Review: Marking Time

Title - Marking Time 

Author - April White

Series - The Immortal Descendants #1

Genre - YA Time Travel Paranormal

Format - Physical Copy

Published - November 5th 2012

Publisher - Corazon Entertainment 

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old tagger Saira Elian can handle anything... a mother who mysteriously disappears, a stranger who stalks her around London, and even the noble English Grandmother who kicked Saira and her mother out of the family. But when an old graffiti tag in a tube station transports Saira to the 19th Century and she comes face-to-face with Jack the Ripper, she realizes she needs help after all.

Saira meets Archer, a charming student who helps her blend in as much as a tall, modern American teen can in Victorian England. He reveals the existence of the Immortals: Time, Nature, Fate, War and Death, and explains to Saira that it is possible to move between 

centuries – if you are a Descendant of Time. 

Saira finds unexpected friendships at a boarding school for Immortal Descendants and a complicated love with a young man from the past. But time is running out for her mother, and Saira must embrace her new identity as she hides from Archer a devastating secret about his future that may cost him his life.

Review

I received Marking Time in return for an honest review from the author.  Saira is fleeing from a stranger when she’s caught but the police who have no choice to send her to London to live with her grandmother. Since her mother has disappeared this isn't the first time that Saira’s been on her own. Her grandmother isn't thrilled to see her instead she locks her away in the guest wing of the family manor. But Saira has her own agenda and sneaks out of the house to explore London on her own. When she stumbles across the stranger she was fleeing from in Venice.

While running for her life she finds an old tag that matches the ones she saw in Venice and when she traces the outline she finds herself in 1888. It’s on her first trip to 1888 that she meets a young college student, who knows about the descendants. With Archers help Saira is able to return to her time however not before being chased by Jack the Ripper as well as seeing her mom.

Suddenly so much has changed in Saira’s life from where her mother is to who she is. As if dealing with being able to time travel isn't different now her mom is missing and she’s being sent to a boarding school. At least the boarding school is for the descendant’s so she will have the chance to learn more about her abilities as well as about why they might be after her. She instantly befriends a pair of twin seer’s as well as one of the scholarship girls who isn't a descendant. Saira is intent on stopping the ripper and returning to get her mother but it won't be easy because while she may have help the bad guys do as well.

Saira is a character that I was able to connect with instantly falling in love with. She’s not your typical teen after all she grew up moving around being ready for anything plus she’s got a little extra something. I really enjoy that she grows as a character though the story. The supporting characters in the story from both times add to the intricate story the author has created. I love the romance between Saira and Archer its sweet innocent and powerful. I want my own Archer.

Marking Time is a captivating story that mixes time travel with the paranormal and tosses in a little romance. I was instantly enchanted with Saira’s story she’s spent her life hiding, not knowing her father and now her mother is missing and she’s learning on her own how to time travel. I think the author puts a unique new spin on the vampire relationship turning it into a beautiful story that left me in awe. The adventure is mixed through the story while suspense is woven in with twists and turns keeping the readers on their toes till the very end.  I loved everything about Marking Time from the characters to the story. It’s beautifully written, unique story that teens as well as adults will love. I can't express how much I fell in love with Marking Time it honestly has skyrocketed to my favorite book of the year, quite possibly of all time. I can't wait to read more about Saira. 

5 out of 5 stars