REVIEW: Hourglass (Hourglass #1) by Mira McEntire

 

Author: Myra McEntire

Pages: 397

Genre: Paranormal / Science-Fiction - YA

Publisher: Egmont USA

AMAZON: Hourglass

Synopsis (Goodreads)

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

REVIEW: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Hourglass is the story of seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, who has the ability to see apparitions/visions from the past, she has spent a number of years thinking she was crazy and at a time was institutionalized because of this abnormal ability, she lost both of her parents in a tragic accident and is now living with her brother Thomas and sister-in-law Dru.

Michael Weaver is an employee of a secret organization known as the Hourglass and has been hired by Emerson’s brother in a last ditch effort to try and help her; he is sympathetic and understanding toward her and doesn’t doubt her ability for one moment that is because he too has this unique ability, but can see spirits from both the past and the future.

Michael gives Emerson a name for her apparitions – Rips, and they are an integral part of time traveling to either the past or future. Emerson holds the ‘past’ gene and Michael the ‘future’ which enables them to work together to manipulate a certain event in time – their abilities compliment each other and Michael reveals an ulterior motive for wanting her help.

I absolutely loved Emerson, she was fiercely loyal, witty, sarcastic and she didn’t have an edit button, she was brutally honest which I absolutely adored. She has had a traumatic past but was still strong and independent without wanting to rely on anyone.

Michael seemed a lot older than what he actually was, he is only a few years older than Emerson but there was a maturity about him, he was the voice of reason when it came to her. When they did finally succumb to their feelings, it was really sweet.

I adored each of the secondary characters, their talents were fascinating and I look forward to finding out more about each of them in upcoming books, especially Kaleb who also had a crush on Emerson; at times I actually preferred him as the main love interest, he was flirty and fun and I really liked his ability as an empath although it seemed to be something he hadn’t yet mastered. Thomas and Dru were fantastic, they took on the role of guardians to Emerson and treated her with understanding and compassion yet still dished out discipline when the need arose, I loved their mutual respect..

Emerson’s best friend Lily’s ability was touched on briefly but there was no further development with this storyline, I am hoping the author delves more into Lily and her purpose in the next book.

The villains weren’t who I expected; their talents too were amazing but their motives definitely evil. I am curious to find out what is happening with Jack.

Hourglass has a fast paced plot with some great twists and turns, it is beautifully written and had a fascinating storyline that was unique, I haven’t yet read a story about time travel but this was well thought out and executed perfectly. It is certainly different to a lot of YA books out there and definitely what I needed – a mixture of paranormal with sci-fi.

I am looking forward to reading book 2 which has an anticipated 2012 release date.