2024 the best time to work out review

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How would you live if you knew the day you'd die? 

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government's crooked justice system. 

But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Enclave Publishing (October 1, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1621840298
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1621840299
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.88 x 8.5 inches
Reviewer: Coralie Terry
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I AM NOT OKAY!
Review: I AM NOT OKAY!Okay, guys. So, let me preface: I've heard Nadine's name floating around for a few years now among my writerly circles. So many of my friends are huge fans. And I've been following her IG for several months now because I love her personality and the content she puts out. Well, one day she posted a video mashup of things that represented A Time to Die and after hearing her name praised for so long and watching the most epic vibe video ever, I took the dive and bought the book. Didn't even read the blurb--so not like me. And the rest is history.The book started out slowly for me. I loved the first line. I loved the premise. And I was intrigued by the world. I spent the whole first third of the book tip toeing around, waiting for the shoe to drop. I felt like there had to be something coming; I just didn't know what. The beginning was interesting in the world and seeing the relationships Parvin had with other characters, but the plot was slow and I had to keep sticking with it just waiting to see where Nadine was going to take this. Upon rereading, it didn't feel as slow as the first time I read it. Not sure why, but the pacing didn't drag as much in the opening this time.Then she went over the Wall (which the back cover blurb says, so it's not much of a spoiler). Boy howdy did things pick up after that! I felt like we jumped off a cliff and free falled for the next half of the book! There were some intense sections of this story. We'd go through some tense moments and then breathe for a second and then dive right into the tension again. I swear my heart got a workout reading this book. The plot absolutely picked up. It was worth pushing through that slower beginning.Alongside the intense storyline, the book was an emotional rollercoaster. And I am STILL not happy with that ending!! So not happy I immediately purchased books 2 & 3. I need to know what happens, even though I'm pretty sure Nadine isn't finished emotionally scarring me for the rest of my life. I learned quickly that she doesn't pull punches. Anything goes in this story and that terrified me at some points in the story.I've long been a fan of survival stories and the wild world Parvin learns to navigate was thrilling and totally scratched that itch for me. It was really cool to see the different settings that Parvin moved through. She had unique, distinct cultures and settings that really encompassed the reader and drew me in. It really made the world feel vast and realistic, like something our world could turn into in the future. That lent an interesting gravity to the world and the story.I will say that Parvin wasn't my favorite. I liked her. I connected with her desire to do something, something meaningful with her life, to pursue purpose. I really liked that in her a lot. But I absolutely loved Jude and Reid and Hawke. And Willow grew on me, too. The guys in this cast were amazing and I wanted to be their friends. I wanted to get to know them, to cheer them on and watch Parvin develop the relationships. It was interesting to see her distance herself from everyone, but it kind of frustrated me because everyone else was so interesting! Especially Jude. Jude was a really fun character and I loved the dynamic created by his addition to Parvin's travels.Fascinatingly, I think I've flipped a little in the reread. I actually felt more connected to Parvin this time and slightly more annoyed with Jude. I still adore Hawke and Reid, but I don't think I've ever read a book and flipped how I felt about characters before. So, this is new territory for me. Something about where I am right now with my personal journey just connected me so much more deeply to Parvin's journey of learning to see broken Shalom and to seek restoration of Shalom. I think the first time I felt such peace, but this time reading it, I resonated so much with the brokenness. I felt the depth of pain and sorrow and the yearning for that peace.Something else that fascinated me was the way Nadine wove in her faith. Watching Parvin grow and build a relationship with God felt so natural throughout the story. The repetition of and focus on Shalom just flooded me with peace as I read. It was beautiful to be reminded over and over that we live in a broken world and that this isn't the way it was meant to be, that it isn't the way it will always be. Not only was the story a thrilling ride, but it was an experience between me and my Creator, too.Content: there is no foul language in the book, and very mild romance (I'M STILL MAD I DIDN'T EVEN GET A KISS!), but there are a few violent moments. Though none of them were super duper graphic, Nadine did do a very good job of portraying the horror of some of them. She's built a world and story that centers a lot on impending death and her character enters a wilderness fraught with danger. There are deep themes of worth, purpose, humanity, life, and death. So, though the book is clean, I'd recommend it for mid to late teens and up.That said, I would very much recommend the book to others and will definitely be continuing the series. Although, NADINE HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME LIKE THAT?! I'm torn between being very happy about this reading experience and very upset with Nadine for tormenting me the way she has. I must continue! But I'm sure she's not done with me yet!Audiobook note: The narrator for this one did a wonderful job. She held such emotion in her voice and really brought Parvin to life. Her narration really drew me in and made the story even more engaging. Definitely hats off to her!

Reviewer: Hailey
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Thought-provoking, gripping YA dystopian
Review: What would you do if you knew the day you'd die?I've loved this book for years, so it's interesting to just be writing a review for it now--and also to see how some of my feelings have slightly shifted over time.While Parvin and I are very different, you can still connect to her because of the question that she wrestles with: how do you live and not feel like your life, your time, is wasted? Her character growth throughout the novel is also admirable.Jude has always felt a bit aloof to me, but Reid and Hawke are great characters. Even though Reid doesn't have much page time, I love the tight bond between him and Parvin. The relationship between Parvin and her mother felt like it possibly flip-flopped a little too quickly as to whether they disagreed or got along. (However, knowing the rest of the series, it does set up some things to come.)Brandes definitely keeps you on your toes with the plot. The worldbuilding is intriguing, all while feeling not too distant. She also balances the faith elements really well. While A Time to Die is clearly a Christian novel, Parvin's wrestling with and growing in her faith feel authentic and don't overwhelm the novel and become preachy.Also, as a bit of a random side note, Brandes's writing is still incredibly strong in her debut novel. There are times when I've read all of an author's books and find their debut to feel weakest, and understandably so. But I didn't feel that way while rereading A Time to Die.Now, if you're a more sensitive reader, you might struggle with this one. For instance, my mom started it but had to put it down because of some of the intensity of the scenes. However, my sister and I didn't have a problem. So that's just something to be aware of.A Time to Die is a thought-provoking, gripping dystopian novel.Cautions: semi-graphic moderate/heavy violence and injuries; light/moderate romance

Reviewer: Aimie T
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This book really sucked me in! I read like 5 chapters straight after I got it because the story really grabbed my attention and held it. I read this book so fast, I'll probably re-read it with a little more brainpower next time so that I catch all the details.This is such a good book! It's got really interesting concepts, mysteries, action, and so much more! I think my favourite thing about this book is the characterisation. Every character was interesting and felt very real and human-like. I especially loved Parvin's struggle with 'empty numbers' and wasting time, as this is something I struggle with myself, and I haven't seen it represented in fiction before. The writing was fun and detailed, and the storyline was well thought out.A few criticisms though - sometimes the narrative could be a little confusing and messy, and some of the characters didn't really settle in my mind if that makes sense. Also, there are some quite gory and horrifying things that occur so I wouldn't really recommend the book for anyone younger than maybe 12.No spoilers, but I REALLY loved the little bit of romance, which is unusual for me!I'm looking forward to the next book so much!