Review of Edge of Destiny
Posted: 23 Jun 2023, 10:54
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Edge of Destiny" by Phil Brown.]
Edge of Destiny by Phil Brown follows the story of a young couple as they face their unknown destinies. The novel was set as WWII was starting. Young men were not yet forced into conscription, but the patriotic need for young men to save their country brought the idea to Theo’s mind to join the air force. Claudia, on the other hand, is a woman in STEM who is trying her best to earn the respect she deserves. With all the uncertainties Theo and Claudia were facing, what lay ahead at the edge of their destiny?
What I liked most about this novel were the feelings it encapsulated. One of the storylines was at the end of their high school days. And like most of us, the thought of our last get-together never truly sinks in. This novel brought about the bittersweet feeling of watching friends enjoy their last moments together without knowing how much everything would change in their future. The sentiments were further amplified because of the unknown, with the war just starting.
Another thing I liked most was the romance between Theo and Claudia. It was very sweet and relaxing. The romance didn’t burn with passion like other romance novels. The relationship in this book is just about being there for each other, having companionship, and being a soundboard for each other's thoughts and feelings. It’s such a pure form of love that’s relaxing and healthy.
Additionally, Claudia’s classes were a joy to read. Some people might not enjoy the physics lectures, as they might get boring. But the topics were written in a way that any reader would easily understand. The men in Claudia’s class were great too. Women-in-STEM novels tend to portray men as discriminatory. However, in this novel, Claudia’s classmates are not written to be disrespectful.
Even though I loved certain parts of this novel, there were also things I didn’t like. One is the time-travel plot of the story. It’s supposed to be an integral plot line, as the novel literally starts with Theo arriving in the modern day. However, the book was so slow-paced that time travel was completely forgotten and felt unnecessary when it happened. The novel could stand on its own as romantic historical fiction. So, in my opinion, the time-travel bit was not a good addition to the story.
With all of that said, I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed most aspects of the novel. It was sweet, relaxing, and informative to read. I usually like slow-paced novels, but this one is just too slow, in my opinion. Certain parts of history were described in great detail; that’s what made the novel so slow because I don’t enjoy reading about the tobacco industry and some boring stuff about world war tactics. On the technical aspect of the review, I would say that it’s professionally edited, as I only noticed a few grammatical errors.
I would recommend this novel to people interested in historical fiction. It offers a Canadian perspective regarding WWII. Young adults would also like the romance between Theo and Claudia. I would not recommend this novel to readers who don’t have enough patience for slow-paced novels.
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Edge of Destiny
View: on Bookshelves
Edge of Destiny by Phil Brown follows the story of a young couple as they face their unknown destinies. The novel was set as WWII was starting. Young men were not yet forced into conscription, but the patriotic need for young men to save their country brought the idea to Theo’s mind to join the air force. Claudia, on the other hand, is a woman in STEM who is trying her best to earn the respect she deserves. With all the uncertainties Theo and Claudia were facing, what lay ahead at the edge of their destiny?
What I liked most about this novel were the feelings it encapsulated. One of the storylines was at the end of their high school days. And like most of us, the thought of our last get-together never truly sinks in. This novel brought about the bittersweet feeling of watching friends enjoy their last moments together without knowing how much everything would change in their future. The sentiments were further amplified because of the unknown, with the war just starting.
Another thing I liked most was the romance between Theo and Claudia. It was very sweet and relaxing. The romance didn’t burn with passion like other romance novels. The relationship in this book is just about being there for each other, having companionship, and being a soundboard for each other's thoughts and feelings. It’s such a pure form of love that’s relaxing and healthy.
Additionally, Claudia’s classes were a joy to read. Some people might not enjoy the physics lectures, as they might get boring. But the topics were written in a way that any reader would easily understand. The men in Claudia’s class were great too. Women-in-STEM novels tend to portray men as discriminatory. However, in this novel, Claudia’s classmates are not written to be disrespectful.
Even though I loved certain parts of this novel, there were also things I didn’t like. One is the time-travel plot of the story. It’s supposed to be an integral plot line, as the novel literally starts with Theo arriving in the modern day. However, the book was so slow-paced that time travel was completely forgotten and felt unnecessary when it happened. The novel could stand on its own as romantic historical fiction. So, in my opinion, the time-travel bit was not a good addition to the story.
With all of that said, I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed most aspects of the novel. It was sweet, relaxing, and informative to read. I usually like slow-paced novels, but this one is just too slow, in my opinion. Certain parts of history were described in great detail; that’s what made the novel so slow because I don’t enjoy reading about the tobacco industry and some boring stuff about world war tactics. On the technical aspect of the review, I would say that it’s professionally edited, as I only noticed a few grammatical errors.
I would recommend this novel to people interested in historical fiction. It offers a Canadian perspective regarding WWII. Young adults would also like the romance between Theo and Claudia. I would not recommend this novel to readers who don’t have enough patience for slow-paced novels.
******
Edge of Destiny
View: on Bookshelves