Review: Fast-paced Dystopian Sci Fi Thrill Ride!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2014
TIME RETURN by Micah Caida has time travel, science fiction, coming-of-age, first romance, and dystopian futuristic worlds all rolled up into one fast-paced rollercoaster package.This is a fun, fast-paced series, but if you haven't read the first book, TIME TRAP, you need to do that first. Some series you can jump into - this one you can't.Each chapter has a specific POV and voice, with each character having a wildly different agenda and interpretation of each situation. Even our three time travelers - Rayen, Gabby and Tony - have different reasons and different goals for returning to The Sphere.As with the first book, most of the story is from Rayen's viewpoint as she is the catalyst for the story, but this time we have additional POVs and insights, including more chapters from Callan, the love interest who draws Rayen back into this dangerous world. Most of the intricate world-building was established in Book 1, so again, you really need to start at the beginning of the series to appreciate the twists and turns and complexity.The scenes between Rayen and Callan were frustrating at times, as they deal with the overwhelming emotions of an impossible situation. Their reactions swing between hormonal teenagers to battle-hardened adults - which seems jarring until you remind yourself this is a Lord of the Flies kind of situation, where Callan has been forced to be the adult of the group for far too long, never having a chance at dating or falling in love like a normal teen would.The ending of this installment leaves the reader dangling on an even larger cliff than the first book. Luckily, the third book is due out this summer (hopefully!) to conclude this thrill ride.