This was such a fun, original read. I wish it weren't a stand-alone. Recommended for sci-fi fans, adventure fans, and those who miss Firefly.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Time travel is tricky. This is true of all books, but especially in the YA space. Invictus is a great example of this, where the premise itself of a time travel romance that could, in theory, unravel the very essence of time, just does not work. Not at all. The setup of everything works well, but the wheels come off extremely quickly.

The story follows Far, a person who should not, by any real logic, exist. Born to a gladiator, flying about in the future, he runs into a woman during a visit to the <i>Titanic</i> and it sets in motion a series of events that eventually put this timeline in danger.

Feel like you’ve read this before? If you’re versed in time travel at all, you absolutely have, and you’ve read it better. In the YA space, we have better stories like this too - <i>The Ship From Everywhere</i> is a key recent one, but even the countless multidimensional tales that are out there scratch that itch better than this does. I can’t really recommend this to anyone beyond those really, <i>really</i> looking for a YA take and have exhausted what’s already there. It just loses the plot so quickly that it’s not worth the time.

Take the crew of Cowboy Bebop, add in a dash of roguishness from Firefly, toss in a ship that could otherwise be a big blue phone box, and make your pilot River Song, and you've got this tremendous book. The crew of the Invictus are time thieves--they steal things from time that would never be found missing. But when time starts to collapse, they are responsible for fixing it. But what if fixing it means destroying themselves? I am a time travel fanatic, and I've loved every single book Ryan Graudin has written, so I was all in on reading this. I am so glad I did. It's twisty and turny and paradox-filled and whimsical and heart-wrenching and it's just lovely. What an adventure!!

Invictus isn’t your typical time traveling book. With twists and turns that you will never see coming, this book will invade your day.

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I have a really complicated relationship with the Sci-FI genre. I love it, but it is bit hard for me to read. It is very difficult for me to remember all of the events, thanks to my short span memory. This made me a bit skeptical on wether I was going to end up enjoying the book or not.

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At certain points, I felt like the events happening didn’t make sense. However, the way the author integrated the characters’ back stories, love interests, and unique characteristics helped me get more invested in the story.

The only thing that really annoyed me is a single description that was repeated more than once in the book. It is the Lock and Key system. This system is outdated and no longer used. Some people wouldn’t bat an eye at this, but having a medicinal major made me have a WTF moment.

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I am not going into major details because I feel like anything I say would be a spoiler.

Dive in headfirst, and enjoy the madness!

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Reasons to read this book:

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+Interesting and well built cast of characters
+ A Time travel story
+An all you can eat buffet of Twists and Turns

I received and eARC of this book in exchange with an honest review.

The blurb does such a good job of covering the basics, there isn't much left to say. Imagine a world where time travel is not only possible, but taken for granted. Students can attend the academy and train to be a Recorder (the one who goes out and actually gets video of history), an Historian (who helps prep the Recorder and works on wardrobe design, etc.), or an Engineer (who can run the ship and all the gadgets). And the rest of the populace watches the recordings and mimics the historical wardrobes when they get the chance. After going to work for a black marketeer as the only way to have access to time travel, Far and his crew plunder history for artifacts. One mission it might be a pirate's cutlass, another it might be a rare bottle of wine - but always things that are already considered lost, or not easily missed in their own time.

So, partly it's a good heist tale with high speed chases, split-second timing, and cover stories firmly in place. Then there's the time travel, paradox, alternate universe side of things. And the mystery - where does the enigmatic Eliot come from before they meet her on the Titanic? How is she able to teleport and travel through time without a ship? What is she planning? Friendship, trust, family, loss, redemption, all sorts of themes also work their way into the fabric of the story as a whole. By the time we reach the climax, we feel as if we have lived for hundreds of year with these characters and that the fate of the universe truly does rest with them.

Highly recommended for fans who enjoy historical fiction with a sci-fi twist.

Farway Gaius McCarthy’s mother was a time traveling recorder from 2354 AD that had broken the rules and engaged in a relationship with a gladiator from 95 AD which brought Farway into the world. When she stayed too long in the past to witness the outcome of her love’s fight in the arena though she went into labor before returning to her own time causing Farway to be born outside of time which defied the laws of nature.

Now Farway has been studying to become a time traveler himself when he fails his final exam which devastates him knowing traveling was his only future. Not too long after the exam though Farway is contacted about becoming a ship’s captain as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. Farway knows this is his only chance to travel so he makes a deal to bring his friends aboard as his crew but on their first mission to the Titanic they run into a mysterious girl who always seems to end up just ahead for Farway and his crew.

Invictus by Ryan Graudin is a young adult science fiction read that involved time travel, romance and glimpses into history all throughout the story. I’d describe this one as a fast paced plot driven read but that could also be argued a bit as while the action does start right from the opening pages and continues all throughout the plot was a bit of a slow build in itself with the meat of the story not really coming until more than halfway through the book. Either way though the plot really did grab my interest and keep it until the end with wondering just what would come next.

However, what I found lacking a bit with this one was being able to connect and relate to these characters. I kind of found that to me that while I wanted to know what would happen next with the time traveling and action I never really cared particularly about the individuals in the story or felt that I got to know their personalities very well to develop a deeper connection to them. This kind of left what I felt would have been a great read feeling a bit flat leaving me to rate this one at 3.5 stars. I’d definitely try something else by this author again but wish it had just that little bit more bit of personality to give it a final push to greatness for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Ryan Graudin has provided a fairly long plot driven novel examining the use of time travel as a plot device and thankfully managed to keep it inside one novel instead of turning this into a series as seems to be the go to method way too often.

I was surprised given its length that very little time was devoted to character development as he seemed to be more focused on story than people but in the end it wasn’t a big enough issue to take away from enjoying the book. He still managed to provide a diverse set of characters that felt individually unique and interesting.

Admittedly I don’t read much SciFi, the closest I get is more in the Fantasy realm, but I actually liked it thanks to the relatively fast pace and intriguing world that somehow seemed possibly real instead of farfetched. He seemed to take the phrase “twists and turns” to a whole new level with his story winding in one direction then suddenly moving into another. It’ll definitely keep you on your toes.

It helped that the main character, Far, is so easy to fall into and want to read about along with the supporting cast. Something about it reminded me a little bit of that DC show Legends of Tomorrow just without the superhero aspect, maybe more along the lines of Doctor Who then, with just enough humor to take the serious edge off.

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgally for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

This was my first Graudin book and I loved every moment of it.
The characters were such a joy. It isn’t often that I like the whole main cast, but that is exactly what happened with this book. They all played a role in the story and we get to follow it from all of their POVs. Far was a great lead; courageous, slightly cocky, but a great friend and captain to his crew. Imogene was quirky and her banter with Far was so much fun to read. As were her ever changing hair color and Saffron. Eliot was always full of surprises, messing with the crew and the reader. And finally there were the more silent and stable Gram and Pryia.

I really enjoyed the quiet romance in the book. It was somewhat refreshing for a YA book to have a stable, not in your face love story.

The writing was fantastic. It was engaging and it simply sucked you in.The story moved at a pretty fast pace. There was always something going on, and as a reader you are always learning something new about this world, but it is not hard to keep up, and more often than not you find yourself trying to guess what is going to happen next, only to fail miserably, because Graudin will definitely surprise you again.

Time travel plays an integral part in the story. I found the whole idea fascinating. Humanity has dreamed about the possibility of going back into the past in order to change it and make the present better for a long time. Of course, changing the past is never really the option, because the consequences would be too unpredictable, but the desire is there. Time travelers role in this book is to observe the past, to document it, while making sure they disturb it as little as possible. Naturally, there are those that want to benefit from it, and Far and his crew end up being part of this sphere, which leads to a lot of adventures.
And naturally there are a lot of historical facts in this book, which I loved. It is always fun to learn something knew without even realizing that you are in fact learning.

The ending was just perfect. It was emotional, hopeful, and it left you feeling content.

This book will definitely not be the last Graudin book I pick up. I am hoping that she will return to this world in the future, since there is so much that can be explored in it, but if not, I have the rest of her books to satisfy me.

I really enjoyed this thrilling joy-ride of a book. A throw-back to old style pulp writers of the 40's and 50's, but in the best way possible (so no rampant sexism or racism). Full of alternate time lines, time travel, red panda antics, love stories, character development, and more. A very satisfying book that I'll be sure to recommend.

Invictus was an amazing exploration into friendship, loyalty, and time travel. Farway, a boy born outside of time, is clever, adventurous, and a likable character. When the universe seems set against him and all his dreams are ripped away from him, he is given a second chance only to discover that there is more out there than he ever dreamed. This is a well-crafted, creative world that will draw readers in and with fast-paced action and witty dialogue, readers will be begging for more.

So, I'm not a huge fan of time travel, but I am a fan of Ryan Graudin's other books (I've read three--Walled City, Wolf by Wolf, and Blood for Blood) so I was definitely planning to read this one regardless.

I really enjoyed the first third or so the most, with Far's story as a cadet and his work assignments as well as the crew members on the Invictus. While I liked the characters, there wasn't a lot of character development (the book is more plot driven) but the characters are diverse and each has their own distinguishable quirks and habits. Then an extra character is introduced and it changed the whole dynamic a lot. I still liked it, just a bit less. I took my time with this one, reading it over about 4-5 days, even going back and re-reading the last bit each time I picked it back up.

That said, I still found the last section and the ending to be a little bit confusing (without spoiling anything, I think maybe the presence of two major themes--time travel and "other"--was a bit too much). I still think the book was well-written and well-researched. It was longer than I think was necessary, a bit too wordy at times, but I give credit that it was wrapped up in a standalone (so rare these days) so I'm thankful for that. I look forward to more books from this author!

I was so excited for this book after hearing so much about it and watching a clip of Ryan talking about the book. OMG it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved every minute of it and wish it never ended. I already want more!

Far and Imogen were my absolute favorite characters, I wish I could change my hair color every day like Imogen! While I didn't totally love Priya I think her and Far were perfect for each other and she brought perfect balance to the team. Gram is the lovable dork who honestly I want more of!

The pacing was fantastic and I was never bored of the story or flipping pages trying to get to the next interesting thing, it was all interesting. The world building was also incredible and I really felt like I was there when everything was described. I can't wait to see what happens to the Invictus crew!

Ryan Graudin is one of those authors that has decent ideas but her execution of those stories is so flawless. She is able to pull you into the story and the characters' lives. I went into Invictus expecting just another science fiction novel with time travel and characters learning about the consequences of changing time. However, Invictus is so much more than that. I do not want to go into specifics for fear of spoiling anyone. But keep in mind this book is so much more than a time travel book.

The characters in this book are completely flushed out and I loved learning about each one and seeing them work together on the Invictus crew with Far. These characters already had relationships with each other so this book was focused solely on the adventure which I really enjoyed (Think Six of Crows when it comes to great group dynamics). It was refreshing to see both friendships and romances already in place rather than forming during the book. I liked watching the relationship evolve and strengthen between the characters.

This book definitely focuses on the story and the adventure. Since we are following a group of time-traveling thieves, there is a heavy focus on their daring adventures and how they accomplish their missions without also corrupting time. This is an action-packed adventure that kept me guessing until the end when everything wraps up. That is another unique aspect of this book, we get a standalone science fiction book. I did not feel at all like this book dragged or was rushed to get everything tied up. Graudin did an excellent job finishing the story arc in a single book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of the book*

Time travel, multiverse and teenagers in love; this book has it all.

Invictus starts quick with a boy born outside of time and hurtles you through time and space in an action packed adventure. The book feels very Doctor Who (timey-wimey) with a dash of Firefly and a heist movie. The characters are likeable and compelling, and the story is enough head spinning to keep you interested and confused but not enough to make you want to give up on the story.

It is a fun read and I recommend it.

I had never read a Ryan Graudin book before (though I do have Wolf by Wolf, courtesy of my Uppercase box subscription), but I can now say that I am definitely a fan!

In Invictus, we get the joys of time travel, but without so much of the clichéd time paradoxes the blah that comes with being constantly told to not re-write history. No, instead we have four teenagers time traveling in order to acquire treasures from different time periods for their boss who happens to run a very successful black market business. So when it comes to venturing into the past, it's all business until they are allowed free time to travel to pretty much any point they'd like.

Anyway, before I go off and end up summarizing more of this book, I'll move on with my actual line of thought.

So, back to time travel without all the fun of paradoxes looming over everything. I really loved how time travel wasn't all that we had to concentrate on in this book. Sure, it was really cool to see them travel to the Titanic in 1912, but the focus was set on our merry band of travelers first meeting Eliot, who pretty much crashes into their lives and blackmails her way onto the Invictus ship. I'll be honest and say that at first I really disliked Eliot, because she always went completely against everything that Far (captain and boy wonder – for reasons that are explained in the book summary, and the book itself) ordered. I'm not saying I'm against a strong female character, I just happen to be a fan of order, and admittedly, I am known to outwardly cringe when things go off track in epic proportions...which is what happens when the team go to Pompeii on the day of eruption. Honestly, you're going to have to read this book if you want to find out what exactly happened, but I'll say that it was a huge plot twist, and really becomes a focal point in this book.

I already mentioned Eliot and Far, so now I'll mention the other three characters who play a big role in this book. There's Far's cousin, Imogen, who's job as a historian is very important when it comes to their clothing being as authentic to each time period they visit, and how can I not mention the fact that she's chalking her hair different colors everyday? Oh the joys of being blonde, right? (I am so not blonde, so I do not have this joy.) I just loved her easygoing manner, and the dedication she had to her friends.
Next, we have Priya, Far's girlfriend, and the ship's medic, who brews a fantastic chai tea, and is the levelheaded one when Far needs rational opinion.
Finally, we have Engineer Gram, who happens to be extremely intelligent, and without his calculations, the ship wouldn't land where it's supposed to. He also possesses a love for Tetris, and for Rubik's Cubes (both understandable, since I also love both, though I have never successfully completed a Rubik's Cube...sigh). What he does not possess, is the realization that Imogen really, really likes him...sigh again.
Yeah, the characters each are fun in their own ways, and I enjoyed them immensely.

Now that I've mentioned my love of the plot and the characters, I will conclude by saying that the ending really lived up to my expectations, and I just really loved this book overall. Sure, it did start off a bit slow, or it could have just been that I was distracted, but once I picked this back up, I really couldn't stop! The story was that entertaining for me! It's probably pretty obvious at this point that I will gladly recommend it.

I was really eager to read this book. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author. The premise also sounded really intriguing, and I loved the cover. Unfortunately, this book was a struggle for me to finish. I enjoyed the plot of the book, but the pacing was extremely slow for me. I kept putting the book down because I wasn't invested in the characters. In the end, I was disappointed. I really expected to like this book.

Far is working as a time traveling thief and is Captain of a time travel ship crewed by his friends. On a job grabbing some art before the Titanic sinks something goes wrong. Soon their time travels begin to go awry and they start to wonder about the new girl that no one knows anything about. Far discovers that he is the child of a time historian in the 2300's and a Roman gladiator and technically, shouldn't exist. This is a large book that moves as fast as time itself. It comes complete with a taste of romance, a smattering of dry wit, a ton of adventure and a wonderful world where time travel is the norm. You will find it under Young Adult but it will appeal to a much greater audience. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

ARC received from NetGalley.

So basic premise is that Farway is a boy born outside of time (he was born on the journey between two destinations in history). The story finds him as he captains a crew of time travelers that smuggle relics from other points in time to the future so that they can be sold on the black market. He is put in a position where he alone can save the universe ... he's the chosen one because of his birth anomaly.

OK. So, I am so conflicted about this book for a myriad of reasons. 1) I love Ryan Graudin, I think that she's an amazing writer and storyteller. I literally try to get every teen that I interact with to read Wolf by Wolf. 2) Time travel books are my favorites. 3) I have been anxiously awaiting this book since I first read the description.

But after reading it, I just don't know. I don't know if I am left wanting because of the whole "chosen one" aspect of the story. I don't know if I am left wanting because some of the time travel/multi-verse/world building was confusing. It's a well written, obviously well thought out story so I don't know why I am left shrugging my shoulders about it.

I plan on purchasing this book for my library and the book will circulate. But I think a large group of teen readers are going to get lost "in the fade" of this book so to speak.

Seven days I spent reading this book. Here's my problem: last year I read an excellent book on multiverses, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch so this story pales in comparison. It doesn't even live up to my enjoyment of the Wolf by Wolf series. Honestly, I'm disappointed. The book lacked action. The plot to return to a baby's birth was snoozeville. The characters suffered from development. I just needed more when a book involves one of my favorite key phrases: time travel.

This was a lot of fun!!

If you like space opera sci-fis about time travel, with heists, a sprinkling of romance and mystery, this is the book for you!

Farway has a promising future ahead of him as a time-traveler, but he flunks his final exam. His second chance comes in the form of Invictus, a ship that deals in the black market of time travel. It is during a trip to the Titanic that Far comes into contact with a girl who shouldn't be there. Who is she? What does she want from Far and his crew?

Intertwined with this mystery is the disappearance of Far's mother, a well-respected time-traveling agent who failed to come back from a mission eleven years ago. Like all good space operas, there's also a lively crew of misfits, geniuses, and even a red panda.

Some of the time traveling mechanics seemed a little too timey-wimey (to reference Doctor Who), but I really liked this story of Farway, his family, and his destiny.

*Thank you to Little, Brown Books For Young Readers and Netgalley for an arc*