Book Review – Out of Time Series by Nadine Brandes

This Christian dystopian trilogy explores the question:

How would you live your life if you knew the day you’d die?

Book one, A Time to Die, gets the ball rolling with the following premise:

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.

This riveting plot came to life with Brandes’ stellar writing, as she features raw relationships and heart-breaking emotions.

Please Note: most Young Adult Dystopian books are written for a mature YA-audience. There is often more violence, hardships, and suffering than the average Young Adult book. I agree with the author’s recommendation that this series is for readers ages 14+. (P.S. I love when authors get on Goodreads and offer trigger warnings and insights on what to expect in their books. I would love for this to become a new trend.) Of course, you know your young readers best and what they are able to handle.

Brandes finds the perfect balance of keeping the violent scenes intense and exciting, but not explicitly gory. And throughout the series, there is no profanity and the budding romance is a slow burn, healthy relationship (just a kiss or two throughout the series). These are squeaky-clean teen books in those areas.

Brandes also expertly weaves Christian themes, hearing from God, and scriptures into her story. I applaud her for that and would love to see more books like this on the market.

I wish I could dive deeper with a review of A Time to Speak and A Time to Rise, but I would hate to spoil the first book for you. Just know that as you continue with the series the stakes get higher, the conditions become grittier, and the wide cast of characters’ growth expounds with every obstacle they overcome. If you love A Time to Die, I promise you will thoroughly enjoy the rest of the series.

Have you read the Out of Time Series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!