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Saturday, November 7, 2015

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig ARC Review


The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Format: Paperback ARC, 454 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pre-Order Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository 
Heidi Heilig’s debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.

Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.

In The Girl from Everywhere, Heidi Heilig blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility with witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, and enchanting romance.



Heidi Heilig brings you an epic adventure from your wildest dreams with her debut novel The Girl From Everywhere. Seriously, this is like some Studio Ghibli magic, I swear (and this would make a great movie, so you movie makers better hurry and buy the rights to it because it would be BIG). Take a vacation in Heidi's imagination by reading her sea shanty adventure of a book—you won't regret it, this I promise you. There are so many great things happening in this book but I think that the most compelling thing about it is Nix's tangled relationship with her father, the captain of The Temptation. The emotions in that relationship are really raw and I think my heart shattered a bit while I was in Nix's shoes. There are also two swoony guys for any of you who are looking to add to your list of book boyfriends. Even though there is some romance, it's put on the back-burner because the plot is more focused on the adventure our pirates take on in order to find the one map that will bring about either the beginning or the end for everything they know. 





1) The world building is just top-notch and trust me, what Heidi accomplished in this department is no easy feat. All the different places, people, creatures—honestly it's amazing how one person can imagine on all of this and put it on paper for all of us. I'm just floored. 


2) I really love Nix, and I really connect with her. She has so much sass and spunk, but she also has really raw emotions that seeped into my bones and wrenched my heart. I especially love that despite everything working against her, Nix's mind is always working out what to do next; she's a great leader. 

3) Heidi gives you two, count 'em, TWO swoony lads to fangirl over. Honestly, I couldn't decide who I liked better since this book didn't really focus on the romance. That's okay though, I have no problem having both men at the same time XD


4) There was so much to learn in this book. Heidi includes real historical facts, mythological stories, and bits and pieces of different languages. It's always awesome when you're reading something and you feel like it elevates your intelligence at the same time. 

5) I think what really made me love this book was Nix's complicated relationship with her father. There is real love and pain throughout their time together and you can feel every bit of it. I can't say it's a healthy relationship but it's a realistic one that brought tears to my eyes. 

6) The plot is just so intricate, you think something doesn't matter but then late—it does! It's just BAM! Where did that come from? OH my god, how did I not see that coming?!


1) The beginning is a little confusing because of all the info you're given, but it all ends up coming together!


A table laid on the deck, and on the table, all of the culinary delights New York had to offer, pungent halal chicken and rice doused in hot sauce, pork dumplings in Styrofoam clamshells, a cardboard box marked Di Fara's Pizza, pastrami sandwiches thick as dictionaries, creamy cheesecake covered with glistening scarlet strawberries.
       —I had to include this quote because there is so much NYC cuisine!!
He must have seen it in my face—the admiration—and he put his hands behind his head, feigning a stretch, giving me a smug look. I rolled my eyes. "You're blocking the view."

"I am the view, amira," he said, fanning himself with his hands.
"A person can't do just anything for love."

He shrugged one shoulder. "I would."

"Yeah, well, you're a thief. Your relative morality is already suspect."

"Ah," he said then, standing. "Well. I'll leave the morality for those that like the taste of it. I always preferred bread."
"So," I asked. "How did it go? On a scale of one to treason?"
"I bit my lip to keep it from trembling; he'd let me go a long time ago. After all, you can only hold one person tight if you're holding on with both hands."




a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. OMG! I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR REVIEW! This just made me more excited about TGFE! (LOL, as if I'm not excited enough) :)

    And of course, thank you for the giveaway chance! More power. x

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    1. YAY, I'm glad you lovd it! I'm pretty sure you love the book more though obviously haha ;P

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  2. I can't wait for this book! I'm so excited for it! Your review only makes the waiting harder ;)

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  3. gfdkjtfbsgdngdfneADSNSL!!! That is my excitement for this one!! I have heard great things to so YAY! Thanks for the chance!
    <3 Britt

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    1. I'm so glad you're excited, and trust me you should be because it's awesome.

      Good luck on the giveaway =)

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  4. Such a great review :D Really looking forward to this book :D

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  5. THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. Ahhh I'm so glad you loved this book. I am DYING to read this!!! (As I say this about all the new books lol!) Wonderful review as always, Brittany. I also love the Loki gif! He's my favorite villain.

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    1. I'm glad that you acknowledge him as a villain at least haha. It was the first gif that came to mind for that section of the review haha.

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  7. Thank you so much Brittany for this giveaway!! I am looking forward to this book!

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  8. OOH!!!! YOU HAD ME AT STUDIO GHIBLI!!!!! They make the best anime movies ever!!! Although I'm kind of bummed that the romance isn't such a focus. But I'll take what I can get lol.

    ~Karina @ A Reader Under The Sea

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    1. I LOOOOOVE STUDIO GHIBLI! *high five* They do make the best anime movies.

      I would have liked a little more romance too since I'm a huge sucker for that but it was actually a nice change and I'm sure you will like all of the other aspects of the book that it will override this.

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  9. THIS SOUNDS EPIC! Okay, I've listed it on my to-read list and I'll participate in the giveaway (although I'm a very unlucky person)

    Great review! It caught my eye immediately!

    Laura @ psilovethatbook

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    1. It's a great book, I hope that you like it. I can't tell you how many people who have told me they are unlucky and then win a giveaway, so you never know!

      I'm glad you liked the review, thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Great review! I've heard so many amazing things about this book! I can't wait to read it!

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  11. This was already one of my most anticipated debuts of 2016, but you made me want to read it so so so much more! Awesome review, Brittany!! :D

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  12. This sounds amazing! I'll have to check it out. I love good world building :)

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  13. i've been hearing so many fantastic things about this book and i'm itching to get it in my hands! <333 lovely review, brittany!

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  14. thanks for the chance and as always the giveaway ^^

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    1. No prob, I love giving away books to fellow bookworms ^_^

      Good luck!

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  15. Time travel and romance! Sounds great.

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    1. It's really great, though the romance isn't a huge part of the story.

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  16. There are so many time travel and pirate adventures coming out and I want all of them!

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    1. Can't go wrong when you've got pirates and time travel haha

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  17. SO EXCITED FOR THIS!! Time travel's one of my faves. Thanks for the giveaway! :D

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  18. Eeee! Thank you so, so much for this amazing giveaway Brittany :D You are the best. <3 It doesn't say any rules anywhere.. so I'm entering from Norway, lol :) I do wish to win a lot. <3 Though this whole two boys thing makes me not want to read this book. Ugh. But have heard lots of great things about it.. so I sort of want to read it, even so :D Aaanyway. Awesome review :D So glad you loved it. <3

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    1. It's an international giveaway, so you're good!

      Romance is really not a focus in this book so the two boys are there but there really isn't any established romantic relationships.

      Thank you!

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  19. I NEED THIS BOOK. Sounds so good and so original. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!

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    1. It's so original. I'm really impressed with Heidi has going on in her imagination!

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  20. One of my most anticipated 2016. books, thanks for a chance to win it! :)

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  21. thanks for the giveaway! this book sounds really fantastic <3

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  22. I always love reading your reviews and this one has me SUPER excited for TGFE! And those GIFS, especially Captain Jack Sparrow! Ugh! <3 Love this so much, and thank you so much for the awesome giveaway!

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    1. Aw, you're so sweet! As soon as I finished reading TGFE the first thought that came to me was that Captain Jack Sparrow clip. Good luck on the giveaway =)

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  23. Great review (as always)! Thanks for the opportunity, lovely!!

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  24. I probably already told you this, but this is a great review! You made me even more excited for the book (which I didn't think was possible). I love you gif usage and your thoughts and UGH I just can't wait for this one.

    Jamie @ Books and Ladders

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    1. Aw thank you so much! I am never opposed to hearing that just once haha. I'm really happy that you enjoyed this review and I hope you love the book as much as I do!

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