Elana Black has the power to make herself fictional. But when she decides to start saving all the people in books and TV shows who die just for the sake of advancing the plot, she quickly learns that she’s not the only one with her powers.All Elana wants to do is save people. But these others don’t want the stories to change, and they’ll do everything they can to stop her. If you had the power to … you had the power to change fate… to create a happy ending where there wasn’t one before… would you do it if it meant risking your own?
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Wow, what a voice. Bell is a unique voice in a sea of the same ol’ same ol’. Reading her work was a sheer joy! Though it sometimes got a little rambly, it fit in with the character, so it still worked. I was just so eager to find out what happened next that I wanted to move forward faster. Great story, great characters. Two thumbs way up!
Awkward and introverted Elana Black is a young woman with the unique ability of being able to enter the fictional world. She can literally walk the moor in Wuthering Heights or trade prat falls in an 80’s sitcom. Surrounded by fiction at the bookstore she works at, it is the perfect escape for this insecure yet intelligent twenty-something. Little does she know that these fictional worlds have a larger impact on the universe so when she decides to save the characters who die in the stories, it unleashes greater forces who will do anything to stop her.
This book is quite the wild ride. Written in the first person, we are carried along in a flood of emotions as Elana tries to navigate the real and the fictional world. Her complete lack of direction in her life is the perfect metaphor for what twenty-somethings have to deal with today. Elana had a nice character arc as we learn with her as she bungles into places where she ought not to.
However, the world building was a bit overwhelming and sometimes didn’t make sense. It was if the author was trying to do too much. Also, almost every time Elana got into a tight spot someone else saved her or the bad guy changed their mind. (Even Elena wondered about that, but she didn’t really dig into why until much much later.) I think it would have made her character stronger and made more sense to address why she was getting off the hook sooner.
Despite these minor foibles, the book is fast-paced and a lot of fun, and I have already bought the second book in the series.
Elana is not your usual hero. Uncomfortable in social settings she is much happier reading a book than making conversation. She has a small group of friends and works in a friend’s bookshop. Her superpower is being able to jump inside the story she reads or even watches on television. What bookworm wouldn’t want that ability?
When Elana starts to help people in the stories rather than simply observe things become more complicated. Shadowy characters are determined to stop her. Others appear to want to help her. Ignoring the warnings Elana puts herself and her friends in danger.
Towards the end of the book, Elana learns of the Prophecy. She’s unsure what it means but it seems along with two of her friends she has a central role to play.
Imaginative and exciting read.
I loved the concept of this book. How great it would be to be able to literally jump into a book’s story or TV show. Elana Black can do this. Her troubles start when she interacts with characters and changes the original story. There’s a lot going on in this book as Elana sets to save fictional characters who are all too real — lots of little subplots, that all feel important, but none seem to overshadow the others. They work nicely together, but since this is the first book in a series, none are fully developed. Their plots will continue to develop in future books in the series.
The story starts out rather mild — if you can call being swallowed up by a book’s pages and spit out into its world. As it progresses, things heat up and become stranger. Plenty of action and twists to keep you turning the pages.
An introverted book store employee discovers she can actually enter into and change the action in fictional worlds, setting into play a wild and sometimes scary adventure that includes zombies, fairies (definitely NOT the cute, Walt Disney type),monsters and magic. This one’s got plenty of action, a great sense of humor and some really interesting characters.
If you like your fantasy modern and a bit unsettling, you’ll love this one. I did.