Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

by A.S. King

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities - but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother killed herself when Glory was only four years old, and she's never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person's infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions - and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A santimonious new leader raises an army. Women's rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything, hoping her notes will help people understand how misguided and extremist behaviour in the present will snowball into dire consequences. She may not see a future for herself, but she'll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn't come to pass.

A.S. King's newest offering is a masterful portrayal of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last - a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

This book was weird and wonderful and I loved it! A.S. King is one of my favorites when it comes to magical realism. The magical elements are always incorporated so well into the story, and I loved how these "visions" helped Glory work through her personal crisis. And the future visions were incredible! There was a lot of food for thought there. So many things were explored - family relationships, friendships, being a woman. My mind was overwhelmed with all the things King was throwing at me. The writing, the characters, and the ideas presented in this book combined with the magical elements amounted to an incredible reading experience for me.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 May, 2018: Finished reading
  • 4 May, 2018: Reviewed