Author: Claudia Gray
Series: Firebird (Book 1)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Harper Teen; 1st edition (November 4th 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062278967
ISBN-13: 9780062278968
Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.
Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.
What I thought: I was originally drawn to this book by its cover (I know, I know – don’t judge a book by its cover, blah blah blah. BUT LOOK AT IT!!!!). The story started out a little slow but by end, I stayed up all night to finish this book. I have seen reviews that emphasize that this is not a science fiction book – it’s a love story.
This is very true. And that’s ok.
Gray does not get into the nitty gritty about how the Firebird works…..you just have to accept that it does what it is supposed to. The story focuses on two people and how there are patterns in different dimensions. That’s a cool premise to me and it delivers. I loved the subtle yet effective use of the song Hey Jude by the Beatles.
The Quote: I fell in love with his unchanging soul.
Why I chose it: This book felt like a reincarnation story. It’s not (obviously), but everytime Marguerite entered a different dimension, she would come across the same people in her life who were slightly different (based on the world they lived in) and yet they were the same (because – you guessed it – their souls were unchanging). I am sucker for this type of romance and it was a quote that encompassed what I loved about it.
About the Author:
Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn’t choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn’t), because I’d always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven’t) or even because I’m hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.
I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I’ve been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.
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