Same deal as the first book: stilted dialogue and characters with no depth. Again, the plot could have had much better results if the writing and pacing were better (though to be honest, it still would have fallen short of where the first books was...typical for a middle book). And really there is a huge lack of explanation here regarding all the groups and factions. I am confused about the farmers vs. the Rising vs. The Enemy...who is what and where did they all come from. And are some of them different names for the same thing? I think what I'm most frustrated about it that the love stories just fall so flat. The words spoken/thought don't seem real and the feelings have no background. He loves her and she loves him and the other he loves her too. And they will all do whatever it takes for each other, but their relationships were never developed with enough detail to make you believe it. Eh. But, I came this far, so I'm in it to see where she takes the story in the end.

Well, this series ended on the same note as it started. Flat characters, no development. I will say in this book that the author really impressed me with the depth of her research into viruses and how much explanation she provided for them. However, I wish she had expended that effort into the rest of the story. Again we see things happening and characters "falling in love" and signs being shared and given with no description of how we got there or how the character knew something or convincing development to that point. And seriously, worst dialogue and inner thoughts conversations of almost any book I've ever read. I really wonder how the author never noticed that people DO NOT talk like that. Also, we still have no clue who the heck the Enemy is or was. They are mentioned all the time for plot assistance but never explained. And there were a pretty good chunk of loose ends...like what was Xander's memory when he took the red pill and didn't forget that he wouldn't talk about? It seemed important and then was completely dropped. I do appreciate also that characters died. It wasn't written well enough that I actually cared, but it was more realistic that way. All in all, sub-par.

This was an interesting read. As a book lover I enjoyed the discussion over Shakespeare's origins and the technical aspects of binding and forgery. I also really liked the main character, Peter, and his personality and idiosyncrasies. And his love story with Amanda was beautiful. However, there were a few things that fell a little flat for me. The story seemed to be a little too perfect at times, like things "fit" just too well. Peter's relationships with Liz and Cynthia (especially when she tries to kiss him) see unrealistic for someone who suffers the issues that he does. A few times the dialogue was just off. And it was odd, because sometimes it was spot on...I don't think I've ever read a book with that issue before. Normally either people get dialogue or they don't. And finally it was sometimes too disjointed for the number of characters and names introduced. There were a lot of time periods and characters that were raced through and it was confusing to follow at times.

So this one didn't quite measure up to the level of The Winter Sea and The Firebird, but for all that it was still a great read. The characters we fun and easy to like. They fit their roles well and developed convincingly, even though it was exactly as expected. The reveal at the end that Claire "time traveled" too, and that Oliver becomes her confidant and that Eva is the Grey Lady was well played out and described. For all that time travel can sometimes be confusing, I feel that the author did a great job with it. And of course the Eva/Daniel love story that is the center of the novel is exactly what it should be. Loved it!

Well this book was intense. The author did a great job developing characters and stories and having them collide enough to make it interesting but not too much that it seemed contrived. And what a great exploration into morals, decisions and justifications. As well as consequences for each one of those. The idea of Pandora's box here was definitely on target (and the exploration on what might have happened, in the epilogue, was very satisfying...adding that in really brought everything together). I enjoyed reading the book very much, but I think the feeling I came away with is what prompted me to give the book 4 stars. And I know that's not really fair, because the mere fact that the author was able to illicit such strong reactions from me means that she nailed it. But I think the mix of depressing themes, all introduced along with the "middle-aged life" theme of the book, was just a little too much for me. I think the book explored so many difficult, negatively life-changing event that could happen and how it effects life (both in the past and the now and the future) and presents such a downer view of people's personal thoughts of their marriage partners, etc., that it was just a bit too much for me. I came away hoping like hell that not every marriage/life ends up like this. And I know its a literary device (these lives are more interesting the write about than the normal ones) but I just want to hold out my hope that this isn't an inevitable future as long as possible. So, while I'm going to read something light and happy next, to take away all the bad feelings this book created, I would definitely recommend it. Well done, author, on being able to write in such a real and impact-ful way.

For not having been wow-ed by the first book, I have to say that this one was really impressive. I think I was surprised at how much I liked it, and to be honest, it may be one of the best "second books" I've ever read. It has its own developments (character and plot) separate from the first and that set up what looks to be a different challenge/development for the third. The relationship between Day and June is pretty well done, I enjoy them and their reactions to each other. I think their separate points of view are different enough to be warranted and also used well...their internal struggles about whether to trust each other and their concerns over their relationship make things more real and take out the "true love at first sight without question even though we barely know each other and have nothing in common" that YA fantasy books always seem to fall into the trap of. That is quite important to me. Also, I think this book was better than the first because you do get some explanation for a few of the things that make no sense in the first (the plagues, why the gov't is killing kids, etc.) and in retrospect makes the first one better also. I think I was not expecting this because most YA books don't do that. It made this one deeper. And though there were still the "too much explaining" and so-so dialogue pitfalls, the rest of this book overcame those. And I'm excited for the last one now! Plus, I have to admit I got emotional at the end when Day decided to "leave" June and not tell her the real story.

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but when I got into the story, it definitely wasn't what I thought. It was really not a bad story. It was pretty well realized and I enjoyed the "detective" work from the 12th century. I also thought the prejudices against women/foreigners (and for the church) were well described. However, there were things that just didn't click for me. Sometimes the dialogue seemed off a little bit and Adelia's inner thought dialogue usually made me wince. Also, some of the descriptions and character development were shallow enough that I would forget the characters or confuse things. It was entertaining, but nothing special.

So I am a huge proponent of reading the book before seeing the movie, so I confess I really only started to read this book because I saw they were making it into a movie this year. And I'm glad I did! It was a bit slow going at times, but for a completely historical non-fiction book, it definitely held my interest from beginning to end. I have always been interested in WW2 and of course I love art, so the juxtaposition of those two things is right up my alley. I was blown away by the extent of the Nazi looting of art, both from private collectors (Jewish and not) as well as public, state owned galleries. It's almost unfathomable the number of pieces they stole (and hid!). And the Monuments Men is such as interesting division of the military that I cannot believe has never existed since. I mean I know the focus of war is elsewhere, but for the near loss of so much beautiful European history to have been completely forgotten (and not learned from) is insane. I completely understand it being eclipsed by the Holocaust, but for it to still be as virtually unknown as it is...wow. I was impressed by the research presented in this book, the clear development of everything from an idea into the actual MFAA division, and how amazing it was that so few people accomplished so much preservation. Astounding.

This has been one of the best young adult trilogy conclusions I have read to date. Each of these books got progressively better (as opposed to the norm) and I am impressed by that. The way the story concludes for the general plot (Republic vs Colonies) as well as the love triangle situation is both as realistic as possible and satisfying. There is none of the perfect ending sort of thing going on here and I loved it. There is a peace treaty, but no "happily ever after" right away. The is an "out" so to speak for June and Day (which gives a chance to try and reject the Anden thing without hurting anyone's feelings irrevocably) and also moves us past the 16 year old young love stuff. PLus, a chance for some extra emotion. Starting again at 27 gives both June and Day a chance to grow without each other and if they still find themselves searching for the other, well, then it really is fate. And I am very happy with the relationship cultivated by June and Tess, how it grows, and how Tess is the one who makes the step to bring Day and June back to each other. Lovely symmetry. I still had a few issues with the inner dialogue the characters have (so many rhetorical questions/spelling out of things; no one actually thinks like that). And while I was able to put this out of my mind while reading, I still do not understand why the country was making plagues. The rest of it was explained, more or less, but the plague thing just never made a lot of sense to me. And I don;t really understand the title here, it just doesn't make sense for the story, like the first two did. All in all, a fantastic ending.

I am a little disappointed in myself that I didn't realize this was a, sort of, second book. For the first time in my life I appreciated the boring recaps of the first book that pop up all over in second books. In any case, I did enjoy this book, but I don't think it was anything special. The story was interesting and I love the historic time period that was delved into (especially in England). It was a fun read and the past/present juxtaposition was well done and I really enjoyed the viewpoint from a female "physick." Also, the intrigue in the past was fantastic. However I was not as into the story in the present. It just felt much thinner in general. I feel like there were some parts that were rushed or not quite flushed out enough.