Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Series: Firebird #1
Series: Firebird #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Science Fiction
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.
Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.
A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.- via Goodreads
This is soooo cool!
The premise for A Thousand Pieces of You is mind boggling. I'm pretty smart but I definitely found myself scratching my head while reading... more on that in a bit. ATPOY centers around the concept of parallel dimensions so more Inception vs. Back to the Future. This is NOT time travel which is such a relief. I feel that rabbit hole has been played. Instead Claudia Gray has taken a step into a physics heavy world to explore the idea of multiple yous (and mes?) living simultaneously in different dimensions. Each door the characters step through is handled with care and beautiful world building.
Inspired research reading...
So sometimes while reading I get distracted by "fact checking." Let's just say with all the science in this I'm surprised I finished it so soon. O_O The science and play on M (string) theory make for a romanticized convergence of fate and physics. It's hott and super nerdy. In other words, I like it!
If you liked the movies Inception or Donnie Darko it's a similar set up but it definitely took me a minute to work through the beginning chapter's info dump to get the rules. However, once Gray's science is set up it's consistent, smooth and really, really thought provoking.
But who are we really?!?!
This is where the really, really thought provoking part kicks in. I don't want to spoil anything but yes so many good questions. Are you really you in all dimensions or part of you? Which one is the "real" you? Does fate play a role in all dimensions?
I really enjoyed trying to work through these possibilities in my head. It also drew me closer to the characters while not trusting any of them! Marguerite, Paul and Theo all have to work through these issues and it's very interesting to read how it all plays out.
Amazing writing, plot and pacing
Gray utilizes 5(ish) dimensions and hits the ground running! The plot kicks off with the catalyst already in motion so there's a bit of (very necessary) info dump, character intros, plot roll out and then we hit the road. The pacing is intricately timed to accommodate both character development and plot progression.
Swoons are like cherries and I want more!
Ahhh... the boys and kisses. I wasn't looking for big romance or swoons but Gray doesn't leave us out to dry. There are a couple scenes that made me swoon and I possibly have found a new book boyfriend. Theo and Paul are very different people but as they travel they are also different people.
I cannot wait for book two!!!! I expect it will get interesting and I'm curious to see how their dimension travel factors into it.
5 Stars – I want to start reading this again now! If nothing else, buy it for the cover :)
I'm had my eye on this book for a while. I like Gray's work, but this book sounded like it could go either way. So glad to know it's good!
ReplyDeleteI really, really liked it. I'm debating shoving TBRs aside to re-read :P
Delete- meghann