Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel

Stealing Infinity (Stealing Infinity, #1)

by Alyson Noël

My life goes completely sideways the moment I meet the mysterious Braxton. Sure, he's ridiculously hot, but he's also the reason I've been kicked out of school and recruited into Gray Wolf Academy-a remote island school completely off the grid. I never should have trusted a face so perfect.

But the reality of why Gray Wolf wanted me is what truly blows my mind. It's a school for time travelers. Tripping, they call it. This place is filled with elaborate costumes and rare artifacts, where every move is strategic and the halls are filled with shadows and secrets.

Here, what you see isn't always what it appears. Including Braxton. Because even though there's an energy connecting us together, the more secrets he keeps from me, the more it feels like something is pulling us apart. Something that has to do with this place-and its darker purpose. It's all part of a guarded, elaborate puzzle of history and time.and I might be one of the missing pieces.

Now I have all the time in the world. And yet I can't shake the feeling that time is the one thing I'm about to run out of.fast.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

4 of 5 stars

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Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Stealing Infinity is an atmospheric YA/NA fantasy/romance, and the first in a series, by Alyson Noël. Released 28th June 2022, it's 497 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and well written romance/fantasy with time travel. It's a sort of treasure hunt (in time) with coming-of-age elements. It's not derivative, and the author does a good job with the world building, but it reminded me in a way of Da Vinci Code meets Novik's Scholomance. Protagonist Natasha winds up in a special academy after a events in her life get a bit out of control and she's suddenly surrounded by people who want to exploit her, control her, or just frustrate her. Oh, and she can travel in time, if nobody kills her first.

The character development and plotting were a bit two dimensional and linear in most places. There weren't a lot of deviations or alternative subplot stories to explore. The antagonists were -completely- irredeemable and the protagonists were paragons. The dialogue was often overwrought (not cringe-worthy, but definitely stilted) and I found myself being yanked out of my suspension of disbelief not infrequently. On the other hand, I'm not the target audience (I found my way in via the "time travel-fantasy" door, not the clearly marked romance one). Readers who appreciate fresh, well written YA/NA romance will find a lot to like here; especially readers who really enjoy a healthy dose of draaama and don't mind enemies-to-lovers plots in their stories. I, on the other hand, found myself wanting to shake some of the characters.

Three and a half stars, rounded up for technically adept writing and an engaging premise.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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