Review: Extracted by Tyler Jolley and Sherry Ficklin

Title: Extracted

Author(s): Tyler Jolley and Sherry Ficklin
Series: Book One in the Lost Imperials Series
Published By: Spencer Hill (November 15, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Steampunk/Time Travel
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!!



Book Description:
Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

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My Thoughts and Review:
By the time I picked this one up I was so ready for something different and fun and filled with steampunk. It has been way too long since I have read a good steampunk novel that I was seriously starting to have withdrawals. 

I found something to ease my craving and more in Extracted. Jolley and Ficklin really are a dynamic duo. Throw in the steampunk factor and add in some time traveling along with some historic details and you have one heck of a ride that you won't want to get off from.

Jolley and Ficklin did a fabulous job with this action packed, non stop fun, debut novel. The characters are loveable and the changing point of views was so well done, they blended and meshed seamlessly. Each main character (and even the secondary characters) added an element to the story that wouldn't have been there otherwise. They felt fleshed out and tangible.  I felt like I knew them and cared for them instantly. 

The world building isn’t lacking either, it gives you just enough to answer those pesky questions that pop up along the ride and leave enough hints along the way that let you know there is so much more to the story than the first glance, so much more to be devoured and discovered.

How the Rifters work, The Hollows and the Telsa Institute were.. well, you really need to read this to find out all about them because it was so ingenious and creative how they all came together, how time travel all works and how memories are not something to take lightly and should never be forgotten that I can't even begin to explain it. How the things that hold their world together are unimaginable and so precious. With time travel being always on the cusps of creating a rift or a paradox or messing up all their futures altogether,  it is a wonder how it was all pulled together, explained and understood, but it was and it was done well.

Lex is one swoon worthy male. Strong, loyal, loving and fierce, he is one book boyfriend you will want to have and claim as your own.

Ember was a great heroine. Strong, fierce, sweet and full of compassion. But don't let her loving side fool you, this girl knows how to kick butt and isn't shy about it. She takes charge when needed and I loved that about her. She sees the good in people even when they don't always deserve it. 

Flynn, Gloves, Stein, Ethan, Kara, and Nobel were all fascinating characters in and of themselves. I have always said that secondary characters can make or break a good book, regardless of how fabulous the main characters are and in this case, they all added to the mystery and greatness that made up the pages of this novel. 

I really look forward to reading the next installment.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*