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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

[Blog Tour] NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #18: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Author: Claudia Gray
Format Acquired: Paperback
Publication Date: November 4 2014
Publishing House:  HarperTeen
ISBN: 0062278967
Source of Copy: Purchased from National Bookstore

Summary: 


As the daughter of two brilliant physicists, Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by wild scientific theories, always encouraged to imagine the improbable or even the impossible. But when her father is murdered, Marguerite's life is turned upside down. All the evidence points to one person - Paul, her parents' handsome, enigmatic protege. Before the law can touch him, though, Paul uses Marguerite's mother's latest invention - a device called the Firebird, which allows people to leap into alternate dimensions - to escape.

With the help of another physics student, Theo, Marguerite chases Paul through various dimensions, determined to avenge her father. Her parents theorized that people who have met in one reality will be likely to meet in another...that key moments will happen over and over, in different ways. But when Marguerite leaps into each new world, she meets another version of Paul that has her doubting his guild and questioning her heart. Before long she realizes that what happened to her father may be more complex, and more sinister, than she ever dreamed.


        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review: 


A Thousand Pieces of You was released earlier in the Philippines because of the signing that happened on the 21st of October. 

Marguerite's life has been turned upside down thanks to the murder of her father by the hands of someone she has always trusted - Paul. Before authorities can apprehend him, Paul nabs her mother's latest invention, the Firebird, and leaps to another dimension. When Theo, another of her parents' brilliant students offers Marguerite a chance to chase after Paul she jumps at the idea of vengeance but leaping into different dimensions and meeting different versions of Paul has her doubting his guilt and she's quick to realize that what happened to her father wasn't as clear cut as it seemed.

Before I start the review can I just say that this has to be one of the most beautiful covers out there. And despite giving the book a three rainbows, how could I NOT do nail art for this pretty? Probably one of the most detailed nail art sets I've ever done too. I especially love the watercolor background for the Russian skyline.

Gray managed to make inter-dimension travel easy to understand which is a total relief. No convoluted plot lines and hard to understand talk of equations and math and physics. And it just so happens that those are the subjects I'm really bad at so I feel for Marguerite. Her characters are decently written and I didn't find myself overly irritated by the love triangle plus it helps that the world building was really well done. I love how Gray managed to give each dimension it's own personality and identity despite similarities.

But you see, I expected a chase across dimensions for a killer and I was really into the bok the first hundred pages until I hit page 107. You see that page is when my rating started to slowly decrease. That was when the book asked me to suspend a ridiculous amount of belief because how can she go from suspecting someone from being a killer, even if he was like family, to not? I mean all the evidence was there and Marguerite is refuting that based on the emotions she claims to see in someone else's eyes? I couldn't wrap my mind around that but I suspended belief and went on with the book.

Speaking of hunting killers, the story went from that to a forbidden romance set in Russia. Oh yes and after a few chapters, boy and girl were proclaiming their undying love for each other and it was so weird because it was like a little bit of insta love but at the same time it wasn't since we're dealing with different versions of one character. Leaping across dimensions must be tough on a girl's love life.

Overall I can't say I was impressed. I mean I didn't hate the book but it's not exactly something I'd recommend my friends either. But despite that, having met Claudia during the blogger's forum I can definitely say that she's really nice and super funny. I might pick up the second book because I'm interested to see where the story will go.

Rating: 




"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

A Thousand Pieces of You has an amazing cover and I had to do a set inspired by it. This set is more detailed than the previous nail art I've been doing since I tried to get both cityscapes right. I tried. 

Nail polish used:
China Glaze White on White


The book.


I started off with a white base before adding the watercolor detail.


After that came the cityscapes. They were so tiny I had to really bend over and use a super thin brush to do the buildings.


They turned out good enough.


Here they are in another position.


Nails with the book.


Thumb. I like the buildings on my thumb.

If you're up for checking out more bookish manicures you won't find on the blog visit 
Novel Nails Designs or follow my nail art Instagram HERE.
                         



8 comments:

  1. OMG this is incredible! Not only your review is perfect, I love those nails! So pretty

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  2. Your nails are gorgeous!!! And you review is pretty much similar in rating to those around the web... so I think I'll stay away from this one :P
    Book Maniac Reviews

    P.S. I'm anew follower :)

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    1. Thank you! I might still pick up the next book. Especially if the cover is as gorgeous as this. Thanks so much for following!

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  3. It's been a while since I read a Dystopian book, I might give this one a try, even if the reviews are not that good at least the cover is pretty and also your nail arts are so pretty as the cover. Great review. :) Hope to see more of your nail arts. I'm a fan. :)

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    1. I am seriously in love with sci-fi. It's obviously my preferred genre. And yeah! This book isn't mind-blowingly good but it's not bad either. Hope you enjoy it!

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  4. I was really hoping that I'd get to see you during the book signing event, but alas, I didn't. I secretly read your reviews now and then and I follow Novel Nails Design on IG because HOW COULD I NOT?

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    1. Hahaha! Maybe at the next signing? I'm not hard to spot - just look for the girl with gray hair. (But who knows, I might be changing up soon lol) And thank you!! High five!

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  5. How how how? You're so great in nail art. Stunning. nkakabilib ♡

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