So time travel books, in my experience, have usually gone two ways: Lots of rules, science and techno-speak that I didn't understand; or none of that and a huge lack of answers to the basic questions of how time travel is even possible. This book? Neither. Stunningly, happily, remarkably neither. It was some magical happy medium, where I understood what was happening and there was legitimate technology to back it up.
Anyway, let's move along. Kaia is living on a planet that is not Earth, because basically everyone has made a hot mess of Earth and Kaia has learned all the stories about her ancestors who, several generations ago, fled the planet. They now have a new system and do everything they can to ensure that the same mistakes that brought Earth to its demise don't happen again.
One way they do this is via the Historians, who basically travel back to record specific events so that whatever happened during these life-altering times do not repeat. And since science has evolved a ton, not only can people travel back in time, but there is some kind of scientific analysis that allows people to find out who their "true" match is. Incidentally, this was the one part of the story I found a bit beyond the realm of believability, but it really only stuck with me briefly- it didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the story.
And of course, since Kaia is 17, she doesn't always make the logical choice. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe it isn't, but she just had to meet her True. Only... he's from ancient Egypt. Clearly, this takes forbidden romance to a new level. But while Kaia has a lot of romance concerns, there is something amiss at the school.
So basically, here's what we have:
- History, and lots of different parts of it, which I adore. From ancient Rome to the twentieth century, Kaia takes us all over history, and it is so amazing (and quite well researched, especially the specific events in question). There's also a lot of discussion about the age-old questions of the ramifications of changing history. How far would you have to go (or how little would it it take) to change it?
- Fabulous, complex characters. Kaia, I adored. She's smart, but she's feisty, and she isn't a superfan of the rules. She has a tendency to want to see all the things, even when an assignment demands her to pay attention to one specific event. It isn't that Kaia is rebellious, she's just curious. And a teenager, who sometimes makes some impulsive choices without thinking out the consequences. She has two fabulous best friends, Analeigh who is level-headed and the general voice of reason, and Sarah who has shockingly found her True right in their very school. Oz, Sarah's True, is an enigma throughout the book, and intrigued me to no end. Kaia's brother Jonah is a fugitive, running from planet to planet evading secrets that Kaia has yet to uncover. And her True... well, I love her True.
- FEELS. I had lots of feels. Lots. From the horrific nature of some of the places in history they'd gone to, to shock at some of the revelations, to happiness and laughter, to absolutely inconsolable sobbing, I had every emotion possible. And that, for me, is the surest sign that a book is quality.
Bottom Line: Can I have the second book yet? Because the ending was intense, and I need to know so, so many more things. This world is very clearly just beginning, but there was absolutely nothing lacking in this first book of the series. Return Once More is unequivocally my favorite time travel book to date.
**Copy provided from author for review