Return Once More
(The Historians #1)
by Trisha Leigh
October 20, 2015
289 pages
Goodreads Summary:
If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?
Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.
If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?
Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.
Or would you have the strength to watch him die?
But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.
If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?
Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.
If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?
Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.
Or would you have the strength to watch him die?
But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.
Review
This book! That cliffhanger! Where's book two? Okay so Return Once More didn't capture my attention at first BUT I was completely hooked by the end. I cannot wait to continue the story!
The time traveling concept was unique and I love the significance of documenting history. If we knew what we did wrong, we can prevent ourselves from doing it again, right? There's a huge ongoing conspiracy that will stretch into the next book. I'm very excited to see how that will play out because it intertwines with everyone's lives and will bring about major changes. As the first book, I do think the story could have been cut down a bit. It was interesting in the beginning but then my interest waned and didn't perk up again until near the end. Those final moments really upped the story though!
I have conflicting feelings about Kaia. At first she was just plain stubborn and selfish. She was too curious for her own good. Yet as the story went on, I could sympathize with her need to get to know her True. The pressure to live up to her title as a soon-to-be Historian, her family's name, especially after her brother went rogue, made her long for an escape. Going to find her True provided her with just that. After getting a taste of it, she didn't have the strength to stay away. It was something she could never have in the present time so she wanted to make the most out of it. "Memories could be recalled and re-examined but never redone. We did our best to say the right things, to express enough, in the moment. Or we lived with the regrets." (eARC, Loc 2376).
With the concept of the True Companion I have to say, I'm not 100% convinced. Many times I found myself wanting to roll my eyes at Kaia when she was saying and feeling how "epic" it was to be with one's True. To me it felt like their technology told her he is it so it must be him. Your pulse must race and heart must flutter when he's around because he's your one. I didn't think Kaia spent enough time with her True for them to have an undying sort of love.
Now Oz was an annoying and sweet character. I found him to be very volatile and confusing as hell. His expressions and actions gave nothing away hence this air of mystery made him an attractive character. I couldn't figure out what his motives and motivations were for saving Kaia again and again. I did, however, have my suspicions so let's just say I wasn't surprised by that ending. I was bewildered to see it confirmed but not shocked. I'm not entirely thrilled at the impending love triangle but I am so curious. It's going to be complicated and no matter what there will be heartaches so I'm preparing myself for that.
I want to get to know Jonah, Kaia's badass brother. I hope he gets paired with Analeigh because they would make an unbeatable pair. CanI we also have some more of them sexy pirates in the second book please? You'd hear no complaints from me if we were to see them in action. Just saying ;)
Return Once More is a wonderful start to an intriguing new series. My need for book two is strong. CanI we get book two soon, Trisha? Please? Pretty please with a travel cuff on top? :P
The time traveling concept was unique and I love the significance of documenting history. If we knew what we did wrong, we can prevent ourselves from doing it again, right? There's a huge ongoing conspiracy that will stretch into the next book. I'm very excited to see how that will play out because it intertwines with everyone's lives and will bring about major changes. As the first book, I do think the story could have been cut down a bit. It was interesting in the beginning but then my interest waned and didn't perk up again until near the end. Those final moments really upped the story though!
I have conflicting feelings about Kaia. At first she was just plain stubborn and selfish. She was too curious for her own good. Yet as the story went on, I could sympathize with her need to get to know her True. The pressure to live up to her title as a soon-to-be Historian, her family's name, especially after her brother went rogue, made her long for an escape. Going to find her True provided her with just that. After getting a taste of it, she didn't have the strength to stay away. It was something she could never have in the present time so she wanted to make the most out of it. "Memories could be recalled and re-examined but never redone. We did our best to say the right things, to express enough, in the moment. Or we lived with the regrets." (eARC, Loc 2376).
With the concept of the True Companion I have to say, I'm not 100% convinced. Many times I found myself wanting to roll my eyes at Kaia when she was saying and feeling how "epic" it was to be with one's True. To me it felt like their technology told her he is it so it must be him. Your pulse must race and heart must flutter when he's around because he's your one. I didn't think Kaia spent enough time with her True for them to have an undying sort of love.
Now Oz was an annoying and sweet character. I found him to be very volatile and confusing as hell. His expressions and actions gave nothing away hence this air of mystery made him an attractive character. I couldn't figure out what his motives and motivations were for saving Kaia again and again. I did, however, have my suspicions so let's just say I wasn't surprised by that ending. I was bewildered to see it confirmed but not shocked. I'm not entirely thrilled at the impending love triangle but I am so curious. It's going to be complicated and no matter what there will be heartaches so I'm preparing myself for that.
I want to get to know Jonah, Kaia's badass brother. I hope he gets paired with Analeigh because they would make an unbeatable pair. Can
Return Once More is a wonderful start to an intriguing new series. My need for book two is strong. Can
*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the Advance Reading Copy I received.
I love books that only start out as so so and then by the end you are so hooked and eagerly awaiting the next!
ReplyDeleteIt's so painful but I kind of love it at the same time XD
DeleteTime travel books typically don't work for me, but you make this sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteHehe I'm so glad~ Read it Joy!!!
DeleteThis one sounds really interesting. I'm not a huge time travel fan, but I might give this one a go! Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope to hear your thoughts :)
DeleteOh no!! I hate cliffhangers. >.< Glad to see how much you ended up enjoying this one. Awesome review! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa! It's not a huge cliffhanger but I can't wait to see what happens next :D
DeleteI have this one in my Kindle and I hope to get to it not too far from now! Thank you for the cliffhanger warning Eileen, I like being prepared for those!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It's not a huge cliffy but DM your thoughts once if you've read it :D
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