Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 pages in Hardcover
Published: November 4th 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. 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.

I’ve waited long enough before I’ve had the book to read and I’m so freaking excited the moment I had it. I so love the book cover. Felt love at first sight. Even voted it somewhere for The Most Beautiful Covers of 2014. I’ve noted the rundown as appealing too. Though I’ve read negative reviews, I was so certain that I would love this, but then I think I’m mistaken. I want to love the book or like it at least. Unfortunately, my feelings for the book only included “I’m bored!”, “Does it have to be that complicated?” and “I don’t care anymore.” moments. I recalled a friend commenting on one of my post (Last Teaser Tuesday) about me ranting that I’ve only read up until Chapter Four of this because I can’t find time to read due to the Christmas preparations and stuff and I quote:

Is it because you’re busy or because you’re not enjoying the book
that you’ve only read to the fourth chapter?
– Jan of Notes of A Readaholic

 

 

When I’m halfway done reading the book, I come to realized that she’s kind of spot-on. Now. Let’s get to the specifics because I can’t wait to spill thoughts out of my head and to probably rant more. 😀

The writing is somehow ordinary, but confusing at the same time. I’m bombarded with jargons from the first couple of chapters about science and stuff I’m really not familiar with. Do I have to be some kind of a science genius so I would be interested or I’m just stupid to not know what multiverse and dimensional resonance are? Do tell. Perhaps “These dimensions aren’t off in faraway outer space.” would be a simpler explanation. NO.

Teaser Tuesday #24

I’ve decided to join this ’cause I think it’s pretty fun and easy. Plus I really want to quote smart retorts, full blown bullying, words of wisdom, swoon worthy lines and the like without giving much to readers about the entire book. A quote or two won’t hurt I guess.

So here’s how it works:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Randomly open a page.
3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 pages in Hardcover
Published: November 4th 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. […]

Here’s the teasers! 😀

Currently Reading│Book Beginning : A Thousand Pieces of You & Sample: A Darker Shade of Magic

Currently Reading #35

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 pages in Hardcover
Published: November 4th 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. 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.

Finally. Reading this. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, perhaps you would remember me posting a blog about Claudia visiting the Philippines for a book signing tour and unfortunately, I’ve missed it. Imagine the frustration I felt when Claudia is just a couple of blocks away signing books and I’m sitting in my office so unaware. I’ve read it in an article a day after only to learn that Claudia’s already in Cebu and that’s far from where I am. As in you need to take an airplane far. How in world could I missed it? Anyway, I moved on. I just want to share it for those who missed that blog I posted about it. Here’s a five star, three star and one star review respectively. Got them from book lovers on Goodreads.

One of the most interesting, unique stories I have had the privilege to read in quite some time. I can’t even begin to capture a picture of the basic story for you, all that would do is serve an injustice. Just trust me, you need to go pick this book up and me as captivated as I am now. I can def see this being made into a major motion picture. Why can’t all stories take you on a journey such as this one?!  Now, I’m going to need Claudia Gray to hurry up and finish the 2nd book in this series so I can finish it in a day. 🙂  MUST READ!
— Jessica of My Kaleidoscope Heart 

My Week in a Wrapped #8

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I’ve pretty much done a couple of good deeds this past week (halo included). I know that good deeds are not to be counted and talked about, but perhaps doing something like those is not so usual for me (Hahaha! That’s because I am surrounded with inanimate things most of the time really) so I’m quite proud of myself. I didn’t mean that I’m Satan’s little spawn, but close. I’m kidding. Anyway, I’ve helped a lady that was stranded in the middle of the street ’cause the cab she hailed has broken down. It’s very late that night and the street was somehow full of scary shadows. As you know, muggers and the like lurks where you least expect them and they usually pretend to be helpless and harmless. She asked for my help and I was hesitant at first ’cause it could be a trick, but then my gut feeling told me it was not. She was shaking while walking alongside me. She told me she’s scared since she’s not familiar with the place so I dropped her off on a taxi bay and waited for her to take a cab and left. Before she left, she thanked me and even flashed me her sweetest smile so my heart felt an inch bigger. I felt awful that I have thought of her as something bad. Then, eventually felt glad that I was able to helped her.

Other than that, I’ve helped a friend fixed her blog the way she wants it. I know it’s a little thing to even think about, but because I really want to be a help to her. I’ve given her instructions that’s as easy as I could ’cause HTML could be so difficult to explain especially to those people who’s not really familiar. I’ve even provided her screenshots and all those good stuff. I like her and I would really feel so glad if she’ll be able to fix her blog beautifully. I’m looking forward to the day that I’ve got to check her blog after the changes and I’m really hoping she’ll be happy about it.

Well, that’s pretty much it. How was your week? 😀

Last Week On The Blog

• My Week in a Wrapped #7
• One Lovely Blog Award
• Currently Reading│Teaser Tuesday : The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
• Book Review: The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny #1)
• Goodreads Choice Awards 2014: Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction Category
• Waiting on Wednesday #24: Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
• Book Beginning│Currently Reading : Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
• Book Blogger Hop: November 14th-20th
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement
• Book Review: Illusions on Fate by Kiersten White

My Week in a Wrapped #5

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

It has been a busy week since I’m trying my best to juggle everything. Work, reading and a lot of other things. So much to do with so little time. Fortunately, I was able to fit them all. I was able to finished Winterspell, started and finished The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender for my October Random Reads and currently reading The Iron Trial. Work’s still a bit tough on schedule and really tiring, but I was able to accomplished a lot in all fairness. I’m so proud of myself. LOL! Anyway, the highlight of my week was that I got a day off from work for my son’s 12th birthday. Since it falls right after his actual birth date, I didn’t have much time to prepare for the celebration. We just had a nice and super fun dinner with the whole family. Here’s a photo of my birthday boy, Heaven Alessandre ♥

Isn’t he such a cutie? 😀 He’s growing up pretty fast. Refusing to hold hands with me in public now. Sniff. Next year, he’ll enter a new pace of his life, which is being teen and I’m really hoping that I could turn back those days that he’s still in his diapers. Oh wait! I’m being emotional now. It seems like I’m getting old too. LOL. How’s your week? 😀

Last Week On The Blog

• My Week in a Wrapped #4
• ARC Giveaway: Invaded (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers
• Swag and Book Giveaways + Book Tours : A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
• Teaser Tuesday #15: Winterspell by Claire LeGrand
• Waiting on Wednesday: Atlantia by Ally Condie
• Book Review: Winterspell by Claire LeGrand
• Book Review: The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
• Book Beginning #3: The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare + Holly Black

Swag and Book Giveaways + Book Tours : A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 in Hardcover
Published: November 4, 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery

“Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. 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.

I just heard today that Claudia Gray is here in the Philippines and I just died. It was yesterday and I didn’t know. Oh my freaking God. 😦

My Week in a Wrapped #3

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

There’s nothing worth sharing this past week. It has been slow like my reading progress. Argh. Caught up in work like the usual and reading in between it. Got to spend time with friends from the grave yard shift since I left the office really late Tuesday night because the traffic was unbearable. Thank God for Twitter, I was informed ahead of time about it. What else? Hmm.. Oh yeah. I got pissed because I initially requested to have a vacation leave from work the 20th this month because of my son’s birthday, but eventually approved for the 21st. How ridiculous is that? Who celebrates their birthday a day after? Sigh. We used to celebrate it on the exact date every year and that will not be the case this time. It makes me sad that I’ll be at work on my son’s special day.

One more thing, I got Blood of Olympus so I set aside Winterspell for now so sorry for all my friends who are eagerly waiting for a Winterspell book review. It would be moved probably next week.

Last Week On The Blog

• Update: Penryn & the End of the Days, Book 3
• Teaser Tuesday #13: Winterspell by Claire LeGrand
• Currently Reading #23: Happy Birthday Blood Of Olympus
• Waiting on Wednesday #19: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
• Book Beginning #1: The Blood Of Olympus
• October Random Reads: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

Waiting on Wednesday #19

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Breaking the Spine and serves to showcase those books that aren’t released yet, but that we’re eagerly awaiting!

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 in Hardcover
Published: November 4, 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery

“Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. 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.

I’ve found this book just this September and I can really say that this is something worth waiting for. The cover really pulled me in. So gorgeous! I think everybody would agree with me about that and a lot of my friends are eagerly waiting for its published date too. The rundown is equally interesting. Intriguing enough to make me want it more. I guess there would be a lot of complications and thrilling adventures throughout the book. I can’t help not to get so excited.

I’ve looked for giveaways and this is what I found: