Book Review: Invictus

It’s been a while since I wrote about any books I was reading. This morning I stayed in bed a little longer, lingering over my tea while I finished the last 50 pages of the book, Invictus by Ryan Graudin, 2017.

This is not the type of book I usually read, part science fiction, part dystopian society, part historical fiction, but ripe for any teen interested in those popular genres. Last year, I hit upon a sale on the Barnes and Noble website and ended up purchasing this novel, along with five others – all recently published. My total bill was less than $30.00 for six hard covered books!  It was a steal!

Since then they’ve been stored on my son’s bookshelf, waiting for an occasional visit from a family member, hoping to be plucked out of the stacks and read while cozied up under warm comforters. I think we’re about half way through the stack, but other books have been read in the meantime.

It took me several weeks to get through this story, but it was entertaining enough to stick it out. The characters are enchanting, well “cool” or “dope” might be a better word for them in today’s teen world. They are all somewhat rebellious in their own ways and get into enough trouble to make the story interesting. There are not many characters, either, which always increases the importance of the role of each in the scenarios that play out.

Invictus is a time machine, you see. It takes our characters into the future and past, working for a not so legitimate collector of ancient goods. But, there are some (many, actually) problems along the way as they pop into and out of famous scenes in history like the sinking of the Titanic and the fires of Rome.  There’s some familiarity offered when the crew lands in current day Las Vegas. And, fantasy driven time travel glitches are offered with descriptions that will keep you interested.

One thing is for sure, the author, Ryan Graudin, has a fantastic imagination as she bounces her characters through time and a complex plot that will leave your head spinning. I would definitely recommend this novel to teens interested in science fiction with a twist of history and a tad of romance. It leaves you wondering what is possible in the future, whether it be in our world or the next!

I do believe I will look for more of Ms. Graudin’s books. This is my typical mode of operation with novels. Once I find an author I like, I return for more and more, until I’ve exhausted their offerings. I’m not sure that will be the case with these books, but it was well written, easy to read, and entertaining.

What books have you been reading lately?  Do you always stay with a story once you start it or do you give up on a novel if it doesn’t grasp your attention after a certain point? You can leave your comments below!