Monday 22 July 2013

ARC Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our YesterdaysAll Our Yesterdays

Author: Cristin Terrill
Series: -
Pages: 368
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher/Source: Bloomsbury Publishing Australia
Release date: 1st August 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Writing this review isn’t easy because it would be one huge spoiler, it’s a book that you need to read and unravel for yourself because the outcome and storyline is not what is expected.

Time travel books are usually hit or miss for me but Cristin Terrill’s imaginative and detailed world is pure perfection; it isn’t without a few minor faults but I was able to easily overlook them because I was so absorbed in the overall story and what was actually going on.

Detailing each of the characters will be incredibly vague as they are all connected in one form or another but each were fleshed out perfectly and progressed from the beginning of the book to the end, they were all one big surprise.

Told in past and present setting dual narrative between Em & Marina the story which unfolds link the characters in the most startling way; both have a unique voice and play differing roles in the overall story.

At the beginning of the book Em is locked in a cell alongside a boy named Finn in a military base being mistreated and abused regularly for an important piece of information, she knows she has been in this predicament before and needs to travel back to a place in time to prevent a tragedy from unfolding and follows a note she has found to kill someone who has been very dear to her.

We also meet James, a young science prodigy and the boy Marina has been in love with for a very long time; he was an introverted genius who played a vital role in the story; he both shocked and saddened me. Finn is James close friend and a bit of a mystery at the beginning of the book but I came to love the role he played and his relationship with Em.

The plot of All Our Yesterdays is fast-paced and kept me flipping through the pages as I anticipated what was going to happen, it was a non-stop thrill ride as we follow Em and Finn on their quest. The world-building was perfect, everything was thoroughly explained and neatly wrapped up in the most perfect ending; it was riveting to see how important events tied the realities together.

Overall, Cristin Terrill’s All Our Yesterdays is a wonderfully crafted, unique page-turner that is written perfectly. With twists and turns aplenty and action-packed sequences. I highly recommend this brilliant book.

Thank-you kindly to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for the opportunity to read and review All Our Yesterdays.



Cristin 022About the author: Cristin Terrill is a young adult author and aspiring grown-up. She grew up semi-nomadic and graduated from Vassar College with a degree in drama. After getting her masters in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, she lived in London, Austin, Boston, and Washington, DC while working as a theatrical stage manager. Now she writes and leads creative writing workshops for DC-area kids and teens. All Our Yesterdays is her first novel.

Twitter / Tumblr / Facebook or email 

17 comments:

  1. Yay! Time travel books are hit or miss with me. If it's too complicated it makes my brain hurt. I think I will really like this one too. I still prefer this cover over the new one...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This cover is so much nicer! I think you'd like this one Nereyda :)

      Delete
  2. Great review, I will be keeping an eye out for this book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't really like time travel books that much, but this one sounds absolutely fantastic. After reading your review, there's no doubt that I will be reading this one when it comes out. I need a good fast-paced and action-packed book!
    Lovely review, Sharon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try to avoid them too but I'm so glad I received this one because it was fabulous! :)

      Delete
  4. Don't usually read time travel books, but I think I'm going to love how all the little pieces of the past and present link together and how the characters are connected! Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was such a complex book but the author tied the different realities together perfectly.

      Thanks Ning :)

      Delete
  5. I haven't seen this one before. It sounds great. I don't usually read too many books involving time travel, but this sounds like something I'd like. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was so good Ellen! I was glued to the pages, completely riveted and shocked by certain events.

      I hope you get to read it :)

      Delete
  6. Oh Sharon, I'm happy you enjoyed this one and that the world-building was really good. I'm like you - if I'm LOVING a book, I can overlook a few minor flaws since the story and characters have all really come together. I won an ARC of this one and I am really looking forward to reading it.

    Molli | Once Upon a Prologue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see what you think Molli! the world-building was fabulous (actually everything was ;)

      Delete
  7. I love time travel books! I've seen this book around a few places but never looked into what it was about... I am kicking myself for not knowing sooner. I love the sound of it, and am intrigued about the connection between Em and Marina and how that is explored! I need to get my hands on this one ASAP! Thanks for the great review!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andrea! this was so good and it was a huge shock to see how Em and Marina were connected :)

      Delete
  8. I honestly didn't read to much of the review, I'm a browser picking up on certain details... I know what you mean about time travel it's a touchy subject that not every author understands or is able to grasp the imagination behind it. I don't like the cover though, but I do trust your honest review and will be adding it to my TBR list.
    - Krys

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love time travel and again this book is new to me, and you have me excited, I love that it had you flipping the pages! Great review Sharon:)

    ReplyDelete

Thank-you so much for stopping by today!

I love to receive your comments, please leave your blog link & I'll be sure to stop by.

I also respond to your comment here on my blog :)