Review Detail

At the end of “Tempest,” I was heartbroken for Jackson, but I was proud of him. He sacrificed his happiness and his normal life to protect the girl he loves. Vortex is the aftermath of that sacrifice. For me, “Vortex” is devastating. Jackson’s life is in shambles. He trusts no one and has no one to confide in. In his new life as an agent of the CIA division called Tempest, he is demeaned and treated like a joke. He gets no respect and no loyalty. Worst of all he cannot contact the two people he wants to see most.

“Tempest” and “Votex” are parts of the same story, but they are different books. In “Tempest,” Jackson is lost. He has no idea who he is or what he is capable of. Most of all he has seen the girl he loves get murdered and he will do anything to prevent those events from happening. “Tempest” is raw with emotion. It is filled with confusion and self-discovery. “Vortex” is a whole new world, literally. Jackson goes from a confused boy to a focused young man. He is alone, undervalued and resented, but Jackson keeps trucking. He is determined to learn more about his abilities and the enemies of time. He was unprepared to face his enemies before and he will do anything to prevent having to see someone he loves die, again.

The first few chapters of this book were difficult for me to get into. The reason being that I love Jackson so much I wanted him to be ok and he is not. The second reason is that there is a lack of emotional connection in the first third of this installment that was very prevalent in “Tempest.” Jackson is cut off emotionally, he is traumatized, suspicious and on constant guard. He has a very good reason to be this way. I stuck with it and was so relieved and engaged at the first sign of life returning to this character.

There is a saying that has run in my family for the last twenty years or so. When watching TV or reading a book, members of my family have been known to say, “I could write these things.” For some reason we can almost always see the ending or twist of a story coming. When other people jump in shock to find that the killer is under the bed, I’ve been known to nod my head, because somehow I knew that the killer was there the whole time. That being said, there are moments in “Vortex,” that left me SHOCKED. I am not often surpised. There are reveals about a main character that I just did not see coming. I didn’t see it coming and I am not sure what it will mean for Jackson, but it is such an interesting twist.

The one failing of this book is the end. The end is not bad; it just gets a bit confusing. Characters pop up and I am not sure how they can possibly be there. Jackson’s enemies and his role in the universe get more complicated and a lot vaster than he expected. I gave this book four stars instead of five, because the ending just kind of rushes at us and I am not sure exactly what it all means. I was gripped and entertained, but my first thought on conclusion of the book was “What?”

Honestly, read this book. The ending lost me for a few minutes, but I caught right up. It is obvious that Julie Cross left things up in the air, because she intends to explain it all in the sequel. I am not a huge fan of Sci-Fi literature, but I love this series. Julie Cross takes her readers to so many different emotional, mental and scientific places. This series is as smart as it is entertaining and as emotional as it is thought provoking. This series works, because of its plot is good, the writing is fantastic and the main character is someone you will root for until the end.

Here’s the thing about Jackson Meyer. Girls spend their time wishing for “I love you, but I want to kill you” Edward Cullen and “I love you so much I want kill myself” Travis Maddox when they should be wishing for a Jackson Meyer. Jackson’s love for Holly is a force of nature, but it never tramples. It is intense, but never frightening. Jackson and Holly’s love is so powerful time and space cannot stop him from loving her and doing everything in his power to protect her. I want someone to love me that much.

Recommended for readers of YA/ New Adult Fiction and Sci-Fi, fans of books like “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and movies/shows like “Doctor Who” and “Back to the Future.” If you’ve read “Tempest,” you HAVE to read “Vortex.”