The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare

I had to wait far too long for THE UNTIMELY DEATHS OF ALEX WAYFARE, and although I pre-ordered the book the instant it was available, I haven’t had a chance to read it until now.

It was definitely worth the wait. I loved the first book by M.G. Buehrlen, THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE, and I’m always a little nervous when I dive into the second book of a series. I shouldn’t have been worried at all; Buehrlen has delivered an equally good follow-up that answers some questions, develops Alex’s character even more, and (once again) leaves me impatient for the next book.

Alex Wayfare is a Descender, a person who is able to travel through time by accessing her past lives, and with that power comes many complications and responsibilities. Alex’s abilities combined with her unconventional interests (she’s a huge geek when it comes to science, electronics, machines, and such) have ensured that she doesn’t have much of a social life in high school. Her family is great, but they’re also dealing with her sister’s potentially terminal illness, so they aren’t always available for Alex, and she doesn’t want to bother them with her troubles anyway. There’s also the problem with assuming they won’t believe her even if she does explain about her trips through history.

While the first book in the series dealt with Alex’s discovery of her talent and the development of her relationships with other Descenders, this book focuses on two specific missions: finding a cure to save Alex’s sister, and rooting out the traitor who keeps compromising Alex’s missions and endangering her life. There’s also a romance with Blue, the boy that Alex meets every time she descends. Blue has won Alex’s heart, and although their relationship is obviously problematic, Alex is committed to it—although there is that cute boy from school who is finally paying attention to her….

THE UNTIMELY DEATHS is a great blend of action, history, and romance. Alex is a fantastic character, and Buehrlen writes really well. My favorite parts of the book are when Alex travels into the past. It’s obvious that the author took care to research and accurately represent the times in which Alex is immersed—and I would have loved to read about more of them. Although the ending of UNTIMELY DEATHS is a bit abrupt, it leaves readers looking forward to the next book. I’ll definitely be pre-ordering it the instant it’s available!