Passenger by Alexandra Bracken – Spoiler Free Review

Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series Name: Passenger
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Pages: 486 (Paperback)
Publishers: Disney-Hyperion
Rating:

Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home… forever.

I really like the concept of this cover! The city inside the bottle with the ship reflected underneath displays this book well.

I don’t like however that on my paperback copy all the silver on the word ‘Passenger’ & ‘Alexandra Bracken’ is rubbing off and you won’t even be able to read it soon… Also, the plastic coating with the cover actually on it is peeling up at the edges. A bit poorly done, to be honest.

This is my second Alexandra Bracken book and I do like her writing style. The book flowed really well and was a quick read, especially considering this book is near 500 pages. This book was also not as confusing as I thought it was going to be! When I first learned that this book would be time travelling between not only different time periods but also different places I was a little worried it would get a bit confusing keeping track. However, I didn’t have a problem at all! It was clearly told where and when they were throughout the book and it all went along smoothly.

I really enjoyed this plot! The travelling and adventure of this book are great! I also loved that it ends half way through the journey the characters are on. I feel like a lot of books in series I have read lately end on a high note with everything calm and resolved but then when you get to the next book a different hell breaks loose. But in this one, we are in the middle somewhere and still in that hell that has broken loose. Which I enjoy because it makes me a lot keener to pick up the next book than it usually makes me want to pick up the next book when it feels like everything is fine at the end.
I hope that actually makes sense?!

One thing I did not enjoy about this book was the romance. As you may know, I am not a fan of romances in books and I can’t stand when a romance overshadows the plot of a book. That, unfortunately, happens a fair few times in this book! But not thinking about that I also thought like this romance was kind of pointless and felt a little forced. *May be a little SPOILERY!!** As soon as they met I knew what was going to happen. It felt like it developed slowly because of how long the book physical is, but in reality, it was only a couple weeks! It may not have been Instant love but it wasn’t that far off! You don’t tell someone you love them after two weeks! Why is it so hard to just have an awesome friendship develop in a YA fantasy book?! Why does it always have to be something romantic or sexual! Anyway, this romance was also pointless to the plot and when it was overshadowing the plot it was extremely annoying and I just wanted to get back to the adventure and the plot! *Even more spoilery ahead!* I also didn’t like Etta for the things she did within this relationship! Her mother was captured and may possibly be killed! I don’t know about you but if my mother’s life was at risk I wouldn’t be sitting around making out with someone, like come on woman, get your priorities straight!

I enjoyed Etta but didn’t love her. If you read my little spoilery bit above then you will understand part of it! She definitely needs to reevaluate her priorities, especially with the time limit, other things could have waited! But I also just kinda found her annoying and petty at times too.

Nicholas, I enjoyed a bit more that Etta but there was also nothing that wowed me about him. He kinda felt like the typical guy out of a YA fantasy. I enjoyed how far he would go for the people he cares about.

Sophia was not an enjoyable character right from the start. She is selfish and doesn’t care what happens or how many people she hurts as long as she gets what she wants and it’s really pathetic. I honestly hope she goes through hell in the next book! She needs a reality check that it’s not only about her.

Hasam I did enjoy! Even though he was around the same age as Etta he acted a lot older and actually thought everything through he did. I also enjoyed that he questioned their choices and didn’t just straight out trust Nicholas.. Etta is family, so he trusted her quickly once he found out who she was but he didn’t just accept Nicholas like a few other people did in the book which I thought was foolish of them when they can’t guarantee who’s side he is on.

I enjoyed this book but I had a few issues with it. The romance is a big thing I had an issue with and I didn’t love the two main characters. But I do love the actual plot and the world in this book! It was really interesting to visit those points in history and seeing it from an outsiders perspective and also how they reacted to certain things that weren’t from their time! I strongly hope the next book isn’t as heavy on the romance!

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HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?!
IF YOU ARE GOING TO SHARE SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS THEN PLEASE WARN IT SO OTHERS DON’T GET SPOILED!

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