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Travelers #1
Parallel
Destiny has a way of catching up. Saddled with powers she doesn’t understand, Etta Fleming’s world is turned upside-down the day she meets Cooper Everett, the man who transports her to an alternate reality. A reality she was meant to be a part of. One minute, she’s an orphan living at Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster kids, then finds herself attending the exclusive Dominion Hall Academy. Plucked from the only world she’s ever known, Etta now has to deal with an aunt she never knew, a boyfriend she doesn’t know, and a best friend who can’t know. PARALLEL is the first book in The Travelers Series.
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2011
103 people are currently reading
2378 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Lefeve
19 books121 followersClaudia Lefeve was born and raised so far down the Texas Gulf Coast she has to pull up a map to show people it’s nowhere near Houston. Now living in Northern Virginia, she is taking a temporary hiatus from a civilian career in law enforcement in order to write full-time. She lives with her husband and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
January 23, 2014
What the hell is this book even about?
Um… this is going to hurt.
First, let’s all take a moment to read the synopsis. Read it? Got it? Good. This book promises alternate realities and parallel universes. Yay! It’s not something you come across very often in YA books. So, like you, I was excited when I saw this book. Better yet I got it for free on my new Kindle, so I thought what better way to read it? Oh boy…
The problem with this book is that all the great and exciting aspects are more-so-than-not glazed over completely to make way for teenage angst and completely unbelievable actions and reactions on the part of the main character, Etta. Upon meeting a strange, albeit handsome, fellow she suddenly decides “what the hell” she’ll trust him, even getting in the car with him after being told by her best friend that he’s been stalking around asking for her. But, according to her, she has a level head on her shoulders. Really… When she’s in the car with him, starts getting nervous and thinks he’s a nutter because he keeps mentioning another universe, but she takes a moment to enjoy the heated seats. I don’t know about everyone else, but if I’m in a strange car, with a strange guy who apparently has been stalking me for years, who is talking out of his mind about alternate realities, I’m not interested in my ass being warm.
The main character is one I wanted to love and sympathize with but… couldn’t…
Mild spoilers ahead, people!
…
…
…
She finally tells the crazy guy, Cooper, she wants to go home. On the way home, or so she thinks that’s where he’s taking her, out of nowhere she starts actually believing him. Then he tells her he’s taking her back to her own reality, and that when she arrives it will be as if she were never missing. How do they get there, you ask? They drive! And then poof, they’re outside a big, rich house, where instead of panicking, or trying to discover where her father is, because apparently he’s missing, it’s all about the private school she’s now enrolled in, waffles, and her closet.
WHAT THE HELL?! This is not a story about alternate realities, this is just a teenager with no frigging filter system. The more I read, the more I waited for the paranormal element of the book to slap me in the face. Eventually Cooper was mentioned as having been asked by a council to bring Etta back to the proper reality, but then the story line went straight back to Etta’s confused thought process. Council? Laws of realities? Her father went missing days before she returned? Hello, why is this not the focus of the main character? No, she’s too distracted by guys, clothes, and food to even give a crap that she’s part of this complex, fascinating adventure.
I'm really struggling with this. Almost all I have read so far is just this girl, with absolutely unrealistic reactions to what is going on, talking about her life. Her really boring, completely uninteresting life. The only redeeming character in this entire novel was Cooper, who actually had an interesting back story.
Finally, about halfway through the book, POOF, stuff starts to happen. The main character gets her head out of her you know what to actually find out what happened to her father, who so far has been less important to her than obnoxious high school drama. It finally got interesting. (Yay!) By this time I have been skipping sections at a time, and not missing anything might I add. But when the good stuff came, it was a massive dump that didn't seem important anymore. I wish SO much that this fascinating, paranormal plot-line had been prevalent from the start. (At least Etta isn't pointing out, or questioning, the obvious as much.)
I just don't even know what to say about the rest of this. I probably wouldn't have skimmed through the rest so quickly if it had been interesting. But when her powers/universe jumping was being interrupted by shit I didn't care about, I couldn't stomach it enough.
I did read the last couple of chapters and they weren't bad at all! I wish so much that the rest of the book had been like this. Why wasn't it? The author wasted time on just random crap that Etta should not have been concerned with. If the book had been like the last several chapters, focused on her powers and her father's work. That's the only reason I didn't absolutely hate this book.
I don't even know how to end this review. I was only ever attached to Cooper, no matter how little that attachment was. Otherwise, I won't miss a thing about this book.
Um… this is going to hurt.
First, let’s all take a moment to read the synopsis. Read it? Got it? Good. This book promises alternate realities and parallel universes. Yay! It’s not something you come across very often in YA books. So, like you, I was excited when I saw this book. Better yet I got it for free on my new Kindle, so I thought what better way to read it? Oh boy…
The problem with this book is that all the great and exciting aspects are more-so-than-not glazed over completely to make way for teenage angst and completely unbelievable actions and reactions on the part of the main character, Etta. Upon meeting a strange, albeit handsome, fellow she suddenly decides “what the hell” she’ll trust him, even getting in the car with him after being told by her best friend that he’s been stalking around asking for her. But, according to her, she has a level head on her shoulders. Really… When she’s in the car with him, starts getting nervous and thinks he’s a nutter because he keeps mentioning another universe, but she takes a moment to enjoy the heated seats. I don’t know about everyone else, but if I’m in a strange car, with a strange guy who apparently has been stalking me for years, who is talking out of his mind about alternate realities, I’m not interested in my ass being warm.
The main character is one I wanted to love and sympathize with but… couldn’t…
Mild spoilers ahead, people!
…
…
…
She finally tells the crazy guy, Cooper, she wants to go home. On the way home, or so she thinks that’s where he’s taking her, out of nowhere she starts actually believing him. Then he tells her he’s taking her back to her own reality, and that when she arrives it will be as if she were never missing. How do they get there, you ask? They drive! And then poof, they’re outside a big, rich house, where instead of panicking, or trying to discover where her father is, because apparently he’s missing, it’s all about the private school she’s now enrolled in, waffles, and her closet.
WHAT THE HELL?! This is not a story about alternate realities, this is just a teenager with no frigging filter system. The more I read, the more I waited for the paranormal element of the book to slap me in the face. Eventually Cooper was mentioned as having been asked by a council to bring Etta back to the proper reality, but then the story line went straight back to Etta’s confused thought process. Council? Laws of realities? Her father went missing days before she returned? Hello, why is this not the focus of the main character? No, she’s too distracted by guys, clothes, and food to even give a crap that she’s part of this complex, fascinating adventure.
I'm really struggling with this. Almost all I have read so far is just this girl, with absolutely unrealistic reactions to what is going on, talking about her life. Her really boring, completely uninteresting life. The only redeeming character in this entire novel was Cooper, who actually had an interesting back story.
Finally, about halfway through the book, POOF, stuff starts to happen. The main character gets her head out of her you know what to actually find out what happened to her father, who so far has been less important to her than obnoxious high school drama. It finally got interesting. (Yay!) By this time I have been skipping sections at a time, and not missing anything might I add. But when the good stuff came, it was a massive dump that didn't seem important anymore. I wish SO much that this fascinating, paranormal plot-line had been prevalent from the start. (At least Etta isn't pointing out, or questioning, the obvious as much.)
I just don't even know what to say about the rest of this. I probably wouldn't have skimmed through the rest so quickly if it had been interesting. But when her powers/universe jumping was being interrupted by shit I didn't care about, I couldn't stomach it enough.
I did read the last couple of chapters and they weren't bad at all! I wish so much that the rest of the book had been like this. Why wasn't it? The author wasted time on just random crap that Etta should not have been concerned with. If the book had been like the last several chapters, focused on her powers and her father's work. That's the only reason I didn't absolutely hate this book.
I don't even know how to end this review. I was only ever attached to Cooper, no matter how little that attachment was. Otherwise, I won't miss a thing about this book.
July 5, 2017
When Etta was a little girl, her parents were killed in a plane crash, and she became an orphan. Shuffled from foster home to foster home, she never had a place to call an actual home. Now at seventeen, she is living in a group home called Dominion. Recently she discovered a guy was looking for her. Cooper Everett has been looking for Etta for a long time now as he is about to open her eyes and mind to a whole new reality as apparently she is needed in her "real reality." A reality that she was hidden away from when she was little to keep her safe. In fact, the reality she has been living, she should never have as in this reality - she died with her parents in the plane crash. It turns out that Etta's father who is a scientist has gone missing and to find him and stop bad things from happening in the future times - Etta is needed in her "real" reality. At first, I wasn't sure how I would find this book, and it was slow, to begin with, but eventually, I found myself drawn into the story and wanting more. Parallel does end on a major cliffhanger too, so now I can't wait to read Book #2 as I was like OMG when they revealed who she is to Cooper. On a personal level, I have always found the idea of alternate realities and parallel universes to be intriguing as it does get you thinking about what "your other life" is like or could be like.
November 29, 2011
Before I start off, I want to give a huge thank you to the ladies at Kismet Book Touring for this opportunity. I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know Claudia and reading Parallel. :)
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Parallel when I started reading it. The blurb sounded amazing and I’m a total sucker for stories with time/dimension/space travel (Doctor Who, Sliders, and Quantum Leap make me squee like nobody’s business) so I anticipated a fun read but I was blown away by how much I loved Parallel. I sat down with the intention of reading a couple chapters before bed and ended up devouring the whole novel in a single sitting. I’m not even sure where to start talking about it because I can’t decide what to tell you about first!
I suppose the logical place is the heart of the story: Etta and her journey in this new reality. Etta’s a great protagonist. She’s guarded and tough and smart, and filled with curiosity. I love those qualities in a character. Etta’s also, at turns, extremely sarcastic and vulnerable, which made her seem so real to me. The other characters are also interesting, though not as fleshed-out as Etta, with the exception of Aunt Maggie, who I want to live with, and Cooper, who’s gradually revealed over the course of the book, thanks to the occasional chapters told from his point of view. (They really add to the richness of the story.)
What I really loved was the way Claudia Lefeve portrays the different realities. There’s a lot of overlap in terms of location and some characters but this really makes the differences that much more noticeable. I also thought she did a great job of describing Etta’s confusion and stress, since she has to adapt to this other reality very quickly and with little guidance.
Another fantastic element to the story is the way people travel between realities. As someone non-science-y, I hate it when books with physics get really jargon-filled and dense. I’m not a physicist. The accuracy of the science isn’t that important to me, as long as the story is internally consistent. Claudia’s done a fantastic job of writing the science behind traveling in an accessible, logical, and (perhaps most importantly) highly readable way. I didn’t get bogged down in the how; instead, the explanations Etta receives are thoughtful and smart and flow with the rest of the writing, which is, by the way, awesome (save for a couple typos).
I can’t end this post without giving some love to the fantastic artist behind the e-cover of Parallel. Sarah at Warm Onion Designs has really captured the feel of the book with the image and adore the way the title is blocked. So gorgeous! However, there’s a new cover for the print version of the book (and the re-released e-book, out later this year as well, if I understand correctly). The new one, on the right below, is a lot more generic (boo!), which makes me sad. The model is lovely and I do love the smoky background, even though it doesn’t really have anything to do with the story, but it really doesn’t stand out in the crowd the way the current cover does. Which cover do you guys prefer?
I’m so excited to find out what happens next, in Paradox, the second book in the Travelers Series.
http://www.tyngasreviews.com
http://ireadgood.wordpress.com
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Parallel when I started reading it. The blurb sounded amazing and I’m a total sucker for stories with time/dimension/space travel (Doctor Who, Sliders, and Quantum Leap make me squee like nobody’s business) so I anticipated a fun read but I was blown away by how much I loved Parallel. I sat down with the intention of reading a couple chapters before bed and ended up devouring the whole novel in a single sitting. I’m not even sure where to start talking about it because I can’t decide what to tell you about first!
I suppose the logical place is the heart of the story: Etta and her journey in this new reality. Etta’s a great protagonist. She’s guarded and tough and smart, and filled with curiosity. I love those qualities in a character. Etta’s also, at turns, extremely sarcastic and vulnerable, which made her seem so real to me. The other characters are also interesting, though not as fleshed-out as Etta, with the exception of Aunt Maggie, who I want to live with, and Cooper, who’s gradually revealed over the course of the book, thanks to the occasional chapters told from his point of view. (They really add to the richness of the story.)
What I really loved was the way Claudia Lefeve portrays the different realities. There’s a lot of overlap in terms of location and some characters but this really makes the differences that much more noticeable. I also thought she did a great job of describing Etta’s confusion and stress, since she has to adapt to this other reality very quickly and with little guidance.
Another fantastic element to the story is the way people travel between realities. As someone non-science-y, I hate it when books with physics get really jargon-filled and dense. I’m not a physicist. The accuracy of the science isn’t that important to me, as long as the story is internally consistent. Claudia’s done a fantastic job of writing the science behind traveling in an accessible, logical, and (perhaps most importantly) highly readable way. I didn’t get bogged down in the how; instead, the explanations Etta receives are thoughtful and smart and flow with the rest of the writing, which is, by the way, awesome (save for a couple typos).
I can’t end this post without giving some love to the fantastic artist behind the e-cover of Parallel. Sarah at Warm Onion Designs has really captured the feel of the book with the image and adore the way the title is blocked. So gorgeous! However, there’s a new cover for the print version of the book (and the re-released e-book, out later this year as well, if I understand correctly). The new one, on the right below, is a lot more generic (boo!), which makes me sad. The model is lovely and I do love the smoky background, even though it doesn’t really have anything to do with the story, but it really doesn’t stand out in the crowd the way the current cover does. Which cover do you guys prefer?
I’m so excited to find out what happens next, in Paradox, the second book in the Travelers Series.
http://www.tyngasreviews.com
http://ireadgood.wordpress.com
October 4, 2011
Were to begin? I think that the only way to explain what I felt with this hook is to be honest. A month ago a friend recommend me "Fringe", the tv series, you know that series, right? It's about impossible things turning possible. And one of this crazy but intriguing possibilities are parallel universes.
I'm simply in love with this matter, it makes me think, makes me want to understand things that are beyond reality. That's the reason I loved this book. "Parallel" was everything I expected and much, much more.
There are so many questions I would like to ask the author, Claudia, now that I have read the book but I think I'm just going to wait for the second part, I believe it's going to be as exciting, fun and clever as this book.
Don't hesitate, if you have the opportunity just buy it. I mean, I read this book really fast, I couldn't and, to be honest, wouldn't stop turning pages. Is not only the twists but the fact that, even if you are not a fan of science, the plot is not very complicated and the ending... I wish I could tell you more but you need to read it, seriously.
I'm simply in love with this matter, it makes me think, makes me want to understand things that are beyond reality. That's the reason I loved this book. "Parallel" was everything I expected and much, much more.
There are so many questions I would like to ask the author, Claudia, now that I have read the book but I think I'm just going to wait for the second part, I believe it's going to be as exciting, fun and clever as this book.
Don't hesitate, if you have the opportunity just buy it. I mean, I read this book really fast, I couldn't and, to be honest, wouldn't stop turning pages. Is not only the twists but the fact that, even if you are not a fan of science, the plot is not very complicated and the ending... I wish I could tell you more but you need to read it, seriously.
February 7, 2017
This book was a confusing mess. It wasn't put together well. The characters were hard to follow because they were ever changing. The explanations about parallel worlds and time travel were mind boggling. And the main character, Etta, was a pain. She was boring, annoying, way too dang trusting, and well she really was rather unlikable. I couldn't connect with her for some reason.
The story is interesting, it's just in so many puzzle pieces it is hard to put together. But something must have been right because I'm itching to read the second novel. A sketchy start to a series doesn't always mean the whole thing is going to be bad. I have high hopes for the next novel.
The story is interesting, it's just in so many puzzle pieces it is hard to put together. But something must have been right because I'm itching to read the second novel. A sketchy start to a series doesn't always mean the whole thing is going to be bad. I have high hopes for the next novel.
October 5, 2011
Continuing with my non-vampire/werewolf YA book binge, Claudia Lafeve's Parallel is an alternate/parallel universe novel featuring Etta, an oprhan who has been moved from foster home to foster home after being labeled as a troubled kid. When she feels threatened, her wishes sometimes physically manifest themselves in the people trying to do her harm, and the final instance of this has landed her in Dominion House for Girls.
When she's almost eighteen, a mysterious man a few years older than her named Cooper suddenly appears, and the story he has to tell is truly unbelievable. But to someone who is an orphan with an uncertain future looming ahead of her, the possibilities in his tale are irresistable: another reality where you have a family waiting for you, who loves you and needs you? Etta decides to jump all in and accompany Cooper to this other reality.
Soon Etta finds herself in a world very different from the one she's known most of her life. She now has a father who is alive and well, but is away on business. An aunt lives with them in a large home and is the loving caretaker that she's never had. Her best friend Jaime remains relatively unchanged between realities, and is the supportive, crazy girl that she always has been.
Dominion School for Girls is now the prestigious private Dominion Hall School. Much of the same elite classmates attend here that Etta went to school with at Alexandria High in her old reality, including the popular and hostile Jenny. The captain of the male sports team goes from being Jenny's boyfriend in the original reality to being Etta's boyfriend in the new reality. While Etta can't believe her luck, it just fuels the fire for more animosity from Jenny.
While Etta must navigate a life that she's never lived, and do it as flawlessly as possible so she doesn't raise the suspicions of anyone, she finds that her powers are much stronger in this reality. And Cooper continues to jump in and out of her reality, only giving Etta bits and pieces of why she was brought to this world.
Parallel is a fast paced sci-fi alternate universe novel that is presented in a very believable way. There are elements of the science behind the theory of alternate universes, but they are presented in a simplified way that anyone an understand (and this is coming from a person with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry). Hints of government corruption and power plays add to the real feeling of the Virginia setting. Etta's voice is very believable as a teenager, sometimes snarky but not overly so, with just the right amount of angst and vulnerability. The secondary characters added the right touches of flavor while not completely stealing the scenes away from the main characters.
The story itself had several twists that I didn't see coming, and the big reveal with Cooper on the last page had me screaming for the next book. Enough things were wrapped up in this book for the ending to be satisfying, but there were several questions that arose throughout the course of the book that lead nicely into the second book of the series. I give this one a five out of five - an entertaining, fast paced, page turner.
Originally posted on Bewitched Bookworms
When she's almost eighteen, a mysterious man a few years older than her named Cooper suddenly appears, and the story he has to tell is truly unbelievable. But to someone who is an orphan with an uncertain future looming ahead of her, the possibilities in his tale are irresistable: another reality where you have a family waiting for you, who loves you and needs you? Etta decides to jump all in and accompany Cooper to this other reality.
Soon Etta finds herself in a world very different from the one she's known most of her life. She now has a father who is alive and well, but is away on business. An aunt lives with them in a large home and is the loving caretaker that she's never had. Her best friend Jaime remains relatively unchanged between realities, and is the supportive, crazy girl that she always has been.
Dominion School for Girls is now the prestigious private Dominion Hall School. Much of the same elite classmates attend here that Etta went to school with at Alexandria High in her old reality, including the popular and hostile Jenny. The captain of the male sports team goes from being Jenny's boyfriend in the original reality to being Etta's boyfriend in the new reality. While Etta can't believe her luck, it just fuels the fire for more animosity from Jenny.
While Etta must navigate a life that she's never lived, and do it as flawlessly as possible so she doesn't raise the suspicions of anyone, she finds that her powers are much stronger in this reality. And Cooper continues to jump in and out of her reality, only giving Etta bits and pieces of why she was brought to this world.
Parallel is a fast paced sci-fi alternate universe novel that is presented in a very believable way. There are elements of the science behind the theory of alternate universes, but they are presented in a simplified way that anyone an understand (and this is coming from a person with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry). Hints of government corruption and power plays add to the real feeling of the Virginia setting. Etta's voice is very believable as a teenager, sometimes snarky but not overly so, with just the right amount of angst and vulnerability. The secondary characters added the right touches of flavor while not completely stealing the scenes away from the main characters.
The story itself had several twists that I didn't see coming, and the big reveal with Cooper on the last page had me screaming for the next book. Enough things were wrapped up in this book for the ending to be satisfying, but there were several questions that arose throughout the course of the book that lead nicely into the second book of the series. I give this one a five out of five - an entertaining, fast paced, page turner.
Originally posted on Bewitched Bookworms
February 29, 2012
Parallel by Claudia Lefeve is a superb reading experience. The book centers on Etta, a teenager who was orphaned when her parents were in an accident. The flawless research into the world of a child in foster care allows the reader to have sympathy for Etta, while at the same time showing that she has incredible inner strength. This humanizes her, and it allowed me to connect with Etta in a way I haven’t with a heroine in a long time.
Ms. Lefeve’s approach to the parallel universe concept is also to be applauded. It was interesting without being too complicated or gimmicky. She struck an excellent balance between science and imagination. Ms. Lefeve also used the parallel realities to masterfully create twists and turns in the plot, keeping the reader on her toes and adding mystery to the action.
The fun YA boy dilemma is also included. Etta finds herself torn between the hot jock she could never have had in her old world and the older mystery man. As she volleys back and forth trying to figure out what her true feelings are and who they are for, it adds a bit of comedy and a lot of teenage angst.
All of this was used by Ms. Lefeve to craft one humdinger of a cliffhanger at the end of the book. The surprise ending is at the same time both shocking and thrilling and will no doubt leave the reader craving the next book. When the next book in the series, Paradox, arrives in March I wouldn't miss it for the world - or worlds, as the case may be.
Ms. Lefeve’s approach to the parallel universe concept is also to be applauded. It was interesting without being too complicated or gimmicky. She struck an excellent balance between science and imagination. Ms. Lefeve also used the parallel realities to masterfully create twists and turns in the plot, keeping the reader on her toes and adding mystery to the action.
The fun YA boy dilemma is also included. Etta finds herself torn between the hot jock she could never have had in her old world and the older mystery man. As she volleys back and forth trying to figure out what her true feelings are and who they are for, it adds a bit of comedy and a lot of teenage angst.
All of this was used by Ms. Lefeve to craft one humdinger of a cliffhanger at the end of the book. The surprise ending is at the same time both shocking and thrilling and will no doubt leave the reader craving the next book. When the next book in the series, Paradox, arrives in March I wouldn't miss it for the world - or worlds, as the case may be.
October 24, 2011
What I like most about this story is the plot line. Ms. Lefeve did one heck of a job keeping me entertained but also keeping me at bay from answers till the end. She had me hooked and desperate! I have never wanted to finish a book so fast just to get to the end already! I loved that she kept the reader wrapped up in the mysteriousness of the book. Pieces of information were drop, only to find myself desperate for more.
The characters were also great! I loved that they grew right before the readers eye but not too much either. It left room for the characters to continue growing in the next book. The characters came to where they needed to be in order to go where they need to go next.
Now, the love interest. *sigh* This is what had me so desperate! I was dying towards the end of the book and was filled with absolute joy when I read the last sentence. Cause, I KNEW IT! Seriously Ms. Lefeve, you are brilliant. Nice ending.
This book did it job on not only capturing me, but now has me begging the author for the next book now please? I love the way everything is weaved together yet apart. Please take my word for it and read it.
The characters were also great! I loved that they grew right before the readers eye but not too much either. It left room for the characters to continue growing in the next book. The characters came to where they needed to be in order to go where they need to go next.
Now, the love interest. *sigh* This is what had me so desperate! I was dying towards the end of the book and was filled with absolute joy when I read the last sentence. Cause, I KNEW IT! Seriously Ms. Lefeve, you are brilliant. Nice ending.
This book did it job on not only capturing me, but now has me begging the author for the next book now please? I love the way everything is weaved together yet apart. Please take my word for it and read it.
September 29, 2011
Loved it. Very cool and different kind of story line. Very refreshing.
October 30, 2011
Loved it! Brilliant, different, awesome...Loved it!
May 8, 2012
Wow for a kindle freebie this was awesome!
January 30, 2012
Where Is the next one!!! I need more!'
May 25, 2018
Has potential, but does not live up to it
A friend enjoyed this book, so I added it to my Kindle as well. The basic plot has a lot of potential, but the execution left something to be desired.
Etta is an orphan, because orphans in fiction have all the cool stories. As the book unfolds, she discovers abilities she didn't realize she had, and is moved through different realities. During all this, she often sees Cooper, a young man who helps her learn this strange new world.
I like the idea that dreams are different realities, and the similarities in people. Given that, the differences are jarring - no California or Harry Potter? The Butterfly Effect seems to be in full force, but very random.
On the con side, for such drastic changes in a short book, she really spends a lot of time thinking about romance. Cooper is often mentioned, and the scenes about him show *hidden spoiler plot point* pretty early.
A decent read, but I'm not emotionally invested or intruiged enough to continue the series.
A friend enjoyed this book, so I added it to my Kindle as well. The basic plot has a lot of potential, but the execution left something to be desired.
Etta is an orphan, because orphans in fiction have all the cool stories. As the book unfolds, she discovers abilities she didn't realize she had, and is moved through different realities. During all this, she often sees Cooper, a young man who helps her learn this strange new world.
I like the idea that dreams are different realities, and the similarities in people. Given that, the differences are jarring - no California or Harry Potter? The Butterfly Effect seems to be in full force, but very random.
On the con side, for such drastic changes in a short book, she really spends a lot of time thinking about romance. Cooper is often mentioned, and the scenes about him show *hidden spoiler plot point* pretty early.
A decent read, but I'm not emotionally invested or intruiged enough to continue the series.
April 21, 2014
I believe each one of us had already given the thought of the possibilities of Time Traveling or Psionic Abilities, but what if one day a boy you just happen to met for the first time explain these things on you and claim they're all real? I'll wager you would think he totally lost it, but again what if he divulge that its absolutely real because both of you has the abilities and deep inside, somehow you also think its true? I guess you'll reconsider your thoughts. These are one of the ideas I have come across while reading PARALLEL and maybe they were already usual topics of discussion to others but putting them all together to make up a whole story is something new and no ordinary.
The characters have their own identities that distinguish them from others and my favourite would be Etta Fleming, not because she's the protagonist but for the reason she's strong-minded, brave and has that self-confidence (that in my opinion) every girl must possess although it'll be hard to gain. Oh! I won't definitely forget to add Cooper Everett, the gorgeous and witty 'Coop'.
As for the plot, I may say I'm truly drawn. Honestly, this is the first book I've read depicting Time Travelers having Psionic Abilities because most of the books I've recently read were mostly about Vampires, Werewolves or other Paranormal fantasies so I wanted to discover new books with new characters and conflicts so I'm really grateful I have read this book because it didn't let me down. Well, the story is like a conundrum; bits and pieces of the puzzle were gradually lifted from every page you turn and the 'pieces' of that puzzle with different shapes were surprisingly suited to one another then a grand portrait was presented and it was the impression that this book leave to its readers: Beautiful and Brilliant, making its readers to wish for more.
Everything about this book is great---talking about Physics, Telekinesis and all that incredible plot and characters---however, I'm not attracted to its book cover. I find it lacklustre and I don't see its relation to the story although I think the girl was supposed to be Etta Fleming but I just don't see it as her. Regardless of the cover, this book has everything it has to offer to all the readers who wanted to take on a new journey of reading with the Travelers. Absolutely Fascinating! Two Thumbs-up!
~Have I told you this is a total cliffhanger and I can't wait to read for more? Well, be on the look out for Book 2 in the Travelers Series, PARADOX this Fall/Winter 2011
The characters have their own identities that distinguish them from others and my favourite would be Etta Fleming, not because she's the protagonist but for the reason she's strong-minded, brave and has that self-confidence (that in my opinion) every girl must possess although it'll be hard to gain. Oh! I won't definitely forget to add Cooper Everett, the gorgeous and witty 'Coop'.
As for the plot, I may say I'm truly drawn. Honestly, this is the first book I've read depicting Time Travelers having Psionic Abilities because most of the books I've recently read were mostly about Vampires, Werewolves or other Paranormal fantasies so I wanted to discover new books with new characters and conflicts so I'm really grateful I have read this book because it didn't let me down. Well, the story is like a conundrum; bits and pieces of the puzzle were gradually lifted from every page you turn and the 'pieces' of that puzzle with different shapes were surprisingly suited to one another then a grand portrait was presented and it was the impression that this book leave to its readers: Beautiful and Brilliant, making its readers to wish for more.
Everything about this book is great---talking about Physics, Telekinesis and all that incredible plot and characters---however, I'm not attracted to its book cover. I find it lacklustre and I don't see its relation to the story although I think the girl was supposed to be Etta Fleming but I just don't see it as her. Regardless of the cover, this book has everything it has to offer to all the readers who wanted to take on a new journey of reading with the Travelers. Absolutely Fascinating! Two Thumbs-up!
~Have I told you this is a total cliffhanger and I can't wait to read for more? Well, be on the look out for Book 2 in the Travelers Series, PARADOX this Fall/Winter 2011
October 31, 2011
If I could describe Parallel in one word it would have to be gripping. I read the complete book in one sitting.
I did have a hard time following the concept of “traveling”. You see, the book centers around the idea of parallel universes; Etta learns that she was hidden in an alternate universe for her own protection. She is then brought back to her original dimension. But nobody knew she was missing for years. Are you confused? I was too. Then, Lefeve added in the concept of time travel to the mix and I was completely lost.
The thing is, I really enjoyed the storyline. It was incredibly creative and I really wanted to be able to grasp everything that was happening. I am going to have to go back and reread it at some point; I feel like this is the sort of book you will never quite understand the first time around.
Etta was likable enough, but still did not really stand out to me. Lefeve has created an interesting enough base for Etta and I am hoping that she will really blossom in the next storyline. In Parallel, Lefeve is able to do some character building, but the main focus is setting up the world. Well, worlds. It’s a lot to take in and unfortunately, it causes the characters to fall a bit flat.
However, they all have a great deal of potential. I am particularly interested in the relationship between Cooper and Etta. There is a twist involving the pair at the end that is sure to surprise readers. I did see it coming, but now I am left with each more questions.
To be perfectly honest with you, I really enjoyed Parallel. Yes, I have about a gazillion questions, but hopefully they will be answered in book two. My only complaints are that the characters were a bit flat and the ending isn’t really much of an ending. I felt like it should have kept going; I did not get much closure at all. Things were just picking up and then Lefeve hit me with the dreaded “to be continued…”. But, in the grand scheme of things, Parallel was exciting, creative and thought provoking. I would not call it a light-read (my mind is still reeling), but it was certainly enjoyable!
I did have a hard time following the concept of “traveling”. You see, the book centers around the idea of parallel universes; Etta learns that she was hidden in an alternate universe for her own protection. She is then brought back to her original dimension. But nobody knew she was missing for years. Are you confused? I was too. Then, Lefeve added in the concept of time travel to the mix and I was completely lost.
The thing is, I really enjoyed the storyline. It was incredibly creative and I really wanted to be able to grasp everything that was happening. I am going to have to go back and reread it at some point; I feel like this is the sort of book you will never quite understand the first time around.
Etta was likable enough, but still did not really stand out to me. Lefeve has created an interesting enough base for Etta and I am hoping that she will really blossom in the next storyline. In Parallel, Lefeve is able to do some character building, but the main focus is setting up the world. Well, worlds. It’s a lot to take in and unfortunately, it causes the characters to fall a bit flat.
However, they all have a great deal of potential. I am particularly interested in the relationship between Cooper and Etta. There is a twist involving the pair at the end that is sure to surprise readers. I did see it coming, but now I am left with each more questions.
To be perfectly honest with you, I really enjoyed Parallel. Yes, I have about a gazillion questions, but hopefully they will be answered in book two. My only complaints are that the characters were a bit flat and the ending isn’t really much of an ending. I felt like it should have kept going; I did not get much closure at all. Things were just picking up and then Lefeve hit me with the dreaded “to be continued…”. But, in the grand scheme of things, Parallel was exciting, creative and thought provoking. I would not call it a light-read (my mind is still reeling), but it was certainly enjoyable!
October 25, 2011
I got a review copy of Parallel as I was taking part in the blog tour for this book, you can see my interview with Claudia Lefeve a few posts back.
Parallel follows teenager Etta who has been brought up jumping from foster families and is eventually dumped in Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster children where she finds herself sharing a room with a girl she used to live with in a foster family years ago.
Etta goes on with her normal life, school, hanging out and and trying not to break anymore rules.
That is until she meets Cooper who transports to a whole new reality, which is apparently the real one and where she was born and is meant to be.
At first I wasn't too sure about reading Parallel, it seemed a bit too science fiction for me, and I'm usually more a fan of paranormal. After reading the first few chapters however I was totally hooked on the story!
The characters are very well written and are described brilliantly, making it easy to follow them and fall into their story.
Although the story line is a bit choppy and confusing at first, once you get the hang of what is going on and what reality is which, everything does start to make sense.
The story of time travel can be hard to convey in a book, especially a book aimed at a younger audience, Claudia Lefeve manages to make the subject both entertaining as well as informative.
The plot itself is genius, this was one of those books where as I was reading it I was thinking to myself, how on earth do people think up this stuff?!
The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was purely because I didn't really love it.
As great as the book is, it didn't have me mesmerised like some books do. Don't get me wrong, it was a great book, had a great plot and brilliant and believable characters, for me it just seemed to be lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on.
Overall I'm, really glad I read this book and am looking forward to reading the rest in the series!
Parallel follows teenager Etta who has been brought up jumping from foster families and is eventually dumped in Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster children where she finds herself sharing a room with a girl she used to live with in a foster family years ago.
Etta goes on with her normal life, school, hanging out and and trying not to break anymore rules.
That is until she meets Cooper who transports to a whole new reality, which is apparently the real one and where she was born and is meant to be.
At first I wasn't too sure about reading Parallel, it seemed a bit too science fiction for me, and I'm usually more a fan of paranormal. After reading the first few chapters however I was totally hooked on the story!
The characters are very well written and are described brilliantly, making it easy to follow them and fall into their story.
Although the story line is a bit choppy and confusing at first, once you get the hang of what is going on and what reality is which, everything does start to make sense.
The story of time travel can be hard to convey in a book, especially a book aimed at a younger audience, Claudia Lefeve manages to make the subject both entertaining as well as informative.
The plot itself is genius, this was one of those books where as I was reading it I was thinking to myself, how on earth do people think up this stuff?!
The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was purely because I didn't really love it.
As great as the book is, it didn't have me mesmerised like some books do. Don't get me wrong, it was a great book, had a great plot and brilliant and believable characters, for me it just seemed to be lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on.
Overall I'm, really glad I read this book and am looking forward to reading the rest in the series!
October 9, 2011
First the cover: I read the ebook version that had the house on front and I'm not sure what that had to do with the story? Perhaps it was suppose to be the Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster kids but if so it is not how I pictured it. The house on the cover looks more like a small farm house out in the middle of nowhere. Personally I'd like to see a more interesting cover to better suit this very interesting book.
"Parallel" by Claudia Lafeve joins a refreshing new trend of books written about an alternate/parallel universe. It is so nice to see something other than the bombardment of vampire/werewolf/witch/mermaid books that are hitting the market right now.
Etta Fleming is an orphan whose world is turned upside-down the day she meets Cooper Everett, the man who transports her to an alternate reality. "Plucked from the only world she's ever known, Etta now has to deal with an aunt she never knew, a boyfriend she doesn't know and a best friend who can't know." Etta is a believable main character but the secondary characters were a little one dimensional in my opinion. I would have liked to have known more about Cooper and some of the other secondary characters so that I could have been more invested in the story line.
Having said that "Parallel" is still very original and different . It is a sci-fi/mystery/alternate universe novel with a hint of romance. The world building is presented in a very believable way and the science behind the premise of an alternate universe is fairly easy to understand. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. The surprise ending will definitely have you wanting to read the next book in the series.
"Parallel" by Claudia Lafeve joins a refreshing new trend of books written about an alternate/parallel universe. It is so nice to see something other than the bombardment of vampire/werewolf/witch/mermaid books that are hitting the market right now.
Etta Fleming is an orphan whose world is turned upside-down the day she meets Cooper Everett, the man who transports her to an alternate reality. "Plucked from the only world she's ever known, Etta now has to deal with an aunt she never knew, a boyfriend she doesn't know and a best friend who can't know." Etta is a believable main character but the secondary characters were a little one dimensional in my opinion. I would have liked to have known more about Cooper and some of the other secondary characters so that I could have been more invested in the story line.
Having said that "Parallel" is still very original and different . It is a sci-fi/mystery/alternate universe novel with a hint of romance. The world building is presented in a very believable way and the science behind the premise of an alternate universe is fairly easy to understand. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. The surprise ending will definitely have you wanting to read the next book in the series.
Read
February 8, 2017I began this on audio (narrated by Sienna Beckman) and although the narration was very good, the story - not so much. I got through about half of it and then switched to Kindle, then skimmed through to the end. That's the reason I'm not giving this book a star rating.
The premise here was good. Orphan girl gets spirited away to a parallel universe where her life is much better. There's a missing dad. There are the changes between the worlds. There's something "else" going on. There are paranormal abilities.
And then there's all the high school drama. That's where this author lost me. I felt like it just dumbed the book down and reduced it to a silly soap opera. There were supernatural things happening but they felt thrown in for effect and convenience rather than adding to the story. The romance was good, the love triangle was terrible (terrible!), and I never did get a good bead on the characters. Especially the main character - Etta started out being a smart, capable, street-savvy girl. That seemed to end when she jumps to the parallel world. She's expected to suddenly cope with a whole new world around her. And she does and nobody suspects anything? If anything, this should have made her extraordinary. Instead, it was just unbelievable.
I really do respect the time and effort an author puts into a book. This was a good try, but just fell flat for me. I won't be continuing with the series - and yet I hope this author is able to mature in her writing. It just needs to be smarter and less cluttered.
The premise here was good. Orphan girl gets spirited away to a parallel universe where her life is much better. There's a missing dad. There are the changes between the worlds. There's something "else" going on. There are paranormal abilities.
And then there's all the high school drama. That's where this author lost me. I felt like it just dumbed the book down and reduced it to a silly soap opera. There were supernatural things happening but they felt thrown in for effect and convenience rather than adding to the story. The romance was good, the love triangle was terrible (terrible!), and I never did get a good bead on the characters. Especially the main character - Etta started out being a smart, capable, street-savvy girl. That seemed to end when she jumps to the parallel world. She's expected to suddenly cope with a whole new world around her. And she does and nobody suspects anything? If anything, this should have made her extraordinary. Instead, it was just unbelievable.
I really do respect the time and effort an author puts into a book. This was a good try, but just fell flat for me. I won't be continuing with the series - and yet I hope this author is able to mature in her writing. It just needs to be smarter and less cluttered.
July 5, 2012
Parallel is a hard book for me to review. On the one hand, I liked the concept *a lot* and I found some of the characters likable and endearing. That being said, the book had a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes, which I found extremely distracting. At one point the character is talking about how she is sitting with a boy and they use the wrong name for the boy. Boy #1 is discussed, then it refers to him as boy #2 and then returns back to boy #1 again. It was indeed boy #1 the entire time, but somehow the wrong name is inserted. The other issue that I had that made the book only so-so for me is the fact that while these are supposed to be people in their later teens (or even older), the dialogue reminds me more of an 11-12 year old. The book seems to be unsure as to whether it is a middle grade book or young adult. All of that aside, the plot was interesting enough that I still felt compelled to purchase the sequel and I will likely purchase the third book as well. I think the hardest part of reading this is seeing so many wasted opportunities, because the idea of the story itself is awesome!
December 31, 2013
I'm not saying this book is perfect - at one point the author refers to the wrong character in a scene, which was slightly confusing and I found myself re-reading and re-reading the paragraph trying to work out if it was me being stupid or not, before deciding it wasn't and moving on. I, personally, found this forgivable as I am used to reading proof copies where the odd mistake like that aren't totally uncommon. However, if I had paid for the book, I would have been slightly more annoyed and it does slightly put me off paying for the follow up books.
However, I am desperate to know what happens. Book 1 leaves you on a bit of a cliff hanger, a cliff edge which you want to jump off to plummet head first into the next book, Paradox, in order to find out what becomes of Etta.
The storyline is interesting and the characters are well drawn. This book is a Young Adult book, but being now, in my late-20's, I found it perfectly enjoyable. There were times where I had to re-read paragraphs to catch on to the mechanics of the plot, but overall it was a very enjoyable, fairly short and lighthearted read.
However, I am desperate to know what happens. Book 1 leaves you on a bit of a cliff hanger, a cliff edge which you want to jump off to plummet head first into the next book, Paradox, in order to find out what becomes of Etta.
The storyline is interesting and the characters are well drawn. This book is a Young Adult book, but being now, in my late-20's, I found it perfectly enjoyable. There were times where I had to re-read paragraphs to catch on to the mechanics of the plot, but overall it was a very enjoyable, fairly short and lighthearted read.
February 19, 2012
I'd like to start off by saying that I've never been particularly fond of books about time travel. The Time Traveler's Wife left a bad taste in my mouth. This book however, has made a huge difference in my opinion. I don't know if it's the originality of the plot or the pragmatic world LeFeve has created that had me so intrigued. I did struggle a bit with the lack of relationships between the characters. I felt like some of them should have deeper connections. Etta seemed to handle the changes in her situation well. Although she should have had warning bells screaming in her head when it came to Alex. I know there has got to be more to Alex than we see in this book so I am looking forward to seeing what happens with him in the next one. There were a few places in the book that needed better editing, but nothing that was too confusing. I suspected, but still loved the twist at the end. I think this series is just going to get better as it goes.
February 23, 2012
I want to start out by thanking the author for contacting my blog Forbidden Passions Reviews for a review because I am so happy that I read this wonderful novel.
I loved the fast paced storyline that will keep you reading until the very end. I was so caught up in the novel that I did not even realize that I finished in one sitting. I think this first time author did a great job of creating a refreshing YA novel that is not like anything that I have read before. I want to give snaps to Claudia Lefeve for stepping out of the ordinary YA genre. Other then wishing that there had been more depth to the characters I was in love with them. I will have to admit that I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor after that ending, I did not see it coming.
I would recommend that this book be read and given a chance. Claudia did a great job with this book and I myself can not wait for the sequel so that I can see what happens next.
I loved the fast paced storyline that will keep you reading until the very end. I was so caught up in the novel that I did not even realize that I finished in one sitting. I think this first time author did a great job of creating a refreshing YA novel that is not like anything that I have read before. I want to give snaps to Claudia Lefeve for stepping out of the ordinary YA genre. Other then wishing that there had been more depth to the characters I was in love with them. I will have to admit that I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor after that ending, I did not see it coming.
I would recommend that this book be read and given a chance. Claudia did a great job with this book and I myself can not wait for the sequel so that I can see what happens next.
January 15, 2012
Very interesting plot. The idea of time travel and parallel universes is very intriguing and I really like how the author set this story up. The characters are interesting however there are a few too many key characters that play a main part in the story and come the last quarter of the book you don't hear anything more about them. There are too many unanswered questions and the ending just ends with a very typical "ah-ha" moment (I knew the big secret about half way through). All in all- good plot, descriptions and dialog. Will definitely read book 2 since it should be out already but should I have had to wait for the follow up I can't say for sure that I'd be waiting with baited breath for it. ***I take it back, book 2 is not out (even though it was stated to be released fall of 2011) so, if I have nothing else to read I might seek it out***
March 31, 2012
SPOILER ALERT
I love time travel books. I loved The Sliders TV show, which is parallel dimensions. At the beginning of this book, it seems to be just about parallel dimensions, but as we read further, find it is ALSO time travel. The only thing is that I guessed (more than guessed - I was as sure of it as I could be without actually reading the words) at what I can assume was supposed to be the cliff-hanger ending, many pages beforehand.
It was a free Kindle book, but I did end up spending the $2.99 for the sequel, even without the power of the cliff-hanger.
I love time travel books. I loved The Sliders TV show, which is parallel dimensions. At the beginning of this book, it seems to be just about parallel dimensions, but as we read further, find it is ALSO time travel. The only thing is that I guessed (more than guessed - I was as sure of it as I could be without actually reading the words) at what I can assume was supposed to be the cliff-hanger ending, many pages beforehand.
It was a free Kindle book, but I did end up spending the $2.99 for the sequel, even without the power of the cliff-hanger.
September 27, 2011
I really dig alternate timelines/time travel stories and Parallel did not disappoint. It's the first in the series, so I have lots of questions that I need answered and can't wait for the next book! The physics weren't so complicated that I couldn't understand them, but the plot was still trippy enough to hold my interest. There's a great twist at the end that I didn't suspect until right before it was revealed. Very interesting and enjoyable read.
September 29, 2015
This was an enjoyable book. I would have liked more details about parallel dimensions , but hopefully those will come in the other books in the series. I got this book for free on Amazon, and it's currently still free, so if the story piques your interest I say give it a read.
Content: some swearing (including taking God's name in vain)
Content: some swearing (including taking God's name in vain)
October 16, 2011
A really nice change from the werewolf/vampire craze that has taken over young adult fiction. I enjoyed the main character: quite a character, if you will excuse the pun. I look forward to reading other stories by Ms. Lefeve.
January 23, 2015
I couldn't put this book down! It's the first book in a long time that had me guessing and trying to figure things out. I felt the end could have had a few more questions answered, but hoping the sequel will do that.
July 9, 2012
Free book on my iBooks account. What's not to like? While it was quite intriguing for a kids' book, it has a sequel, and guess what?! The sequel is not free! Well played, iBooks, well played.
July 4, 2015
Was pretty slow in the first half when everyone kept secrets. Second half was much better as things started happening.
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