Series: Firebird Trilogy
Author: Claudia Gray
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Pages: The physical copy has 360 pages
Source: I downloaded the audiobook through my online local library!
A thousand lives. A thousand possibilities. One fate.
Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by cutting-edge scientific theories, thanks to her brilliant physicist parents. Yet nothing is more astounding than her mother's latest invention—a device called the Firebird, which allows people to leap into alternate dimensions.
When Marguerite's father is murdered, all the evidence points to one person—Paul, her parents' enigmatic star student. Before the law can touch him, Paul escapes into another dimension, having committed what seems like the perfect crime. But he didn't count on Marguerite. She doesn't know if she can kill a man, but she's going to find out.
With the help of another physics student, Theo, Marguerite chases Paul through various dimensions. In each new world Marguerite leaps to, she meets another version of Paul that has her doubting his guilt and questioning her heart. Is she doomed to repeat the same betrayal?
As Marguerite races through these wildly different lives—a grand duchess in a Tsarist Russia, a club-hopping orphan in a futuristic London, a refugee from worldwide flooding on a station in the heart of the ocean—she is swept into an epic love affair as dangerous as it is irresistible.
A Thousand Pieces of You has been sitting on my shelf ever since its release date. I finally decided to pick up the audiobook instead of the physical copy I own to give me the final push! I was so hesitant to read this book cause I've heard mixed things about it. Some of my friends have loved it, while others thought it was lackluster. Thankfully, I really enjoyed A Thousand Pieces of You.
A Thousand Pieces of You wastes no time into jumping into the action. It started right from the get-go, which I was thankful for. I don't think the book would have held my attention as easily if there was this long and dragging exposition. However, I do wish they spent more time setting up the characters. We do see more of them as Marguerite travels and sees different versions of her loved ones, as well as when she reminisces. But I wish that there would have been more development with some of them. I want more emphasis on Marguerite's family dynamic because the little we had was well done! One of the characters I wish we had more time on was Theo. From the very beginning he rubbed me the wrong way, and Gray did little to convince the reader otherwise. More character development would have made the book more hard hitting in my opinion.
One of the biggest complaints I've seen about this book was the insta-love. I got to admit, I didn't have a problem with it. Sure, Marguerite is basically in love with a guy right as the book starts, but I thought Gray did a good job convincing the reader about their backstory. It's not like Marguerite had just met this guy. They did have history, so I didn't have an issue with it.
My largest complaint is the lack of emphasis on the science fiction. I loved when Marguerite traveled into different dimensions! One of my favorite parts of the book was when she was getting re-acquainted with the dimension she was in. However, I do agree with critics when they say this book is more of a romance instead of science fiction. The science fiction adds something to the romance aspect of the book, when I wish it was the other way around.
Going off of that, I wish that the antagonists were more developed. I read this book just five days ago, but I can't really explain the antagonists to you. I do understand who they are, what they want, and why, but they seemed very cookie cutter to me. I love when antagonists have some depth, and I just didn't see it here.
If you're wondering, my favorite dimension that Marguerite visits is the Tsarist Russia. We spend the most time there, and I really loved it. I wish that Marguerite would have gotten as acquainted to all the dimensions she went to as much as she did this one, though I understand why she didn't. I can't say that I was surprised by the twists that happened in this dimension, but it was still very much enjoyable.
Even with my complaints, I did enjoy A Thousand Pieces of You. I loved the dynamics the characters had with each other. I just wish they were expanded upon, as well as the antagonist! The romance didn't bother me. In fact, I realy liked it! I just wish the science fiction had more emphasis than the romance. The book held my attention the whole was through. The narrator (Tavia Gilbert) was excellent as well; all of her accents were spot on. I do recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a quick paced romance/science fiction read!
With that, I give this book
3.5 out of 5 Stars!
Have you read A Thousand Pieces of You or any other book by Claudia Gray? What did you think of them?
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Happy Reading!
Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!