Title: Once Every
Never
Series: Never,
#1
Author: Lesley
Livingston
Publisher: Penguin
Canada
Publication Date: July
14, 2011
Genres: YA,
Time-travel, Historical
fiction
Reviewed by: Angie
Edwards
My rating: 5/5
SUMMARY
Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager.
On the surface.
She's smart, but a bit of a slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker, but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes.
Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.
Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there's still time, literally, maybe even get a date.
This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every, never.
On the surface.
She's smart, but a bit of a slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker, but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes.
Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.
Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there's still time, literally, maybe even get a date.
This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every, never.
REVIEW
If I
had known earlier on what a magnificently scintillating joyride this book was
going to be, I would’ve moved it right to the top of my to-read list MONTHS
ago! Quite frankly, I’m flabbergasted that more people aren’t reading this book
and raving about its awesomeness. So, okay, deep breath. This, my friends, is
not just a simple must-read. It is a bucket list read. In fact, I forbid you
from leaving this world before having read this book, understood? Yes? Good.
*rearranging
facial features from do-my-bidding-or-suffer-my-wrath, to friendly,
non-threatening smile”
You
know those books where you’re almost halfway done with one but then life gets
in the way and you have to wait until the next day to finish reading it, and
you’re just dying with excitement because you can’t wait to read the rest of
the book? Once Every Never is that book. When Clare (short for
Clarinet...trust me, I kid you not) swoons over the first guy she comes across in
the first few pages, I thought to myself, “Oh boy, insta love...please, someone
slap me.” But, no. I was very, very wrong. This is definitely not that type of
book, even if I thought so at the start. We’re talking a superbly plotted
time-travel novel that will leave you breathless with laughter, sidesplittingly
hilarious dialogue, lots and lots of action, an antagonist with the snarky wit
of Klaus (from the tv series The
Originals – fans of the tv series
Vampire Diaries will understand the reference), a friendship that inspires
envy, and two geeks who does that word proud. And all that? That is just the
tip of the iceberg.
Interestingly,
about a month ago I read another YA book with the Iceni warrior queen as the
main topic in the story. So, when I came across this same story element in Once Every Never, I was already familiar
with the background of this historical figure. What made the story about this
queen who started a war with the Roman Empire entirely different from the one I
read in Jordan Jacobs’s Samantha Sutton
and the Winter of the Warrior Queen, is that it offers an entirely new
perspective on the consequences of the decisions made by a heartbroken,
vengeful, wife/mother. This novel also focuses on one of the warrior queen’s
daughters and her love interest.
At
first glance I was falsely under the impression that this was going to be a
romance (I was misled with the blurb on the cover about a first kiss changing
history, and all that), but I think hopeless romantics might be a little
disappointed. The romance, thankfully, plays a small role at the conclusion.
However, even though the romance only forms a tiny part of the plot, it was so
utterly sweet and sincere, it actually brought tears to my eyes. Yes, folks,
that’s what I said. I, anti-swoony-romance reader, begrudgingly admit that I
unabashedly wiped away a few tears while I was getting caught up in the
Disney-like love scene playing out near the end. I was so into it, I could
swear I heard violins playing in the background during that specific scene.
So,
what are you waiting for? Do you need more convincing? Fans of time-travel
books, adrenaline-fueling adventure, historical fiction, and anyone with a
sense of humor will be captivated by this tale of non-stop action, and the most
unforgettable characters I’ve come across in...well, the past week or so.
Another fantastic time-travel book with tons of romance you should check out
(after you’ve read this one, of course) is Blue
Bells of Scotland by Laura Vosika. Once
Every Never is the first book I’ve read by this author, but certainly won’t
be the last. So off I am to Goodreads to see what else Ms Livingston has
written!
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT the AUTHOR
Lesley is a writer and actor living in Toronto, Canada. Captivated
at a young age by stories of mythology and folk lore, past civilizations, and
legendary heroes, she developed into a full-fledged Celtic Mythology Geek,
steeped in stories of the Otherworld, Faeries and King Arthur. Lesley went on
to earn a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Toronto
specializing in Shakespeare and Arthurian literature.
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