Alyson Noël

My life goes completely sideways the moment I meet the mysterious Braxton. Sure, he’s ridiculously hot, but he’s also the reason I’ve been kicked out of school and recruited into Gray Wolf Academy―a remote island school completely off the grid. I never should have trusted a face so perfect.

But the reality of why Gray Wolf wanted me is what truly blows my mind. It’s a school for time travelers. Tripping, they call it. This place is filled with elaborate costumes and rare artifacts, where every move is strategic and the halls are filled with shadows and secrets.

Here, what you see isn’t always what it appears. Including Braxton. Because even though there’s an energy connecting us together, the more secrets he keeps from me, the more it feels like something is pulling us apart. Something that has to do with this place―and its darker purpose. It’s all part of a guarded, elaborate puzzle of history and time…and I might be one of the missing pieces.

Now I have all the time in the world. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that time is the one thing I’m about to run out of…fast.

Stealing Infinity #1

Stealing Infinity

Ashton Reed

“When society turns its back on true artistry for the pursuit of banality, then no, they don't get to visit Leonardo's masterpiece just because they happen to be vacationing near the Louvre and want to check it off a bucket list. Leonardo da Vinci did not labor so that his work could be viewed through the glazed eyes of an unruly tour group less interested in truly seeing it than posting to their social media feeds so everyone will know they have seen it. Leonardo created because it allowed him to touch the divine, and when we view his works properly, we get a glimpse of that, too."

He's liked me this entire time. He let me dump all over him, which, granted, he totally deserved, but I… 

While it's nice to know he fell for the paper version of me long before he actually met the real-life version of me, I'm starting tn think my initial instincts were right - the two of us kissing was not my best plan. Because if my limited experience has taught me anything, it's that boyfriends burn out pretty fast, while a good friend is in it for the duration. 

And more than anything, I could really use a good friend around here.

It would be so easy to consent to this, to skip all the levels and claim this boy for my own. But not yet. Not so fast. Braxton is an enigma, a wallking storehouse of riddles, and I will take my time to explore all his mysteries. For now, there's so much more kissing to do.

this quote was taken from an unfinished copy

I have no idea how to respond to this guy. Have no way of knowing what his intentions are when one minute he's hot, and the next he's ice-cold. All I know for sure is that I need to be a lot more careful where he's concerned. I need to protect myself, safeguard my heart. Because if there's one thing my past has taught me, I'm the only one who will. 

this quote was taken from an unfinished copy 

Stripped of all the masks he normally wears - academy tour guide, bringer of coffee, elegant dining companion - the vulnerahle version of Braxton stands bared before me, revealing a boy who's so sure of the invisible lure drawing us together, he's willing to name it claim it, as a tangible force that cannot be ignored.

taken from an unfinished advanced reader copy

I turn to see the glare from a streetlamp slice through the window and split his face down the middle. One half illuminated, the other darkened in shadow. Instinctively, I know it's the truest depiction I'll ever have of him.

Courtney Passio

Christine Bruce

Stealing Infinity is a roller coaster through history that promises more in the second book. Nat is a troubled teen, in the process of falling through the cracks after her father disappeared a few years ago. SHe's now been arrested for a crime she doesn't remember committing, and has been tricked into attending an elite boarding school. No one will tell her what's going on, or what they're training for. Only that she'll experience things she never thought possible. Nat quickly realizes there's so much more to it than that. And she begins to wonder what the cost will be. 

Noel paints an elaborate high tech world, interspersed with YA typical over-descriptions of clothing, that delves into the fantastical more than science fiction. Despite implying they're using science to travel in time, something about how everything is presented makes it feel more like a fantasy than anything else. 

While I have some concerns about the lack of depth of many of the characters, some of that has to do more with the story progression and nature of their circumstances than any fault of the authors. I feel like we don't know much about many of the characters beyond the surface, but there's also the constantly stated fact that at the end of the day, none of them trust each other and are blatantly keeping secrets from Nat. I would feel like I don't know anyone beyond the surface if that were me, too. 

A majority of this book feels more like a set up to the next installment as opposed to the initial book in a series. A short-falling to be sure. But one that I think is saved by the sheer magnitude of world-building and intrigue introduced. I want to read the next book as soon as possible because of how perfectly the mystery has been set into motion. If it took a book to set up, imagine how great the pay off will be.

Rebecca Raven

Stealing Infinity is the first in a new young adult fantasy series by Alyson Noel. Natasha has reached her lowest point; kicked out of her school she has no where else to go except a eerie off-the-grid private boarding school. But there's more to Gray Wolf Academy that meets the eye and when Natasha catches the gaze of illusive, Braxton she feels she shouldn't trust him, even if she feels an unexplainable attraction. 

Time travel high school. Sign me right up...right? The premis of this story is perhaps more alluring than the words in the actual book itself, at least the first half of the book. The main character is practically insufferable at first and the world building confusing and clunky. But, Natasha is more enjoyable by the end and her characterization has improved immensely. It was basically me rooting for this change that didn't cause me to DNF this book. 

I don't think it's a bad thing that this novel is so slow. It's the first book in a series and the majority of this novel is exposition for that. I think this would definitely be a better marathon read, however, after the second book is released. 

I can't say what I enjoyed most about the novel without spoiling the plot! But the last 20% percent or so really picked up and made me not regret spending my time on this book. 

That being said, I would recommend Stealing Infinity to lovers of stories about time travel, rich-elite boarding schools, and illusive boys. 

Rating: 3.5 stars 


I received an arc of this novel through NetGalley curtosy of Entangled Teen/Entangled Publishing. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

WOW, this book quite literally played like a movie in my head. From the first chapter to the last, I perfectly pictured every scene and was immediately completely enthralled and invested on this story. I’d say this book is definitely for fans of movies like the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons. Alyson Noël went into great depths when researching not only history, but tarot and numerology as well. What’s even more amazing is the note at the start of the book to explain such things so everyone can have a grasp of what she’s mentioning throughout the story. 

Going into this read, I was a bit nervous I’d get lost since I knew there would be “time jumping” throughout the book, but the whole story was just seamless and not remotely confusing to follow.

There’s dashing men, mystery, and ton of history , secrets and even lessons learned. Stealing Infinity is a new favorite of mine for 2022 and I hope you pick it up and enjoy getting lost between the pages like I did! 

Stealing Infinity Stealing Infinity #1

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