BOOK REVIEW: A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Trade Paperback
Published: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 368
Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance



Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

A Thousand Pieces of You, in my opinion, has one of the BEST covers this year! From the background, a picture of the cityscape of futuristic London and mirroring it below is 21st-century Russia, two alternate dimensions which will be featured in the book. First of all, the character Marguerite (Mar-ge-wee) is so wonderful. She's not the typical book girl where she's so weak and self-centered. In this case, she's the brave, strong-willed protagonist who gets what she wants. She's so determined to catch Paul, who apparently murdered her father (according to the synopsis) and also stole her mother's invention the Firebird, that she will go through great lengths by traveling to different dimensions.

This book includes yet another Love Triangle, from Marguerite (let's just call her Meg) to Theo and Paul. I bet you're surprised to see I mentioned Paul. You're like Omg, how? What, when, where, why, HOW? Well, I won't spoil you how. You'll just have to read it by yourself. I really liked Theo from the beginning up to the middle of the book. Halfway through he was already annoying me. With his constant father-brother like-figure to Meg. He's always here, always there, always everywhere. And Meg was also getting annoyed, seems like I'm not the only one.

Paul, on the other hand, was partially absent in the first few chapters of the book. He was only mentioned, but he did appear in several flashbacks. Oh, and did I tell you that 1/4 of the first part of the book are flashbacks? But halfway through the book, we already encounter major twists that will undeniably destroy the synopsis of the book. I have a warning for you: Do. Not. Trust. Anyone.

A Thousand Pieces of You kept me wanting more. It was a very good story, with the concept of traveling to dimensions and alternate realities. It's a really long explanation on how they work here in the book, but I promise the book will do justice to it. Every chapter really twisted my brain. There were some confusing parts, but it will make sense later. Also the twists! Did I mention it already? This book HAS a LOT of twists. And I mean A LOT. Claudia Gray kept me glued to the pages and I didn't want to stop reading (eventually I have to), that's how strong her writing is. Your perception of the story will constantly change, so don't hold onto memories.

There wasn't any cliffhanger, and it could really stand-out as a stand-alone, but it's not. It is a trilogy. Claudia Gray has already finished working on her draft by the time I finish this review. She'll announce the title when the book comes out of the U.S. Now I'm really excited for the sequel, which will be probably released next year. Isn't it always like that? I hope that it will be next year. Please, Claudia Gray?

A Thousand Pieces of You will keep you hooked with the storyline, the ever refreshing new set of lovable characters, the constant changing of scenery (dimensions), and the thrilling action and romantic kissing (and sex) scenes. It is absolutely one of the best books of 2014 and it will keep you wanting more.

"Every form of art is another way of seeing the world. Another perspective, another window. And science - that's the most spectacular window of all. You can see the entire universe from there."

"Now I know that grief is a whetstone that sharpens all your love, all your happiest memories, into blades that tear you apart from within."

"What people really mean is that eventually you'll get used to the pain. You'll forget who you were without it; you'll forget what you looked like without your scars."