Top Notch! My daughter and I both enjoyed!

Would you listen to Tandem again? Why?

Already did. The concepts were very intriguing and it took the second time around to really appreciate it. Easily entertaining enough. My daughter Mercy went through it twice in a row too.

What did you like best about this story?

Sasha's character, the way she deals with the amazing set of circumstances she's thrown into and empathizes with others.

Have you listened to any of Amanda Dolan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but now she will be on my radar screen as a narrator! Excellent job Amanda! I liked the way she did male voices and the King's voice which was a difficult conundrum.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

One of the ways I can gauge whether I like an audiobook is that, as soon as I get to the end, I want to go right back and listen to the beginning again. This was one such book!

I'm becoming a big fan of Anna's writing in general-- her characters have a realism that springs from their home life, caring about their parents (or not for a time), connection to Shakespeare and literature in general, appreciation for history and science. Her books motivate young people to want to learn!

As for this book, I would seriously like to see it as a movie.

The idea that you would have a person like you in a parallel universe is really cool to begin with, but she executes it brilliantly! If you enjoy books like the Hunger Games, but also like princesses and having to deal with difficult situations that you find yourself in by using your wits, this is a big winner.

The science of this gradually unfolds, as do major plot twists and interpersonal relationships. There are secret codes to discover, and personalities to figure out. When she goes into the alternative universe, she has to figure out gradually who is to be trusted. This becomes extremely difficult!

I really like the main character, Sasha, mainly because she empathizes with people that seem to be her enemies. She is thoughtful, likable and for me, very believable.

11 people found this helpful

Great read awesome narrator

Would you try another book from Anna Jarzab and/or Amanda Dolan?

yes I would

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The entire world of parallel universes.

Which character – as performed by Amanda Dolan – was your favorite?

Sasha was my favorite.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes i think I would.

Any additional comments?

I love the cover to this book. I am not sure why but the simplicity of it just draws me in, which is what drew me in first to this book. I thought it sounded pretty interesting too and decided to give it a try. There are a lot of parallel worlds books out there right now and I like them. It’s something new. This book was something new for sure. I loved the concept and I loved the story, and the characters were likable for the most part. It was a solid read but not as memorable as I would have liked.




Sasha is a normal teenager trying to get through her days until she graduates. She lost her parents when she was young and lives with her grandfather. She isn't popular but not a leper. She makes it on her own with the help, encouragement, and entertainment of her best friend. Everything changes the day that the popular long time crush asks her to prom. Instead of a date to remember with kisses and corsages, she gets thrusts into a parallel world where her alter ego is a princess in trouble.





The concept of the story really had me spinning (in a good way) It was very interesting and I just wanted to know more about how it all worked. If I was to believe in parallel universes, this is the book that would get me there. I loved the idea of a copy, a analog of yourself in another world living completely differently. For this story it was Sasha living in one world as a normal teenage girl trying to get to graduation and a princess in another. Much of the story made sense to me and I was able to follow it easily, wrapping me up inside to enjoy the ride. The story was filled with so much action, lies, secrets, betrayal and I couldn’t help but be driven to find out what happens next. Some of the story was predictable and then some were not. I felt it was a good mixture of predictability and twists.

The world building and the setting was pretty awesome for me. The world in which Sasha came from was a normal world, the one we live in now, but the other world in which she travels too was pretty cool. I felt it was a good mixture of epic fantasy setting with post apocalyptic setting, with a very modern feel and a bit of a sci-fi edge. There was the ruling monarchy living in a very fallen world but had our modern technology as cell phones. Of course they also have the advance technology of sci-fi as in the knowledge and ability to use the Tandem to travel between universes. It was a great mixture of several genres that worked really well together.

The characters were OK. I liked them enough to keep reading, I just didn’t feel like I connected to them to the level I enjoy. I liked what I knew but the character building lacked slightly not allowing me to really feel the characters. I am hoping that will change in the next book. Sasha was a strong-willed character, determined, focused, and every now and then wishy washy. (which was understandable) I think she grabbed on to the truth of the situation pretty early on and went with it. I liked that about her. I didn’t really like how she was selfish in the reasons to help out. Although it was understandable, I am not sure that getting home wouldn’t have been my only priority either. I think I would have liked her a bit more if she really cared what happened to this other universe. Not realistic I know, but I am a compassionate person so that thought crossed my mind. Sasha was a bit wishy washy on the entire Thomas thing. Does she have feelings for him or does she hate him. It was completely understandable from where I stood. Thomas starts off the relationship on a huge lie and no matter how sweet and charming he was in later on, that lie still lingered.

Thomas would have been a wonderful character if he had learned to be a bit more honest when honesty was the best option. It’s hard to gain someone’s trust and willingness to help when the truth iffy on availability. Thomas tried to do what he felt best to win over Sasha’s corporation but never went about it the right way. He was awesome in every other aspect of his character. Strong, loyal, and brave. I wanted to kick him hard in one particular part, he just couldn’t bring himself to trust the word of Sasha when she hadn’t lied yet, and I was thinking “really after all she’s done this is how you react”. But I guess he redeemed himself later on. Sort of.

There were times each character had redeeming qualities but not enough to make me swoon or cheer, nothing detrimental to the liking of them either. I think it would have been better to have more of them and there just wasn’t time with the explanations for the story . This was OK because the story explanations were very important and I figure I will have a chance to get to the characters more in the next book.

The pacing was good, the writing was good, the ending was great… left me wanting more. I was never bored but never engrossed. So it was like a said a solid read. I will absolutely carry on with the series and hope it gets even better.

The narrator was great. I think she did a wondeful job with the voices of Sasha and Thomas. She paced the reading well. I think she was just right for the book.




Enjoyable, Entertaining, Eager to read more.

5 people found this helpful

Please publish #3!

Well written, well thought out details, great progression of interpersonal relationships. Believable and likeable main characters! I really liked the layout.

4 people found this helpful

Interesting world but not realistic characters

I loved the narration by Amanda Dolan, but it wasn’t enough to keep me reading. Totally lost interest about an hour or two in. The characters just didn’t seem very realistic. (Sorta spoiler) I didn’t understand why Sasha didn’t want to shoot someone. Like fudge I would have shot this person if I thought I was kidnapped. Where was the inner turmoil or debate? None... Also, the author doesn’t really understand what a scientific theory is. The writing was interesting but it just didn’t seem realistic.

3 people found this helpful

Good story left hanging

This is a good story and would love the ending but the writer never finished the trilogy so after getting invested you are just left hanging.

2 people found this helpful

Dont read if you don't want to be heartbroken.

The book is amazing . I would stay up late at night cuz I couldn't stop listening to it, but once your done with book 2 that's it there is no book 3. Your left crying and wondering what happened. This can't be called a trilogy when there are only 2 books we need an ending . You can't just leave it like this .

2 people found this helpful

Fun Romantic Science Fiction

I enjoyed this book. I did not want to stop listening to it. I didn't want it to end and I am excited to be able to listen to the next book in the series.

2 people found this helpful

Great Book!

Well written fantasy novel about parrallel universes with sweet romance intermixed. This book reminds me of one of my favorite author Amy Bartol and I look forward to reading the second book!

2 people found this helpful

Great Book

Loved this book.
It wasn't boring, starts good and finishes good.
Good speaker as well.

1 person found this helpful

Unique & Captivating Series

This book got me out of my reading slump after I finished Sabaa Tahir’s amazing series of An Ember in the Ashes. The narrator was excellent and that’s saying a lot for me because I don’t like many narrators. I have to admit that the middle part dragged a bit before the action parts started at the end. I took a chance on this book after attempting to start several other popular series and giving up after the first chapters. I can’t believe there isn’t a plan for a third book in this series. It needs to happen. I took a chance on this book and I was pleasantly surprised by its awesomeness! You should take a chance on it too!’

1 person found this helpful