Beta Book Review: Year of Origin by Maren

Book: Year of Origin by Maren
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Rating:★★★★☆
For: Beta reading
From: Maren

Short Synopsis: Blu is mad at her dad because he has just told her his plans to move the family,  which takes away any chance for Blu to go to ballet school as she has planned her whole life. She storms away and then, something happens, and she is whisked away from all she knows, to a new world. Well, actually, it's the same world, but a new time. After getting her bearings, she learns that people in this time way into the future (about 100 years actually) have come from all different time periods (except the Nobles who rule the place) and she is special because she is from the Year of Origin. She makes good with some of the higher ups and finds herself living her dream of being a ballet dancer. But all she really cares about now is finding her family, trying to see if they've been whisked to this time period too, or what happened to them. She finds a friend who comes from her same time and they bond and together, they try to figure out what's really going on in this place. I say try because yes, there's more! There's book two being worked on right now!

My Response: This was my first time reading someone's unpublished book, from cover to cover, the whole thing all at once, as if it were a "real" published book. It's quite the scary task being both the reader and/or the one being read! But I totally forgot all that while reading and just got wrapped up in the story, the characters, the setting... all of it. Maren is an amazing writer and I hope to learn from her skills at word choice and description. So good! This book of hers was her Nano project two or three years ago I think, and she is now getting it ready to query, I hope! And currently she is working on book two for this year's Nano. I can't wait to see what happens next! It's been fun to be part of the process with her. Even if this one doesn't make out to the published world, I know one of many other ideas will!

Bottom Line: A fun fabulous time traveling science fiction story complete with a strong main characters, her quirky boy and a prince that is a little crazy!

Let's Talk About: What do you think about me reviewing unpublished stories? I did get Maren's permission, but you all might think, why do I care about this book that I may never see?  But then again, I thought it would be fun to share the process a book goes through, not only just my experience trying to write, but the experience of being part of a writing group and reading things other aspiring authors are writing. Also, if she does get this published, then we can already be spreading the word! Or something. Anyway, hopefully you will find it fun.