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The Flapper Covenant #1
Mary, Everything
"Combines elements of time travel, mystery, and classic romance in a way that feels both fresh and unconventional...Details of life in the ’20s are both vivid and accurate, creating a moody sense of nostalgia. [...] A genre-bending ride featuring fun and unconventional characters." - Kirkus Reviews
A young woman born in the wrong reality.
A destiny that will lead her into the past.
And a love so enduring it reaches across time - and existence itself - to bring her home.
A gripping tale of best friends and romance, sorcery and survival, at the dawn of the Roaring 20s.
Courtney is a lonely undergrad at secluded Braddock College in 2004, working a drowsy summer job in the Archives. Assigned to a new project, she becomes haunted by a college yearbook from the 1920s - filled with familiar faces and memories of times she never experienced. A chance encounter with a mysterious girl named Sadie - dressed in long-outdated clothes - alters her reality. But if you were never meant to be born, that reality can expel you like an infection - or kill you outright. While Courtney struggles against forces she cannot comprehend, a psychopathic stalker smells blood and closes in for the kill.
Sadie, now in 1921, races against the clock to save her friend, joined by some remarkable allies - an American combat sorceress and veteran of World War I, an enigmatic professor who specializes in piercing the veil between realities, and two young women who insist they’re Courtney’s oldest friends - one of them even claiming to be her truest love.
Time is running out for Courtney, and a terrifying wilderness - haunted by the dead from centuries past - may hold the key to her salvation. But none who enter have ever returned...
Cassandra Yorke's groundbreaking debut brings Magical Realism home to the Midwest in an explosive new style, blending Midwestern Gothic and historical fiction with a warm lesbian love story to create a riveting, deeply immersive epic you won't be able to put down. It's the world of Boardwalk Empire and Gatsby, with an urgent, immersive narrative about what it means to belong, what it means to be hated, what it means to be loved, and ultimately what it means to come home.
A young woman born in the wrong reality.
A destiny that will lead her into the past.
And a love so enduring it reaches across time - and existence itself - to bring her home.
A gripping tale of best friends and romance, sorcery and survival, at the dawn of the Roaring 20s.
Courtney is a lonely undergrad at secluded Braddock College in 2004, working a drowsy summer job in the Archives. Assigned to a new project, she becomes haunted by a college yearbook from the 1920s - filled with familiar faces and memories of times she never experienced. A chance encounter with a mysterious girl named Sadie - dressed in long-outdated clothes - alters her reality. But if you were never meant to be born, that reality can expel you like an infection - or kill you outright. While Courtney struggles against forces she cannot comprehend, a psychopathic stalker smells blood and closes in for the kill.
Sadie, now in 1921, races against the clock to save her friend, joined by some remarkable allies - an American combat sorceress and veteran of World War I, an enigmatic professor who specializes in piercing the veil between realities, and two young women who insist they’re Courtney’s oldest friends - one of them even claiming to be her truest love.
Time is running out for Courtney, and a terrifying wilderness - haunted by the dead from centuries past - may hold the key to her salvation. But none who enter have ever returned...
Cassandra Yorke's groundbreaking debut brings Magical Realism home to the Midwest in an explosive new style, blending Midwestern Gothic and historical fiction with a warm lesbian love story to create a riveting, deeply immersive epic you won't be able to put down. It's the world of Boardwalk Empire and Gatsby, with an urgent, immersive narrative about what it means to belong, what it means to be hated, what it means to be loved, and ultimately what it means to come home.
413 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2020
53 people are currently reading
3,794 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Yorke
1 book76 followersA lifelong Midwestern girl, Cassandra was quite young when she discovered the haunting undertones behind everyday life. A haunting experience as a university senior in the summer of 2004 changed everything; she would struggle to make sense of that experience until she started work on Mary, Everything in 2013. Bathed in summer sunlight and crafted from early 2000s punk rock, this first novel is a time travel experience of its own.
Cassandra lives in central Ohio with her wife, house rabbits, and video games.
And of course, her own ghostly memories.
Cassandra lives in central Ohio with her wife, house rabbits, and video games.
And of course, her own ghostly memories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 8, 2022
4.5⭐️ – Have you ever felt like the time you were born in wasn’t the one you were supposed to live in? Like you don’t fit in your own life? What if it were true?
In 2004, Courtney is a twenty-year-old student working at her university’s archives. As part of the first real job she’s given, she has to read yearbooks from the 1920s and feels intensely attracted to that period, recognizing people in photographs when she shouldn’t know them, feeling more alone than ever when she has to let go.
I’m once again impressed by a debut novel, and it’s honestly one of my favourite things about reading. I started this book thinking it would be a historical novel (I didn’t read the blurb – I’m glad I didn’t, it gives away too much –, I liked the cover, it had been recommended to me by people I trust, that was enough) and it turned out to be that with a significant paranormal twist and a dash of romance that will probably grow in the next book.
The easiest way to talk about this story would be to speak of time travel but that’s not exactly what it is. And I’m not sure I should say what it is, as I enjoyed feeling lost at first – much like Courtney – then slowly understanding what’s happening.
The only thing I could have done without is the on-page abuse even if I can understand the author’s choice to include it. It’s not what I’ll remember. The characters, the atmosphere, the energy, the story, everything else took over.
I love the way Cassandra Yorke painted 1921, especially through the clothes the characters wear and the vocabulary they use. For 2004, the music Courtney listens to did the trick. As world-building goes, it’s simple and very efficient, Yorke doesn’t overwhelm readers with details, she gives what is needed.
As usual for me, what matters most is the characters, and I came to care a lot about Courtney, Sadie, Mary, Nettie, and World War I veteran Hazel Morrison. And that’s where reviewing can get very frustrating because I want to say more about them all, since they’re excellent characters, but again, I don’t want to spoil… All I’ll say is I want more of them, I want to see how the relationship between Courtney, Mary and Sadie develops, I want to see how Nettie fits in the group, how the four of them grow into their powers and what they learn from Hazel…
So now, when is book two coming?
In 2004, Courtney is a twenty-year-old student working at her university’s archives. As part of the first real job she’s given, she has to read yearbooks from the 1920s and feels intensely attracted to that period, recognizing people in photographs when she shouldn’t know them, feeling more alone than ever when she has to let go.
I’m once again impressed by a debut novel, and it’s honestly one of my favourite things about reading. I started this book thinking it would be a historical novel (I didn’t read the blurb – I’m glad I didn’t, it gives away too much –, I liked the cover, it had been recommended to me by people I trust, that was enough) and it turned out to be that with a significant paranormal twist and a dash of romance that will probably grow in the next book.
The easiest way to talk about this story would be to speak of time travel but that’s not exactly what it is. And I’m not sure I should say what it is, as I enjoyed feeling lost at first – much like Courtney – then slowly understanding what’s happening.
The only thing I could have done without is the on-page abuse even if I can understand the author’s choice to include it. It’s not what I’ll remember. The characters, the atmosphere, the energy, the story, everything else took over.
I love the way Cassandra Yorke painted 1921, especially through the clothes the characters wear and the vocabulary they use. For 2004, the music Courtney listens to did the trick. As world-building goes, it’s simple and very efficient, Yorke doesn’t overwhelm readers with details, she gives what is needed.
As usual for me, what matters most is the characters, and I came to care a lot about Courtney, Sadie, Mary, Nettie, and World War I veteran Hazel Morrison. And that’s where reviewing can get very frustrating because I want to say more about them all, since they’re excellent characters, but again, I don’t want to spoil… All I’ll say is I want more of them, I want to see how the relationship between Courtney, Mary and Sadie develops, I want to see how Nettie fits in the group, how the four of them grow into their powers and what they learn from Hazel…
So now, when is book two coming?
April 15, 2022
Mary, Everything (The Flapper Covenant 01) by Cassandra Yorke was a wonderful surprise to read. It’s a time-travel with a twist (more parallel realities) and center stage are a group of young, capable women wielding a boatload of very interesting magic.
The start felt a bit disorienting to me but after a few chapters I got what the author was trying to do and it began to flow. Evil men with horrible intentions a –plenty, but Courtney - with help of her newfound friends - comes into her power(s) throughout the book. A very good base for a new and exciting series. I think Mary is the one (hence the title of the book) for Courtney, but I feel with Sadie they could be a marvelous triad. Make it happen!
f/f clean fun, has pretty much a Y/A feel (the gals are 18)
Themes: 1921, 2004, magic and misogyny, magical realism, Midwestern Gothic, displaced, strong women.
4.5 Stars
The start felt a bit disorienting to me but after a few chapters I got what the author was trying to do and it began to flow. Evil men with horrible intentions a –plenty, but Courtney - with help of her newfound friends - comes into her power(s) throughout the book. A very good base for a new and exciting series. I think Mary is the one (hence the title of the book) for Courtney, but I feel with Sadie they could be a marvelous triad. Make it happen!
f/f clean fun, has pretty much a Y/A feel (the gals are 18)
Themes: 1921, 2004, magic and misogyny, magical realism, Midwestern Gothic, displaced, strong women.
4.5 Stars
December 12, 2020
4.5/5 Stars
I’d heard some really great things about his book before I picked it up, and the synopsis alone sounds absolutely fantastic, but nothing could have prepared me for what a fun, whirlwind of a ride this book was! Mary, Everything opens in 2004, and follows Courtney who is spending her Summer working in her university’s dusty archives. While out on her lunchbreak one day, she bumps into Sadie – who feels slightly out of place and is dressed in a seriously cool vintage outfit – and the two become quick friends. As Courtney’s work continues, she finds an old yearbook, dating from the 1920s, and she can’t help but think some of those faces are strangely familiar. As a psychopathic stalker starts zoning in on Courtney, and her life becomes more and more endangered, Courtney teams up with a sorceress who fought in WW1, a retired professor and two girls who claim to be her best friend and her true love, to try and make it back to where she truly belongs.
I was instantly sold by the tagline ‘sapphic flappers’, because, come on, who isn’t dying for some 1920s f/f with a bit of magic thrown in there! But I also felt that Cassandra managed to capture the essence of the early 2000s so perfectly; subverting the trope of the stuck up, preppy mean girl and instead making her a sweet yet tough girl who can stand up for herself in a fight, compliments girl’s outfits as she passes them on the street, and listens to punk music on her iPod on the way to work! It was an absolute joy to read from Courtney’s perspective – I loved her take no shit from men attitude, juxtaposed by her love of women and the kindness with which she treats them. I also really loved Sadie – she was a real darling – and I loved her eagerness and curiosity when it came to Courtney’s life. The little bits of 1920s slang peppered into the dialogue was such a nice touch, and I really think that we should bring some of it back (come on, ducky is just such an adorable word!)! Even the characterisation of the villains in the book was done so well – they perfectly emulated and personified what every woman fears about men, and so you felt Courtney and Sadie’s fear alongside them while reading.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I love time travel books, although I haven’t found too many that I click with, and I think Cassandra’s take on time travel was so inventive, instead taking the parallel-universe theory and different ‘strings’ of universes to explain Courtney’s story. The magic system which related to this time travelling was so interesting too (I don’t want to spoil anything about it, though, as I think it’s fun to discover it alongside Sadie and Courtney), and I can’t wait to learn more about it in the sequel! Furthermore, Cassandra’s writing is just absolutely stunning – the book is full of lush metaphors and gorgeous similes and you can’t help but want to bask in the beautiful wordplay that she has created!
I love, love, loved the inclusion of a sapphic love triangle in the book! They are so few and far between (a tragedy in itself) and I think it was a really fun addition to the book, although I’m not sure who I want to end up together as end-game – I love them all so much! The romance did take a slight back seat to the rest of the plot, however, so if romance isn’t really your cup of tea and you’re looking for a really fun, action packed story, then I think that this one will be really up your street!
Overall, this was a really fun historical-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi novel that I absolutely flew through, devouring Courtney and Sadie’s story from start to finish! It’s a real gutsy, feminist, sapphic story that I know is going to speak to so many people and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
TW: assault, sexual assault, rape threats, violence, guns, weapons, drug use mention, abusive parents, very mild gore
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book! This did not impact my review and all views are my own!
I’d heard some really great things about his book before I picked it up, and the synopsis alone sounds absolutely fantastic, but nothing could have prepared me for what a fun, whirlwind of a ride this book was! Mary, Everything opens in 2004, and follows Courtney who is spending her Summer working in her university’s dusty archives. While out on her lunchbreak one day, she bumps into Sadie – who feels slightly out of place and is dressed in a seriously cool vintage outfit – and the two become quick friends. As Courtney’s work continues, she finds an old yearbook, dating from the 1920s, and she can’t help but think some of those faces are strangely familiar. As a psychopathic stalker starts zoning in on Courtney, and her life becomes more and more endangered, Courtney teams up with a sorceress who fought in WW1, a retired professor and two girls who claim to be her best friend and her true love, to try and make it back to where she truly belongs.
I was instantly sold by the tagline ‘sapphic flappers’, because, come on, who isn’t dying for some 1920s f/f with a bit of magic thrown in there! But I also felt that Cassandra managed to capture the essence of the early 2000s so perfectly; subverting the trope of the stuck up, preppy mean girl and instead making her a sweet yet tough girl who can stand up for herself in a fight, compliments girl’s outfits as she passes them on the street, and listens to punk music on her iPod on the way to work! It was an absolute joy to read from Courtney’s perspective – I loved her take no shit from men attitude, juxtaposed by her love of women and the kindness with which she treats them. I also really loved Sadie – she was a real darling – and I loved her eagerness and curiosity when it came to Courtney’s life. The little bits of 1920s slang peppered into the dialogue was such a nice touch, and I really think that we should bring some of it back (come on, ducky is just such an adorable word!)! Even the characterisation of the villains in the book was done so well – they perfectly emulated and personified what every woman fears about men, and so you felt Courtney and Sadie’s fear alongside them while reading.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I love time travel books, although I haven’t found too many that I click with, and I think Cassandra’s take on time travel was so inventive, instead taking the parallel-universe theory and different ‘strings’ of universes to explain Courtney’s story. The magic system which related to this time travelling was so interesting too (I don’t want to spoil anything about it, though, as I think it’s fun to discover it alongside Sadie and Courtney), and I can’t wait to learn more about it in the sequel! Furthermore, Cassandra’s writing is just absolutely stunning – the book is full of lush metaphors and gorgeous similes and you can’t help but want to bask in the beautiful wordplay that she has created!
I love, love, loved the inclusion of a sapphic love triangle in the book! They are so few and far between (a tragedy in itself) and I think it was a really fun addition to the book, although I’m not sure who I want to end up together as end-game – I love them all so much! The romance did take a slight back seat to the rest of the plot, however, so if romance isn’t really your cup of tea and you’re looking for a really fun, action packed story, then I think that this one will be really up your street!
Overall, this was a really fun historical-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi novel that I absolutely flew through, devouring Courtney and Sadie’s story from start to finish! It’s a real gutsy, feminist, sapphic story that I know is going to speak to so many people and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
TW: assault, sexual assault, rape threats, violence, guns, weapons, drug use mention, abusive parents, very mild gore
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book! This did not impact my review and all views are my own!
November 27, 2021
Like Django Wexler says, "Well, *I* obviously enjoyed it, or I wouldn't have written it. Hopefully other people will too." I really do enjoy reading it sometimes. I spent five years channeling a safe, cozy place, and sometimes it's nice to go back and visit when everything gets to be too much.
I do hope others will feel the same. :)
I do hope others will feel the same. :)
October 23, 2020
This book is a wonderful experience of both life and love. Cassandra really captures the era…the 1920’s…. All of her characters are lively…fun…. smart…. and strong. Time travel has been used a plot many times before, but this author gives it an original twist. Not only does she create a parallel universe to the 1920’s but allows the character to become completely immersed and actually become a part of living as if she has been there all of her life. It’s a well-written story with a heroine you love and an utterly terrifying villain you hate.
Actual Rating 4.5
Actual Rating 4.5
June 13, 2020
This is without a doubt the best book I have ever read about extradimensional lesbian flapper sorceresses.
The book is captivating. The first quarter or so sets a mood, and this mood intensifies and evolves as the story progresses. Deft action sequences are interspersed with teenage heartthrob drama, but somehow things never careen into the cheesy territory of Twilight and its ilk. The reader will note that there is no need for a male hero nor a male love interest, and indeed on a core level this is a book about subverting and overturning the patriarchy. But there is a lot more here to sink teeth into, and you can really just relax and go along for the ride if you so choose.
Consider the main character, Courtney. An outcast and misfit in so many ways, who as a traumatized child finds a badly needed sense of belonging with a family who are from another time, and as is eventually revealed, another universe, only to be punished for it and have it ripped away from her. That she finds in the course of the book that this sense of belonging might not be so long-gone as she had thought is a source of light and hope, and it is a tremendous joy to experience it along with her. I found myself smiling like a fool a number of times while reading this book, something I didn't know how badly I needed. But what Courtney evolves into by the finale is so much more than she had bargained for, and in the penultimate chapter I defy any reader to put the book down of their own free will. It's a time-tested setup, the classic underdog story, and it works well here with a complex backdrop of two distinct eras and plenty of fun sorcery and gadgetry. Add a secondary protagonist with Sadie, Courtney's newfound and unexpectedly powerful friend from 1921, and you have enough rockin' girl power to electrify all 400-plus pages. But we get so much more, and just when you start to think there might be just a few too many badass women crammed into one book, they start to show what they can do as a team and you can't help but cheer them on.
Those of us who were sentient in 2004 are fed a steady stream of familiar and unfamiliar cultural reference points, but they aren't superfluous. Rather, they effectively bring us back to that time and that feeling. When that is juxtaposed with the sights and sounds of 1921, one can't help but sigh at the ridiculousness of what life was in the early 2000's, a welcome change from terrifying, post-apocalyptic 2020.
This is Harry Potter as envisioned by Quentin Tarantino, populated almost entirely by lesbians. It's a delight to read, and I raced through it in what is for me record time.
I can't wait for the next installment.
The book is captivating. The first quarter or so sets a mood, and this mood intensifies and evolves as the story progresses. Deft action sequences are interspersed with teenage heartthrob drama, but somehow things never careen into the cheesy territory of Twilight and its ilk. The reader will note that there is no need for a male hero nor a male love interest, and indeed on a core level this is a book about subverting and overturning the patriarchy. But there is a lot more here to sink teeth into, and you can really just relax and go along for the ride if you so choose.
Consider the main character, Courtney. An outcast and misfit in so many ways, who as a traumatized child finds a badly needed sense of belonging with a family who are from another time, and as is eventually revealed, another universe, only to be punished for it and have it ripped away from her. That she finds in the course of the book that this sense of belonging might not be so long-gone as she had thought is a source of light and hope, and it is a tremendous joy to experience it along with her. I found myself smiling like a fool a number of times while reading this book, something I didn't know how badly I needed. But what Courtney evolves into by the finale is so much more than she had bargained for, and in the penultimate chapter I defy any reader to put the book down of their own free will. It's a time-tested setup, the classic underdog story, and it works well here with a complex backdrop of two distinct eras and plenty of fun sorcery and gadgetry. Add a secondary protagonist with Sadie, Courtney's newfound and unexpectedly powerful friend from 1921, and you have enough rockin' girl power to electrify all 400-plus pages. But we get so much more, and just when you start to think there might be just a few too many badass women crammed into one book, they start to show what they can do as a team and you can't help but cheer them on.
Those of us who were sentient in 2004 are fed a steady stream of familiar and unfamiliar cultural reference points, but they aren't superfluous. Rather, they effectively bring us back to that time and that feeling. When that is juxtaposed with the sights and sounds of 1921, one can't help but sigh at the ridiculousness of what life was in the early 2000's, a welcome change from terrifying, post-apocalyptic 2020.
This is Harry Potter as envisioned by Quentin Tarantino, populated almost entirely by lesbians. It's a delight to read, and I raced through it in what is for me record time.
I can't wait for the next installment.
November 1, 2021
W o w.
It's raw, it's in your face, and it's so deeply personal. This book really goes for the gut.
It's urgent and passionate right from the beginning. After the prologue, the author switches back over to 2004 as a kind of flashback. It might seem kind of jarring, because you've just started to get comfortable with her lovely picture of the 1920s, but eventually I realized I couldn't appreciate 1921 until I'd seen 2004. Courtney's "present" gets increasingly ominous and there's a hint of something very wrong just outside what you can see. Things take a while to "explode" but once they did, I couldn't put it down. So many things were happening, so many friends and allies and enemies on the move, all of them introduced so smoothly and beautifully.
I think my favorite thing was how the author painted each time period. 2004 was dark and unsettling - like I said - but bright, somehow. Like, too bright, like something unpleasant. It was accented and flavored with a punk rock and alternative vibe, which made the college campus feel really nostalgic and relatable without making you want to *stay*. Then when you get to the 20s, it feels totally different - it's sunny and cheerful and warm, and you never want to leave. I felt like I'd come home. I want a squad like Sadie and Mary and Nettie! And Hazel! Oh, my. The heroine I need in my life. <3
I felt like the book ended when things were getting really really good and I didn't want it to stop! I want more! Not to be *that* girl or anything, but please give me more now!
It's raw, it's in your face, and it's so deeply personal. This book really goes for the gut.
It's urgent and passionate right from the beginning. After the prologue, the author switches back over to 2004 as a kind of flashback. It might seem kind of jarring, because you've just started to get comfortable with her lovely picture of the 1920s, but eventually I realized I couldn't appreciate 1921 until I'd seen 2004. Courtney's "present" gets increasingly ominous and there's a hint of something very wrong just outside what you can see. Things take a while to "explode" but once they did, I couldn't put it down. So many things were happening, so many friends and allies and enemies on the move, all of them introduced so smoothly and beautifully.
I think my favorite thing was how the author painted each time period. 2004 was dark and unsettling - like I said - but bright, somehow. Like, too bright, like something unpleasant. It was accented and flavored with a punk rock and alternative vibe, which made the college campus feel really nostalgic and relatable without making you want to *stay*. Then when you get to the 20s, it feels totally different - it's sunny and cheerful and warm, and you never want to leave. I felt like I'd come home. I want a squad like Sadie and Mary and Nettie! And Hazel! Oh, my. The heroine I need in my life. <3
I felt like the book ended when things were getting really really good and I didn't want it to stop! I want more! Not to be *that* girl or anything, but please give me more now!
August 28, 2020
Wonderful story with intelligent characters. Beautiful descriptions. Poetically written. One of my favorite new authors. Definitely a must read!
I lost so many hours of sleep to this book, but I can't remember the last time I gave up so many hours so willingly. Even when I was screamed awake before 9 AM by a hungry toddler, I never regretted those late night hours spent in Autumn Grove with four of the best friends I've ever had.
Cassandra had me from the start, and even if I'd wanted to resist, I'm not sure I could have. Her setting is so lovely - and the story told with such a friendly tone - that it was so easy to get lost in this world, to curl up in it like a blanket. When it was over, I didn't want to come back, either. I thought of trying to slow down, to drag out the last chapter or two, but that's impossible - that's when all the action in the story reaches its feverish climax. I looked for the brakes and found that there weren't any.
Sadie is my favorite character, by far. I love everything about her and I feel like she was written just for me. It's nice that she's kind of a protagonist, since I get to see a lot of the story through the eyes of someone I can relate with. But maybe that's part of how the story's written, too - you feel like the girls are talking privately to you, sharing things with you they don't even necessarily share with each other. And that makes their adventures that much more personal. It made me invested in a way I don't often find with many stories.
While I'm grateful that the author didn't end on a cliffhanger, it's still not much comfort since I'd gotten so warm and comfortable in Autumn Grove and I really didn't want to leave - especially considering the girls' real story is just beginning. I guess all I can do is wait on a sequel, which is kinda driving me crazy since she hasn't posted anything about her progress recently (Give us book two! Please!! 💜 ). Still, I've heard she collaborated with a friend from her 1920s group and wrote some "unpublished" Braddock College material, so I might go try to seek that out.
I've read a few really amazing books this year, but Mary, Everything warmed my heart and made my blood race in a way nothing else has for a long time. I'm pretty sure this will be on my shortlist for book of the year. 💜
Well done, Cassandra! Now give me more! 💜
I lost so many hours of sleep to this book, but I can't remember the last time I gave up so many hours so willingly. Even when I was screamed awake before 9 AM by a hungry toddler, I never regretted those late night hours spent in Autumn Grove with four of the best friends I've ever had.
Cassandra had me from the start, and even if I'd wanted to resist, I'm not sure I could have. Her setting is so lovely - and the story told with such a friendly tone - that it was so easy to get lost in this world, to curl up in it like a blanket. When it was over, I didn't want to come back, either. I thought of trying to slow down, to drag out the last chapter or two, but that's impossible - that's when all the action in the story reaches its feverish climax. I looked for the brakes and found that there weren't any.
Sadie is my favorite character, by far. I love everything about her and I feel like she was written just for me. It's nice that she's kind of a protagonist, since I get to see a lot of the story through the eyes of someone I can relate with. But maybe that's part of how the story's written, too - you feel like the girls are talking privately to you, sharing things with you they don't even necessarily share with each other. And that makes their adventures that much more personal. It made me invested in a way I don't often find with many stories.
While I'm grateful that the author didn't end on a cliffhanger, it's still not much comfort since I'd gotten so warm and comfortable in Autumn Grove and I really didn't want to leave - especially considering the girls' real story is just beginning. I guess all I can do is wait on a sequel, which is kinda driving me crazy since she hasn't posted anything about her progress recently (Give us book two! Please!! 💜 ). Still, I've heard she collaborated with a friend from her 1920s group and wrote some "unpublished" Braddock College material, so I might go try to seek that out.
I've read a few really amazing books this year, but Mary, Everything warmed my heart and made my blood race in a way nothing else has for a long time. I'm pretty sure this will be on my shortlist for book of the year. 💜
Well done, Cassandra! Now give me more! 💜
July 26, 2020
The problem with finishing a ‘first in series’ is that you immediately want MORE! When I started the book there was an intentionally jarring back & forth, but the main characters were so intriguing you are carried along for the ride. Then things change and there are more characters and I could only hope that we would get back to the others ... and by halfway through you are tracking the detailed arcs of more than a half-dozen main characters and organizations and side-plots and minor characters - and yet it all flows incredibly naturally.
Sometimes I almost fear the end of a book because I am not ready to leave the world and characters - but in this case I was anticipating the final chapters because I was excited how these amazing women would be set up for the next set of stories. Without spoiling, the conclusion was satisfying because while there is a lot left that they will learn and face, this book by itself is complete and had a great conclusion.
But again it all comes back to the relationships and the women who need to find the strength inside themselves they had been told didn’t exist. Courtney is a great character, but she is not alone in carrying the story. All of her close friends and the key adults have deep histories and worlds of adventure to discover.
This first book exceeded my expectations and is one of the best I have read this year - and I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of the series!
Sometimes I almost fear the end of a book because I am not ready to leave the world and characters - but in this case I was anticipating the final chapters because I was excited how these amazing women would be set up for the next set of stories. Without spoiling, the conclusion was satisfying because while there is a lot left that they will learn and face, this book by itself is complete and had a great conclusion.
But again it all comes back to the relationships and the women who need to find the strength inside themselves they had been told didn’t exist. Courtney is a great character, but she is not alone in carrying the story. All of her close friends and the key adults have deep histories and worlds of adventure to discover.
This first book exceeded my expectations and is one of the best I have read this year - and I look forward with great anticipation to the rest of the series!
August 30, 2020
This novel is the Snake’s Suspenders!
Cassandra Yorke draws us into the story on Page 1 and never lets us go. Her use of serial 1st person narration brings an immediacy to this fast-paced account of four college girls who have no understanding of their arcane powers until they are forced to use them in order to survive. And while we obsessively turn pages (or scroll), we are lured into each character's thoughts, dreams, disappointments, and fears, often revealed with a rich irony and humor. Ms. Yorke skillfully portrays a rather complicated journey through time, space, and parallel universes, tutoring the reader through the characters' commentary. Most of all, she brings us into the love these four girls have for each other - something that binds them, and is more powerful than the dangers they face together.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. I was privileged to have been a Beta reader for this story, and the final product has exceeded all my expectations. I can't wait for the next one!
Cassandra Yorke draws us into the story on Page 1 and never lets us go. Her use of serial 1st person narration brings an immediacy to this fast-paced account of four college girls who have no understanding of their arcane powers until they are forced to use them in order to survive. And while we obsessively turn pages (or scroll), we are lured into each character's thoughts, dreams, disappointments, and fears, often revealed with a rich irony and humor. Ms. Yorke skillfully portrays a rather complicated journey through time, space, and parallel universes, tutoring the reader through the characters' commentary. Most of all, she brings us into the love these four girls have for each other - something that binds them, and is more powerful than the dangers they face together.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. I was privileged to have been a Beta reader for this story, and the final product has exceeded all my expectations. I can't wait for the next one!
October 7, 2020
I’m honestly not quite sure what I expected. I came for lesbians and time travel, I got that, but it certainly did not end there.
I liked reading about Courtney. She was relatable and witty with a hint of asshole, and it made for an entertaining perspective. Also, gotta appreciate the dnd references.
Sadie is just adorable. I don’t know what else to say. These girls were so sweet and loving and so very ready to kick your ass into the next century (or the previous century? Or a completely different century? Who knows ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )
There was A Lot going on and much information, so I’m looking forward to continuing the story now that I sort of understand how shit works.
Also. The author acknowledging that lesbianism was taboo in 1920s but chose to fuck that noise and let girls be gay. I highly respect.
I liked reading about Courtney. She was relatable and witty with a hint of asshole, and it made for an entertaining perspective. Also, gotta appreciate the dnd references.
Sadie is just adorable. I don’t know what else to say. These girls were so sweet and loving and so very ready to kick your ass into the next century (or the previous century? Or a completely different century? Who knows ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )
There was A Lot going on and much information, so I’m looking forward to continuing the story now that I sort of understand how shit works.
Also. The author acknowledging that lesbianism was taboo in 1920s but chose to fuck that noise and let girls be gay. I highly respect.
October 10, 2020
Cassandra gives voice to a feeling I've never seen anyone give voice to - the feeling of being haunted by ghosts from long ago. Then she takes you straight in, a one-way ticket to 1921. For me (and for others, it seems), I might have closed the book, but that didn't mean I truly came back. Maybe that was the author's intention; I couldn't say. But I loved the journey so much.
Badass flappers, punk rock, and 1920s nostalgia. I loved every second.
And don't worry - there's no rape. Just when you think something like that *might* happen...
Well. I won't spoil it for you. ^.~ Just believe me when I say that it's heroic and the good girls win.
Badass flappers, punk rock, and 1920s nostalgia. I loved every second.
And don't worry - there's no rape. Just when you think something like that *might* happen...
Well. I won't spoil it for you. ^.~ Just believe me when I say that it's heroic and the good girls win.
November 1, 2020
Posilutely fantastic!
It's so rare to find a book that has the deep, raw truth of lived experiences, the earnest honesty of the author's life, and yet still manages to engage the reader with seamlessly interwoven fantasy. Cassandra has a gift for making the events in the book not seem merely real but actually lived in. Everything that happens is not merely a twist and turn of the narrative, but a natural and inexorable effect of the previously-established laws and histories of the verses at play. She never breaks the rules she has written, yet still manages to make the brilliant, jaw-dropping moments feel world-shatteringly spectacular. In short, this is a novel with an incredibly challenging premise (time travel based historical fiction is far too easy to get wrong, especially for a debut novel) that far surpasses the expectations of the reader.
Just as the Flapper Covenant themselves shall change their verse's understanding of arcanology forever, I cannot help but feel that the tale of their adventures, started here in this incredible novel, shall change the way that historical fiction is considered. If there is any doubt as to the author's intent, it is laid to rest in the Author's Notes - this is not a mere recreation of the world her grandparents had lived in, but a world that the characters deserve, and a world that we as readers deserve to enjoy. Not only research went into this, but pure creative effort and thorough construction of a world that the reader can immerse themselves in with comfort and joy.
Of special note is Cassandra's mastery of narrative voice. Chapters are written such that the reader is instantaneously aware of the character that we are witnessing at that present moment — each feels distinct, and careful attention must have been paid to make the transition so comfortable. There is a sense of rightness to each character's every word, thought and deed. By the end of the book, the reader is familiar enough with the characters to immediately recognize how the character would react to any given situation, and this holds true even with the astounding character development that drives the story forwards. That is not to say that there are no surprises — there are! — but rather that when a surprising action is taken, the reader is able to effortlessly make the logical connections and think to themselves, "Ah, of course! She would do that, that's very true to her character", there is never a nagging sense of "why would they do that?" as is found in so many other books with multiple main characters.
Demonstrating how strong women are able to rise from the painful events that haunted — but not created — them, this is a refreshingly real and hopeful view on the grim realities of our world. It is never such that it is making light of the trauma that the characters have undergone, but rather a willful defiance to bend in the face of our oppressors. If you, like me, have experienced some form of abuse (particularly child abuse) in your life, then this novel will give you the things that we survivors always cherish: the feeling of not being alone in our experiences, of knowing that we are understood, and of knowing that it gets better, that there is hope and light and love waiting for us, if we only keep going. While not a substitute for therapy, it's a damn close second, akin to hearing a close friend empathize with your darkest fears. And even if you have never experienced such things (and congratulations, sincerely, on that!) this should give you an incredible perspective on how these events shape the lives of so many vulnerable people, in addition to giving an incredible story. Truly, read it, and you will see.
One last note: the author's use of humor is perfectly blended with the tone of the current scene. The humor during lighter scenes bring gleeful snickers and wry grins, and the humor during more tense scenes actually serves to further humanize the characters, to show them steadfastly refusing to give into despair through humanity's oldest and best coping mechanism. Whether it's with delightful cultural misunderstandings, in-character quips, or — my personal favorite — her exemplary use of dramatic irony, she never misses.
There is so much more to talk about, but I shall not spoil this marvelous book. Read it, and you'll be thanking yourself for doing so. And I'll thank you, too (so I can have more people in the world to excitedly ramble about it with!)
It's so rare to find a book that has the deep, raw truth of lived experiences, the earnest honesty of the author's life, and yet still manages to engage the reader with seamlessly interwoven fantasy. Cassandra has a gift for making the events in the book not seem merely real but actually lived in. Everything that happens is not merely a twist and turn of the narrative, but a natural and inexorable effect of the previously-established laws and histories of the verses at play. She never breaks the rules she has written, yet still manages to make the brilliant, jaw-dropping moments feel world-shatteringly spectacular. In short, this is a novel with an incredibly challenging premise (time travel based historical fiction is far too easy to get wrong, especially for a debut novel) that far surpasses the expectations of the reader.
Just as the Flapper Covenant themselves shall change their verse's understanding of arcanology forever, I cannot help but feel that the tale of their adventures, started here in this incredible novel, shall change the way that historical fiction is considered. If there is any doubt as to the author's intent, it is laid to rest in the Author's Notes - this is not a mere recreation of the world her grandparents had lived in, but a world that the characters deserve, and a world that we as readers deserve to enjoy. Not only research went into this, but pure creative effort and thorough construction of a world that the reader can immerse themselves in with comfort and joy.
Of special note is Cassandra's mastery of narrative voice. Chapters are written such that the reader is instantaneously aware of the character that we are witnessing at that present moment — each feels distinct, and careful attention must have been paid to make the transition so comfortable. There is a sense of rightness to each character's every word, thought and deed. By the end of the book, the reader is familiar enough with the characters to immediately recognize how the character would react to any given situation, and this holds true even with the astounding character development that drives the story forwards. That is not to say that there are no surprises — there are! — but rather that when a surprising action is taken, the reader is able to effortlessly make the logical connections and think to themselves, "Ah, of course! She would do that, that's very true to her character", there is never a nagging sense of "why would they do that?" as is found in so many other books with multiple main characters.
Demonstrating how strong women are able to rise from the painful events that haunted — but not created — them, this is a refreshingly real and hopeful view on the grim realities of our world. It is never such that it is making light of the trauma that the characters have undergone, but rather a willful defiance to bend in the face of our oppressors. If you, like me, have experienced some form of abuse (particularly child abuse) in your life, then this novel will give you the things that we survivors always cherish: the feeling of not being alone in our experiences, of knowing that we are understood, and of knowing that it gets better, that there is hope and light and love waiting for us, if we only keep going. While not a substitute for therapy, it's a damn close second, akin to hearing a close friend empathize with your darkest fears. And even if you have never experienced such things (and congratulations, sincerely, on that!) this should give you an incredible perspective on how these events shape the lives of so many vulnerable people, in addition to giving an incredible story. Truly, read it, and you will see.
One last note: the author's use of humor is perfectly blended with the tone of the current scene. The humor during lighter scenes bring gleeful snickers and wry grins, and the humor during more tense scenes actually serves to further humanize the characters, to show them steadfastly refusing to give into despair through humanity's oldest and best coping mechanism. Whether it's with delightful cultural misunderstandings, in-character quips, or — my personal favorite — her exemplary use of dramatic irony, she never misses.
There is so much more to talk about, but I shall not spoil this marvelous book. Read it, and you'll be thanking yourself for doing so. And I'll thank you, too (so I can have more people in the world to excitedly ramble about it with!)
May 7, 2022
From the first pages of Mary Everything, I felt that Yorke likes to break the rules in the best possible way. I love when authors break from tradition and write in a style that works for them and their characters, and this is precisely what Yorke has accomplished. The book starts with a conversational tone, almost like a stream of consciousness, which gives the reader a peek inside the thoughts of various key characters. Yorke eventually transitions to a more traditional writing style, proving her ability as a versatile author.
The story is written from the first-person perspective of various female main characters, which I love because we are given an in-depth insight into their hopes, fears, and desires. Yorke executes this perspective switching beautifully by clearly organizing the chapters so that the reader knows who is thinking and speaking and when they exist. Remember, this is a time travel romance, but don’t make any assumptions about what that means because, as expected, Yorke puts her spin on time travel in the world she has built.
The female characters that Yorke shares are remarkable and prove that a woman can be whatever she chooses to be…whatever she is destined to be. She can be beautiful yet still carry physical and emotional scars. She can be strong but still have the capacity to be vulnerable with those she loves and trusts. She can be smart and intuitive yet still willing to learn from others. These seemingly contrasting characteristics coexist within characters such as Courtney and make the reader love and admire her for who she is and who she has the potential to be moving forward.
It is important to point out that unpleasant and devastating events happen in real life, and it should be expected that these events are equally represented in the stories we write and read. Mary, Everything contains subject matter related to physical and emotional abuse that may be difficult for some to read, and that is reasonable.
Mary, Everything is a book unlike any other book I have ever read. I have nothing to compare it to. Yorke shares a unique plot and introduces the readers to a group of strong and resourceful women who fight for the people they love. Yorke proves that when two people love each other, nothing can keep them apart. Not people. Not distance. Not time. Mary, Everything is far more than a romantic love story. It’s a story about the love shared between friends who were destined to be in each other’s lives. Friends that would die for each other. It’s also story of life, death, rebirth, and transformation. I am thrilled that this journey will continue and look forward to what’s next for the endearing women in the Flapper Covenant Series.
The story is written from the first-person perspective of various female main characters, which I love because we are given an in-depth insight into their hopes, fears, and desires. Yorke executes this perspective switching beautifully by clearly organizing the chapters so that the reader knows who is thinking and speaking and when they exist. Remember, this is a time travel romance, but don’t make any assumptions about what that means because, as expected, Yorke puts her spin on time travel in the world she has built.
The female characters that Yorke shares are remarkable and prove that a woman can be whatever she chooses to be…whatever she is destined to be. She can be beautiful yet still carry physical and emotional scars. She can be strong but still have the capacity to be vulnerable with those she loves and trusts. She can be smart and intuitive yet still willing to learn from others. These seemingly contrasting characteristics coexist within characters such as Courtney and make the reader love and admire her for who she is and who she has the potential to be moving forward.
It is important to point out that unpleasant and devastating events happen in real life, and it should be expected that these events are equally represented in the stories we write and read. Mary, Everything contains subject matter related to physical and emotional abuse that may be difficult for some to read, and that is reasonable.
Mary, Everything is a book unlike any other book I have ever read. I have nothing to compare it to. Yorke shares a unique plot and introduces the readers to a group of strong and resourceful women who fight for the people they love. Yorke proves that when two people love each other, nothing can keep them apart. Not people. Not distance. Not time. Mary, Everything is far more than a romantic love story. It’s a story about the love shared between friends who were destined to be in each other’s lives. Friends that would die for each other. It’s also story of life, death, rebirth, and transformation. I am thrilled that this journey will continue and look forward to what’s next for the endearing women in the Flapper Covenant Series.
July 4, 2022
Kindle Unlimited, but it was also free a while back and has been sitting on my kindle, so I decided to give it a read.
I like the interesting premise of 'time travel' and various arcane magics presented here and multi-layered scholarly characters. However it took a while for it all to be clearly understood, and to really get into the groove of the book. There were things I liked, but unfortunately plenty I didn't.
My biggest issue is the dialogue was often cringe-worthy and specifically when our MC Courtney is talking, it's often very bitchy and juvenile. Which while yes she is 18-20, it often was stark in contrast to the otherwise lyrical descriptions the author would write. I felt like the tenses would get switched around, even mid paragraph. Sometimes you're literally being told, via third person like a traditional story, then suddenly your in the first person narrative, and it flips flops. It also flip-flops in time, and with SEVERAL viewpoints.
The worst of which were incredibly rapey bad guys, who were disgusting to be in the mind of, let alone listen to the POV of. To the point it became cringe, because every single straight male was alluding to hard rape and abuse/assault, beatings, blowjobs etc, every time they encountered one of our female protagonists. EVERY SINGLE FREAKING TIME. It's like we get it, they are very bad, bad guys!!! Do we really need those needless descriptors of what they want to do to them? It feels misery-porn like, and not for plot purposes, or character creation.
This story felt often all over the place. While there were some beautiful, lyrical descriptions of feelings and scene setting - it would go back to very basal fanfic level quickly, so it never really merged properly.
There's also a huge plot point left hanging, with more very bad, bad guys looming. The romance never got off the ground, so a bust for that, too. Overall, not a satisfying book, at all. But could be something special with more editing, proper rounding out of characters, and conversations, and events to make it more streamlined, and have the same vibe throughout, instead of feeling jerky and displaced, as it does.
I like the interesting premise of 'time travel' and various arcane magics presented here and multi-layered scholarly characters. However it took a while for it all to be clearly understood, and to really get into the groove of the book. There were things I liked, but unfortunately plenty I didn't.
My biggest issue is the dialogue was often cringe-worthy and specifically when our MC Courtney is talking, it's often very bitchy and juvenile. Which while yes she is 18-20, it often was stark in contrast to the otherwise lyrical descriptions the author would write. I felt like the tenses would get switched around, even mid paragraph. Sometimes you're literally being told, via third person like a traditional story, then suddenly your in the first person narrative, and it flips flops. It also flip-flops in time, and with SEVERAL viewpoints.
The worst of which were incredibly rapey bad guys, who were disgusting to be in the mind of, let alone listen to the POV of. To the point it became cringe, because every single straight male was alluding to hard rape and abuse/assault, beatings, blowjobs etc, every time they encountered one of our female protagonists. EVERY SINGLE FREAKING TIME. It's like we get it, they are very bad, bad guys!!! Do we really need those needless descriptors of what they want to do to them? It feels misery-porn like, and not for plot purposes, or character creation.
This story felt often all over the place. While there were some beautiful, lyrical descriptions of feelings and scene setting - it would go back to very basal fanfic level quickly, so it never really merged properly.
There's also a huge plot point left hanging, with more very bad, bad guys looming. The romance never got off the ground, so a bust for that, too. Overall, not a satisfying book, at all. But could be something special with more editing, proper rounding out of characters, and conversations, and events to make it more streamlined, and have the same vibe throughout, instead of feeling jerky and displaced, as it does.
March 10, 2021
Adventure with a twist!
Courtney finds herself assigned to a new project where she is haunted by a 1920s yearbook filled with familiar things but she doesn’t remember the experience. She meets Sadie, a mysterious girl who completely changes her life, from back in 1921 who, with quite the team of allies, one of which includes Mary, who means more to Courtney that she remembers, is up against the clock to save Courtney from the dangers lurking for her.
An intriguing and quite different story, mixing historical and fantasy genres in a clever and exciting way. When I started this story, I figured it had something to do with time-travelling and all that sci-fi type stuff but it was so much more. It was quite a complex story but to help clarify points in time and points of view, Cassandra has cleverly built the story in parts and chapters that made it easy to follow and know what was going on (without really knowing why it was all going on!) at every point.
I loved that mix of past and present, especially where Courtney was experiencing that sense it was all familiar, but confused by how it could even be possible. The fact we got such an intimate look at the situation and circumstances, not only from Courtney’s point of view, but also Sadie’s, Mary’s and other characters really helped add depth to the story.
This is the first book in a series, which looks to be very promising and unique. I am excited to see what the past future holds in store for Courtney, Mary, and Sadie and seeing how their future’s and relationship holds in store. Although some of the concepts are quite dark, and for Courtney, utterly terrifying, I found this very exciting and all handled most sensitively. It had some wonderfully fun moments, where I was just wowed by the characters and what was happening.
Exciting and action packed, this is definitely an interesting read and one I would recommend to anyone who likes an angsty, drama filled romance, with some unexpected twists and turns.
Courtney finds herself assigned to a new project where she is haunted by a 1920s yearbook filled with familiar things but she doesn’t remember the experience. She meets Sadie, a mysterious girl who completely changes her life, from back in 1921 who, with quite the team of allies, one of which includes Mary, who means more to Courtney that she remembers, is up against the clock to save Courtney from the dangers lurking for her.
An intriguing and quite different story, mixing historical and fantasy genres in a clever and exciting way. When I started this story, I figured it had something to do with time-travelling and all that sci-fi type stuff but it was so much more. It was quite a complex story but to help clarify points in time and points of view, Cassandra has cleverly built the story in parts and chapters that made it easy to follow and know what was going on (without really knowing why it was all going on!) at every point.
I loved that mix of past and present, especially where Courtney was experiencing that sense it was all familiar, but confused by how it could even be possible. The fact we got such an intimate look at the situation and circumstances, not only from Courtney’s point of view, but also Sadie’s, Mary’s and other characters really helped add depth to the story.
This is the first book in a series, which looks to be very promising and unique. I am excited to see what the past future holds in store for Courtney, Mary, and Sadie and seeing how their future’s and relationship holds in store. Although some of the concepts are quite dark, and for Courtney, utterly terrifying, I found this very exciting and all handled most sensitively. It had some wonderfully fun moments, where I was just wowed by the characters and what was happening.
Exciting and action packed, this is definitely an interesting read and one I would recommend to anyone who likes an angsty, drama filled romance, with some unexpected twists and turns.
November 4, 2021
This book starts off great and only continues to get better as the plot moves forward. And by better, I mean, really frickin' awesome. The characters are utterly relatable and lovable. I think what I really enjoyed the most was the switch in dialects (20's vs 2000's). It really brought everyone to life and let me 'hear' their voices, especially Courtney. I can't count the number of times I snorted out loud over things she says. The plot gets you hooked right away, but also paints a beautiful picture of every location. Cassandra Yorke has a serious talent for world-building.
I pray to lesbian jesus that there's a book about Hazel Morrison one day.
I pray to lesbian jesus that there's a book about Hazel Morrison one day.
October 18, 2020
I need the sequel so badly omg. (Not to rush the author, of course, because a book this well thought out needs time - ha! Pun intended.)
What a wonderfully original and fascinating book this was. I loved the emotional intensity of the girls and the unapologetic ANGER within the narratives. Men really ain't shit and nothing makes me happier than imagining a world where we all have a badass flapper squad to protect us.
What a wonderfully original and fascinating book this was. I loved the emotional intensity of the girls and the unapologetic ANGER within the narratives. Men really ain't shit and nothing makes me happier than imagining a world where we all have a badass flapper squad to protect us.
September 28, 2021
I discovered this book because someone in my social media feed mentioned “time-traveling sapphic sorceresses.” Uh, what? YES! Lemme at ‘em! I was not disappointed. Cassandra Yorke has created a wonderfully imaginative universe that drew me in immediately.
This really is a creative deep dive into some of my favorite subjects: lesbians, time-travel, magic, and kick-ass women!
Highly recommend. Looking forward to more, more, more from this author.
This really is a creative deep dive into some of my favorite subjects: lesbians, time-travel, magic, and kick-ass women!
Highly recommend. Looking forward to more, more, more from this author.
May 21, 2020
This is truly a unique read! The author is amazing at setting up a scene and immersing you in the world. The characters are endearing and you'll be rooting for them hard.
August 6, 2021
Came for the time-travelling sapphic flapper sorceresses in the multiverse and stayed for the sheer delight.
Cassandra Yorke has written something extraordinary here. Set between a dark and menacing 2004 and a beautifully crafted 1921 that never-quite-was, this book absitively posilutely drew me in from the start. This is the story of a girl stuck in the wrong time – and the universe around her knows it. It tries to expel her, using the worst of the early 21st century to cut her out. By contrast, the 1921 she knows she belongs in seems like the ideal place to rest and recover – until Cassandra slowly and masterfully reveals how magical it is, with its own ugly dangers and conflicts, a complex magic system and kick-ass heroines.
The writing is *alive*. The voices of characters in both times are dazzling. I found myself snort-laughing at sass from 2004 that took me back, and delighting in slang from 1921 that made me wish I could really go. The science of ‘versology’ is intriguing, brilliantly thought out, original and delicious. I want more. The final battle scene had me breathless. And Captain Hazel Morrison?! Hold me down. (Cassandra, Hazel needs her own book and I don’t want to pressure you or anything but I’ll be haunting you until I get it.)
Cassandra Yorke has written something extraordinary here. Set between a dark and menacing 2004 and a beautifully crafted 1921 that never-quite-was, this book absitively posilutely drew me in from the start. This is the story of a girl stuck in the wrong time – and the universe around her knows it. It tries to expel her, using the worst of the early 21st century to cut her out. By contrast, the 1921 she knows she belongs in seems like the ideal place to rest and recover – until Cassandra slowly and masterfully reveals how magical it is, with its own ugly dangers and conflicts, a complex magic system and kick-ass heroines.
The writing is *alive*. The voices of characters in both times are dazzling. I found myself snort-laughing at sass from 2004 that took me back, and delighting in slang from 1921 that made me wish I could really go. The science of ‘versology’ is intriguing, brilliantly thought out, original and delicious. I want more. The final battle scene had me breathless. And Captain Hazel Morrison?! Hold me down. (Cassandra, Hazel needs her own book and I don’t want to pressure you or anything but I’ll be haunting you until I get it.)
February 17, 2022
I was initially draw to this book by the promise of Sapphic romance, something I long denied myself. I came away with so much more. I had started reading this with my girlfriend, taking turns reading to each other but I was instantly hooked. I soon began reading on my own, struggling to put the book down to take work calls.
Each character feels fully fleshed out and as real as you or I. I became totally engrossed in their ups and downs. This is tied with the author's astonishing ability to create a living and breathing world for these characters to move in. Part of the novel is set in the 1920s, the slang, manner of speaking quiet college town all give the reader the impression that our author actually lived during the 20s!
The plot is engrossing, a time travel thriller combined with a dash of magic. The story is perfectly paced, letting us become close with our characters as the mystery and thrill build and build leading to an immensely satisfying action packed conclusion. Leaving us just enough left unanswered for the upcoming sequel(s).
Truly, I have not enjoyed a piece of fiction more than "Mary, Everything" in many, many years. A fantastic book that I find myself gushing about to my friends and loved ones.
Each character feels fully fleshed out and as real as you or I. I became totally engrossed in their ups and downs. This is tied with the author's astonishing ability to create a living and breathing world for these characters to move in. Part of the novel is set in the 1920s, the slang, manner of speaking quiet college town all give the reader the impression that our author actually lived during the 20s!
The plot is engrossing, a time travel thriller combined with a dash of magic. The story is perfectly paced, letting us become close with our characters as the mystery and thrill build and build leading to an immensely satisfying action packed conclusion. Leaving us just enough left unanswered for the upcoming sequel(s).
Truly, I have not enjoyed a piece of fiction more than "Mary, Everything" in many, many years. A fantastic book that I find myself gushing about to my friends and loved ones.
May 22, 2022
A book that takes us home.
The older we get, the more we miss home. In its best form, home is a special place, but to Courtney, it is far, far away, in time. She doesn’t belong in the time era she’s living in, and she knows it, but she’s trapped, and running out of that most precious commodity, time itself. Luckily, there are others, friends from home, who know this, and ultimately they bring her to where she belongs.
The author clearly knows the time period of the 1920’s well, too well, some might say! One is left to wonder, not so much about the settings and props, extremely credible by themselves, but the characters. They seem so well-suited to be living there, and are so real, it’s as if the author actually knew them. Did she? Possibly in a way that defies understanding? I don’t know, but what I do know is that the book reads as a highly literary piece of art, but it’s also a fantastic adventure into a world of this fabulous author’s creation! And in the end it fulfills that basic need, which we all share. It takes us to a place where we are loved, a place where we deserve to be, a place we know and cherish. Home.
SCD
The older we get, the more we miss home. In its best form, home is a special place, but to Courtney, it is far, far away, in time. She doesn’t belong in the time era she’s living in, and she knows it, but she’s trapped, and running out of that most precious commodity, time itself. Luckily, there are others, friends from home, who know this, and ultimately they bring her to where she belongs.
The author clearly knows the time period of the 1920’s well, too well, some might say! One is left to wonder, not so much about the settings and props, extremely credible by themselves, but the characters. They seem so well-suited to be living there, and are so real, it’s as if the author actually knew them. Did she? Possibly in a way that defies understanding? I don’t know, but what I do know is that the book reads as a highly literary piece of art, but it’s also a fantastic adventure into a world of this fabulous author’s creation! And in the end it fulfills that basic need, which we all share. It takes us to a place where we are loved, a place where we deserve to be, a place we know and cherish. Home.
SCD
February 12, 2021
This book has all the things I love: magic, time-travel(ish), mysterious places that make you feel dread (my favorite) or something vague that oozes dread, awesome women, team of awesome women/girls kicking ass, wlw.
I was a bit confused at first, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. I’m very curious and very invested in the world(Blackstead forest especially!!), and the characters. I have the biggest crush on Sadie. I’ve never had a crush on a fictional person before, and damn does it hurt, lol. Ugh, why did Sadie have to be so adorable, and awesome, and.. I’ll go cry in a corner now :(. Also, Courtney is so darn funny.
I don’t know what else to say, only that I love the book and i’m waiting in agony for book 2.
I was a bit confused at first, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. I’m very curious and very invested in the world(Blackstead forest especially!!), and the characters. I have the biggest crush on Sadie. I’ve never had a crush on a fictional person before, and damn does it hurt, lol. Ugh, why did Sadie have to be so adorable, and awesome, and.. I’ll go cry in a corner now :(. Also, Courtney is so darn funny.
I don’t know what else to say, only that I love the book and i’m waiting in agony for book 2.
June 11, 2020
This is not my usual cup of tea. But as mentioned elsewhere, Miss Yorke has some uncanny talent for conjuring a world around you and keeping you there. I don't know how she kept me glued to this book like she did.
Be warned, this book is for more mature readers. If you need constant cheap thrills to keep you interested, you might have a hard time getting into this one. It felt to me like what would happen if The Great Gatsby were written like Fight Club.
I can't wait for the next one!
Be warned, this book is for more mature readers. If you need constant cheap thrills to keep you interested, you might have a hard time getting into this one. It felt to me like what would happen if The Great Gatsby were written like Fight Club.
I can't wait for the next one!
January 24, 2022
I am a huge fan of this author’s style. The dialogue is great, loved the story pacing, and the attraction is sweet and lingering between the characters. The book itself is uniquely set up in how the author switches back and forth between perspectives. Their voices are distinct and there is a clear care to the language choices for each.
Not plot related, but the book itself is *gorgeous* — this is a reader trophy if ever one existed.
Not plot related, but the book itself is *gorgeous* — this is a reader trophy if ever one existed.
August 20, 2021
Ok this one started a little bit surreal and took some time to adjust to the universe's rules, but once I got a handle on it I flew through this book with delight. It's fun and charming and witty and sweet, and the payoff at the end is excellent. I saw mention elsewhere of a love triangle, I got more of a poly vibe from it but I could be wrong. I hope to see more from this author soon!
November 18, 2020
The book, being the first of a series, lays the foundations for the following chapters by focusing on introducing the characters rather than on a particularly action-packed story.
The protagonist is Courtney who lives in 2004 but her meeting with Sadie, who comes from 1921, gives her the measure of how much she lives a grey and empty life, how lonely and dissatisfied she is. Her little peek into the 1920s gives her the opportunity to feel real happiness, but forces oppose her time travelling in the past and Sadie is going to need all the help she can get from her powerful allies to save her newfound best friend from the ticking of the clock…
What left me dubious is that men are 99% of the time described in a merciless way, basically cruel for the pleasure of hate. On the opposite side, there is the all-female group of protagonists, who, however powerful and badass, I can only describe with the word “lovely”.
Even those who would like to hate each other cannot because they are all really “good girls”!
And this is the part of me who loves morally grey characters speaking…😅
In any case, I found all the characters interesting and I enjoyed the change of pov throughout the story, but most of all I appreciated the choice of a love triangle rather than an easy, classic (boring) romance.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the very strong relationship established between all the leading girls in zero time, Courtney and Sadie for example basically just met. But I guess here enters the main theme of the novel, the sense of belonging. It is a recurring topic that defines Courtney’s constant malaise for her life in 2004. Her encounter with Mary, Nettie and Sadie immediately triggers a strong feeling of belonging that binds the girls deeply and stirs up the curiosity about the next book.
The protagonist is Courtney who lives in 2004 but her meeting with Sadie, who comes from 1921, gives her the measure of how much she lives a grey and empty life, how lonely and dissatisfied she is. Her little peek into the 1920s gives her the opportunity to feel real happiness, but forces oppose her time travelling in the past and Sadie is going to need all the help she can get from her powerful allies to save her newfound best friend from the ticking of the clock…
What left me dubious is that men are 99% of the time described in a merciless way, basically cruel for the pleasure of hate. On the opposite side, there is the all-female group of protagonists, who, however powerful and badass, I can only describe with the word “lovely”.
Even those who would like to hate each other cannot because they are all really “good girls”!
And this is the part of me who loves morally grey characters speaking…😅
In any case, I found all the characters interesting and I enjoyed the change of pov throughout the story, but most of all I appreciated the choice of a love triangle rather than an easy, classic (boring) romance.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the very strong relationship established between all the leading girls in zero time, Courtney and Sadie for example basically just met. But I guess here enters the main theme of the novel, the sense of belonging. It is a recurring topic that defines Courtney’s constant malaise for her life in 2004. Her encounter with Mary, Nettie and Sadie immediately triggers a strong feeling of belonging that binds the girls deeply and stirs up the curiosity about the next book.
May 1, 2022
Yorke's writing sizzles with dark humor, unique descriptions, and female power. I really enjoyed the inner thoughts of Courtney, the MC. Overall, Yorke's unique take on time travel is engaging and thought provoking. I picked up the book as a sci-fi reader, looking for the time travel piece, and realized halfway through that this book is largely a fantasy novel, with a lot of research and world building to create a multilayered world, or multiple worlds, of magic. True to form of an indie book, it refuses to be put in one box. So if you enjoy old magic, time bending, and of course, powerful females, Mary, Everything is worth the time!
August 2, 2020
Just a fun read
Admittedly I found it difficult to get into as the story starts by bouncing around different time periods without a lot of exposition to let you know what is going on. It made me think of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. As I caught on my interest grew. It’s a great and unique story.
Admittedly I found it difficult to get into as the story starts by bouncing around different time periods without a lot of exposition to let you know what is going on. It made me think of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. As I caught on my interest grew. It’s a great and unique story.
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