Book review

Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles #1) by Laura Kreitzer

Website: http://laurakreitzer.com/

Paperback, 240 pages

Expected publication: February 15th 2011 by Obsidian Mountain Publishing

ISBN: 99780982903346

Summary:

Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she’s lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

Review:

From the very beginning Phantom Universe held my interest. The prologue alone gave just enough information to make you want more. It’s one of those books where you can’t wait to turn the page.

Summer was kidnapped at the age of four, whipped into silence and sold into slavery to a band of pirates. She puts her trust into Landon, another slave on the ship, after he saved her from an awful occurrence. The first few chapters in part one of this novel are memories of Summer’s that are vital to the story and her character development. We are then introduced to Jaden, a fellow slave from Summer’s past, who was sent there on a mission for the Secret Clock Society to capture her. She tells them exactly what’s going on and helps them escape so they can all free themselves of their slavery. During their escape, Summer goes off on her own and Landon sticks with Jaden to make sure she’s actually true to her word. As she’s running towards the meeting point something explodes behind her and she’s flung over the side of the ship. She takes leave on a dining room table and drifts in the water until she finally hits land and passes out from exhaustion.

She awakes to a smiling Jaden and immediately scans the area for Landon but he’s nowhere to be seen. (I was quite upset that there was no Landon right away but Laura is great at building the suspense.) After they find food and drink they relax on the beach until something begins happening to Summer. Her skin begins glowing, a blinding light bursts from her, and they both collapse on the beach.

When she awakes is when we meet the oh-so handsome Gage. It was love at first sight . . . well for me anyway. He is the hero of this story and Summer’s eventual love interest. He understands Summer in ways that Landon couldn’t and she surprisingly puts her trust into him. This was a very awesome, futuristic world that I loved getting pulled into. I couldn’t get enough of her adventures and CANNOT wait for her adventure to continue!

I’m giving Phantom Universe a 5 star rating because Laura truly brought Summer’s world to life with her very descriptive writing and, quite literally, page-turning adventure





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