Skip to main content

Into The Dim by Janet B. Taylor: A Book Review

Into The Dim
Author: Janet B. Taylor
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 432
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. And she's alive, though currently trapped in the twelfth century, during the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Passing through the Dim, Hope enters a brutal medieval world of political intrigue, danger, and violence. A place where any serious interference could alter the very course of history. And when she meets a boy whose face is impossibly familiar, she must decide between her mission and her heart—both of which could leave Hope trapped in the past forever. 
     
     Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

      My Review: When Hope Walton’s mother has been disappeared for months, it is presumed that she is dead. In her grief, Hope spends the summer with her aunt in Scotland. When she arrives, she finds that her aunt has secrets. She learns that her mother and her aunt are part of a secret organization called the Time-Slippers, who have found ways to travel back in time. Hope realizes that her mother is stuck in time during the reign of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and is determined to go back to the past to rescue her. Can Hope save her mother and return back to the present?

      Hope is not a very likable protagonist. She comes across as a smartalec. She is very condescending and talks back to those around her. She can be judgmental, and thinks bad things about other people. She is also a Mary Sue. She is good at everything she does. I also did not think of her as a strong protagonist. She came across to me as very weak. I think she paled in contrast from all the characters around her.

      Overall, this story is about love, friendship, family, and trust. While I did not like Hope, I did think all the other characters were fun. I also thought the villain was mysterious and intriguing. I also loved the portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She was a fascinating character. The story starts out slow, but it gradually picks up speed. I loved the setting of medieval London. This novel is full of adventure, suspense, and action. This book leaves you excited to read the sequel. I recommend this novel to fans of fantasy, time-travel, and to those interested in Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Post by Elisa DeCarlo: From Corsets to Chemises: Fashion as Liberation

  Today's guest writer is Elisa DeCarlo. Elisa DeCarlo has published two novels, Strong Spirits and The Devil You Say as well as The Abortionist's Daughter . Her work is also in a number of anthologies. Elisa has also written and performed a number of solo shows across the country. In 2013, the Exit Press will publish an anthology of her stage work. Elisa was born in Westchester, NY, and grew up there and in New York City. As an actress, she has performed in television, radio and film. In her guest post, Elisa DeCarlo talks women's fashion in the 1910s. Be sure to check out my review of The Abortionist's Daughter soon. Thank you, Mrs. DeCarlo. From Corsets to Chemises: Fashion As Liberation In The Abortionist’s Daughter , which is set in 1916, the evolution of the main character, Melanie Daniels, is not only shown by her thoughts actions, but also her clothes.  Since I am an obsessed fashion buff, I had to write about the clothes! Queen Victoria ...
5 comments
Read more

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon: A Book Review

Code Name Helene Author: Ariel Lawhon Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Doubleday Books Release Date: 2020 Pages: 464 Source: Publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: BASED ON THE THRILLING REAL-LIFE STORY OF SOCIALITE SPY NANCY WAKE, comes the newest feat of historical fiction from the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia , featuring the astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII.      Told in interweaving timelines organized around the four code names Nancy used during the war, Code Name Hélène is a spellbinding and moving story of enduring love, remarkable sacrifice and unfaltering resolve that chronicles the true exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name.      It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Blue Butterfly: A Novel of Marion Davies by Leslie Johansen Nack

The Blue Butterfly: A Novel of Marion Davies Author: Leslie Johansen Nack Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: She Writes Press Release Date: May 3rd, 2022 Pages: 352 Source: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: New York 1915, Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty dancing on the Broadway stage when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible. A baby girl is born in secret in 1919 and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin. In late 1937, at the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loan...
Post a Comment
Read more