Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Passenger Series

Synopsis for Passenger (from Goodreads):

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Fav 2015
Series: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
# of Books: 2 (Passenger, Wayfarer)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Time-travel, Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: January 2016 – 2017
Source & Format: NetGalley–eBook | Thank you SO MUCH Disney Hyperion for granting my wish!

**This post was originally posted as a Fresh Friday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

When I was browsing NetGalley one day, they were taking wishes for Passenger and I just had to take a chance. Not only is the cover beautiful, but the premise itself sounded right up my alley. I love time travel books and I’m a sucker for a sailor like Nicholas so needless to say, I was intrigued. I hoped it would be more of A Thousand Pieces of You (although that one deals with alternate dimensions) type of book instead of the dud that was Timeless by Alexandra Monir.

What I Liked:

–The Time Travelling Premise–

Time travelling can be very confusing; especially when there is a chance you can come across past selves and the like. I will admit I was more than a little confused with the time travelling concept of the Ruby Red Trilogy but that wasn’t the case here with Passenger. I thought the world was pretty straight forward and everything was easy to follow. Even the loop-holes and roundabouts were easy to understand and I really liked that. It’s complex without being overly complicated. It made the story flow in a great way and made it addicting to read.

–The Adventure–

Normally, adventure novels bore me but time travel novels seem to be the exception. This one was fast paced and goes to a lot of interesting places and times. I always felt like the plot was moving forward and it never seemed dull to me. There were also some great twists along the way and you have the romance to fill in when necessary. This story simply builds up at a great pace and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What I Didn’t Like:

–The Insta-Love Connection–

It’s weird that this is my dislike because I actually loved Nicholas and Etta together. They were an adorable pair and I loved how they treated each other–I’m a sucker for a forbidden romance after all.

BUT, I just didn’t like how it seemed to be so insta-connection on their part. They had hardly spoken and they were already swooning over each other. Which is fine, I get the physical attraction between them. I also get that in times of high stakes, emotions are amplified and so I could see how they could fall so fast for each other (and I did LOVE their romantic scenes together don’t get me wrong). I just wanted to see more of a tangible connection between them at the start and have that built upon.

My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:

I’m really excited for the next part of the journey! I think some interesting twists are at play and I don’t even know where to start next!

–August 18, 2017– Book #2: Wayfarer

**Copy Not Provided for Review**

It took me 3 attempts to finally get the time to read this book–it’s rather daunting in size! I was excited to see what was in store for Etta and company and I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

I did find the first half to be a touch slower–there weren’t a lot of new developments happening and it was a lot of basic adventure. Some things felt more organic than others in terms of character development and that strained the story a touch for me. And while it was fun to jump from time to time, I needed just a touch more. However, the last half of this book captured my full attention. It was non-stop action and great character moments! I couldn’t put it down.

It’s a solid conclusion that wraps everything up very nicely.

My Rating: 5/5

Passenger 5/5 | Wayfarer 4/5

If you are looking for a great adventure novel or want to give a time travel novel a shot. I highly recommend this novel! It was fun, heartwarming and simply a fantastic read!

Read if You Like: world-building, time travel
Avoid if You: dislike time travel, dislike forbidden romance

• Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (Ruby Red Trilogy #1)
• A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic Series #1)
• A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray (Firebird Trilogy #1)
• Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini (Worldwalker Trilogy #1)

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