Invictus

Title:

Invictus

Author:

Summary:

Farway Gaius McCarthy is the son of a time traveler from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in ancient Rome. His very existence defies the laws of nature. All he's ever wanted was to explore history for himself, but after failing his entrance exam into the government program, Far will have to settle for a position on the black market: captaining a time-traveling crew to steal valuables from the past. During a routine heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl named Eliot who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Eliot has secrets and, armed with the knowledge that history is not as steady as it seems, she leads Far and his team on a race through time to set things right before the clock runs out.-- Adapted from jacket.

Audience:

HL760L Lexile.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

458 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Time-travel fiction.

Science fiction.

Subject Term:

Gladiators -- Fiction.

Thieves -- Fiction.

Black market -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Little, Brown and Company,

Electronic Access:

Image

Publication Date:

2017

ISBN:

9780316503075

9780316503082

Publication Information:

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2017.

Award Note:

Young Readers Choice award nominee - 2020

Call Number:

YA GRAUDIN

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003407270	Young Adult	GRAUDIN	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A heart-stopping adventure that defies time and space-- New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu calls it "an incredibly intricate, brilliantly paced, masterfully written journey."
Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time traveler from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in ancient Rome, Far's very existence defies the laws of nature. All he's ever wanted was to explore history for himself, but after failing his entrance exam into the government program, Far will have to settle for a position on the black market-captaining a time-traveling crew to steal valuables from the past.
During a routine heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl named Eliot who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Eliot has secrets-big ones-that will affect Far's life from beginning to end. Armed with the knowledge that history is not as steady as it seems, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to set things right before the clock runs out.

Author Notes

Ryan Graudin was born in Charleston, SC with a severe case of wanderlust. When she's not traveling, she's busy photographing weddings, writing, and spending time with her husband and wolf-dog. She is the author of The Walled City, Wolf by Wolf, and Blood for Blood . You can visit her online at ryangraudin.com.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up-Farway Gaius McCarthy was born out of time; his mother was a time traveler from the 24th century, his father a gladiator from the year 95 AD. Far was born in The Grid, a place where time doesn't exist, and because of his special birth, he always considered himself destined for greatness, dancing from time to time, recording history as a member of the Corps of Central Time Travelers. His dreams disappear, however, when he fails his all-or-nothing finals simulation, the victim of a sabotage no one else believes happened. Now Far and his friends must work for the dangerous Lux Julio, gathering precious items from the past for Lux to sell on the black market. It's on a mission to grab a book from the ill-fated Titanic that Far comes face-to-face with the girl who sabotaged his life and discovers a destiny far greater and more dangerous than he could ever imagine. This part sci-fi and part historical fiction novel has a solid dose of YA romance as well. The intriguing plot would be even more engaging without quite so many romantic side trips, but these digressions offer a good deal of characterization. The characters are all well developed and compelling; Far resembles a teenage Captain Kirk. As with most time-travel stories, things can sometimes be a bit confusing, but teens will appreciate this title and its well-rounded characters and satisfying ending that hits all the right notes. -VERDICT An appealing sci-fi romp; purchase where the author is popular.-Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

In 2361, when Farway Gaius McCarthy was seven, his mother, Empra, disappeared during a mission for the Corps of Central Time Travelers. Far hopes to join the Corps himself, so that he can find her, but he fails his entry exam at age 17. Undeterred, Far accepts an offer to become captain of the Invictus, a pirate vessel that purloins history's lost treasures. Far is aboard the Titanic, attempting to steal a priceless book, when a girl named Eliot beats him to his plunder. Eliot trades the tome for a spot on the Invictus, but although she claims to be a freelance thief, it isn't long before Far discovers the truth, which involves a destructive force called the Fade. But how does the Fade relate to Far and his crew? Snarky banter, a clever setup, and a diverse and well-drawn cast elevate this rollicking, bombshell-laden adventure from Graudin (Blood for Blood). Romantic entanglements add tension and drama while Graudin's intricate worldbuilding brings the distant past and far future to vivid life. Readers who like their science fiction shot through with humor will be enthralled. Ages 15-up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.