The concept of this book blew me away.

I could not wait to read about a world where people have clocks that show when they’ll die.

Isn’t that the coolest (and creepiest) thing ever?

The book summary (from the website):

How would you live if you knew the day you’d die? Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall—her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

Note: You might want to check out my introductory book review post, so you know what to expect.

Plot

I didn’t really know what the story was going to be about, other than Parvin crossing the wall. In some ways, that was a good thing since it kept me guessing and forced me to keep reading to find out what happened. In other ways, it was confusing, like going hiking without a compass.

The beginning is slow, but after Parvin crosses the wall, things start to pick up, like a train slowly gathering momentum. The longer I read, the more the plot worked its magic on me, compelling me to keep reading. Especially the cliffhangers.

There are plot twists aplenty, including a few parts that had me thinking, “This can’t possibly happen.” Of course, it happened! I’m talking the pick-your-jaw-up-off-the-floor variety.

This book is packed with mysteries that help drive the plot along. They practically tortured me as I hankered to find out where they were taking me. Nasty mysterieses, preciousss.

The end brings closure to some pieces but throws in some new twists at the same time, clearly setting up the next book.

Setting

The setting is the star of the show. Beyond the chilling and unique backdrop provided by the presence of the clocks, it has a distinctly dystopian ambiance. Tyrannical government. Changed landscape. An alien feel to a familiar environment.

The technology is way too cool to be legal. NABs, implanted computer chips that play music nonstop, and of course, the clocks. Besides the geeky gadgets, unexpectedly simple things crop up, such as rope bridges and a city that operates on a bartering system.

But I have to come back to the clocks. Knowing when you’re going to die raises a lot of questions from a reader perspective.

• How do people behave?
• What does that do to ordinary life?
• How do the clocks work?

I was worried some of the implications might bog the story down or else get pushed aside because they were too complicated to deal with.

Happily, that wasn’t the case.

The author did a good job of presenting a believable world where the clocks dominate daily life. It was realistic and natural, and the story brought up additional implications I hadn’t even considered.

This is one of the most fascinating story worlds I’ve entered. If you love exploring new or different takes on reality, reading this book will be better than an LOTR marathon.

Characters

This book didn’t have a weakness, but I thought the characters were the least gripping aspect.

It took me awhile to warm up to Parvin, but she turned into a worthy heroine. My favorite part about her was her humor. I love characters who can make me laugh or bring a smile at their sense of sarcasm.

One of the things missing is an obvious villain. Parvin runs into many antagonists who present difficulties, so there’s still conflict, just not the typical hero-vs.-villain confrontations. Which is fine. Her situation with the clock fills that role.

I wish I could say more about the characters, but that would ruin some of the mysteries and give things away that are best left to discover yourself. I will say there is some romance and hints of a love triangle, as well as some real shockers when it comes to the fate of the characters.

Let that whet your appetite and go read the book to see what I mean. 😉

Conclusion

In some places, the writing style didn’t flow well. A number of unique phrases had me thinking, “what does that mean?” and I had to go back and re-read them. Otherwise, the writing was great—it supported the story without taking over.

Even if you’re not a dystopian fan, you need to read this book. It goes beyond the cool setting and likeable characters, and deals with deep issues of faith, trust, hope, and love. It has a strong Christian message and in some places it nudged into the realm of “preachy,” but not enough to distract from the story.

The elements of faith are intrinsic to the story rather than heavy-handed additions that don’t belong.

It’s dark and depressing in places, but unlike other dystopian novels, it doesn’t descend into despair. No matter what happens, the rays of hope shine through. I appreciated that.

I’m looking forward to reading book two in the series.

A Time to Die earns a spot on Shelf Excellent.

Author website: Nadine Brandes