Scythe

Dimension Drift #1

by Christina Bauer

Previous cover edition for ASIN 9781945723049
For alternate cover edition go here

Truth time. I go to a Learning Squirrel High School. Don’t judge.

On second thought, judge away. Learning Squirrel is one step above attending class in a junkyard. But what do you expect? Everything’s made out of garbage these days. At least, I have my freelance work to keep Mom and me housed, clothed, and fed. How? I’m your regular high school science geek for hire… only my work manipulates space-time. These gigs pay really well, but the government wants people like me dead. Good thing I’m super careful about hiding from their detection systems.

Then I screw up a job. Badly. My house slips into two-dimensional space-time. It only lasts for a few seconds, but the move still sets off about a dozen government alarms. If they track me down, Mom and I are good as dead. Long story short, I need to pay someone off, hide the evidence, and keep us safe.

Unfortunately, that means asking the Scythe for help. He runs the local underground crime scene and has absolutely no conscience. Or I’m pretty sure he doesn’t. It’s hard to think straight when a guy’s that hot in an evil Mafioso kingpin kind of way. More importantly, he’s a crime lord who can conceal my slip-up with a few clicks on his minion’s computer keyboards. But the Scythe has his price. In this case, he wants me to finish a certain dimensional prototype for him in twenty-four hours. I can do it, but it might mean Learning Squirrel High gets blown up in the process.

I’ve gotten out of worse scrapes. Maybe.

A NEW SERIES THAT'S PERFECT FOR: fans of urban fantasy, action & adventure, cool science, evil corporations, forbidden romance and hot new classmates who may or may not be aliens.

DIMENSION DRIFT WORLDS
1. Dimension Drift
2. Umbra

DIMENSION DIFT
1. Alien Minds
2. ECHO Academy

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Aliens, Teen

100 pages, ebook

First published April 24, 2018

About the author

Christina 'CEE BEE' Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dimension Drift Prequel by Christina Bauer

2.5 stars

Meimi’s mom has been comatose since her sister ran away. On the morning of her birthday, her mother wakes up and her Meimi accidentally send their building into a two-dimensional drift, which is a felony in their totalitarian government, the Authority, after calling on an alien to help find her sister. Now Meimi, is on a mission to save her skin and get rid of the evidence of this drift being opened before the government can get their hands on her. I haven’t read Bauer before, but I always associated her with fluffy writing. This writing style is definitely fluffy and fun. It’s geared more towards younger audiences and uses a lot of diction that is just ridiculous. However, the concept is much more on the older side of the YA audience, so there’s a weird dichotomy of appealing to younger and older readers that I think works pretty well. Although some older readers may completely dismiss and move on, I have feeling that many will greatly enjoy this. As an adult reader who loves dystopian, it is harder to suspend belief in certain scenarios. For instance, I don’t ever see a totalitarian government that runs off the fear it incites and the absolute reverence it receives to name a school for (re)education Learning Squirrel High School and have a professor who acts like a chipper camp counselor, but contradicts the narrative with, “Today we’re going to learn about what makes people like you pathetic. Who can tell me why you’re inferior?” (Actual quote) It just doesn’t mesh well with the overall threat or what’s actually being conveyed. However, from a young adult perspective I probably would have been enthralled by this (I’m talking eleven-year-old range).

Whimsical Writing Scale: 3

The main female character is Meimi. She isn’t a bad character, but there isn’t all that much there. She is pretty one dimensional at times and all of a sudden, I’m being told by her hot new alien crush that she is special and I’m just not buying it. This girl is obviously smart, but her family all seem to be geniuses so that doesn’t seem abnormal to me. She is just kind of there and I liked her well enough, but I’m not running around screaming her awesomeness either.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 2.5

The main male character is Thorne. Oh, yes. The stereotypical object name on that of an alien. Makes a lot sense. Also, this guy has some great one liners that had me laughing and rolling my eyes.
“Never be frightened of me, Rosa Meimifloria Archer.” (what a name)
“No, because, you’ve a true heart, stellar mind, and fighting spirit. Because you’re all I think about. I’d tear apart any number of universes for you.”
That last one kills me especially because he hasn’t even known for more than 48 hours. I just can’t. This guy was the worst part of this novel, mainly because I felt like he was a distraction from the actual plot.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 1.25

The Villain- Not a big bad and not that scary. I’m always told I should fear this government, but I didn’t see anything that should make me fear it.

Villain Scale: 2

Overall, this story isn’t all that bad. It’s a fun romp and it’s a quick read. If you are looking for something light and fun that doesn’t require much thought, then this is a novel I’d definitely recommend. I do think this story and the first novel as a whole have a lot of promise and I’m sure it will garner some attention and loyal fans.

Plotastic Scale: 3

Cover Thoughts: It’s nice… I guess.

Thank you, Netgalley and Monster House Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[BriennaiJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meimi is a girl with a lot on her shoulders. She believes that her sister Luci is dead, as she has gone missing over a year ago. Her mother's condition is also worsening, and she is only lucid a few times every couple of days. On top of all of this, she is supposed to be attending school. Luckily, she has found a way to hack her school system so that it says she's always there. When her hacking gets her on the government's radar, she has to find a way to protect both herself and her mother. 

Meime is a strong main character. This book isn't about romance, even though it does have it's scenes where it hints at romance for future novels. She is determined to protect both herself and her mother in this messed-up world, even if she has to commit crimes to do it. She is an amazing hacker and can get into almost anything. Without her mother, she may have been able to escape her situation entirely, but it is up to her to protect her mother.

Her mother's illness is not explained in the book, but it makes it so that she sometimes can't really walk, talk, or function. Without anyone else in their lives, Meime must take on the role as the family breadwinner. She has several heart-to-heart moments with her mother when she is lucid, and her mother tries to apologize for not being there. But Meime is just that strong, and she knows that she will be able to support her family. Her older sister isn't around anymore to do it, so it is up to her.

The plot of this book starts off really slow, and then it ends a bit abruptly. It is a short story, but with the amount of information packed into this book, I had felt as if I had read a complete novel. This was the only thing that bothered me a bit about the story. It just felt a little too fast. But I can't wait to read the next novella in the series, I'm sure I will love Meime's character even more!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA dystopian series to start. 

I received an advance copy of this book, and this is my voluntary review. 

[Cheryl Whitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on http://bookaddict.live.
Wow I can’t wait for the first full book in the series to come along, but I settle for Umbra. A great introduction into to a new series I can’t wait for. We are introduced to Meimi’s world set well into the future. Where democracy have broken down. Most people live in domes protected from harsh reality and polluted atmosphere.
Meimi lives with her mother in the outer zones, her mother a scientist lives under the radar of The Authority. Nothing has been the same since Meimi sister Luci disappeared a year ago.
This is a great lead on until the main book is published next year. I so excited , I can’t wait for the next book. How Christina Bauer comes up with all her new ideas. I don’t think she sleeps.
Well enjoyed this the first time I read it as dimensional drift. This is a beefed up and extended edition, and still kept me gripped until the end, I now in mourning I need to know what happen next in Umbra. It’s like letting me peak at the present at the top of my Christmas list and then it gone. Please Christine where do you get your ideas, I would like a peak at your imagination because I’m always astounded when you create all theses worlds.

[Cheryl Whitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I can’t wait for the first full book in the series to come along. A great introduction into to a new series I can’t wait for. We are introduced to Meimi’s world set well into the future. Where democracy have broken down. Most people live in domes protected from harsh reality and polluted atmosphere.
Meimi lives with her mother in the outer zones, her mother a scientist lives under the radar of The Authority. Nothing has been the same since Meimi sister Luci disappeared a year ago. This is a great lead on until the main book is published later in the year.

[anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received from Xpresso Book Tours

OMG, this was absolutely amazing! I got so into it from the start and couldn't believe how fast it ended. And it's only a prequel 😲, this series is going to be amazing. :)

Meimi's mom is catatonic almost all the time, ever since her sister left. The world she lives on is a dangerous one, the sick are not tolerated, so she takes care of her and hides her from the government. Meimi is a genius, she works on high tech gadgets and sells them to... bad people. She goes to high school sometimes too. :) Until one time, when her latest freelance job goes horribly wrong and everything goes to hell.

Meimi is such an amazing character, she is bad-ass, brilliant and very snarky. :) And the setting, the world described is very dark, technically very advanced and very interesting. And the is all this amazing sciency stuff and aliens and a lot of mystery. :) It sounds very interesting and I look forward to more to come.

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Meimi has been trying to hold her life together after her sister Luci went missing a and her mother just shut down a year ago. But holding everything together is hard when you live on the fringes of a society where science is outlawed and you are forced to do small jobs for a crime lord the Scythe to pay the pills. But when her mother unexpectedly shows enthusiasm for a project, Meimi jumps at the chance to get involved- especially if it means finding her sister. What she didn't count on was the explosion of science that will cause the Merciless (aka the govt) to take notice and for a stranger to appear...

Firstly, thanks a lot Christina- I thought we were friends! And yes, I read the disclaimer in the front of the book that this was a cliff hanger- and it was, it really really was! Which would be ok, except for the fact I can't get my grabby hands on another story for months. Sniff, sniff! This was so good, and as per all of Christina's books, I am hooked. Side note for you, I am a total fangirl over Ms. Bauer's magical creations (aka books aka random stories filled with great characters, snark and mayhem!) so I will read whatever she wants to write at this point- but that means the bar is set pretty dang high....and I was not disappointed.

Scythe is the first Dimension Drift prequel novella, just a snippet really to introduce the characters and hint at the destructed world, and then BAM it is over and I have so many questions! Expect a quick read when you pick this up, roughly 100 pages, so you can blow through the book in a short period of time ( ...and then attempt to patiently wait for the next.) There is so much going on in this novella, I was kept on my toes the entire time. Be it random science, opening portals to new dimensions, evading capture, doing shady deals with crime bosses, betrayal, the humdrum of school with Lead Camper Dave (snicker), to a hot (alien) man-candy sent to help save the day. Yep, this was quite the ride and I highly enjoyed myself. Pick this up and expect to get sucked in to the Dimension Drift.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting. Entertaining. Leading. Compelling.

The excitement of being able to take of your family at such a young as with the skills of years of experience. The entertaining activities that take place in more than one dimension. The escape of the government. The prospect of doing something dangerous. This was a short read that was leading up to more in the next installment of this series. An introduction in to the world of a kick-ass, play the game, do the job, make it happen, girl in high school. 

Christina Bauer gives great visual cue, awesome world building, well developed characters, strong/supported/determine female lead. A fantasy world that I am very excited to sink right in to.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-3 I hate double prequels. Makes zero sense to waste time and then have to wait for a year. Nope

[Mutated Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads Synopsis:
"Fans of A Wrinkle in Time can't miss Dimension Drift!" - Christina Trevaskis, The Book Matchmaker

Truth time. I go to a Learning Squirrel High School. Don’t judge.

On second thought, judge away. Learning Squirrel is one step above attending class in a junkyard. But what do you expect? Everything’s made out of garbage these days. At least, I have my freelance work to keep Mom and me housed, clothed, and fed. How? I’m your regular high school science geek for hire… only my work manipulates space-time. These gigs pay really well, but the government wants people like me dead. Good thing I’m super careful about hiding from their detection systems.

Then I screw up a job. Badly. My house slips into two-dimensional space-time. It only lasts for a few seconds, but the move still sets off about a dozen government alarms. If they track me down, Mom and I are good as dead. Long story short, I need to pay someone off, hide the evidence, and keep us safe.

Unfortunately, that means asking the Scythe for help. He runs the local underground crime scene and has absolutely no conscience. Or I’m pretty sure he doesn’t. It’s hard to think straight when a guy’s that hot in an evil Mafioso kingpin kind of way. More importantly, he’s a crime lord who can conceal my slip-up with a few clicks on his minion’s computer keyboards. But the Scythe has his price. In this case, he wants me to finish a certain dimensional prototype for him in twenty-four hours. I can do it, but it might mean Learning Squirrel High gets blown up in the process.

I’ve gotten out of worse scrapes. Maybe.

A NEW SERIES THAT'S PERFECT FOR: fans of urban fantasy, action & adventure, cool science, evil corporations, forbidden romance and hot new classmates who may or may not be aliens.

DIMENSION DRIFT WORLDS
1. Dimension Drift
2. Umbra

DIMENSION DIFT
1. Alien Minds
2. ECHO Academy

My Review:
Meimi Archer's seventeenth birthday that's unlike any other. First, her mom wakes her up to decorate her room. This is crazy, because for the last year, she's been sitting at a chair by the window not even able to take care of herself. Her sister ran away a year ago with her high school sweetheart, and hasn't been seen or heard from since. A family of scientists, they live outside the plasma domes barely scraping by. But it's better than being in one, because the people who live there, although safe, have no privacy. The government, just called The Authority, can scan for anything any time and kick you out or put you in a medical facility if they see anything they don't like. People aren't allowed to develop or learn new technology. And that's just not what Meimi and her family are about.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this book, but I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to see what happens next. It's a prequel, so it's very short. I devoured it in one sitting, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were exactly what I hoped for them to be, and the story was refreshing and new. I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the series.

Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the Author's Twitter.

https://www.amazon.ca/Dimension-Drift...

https://twitter.com/CB_Bauer

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to dystopian novels, I'm a bit wary. The set up is almost always the same and because it takes a certain amount of understand of history and science, it makes it a bit difficult for me to read. This one, is just the right blend with a bit of sci-fi to it that I'm intrigued. I liked Meimi the main character. This story is way too short as it ended right as the story started to get good. This is a prequel in some ways and it did a good job in setting up the world as well as the characters.

This is a bleak world where there are haves and have nots. Meimi is a have not so that she can contain her freedom. Unfortunately for her, she is young and dumb. This is to be expected of a seventeen year old. Many questions arise out of this story and I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. One can only hope the next story is longer.

The pace of this story is nice and fast. It is concise with not an extra word. Meimi's friends are interesting and I wish there was more about them. I like that her friends are other females instead of having adversarial ones. The kicker in this story is the boy from another dimension. What is he and why would he honour his father's promise? So many questions - absolutely no answers. This dystopian story is recommended to readers who like a bit of sci-fi.

*provided by NetGalley

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://functioninginsanity.blogspot.c...

Rating: 4 Stars

So Dimensional Drift is a prequel to a new series by an auto-buy author of mine Christina Bauer. I was excited to dive into this new world and see how things start off. A very dystopian reality that has very strict laws and school is mostly a way to teach you how awesome the government is and have you working for free. The sick or unproductive are removed and science is forbidden unless it is under strict control. Basically being your own person is not an options. Still we get to know Meimi and her world and how she survives day to day until everything goes out the window and a science crime leads to a stranger from another dimension and all sorts of trouble for her.

This is a seriously fast read but it got me curious about the world, which sounds horrible and no place I'd want to be in, and in Meimi. The science behind it all with the different worlds and dimensions have such promise. There is a bit of romance forming and I'm curious to know more about our gentleman. There are so many questions from the Scythe, her sister, this world drifts, and more. I look forward to learning more about them and diving into this new series full of science, action and adventure, and more.

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Wow. Just wow. If Scythe is any indication, the Dimension Drift series is going to be a corker, hands down.

Meimi is only 16 years old but she's much older than the usual teenager, having lost her father and sister, acting as caretaker for her emotionally and mentally fragile mother and living in a world where monstrous beasts are created to "dispose" of undesirables as defined by the Authority. Meimi supports herself and her mother by doing freelance scientific work for the local crime lord, Scythe, and becoming beholden to him for their very survival is not a choice she would have willingly made, had she actually had a choice.

From the first few words, I was completely hooked on this story and its characters. The plot is full of nonstop action and tension while the characters, Meimi as well as others, are vividly drawn, even the exceedingly dangerous Lacerator, the newest of those killer monsters. Beyond all that, though, Ms. Bauer is a master craftsman of worldbuilding and that alone would have kept me fascinated.

There is only one thing wrong with Scythe---it's a prequel and by the very nature of the beast (so to speak) that means the story ends way too quickly and leaves you hanging, swinging in the breeze. I really hope the next prequel, Umbra, will be out soon, followed by the first full-length novel, Alien Minds ;-)

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review on my blog!

* a copy was provided by NetGalley*

Wow. Just wow. If Scythe is any indication, the Dimension Drift series is going to be a corker, hands down. 

I just realized this was a prequel~ omg, this was absolutely amazing! I got so into it from the start and couldn't believe how fast it ended.

This was a great introduction into to a new series I can’t wait for.

Meimi is a girl with a lot on her shoulders. She believes that her sister Luci is dead, as she has gone missing over a year ago. Her mother's condition is also worsening, and she is only lucid a few times every couple of days. On top of all of this, she is supposed to be attending school. Luckily, she has found a way to hack her school system so that it says she's always there. When her hacking gets her on the government's radar, she has to find a way to protect both herself and her mother.

Can’t wait to read more! I'm really looking forward to Umbra, which is another prequel from Thorne's POV. I recommend this series!

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

[Jypsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scythe is a prequel novella. The story seems written more for a younger audience. It's okay but not fantastic. The romance is very shallow. The premise is typical. I recommend for young readers like high school. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Scythe” is another good start for an awesome series. There are many reasons why I liked it, but at the same time, there are a couple of reasons why I did not enjoy it as much as I would have wanted.

Starting with the positives, I like the universe, with the political system, the dimensions and all that alien stuff. It sounds complicated, but the author has a way with words that makes everything natural. And this is another reason why I like it. I have also read/listened to “Angelboud” by this same author. While in case of „Angelbound” I was not a fan of the narration, the author did an amazing job with the writing. So I know what to expect. I even like the heroine and how she does her best to set the things on the right path, trying to correct her own mistakes. She is not perfect at all, but this makes her more real.

Now on the negatives. The romance was too quick. These two have barely been introduced and one cannot live without the other. Not my cup of tea. No, not at all. I wanted to see a “bigger” evil. I wanted the negative characters to be more evil, but to be honest, this is a short book, so …. No room for much development here.

However, I do see this series as so much more and I cannot wait to see what happens next. “Schyte” opens a lot of doors and I cannot wait to see what’s next J Happy Reading guys! Oh, 4 stars here !

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
This novella was a good read and insightful for the upcoming series Dimension Drift. Meimi is very talented with designing technology and hacking systems. We get to read some of Meimi's backstory before her memory gets wiped so she can design tech for the Authority. She gets into some trouble and needs the help of Fritz and the Scythe to pay the Authority off so she can remain off the grid with her mom. When her mom is lucid for the first time in a long time, they open another dimension, the second dimension to send a message asking for help. Thorne, an alien, arrives to help them and Meimi cannot help but feel this intense connection to him, and he calls Transcendent. However, Meimi is betrayed by the Scythe, but kept alive so the Authority can use her talents, which involve wiping her memory. I am looking forward to reading Alien Minds to see where Meimi and Thorne's story goes!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 3.5

DIMENSION DRIFT is a prequel that did it's job.

Meimi caught my interest pretty quickly. The things she can do are pretty neat and I'm interested in learning more about her as she learns about her self in book two.

There's a bit of an insta-love feel that I hope doesn't happen. I need there to be a little more lead up to romance. Hopefully I get that in the next book.

The world was interesting. Some things were a little kookie —Learning Squirrel High School with camp counselor teachers—, but I still ended up enjoying things.

DIMENSION DRIFT gave me just enough to keep me interested and left me wanting more.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Genevieve Eldredge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, inventive first glimpse of this lush SF dystopian world! Fans of A Wrinkle in Time will love this snarky, sassy, fast-paced adventure. Meimi Archer is a modern-day heroine that is sure to capture the admiration of both teens and older readers. Can’t wait to read more!

[nerdgurll☠️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like it as much as I thought. Honesty, it was boring.
It could be just me. You can read and judge it

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a futuristic world, where there is no place for the sick or struggling humans, this story focus on the search of the main character's sister and the unexpected handsome alien that comes to help.
This prequel is appealing and engaging. Love the strong female character and the cliff hanger at the end.
It built expectation to first book in the series.

Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yessss! Perfect blend of sci-fi, adventure & dystopian with a sarcastic, smart badass like Meimi!! I loved this book and while there were a few typos, I honestly didn't care enough to dock it a star. It's too good to penalize.

[Emmeline (The Book Herald) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review

“The Authority strives for purity in all things. Any signs of what they call mental weakness, and the Authority declares you an enemy of the state, and you disappear.”

This was a really cool story which I enjoyed a lot.

Christina Bauer has a gift with sucking you into a story and not letting go until the final sentence is over. This was one of those stories.

The character Meimi is funny and engaging. She made me smile throughout with her wit and depth of character.

Honestly, because this is novella style, it was short, I really wanted more build up especially when it came to her somewhat short interaction with Thorne.

Warning: there are shades of insta-love while I typically hate that I didn’t mind overly much but I would’ve enjoyed a lot more information rather than the possibility of an intergalactic war...but like, for what and how do you know you love someone in less than 24 hours?

But honestly this is just a minor detail to the story. I felt sucked it and I know I will follow this story through because I happen to really enjoy the world building and the whole atmosphere of this story including the main character. So yup, if you’re fans of dystopian stories and a strong female character with a scientific mind then read it folks!

Stay awesome!
Emmeline The Book Herald
Blog: http://thebookherald.wix.com/thebookh...
Twitter- @thebookherald

[Majanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing prequel, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm a fan of scifi/dystopian series, and this one definitely hits the mark. Sassy heroine, fast-paced plot, great writing, what more can a reader want?

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the blurb, I was excited to get my hands on this one. It was even better than I expected.

Meimi is about sixteen years old and a genius. Too bad, she can only use her talents to create devices for the black market, since it's the only way to keep her mother alive. Thanks to her mother's mental illness, she's been placed on the government's to-be-exterminated list. Meimi makes sure the two of them live off grid, but it's not easy. While semi-stealing parts for her latest order, Meimi runs into more than a little trouble, and she finds herself mind-melding with the government's latest killing beast. It could be a dream just like the ones she has about a hot alien guy...but as things get weirder and more dangerous, she begins to question more than her sanity.

This is a book for multi-universe, science fiction, action, teen romance and imagination fans. Meimi is a tough girl...not overly so, though. And it's this which makes her enjoyable. She's a genius in her area—dimension drifts—but she's social null and more than awkward. Plus, she's not a kick-butt heroine like often found in these novels. Her talent is simply her brains. And heart. Her sass is heavy but it fits very well to her situation and background. Plus, she's aware that she doesn't know everything and can't handle every situation. It's easy to like her and connect with her.

Imagination hits science fiction hard and creates a rich, fun world. There's a dash of dystopian which makes for an interesting mix with the multi-universes and dimensions. Not everything is scientifically sound...not even close, but that's also not the point. There is a ton of fun in these pages, and it's a fantastical dive into Meimi's amazing devices and the shifting of dimensions and creatures. The criminal/mafia add-on gives a nice touch as does the problems Meimi faces with her family situation.

The romance hits fast (as is often the case in young adult novels) and that was a little disappointing. But at least, the author makes sure to give a solid reasoning behind the almost 'instant' love in wonderful science fiction style.

This isn't a literary wonder but an enjoyable read to get lost in and an adventure with tons of thrills. I'll be continuing with this series to see what happens next.

I received a complimentary copy and was drawn into the story even much more than expected. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.

[Phi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Christina Bauer and loved her Angelbound Series so when I heard about this new series I couldn't wait to dive in. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of sci fi but because I knew that I loved her storytelling I gave it a go. For me this was a 3.5 star read and honestly it's because I'm hesitant to give novellas anything higher as they're so short you can't really get completely lost in the book or the characters.

Meimi is caring, loving, strong, clever and wise beyond her years. I loved reading about a kickass female character who fights using her brain. She's so clever and the technology and inventions she creates is amazing! Truly a wonderful character to read about. Thorne is a prince who's often overlooked as of his two other brothers he is considered the weakest in terms of power and least likely to claim the throne from his father after his passing. Both these characters are stronger than they know and I can't wait to read more about them!

The side characters Miss Edith, Zoe and Chloe are also incredible, they add humour to the story which is enjoyable to read about. There's never a dull moment with them present!

In terms of romance I was waiting for more. Now to understand what I'm talking about you need to understand that Meimi and Thorne are transcendents (in more understandable terms soulmates x10). Meimi is a human and therefore, isn't familiar with the term transcendent which is why at times I felt as though their feelings for one another were more one sided as Thorne knew the meaning of there relationship thus, was more invested whereas Meimi viewed it as a crush at first. I'm hoping that as the series continues their relationship will develop more until their feelings are equally as strong.

There's definitely potential for the rest of the series and I can't wait to read the next book to see what is in store. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a YA sci fi book with romance and mystery. If you've read this book and enjoyed it then I definitely recommend trying out some of Christina Bauers other reads including Angelbound.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally published at my blog: https://livingahundredlives.wordpress...

Cheers to the author for creating another kick-ass female MC! What I’m starting to love about Christina Bauer’s books are her awesome female leads. They’re powerful characters and Meimi is a genius tech developer.

The first chapters are really interesting. It already gives readers a glimpse of how bad ass Meimi is. It’s like a scene from a tech movie. I kind of wish that the other parts of the book has that kind of vibes. Though I know this is a prequel novella so it actually focuses on building up the story and the characters.

I’m actually excited for the first book in the series. Because I swear, this novella’s end scene is aaaaaaa!! It really is a great way to end a prequel because readers would surely look forward and would be excited for the other books in the series.

It was a fast read and every character really is intriguing. I want to learn more about them and how they would affect the bigger picture. Also, I had this “dystopian” feels while I was reading it. I’m not entirely sure if it was in that genre though. But the book talks about dimensions.

I love science in books because sometimes, you kind of get lost on what’s real and what’s still fictional. I think the author’s creativity is shown when a good concept is created. The book did not disappoint in that factor!

It was an okay read for me. I enjoyed the sci-fi part and I know I’m going to enjoy the next books. I actually recommend this to readers who love science fiction! I’ve never read books featuring dimension drifts so this is something new to me.

Overall, I rate Scythe by Christina Bauer, 3.5 out of 5 stars!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dimension Drift is a fantastic introduction to a brand new series by the amazing author Christina Bauer. It is set in the future where people live in domes and are protected by the government. But as always there are some people that choose to live off the grid without the government’s protection so to speak. People like Meimi and her mom who scavenge for food, clothes and other things they made need or want.

Meimi likes to create things from the different stuff that she scavenges to sell to the highest bibber so that she can take care of her mom. Meimi’s sister Luci and her boyfriend left one day and go off to make a life of their own. Meimi and her mom never hear from her again which is not like Luci at all. They are worried about her wondering if she was taken by the government or maybe even someone else. Now they spend their days searching for Luci.

Meimi’s mom asks her to help her create a void or drift so that she can call on a friend to help them find Luci. Creating this drift will put their lives in danger and if caught by the government they will be executed. Hoping to avoid the wrath of the government Meimi calls on a business acquaintance of hers that may be able to help her cover up the deed.

I just love reading Christina’s books and I love dystopian, it is my favorite genre of all time so when I saw that she had a new book/series in the dystopian genre I knew I had to read it and I definitely can’t wait for the first book. Dimension Drift was a fantastic start to this new series set in a futuristic, dystopian world with aliens.

While Dimension Drift is a short read it has a lot of punch that will keep you entertained right up until the end with an ending that will have you wanting more.

I would recommend Dimension Drift to all fans of dystopian books with a futuristic world setting with aliens too.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scythe is a prequel novella set in the Dimension Drift Worlds series by Christina Bauer. Now, while the actual series hasn't come out yet, you can pick up a copy of Scythe to get an idea of what will be in store come spring of next year (yay!).

It's the story of a teenage girl named Meimi Archer. She happens to be a science/tech genius who lives with her mom. The world she lives in, though, frowns upon certain types of people, and her mom happens to be one of those. However, Meimi works for a mysterious figure who is able to keep her and her mother under the government's radar...as long as she does his bidding.

But when something goes really, really wrong one night, it sets off a chain reaction of, well, craziness that will have Meimi wondering if she might just be in over her head.

I really liked the prequel. It's fun, snarky, and sets up events that will intrigue readers and have them eager for the main series. I thought Meimi was a typical teenage girl, save for the fact that she lives in a dystopian world where she can fuss with dimensions and meet an alien prince. So, yeah. Just your normal, average teenage girl.

I'm really looking forward to Umbra, which is another prequel from Thorne's POV. Who is Thorne, you may ask? Why, he's the alien prince Meimi comes into contact with. Also, I'm super excited about Alien Minds and ECHO Academy. I love the world building already, and I can't wait to dive into the main series next year.

If you enjoy dystopian fiction with kick-butt female characters, geeky tech, hot aliens, and more, then you'll definitely want to get your hands on Scythe.

4.5 stars from me!

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Bauer revamps the original book and breaks it into three books, at least this what I think happens (laugh) regarding the “Dimension Drift” series.. I come to this series late in the game and have just started it, to find that what was a two book series is now a four book series, but each prequel has now additional material.

I say this for the benefit of any readers who already started the series and say, “Huh?!”

Scythe kicks off the “Dimension Drift” series telling Meimi’s version of events before she enters the Echo Academy. Meimi is beyond cool and of course she only has a couple of friends who seem just as cool and want in the badassery of Meimi’s world.

Bauer has created a world right in my backyard so for me I connected even more with the characters and the story. I think the only part of the story which was confusing to me was how a six-year-old girl stayed off the grid working for a company who is as brilliant as she is and she was not taken for science. There is no real explanation as to why it is normal for six-year-olds to be working, I got the impression she was not doing mill work so I am a little confused on this issue. Maybe it is explained in another book.

Other than that issue, Bauer creates a fantastic world full of multiple bad guys, betrayals, and technology. There is plenty of science fiction and parallel universes to please the sci-fi geeks. Bauer has created quite a task as there seems to be no good guys except maybe the aliens and even they have an agenda.

Very exciting. See you on the Drift.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Rei ⭐ [TrulyBooked] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beyond the fact that the book ended before I thought it should, I just couldn't get into it. The book had some cute little nods like the main character having to go to this work camp showing as a school.

Their school is run like a peppy summer camp combined with a Nazi work camp. The guards there are so strict that they're called the Merciless and shirking work is not permitted. I could suspend disbelief enough to go into this summer camp/work camp/school hybrid, but the world didn't follow its own rules. No one can shirk work, but you can also be sent home by the teacher sometimes which means missing work.

Everyone's being monitored closely... sometimes. You can get out of being monitored... sometimes.

There are also a ton of plots going on all at once. There's a beat the clock deadline, a sexy boy, a missing sister, a sick mom, other dimensional beings who owe favours, a mafia, and a totalitarian government. Considering how short the book is, it's a lot.

I would have liked it more if the prequel had focused in on one story and really fleshed it out rather than throwing all the elements at us at once. The end result was that everything felt flat and one of the challenges of a novella is to make us care with less time available than a novel.

Plus, the universe didn't seem to follow its own rules which was could get frustrating.

I'm not unhappy I read it, but I won't be reading the main book.

For more reviews like this, check out Truly Booked.