Sojourn

I've struggled to figure out how I should write this review because all I really want to say is that this book is great and that if you like time travel, Victorian London and well thought out characters then you'll love Sojourn, but that's not really a review is it?

Sojourn begins in Pompeii on, as Doctor Who calls it, Volcano Day. The top has blown, smoke is billowing, people are screaming and the lava is flowing, and flowing rather too quickly for Jacynda Lassiter's taste because she isn't running away in terror trying to escape the catastrophe she's waiting impatiently for a “tourist” who's excitedly trying to jot down as much of his observations as he can. Not caring that he's soon about to become part of his observations. Luckily however after some coercing Jacynda does escape the lava with the tourist in tow and is back at her work place in the year 2057 where time traveling isn't much of a phenomenon as it is a vacation option. Jacynda's has had enough with time travel however, it may be fun for the tourist but the constant trips have side effects and she is in desperate need of some R&R among another thing that involves a bed. She doesn't get that however because there is an overdue tourist in 1888 Victorian London and she's been assigned to go retrieve him.

What I really loved about Sojourn was despite it being a sci-fi, time traveling story with high tech gadgets and styles a lot of it took place in the year 1888 during the time of the White Chapel murders or more commonly known as the time of Jack the Ripper. There was so much detail that it was obvious that Ms. Oliver had done her research and she did a great job of intertwining her story in such a real point in history that I had really felt like I had traveled back in time with Jacynda.

The story is filled with mystery as Jacynda desperately tries to locate the overdue tourist while battling through Victorian customs, time traveling induced hallucinations and a city cloaked in fear by the grisly murders of a serial killer, not to mention shape-shifters, did I mention the shape-shifters?

They were the most surprising thing in this story, a nice unique addition that made trusting people such a difficult task and kept me on my toes as I constantly wondered if one of the main characters was indeed Jack the Ripper. It was also nice to see that the future wasn't the only part of the story that had the science fiction aspect and it was a great way to weave the past and future together.

If you are still hesitant on reading this story then don't the characters are really worth haveing their story read.

4 stars

Would have been five but there were some slow parts in the beginning that had me putting the book down.

This was really good. I highly recommend it for fans of Gail Carriger. Victorian Englan + shape shifters + time rovers + Jack the Ripper. Sojourn introduces us to the three main characters (all three are great!). The description is just wonderful. I can't call it steampunk, but I think it would appeal to steampunk audiences as well.
Good stuff!