Monday, March 7, 2016

Review: Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor

Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor
Series: Into the Dim #1
Published: March 1st, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
432 pages (eARC)
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Acquired this book: Via NetGalley in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Chapters/Indigo}


When fragile sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission...or the key to Hope’s undoing. Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

When I first read the synopsis of Into the Dim, I remember my eyes getting bigger and bigger with excitement. Scotland. Secret society. Time travel. Eleanor of Aquitaine. All things that should make for a Marie Book. I went into it trying hard not to expect too much ‘just in case’, but ended up completely loving this book from beginning to end. It wove together elements of contemporary, science fiction, and historic fiction into a book that was nearly impossible to put down.

Hope has led a very sheltered life. Not only did her mother homeschool her, she also led Hope to believe she didn’t need anyone else in her life - no friends and few interactions with the outside world. Hope’s adopted father loved her, but his family was horrible to her, so Hope stayed away from them as much as possible. She developed a lot of phobias throughout her seclusion, plus she awkward and uncomfortable around other people. A few months after her mother’s death, Hope’s dad is already moving on, so when Hope’s mom’s family invites her to visit in Scotland, she goes. She’s not there long before she learns all kinds of fantastical things, including the fact her family is in a secret society of time travelers, and her mother isn’t actually dead - she’s trapped in London in the 1100s.

Hope was a great main character. She started out really timid and afraid of her own shadow, but she overcame so many obstacles - both mental and physical - along the way. She surprised me with her strength, and I ended up feeling proud of her for how strong, smart, and resourceful she was. I liked that the book started out like a contemporary, giving you time to get to know, like, and even understand Hope, and then BAM, not only does time travel exist, but she’s about to experience it. The book truly grabbed and held my attention once the characters travelled back in time. It all seemed so well thought out, and the plot was incredibly engaging. I’ve always been fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine (talk about a badass woman!), and I loved her part in the story. I also enjoyed the other characters and their side stories, and thought they were a great addition. It was obvious Taylor had done her research, and I appreciated that she touched on various aspects of what life was like then, from how horrifically common rape was to how a man essentially owned and controlled his wife to anti-Semitism and a bit of what life was like if you were Jewish. As a history nerd, I loved the little details and facts that were worked into the story, especially since I just visited London for the first time last year.

Overall, I loved Into the Dim. It was action packed, had great twists, plenty of intrigue, and a slow-building romance that kept me guessing and made me swoon. The vivid writing sucked me in - there were even a few times where I was breathless because the things that were happening seemed so real. I had high hopes for this book, and it exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait for the next book!

 


Have you read Into the Dim? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you have a favourite time travel book?

1 comment:

  1. Ooo! Your review and the Outlander reference have intrigued me!

    ReplyDelete

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~Marie

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