The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Published by HarperCollins on March 3rd 2016
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Heidi Heilig’s debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.
Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.
In The Girl from Everywhere, Heidi Heilig blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility with witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, and enchanting romance.
You guys this book. I loved loved it.
If you’re looking for a new fantasy series to fall in love with you definitely are going to want to give this one a read.
Nix is sixteen and was born in Honolulu in 1868… But when her father brings her aboard his ship The Temptation her entire life changed. She’s been to places we can only imagine… both the past and the future, real and imaginary. As long as they have a map, her father can sail them where they need to go. He’s been on a mission to acquire a map that will take him to the one place he can’t forget… 1868 Honolulu… before Nix’s mother gave birth to her and died. The very idea of this raises so many questions for Nix and they have no idea what will happen if they can make it happen. How can Nix help her father with this task when it could possibly erase her existence… her hopes and her dreams?
I like that this story wasn’t so much about the time travel… sure they go to some incredible places, but ultimately this book is about the relationships between the characters and the consequences of the traveling and the sort of life that it leaves these characters with. The relationships between father and daughter… friend and lover… they are all explored in depth here and I loved it.
The relationship Nix has with her father is complicated to say the least. The only good thing he’s done for her was bring her aboard the ship. She’s built a family with the crew and has decided how she’d like to see her future. She just needs her father to teach her how to travel, but the only time he’s capable is when they have a map in their hands a plan in place to get him back to 1868 Honolulu. I totally understood Nix’s frustration with her father… and sadness. The idea that he was so stuck in the past that he was willing to give her up just to have her mother back is heartbreaking.
Nix has bonded with her friend Kash… he’s her best friend, even though it’s obvious he would love to have more from her. From his very first appearance on the page I fell for him. He’s just enough scoundrel and just enough swoon and sweet to make you fall in love and I couldn’t figure out why Nix was ignoring what was going on between them. But then I realized that it’s hard to make that leap from friend to lover when the person is basically the only person you can count on in life. I thought the evolution of their relationship was lovely and I’m excited to see what happens next.
There is a bit of a triangle here. I’m just going to get it out of the way. In my opinion, it doesn’t last quite long enough to make a huge impact and even though the end maybe hints at something different, in my heart and head I don’t think it’s going where it seems like it might. At least I hope. I’ll be honest. I thought the relationship that started between Blake and Nix felt forced and I just never really felt like it was genuine. I guess maybe that’s why I’m not all that worried about the next book and where this one left off. I don’t know… I guess if triangles aren’t your thing, maybe wait, but like I said, I’m not worried and I don’t feel like the romance is the main story here… there’s so much more going on.
While there are some definite slow parts, I thought the pacing was well done and there was definitely a lot of action to make this a page turner. I loved that Heilig quite obviously researched and spent a lot of time making me as a reader feel like I could imagine each and every place Nix and her crew were. From the lush unexplored forests of Hawaii to the imaginary and mythic lands that are explored each was described in a way that I couldn’t help but picture as I read.
I think what many will love is that this can be read as a standalone. There is definitely room to expand and I for one am excited to see what the future might hold for Nix and her motley crew, but if you aren’t in the mood for a series, you can read this and get a full and complete story and not have to commit to anything more… though why wouldn’t you in my opinion. For me, if Heidi Heilig is writing it, I’m going to be reading it.
Fans of historical fiction, fantasy and time travel will definitely want to pick this one up upon release.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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