Hourglass (3) - Infinityglass by Myra McEntire
And, last, but definitely not least, part 3 of the series - Infintiyglass (in German Hourglass das Ende der Zeit). I read it in the original language (says: English). Originally published 2012.
Since Lily told them about the Infinityglass - the mysterious magical artefact that’s Dune’s passion and the only way to close the rip in time – preparations are made. Because it’s not an object, after all. But a person. A fascinating, lonely, terrified and pissed off teenager girl with way too many problems. Hallie, the daughter of THE smuggler and man for dirty jobs, gets a new bodyguard who’ll help her with her new gifts. And protect her from the timeless that want to consume her… Dune has his hands full, especially when Teague and Landers show up again.
I, personally, think it is sort of sad Lily, Kaleb, Mike and Em are only side-kicks – more or less at least. I adore Dune and Hallie, their relationships, personalities, everything about them – but I miss Em’s humour! Lily’s snarky comments, Michael’s way of making everyone feel they’re in control (even when the world’s ending) and Kaleb’s easy personality. Sure, they show up, but not nearly often enough! And I’d have loved to know how Em etc. deal with the aftermath of Timepiece (Die Versuchung der Zeit), especially get to know Grace.
But what really startled me was how close Dune was to the four of them, I’d never known. I knew he was close to Nate, but Kaleb and Em? No idea! Especially not since he flirted with Lily… well, I adore how they make Dune stronger, and Hallie through that. Myra McEntire has an amazing eye for relationships and how they affect each other.
But now, to the actual main characters.
We got to meet Dune in Hourglass (Die Stunde der Zeitreisenden) and Timepiece (Die Versuchung der Zeit). But he always seemed really laid back, the type of guy that you never really get to know. That’s absolutely capable in their area of expertise and absolutely comfortable with not letting you close. It’s not that he’s anti-social or something, he’s just pretty much an introvert. Someone you never really get to know if you’re not extremely lucky and don’t have any kind of connection to him. He simply walked through the picture in Em’s story and was more a walking boiling pot when Kaleb took Lily to the institute. I’m glad that we get to really meet him now, as a person, with his own background and hobbies (apart from the Infinityglass-obsession). He’s amazingly cool. Still confident, but you see behind his façade. And it’s so funny how Hallie rattles him and he (usually) doesn’t show her how much.
Hallie herself is his seeming opposite. She’s funny, and extroverted, wild and an obvious rebel, trying to break every rule and such. Actually even a criminal, since she helps her dad and Poe steal a lot – through her amazing gifts. This is something you would never think the lawful Dune’d do… until he does it. That heist, good God! But back to Hallie. Even though she’s out-going, she keeps her distance – emotionally. Like Dune. She’s too used to loosing people, and afraid to put people in danger – like him. And she’d do anything to get rid of Dune, at least at first, because she’s sick of her life, her loneliness, and yet another guy who thinks he can lock her up. Unlike him, of course. But as you can see, they are way more similar than you’d guess at first glance.
I adore Hallie’s powers, by the way and what she does with them. Especially how she uses them daily for more or less unnecessary reasons, but really, I’d have done that, too. Dune’s abilities are interesting as well, but Hallie’s are just cooler.
The actual plot line with her Mom, Landers and Kat were really, really well done – I adore the solution, I wouldn’t have thought of that. Mainly because I underestimated Poe.
I love Poe’s friendship to Hallie, but what I like even better is his obvious attraction to Ava, in the end. I’m glad she begins to heal from Landers. And both of them have deserved their happily ever after, just as much as Hallie and Dune themselves.
Spoiler:
The clique that forms, the real big group of friends? Gorgeous, I want one, too! Even though I’m sorry for Nate, being all single in a bunch of happy couples. But the best about the ending is and stays little Clarissa. How Em and Michael are so careful, and she makes all the light bubs explode! Wonderful. I also like how Em is soooo nervous for Dru and Tomas, even more than the actual parents themselves. And how Michael jokes about how she’s practicing. This was just so. Damn. Cute! As I said, I adore the ending. Even though I was kind of sorry for Hallie, since she lost her mom – but I’m even more sorry for Kat. She did a lot wrong. But she didn’t deserve that. Landers pried on her insecurities and self-hate and made her into a creature that doesn’t live, but exists. The worst form of abuse. And I’m sorry she suffers like this.
Whom I’m not sorry for is Teague. She. Definitely. Had. It. Coming. Though, poor Hallie. She has some real bad luck with her family, doesn’t she? But now, she gets a new one. Beautiful.
Her relationship to Dune is well done, by the way. Just as beautiful as Kaleb’s and Lily’s or Em’s and Michael’s. And how she tries to get him fired and gradually begins to respect him is awesome.
This was the best ending the series could have gotten. Especially because it’s more than one PoV, and you get to say good-bye to the characters, in a way. It was tense, well written and sound. All in all: Well done.
In brief:
To put everything in a nutshell this is a good ending for the series, even though I liked the first book best. I give this sequel a star for characters, another one for style, one for content and one for the ideas.
Prequel: