Monday, November 13, 2017

A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1) by Claudia Gray

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert
Synopsis (via Goodreads): 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. 


“I meant it when I said I didn’t believe in love at first sight. It takes time to really, truly fall for someone. Yet I believe in a moment. A moment when you glimpse the truth within someone, and they glimpse the truth within you. In that moment, you don’t belong to yourself any longer, not completely. Part of you belongs to him; part of him belongs to you. After that, you can’t take it back, no matter how much you want to, no matter how hard you try.”
First, I want to start by saying I didn't know Claudia Gray was a pseudonym. I happened to see that little fact on her Goodreads profile. Am I the only one that didn't know this??

Now, to the book! Well, audiobook. I've learned that during this stage of my life, audiobooks work best for me. There are no paper pages for little fingers to grab. My husband lost a beloved book this way (and why I keep all of mine on the higher shelves). The twins will be one this month, and they are in EVERYTHING.

I was intrigued by the synopsis for this book, so I downloaded the audiobook from my library. It was the first I had heard of it, so I didn't really know what to think when it started. Gray throws us into the story from the first page. Marguerite is in a body that is both hers and not hers, and doing things that make absolutely no sense. It was great! I loved getting knee-deep into the story before getting more background. My interest was piqued, and I was hooked. I needed to know more!

I did hate how easy it was for Marguerite to blindly want to destroy someone with very little evidence, and only half of the facts. I get that she was emotional and hurt, but if you're going after someone with the intention of killing them (or stranding them in another dimension), you had better be a million percent sure you are correct. There's no room for doubt when someone's life hangs in the balance. You also shouldn't try to kill someone else, but what do I know. 

I was slightly annoyed by the love triangle, but I've never really been a fan. I don't like it when the main character's heart is torn in two different directions. Someone always, always gets hurt.

Everything considered, this was a captivating and unique story. The science aspects weren't confusing, but still complex enough to explain travel to other dimensions. I never felt lost, or that concepts were over my head. Marguerite also never jumped somewhere boring. Her blended background allowed for numerous possibilities, and we get to experience a few of them.

A Thousand Pieces of You makes you think about decisions, and whether each one potentially changes the outcome of your future. Is everything fated, or do the small choices we make have a bigger impact than we know?

10 comments:

  1. I need to read this one. It’s a series I’ve had my eye on forever. I don’t have kids but audio books have been wonderful for me lately. I get so busy but I can still read. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I listen to them at work, when I'm cleaning at home, in the car... it helps me get to a lot of the books I've been wanting to read. Also, YES. Read this series.

      Delete
  2. Ack, nooo not the books! I don't have kiddos, but I do have naughty pups that like to tear into my book babies if I allow them in my bedroom. I seriously need to read/listen to this. I've put it off so long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have naughty dogs, too. Thankfully, they've chewed on my bookshelves and not the books themselves.

      Delete
  3. I enjoyed this series for the most part. I have a friend I discuss triangles with and we agree that all time travel and most multiverse books have them!
    Jen @ Jen Ryland Reviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't noticed that with love triangles, but I'll look for it now! I enjoyed the first book, but I didn't feel compelled to binge-read the entire series. I'll probably read a few other books between them.

      Delete
  4. I didn't know that about the pseudonym!

    I think I started this one and it didn't grab my attention.

    For What It's Worth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I wasn't the only one, lol.

      I'm sorry it didn't grab your attention! Have you read her other books?

      Delete
  5. Ever since I read Defy the stars by this author, I've been thinking of starting this series. Glad to know about the love triangle because I hate that trope. Great review!
    - Adri @ LittleFox&Reads

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been a big fan of love triangles. I get that they can happen, obviously, but I enjoy stories that have just one love interest.

      Delete

Click the "Notify me" box if you want to be notified when someone responds!

“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless