I decided it was finally time to review a couple of my favorite books: A Time To Die and A Time to Speak. After all, book three just release for pre-order and is released on October 14!!!
Description
A Time to Die (Out of Time Series #1)
by Nadine Brandes
Synopsis from Goodreads:
How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?
Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside.
In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence.
What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out.
Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside.
In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence.
What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out.
Review
Everyone has a clock counting down the time, to the
second, until their deaths. Or at least, everyone is supposed to have one. Some people’s clocks are broken accidentally;
other people willfully break their own clocks; and still others, like Parvin
Blackwater, are not sure whether their clock belongs to them or one of their
twins or triplets. It’s illegal to not have a clock, and the punishment is
being sent over The Wall in the unknown wasteland beyond. So far, Parvin has
survived by sharing her clock with her only surviving triplet, Reid. But there
is only one year left and neither of them know which of them is going to die.
Is it too late for Parvin to make a difference in the world before her death or
banishment?
A Time to
Die is epic, awesome, amazing, fantastic, and so much more! I love it so
much! It has a little bit of everything that makes a story great – adventure,
high stakes, romance, fantastic world-building, interesting characters, plot
twists, and deep questions. Let’s call it my favorite book of 2015!
How do I tell you about this book without giving
everything away? For her last year, Parvin determines to write a “biography” of
herself, determined to show people that life can still be lived when you don’t
know your death date. But she doesn’t consider all the consequences – in doing
so, she has to reveal her secret – that she and her brother have been illegally
sharing a clock. When a famous, mysterious man named Skelley Chase, who can “do
anything,” gets involved, things get interesting. He pressures her follow her
brave words with actions and go over The Wall.
Oh, Skelley. Do we love him or hate him? He’s a
pretty epic villain, that’s for sure. Throw in an accident, secrets kept hidden
for years, a kind enforcer, the unknown, and an epic adventure and you have A Time to Die. I loved the spiritual
depth of the story as Parvin seeks out the meaning of life; after all, what is
the point when you only have 18 years and you haven’t done anything with them?
The story takes advice, a character, and a name right out of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs in Parvin’s search for meaning.
The world is also very well researched, for a
futuristic, dystopian setting, that is. Ever heard of classical conditioning?
And then there’s the albino village. It sheds a whole new light on honoring Mother
Nature (and racial prejudice?) and the extent to which it can progress. Humans
are worth more than plants, after all.
The whole story is fascinating and amazing and I
couldn’t put it down. It was better than I’d predicted, and I just had to by the print copy as well as the eBook.
But, I forewarn you. The author, Nadine Brandes,
is most definitely not afraid of hurting her characters. **moans in
frustration** And be prepared for an epic cliffhanger. Be prepared to read book
two directly afterward so you’re not stuck waiting in stressful anticipation.
I highly recommend this New Adult, Dystopian
Fiction!!!
Spoiler Alert!!! Don't read the review for A Time To Speak until you have read A Time to Die!
Description
A Time to Speak (Out of Time Series #2)
by Nadine Brandes
Synopsis from Goodreads:
What happens when you live longer than you wanted to?
Parvin Blackwater wanted to die, but now she’s being called to be a leader. The only problem is, no one wants to follow.
The Council is using Jude’s Clock-matching invention to force “new-and-improved” Clocks on the public. Those who can’t afford one are packed into boxcars like cattle and used for the Council’s purposes. Parvin and Solomon team up to rescue the people. Instead, they find themselves on a cargo ship of Radicals headed out to sea. What will the Council do to them? And why are people suddenly dying before their Clocks have zeroed-out?
Parvin Blackwater wanted to die, but now she’s being called to be a leader. The only problem is, no one wants to follow.
The Council is using Jude’s Clock-matching invention to force “new-and-improved” Clocks on the public. Those who can’t afford one are packed into boxcars like cattle and used for the Council’s purposes. Parvin and Solomon team up to rescue the people. Instead, they find themselves on a cargo ship of Radicals headed out to sea. What will the Council do to them? And why are people suddenly dying before their Clocks have zeroed-out?
Review
The time has come for Parvin Blackwater to speak
out against the injustices the government has done to its citizens. The clocks
that tell when a person will die are being used as one more way to control
people, including refusing to allow medication for those people who don’t have
clocks or only have a few months left to live. So Parvin must use her new
influenced gained by becoming a hero for surviving whatever is past the wall to
speak out. How many more people will have to die before problems are solved?
A Time to
Speak was epic, just like book one, but better. Parvin is now called to
lead, but the stakes are higher because of Jude’s invention. But, Yikes! This one
ends in worse of a cliffhanger than At
Time to Die! And I thought Jude’s and Reid’s death were awful! Be
forewarned!
How do I even begin to describe the awesomeness? This
is one of my, like, three favorite series right now. This book is awesome, from
Parvin’s meeting with the secret Christian group, to her developing romance
with Solomon, to the sacrifices she makes for God, her family, and the
innocents around her. My favorite scene is depicted on the cover. It reminded
me of Moses and Exodus in the Bible
as well as one of my other favorite books, From
the Mouth of Elijah; in all three stories, the main characters step out in
faith, doing something that should harm themselves but doesn’t because of God’s
grace, leaving tangible evidence of the miracles that occurred.
I absolutely adored this book and have so much to
say that I can’t because of spoilers! This book is terribly full of them! I
highly, highly recommend it – to teens, adults, Christians, and others, as an
epic adventure, a tiny bit of sweet romance, and a challenge to your faith.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange
for helping on the author’s street team and was not required to review it but
do so anyway.
Pre-Order A Time to Rise and link to Author's Giveaway
Awesome reviews. Thanks for sharing. I loved A time to Speak. And I think you're right, one of my favorite scenes was the one on the cover and it also reminded me of the story of Moses, overall she reminded me of Moses. Another favorite scene was when she stood in the town square and people started throwing stuff at her when she spoke. When she began to cry for the people, I began to think of her in a completely different manner. That was, for me, a spiritual moment, seeing her heart break for her people.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my reviews. I'm glad to meet someone else who likes the books as well. One thing that stood out to me the most about the scene on the cover was that the imprint of her hands was burned onto the top of the rope, a physical evidence of Parvin's prayers and the miracle that occurred there. That part was also what reminded me of one of my favorite scenes in 'From the Mount of Elijah'; the main character Lauren took steps of faith onto hot lava, and though she was not burned, the imprints of her bare feet hardened into the lava as it cooled, another permanent evidence of a miracle. I couldn't add that in the review because it contained too many spoilers ;)
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