A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray

Genre:  YA Sci-Fi Romance

Firebird Series, Book 3

Claudia Gray's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Note:  This is the third book in a series.  You have officially been warned.

Description (taken from Claudia Gray's website):

A million universes. A million dangers. One destiny.

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled to another universe using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation—and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes, each facing total annihilation.

Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man—angry and shadowed by tragedy. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again.

So it’s up to Marguerite alone to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite—wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

In the epic conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites . . . and only one can win.

I love the whole concept of having alternate realities with the same people but different circumstances.  And it's how we react to these circumstances that ultimately shape who we are.  Just as the main Marguerite in this book is good, there's also an evil Marguerite that is willing to destroy the multiverse.  It kind of points out that there is good and bad in each of us.

Anyways, Marguerite is ready to stop the Triad's plan of destroying universes in order to save somone dear to their hearts.  But what she doesn't realize is that their biggest weapon also happens to be an alternate copy of herself.  So how does she fight herself or make her see reason?  And manage to keep Paul by her side?  The man that once made her believe in true love and destiny only to watch it all crumple up in her face in one of the different realities.  Can she stop herself and this other world from annihilating all of the other worlds?

The concept is cool.  And the whole premise of trying to determine true love across universes is awesome.  Or well complicated...  But this has turned out to be one of my favorite series.  Seeing all of the different worlds and experiencing old ones.  It's as if you could see your life from a different outcome.  A series well-loved and worth it in my opinion.

If you're into the whole multi-universe thing, give this one a try.  If it peaks your interest, then pick it up...

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Genre:  YA Science Fiction

Firebird Series, Book 2

Claudia Gray's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Note:  This is the second book in an amazing parallel-universe series.  Reading anything below might spoil plots from the first book.

Description (taken from Claudia Gray's website):

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents’ invention, to cross through to alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurt the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked, and his consciousness is scattered across multiple dimensions.

The hunt for each splinter of Paul’s soul sends Marguerite racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each dimension brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with every trial she faces, she begins to question the one constant she’s found between the worlds: their love for each other.

Ever since Marguerite has been using the Firebird technology her parents created, she's believed in souls and soulmates.  Every world involves a love shared between her and her boyfriend, Paul.  But when the original universe tries to recruit her, they use Paul against her.  And as she does their bidding in order to save him, she begins to question whether one soul across multiple universes is really the same person.  Can love travel past multiple universes?  Or do your surroundings and choices help shape who you love?

Marguerite is a perfect traveler in her world.  What that means is she has the ability to control other Marguerites from other worlds without the use of an addictive drug.  In essence, she is the perfect Firebird soldier.  And that's why the Triad from the original universe wants her working for them.  But what is their end goal?  What do they want?  And will Marguerite try to stop them when the time comes?  Or are her world's parents, Paul, and Theo more important?

I have decided I love this series.  This is probably one of my favorite parallel-world series.  It's got the romance, the action, and the moral dilemmas.  And you kind of have your favorite picks of the universes.  I was hooked from beginning to end.  And now I want the third book as soon as it comes out.  I have to keep my opinions short and concise, or else I'll start releasing plot spoilers (just imagine me bouncing around in the background yelling at you to read the book now).

This is an addictive series to get into.  And if you're looking for a multiple-world romance that isn't too gooey, then you might want to give this series a try.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Genre:  YA Science Fiction Romance

Firebird Series, Book 1

Claudia Gray's website

Expected publication date:  November 4, 2014

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Claudia Gray's website):

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. To accomplish her goal, she must learn how each world works, and confront the many people she has the capacity to become. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows — including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where the truth is elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

Marguerite is affected by grief and rage when Theo gives her the opportunity to go after her father's killer.  She is surrounded by some of the smartest physicists in the world who have created a device that makes travel between dimensions possible.  Her father's killer, Paul, has used this device, the Firebird, to escape the consequences.  But Theo's determined to stop him and tells his plan of finding him to Marguerite who won't let him go alone.  Marguerite's determined to get retribution and stop Paul.

But jumping between alternate realities is nothing like what she suspected.  Using Theo as her guide begins to become shady as she jumps to a reality with different inventions and sees him at his worst.  And when she finally finds Paul, her old emotions come back, and it's impossible to figure out who to trust.  But as the cat and mouse game continues between worlds, Marguerite becomes more confused.  Is she really the cat chasing Paul, or is she herself being chased?

I will admit, it took me two alternate Marguerites before I finally got into this story.  But as her alternate versions become realer than life and weaved in between the original Marguerite's past, I became so intrigued.  What on earth was going on with this story?  I definitely didn't have that initial spark, but the romance pulled me in, and I had to know how it ended.  And let me tell you, there were surprises that I hadn't figured out until two pages before the revealing.  I thoroughly enjoyed this tale that pulled the ethics of dimensional travel and the meaning of love into a flawless piece.

And now I must wait for the next one to come out.  I think young adult fans looking for something different with that bit of romance will enjoy this book.  And if you're not sold by the first fifty pages, just keep going.  I can say it's worth it.

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.