Review: Endless by Amanda Gray

Endless

Author: Amanda Gray
Series: Standalone for now
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Source: Received eARC from publisher through NetGalley
Rating: 4 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book through the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought. Like a past life. Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren’t alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock -- and the Order -- Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life -- and beyond death.

My Review:

I’ll be honest with you guys. It was the cover that initially drew me in. Yes, I judge a book by its cover. I can’t help it. When the cover is pretty it makes me want to read the book. It started off feeling almost like a paranormal thriller, but then it grew into so much more. This book was paranormal mixed with historical fiction mixed with time travel and I really enjoyed all the different things it brought to the table.

The main character, Jenny, can see the past lives of others when she touches them. But things get weirder when her and her friend Ben find a strange music box that takes them to Romanov Russia in an odd dream that feels more real than dream. Then the other man in the dream, Nikolai, appears next door and tells Jenny that he’s traveled through time to find her.

I really liked Jenny. She was smart and strong. Jenny didn’t have a lot of friends because she was cautious about revealing too much about herself. That caused people to think she was weird. I could relate to this. My favorite thing about Jenny is that she isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind (with the exception of her dad). Jenny tells it like it is and doesn’t play games.

“And she understood lonely. She even understood the way it sometimes made you push people away when it was the last thing you really needed or wanted.” -Jenny

 

Ben, her friend, was a really great character. I really enjoyed the dynamic of their relationship. Ben was edgy with his piercings and tattoos, but there was also something soft about him. He has had a pretty rough life and you just feel for the guy. Plus he can play the piano which is super sexy. I just love a guy who can play an instrument. I was really excited to see a romantic relationship between him and Jenny begin to form, but then Nikolai came into the picture.

Nikolai has traveled through time to find Jenny. They were soulmates in another life and Nikolai will do anything to be with her, even face the Order, a threatening organization that makes sure nobody travels out of their own time. At first, I was upset that Nikolai came and ruined the relationship between Ben and Jenny, but as the book went on, I couldn’t help but root for him. Nikolai was pretty swoony. I mean, his name is Nikolai. That’s hot. He will do anything for Jenny. It felt a little instalovey to me, but I understand that they knew each other in another life. I guess I just wish that the reader would have been given the opportunity to get to know Nikolai a little bit better. 

“You are mine. You always have been. You always will be.” -Nikolai

 

I loved the historical aspect of the Romanov family. I enjoyed learning a little bit about their history and craved more. Why am I so into historical fiction lately? This aspect of the book was really unique and I think added some nice texture.

Here’s my biggest complaint: There is no news of a sequel. I have scoured the internet and have come up with nothing. If there’s not a sequel, I am going to be very upset. The ending of this book was left so open. Too open for me to draw my own conclusions. There needs to be a sequel so that we know what happens to Nikolai and to Jenny. My recommendation: Don’t read this until we hear word about a sequel. If there isn’t going to be one, I would honestly skip it. It’s only going to frustrate you. But if there is a sequel, definitely read it. It was a fun time travel book with a love story that will bring tears to your eyes. Happy reading all!

Have you read this? Heard of it? What did you think? Anybody know anything about a sequel?