Review of Tandem by Anna Jarzab

Format: eBook
Genres: sci-fi, romance, fantasy,
Pages: 448
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: 08/10/2014
Find The Author: Website ¦ Twitter
Abe Books ¦ Book Depository ¦ Goodreads



Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds, many lives - infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds, inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real - until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love - one who knows her secret, and one who believes she's someone she's not.



The story starts off pretty simply - Sasha Lawson has a quiet life, living with her Grandfather in Chicago. Then one day she meets Grant in her favourite bookstore - a boy she's had a crush on for years. Thinking all he wants is a prom date she happily accepts - but Grant is actually Thomas, tasked with finding the analog, or double of his world's Princess - and he drags Sasha back to his world.

I wasn't expecting too much from this tale after seeing words like 'Dystopia' and 'two young men vying for her love' but I was really surprised - this is an amazing start to the sci-fi trilogy with amazing world building, a gripping plot and a main character that doesn't just sit around and let everyone else do everything for her. It's told from multiple points of view too.

The fantasy world was easy to keep up with - America, but split into two halves that don't really agree with one another about anything. Sasha is there as a stand in while KES (military types) try and find Juliana, and she kind of also has to get married in a few days. Sasha's relationship with Callum really worked for me but I didn't really like Thomas at all.

There's not really a love triangle, I'm almost certain that Sasha only sees Callum as a friend. Thomas is the main love interest but while I wanted to enjoy their relationship I did see a lot of problems with it - he kidnapped her to start with! Then he dangles her off of a building. Then he shows a lot of bitchy, whiny traits that are just not attractive in anybody.

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book but I actually have no idea when it will be released. The back of my copy promised a Spring 2014 release, but on Goodreads it's saying a Spring 2015 release. I'm pretty disappointed and feel kind of lied to. A year and a half is quite a long time to wait for a YA book to be released.


Comments

  1. Anonymous10:55 am BST

    Fantastic review! I've seen this randomly in my local department stores, and am always blown away by the cover. I like the premise of the novel too, but I've never seen a review. This is definitely going on my TBR now.

    I'm glad that there's no love triangle and that the fantasy world is easy to keep up with - it's like a breath of fresh air.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6:55 pm BST

    Pff, no love triangle. I hate those! This book sounds really cool. I would love to see my alternative life I had the chance :). Hopefully there will be book 2! Unless, the author has been kidnapped into her alternative life =/.

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