When someone has an itch on their back and contort like a pretzel trying to scratch it, only to realize reaching that is physically impossible without bone fractures, the moment a friend agrees to scratch the spot instead is one of the most relieving experiences in life. The point? To some novel-addicts, the release of a sequel to a favorite book is that back-scratch feeling quadrupled.

I was just recently fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy of “The Ship Beyond Time,” Heidi Heilig’s 2017 sequel to the acclaimed “The Girl from Everywhere.”

Any reader of the latter novel understands the mind-bending reality of main character, sixteen-year-old Nixie. Unlike most people her age, Nix is not receiving her driver’s license or thinking about school dances. For her whole life, Nix traveled on her father’s ship, The Temptation. Their voyages are not limited to ocean travel but any place or time period with a map to navigate – fictional or real.

Having foiled her father’s previous plan, Nix was finally secured for her future. However, that collapses instantly when she discovers a horrific destiny in a loved one’s future. This action-packed sequel sparks to life as Nix is once again desperate to change fate. Only this time, Nix is accompanied by some new faces, greater challenges, and even more shocking realizations.

Sometimes a sequel can ruin a story when done improperly. However, “The Ship Beyond Time” does not disappoint. In fact, I think it was even more action-packed than the first book. The two novels flow together perfectly, as the sequel dives straight to where the first left off.

I especially enjoyed that this sequel emphasized many of my favorite aspects from the first book. The two combined become such a hybrid of genres, with ribbons of romance, flashes of historical-fiction, and splashes of fantasy.

In order to expertly weave the many complex pieces together, Heilig tugs at the reader’s brain to ask questions and even evaluate themselves. Countless times, I found myself pausing to imagine what I would have chosen in the characters’ maze of decisions. As Nix struggles to follow her heart, lead responsibly, prioritize others, and living in the moment, I feel as if I am echoing her same questions in my own mind.

I absolutely recommend the sequel to anyone who enjoyed the first book. In my opinion, this series would be a great fit for readers who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan’s many book series with the common thread of intertwined mythology.