Title: The Blazing Star
Series: TBA
Author: Imani Josey
Publication Date: December 06, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository
Sixteen-year-old Portia White is used to being overlooked—after all, her twin sister Alex is a literal genius.
But when Portia holds an Egyptian scarab beetle during history class, she takes center stage in a way she never expected: she faints. Upon waking, she is stronger, faster, and braver than before. And when she accidentally touches the scarab again?
She wakes up in ancient Egypt—her sister and an unwitting freshman in tow.
Great.
Mysterious and beautiful, Egypt is more than they could have ever imagined from their days in the classroom. History comes alive as the three teens realize that getting back to the present will be the most difficult thing they’ve ever done. Stalked by vicious monsters called Scorpions, every step in the right direction means a step closer to danger.
As Portia and the girls discover that they’re linked to the past by more than just chance, they have to decide what it truly means to be yourself, to love your sister, and to find your way home.
Portia's used to being the twin that goes along with everything her sister does. Same clothes, same hairstyle, even agreeing to go to the same university with her once they graduate high school. But Portia wanted to be more than that. More than to be that twin who is behind the spotlight while the world looks at her sister. A class trip to a museum not only changed Portia's relationship with her sister, but it also took her back to the past. Ancient Egypt kind-of past.
I've studied bits of Ancient Egypt when I was in high school and I love how I understood (or remember) some terms that I didn't feel the need to Google them. I had the time of my life reading The Blazing Star because not only did this took me to Egypt's ancient times but it also packed some magic and humor between the pages.
This was gods and goddesses, myths and legends, and very old magic.
Aside from the quote above, the book has POC characters, female characters with different personalities and have their own strengths, a relationship between twin sisters that's going to be tested as the story goes on, a protagonist finding more for herself than being in the shadows of her twin, a prince who's nice and sweet (and adorable when he doesn't understand any "present/current terms/things"), and unexpected twists. This was also light on the romance department and I love it because it wasn't rushed. It was developed and I'm eager to see what's in store for it in the next book.
There was also a scene here where I teared up. It was when Portia finally told Alex, her twin, what she really felt and how she wanted to mean something for herself this time. I felt Portia's pain and I don't even have a twin or a sibling to relate this kind of emotion. Alex isn't bad though, she just wanted her and Portia to be together (and maybe until forever) but Portia wanted other things this time. This was honestly the one that really got me going because I've mentioned many times before that family relationships will always have the biggest impact on me whenever I read a book, despite me being a big sucker for romance.
I'm excited for the next book because that ending somehow left me wanting more, and not to mention that it was a bit of a cliffhanger. I also had no idea that this wasn't a stand-alone but I'm not complaining.
AND CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO ADMIRE THE VERY BEAUTIFUL COVER? You all should know by now how covers are important to me because they are the ones that attract me first, the blurb comes second.
***ARC kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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