Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 486
Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016
Series: Passenger #1
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy & Magic
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher 
passage, n.i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.ii. A journey by water; a voyage.iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever
Passenger is such a cool book. It is a young adult time travel fantasy, and it is the first book in the Passenger series by Alexandra Bracken. What I liked most about passenger, was that it was such an interesting book. And I know interesting is a way too overused word in reviews, but it really fits here. I am often times wary of over-hyped books, but Passenger totally lived up to the hype in my opinion.
Passenger is a time traveling adventure that will have you flipping pages so fast. I could not put this book down. I loved the writing and the story. I loved how Alexandra takes you so many different places and to so many different times. It was such a fun story, and really beautifully done. If you are looking for a new adventure, pick up Passenger. But beware of the cliffhanger ending.
Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliott Pages: 287
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on November 10, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Historical
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
For fans of rich and complex historical novels like Girl with a Pearl Earring or Code Name Verity, Laura Malone Elliott delivers the stunning tale of real-life Renaissance woman Ginevra de' Benci, the inspiration for one of Leonardo da Vinci's earliest masterpieces.
The young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy family, Ginevra longs to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence but is trapped in an arranged marriage in a society dictated by men. The arrival of the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers. Bembo chooses Ginevra as his Platonic muse and commissions a portrait of her by a young Leonardo da Vinci.
Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them, one Ginevra only begins to understand. In a rich and vivid world of exquisite art with a dangerous underbelly of deadly political feuds, Ginevra faces many challenges to discover her voice and artistic companionship—and to find love.
Da Vinci’s Tiger is a beautiful story, full of rich historical details that left me breathless for more. Da Vinci’s Tiger takes place in Renaissance Florence, and it tells the story of Ginevra de’ Benci, how she met Da Vinci and how he came to paint a picture of her (which happened to be his first portrait ever painted). I am a history major, and Renaissance Italy is some of my favorite, so all of the art, history, politics and Medici appealed to the huge history nerd in me. I will be re-reading this book for exactly those reasons. I really enjoyed LM Elliott’s depiction of Leonardo Da Vinci.
If you are a history nerd, or just love the art and culture of the renaissance period, Da Vinci’s Tiger is a great book for you to pick up. It is a historical, but it is young adult and still accessible to the reader. Because this book is so heavily focused on the historical details, it felt very accurate, but as is the case with many historical books, it did have a tendency to be a bit slower and a bit more dense. Still, overall a really great read. If you can’t get enough Da Vinci and you are a fan of young adult historical, this is one that you should not miss.
kindlemom1
I’ve read Passenger and loved it but the second one is new to me but it does sound interesting!
Karen
I have been debating if I want to read Passenger or not. Definitely going to add it to my TBR now.
Christina C
I just recently got a copy of Passenger and I can’t wait to read it. Though the cliffhanger has me nervous. 😮