Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

Published: March 1st, 2016

by: HMH Books for Young Readers

Genres: YA, Time-Travel, Alternate-History

Format: eARC 

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

My Rating: 3.5 Stars 

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When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing. Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

 

Review

Despite the slow beginning and insta-love, I quite enjoyed this book. I’ve not read Outlander, yet, but I darn sure will make an effort to start it soon. Possibly next week. With this being marketed as Outlander for teens, I decided to give it a go. I’ve watched the first season of the show, and I know that there’s a lot that I’m missing without having read it, but I can’t get on board with the comparisons between the two. The only things I got are the setting and time-travel. That’s it. So if the settings and general aspects of stories constitute relation between other books of the same quality, then marketing sucks. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but this is no way an Outlander. I get that you want people to pick up this title, but how about just saying that this is a new and exciting time travel adventure for teens to get lost in. Because if a non-Outlander fanatic such as myself can get mad over the comparison, then I can only imagine what the die hard fans are thinking.

Now, to move along from the negatives. I actually liked the last half of this book. All the historical aspects rocked my socks off. That is what saved this book for me. Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. So having her in this book was a treat in itself. The author did such an amazing job with the history here, that even when you don’t even know much to start, you will still be amazed. Google is my friend. All of the 12th Century history was very well represented, even if it wasn’t much. It makes you wonder if you’d have survived during that time period. Yes, you would have. Simply because that was the way back then. Our personalities reflect what we are used to. If a man wants to own you, then that’s just the way it is. Hope, having come from a century that doesn’t mandate that way of life, got some heavy things thrown her way.

Hope is one of those heroines that you love and hate at the same time. She’s so smart – intellectually, but displays actions just like most teen girls do. You know the type, those self deprecating girls who are so gorgeous that they don’t see it. All it takes is one guy to say you’re pretty, and BAM! Instant love fest. So Hope is the chosen one. And like so many chosen ones, she has no understanding of her strengths, until someone tells her. She’s always had a knack for remembering things and languages. The time-travel aspect was confusing at times, but it seems to fit the story. Me, being the lover of complicated things, had to just go with the flow and hope for the best. 

Overall, I am looking forward to the next book. I like the history in this book more than anything. So if you are into 12th Century court, Eleanor of Aquitaine, power struggles, and time traveling heroines, Into the Dim is the perfect read for you. Please don’t go into this thinking of Outlander, or you will be sorely disappointed and it could ruin your thoughts on the book. Just think of this book as just a new adventure, and you won’t even compare the two.