MARCH 2016 - AudioFile
A taut time-travel romance is given added emotion through Saskia Maarleveld's thoughtful narration. When Etta discovers she’s part of a long line of Passengers—or time travelers—her world is turned upside down. She must travel around the world and through time with fellow Passenger Nicholas to save her mother and recover a stolen object that could change history. While at times the pacing is a bit slow, Maarleveld remedies this with perfection in the characters of Etta and Nicholas, keeping listeners engaged and intrigued. When the action picks up and stakes are highest, Maarleveld excels at heightening the tension. Listeners will be waiting on the edge of their seats for Book 2. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - Matthew Jobin
Passenger succeeds as an adventure, as a romance and as a comparison of cultural norms. This is the sort of book that gracefully walks the fine line between excitement and instruction. By the end of it, the young reader might find that she has learned a good deal while she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
Publishers Weekly
11/02/2015
Historical romance meets time-traveling adventure in this rousing series opener from Bracken (the Darkest Minds books). In the present day, Etta Spencer is a 17-year-old violinist eager to make her New York City debut as a soloist. After her mentor is killed, Ella awakens aboard a ship in 1776, where she discovers that her emotionally distant mother is believed responsible for hiding an astrolabe, a device used in time travel, from Cyrus Ironwood, a man determined to align all travelers to his command. With only her mother’s letters and paintings as clues, Etta searches with Nicholas Carter, a freed slave and privateer from the 18th century, charged with returning the astrolabe to Cyrus. Despite differences in time lines and cultures, Etta and Nicholas find their mutual passion makes them easy targets for other travelers, all eager to control time passages. Bracken’s saga is sweeping, moving quickly between countries and dates—from 1910 Bhutan to Damascus in 1599. Although the couple’s romantic doubts turn repetitive, the clever historical allusions, well-crafted subplots, and cliffhanger ending should leave readers awaiting the next volume. Ages 14–up. Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"[Passenger] doesn’t let up its high-octane pace until the final page. . . [A] strong new series."—School Library Journal
"[A] rousing series opener. . . The clever historical allusions, well-crafted subplots, and cliffhanger ending should leave readers awaiting the next volume."—Publishers Weekly
"Ambitious and exquisite... Passenger grabs you by the heart from its opening notes and doesn't let go until its knockout, blockbuster finale."—Sarah J. Maas, New York Times #1 best-selling author of the A Court of Thorns and Roses ser
"Bracken keeps pages turning."—Kirkus Reviews
"I was truly transported through this novel, a willing passenger pulled through its pages alongside riveting, romantic characters and an immense world with no end in sight. Fans of Outlander will see so much of Claire in Etta, who holds a smart and headstrong lens to history. I can't wait to voyage through the next volume."—Victoria Aveyard, New York Times #1 best-selling author of Red Queen
"Readers will come for the adventure, stay for the romantic tension...Replete with historical details, this novel is a worthy addition to the growing list of time-travel adventure/romance novels and high-stakes cross-continent treasure hunts."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This time-traveling adventure is rich in detail, the slowburning relationship between Etta and Nicholas will leave many readers breathless, and the startling cliffhanger will reel them back for the next installment."—Booklist
PRAISE FOR IN THE AFTERLIGHT
"Tense, emotional, and brutal... Fans will appreciate the well-thought-out conclusion."—Booklist Online
“Expert… Passenger succeeds as an adventure, as a romance and as a comparison of cultural norms.”—New York Times Book Review
School Library Journal - Audio
★ 04/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Etta Spencer plans to be a professional violinist, not knowing the big secret her mother has kept from her—Etta and her mother are the last survivors of a time-traveling family. Cyrus Ironwood believes that Etta is the only person who can find the valuable object he seeks. And so he sends her traveling through space and time to land on a ship. Nicholas Carter is the illegitimate child of an Ironwood and one of their former slaves. He wants only a ship and life of his own. When Nicholas is forced to make an agreement with Ironwood to travel with Etta to find the priceless astrolabe, he doesn't expect to fall for her. The two must find the astrolabe to save Etta's mother, but giving it to Ironwood could destroy their future. Saskia Maarleveld accurately shows all of the characters' personalities. Her voice's breathy quality captures the action and suspense of the narrative, drawing listeners into the story, and Bracken's cliff-hanger ending and surprise twist will leave listeners anxious for the next installment. VERDICT Give this to fans of Kerstin Gier and those who enjoy fantasy and historical fiction, particularly those who appreciate a little romance with their read. ["This strong new series will appeal to readers looking for a time-traveling adventure with plenty of drama and romance": SLJ 12/15 review of the Hyperion book.]—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY
MARCH 2016 - AudioFile
A taut time-travel romance is given added emotion through Saskia Maarleveld's thoughtful narration. When Etta discovers she’s part of a long line of Passengers—or time travelers—her world is turned upside down. She must travel around the world and through time with fellow Passenger Nicholas to save her mother and recover a stolen object that could change history. While at times the pacing is a bit slow, Maarleveld remedies this with perfection in the characters of Etta and Nicholas, keeping listeners engaged and intrigued. When the action picks up and stakes are highest, Maarleveld excels at heightening the tension. Listeners will be waiting on the edge of their seats for Book 2. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
