The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Release Date: March 3, 2016
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Series: The Girl from Everywhere, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: Paperback
Source: Pansing
Buy: Available at all good bookstores!
Goodreads ● Website

It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...

Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

Wow, honestly, I don't think I'll be able to make it through this review without gushing about how AWESOME it is. Seriously, though, I went into The Girl from Everywhere with pretty high expectations, and I'm glad I got something absolutely fantastic in return. This book is a gorgeous blend of history, mythology, time travelling, romance, pirates...it's amazing. I mean, you can look at the tags on goodreads and it's mind blowing how many genres are attributed to this book: adventure, romance, science fiction and time travel, historical fiction, fantasy–this book truly had it all.

Partially why I'm so excited about this book is the fact that it's SO diverse! A biracial main character, a Persian best friend, North African and Chinese crew mates, AND it's set in Hawaii?? Damn, this book just blows my mind thinking about it. The characters you meet along the way, as well as the various mythologies included and settings this book is placed in made this such a wonderful experience. Nix was such a strong main character–she's a total badass. I LOVED Kashmir and Blake (both truly deserve all the swoons!), and Slate was such a complex character. All characters were so well written, and it was a treat to read such an enthralling story featuring this wonderful cast.

Speaking of the story, just...WOAH. I mean, I don't think I've read about time-travel in such a compelling manner. Heidi Heilig is amazing with words, and I was completely sucked into this incredible world that she has created. The end totally paid off, and while some of the plot points on the way were a little bit confusing, they all straightened out by the conclusion. The romance was also developed really well. I liked that it wasn't too much of the focus of the story (well, at least Nix's developing romance...s), and didn't take away from the story, but added to it richly.

As you can hopefully tell from my fangirly thoughts above, I'm head over heels in love with this book. It's definitely one of my favourites this year! The Girl from Everywhere was a mesmerising adventure that hooked me in from page one. I'm desperate for the sequel now, and I'm sure it'll be as spellbinding as this one.

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke ● Goodreads
• Prophecy by Ellen Oh ● Goodreads

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