Review: Hourglass

Author: Myra McEntire
Pages: 400
Publisher: Egmont
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge 2011
Source: Library
Synopsis: One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. 


 So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. 


Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened? 


 Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.


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After finishing Hourglass, I'm so surprised. I actually liked the story!

Okay, I know that sound bad but for the for the first part of the book I was bored. I thought Emerson was okay, Michael was a bit too perfect, and I was a bit underwhelmed by everything that was happening. My favourite characters were Dru and Thomas for that part. I was tired of Michael's lies, and Em not trusting him. Then we got to the good stuff which completely changed how I viewed the book.

During the "good part", we met Kaleb (who I lurve) there's more action, more happens, more tension, more's at stake... Everything is more. The plot expands, there are startling revelations and I finally start liking Em and Michael. Especially near the end. Basically, this is the part that got me hooked on the book.

I really liked the way time traveling was done in Hourglass. It was cool that it had something to do with science and matter. The powers that the people had weren't too out there. Myra McEntire made it work. It was fresh and different from the regular time travel stories, even if you ignore the twists.

Now that I know how good Hourglass was I can not wait for the sequel. I want to spend more time with the characters to get to know them better. The story has me wondering what will happen next and it's just good. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *