The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare

The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare
Author(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
April 30, 2016
ISBN
1682300587
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Time travel, adventure, and romance come together in the highly anticipated sequel to THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE.

Alex Wayfare is back in Base Life. Her 57th life. She's in Chicago searching for Blue, who travels with her whenever she goes back in time. She's never met him in Base Life, but she's hoping he'll remember her in the present, and that he'll want to be with her like he does in the past.

Their romance is put on hold when she's attacked by henchmen working for Durham Gesh, who wants to harness her abilities for his own ugly purposes. But that threat seems insignificant when she returns home to face her younger sister's deteriorating health. Researching every possible remedy, from ancient herbs to forgotten medical advancements, Alex seeks a cure for her sister's cancer in the past.

The journeys are never simple. From the countryside of eighteenth-century China to a top-secret research lab in 1970s Michigan, Alex is plagued by enemy Descenders who seem to anticipate her every move, and realizes she may have a traitor in her small band of allies.

A traitor who might bring Gesh straight to Alex's front door.

The only person Alex feels she can trust is Blue. But there are secrets Alex doesn't know―secrets about Blue, about her team, and about herself. And the biggest secret of all will change her life, or her lives, forever.

Time travel, adventure, and romance come together in the highly anticipated sequel to THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE.

Alex Wayfare is back in Base Life. Her 57th life. She's in Chicago searching for Blue, who travels with her whenever she goes back in time. She's never met him in Base Life, but she's hoping he'll remember her in the present, and that he'll want to be with her like he does in the past.

Their romance is put on hold when she's attacked by henchmen working for Durham Gesh, who wants to harness her abilities for his own ugly purposes. But that threat seems insignificant when she returns home to face her younger sister's deteriorating health. Researching every possible remedy, from ancient herbs to forgotten medical advancements, Alex seeks a cure for her sister's cancer in the past.

The journeys are never simple. From the countryside of eighteenth-century China to a top-secret research lab in 1970s Michigan, Alex is plagued by enemy Descenders who seem to anticipate her every move, and realizes she may have a traitor in her small band of allies.

A traitor who might bring Gesh straight to Alex's front door.

The only person Alex feels she can trust is Blue. But there are secrets Alex doesn't know―secrets about Blue, about her team, and about herself. And the biggest secret of all will change her life, or her lives, forever.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
A Wonderful Addition to the Series
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4.7
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I had to wait far too long for THE UNTIMELY DEATHS OF ALEX WAYFARE, and although I pre-ordered the book the instant it was available, I haven’t had a chance to read it until now.

It was definitely worth the wait. I loved the first book by M.G. Buehrlen, THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE, and I’m always a little nervous when I dive into the second book of a series. I shouldn’t have been worried at all; Buehrlen has delivered an equally good follow-up that answers some questions, develops Alex’s character even more, and (once again) leaves me impatient for the next book.

Alex Wayfare is a Descender, a person who is able to travel through time by accessing her past lives, and with that power comes many complications and responsibilities. Alex’s abilities combined with her unconventional interests (she’s a huge geek when it comes to science, electronics, machines, and such) have ensured that she doesn’t have much of a social life in high school. Her family is great, but they’re also dealing with her sister’s potentially terminal illness, so they aren’t always available for Alex, and she doesn’t want to bother them with her troubles anyway. There’s also the problem with assuming they won’t believe her even if she does explain about her trips through history.

While the first book in the series dealt with Alex’s discovery of her talent and the development of her relationships with other Descenders, this book focuses on two specific missions: finding a cure to save Alex’s sister, and rooting out the traitor who keeps compromising Alex’s missions and endangering her life. There’s also a romance with Blue, the boy that Alex meets every time she descends. Blue has won Alex’s heart, and although their relationship is obviously problematic, Alex is committed to it—although there is that cute boy from school who is finally paying attention to her….

THE UNTIMELY DEATHS is a great blend of action, history, and romance. Alex is a fantastic character, and Buehrlen writes really well. My favorite parts of the book are when Alex travels into the past. It’s obvious that the author took care to research and accurately represent the times in which Alex is immersed—and I would have loved to read about more of them. Although the ending of UNTIMELY DEATHS is a bit abrupt, it leaves readers looking forward to the next book. I’ll definitely be pre-ordering it the instant it’s available!
Good Points
A terrific follow-up to the first in the series

An excellent main character

Great writing
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Amazing Followup!
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Well - I didn't think it was possible to like the second book in this series any more than the first - I was wrong.

Alex is now a little wiser, more mature, and very aware of what's expected of her. She also knows what she wants and refuses to be anyone's pawn. With her dying sister, time-travel missions, boy problems, and attempts at figuring out who's an ally and who isn't, Alex has enough on her plate to make your head spin.

With heaps of action, heartwarming family moments, new missions, and a touch of high school drama, this book is sure to capture the reader's attention; however, what I took away from this book is to figure out what's important in your life and make that first and foremost your priority. You never know how much time you have.

The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare is an incredible followup to the first book in this series and one I'd highly recommend to sci-fi/fantasy lovers.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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