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Please note: I received an e-book Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinions for this review in any way.
Synopsis (From GoodReads):
Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveler. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...
Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.
Review:
I'll admit that I really didn't know much about The Girl From Everywhere, by Heidi Heilig, before I read it. There was a lot of chatter about this book on Twitter, which I have found to be both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, people were saying it was wonderful. I had heard the story was about time travel and there seemed to be a pirate ship on the cover. Hmm, I was intrigued. On the other hand, I really didn't want to read any spoilers, and I didn't want to hear so much about it that it couldn't possibly live up to the hype. So I started to stay away from posts where The Girl From Everywhere was the subject. But then it was offered up on NetGalley and I was actually approved! Amazed at my good fortune, I began reading.What I Liked:
Nixie: The main character, Nixie, is a sixteen-year old who has lived entirely on the ship. Time travel for her is what is normal. I loved how she was an intelligent person who was conflicted about her feelings for her father.Slate: I thought the father, Slate, was a wonderfully complex character. An opium addict, he was selfish about fulfilling his needs and desires. You could see how much cared about Nix and also mourned the loss of his wife.
Kashmir: The lovable thief, who may (or may not) be a certain storybook character. He has had a difficult life on the streets. Does he care for Nix or is he trying to con her?
The setting: The ship travels to Hawaii in the mid-1800's. I love how that time period shows the conflict between the traditional native Hawaiians and the influx of Americans eager to exploit that natural resources of the island. If you know Hawaii's history, you understand how heartbreaking this struggle became.
What I didn't like:
The exposition: I would have appreciated a bit more explaining at the beginning of the story as to how time travel worked in this universe. I will admit that sometimes as a reader I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I was confused by how they were able to go from one era to the next. How do the maps actually work? Since I do not want to spoil anything, I will not say much more.Overall, The Girl From Everywhere was a fun adventure with a delightful dose of romance sprinkled in for good measure. With it's premise, I would think there would be many opportunities for sequels. And I would definitely want to sail on that ship.
Rating:
Release Date: February 16th, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-book ARC
Recommendation: For a swashbuckling good time, read this book! Fun and romantic, if a bit confusing.
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