsatz gegen die „Feinde der Zeit“.
Urteil:
Überraschende Momente, die manchmal Fiktion und Wahrheit verschwimmen lassen, stets neue Gegner und jede Menge Action zeichnen „Feinde der Zeit“ aus. Lediglich die Theorien über Zeitreisen, deren ständiges Verwerfen, neu Aufrollen und wieder Verwerfen schmälerten meinen Lesespaß etwas, weil ich dem wissenschaftlichen Teil davon manchmal einfach nicht mehr folgen konnte. Wer dies jedoch ausblenden kann wie ich, bekommt einen tempohaften, spannenden Agenten-Thriller mit Blick in die Zukunft. 4 Bücher für Jackson Meyers Kampf gegen die „Feinde der Zeit“.
Wer Band 1 mochte, wird auch um die Fortsetzung nicht herumkommen. Vielleicht wäre das Lesen einer Zusammenfassung des ersten Teiles von Vorteil, um wieder besser in die Zeitreisetheorien hineinzufinden. Wen kleine Erinnerungslücken aber nicht stören, der wird mit „Feinde der Zeit“ jede Menge Spaß haben.
Die Serie:
Sturz in die Zeit
Feinde der Zeit
Originaltitel: Timestorm
(Erscheinungsdatum: Januar 2014)
©his-and-her-books.blogspot.de
„Tempest hat sich auf die Fahnen geschrieben, die Welt vor Veränderung unserer Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft auf unnatürlichen und unmoralischen Wegen zu bewahren.“
(S. 25)
„Du musst dich erst in deine Rolle einfühlen. Sie ein charmanter, sexy Typ.“
Offenbar war ich das also noch nicht.
(S. 87)
Inhalt:
Jackson hat eine sehr schwere Entscheidung getroffen, die erste uneigennützige Tat in seinem ganzen Leben: Er hat Holly nicht kennengelernt.
Um sich abzulenken, geht er zu seinem Vater und erklärt diesem, was in der Zukunft passiert ist und dass er von nun an für Tempest arbeiten will.
Er wird zusammen mit den anderen Agenten ausgebildet. Bei einem Prüfungseinsatz passiert es dann: Feinde der Zeit greifen ihn und seine Team-Partnerin an. Entgegen aller Erwartungen blickt Jackson in viele bekannte Gesichter. Totgeglaubte Gesichter.
Die Feinde der Zeit drehen wieder fleißig am Geschichtsrad der Welt, im Auftrag einer Organisation namens Eyewall. Jackson wird gemeinsam mit seiner Partnerin Kendrick und seinem Vater auf einen echten Einsatz geschickt. Dort trifft Jackson wieder auf die junge Zeitreisende Emily, die erneute Warnungen im Gepäck hat. Noch immer hat Jackson niemandem von ihr erzählt.
Die EOTs (Feinde der Zeit) haben eine Organisation in der Gegenwart gegründet und auf die Zeitreisenden angesetzt, ebenfalls eine Untergruppierung der CIA: Eyewall, der durchaus das ein oder andere bekannte Gesicht angehört. Wem kann Jackson noch trauen?
Meinung:
Ich wurde bereits vorgewarnt, dass sich der Einstieg etwas schwieriger gestalten könnte. Dennoch wurde ich auf den ersten Seiten stets noch verwirrter. Julie Cross hat mir kaum einen Rückblick auf Vergangenes gewährt, was es mir sehr erschwerte, wieder in die Geschichte einzutauchen und mich an alles zu erinnern.
Nachdem Jackson, in dem Glauben, Holly „gerettet“ zu haben, in das Ausbildungsteam von Tempest aufgenommen wird, gibt es ebenfalls nur ein paar winzige Wiederholungen von Julie Cross‘ Theorie zu den Zeitreisen. In Form von Jacksons Tagebuch, das an seinen (nicht mehr) besten Freund Adam gerichtet ist, gibt er seine Gedanken zu den von ihm hergestellten Parallelwelten und Zeitschienen preis.
Um ehrlich zu sein, las ich während des Buches oft über die Zeitreisetheorien drüber, ohne mir genauere Gedanken zu machen oder darüber zu grübeln, mir gar Zeichnungen zu machen, um die Thesen festzuhalten. Denn ich bin mir nicht ganz sicher, ob sich mir die Logik des Ganzen einfach nicht erschließen will oder ob es tatsächlich nicht immer ganz logisch ist.
Ich nahm daher einfach alles als gegeben und konzentrierte mich auf die actionreiche Story drumherum, die sowieso die Hauptrolle in dem Buch spielt.
Der Protagonist Jackson Meyer natürlich mittendrin. Er schildert uns erneut aus Ich-Perspektive die Ereignisse und wir sind immer mitten im Zeitgeschehen. Durch seine uneigennützige Entscheidung, Holly besser von sich fern zu halten, ist er gereift. Er benimmt sich nicht mehr ganz so kindisch wie noch im ersten Teil. Er versucht, alles wieder gut zu machen. Jedoch wird die Liste, was er alles korrigieren sollte, im Laufe des Buches länger und länger. Jackson ist noch nicht über Holly hinweg, was ihn in eine prekäre Situation bringt, als er einer ganz anderen Version von ihr plötzlich gegenübersteht.
Die Mit-Auszubildenden Agenten wissen nicht, dass er einer der „Feinde“, im Prinzip selbst ein EOT (Enemy of Time) ist, der durch die Zeit reisen kann. Der Rest von Tempest ist auf verschiedene Fachgebiete spezialisiert, selbst zukünftige Technologie ist darunter, aber Jacksons Fähigkeit schlägt alles und daher muss sie verheimlicht werden.
Die Mit-Agenten bei Tempest boten eine Fülle an neuen Charakteren, die für jeden Geschmack etwas zu bieten haben.
Agent Stewart, neben Jacksons Partnerin Kendrick die einzige Frau, ist nicht gerade gut auf Jackson zu sprechen. Sie schwärzt ihn an und macht ihm das Leben schwer. Liegt es nur daran, dass sie sich fürchtet, Jackson könnte ernsthafte Konkurrenz sein? Anfangs hätte ich nie gedacht, wie sich die Beziehung zwischen Jackson und Stewart noch verändern wird. Ihre sehr interessante Vergangenheit und ihre ganz besondere Beziehung zu Tempest haben es in sich.
Dadurch, dass Jackson noch die Warnung im Hinterkopf hat, niemandem zu vertrauen, hat es auch seine Partnerin Kendrick nicht leicht. Jackson spann ein Netz aus Schwindel und Lügen, bis er diese nicht weiterführen konnte. Doch Kendrick steht ihm zur Seite. Denn keine/r versteht Jacksons innerste Beweggründe so gut wie sie.
Wie bereits erwähnt, war es manchmal sehr schwer, den „technischen Details“ zu den Zeitreisen zu folgen. Halbsprünge, ganze Sprünge, Supersprünge oder doch ein Thomas-Sprung? Zeitschienen, Paralleluniversen und der Vortex.
All dies konnte mir jedoch nicht den Spaß an der actionreichen Geschichte verderben. Denn hier konnte mir Julie Cross wieder einiges bieten. „Feinde der Zeit“ wimmelt von Einsätzen, Kampfszenen, futuristischen Waffen und anderen „Agentenspielchen“. Die Spannung kam dabei nie zu kurz, der Humor ebenso wenig, die Zuordnung zu „gut“ und „böse“ fiel immer schwerer.
Durch zahlreiche Intrigen und Verkettungen erfahren wir etwas über die von der Autorin geschaffene Zukunft und erhalten kurz vor Ende noch einen ganz besonderen Einblick. Die Folgen davon führten zu einem „bösen“ Abschluss des Buches und gleichzeitig zu hohen Erwartungen an den nächsten Einsatz gegen die „Feinde der Zeit“.
Urteil:
Überraschende Momente, die manchmal Fiktion und Wahrheit verschwimmen lassen, stets neue Gegner und jede Menge Action zeichnen „Feinde der Zeit“ aus. Lediglich die Theorien über Zeitreisen, deren ständiges Verwerfen, neu Aufrollen und wieder Verwerfen schmälerten meinen Lesespaß etwas, weil ich dem wissenschaftlichen Teil davon manchmal einfach nicht mehr folgen konnte. Wer dies jedoch ausblenden kann wie ich, bekommt einen tempohaften, spannenden Agenten-Thriller mit Blick in die Zukunft. 4 Bücher für Jackson Meyers Kampf gegen die „Feinde der Zeit“.
Wer Band 1 mochte, wird auch um die Fortsetzung nicht herumkommen. Vielleicht wäre das Lesen einer Zusammenfassung des ersten Teiles von Vorteil, um wieder besser in die Zeitreisetheorien hineinzufinden. Wen kleine Erinnerungslücken aber nicht stören, der wird mit „Feinde der Zeit“ jede Menge Spaß haben.
Die Serie:
Sturz in die Zeit
Feinde der Zeit
Originaltitel: Timestorm
(Erscheinungsdatum: Januar 2014)
©his-and-her-books.blogspot.de
December 23, 2012
Seen at Scott Reads It
Tempest is one of those books that arrived on the market with alot of hype and publicity. The movie rights were snatched by Summit Entertainment, the studio that made Twilight and Ender's Game. Reviews raved about Tempest saying how fantastic it was and how they couldn't wait for the sequel. I enjoyed Tempest but I wasn't obsessed with the book like most reviewers are. I was a bit reluctant to read Vortex, the sequel to Tempest.
Vortex is in all aspects a better book than Tempest and I'm glad I gave it a chance. One of my major problems with Tempest was that it took way too long to reach the climatic action sequences that I craved. It wasn't until the very end of Tempest that those awesome time-travel action scenes came in and that really annoyed me. Vortex starts almost immediately with tons of action and adventure. One thing that really bothered me with Vortex was it's explanation of time travel. Every single time time travel was explained with a new concept, I felt even more lost. To make it even more confusing some of these explanations turn out to be false and are repudiated by the main character. It took 2 books (704 pages) but I think I finally know the difference between World A, World B and World C. I really do prefer the old cover of Vortex that my ARC has (the red-orange one) better than the current blue one.
Vortex gave me a chance to connect with the characters in Tempest. I wasn't a big fan of Tempest because I didn't really feel like I liked any of the characters. In Tempest I didn't really have a chance to get to know any of the characters and connect with them. After reading Tempest I really thought Jackson was just some lovelorn rich kid who could time travel. In Vortex we see a different side of Jackson that is vulnerable and troubled. Jackson is completely damaged from losing his friends Holly and Adam. I didn't like how Jackson spent the beginning of the book moping for Holly and trying to forget her with a relationship with Stewart. Using someone just to forget your ex-girlfriend who you can't be with is not cool. Jackson felt a bit like a child in the opening of this book but I am glad he shaped up. I really wanted to get to know Jackson's ex Holly better but we didn't get a chance to know her. The new batch of characters that we met were not groundbreaking but they were certainly interesting. Agent Stewart turned out to be one of my favorite characters in Vortex.
The plot of Vortex is easier to follow than Tempest's plot. There is none of the constant time-jumping that we saw in Tempest which took place almost every chapter. The time travel in Vortex is executed better because it isn't overwhelming and as constant. I really didn't see any of the plot twists coming at all and I was completely shocked at the end. With that intense cliffhanger at the end there is no way that I won't read book 3. Vortex is an intense high stakes sequel that you won't want to miss!
If you weren't a huge fan of Tempest, I'd still recommend reading Vortex. I enjoyed Vortex a lot due to it's new cast of characters and fast pace. The explanations of time travel are a bit choppy and confusing but in the end I actually had a very thorough understanding of it. One of my favorite components of Vortex is Cross's writing style which made Vortex a compelling read. Vortex is a rare example where the sequel is better than it's predecessor and I definitely recommend it.
Tempest is one of those books that arrived on the market with alot of hype and publicity. The movie rights were snatched by Summit Entertainment, the studio that made Twilight and Ender's Game. Reviews raved about Tempest saying how fantastic it was and how they couldn't wait for the sequel. I enjoyed Tempest but I wasn't obsessed with the book like most reviewers are. I was a bit reluctant to read Vortex, the sequel to Tempest.
Vortex is in all aspects a better book than Tempest and I'm glad I gave it a chance. One of my major problems with Tempest was that it took way too long to reach the climatic action sequences that I craved. It wasn't until the very end of Tempest that those awesome time-travel action scenes came in and that really annoyed me. Vortex starts almost immediately with tons of action and adventure. One thing that really bothered me with Vortex was it's explanation of time travel. Every single time time travel was explained with a new concept, I felt even more lost. To make it even more confusing some of these explanations turn out to be false and are repudiated by the main character. It took 2 books (704 pages) but I think I finally know the difference between World A, World B and World C. I really do prefer the old cover of Vortex that my ARC has (the red-orange one) better than the current blue one.
Vortex gave me a chance to connect with the characters in Tempest. I wasn't a big fan of Tempest because I didn't really feel like I liked any of the characters. In Tempest I didn't really have a chance to get to know any of the characters and connect with them. After reading Tempest I really thought Jackson was just some lovelorn rich kid who could time travel. In Vortex we see a different side of Jackson that is vulnerable and troubled. Jackson is completely damaged from losing his friends Holly and Adam. I didn't like how Jackson spent the beginning of the book moping for Holly and trying to forget her with a relationship with Stewart. Using someone just to forget your ex-girlfriend who you can't be with is not cool. Jackson felt a bit like a child in the opening of this book but I am glad he shaped up. I really wanted to get to know Jackson's ex Holly better but we didn't get a chance to know her. The new batch of characters that we met were not groundbreaking but they were certainly interesting. Agent Stewart turned out to be one of my favorite characters in Vortex.
The plot of Vortex is easier to follow than Tempest's plot. There is none of the constant time-jumping that we saw in Tempest which took place almost every chapter. The time travel in Vortex is executed better because it isn't overwhelming and as constant. I really didn't see any of the plot twists coming at all and I was completely shocked at the end. With that intense cliffhanger at the end there is no way that I won't read book 3. Vortex is an intense high stakes sequel that you won't want to miss!
If you weren't a huge fan of Tempest, I'd still recommend reading Vortex. I enjoyed Vortex a lot due to it's new cast of characters and fast pace. The explanations of time travel are a bit choppy and confusing but in the end I actually had a very thorough understanding of it. One of my favorite components of Vortex is Cross's writing style which made Vortex a compelling read. Vortex is a rare example where the sequel is better than it's predecessor and I definitely recommend it.
October 7, 2013
Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Lange habe ich auf die Fortsetzung zum ersten Teil gewartet, da man als Leser doch sehr in der Luft hängen gelassen wurden. Nun bin ich mit dem zweiten Teil fertig und bin unschlüssig, was ich davon halten soll. Außerdem fühle ich mich wieder genauso mitten drinnen einfach hängen gelassen - wie zuvor.
Aber beginnen wir am besten mit dem Anfang, der mir leider gar nicht gefallen hat, da wir eine komplett neue Geschichte präsentiert bekommen haben. Nicht nur das, waren auch nur neue Charaktere im Buch, die man erst kennenlernen musste und die mich Holly und vor allem Adam vermissen ließen. Zum Glück konnten mich einige von den neuen Charakteren dann doch noch von sich überzeugen, bzw. mich mit ihnen freundlich stellen, besonders Lily oder Stewart, die es einem anfänglich nicht leicht gemacht hat, sie zu mögen.
Dafür fand ich es aber sehr positiv wie sich Jackson zum ersten Teil verändert hat und wie er auch in diesem Buch endlich erwachsen wird und nicht mehr alles locker sieht, sondern auch die Konsequenzen bedenkt. Außerdem wird er von einem verwöhnten, reichen Jungen zu einem mutigen, begabten Mann, der Kämpfen und DENKEN kann und einige Fremdsprachen spricht – dieser Teil war ja genial und ich würde auch gerne Russisch, Mandarin oder so nebenbei Spanisch lernen und es dann auch beherrschen.
Aber um wieder zu den Kritikpunkten zurück zu kommen, muss ich gestehen, dass ich große Probleme hatte dieser ganzen Geschichte und Abfolge der verschiedenen Zeiten, Zeitleisten und Halb-/ Vollsprüngen zu folgen und zu verstehen. Dabei habe ich mich wirklich bemüht diesen ganzen wechselnden Zeitleisten und Sprüngen zu folgen, aber es war einfach zu kompliziert und zu durcheinander. Dazu kam, dass nicht viel vom ersten Buch erwähnt wurde und besonders am Anfang hatte ich dadurch Probleme, dass es überhaupt keine Rückblicke gegeben hat.
Außerdem war Teil eins noch eher eine Fantasygeschichte, die man als Jugendbuch bezeichnen kann und über das Thema Zeitreisen handelte. Aber hier wurde der CIA Schwerpunkt immer größer und mir persönlich auch schon zu viel, da ich mit solchen Agentengeschichten weniger anfangen kann. Ständig irgendwelche Beschattungen oder Intrigen, niemanden dem man ernsthaft trauen kann und alle spielen einem nur etwas vor.
Dennoch möchte ich noch den letzten Teil lesen, aber wohl nur, weil ich wissen möchte, wie es nun ausgeht und was es alles auf sich hat. Es wurde doch eher mehr Fragen aufgeworfen, als beantwortet und da würde es mich nerven, wenn ich hier kein Ende und eine Erklärung bekommen würde. Aber so richtig gut hat es mir ehrlich gesagt nicht gefallen, da es eben viel zu durcheinander und zu kompliziert war.
German Cover:
Mir gefällt das Cover leider nicht, da ich einfach kein Fan von Orange bin, aber auch das englische Cover kann mich nicht begeistern.
All in all:
Auch die Fortsetzung hat mich nicht nur positiv auf die Geschichte und die Figuren zurück blicken lassen und ich bin in meiner Meinung hin und her gerissen. Guter Ansatz, aber leider in der Erklärung viel zu kompliziert und durcheinander. Ich hoffe daher, dass Teil drei etwas mehr entwirren kann, als noch mehr Fragen aufwerfen, wie es hier der Fall war.
Für mehr Information, besuche bitte meinen Blog:
http://martinabookaholic.wordpress.co...
Lange habe ich auf die Fortsetzung zum ersten Teil gewartet, da man als Leser doch sehr in der Luft hängen gelassen wurden. Nun bin ich mit dem zweiten Teil fertig und bin unschlüssig, was ich davon halten soll. Außerdem fühle ich mich wieder genauso mitten drinnen einfach hängen gelassen - wie zuvor.
Aber beginnen wir am besten mit dem Anfang, der mir leider gar nicht gefallen hat, da wir eine komplett neue Geschichte präsentiert bekommen haben. Nicht nur das, waren auch nur neue Charaktere im Buch, die man erst kennenlernen musste und die mich Holly und vor allem Adam vermissen ließen. Zum Glück konnten mich einige von den neuen Charakteren dann doch noch von sich überzeugen, bzw. mich mit ihnen freundlich stellen, besonders Lily oder Stewart, die es einem anfänglich nicht leicht gemacht hat, sie zu mögen.
Dafür fand ich es aber sehr positiv wie sich Jackson zum ersten Teil verändert hat und wie er auch in diesem Buch endlich erwachsen wird und nicht mehr alles locker sieht, sondern auch die Konsequenzen bedenkt. Außerdem wird er von einem verwöhnten, reichen Jungen zu einem mutigen, begabten Mann, der Kämpfen und DENKEN kann und einige Fremdsprachen spricht – dieser Teil war ja genial und ich würde auch gerne Russisch, Mandarin oder so nebenbei Spanisch lernen und es dann auch beherrschen.
Aber um wieder zu den Kritikpunkten zurück zu kommen, muss ich gestehen, dass ich große Probleme hatte dieser ganzen Geschichte und Abfolge der verschiedenen Zeiten, Zeitleisten und Halb-/ Vollsprüngen zu folgen und zu verstehen. Dabei habe ich mich wirklich bemüht diesen ganzen wechselnden Zeitleisten und Sprüngen zu folgen, aber es war einfach zu kompliziert und zu durcheinander. Dazu kam, dass nicht viel vom ersten Buch erwähnt wurde und besonders am Anfang hatte ich dadurch Probleme, dass es überhaupt keine Rückblicke gegeben hat.
Außerdem war Teil eins noch eher eine Fantasygeschichte, die man als Jugendbuch bezeichnen kann und über das Thema Zeitreisen handelte. Aber hier wurde der CIA Schwerpunkt immer größer und mir persönlich auch schon zu viel, da ich mit solchen Agentengeschichten weniger anfangen kann. Ständig irgendwelche Beschattungen oder Intrigen, niemanden dem man ernsthaft trauen kann und alle spielen einem nur etwas vor.
Dennoch möchte ich noch den letzten Teil lesen, aber wohl nur, weil ich wissen möchte, wie es nun ausgeht und was es alles auf sich hat. Es wurde doch eher mehr Fragen aufgeworfen, als beantwortet und da würde es mich nerven, wenn ich hier kein Ende und eine Erklärung bekommen würde. Aber so richtig gut hat es mir ehrlich gesagt nicht gefallen, da es eben viel zu durcheinander und zu kompliziert war.
German Cover:
Mir gefällt das Cover leider nicht, da ich einfach kein Fan von Orange bin, aber auch das englische Cover kann mich nicht begeistern.
All in all:
Auch die Fortsetzung hat mich nicht nur positiv auf die Geschichte und die Figuren zurück blicken lassen und ich bin in meiner Meinung hin und her gerissen. Guter Ansatz, aber leider in der Erklärung viel zu kompliziert und durcheinander. Ich hoffe daher, dass Teil drei etwas mehr entwirren kann, als noch mehr Fragen aufwerfen, wie es hier der Fall war.
Für mehr Information, besuche bitte meinen Blog:
http://martinabookaholic.wordpress.co...
May 12, 2021
Well... this was terrible. I read Tempest (which wasn't much better) and for some reason was under the impression that this book series would improve. But no it didn't and I shall elaborate.
Firstly, this whole thing reads like fanfiction. This whole writing style is jumpy, disorganised and just a complete mess. There's a whole lot of timelines that are terribly explained and we just jump into plots randomly and unexpectedly. The voice of the protagonist is completely unbelievable and unrealistic - I just couldn't believe it's a young man at all. Our hero Jackson is also absolutely great at everything he does without even properly trying. He even beats his superiors who have been in the CIA for longer (because he's a spy in a secret part of a spy organisation *rolls eyes*) because he's just that amazing. He speaks a bunch of languages, runs 10 miles in the morning everyday and is amazing at combat - all while mourning the debilitating loss of his incredible girlfriend Holly who devastatingly can't remember him because he also sacrificed his happiness to save the world. Also he's fighting 'the enemies of time'. The fuck? I mean what even is that? It is, quite honestly, laughable. I could never take any villains seriously if they are called the 'enemies of time'.
Also the character was building was pathetic. Why? Because there was none. Jackson was presumptuous, entitled (especially towards his ex Holly), self-victimising and extremely arrogant. Basically one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever had the misfortune to read. I wasn't rooting for him at all. In fact I was yelling at Holly to run as fast as she possibly could away from Jackson. The villains are all basic two-dimensional characters who you don't hate or love - you just don't care.
Oh, have I mentioned this one scene where his partner sets him a task he can't refuse - kiss the 'bitch' of the book (which she isn't, she just doesn't - understandably - like the main character). So what does he do? Decline politely and hold fast in his decision to not violate a colleague? Or does he apologise to her before politely requesting a quick peck because he must do it? No. Instead he walks right up to her, doesn't ask for any consent, and just kisses her. And guess what. Everyone else thinks he's so cool and daring. In fact, HE was disgusted because she had the audacity to put her tongue in his mouth. This chapter just didn't sit right with me at all. In fact quite a few chapters with encounters between these two characters didn't sit right with me.
This book was pathetically misogynistic, irritating and painful to read. I ended up dumping it half way through. Please don't waste your money, time or attention on this book. It seems it is a favourite amongst many but please really think hard before you invest anything into reading it.
Firstly, this whole thing reads like fanfiction. This whole writing style is jumpy, disorganised and just a complete mess. There's a whole lot of timelines that are terribly explained and we just jump into plots randomly and unexpectedly. The voice of the protagonist is completely unbelievable and unrealistic - I just couldn't believe it's a young man at all. Our hero Jackson is also absolutely great at everything he does without even properly trying. He even beats his superiors who have been in the CIA for longer (because he's a spy in a secret part of a spy organisation *rolls eyes*) because he's just that amazing. He speaks a bunch of languages, runs 10 miles in the morning everyday and is amazing at combat - all while mourning the debilitating loss of his incredible girlfriend Holly who devastatingly can't remember him because he also sacrificed his happiness to save the world. Also he's fighting 'the enemies of time'. The fuck? I mean what even is that? It is, quite honestly, laughable. I could never take any villains seriously if they are called the 'enemies of time'.
Also the character was building was pathetic. Why? Because there was none. Jackson was presumptuous, entitled (especially towards his ex Holly), self-victimising and extremely arrogant. Basically one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever had the misfortune to read. I wasn't rooting for him at all. In fact I was yelling at Holly to run as fast as she possibly could away from Jackson. The villains are all basic two-dimensional characters who you don't hate or love - you just don't care.
Oh, have I mentioned this one scene where his partner sets him a task he can't refuse - kiss the 'bitch' of the book (which she isn't, she just doesn't - understandably - like the main character). So what does he do? Decline politely and hold fast in his decision to not violate a colleague? Or does he apologise to her before politely requesting a quick peck because he must do it? No. Instead he walks right up to her, doesn't ask for any consent, and just kisses her. And guess what. Everyone else thinks he's so cool and daring. In fact, HE was disgusted because she had the audacity to put her tongue in his mouth. This chapter just didn't sit right with me at all. In fact quite a few chapters with encounters between these two characters didn't sit right with me.
This book was pathetically misogynistic, irritating and painful to read. I ended up dumping it half way through. Please don't waste your money, time or attention on this book. It seems it is a favourite amongst many but please really think hard before you invest anything into reading it.
February 24, 2013
Review posted on Mundie Moms on 2/24/2013 with signed paperback giveaway
I adored the first book in this series, Tempest, and usually the second book in a series drives me a little nuts because let's face it, especially in a timeslip plot, the couple have to be separated. And we know this is going to be the case just from the ending of Tempest, but what I didn't expect in Vortex was the heart-thumping plot line that Julie delivered which distracted me from the will-they-ever-be-together-again jitters.
This review is hard to write without spoilers (I'm going to use the synopsis as my guideline). I have to admit that I am completely biased when it comes to time travel stories, I simply love them. In this installment, Julie turned up the action by using secret divisions within the CIA. The best part of this plot twist is that you're never entirely sure which group is the good guys. For Tempest readers who found Jackson's jumps a little tricky to follow, there's a great explanation in Vortex that visually presents the timelines he's created. Again, readers will be surprised by the results of these timelines.
Can you tell that I'm trying hard to not give anything away? Okay, one more thing I can add, Julie always writes in these touching moments between family members and Jackson witness an important moment in his life on one of his travels back in time. One of my favorite parts in an action oriented plot is when the author pauses to show us something important in the lead character's back-story. This moment resonated with me.
After reading Vortex, I realized that Jackson cannot trust anyone. Truly not a soul. This sets up the final story in the trilogy rather nicely because all I really want to know is how it will all end. For me, that's the sign of a great series.
If you're in the mood for intrigue, time travel and a character who is on a journey of self-discovery that leads him into more questions than answers, pick up the Tempest series. There's a reason why I created the hashtag -- #hottimetravelers, and there's a reason why Jackson consistently makes my Top Ten Fic Boys list. Before I forget, if you read my reviews purely for this answer -- yes, there's kissing. Just wait until you read what I dubbed the Frenemy Kissy Scene (pages 58-60 in the ARC). Holy hotness.
I adored the first book in this series, Tempest, and usually the second book in a series drives me a little nuts because let's face it, especially in a timeslip plot, the couple have to be separated. And we know this is going to be the case just from the ending of Tempest, but what I didn't expect in Vortex was the heart-thumping plot line that Julie delivered which distracted me from the will-they-ever-be-together-again jitters.
This review is hard to write without spoilers (I'm going to use the synopsis as my guideline). I have to admit that I am completely biased when it comes to time travel stories, I simply love them. In this installment, Julie turned up the action by using secret divisions within the CIA. The best part of this plot twist is that you're never entirely sure which group is the good guys. For Tempest readers who found Jackson's jumps a little tricky to follow, there's a great explanation in Vortex that visually presents the timelines he's created. Again, readers will be surprised by the results of these timelines.
Can you tell that I'm trying hard to not give anything away? Okay, one more thing I can add, Julie always writes in these touching moments between family members and Jackson witness an important moment in his life on one of his travels back in time. One of my favorite parts in an action oriented plot is when the author pauses to show us something important in the lead character's back-story. This moment resonated with me.
After reading Vortex, I realized that Jackson cannot trust anyone. Truly not a soul. This sets up the final story in the trilogy rather nicely because all I really want to know is how it will all end. For me, that's the sign of a great series.
If you're in the mood for intrigue, time travel and a character who is on a journey of self-discovery that leads him into more questions than answers, pick up the Tempest series. There's a reason why I created the hashtag -- #hottimetravelers, and there's a reason why Jackson consistently makes my Top Ten Fic Boys list. Before I forget, if you read my reviews purely for this answer -- yes, there's kissing. Just wait until you read what I dubbed the Frenemy Kissy Scene (pages 58-60 in the ARC). Holy hotness.
January 15, 2014
Tempest and Vortex are an excellent example what I'd call high-concept young adult fiction. I thought I understood the rules of the world in which Jackson and his dead/not dead girlfriend Holly live, but Julie Cross will not let us rest easy, instead forcing us to see that it's much more detailed than we ever imagined. Vortex instills in us knowledge of full-jumps, half-jumps, Thomas-jumps, and worlds A, B and C. It's easy to get lost, but I can see that it'll be rewarding if you persevere and try to keep up with what the Tempest and Eyewall groups are trying to accomplish – as our dedicated protagonists are equally trying to do.
Tempest is not only a compelling series because of it's fantastic science fiction elements, but because it also has wonderful character development, something I acknowledged last year. In the midst of chaos, the reader feels like they know what these secret agent teenagers are going through, even though they are not truly able to know everything about them. Struggles and complex emotions emanate from every character, making you emotionally invested in all of them.
In my review of Tempest, I said that if I had to describe it in one word I'd pick 'fun'. If I had to do the same with Vortex, I'd pick the famous relationship status: 'It's complicated'. Vortex may not be to everybody's tastes, in a similar way that The Matrix isn't (although I am by no means comparing them plot-wise), because you are left knowing less than you did at the start – and that can understandably be frustrating – but it's the little details, and the characters, that make it worthwhile: the persistence of Adam, the enigmatic red-headed child, the constant mystery, and Jackson's honesty and wit.
Vortex is as action-packed as its predecessor, a complicated backstage tour through the perils of secret agents and the possibilities of time travel – don't forget to look before you jump!
Thank you Macmillan Children’s Books for providing this book to review!
Tempest is not only a compelling series because of it's fantastic science fiction elements, but because it also has wonderful character development, something I acknowledged last year. In the midst of chaos, the reader feels like they know what these secret agent teenagers are going through, even though they are not truly able to know everything about them. Struggles and complex emotions emanate from every character, making you emotionally invested in all of them.
In my review of Tempest, I said that if I had to describe it in one word I'd pick 'fun'. If I had to do the same with Vortex, I'd pick the famous relationship status: 'It's complicated'. Vortex may not be to everybody's tastes, in a similar way that The Matrix isn't (although I am by no means comparing them plot-wise), because you are left knowing less than you did at the start – and that can understandably be frustrating – but it's the little details, and the characters, that make it worthwhile: the persistence of Adam, the enigmatic red-headed child, the constant mystery, and Jackson's honesty and wit.
Vortex is as action-packed as its predecessor, a complicated backstage tour through the perils of secret agents and the possibilities of time travel – don't forget to look before you jump!
Thank you Macmillan Children’s Books for providing this book to review!
February 19, 2013
1 Star
Did I read the same book as everyone else? Was this written by the same author as Tempest?
Seriously what the F did I just read?!
I have never been as disappointed with a sequel as I have been with Vortex. I enjoyed Tempest a lot and I even recommend it to a few people, but after reading Vortex, I just want to throw-up.
What happened?!
First off, the blurb is so misleading, Holly doesn’t even come into the picture until 25% and then doesn’t really have a voice until 50% into the book. I think if the last 10% of the book was the tone and feel of the previous 90% I would have enjoyed Vortex, but it wasn’t and it didn’t and I am just beyond upset.
Two words to describe Vortex would be “TOO MUCH”. There was just too much going on, too many jumps, time-lines, world A, B, C? ug… my head is spinning. I didn’t care for Jackson’s training, I didn’t care for the side characters, I really only cared for Jackson and Holly’s storyline. I love action packed books, but Cross could have thrown Holly in throughout the story from the beginning or have her character as a side note in Tempest
Cross made me fall in love with Holly from Tempest and to have her not included until the second half of Vortex is unforgivable.
I would have considered book 3 if the release date wasn’t a year from now, but on top of being so mad, I will not be finishing the series.
Did I read the same book as everyone else? Was this written by the same author as Tempest?
Seriously what the F did I just read?!
I have never been as disappointed with a sequel as I have been with Vortex. I enjoyed Tempest a lot and I even recommend it to a few people, but after reading Vortex, I just want to throw-up.
What happened?!
First off, the blurb is so misleading, Holly doesn’t even come into the picture until 25% and then doesn’t really have a voice until 50% into the book. I think if the last 10% of the book was the tone and feel of the previous 90% I would have enjoyed Vortex, but it wasn’t and it didn’t and I am just beyond upset.
Two words to describe Vortex would be “TOO MUCH”. There was just too much going on, too many jumps, time-lines, world A, B, C? ug… my head is spinning. I didn’t care for Jackson’s training, I didn’t care for the side characters, I really only cared for Jackson and Holly’s storyline. I love action packed books, but Cross could have thrown Holly in throughout the story from the beginning or have her character as a side note in Tempest
Cross made me fall in love with Holly from Tempest and to have her not included until the second half of Vortex is unforgivable.
I would have considered book 3 if the release date wasn’t a year from now, but on top of being so mad, I will not be finishing the series.
February 20, 2013
I mean......I'm confused. What is this?
I'm sorry, but this was like a really bad episode of Quantum Leap. I know I am an adult reader, but I hold down my own in the YA department. And I have to say that I'm confused after finishing this book.
Has Julie Cross, like, changed her mind about what she is doing here? Is she confused about her own imagination and storyline? It seems like she has switched gears. Full jumps, half jumps, the dead sister pops up at the end......I mean, what was that? The little girl, Emily?? She's like a clone of Amy from the Passage novels. Maybe Cross should have stuck with something a little more staightline for her target audience. I'm fucking 31. If I have trouble with all this, wouldn't a 13 year old?
Or maybe not. Maybe I thought it was so outrageous that I tuned out some when reading.
And while I am ripping on Cross, it says on the back cover that she never thought about writing until 2009 when she picked up her pen....or something to that effect. Well, Julie Cross, you were able to mask that somewhat with the Tempest, maybe with beginner's luck or an agent friend, but you are quickly showing that you don't have your story mapped out.
I'm sorry, but this was like a really bad episode of Quantum Leap. I know I am an adult reader, but I hold down my own in the YA department. And I have to say that I'm confused after finishing this book.
Has Julie Cross, like, changed her mind about what she is doing here? Is she confused about her own imagination and storyline? It seems like she has switched gears. Full jumps, half jumps, the dead sister pops up at the end......I mean, what was that? The little girl, Emily?? She's like a clone of Amy from the Passage novels. Maybe Cross should have stuck with something a little more staightline for her target audience. I'm fucking 31. If I have trouble with all this, wouldn't a 13 year old?
Or maybe not. Maybe I thought it was so outrageous that I tuned out some when reading.
And while I am ripping on Cross, it says on the back cover that she never thought about writing until 2009 when she picked up her pen....or something to that effect. Well, Julie Cross, you were able to mask that somewhat with the Tempest, maybe with beginner's luck or an agent friend, but you are quickly showing that you don't have your story mapped out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2014
Das ist ja noch schlimmer als bei Band 1... Ich will weiterleseeeen!!!!
January 3, 2016
Spannend, aber selbst für aufmerksame Leser teilweise ziemlich verwirrend.
February 3, 2017
FINALMENTE.
March 9, 2013
Hm. I'm really torn on how to rate this. On one hand, I enjoyed it almost as much as Tempest. On the other, I feel like the plot and the logic were incredibly muddled and I'm not entirely convinced it made sense.
My sticking point through all of this is the logic of time travel. I've said before that there are countless different approaches to the subject, and as long as you explain the rules, any and all of them can make sense. In Tempest, Cross outlined what seemed to be this universe's rules. Yet here we discover that those weren't so much the actual rules, but the rules as Jackson understands them. And, well, "You know nothing Jackson Meyer."
In Tempest, we learned that Jackson is capable of something he calls a “half-jump.” It’s similar to astral projection -- he can see and interact with people (and they can see him), but he has no effect on the situation, and no one remembers having seen or spoken to him. Meanwhile, his body appears to have gone catatonic in real time. During the stress of seeing Holly get shot, Jackson completes a full jump, back to 2007. It’s unclear at this point (in the first novel) if he’s created an entirely different timeline, or if he’s simply gone back to 2007 in the original timeline, but he gets stuck. In 007, Jackson decides to attempt to prevent Holly’s eventual murder. He reconnects with Adam, his best friend in the 009 timeline, and the two work together to figure out what, exactly, makes Jackson’s time travel work. Meanwhile, it’s clear that other people are capable of making “full” jumps too, and they’re coming for Jackson.
At the end of Tempest, Jackson jumped once again, back to 2009 (from 2007) but in an alternate universe (so it appeared) where he had never met Holly or Adam. He thinks this is the best way to keep them safe, but he can’t stop himself from worrying about both of his friends. In Vortex, we see Jackson become an actual Tempest agent, working to prevent the so-called Enemies of Time (EOTs) from...wreaking havoc, basically. The EOTs attempt a few political murders and kidnappings, but it’s really unclear what their endgame is. It’s also unclear if these “enemies” are actually “bad guys.” And while I’m all for shades of gray, there’s moral ambiguity and there’s muddled storytelling.
Here’s my problem with the rules of time travel in this universe -- it seems like they’re being made up as they go. I can buy that Jackson doesn’t necessarily understand the full scope of his abilities, and he’s confused about what his “powers” actually mean, but at some point, the rules, as they truly apply, need to be laid out. Did Jackson truly create an alternate universe when he jumped back to 2009 from 2007? Or did his actions in 2007 simply alter history? Are there 2 alternate timelines or 3? Will any of these issues be resolved in book 3?
Here’s the thing: I get that time travel is complicated, but there are ways to explain it that make sense. The rules can change in any number of ways, as long as they follow some sort of internal logic. I had myriad problems with 11/22/63, but the rules of time travel were not among them. Every trip through the portal brought you to the same place (in the past, no going forward), and it’s initially thought that every trip is a reset. You go through the portal, you interact with people, and any changes you make will be immediately noticeable upon returning to the present. However. If you go back through the portal, every change you made on your previous trip no longer applies. You’re back to that same day in 1958, and it’s as though you’ve never been there before. By the end of the novel, we learn that this isn’t entirely true -- each trip creates a little “ripple” in time, and the more trips, the more ripples, the more the fabric of time itself is basically being ripped apart. Granted, although Jake makes a couple of preliminary trips, the bulk of the novel is spent with him actually staying in the past, which makes the time travel logic a bit easier to swallow. It’s similar to the “time travel” (with sarcastic quotes) in Shadow of Night -- once the characters are in the past, they stay there. Granted, they should be having a far greater effect on the present than just the convenient clues they leave behind, but again, the logic doesn't make my brain hurt. Even when Billy Pilgrim becomes unstuck in time, he’s limited by the span of his life -- it’s basically his consciousness that’s traveling, but he can’t go farther back than his birth or farther forward than his death. He really doesn’t have a home base in the sense that Jackson does, he’s anywhere/everywhere all at once. Even that is easier to follow than what’s laid out here, because he’s stuck in a finite amount of time. Jackson can, ostensibly, go anywhere in the past OR the future...and possible into different timelines as well. It would seem that, in Cross’s universe, the only rule of time travel is that there are no rules.
Oh, the plot you ask? We see Jackson completing his agent training, repairing his relationship with his father (I don’t recall them being so codependently close in Tempest, it’s bizarre), getting to know his partner, being tested by the senior agents, and trying his damndest to stay away from Holly Flynn. He also learns a bit more about his abilities...but for everything he learns (or thinks he’s learned), there are at least half a dozen more questions. For instance, Thomas seems to be the leader of the EOTs, and is capable of making “full” jumps from the future, back to the past, in order to alter it. So basically he’s coming back to the past from the distant future in order to prevent certain events (hence the political assassinations). At first, Jackson thinks Thomas is creating a new universe or timeline with each jump, but it would seem those jumps are all within the same timeline. Unfortunately, since we’re stuck in 2009 with Jackson, it’s unclear what, if any, effect Thomas’s jumps are having on his own home base.
It also turns out that, rather than being safely oblivious to all of this, Holly is actually Basically, everyone is under attack, all the time. We learn a bit more about Emily, the little redheaded girl from Tempest -- it seems like she’ll be pretty integral to the sequel.
I’m having a hard time nailing down many specifics about the plot itself -- certainly a great deal happens here, and as I said in one of my updates, I appreciate that, while we aren’t in the dark about Jackson’s feelings (and how he’s coping with losing Holly), Cross lets us jump right into action, without spending 100 pages of Jackson dwelling on his pwecious feewings. This feels less like a placeholder book than most 2nd novels in a trilogy.
Part of me wants to stick around for book three, in the hopes that it will make sense of these tangled timelines, and part of me wants to just give up. I don’t like feeling as though I need maps and notes and perhaps an abacus to keep track of the plot of a YA novel (or ANY novel for that matter) I had an easier time keeping track of the characters in A Dance With Dragons. I enjoy the writing style, and the voices of the characters, but the plot itself leaves me cold at this point. I’m also sort of hesitant to put it on my shelf -- partially because of the plethora of f-bombs the characters drop every 2 pages, and partially because I’m not sure any of the kids I have this year would even get through it. I powered through because I was interested in what would happen to Jackson, but I’m not sure many of my students would feel the same pull. It makes me a little sad, to be honest, because I did enjoy the first so much.
June 30, 2013
Wow, I don’t even know where to begin with this. Time travel is sooooooo hard! There seems to be two general types of time travel stories. In what I am arbitrarily calling the first type, time travel is just a way to get to a new world, be it a post apocalyptic future, World War II Europe, or the Mesozoic. Time travel just serves as a portal or gateway to the new adventure setting. Though the idea of the protagonists coming from the future (or much more rarely, the past) is a factor, there is no back and forth, timey-wimey (to borrow a phrase from Doctor Who) type interaction. You go to the setting, with the whole “the past is a foreign country” thing (I guess that would make the distant past, like the Cretaceous, an alien planet), have your story, and you may or may not go back to whenever the story originated.
The second time (and this is the second type) is much rarer and for good reason. This is the type in which the setting is the present or maybe the near future, one in which one or more characters bounces around in time, maybe a few years, months, weeks, days, heck a few hours, constantly fiddling with the not so distant past or the near future, creating and erasing memories, interacting with people who just died or even with duplicates of themselves as they exist in a different part of the timeline. Or timelines, as that seems to be the case with the setting of _Tempest_ and now _Vortex_. Mess up in one timeline? Go to another! Need some intell from someone who died in your timeline? Maybe visit them in the past or another present in a different timeline. The protagonists –and the reader – have to juggle with the concept of different characters at different points along the same timeline (or in alternate timelines) having not only (obviously) different information, but also having different backgrounds and personalities, even motivations.
The reason such stories aren’t seen much is because they are hard to write and hard to follow. Though I think I got the broad brushstrokes of this novel, there were times I was outright lost. Not to say that it wasn’t interesting –and that it didn’t fit, as Jackson, our main character, was lost at times too – but it was some dense reading sometimes.
I can’t decide if having only one point of view was a good thing or a bad thing. Probably, in the final analysis, a good thing, but I think, unintentionally or not, we got the whole “unreliable narrator” thing going. What makes Jackson Meyer an unreliable narrator? Let’s count down the list. One, he is new to both time travel and to the world of secret agents, so we the reader just as Jackson the character don’t always know what is going on. Two, Jackson really really starts to doubt not only of course his own abilities as time traveler/secret agent but also own past. Is his very existence part of some secret government conspiracy? Is that conspiracy still on going? The more he digs into his past, the more doubts are raised about his dad, his mom, his sister, who the bad guy is, everything.
Of course, this being time travel, he can go back and interact with the past! Don’t know why your dad was in such and such place at such and such time, go and ask him! Worried about interacting with the past and changing things in a bad, bad way? Well, in Jackson’s world, you can either 1) create an alternate timeline by doing that or 2) do a half-jump, in which, weirdly, his presence in the past has no effect on anything.
Or does it? Hmmm.
Yes, yes, all very confusing. I think the story would have been easier to follow if we had a more reliable, skilled narrator. I don’t mean to say that doubts about his past (or his continual longing for Holly) were problems as plot devices, but Jackson just didn’t always strike me as focused exactly on what was going on. Add to that he didn’t strike me as being broadly educated or particularly articulate (holler? Who says holler that many times?). I don’t know if the author meant it to be that way. I certainly believed he would act and speak that way. I just don’t know if it quite worked in this story.
Certainly with the relentlessly one point of view we never got inside the heads of his bosses, his dad, Jackson’s enemies, or Holly. For those who questioned why Jackson loves Holly so much, I think that would have helped a great deal. Holly does get some weird new fleshing out, but I don’t think we ever really as readers “saw” Holly just the way Jackson does.
There are other problems. We get introduced to a bunch of new secret agents that will work with Jackson in Tempest. It took me a while to really get into any of their personalities and some I never really did. The first half of the novel had a cool battle school vibe, with Jackson learning to be a secret agent, getting to know his fellow Tempest agents, learning about the opposition, and all the while hiding his special abilities. Fast reading and flowed very nicely. However, the second half/third/not sure of the book was convoluted, filled with double crosses or seeming double crosses, accusations of this person or that person being a clone or double agent or what have you, and frequent time hops and timeline shifts. It was interesting, I am just not sure I understood all of what happened (or at least for long periods of time I didn’t).
Another problem for me was the bad guys, both the Enemies of Time and Eyewall. I never quite got anything other than a vague handle on what their goals were. Maybe that is fine, as Jackson and his allies didn’t either, but I think it would have made for a better book if it was more obvious what exactly they wanted.
The ending is certainly interesting. I won’t say what it was, but it does change gears a lot. That would probably be the main factor in my continuing to read the series. I do like the characters, particularly (after this book) Jackson’s dad, so I do want to see what happens next. However, this next book better start answering some questions!
The second time (and this is the second type) is much rarer and for good reason. This is the type in which the setting is the present or maybe the near future, one in which one or more characters bounces around in time, maybe a few years, months, weeks, days, heck a few hours, constantly fiddling with the not so distant past or the near future, creating and erasing memories, interacting with people who just died or even with duplicates of themselves as they exist in a different part of the timeline. Or timelines, as that seems to be the case with the setting of _Tempest_ and now _Vortex_. Mess up in one timeline? Go to another! Need some intell from someone who died in your timeline? Maybe visit them in the past or another present in a different timeline. The protagonists –and the reader – have to juggle with the concept of different characters at different points along the same timeline (or in alternate timelines) having not only (obviously) different information, but also having different backgrounds and personalities, even motivations.
The reason such stories aren’t seen much is because they are hard to write and hard to follow. Though I think I got the broad brushstrokes of this novel, there were times I was outright lost. Not to say that it wasn’t interesting –and that it didn’t fit, as Jackson, our main character, was lost at times too – but it was some dense reading sometimes.
I can’t decide if having only one point of view was a good thing or a bad thing. Probably, in the final analysis, a good thing, but I think, unintentionally or not, we got the whole “unreliable narrator” thing going. What makes Jackson Meyer an unreliable narrator? Let’s count down the list. One, he is new to both time travel and to the world of secret agents, so we the reader just as Jackson the character don’t always know what is going on. Two, Jackson really really starts to doubt not only of course his own abilities as time traveler/secret agent but also own past. Is his very existence part of some secret government conspiracy? Is that conspiracy still on going? The more he digs into his past, the more doubts are raised about his dad, his mom, his sister, who the bad guy is, everything.
Of course, this being time travel, he can go back and interact with the past! Don’t know why your dad was in such and such place at such and such time, go and ask him! Worried about interacting with the past and changing things in a bad, bad way? Well, in Jackson’s world, you can either 1) create an alternate timeline by doing that or 2) do a half-jump, in which, weirdly, his presence in the past has no effect on anything.
Or does it? Hmmm.
Yes, yes, all very confusing. I think the story would have been easier to follow if we had a more reliable, skilled narrator. I don’t mean to say that doubts about his past (or his continual longing for Holly) were problems as plot devices, but Jackson just didn’t always strike me as focused exactly on what was going on. Add to that he didn’t strike me as being broadly educated or particularly articulate (holler? Who says holler that many times?). I don’t know if the author meant it to be that way. I certainly believed he would act and speak that way. I just don’t know if it quite worked in this story.
Certainly with the relentlessly one point of view we never got inside the heads of his bosses, his dad, Jackson’s enemies, or Holly. For those who questioned why Jackson loves Holly so much, I think that would have helped a great deal. Holly does get some weird new fleshing out, but I don’t think we ever really as readers “saw” Holly just the way Jackson does.
There are other problems. We get introduced to a bunch of new secret agents that will work with Jackson in Tempest. It took me a while to really get into any of their personalities and some I never really did. The first half of the novel had a cool battle school vibe, with Jackson learning to be a secret agent, getting to know his fellow Tempest agents, learning about the opposition, and all the while hiding his special abilities. Fast reading and flowed very nicely. However, the second half/third/not sure of the book was convoluted, filled with double crosses or seeming double crosses, accusations of this person or that person being a clone or double agent or what have you, and frequent time hops and timeline shifts. It was interesting, I am just not sure I understood all of what happened (or at least for long periods of time I didn’t).
Another problem for me was the bad guys, both the Enemies of Time and Eyewall. I never quite got anything other than a vague handle on what their goals were. Maybe that is fine, as Jackson and his allies didn’t either, but I think it would have made for a better book if it was more obvious what exactly they wanted.
The ending is certainly interesting. I won’t say what it was, but it does change gears a lot. That would probably be the main factor in my continuing to read the series. I do like the characters, particularly (after this book) Jackson’s dad, so I do want to see what happens next. However, this next book better start answering some questions!
January 27, 2024
Loved reading this book, it was such a great sequel, and I can't wait to see how things wrap up!
October 15, 2017
Hier geht's zur Rezension auf meinem Blog.
Rezension:
Kann Spoiler bezüglich des ersten Teils enthalten.
Das Buch hat mich von der ersten Seite an direkt wieder gepackt. Auch nach zwei Jahren Pause zwischen diesem und dem ersten Teil hatte ich keinerlei Probleme, sofort wieder in die Handlung einzusteigen. Durch Jacksons Ausbildung und sein Tagebuch werden alle Irrungen und Wirrungen der bisherigen Geschehnisse noch einmal wiederholt und systematisch veranschaulicht. Es gibt sogar Abbildungen von Zeitstrahlen, um deutlich zu machen, in welcher Reihenfolge und zu welcher Zeit Jackson von einer Welt in eine andere gesprungen ist. Zudem lernt er in der Ausbildung mehr Details über Zeitreisen, sodass seine vollen Sprünge sowie die Halbsprünge genauer erklärt werden. Damit wird der komplexe Teil über Zeitreisen so weit veranschaulicht, dass ich alles verstehen und nachvollziehen konnte, obwohl ich mich kaum noch an den ersten Band erinnern konnte. Das ist der Autorin wunderbar gelungen. Und die verschiedenen Methoden der Darstellung, beispielsweise den unterschiedlichen Parallelwelten verschiedene Namen zu geben, werden durch das ganze Buch immer weiter verwendet, sodass es kein Problem ist, den neuen Erkenntnissen und wechselnden Welten und Daten zu folgen. Ein gewisses Grundmaß an Verwirrung bleibt nur dadurch bestehen, dass selbst Jackson nicht zweifelsfrei sagen kann, durch wie viele Welten er nun eigentlich gesprungen ist. Ich als Leser wurde also lediglich auf dem gleichen Niveau der Unsicherheit gehalten, das auch bei den Charakteren vorherrscht.
Auch unabhängig von den Erklärungen zu den Zeitreisen war die Handlung anfangs spannend. Jacksons Ausbildung bei der CIA war interessant beschrieben und die unterschiedlichen Missionen, die er durchführen musste, waren jedes Mal packend, weil sie manchmal doch etwas aus dem Ruder gelaufen sind. Zudem tritt immer wieder die gegnerische CIA-Abteilung Eyewall in Erscheinung. Während Jacksons Abteilung Tempest vollständig bekannt ist, weiß er über Eyewall-Agenten nur sehr wenig. Dadurch gab es immer wieder überraschende Momente, wenn ein neuer Agent enttarnt wurde. Wie in jeder CIA-Geschichte gibt es aber natürlich auch hier Doppelagenten und Personen, die eigentlich nur ihr eigenes Interesse verfolgen. Bis zum Schluss war daher nie klar, welche Person offiziell zu welcher Abteilung gehört, welche Person heimlich für wen arbeitet, wer wie viel weiß und manchmal sogar, aus welcher Zeit die jeweilige Person stammt. Zugehörigkeiten und Absichten hat die Autorin sehr gut verschleiert und zusätzlich immer wieder Situationen geschaffen, in denen sich doch wieder alles geändert hat.
Nichtsdestotrotz war das Buch am Schluss etwas handlungsarm. So spannend Jacksons Ausbildung am Anfang auch war, sie hat irgendwie kein Ende gefunden. Zwar gab es dramatische Missionen, aber keine davon hat die Geschichte tatsächlich weiter gebracht. Nach zwei Dritteln hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Handlung stecken geblieben ist. Es folgte eine Auseinandersetzung zwischen Tempest und Eyewall nach der anderen. Die Feinde der Zeit selbst, also die anderen Zeitreisenden, sind kaum aufgetaucht. Zwar folgen noch einige Entwicklungen und zum Schluss gibt es einen dramatischen Showdown, aber für meinen Geschmack standen sich etwas oft einfach junge CIA-Agenten gegenüber oder Jackson hat sich ununterbrochen Gedanken um Holly gemacht. Im letzten Drittel hätten es daher durchaus einige Seiten weniger sein dürfen, um die Spannung aufrecht zu erhalten.
Fazit:
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir trotz langer Pause sehr leicht. In seinem Tagebuch veranschaulicht Jackson systematisch die bisherigen Ereignisse und legt dazu sogar Abbildungen an. Zudem vermittelt ihm die Ausbildung neues Wissen und mehr Details zu den Zeitreisen. Dieser komplexe Aspekt wird sehr anschaulich und verständlich dargestellt. Zudem war die Handlung spannend. Es gab packende Auseinandersetzungen, überraschende Erkenntnisse und die Autorin hat viele Dinge gut verschleiert. Lediglich im letzten Drittel blieb die Handlung zwischenzeitlich stecken. „Feinde der Zeit“ war nicht ganz so gut wie der erste Band und bekommt daher vier Schreibfedern.
Rezension:
Kann Spoiler bezüglich des ersten Teils enthalten.
Das Buch hat mich von der ersten Seite an direkt wieder gepackt. Auch nach zwei Jahren Pause zwischen diesem und dem ersten Teil hatte ich keinerlei Probleme, sofort wieder in die Handlung einzusteigen. Durch Jacksons Ausbildung und sein Tagebuch werden alle Irrungen und Wirrungen der bisherigen Geschehnisse noch einmal wiederholt und systematisch veranschaulicht. Es gibt sogar Abbildungen von Zeitstrahlen, um deutlich zu machen, in welcher Reihenfolge und zu welcher Zeit Jackson von einer Welt in eine andere gesprungen ist. Zudem lernt er in der Ausbildung mehr Details über Zeitreisen, sodass seine vollen Sprünge sowie die Halbsprünge genauer erklärt werden. Damit wird der komplexe Teil über Zeitreisen so weit veranschaulicht, dass ich alles verstehen und nachvollziehen konnte, obwohl ich mich kaum noch an den ersten Band erinnern konnte. Das ist der Autorin wunderbar gelungen. Und die verschiedenen Methoden der Darstellung, beispielsweise den unterschiedlichen Parallelwelten verschiedene Namen zu geben, werden durch das ganze Buch immer weiter verwendet, sodass es kein Problem ist, den neuen Erkenntnissen und wechselnden Welten und Daten zu folgen. Ein gewisses Grundmaß an Verwirrung bleibt nur dadurch bestehen, dass selbst Jackson nicht zweifelsfrei sagen kann, durch wie viele Welten er nun eigentlich gesprungen ist. Ich als Leser wurde also lediglich auf dem gleichen Niveau der Unsicherheit gehalten, das auch bei den Charakteren vorherrscht.
Auch unabhängig von den Erklärungen zu den Zeitreisen war die Handlung anfangs spannend. Jacksons Ausbildung bei der CIA war interessant beschrieben und die unterschiedlichen Missionen, die er durchführen musste, waren jedes Mal packend, weil sie manchmal doch etwas aus dem Ruder gelaufen sind. Zudem tritt immer wieder die gegnerische CIA-Abteilung Eyewall in Erscheinung. Während Jacksons Abteilung Tempest vollständig bekannt ist, weiß er über Eyewall-Agenten nur sehr wenig. Dadurch gab es immer wieder überraschende Momente, wenn ein neuer Agent enttarnt wurde. Wie in jeder CIA-Geschichte gibt es aber natürlich auch hier Doppelagenten und Personen, die eigentlich nur ihr eigenes Interesse verfolgen. Bis zum Schluss war daher nie klar, welche Person offiziell zu welcher Abteilung gehört, welche Person heimlich für wen arbeitet, wer wie viel weiß und manchmal sogar, aus welcher Zeit die jeweilige Person stammt. Zugehörigkeiten und Absichten hat die Autorin sehr gut verschleiert und zusätzlich immer wieder Situationen geschaffen, in denen sich doch wieder alles geändert hat.
Nichtsdestotrotz war das Buch am Schluss etwas handlungsarm. So spannend Jacksons Ausbildung am Anfang auch war, sie hat irgendwie kein Ende gefunden. Zwar gab es dramatische Missionen, aber keine davon hat die Geschichte tatsächlich weiter gebracht. Nach zwei Dritteln hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Handlung stecken geblieben ist. Es folgte eine Auseinandersetzung zwischen Tempest und Eyewall nach der anderen. Die Feinde der Zeit selbst, also die anderen Zeitreisenden, sind kaum aufgetaucht. Zwar folgen noch einige Entwicklungen und zum Schluss gibt es einen dramatischen Showdown, aber für meinen Geschmack standen sich etwas oft einfach junge CIA-Agenten gegenüber oder Jackson hat sich ununterbrochen Gedanken um Holly gemacht. Im letzten Drittel hätten es daher durchaus einige Seiten weniger sein dürfen, um die Spannung aufrecht zu erhalten.
Fazit:
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir trotz langer Pause sehr leicht. In seinem Tagebuch veranschaulicht Jackson systematisch die bisherigen Ereignisse und legt dazu sogar Abbildungen an. Zudem vermittelt ihm die Ausbildung neues Wissen und mehr Details zu den Zeitreisen. Dieser komplexe Aspekt wird sehr anschaulich und verständlich dargestellt. Zudem war die Handlung spannend. Es gab packende Auseinandersetzungen, überraschende Erkenntnisse und die Autorin hat viele Dinge gut verschleiert. Lediglich im letzten Drittel blieb die Handlung zwischenzeitlich stecken. „Feinde der Zeit“ war nicht ganz so gut wie der erste Band und bekommt daher vier Schreibfedern.
April 26, 2013
As seen on my blog:
But..but WHY!? What..just happened!? UGH. I did not enjoy this book. I'm not exactly sure if I'm capable of pointing out all of the ways Vortex took a turn for the worst. But I shall try..
We left Jackson right after he made one of the hardest decisions of his time-traveling life: he went back in time to a few months before him and Holly ever met. He based his reasoning on love, on wanting to keep Holly safe-it was his most selfless act to date. In Vortex , we learn that Jackson has joined forces with his father, and is in training to become a CIA agent. As expected, the training is brutal, and the more he learns about the inner workings of the CIA, the more he learns about the constant threat they face from the EOT's (Enemies of Time- the time traveling "villains"). To carry us nicely to the climax, Jackson bumps into Holly about halfway into the book. To say things get messy from this point forward is an understatement. Sadly, this is also where the book just stopped making any sense to me whatsoever.
I'm not sure if the author decided "Ah HECK with it! I WILL confuse them AFTER ALL! Muhahaha!"..because that was the exact state of my brain while reading this book: confused. I completely got, and appreciated, what Julie Cross did with the first book. She took a "complicated" theory of time-travel, and made it decently easy to follow. I feel like with Vortex , she decided that maybe she was way too easy on us the first time around, because the jumble of timelines, mixed with a whole slew of side characters, made my head throb. I couldn't keep track of what, where, when, who..and mostly importantly..WHY!? Okay, it seems unfair to throw "why" in there, because this book IS a 3-part series, and questions can always be answered in the next book. But nevertheless, I just felt like there were so many exaggerated plot twists. It bordered on contrived, I kept hoping it would right itself, and tone down just a bit..but obviously, no such luck had me.
Lastly, Jackson and Holly's "relationship"...*le sigh*. So unfortunate. I also kept hoping that I might start rooting for the "connection" they were apparently supposed to have, but UGH..I just wanted it to stop. Alike the first book, there was just ZERO chemistry, I felt NOTHING between them, and everything that Jackson said in regards to his feelings towards her just made want to punch him in the face. I know..a bit much? Maybe. I wanted him to just give it up already, and fall for one of the female side characters that I actually grew quite fond of.
I want to say that I won't be reading the final book in this series, but I'd only be lying to myself, and to you. And I love you guys, so I won't lie: I WILL read the last book. Hopefully there is some massive redeeming in there.
Recommended for: fans of Time Travel, contemporary, thrillers, and romance.
But..but WHY!? What..just happened!? UGH. I did not enjoy this book. I'm not exactly sure if I'm capable of pointing out all of the ways Vortex took a turn for the worst. But I shall try..
We left Jackson right after he made one of the hardest decisions of his time-traveling life: he went back in time to a few months before him and Holly ever met. He based his reasoning on love, on wanting to keep Holly safe-it was his most selfless act to date. In Vortex , we learn that Jackson has joined forces with his father, and is in training to become a CIA agent. As expected, the training is brutal, and the more he learns about the inner workings of the CIA, the more he learns about the constant threat they face from the EOT's (Enemies of Time- the time traveling "villains"). To carry us nicely to the climax, Jackson bumps into Holly about halfway into the book. To say things get messy from this point forward is an understatement. Sadly, this is also where the book just stopped making any sense to me whatsoever.
I'm not sure if the author decided "Ah HECK with it! I WILL confuse them AFTER ALL! Muhahaha!"..because that was the exact state of my brain while reading this book: confused. I completely got, and appreciated, what Julie Cross did with the first book. She took a "complicated" theory of time-travel, and made it decently easy to follow. I feel like with Vortex , she decided that maybe she was way too easy on us the first time around, because the jumble of timelines, mixed with a whole slew of side characters, made my head throb. I couldn't keep track of what, where, when, who..and mostly importantly..WHY!? Okay, it seems unfair to throw "why" in there, because this book IS a 3-part series, and questions can always be answered in the next book. But nevertheless, I just felt like there were so many exaggerated plot twists. It bordered on contrived, I kept hoping it would right itself, and tone down just a bit..but obviously, no such luck had me.
Lastly, Jackson and Holly's "relationship"...*le sigh*. So unfortunate. I also kept hoping that I might start rooting for the "connection" they were apparently supposed to have, but UGH..I just wanted it to stop. Alike the first book, there was just ZERO chemistry, I felt NOTHING between them, and everything that Jackson said in regards to his feelings towards her just made want to punch him in the face. I know..a bit much? Maybe. I wanted him to just give it up already, and fall for one of the female side characters that I actually grew quite fond of.
I want to say that I won't be reading the final book in this series, but I'd only be lying to myself, and to you. And I love you guys, so I won't lie: I WILL read the last book. Hopefully there is some massive redeeming in there.
Recommended for: fans of Time Travel, contemporary, thrillers, and romance.
September 7, 2013
Das Cover:
Das Cover ist diesmal nicht in einem Lilaton, wie sein Vorgänger ‘Sturz in die Zeit’, sondern es ist in einem schönen Orange gestaltet. Wir sehen Jackson, der seinen rechten Arm und seinen rechten Fuß in der Luft hält. Mit dem linken Fuß und der linken Hand stützt er sich ab. Im Hintergrund sehen wir New York, Jacksons Heimatstadt. Gesprengt wird das Ganze von mehreren Feldbrocken, die auf den Betrachter zufliegen. An sich ein schönes Cover, das zur Geschichte passt. Ohne das Cover ist das Hardcover übrigens hübsch Gelb.
Die Geschichte:
Jackson ist wieder im Jahr 2009 und trifft dort, verletzt von einem Schuss, auf seinen Vater. Im Gespräch mit diesem sowie mit Dr. Melvin und Chief Marshall gesteht Jackson, dass er weiß, dass sie der CIA angehören und dass er ein Agent werden möchte. Er wird nun zu ‘Agent Meyer junior’, ist als Auszubildender ein Teil des Tempest-Teams und trifft dort auch auf Jenni Stewart sowie auf die anderen Azubis, so z. B. auf Agent Mason Sterling und Agent Lily Kendrick. Ziel des Ganzes ist es, die Enemies of Time, kurz EOTs, daran zu hindern, wichtige Menschen umzubringen, zu entführen oder andere wichtige Ereignisse für die Zukunft bedeutend zu verändern. Kendrick und Jackson sind zu einem Zweierteam gewählt worden. Doch Jackson lassen die vergangenen Ereignisse mit Holly und Thomas nicht los. Und das bringt ihn und seine Freunde in ziemlich verzwickte Situationen.
Meine Meinung:
Lange habe ich auf die Fortsetzung von ‘Sturz in die Zeit’ gewartet und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht. Die Geschichte geht nahtlos dort weiter, wo sie geendet hat. Ich muss jedoch sagen, dass es für mich extrem schwierig war, sich nach einem Jahr wieder in die Story hineinzufinden. Es ist durch Jacksons Zeitsprünge aus dem ersten Band für mich teilweise schwierig gewesen, den neuen Informationen zu folgen. Auch ist es durch das viele Hin- und Hergespringe sehr verwirrend. Es passiert auf jeden Fall viel in dieser Fortsetzung: Jackson wird zum CIA-Agent und fliegt u. a. nach Deutschland, um dort die Bundeskanzlerin vor einem Anschlag der EOTs zu schützen. Da das im Jahre 2009 spielt, kann nur Frau Angela Merkel gemeint sein. Diese deutsche Erwähnung hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Zu Jacksons Ausbildung muss ich sagen, dass diese wirklich hart ist. Er muss einige Tests bestehen, von denen besonders eine wirklich fies aber auch raffiniert ist. Jackson findet auch mehr über Jenni Stewart und über seine Teampartnerin Lily Kendrick heraus. Besonders Lily ist mit sehr ans Herz gewachsen, da es ihr ähnlich geht wie Jackson. Weiterhin gefällt mir die Art, wie Frau Cross es schafft, Jacksons Sicht so gut darzustellen. Es ist toll, die Sicht des männliches Protagonisten zu lesen. Beim Lesen ist mir sehr aufgefallen, wie erwachsener er geworden ist. Seine Handlungen durchdenkt er mehr als früher (wenn es nicht gerade um Holly, Adam oder die EOTs geht). Meiner Meinung nach ist der ‘Feinde der Zeit’ spannender als sein Vorgänger, jedoch leider nicht ganz so leicht verständlich. Doch eine gelungene Fortsetzung ist es allemal. Der Abschlussband der Trilogie wird im Original ‘Timestorm’, also Zeitsturm heißen und Ende Januar 2014 erscheinen. Ein Titel und Erscheinungsdatum für Deutschland ist bisher noch nicht bekannt.
Meine Bewertung:
‘Feinde der Zeit’ ist eine gelungene Fortsetzung von ‘Sturz in die Zeit’, die um einiges spannender ist als sein Vorgänger, jedoch dafür aufgrund der vielen Zeitsprünge auch verwirrender für den Leser. Ich vergebe aus diesem Grund vier wirklich gute Sterne.
Das Cover ist diesmal nicht in einem Lilaton, wie sein Vorgänger ‘Sturz in die Zeit’, sondern es ist in einem schönen Orange gestaltet. Wir sehen Jackson, der seinen rechten Arm und seinen rechten Fuß in der Luft hält. Mit dem linken Fuß und der linken Hand stützt er sich ab. Im Hintergrund sehen wir New York, Jacksons Heimatstadt. Gesprengt wird das Ganze von mehreren Feldbrocken, die auf den Betrachter zufliegen. An sich ein schönes Cover, das zur Geschichte passt. Ohne das Cover ist das Hardcover übrigens hübsch Gelb.
Die Geschichte:
Jackson ist wieder im Jahr 2009 und trifft dort, verletzt von einem Schuss, auf seinen Vater. Im Gespräch mit diesem sowie mit Dr. Melvin und Chief Marshall gesteht Jackson, dass er weiß, dass sie der CIA angehören und dass er ein Agent werden möchte. Er wird nun zu ‘Agent Meyer junior’, ist als Auszubildender ein Teil des Tempest-Teams und trifft dort auch auf Jenni Stewart sowie auf die anderen Azubis, so z. B. auf Agent Mason Sterling und Agent Lily Kendrick. Ziel des Ganzes ist es, die Enemies of Time, kurz EOTs, daran zu hindern, wichtige Menschen umzubringen, zu entführen oder andere wichtige Ereignisse für die Zukunft bedeutend zu verändern. Kendrick und Jackson sind zu einem Zweierteam gewählt worden. Doch Jackson lassen die vergangenen Ereignisse mit Holly und Thomas nicht los. Und das bringt ihn und seine Freunde in ziemlich verzwickte Situationen.
Meine Meinung:
Lange habe ich auf die Fortsetzung von ‘Sturz in die Zeit’ gewartet und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht. Die Geschichte geht nahtlos dort weiter, wo sie geendet hat. Ich muss jedoch sagen, dass es für mich extrem schwierig war, sich nach einem Jahr wieder in die Story hineinzufinden. Es ist durch Jacksons Zeitsprünge aus dem ersten Band für mich teilweise schwierig gewesen, den neuen Informationen zu folgen. Auch ist es durch das viele Hin- und Hergespringe sehr verwirrend. Es passiert auf jeden Fall viel in dieser Fortsetzung: Jackson wird zum CIA-Agent und fliegt u. a. nach Deutschland, um dort die Bundeskanzlerin vor einem Anschlag der EOTs zu schützen. Da das im Jahre 2009 spielt, kann nur Frau Angela Merkel gemeint sein. Diese deutsche Erwähnung hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Zu Jacksons Ausbildung muss ich sagen, dass diese wirklich hart ist. Er muss einige Tests bestehen, von denen besonders eine wirklich fies aber auch raffiniert ist. Jackson findet auch mehr über Jenni Stewart und über seine Teampartnerin Lily Kendrick heraus. Besonders Lily ist mit sehr ans Herz gewachsen, da es ihr ähnlich geht wie Jackson. Weiterhin gefällt mir die Art, wie Frau Cross es schafft, Jacksons Sicht so gut darzustellen. Es ist toll, die Sicht des männliches Protagonisten zu lesen. Beim Lesen ist mir sehr aufgefallen, wie erwachsener er geworden ist. Seine Handlungen durchdenkt er mehr als früher (wenn es nicht gerade um Holly, Adam oder die EOTs geht). Meiner Meinung nach ist der ‘Feinde der Zeit’ spannender als sein Vorgänger, jedoch leider nicht ganz so leicht verständlich. Doch eine gelungene Fortsetzung ist es allemal. Der Abschlussband der Trilogie wird im Original ‘Timestorm’, also Zeitsturm heißen und Ende Januar 2014 erscheinen. Ein Titel und Erscheinungsdatum für Deutschland ist bisher noch nicht bekannt.
Meine Bewertung:
‘Feinde der Zeit’ ist eine gelungene Fortsetzung von ‘Sturz in die Zeit’, die um einiges spannender ist als sein Vorgänger, jedoch dafür aufgrund der vielen Zeitsprünge auch verwirrender für den Leser. Ich vergebe aus diesem Grund vier wirklich gute Sterne.
January 8, 2013
MY REVIEW
So where to start? I was generously sent this hardback book by Macmillan Childrens in exchange for my honest review.
So I'll start with my first impressions. Well I love the cover, it fits extremely well with the paperback of Tempest. The colours and design on the cover certainly draw your eye to it, so I would certainly notice it on a bookshelf. As you know I like a good byline, and on this hardback it says "There Will Be No Calm Before The Storm" and it really fits this books well. It's action and adventure the whole way through. On a down note, I do not like the quote from the Publishers Weekly being on the front cover. By all means have the quotes from advance readers, but put them inside the book or on the back cover, or even both. Please don't put them on the front cover, it mars an otherwise beautiful cover. I like the use of the characters featured on the cover, perhaps they are Jackson and Holly? Or maybe Jackson and his agent partner Lily Kendrick, there are a few possibilities really.
Now to the book! It's still really well written and has the "wow" factor. This book starts and more or less picks up straight as book one finishes, which is good as you are instantly transported back into the deep, intriguing plot. In this book things have changed, there's also the whole question of "full-jumps" of "Thomas-jumps" as Jackson initially calls them and "half-jumps. this could be an extremely confusing concept but Julie Cross handles it in terms that aren't too simplistic to be insulting to the reader, yet simple enough for everyone to grasp enough to enjoy the book. My favourite characters are still Jackson, Emily, Holly, and Adam. Though you see more of and different sides to other "agents" in this installment of the Tempest Series. You learn lots more about Jenni Stewart, and her background as well as becoming more attached to her, her partner Mason and Jackson's agent partner Lily Kendrick. We also learn about agents almost leading a double life, with Lily Kendrick's situation, as an agent and a fiancee to Michael when she is in New York. There are a few surprises that appear in the second book, certain character that I didn't expect to be there. There are many hints as to what/who Jackson's agent father is, and who he really works for, lots of twists,turns and surprises there. We learn more of who Jackson can and cannot trust, though whether its too late to change anything remains to be seen.
There are more battles between the Tempest Agents and the EOT's, both sides lose people to these battles. There is lots of action, mysteries and missions in this book.
The book ends on one heck of a cliff hanger, and have to say I am eagerly awaiting the third book.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes. As much as the first book? Yes, I think I did enjoy it slightly more, though at the time of reading the first book I would not have thought that possible. Are there any differences in the books? Yes, the second book delves even deeper into the complexities, dangers and uses for time travel.+ Would I recommend? Yes, and I think this book should appeal to both male and female readers. Would I read a Bk#3? I'd read it now if I had it! Would I read more books written by Julie Cross? Yes, I love her style of writing and story telling.
So where to start? I was generously sent this hardback book by Macmillan Childrens in exchange for my honest review.
So I'll start with my first impressions. Well I love the cover, it fits extremely well with the paperback of Tempest. The colours and design on the cover certainly draw your eye to it, so I would certainly notice it on a bookshelf. As you know I like a good byline, and on this hardback it says "There Will Be No Calm Before The Storm" and it really fits this books well. It's action and adventure the whole way through. On a down note, I do not like the quote from the Publishers Weekly being on the front cover. By all means have the quotes from advance readers, but put them inside the book or on the back cover, or even both. Please don't put them on the front cover, it mars an otherwise beautiful cover. I like the use of the characters featured on the cover, perhaps they are Jackson and Holly? Or maybe Jackson and his agent partner Lily Kendrick, there are a few possibilities really.
Now to the book! It's still really well written and has the "wow" factor. This book starts and more or less picks up straight as book one finishes, which is good as you are instantly transported back into the deep, intriguing plot. In this book things have changed, there's also the whole question of "full-jumps" of "Thomas-jumps" as Jackson initially calls them and "half-jumps. this could be an extremely confusing concept but Julie Cross handles it in terms that aren't too simplistic to be insulting to the reader, yet simple enough for everyone to grasp enough to enjoy the book. My favourite characters are still Jackson, Emily, Holly, and Adam. Though you see more of and different sides to other "agents" in this installment of the Tempest Series. You learn lots more about Jenni Stewart, and her background as well as becoming more attached to her, her partner Mason and Jackson's agent partner Lily Kendrick. We also learn about agents almost leading a double life, with Lily Kendrick's situation, as an agent and a fiancee to Michael when she is in New York. There are a few surprises that appear in the second book, certain character that I didn't expect to be there. There are many hints as to what/who Jackson's agent father is, and who he really works for, lots of twists,turns and surprises there. We learn more of who Jackson can and cannot trust, though whether its too late to change anything remains to be seen.
There are more battles between the Tempest Agents and the EOT's, both sides lose people to these battles. There is lots of action, mysteries and missions in this book.
The book ends on one heck of a cliff hanger, and have to say I am eagerly awaiting the third book.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes. As much as the first book? Yes, I think I did enjoy it slightly more, though at the time of reading the first book I would not have thought that possible. Are there any differences in the books? Yes, the second book delves even deeper into the complexities, dangers and uses for time travel.+ Would I recommend? Yes, and I think this book should appeal to both male and female readers. Would I read a Bk#3? I'd read it now if I had it! Would I read more books written by Julie Cross? Yes, I love her style of writing and story telling.
August 19, 2013
Vortex begins almost where Tempest ended, so on that note, if you haven't read Tempest, this review will contain spoilers for you.
Having to leave Holly in a way that may as well equal death, Jackson begins training with Tempest. He also tries to figure out just what his time travel limits are; half and full jumps. Jackson also realizes that the protection he provided to Holly by jumping back and changing history, didn't exactly work out the way he has hoped it would. Someone knows about Holly and the relationship between her and Jackson, and has done everything in their power to remind Jackson - in ways that will shock you.
We don't get very much of Holly until later in the novel and Adam ~ well, Adam's role is minute at best. The world that Jackson had hoped to save is actually just a large mess and nothing he did to protect Adam or Holly stays the way he thought they would. Instead of Jackson being able to move on in the knowledge that he did what he could to change things for the better, everything comes back full force and punches him in the gut. The feelings of loss become raw again as Holly and Adam aren't the same people from before.
There are many new characters that are added to Tempest plus several that were in Book 1. We also get a glimpse of those involved with Eyewall. Be prepared to get a bit confused with all of the forward jumping into the future and the backward jumping into the past. The novel is actually decent to follow but there's just so much going on that if you read too fast you'll miss something and find yourself backtracking to make sure you really do get what's going on.
Members of Tempest are also starting to disappear and when a prominent part of Jackson's life becomes of of those people, he realizes that it's up to him to figure out what's going on. Only ~ could it be too late?
I really enjoyed Book 2. As per the first novel, there are a lot of twists and turns that take you on a wild ride in the land of time travel. The writing style of Julie Cross is great and, other than a few confusing parts along the way, I found the book had pretty good flow. Vortex is fast paced and full of action. Of course, Ms. Cross also left us with one heck of a cliffhanger.
Until Book 3, my friends....Until book 3!!
Here is the novel's definition of Vortex: "When the frequency of time travel increases, it may cause earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, or other weather disturbances" (Cross, J., 2013, pg. 253). This explains quite a few scenes in both books in the series!!
Hardcover Review Copy Courtesy Of: My local library.
Having to leave Holly in a way that may as well equal death, Jackson begins training with Tempest. He also tries to figure out just what his time travel limits are; half and full jumps. Jackson also realizes that the protection he provided to Holly by jumping back and changing history, didn't exactly work out the way he has hoped it would. Someone knows about Holly and the relationship between her and Jackson, and has done everything in their power to remind Jackson - in ways that will shock you.
We don't get very much of Holly until later in the novel and Adam ~ well, Adam's role is minute at best. The world that Jackson had hoped to save is actually just a large mess and nothing he did to protect Adam or Holly stays the way he thought they would. Instead of Jackson being able to move on in the knowledge that he did what he could to change things for the better, everything comes back full force and punches him in the gut. The feelings of loss become raw again as Holly and Adam aren't the same people from before.
There are many new characters that are added to Tempest plus several that were in Book 1. We also get a glimpse of those involved with Eyewall. Be prepared to get a bit confused with all of the forward jumping into the future and the backward jumping into the past. The novel is actually decent to follow but there's just so much going on that if you read too fast you'll miss something and find yourself backtracking to make sure you really do get what's going on.
Members of Tempest are also starting to disappear and when a prominent part of Jackson's life becomes of of those people, he realizes that it's up to him to figure out what's going on. Only ~ could it be too late?
I really enjoyed Book 2. As per the first novel, there are a lot of twists and turns that take you on a wild ride in the land of time travel. The writing style of Julie Cross is great and, other than a few confusing parts along the way, I found the book had pretty good flow. Vortex is fast paced and full of action. Of course, Ms. Cross also left us with one heck of a cliffhanger.
Until Book 3, my friends....Until book 3!!
Here is the novel's definition of Vortex: "When the frequency of time travel increases, it may cause earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, or other weather disturbances" (Cross, J., 2013, pg. 253). This explains quite a few scenes in both books in the series!!
Hardcover Review Copy Courtesy Of: My local library.
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