Customer Reviews

EQUILIBRIUM (Portal Chronicles Book Two)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So put your big girl panties on and D-E-A-L." - Arizona Daley to herself.

Ahahaha! I love this line from Equilibrium, Imogen Rose's sequel to Portal and the 2nd in the Portal Chronicle Series. The third book is in the works and I say, "None too soon, get to work!" I couldn't resist saying to myself, "Thank goodness!

Everyone else who's reviewed this book so far has mentioned Portal, of course, an "Indie" book that's on the verge of going viral with Kindle readers and fans of YA and Paranormal/Sci Fi readers.

What no one else has mentioned so far is that this book really CAN standalone. Would it be better to read Portal first? Sure, just as with any other series, and Portal was wonderful. I think I told Twighlight fans to check it out to see what real writing is about. But you don't HAVE to read Portal first. Ms. Rose has done a more than sufficient job of filling in the back story in Equilibrium that you can follow the story without reading the first, which is not true of every series, don't I know!

While Portal gave us most of the characters and a tease into the mysterious Portal, as well as the unforgettable phrase, "Meet me two years ago.", Equilibrium fleshes the story out much more.

We're introduced to the Wanderers, a group of very mellow time travelers who "don't need no stinkin' portal" (my quotes, lol) to move through dimensions and time. Some of the Wanderers were in the last book, but we weren't told about them (and I'm not gonna tell you who, neener!). The plot revolves more around the portal this time, as well. Although this book delved deeper into the paranormal, I still found it entirely believable.

Arizona Stevens/Daley finds herself back in her old life pretty rapidly, but still "Barbie Arizona", which freaks out her friends and schoolmates, having been somehow transported against her will back to New Jersey. She finds out quickly that the old life she'd been pining for before wasn't all that great. I couldn't help thinking of the line, "Be careful what you wish for". When people from her other life start showing up in her NJ dimension, things start getting wild.

Equilibrium will sweep you up in the plot and keep you enthralled through every twist and turn in the story. There are also more well-defined villians in this sequel. I couldn't predict the ending at all, which is essential for me.

I hate spoilers, so I won't give anything more away, but Ms. Rose did a great job of setting the story up for the sequel without leaving any disappointing cliffhangers. I can't stand when a book in a series leaves a lot of unanswered questions and I was pleased to find that although I am anxious to read what happens next, I wasn't frustrated by having to wait.

Another sterling effort from this new-ish author, brava!

Equilibrium is a very interesting book about a teenager, time travel, love, and different in personality from how different things can change the way our personality is. Imogen Rose gave us a exciting story to read along with the strong characters to take us on the journey with them. The second book was even more exciting then the first.

It's rare for me that a second book exceeds the first. Usually the first is great and second good. But for me, Equilibrium was a better read than Portal, and I really did enjoy Portal.

I recommend Ms. Rose to anyone that enjoys Young Adult fiction, and will be reading the third shortly!

Equilibrium took off perfect. Everything was perfect in Arizona's world. She has the life she always wanted, a family she loves, and a perfect relationship. What more could she ask for? Answers.

Arizona has been through a lot of things in the past few months. More than anyone could ever imagine. After a life that Arizona thought could not have gotten any worse than it was... It did. If finally enjoying your life after such a change is a bad thing, just imagine getting kidnapped. Yes you can say things have just gotten worse for Arizona.

Imogen Rose certainly surprised me! Not only do we get to meet some more characters, but we actually get a few answers! Which was very exciting for me :D But then again, we get more questions in which we want answers. Im just glad there are more books coming in the series! Of course there were many twists and turns once more in the second book in the Portal Chronicles.

Im not going to give anything away that I haven't already said. All I can say is that Equilibrium was more than I ever imagined and very very addictive. The characters became closer yet separated in different ways. Once more Rose had me feeling close to these characters and dying for more.

I was so delighted with Imogene Rose's first book Portal, loved everything about it! Now comes Equilibrium and the second installment in the series does not disappoint, is just as awesome as Portal. I love her theme of time travel and multiple dimensions. The characters are engaging and the pace of the book never lags. It was hard for me to put it down. It has a very nice flow as the story shifts between characters and locations. LOVE THIS BOOK! Can hardly wait for Book 3!!!

A sequel. Part two. Book two. Two little words that make me cringe. As a rule, I try to avoid series (although it seems that is all I'm reading these days, go figure). It's not that I have anything against them. I like the character development that can happen across multiple books. I like following story lines and threads through to the bitter end. I don't like BOOK TWO though. That usually means that, well, it's going to suck. What is it with "book two"? Do authors set out to make them bad or does it just happen that way?

I read the first book of this series and got to the end where I realized there will be a book two. I really wanted to cry. It meant that a story I liked would likely be slaughtered. But I powered through and I bought Equilibrium just the same. Man, am I glad that I did! Imogen Rose has done a fantastic job of continuing the story while introducing us to new elements. There wasn't a sucky story line in the bunch. Kudos to her! Well edited, well executed and just downright fun.

The thing that I think I like about these books is that they are not heavy. It's pretty light scifi time travel, which is right up my alley. There's a young adult element to it, but unlike other popular YA, I don't feel the need to have a friend hold down Arizona while I beat the living snot out of her. She's a likable character with very realistic teenage angst. It just happens that her mom built a time portal and she remembers her life from another dimension. Yup, pretty normal, alright!

Seriously though. This book is very well done. The author is definitely one to watch. Her writing style is perfect for this sub-genre of YA and I hope she sticks with it. Her writing was great in the first book and she doesn't disappoint in the second. I'm told the third book will be out in the Fall 2010. Let's hope! The ending left me on edge, ahhh!, cliffhangers!

I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could. It loses a half star because there's a few time where the... I'm not sure of the phrase for it, but who's "speaking" change. It goes from being narrated to first person (Arizona) a few times without really giving us a heads up as to what's going on. For instance, it went from telling us what Rupert was doing and a few paragraphs later it read "I laughed". Um, the narrator laughed? SO very minor and not something I would noticed usually. And yes, there was a ---- break to show a change of scene. It's my own personal niggle. I'm weird like that, folks!

Very highly recommended. A light read that will leave you smiling. Trust me, just buy it.

I eagerly awaited the sequel to Portal after its cliffhanger ending. Equilibrium did not disappoint! It started off with a bang and kept me on the edge of my seat and up way too late.

I loved being back in the worlds of Arizona and her family/friends. Imogen Rose weaves a tale that is exciting, thought provoking and filled with warmth. Her characters are so real you almost feel as if you know them. I was able to completely escape the stress of my day by immersing myself in Equilibrium.

As others have stated, you could read it as a stand alone book but I would urge you to also read Portal as it is an excellent novel as well.

I am impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Imogen Rose does a great job keeping the mystery alive in this second book of the Portal Chronicles. Immediately the story jumps into a new mystery when Arizona awakens back in New Jersey. The storyline is well developed and does a great job revealing answers while introducing new questions. It kept me absorbed and entertained. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

A few months ago I read gPortalh by Imogen Rose and loved it. Quickly after itfs conclusion, however, I became apprehensive about reading gEquilibriumh (book 2 in the series.) Why? Well thatfs simple. After reading not 1 but 4 different g#2sh last year, (and being disappointed by each and every one of them) I didnft want to ruin my love for Rosefs characters.


Now, while some of yfall are probably screaming at me for not having faith in the author (or her ability to deliver a successful second book) I assure you that was not the case. The problem actually arose from the story line. gPortalh (in my opinion) was wildly successful. Chocked full of the elements needed to make a novel shine, (intrigue, mystery and love) disliking it was never an option, but thatfs not to say I didnft have 1 minor issue with it. The cliffhanger ending.


In my head the story had no where left to go. Arizona had a choice, and either choice would result in the same story. A journey to find herself. Soc imagine my surprise when I finally (cause letfs face itcit was going to have to happen eventually) picked up my copy of gEquilibriumh and found that the world I had left behind was only a gteaserh for the mayhem that was about to occur.


Arizona has a decision to make, a tough one as a matter of fact. Stay with her gnewh family (several weeks in the future,) or go home to her dad (the never there, leaves the house a total wreck, borrows money from his daughter to support his gambling addiction dad.) Not that difficult of a decision right? Wrong. Despite her new relationship, the fact of the matter wasc her mom lied to her. So what was she going to do about it? Unfortunately Arizona never has the chance to figure that out. While trying to sort through (not only) her feelings, but whether or not she actually believes the line of total BS her mom is feeding her (conveniently at the lake with Kellen) the unthinkable happens. She blacks out. Could this be a side effect of the Portal? Why canft she feel her legs? And more importantly where in the name of God is she?


To say I was shocking by the turn of this story would be a gross understatement. I was floored. The first go around we only had 2 narrators. (Arizona and her mother) in Equilibrium we are blessed with the ability to see from EVERY angle. Want to know what lady cop is thinking? No problem. Its right here. Want to know what is going through Davidfs head while Kellen is laid up? No problem. In shortc the complexity of this novel blew Portal out of the water. In Portal I felt like I was on a singular journey. Who was Arizona and why was this happening to her. In Equilibrium the gjourneyh became a moot point, and gsurvivalh became the name of the game. Jam packed with action, Rosefs plot took on a life of itfs own, and by the end I found myself caring for (and cheering for) characters I could have cared less about in Portal.

Once again I have learned my lesson. DO NOT ASSUME. And just to stress how fantastic this book actually wasc Ifm starting gQuantumh tonight.

Continuing from Portal, things heat up, considerably, and you are literally hanging on to your chair, never knowing what's going to happen next. I've gobbled up Portal and Equilibrium and now am hanging by a thread, looking for the 3rd book. Very good stuff.