Welcome to this stop for the Passenger blog tour! My name is Aila, and I’ll be your guide for today. After all, you’re my passenger for this leg of the journey. 😉 It is with great pleasure to be featuring the amazing book Passenger by Alexandra Bracken, where music and time-travel weave a spell that will just mesmerize readers.
Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Get it Here: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
I’m Alex. I write about telekinetic teens and floppy-haired wizards. I love Star Wars, classic rock, and 18th century gentlemen. When I’m not up at 4 AM writing, you can find me running around the DC area, where I now live and write full time.
Throughout the book, Etta travels to many destinations and time periods. In this tour, we’ll be looking at the different places that she goes to, and I, your guide, will be providing some background information on these places, as well as fanmade art (by yours truly). The places our characters visit are truly amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait for you to read about them yourself!
Destination 1:
Atlantic, 1776
The first stop is on a boat heading from Nassau to New York City in 1776. You’ll have to read the book for yourself to know what’s happening to our characters!
What’s happening in the Atlantic during this time period?
- It took people around seven weeks to get across the Atlantic Ocean, which does not include the periods during which ships were anchored.
- Prior to becoming a British colony, Nassau served as the main base for several pirate captains, such as Blackbeard.
- The British colonies imported 1.5 million slaves – more than three times the number of free immigrants across the Atlantic.
Destination 2:
New York City, 1776
The time travel aspect was so well-done in this book; the characters take into fact the clothes for the era they’re visiting and also keep journals to make sure they don’t meet themselves in different parts of time.
So what exactly took place in America in 1776?
- Thomas Paine published the widespread Common Sense.
- The Liberty Bell rang for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
- Women had no equal rights during the time and were kept in the household – most were discouraged to achieve in academics.
Destination 3:
London, 1940
Now at this point of the book, Nicholas and Etta are tasked by the Grand Master of the travelers to retrieve a special something. Their adventure is just beginning, ladies and gentlemen.
What was happening in London during this time period?
- The Blitz hits London: it was a period of strategic bombing of the UK by Nazi Germany.
- It is seen as a time of great community spirit, as Londoners were seen as calm in the face of danger sharing a positive spirit, courage, and a determination to succeed.
- Londoners used air raid shelters called Anderson shelters to keep themselves safe during raids. They would also find shelter on platforms, tunnels, ticket halls, and staircases of the London Underground stations.
Destination 4:
Angkor, 1685
This was probably my favorite setting of them all! The more romantic readers like me will certainly enjoy the swoony moments that happen at this exotic destination. Although the romance happened quite quickly, I found it believable and felt so many touching moments between the characters throughout the book.
What’s so special about Cambodia?
- Angkor has been one of the biggest cradles of civilization. A team of international researchers in 2007 used satellite photographs and other modern techniques to conclude that it was the largest pre-industrial city in the world with an urban sprawl of 1,150 square miles that probably supported up to a million people.
- The ancient temple of Angkor Wat in the deep Cambodian jungle was discovered by French explorers in the 19th century.
- Millions of tourists visit Cambodia each year; luckily, there are thousands of on-site workers working to conserve the awe-inspiring monuments. UNESCO has moved to protect the site since 1992.
Destination 5:
Paris, 1880
Throughout their adventures, Nicholas and Etta are getting chased or watched by certain people and travelers. The question is – can they hold them off long enough to get to their final destination?
What could you see people doing in France during this time?
- Going to the opera, which was a favorite pastime, as the Opera House finished construction in this century.
- Having a blast playing the game of tennis, which was also introduced in France.
- Going shopping for long, flowing muslin dresses based on the classical designs of the Greeks and Romans for women, possibly.
Destination 6:
Damascus, 1599
The action is continuous throughout the book, and this destination does not disappoint. I love how Bracken paints the settings! You can really become immersed in the different environments as she effortlessly describes the fashion and lifestyles of each place.
What’s going on in Syria during this time?
- In 1516, Syria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and was under their rule until 1918.
- Damascus became a huge port and acquired a holy character to Muslims, because of the spiritual force of the numerous passing pilgrims who passed through it on their pilgrimage to Mecca.
- A revival of the arts was experienced during the time. Carpetmaking was huge and the tradition of Persian miniature painting in manuscripts became popular.
And thus ends our journey for this post! The tour has concluded, my friends, but the story is ongoing. The fierce, courageous characters, dazzling settings and breathtaking plot will leave readers clamoring for more. Check out below for a giveaway of THREE finished copies of this adventure of a book!
One Way Or An Author 