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After Cilmeri #1
Footsteps in Time
Join the adventure when Anna and David are catapulted back in time to save the medieval kingdom of Wales ...
Anna is driving her aunt's minivan with her brother, David, when she crashes through time and finds herself in the middle of an ambush of Llywelyn, the last Prince of Wales. It is December 1282, and the English have attacked, hoping to eliminate the Welsh rebels forever. Instead, the siblings save Llywelyn's life and embark on a journey that transforms not only themselves but an entire world.
Footsteps in Time is the story of what might have happened had Llywelyn lived.
And what happens to the two teenagers who save him.
Complete Series reading order : Daughter of Time, Footsteps in Time, Winds of Time, Prince of Time, Crossroads in Time, Children of Time, Exiles in Time, Castaways in Time, Ashes of Time, Warden of Time, Guardians of Time, Masters of Time, Outpost in Time, Shades of Time, Champions of Time, This Small Corner of Time, Refuge in Time, Unbroken in Time, Outcasts in Time.
Anna is driving her aunt's minivan with her brother, David, when she crashes through time and finds herself in the middle of an ambush of Llywelyn, the last Prince of Wales. It is December 1282, and the English have attacked, hoping to eliminate the Welsh rebels forever. Instead, the siblings save Llywelyn's life and embark on a journey that transforms not only themselves but an entire world.
Footsteps in Time is the story of what might have happened had Llywelyn lived.
And what happens to the two teenagers who save him.
Complete Series reading order : Daughter of Time, Footsteps in Time, Winds of Time, Prince of Time, Crossroads in Time, Children of Time, Exiles in Time, Castaways in Time, Ashes of Time, Warden of Time, Guardians of Time, Masters of Time, Outpost in Time, Shades of Time, Champions of Time, This Small Corner of Time, Refuge in Time, Unbroken in Time, Outcasts in Time.
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First published January 22, 2011
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About the author
Sarah Woodbury
165 books749 followersWith over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.
Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).
She makes her home in Oregon.
Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).
She makes her home in Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
March 4, 2013
I am having a love/hate relationship with this book. I'm on page 227 of 304 and I'm not sure if I want to finish it.
On the plus side:
#1 I've enjoyed the characters and their relationships to one another. I only wish that sort of thing had been explored more deeply.
#2 I also really liked the premise of the story.
#3 There were several times, after particular scenes, when I thought, "I love this book!"
On the minus side:
#1 In the previous book, point of view went back and forth between the two main characters with chapter headings indicating which one I was reading. In this book the point of view swings back and forth between Anna and David, but without any clear distinction between the two.
#2 Between Parts 1 & 2 of the book, there is a chronology of historical events. This seems like something which could be placed at the end of the book, not smack dab in the middle! It was very distracting to go from reading prose, to reading a list of events, then back to prose.
#3 I had a really difficult time accepting that a 14 year old (David) and a 17 year old (Anna), who lived in modern times in America, knew the language of middle Welsh and Welsh history so well. Well enough to not only fit in, but to advise others as to upcoming events. Sure, their mother was highly educated in those things, and with good cause, but still…these are American kids, the majority of whom probably find anything concerning history to be dry, boring and totally unrelated to anything going on in their present day lives. Most care more about the latest technology than about how people lived in the thirteenth century.
#4 The fourteen year old boy sure picked up sword-fighting easily…enough to go into battle. He also knew battle strategy enough to plan and then lead one of the flanks of military men. On top of that, by the time he is sixteen he's settling disputes and other such things. I don't doubt young noblemen of that time did those things, but it seemed a stretch for a young boy raised in modern day America. Especially the ability to strategize when he had not been raised around warfare. The majority of fourteen, fifteen and sixteen year olds of our times are certainly not prepared, nor do they have the maturity to take on those kinds of responsibilities and that type of decision making.
#5 The possibility of Math and Anna developing a romantic relationship was completely skipped over when the author jumped ahead 18 months!! By that time the two of them were already married! I felt cheated out of watching that relationship develop.
#6 Language…Again, this 14 year old boy (he's 16 by the time I stopped reading) speaks often in the formal speech of an adult living in thirteen century Wales. I'm sorry, but he seems to have fit in way too well from the very start. I know, I know, it was the same in the Chronicles of Narnia books/movies. Young boys and girls with swords and bows, ruling a kingdom. But that was fantasy and this series, in spite of the time-travel element, is based on actual historical events/alternate events and the real times in which people lived. It is not true fantasy with an entire created world as was the majority of the Narnia series.
#7 How the heck does this time travel thing work? Twice people landed back in time due to a car accident, one other time it was due to…we don't know since events took place "off camera" so to speak, other than the fact that Meg was flying around in an airplane and noticed the terrain was no longer of modern times, but rather the once familiar landscape of the thirteenth century.
And what causes people to pop back to their time period of origin? Why these people? Why this particular time period? Perhaps some of this will be answered in one of the other books in the series.
Perhaps I am being too critical here. The story has a wonderful premise and I would like to know more…but I'd like more character development and less of the historical information dump. I'd also like to have more of the scenes where we're really right in the moment with the characters! There are a few of those scenes and they are so good, but much of the time I'm being told a story instead of being involved in it.
On the plus side:
#1 I've enjoyed the characters and their relationships to one another. I only wish that sort of thing had been explored more deeply.
#2 I also really liked the premise of the story.
#3 There were several times, after particular scenes, when I thought, "I love this book!"
On the minus side:
#1 In the previous book, point of view went back and forth between the two main characters with chapter headings indicating which one I was reading. In this book the point of view swings back and forth between Anna and David, but without any clear distinction between the two.
#2 Between Parts 1 & 2 of the book, there is a chronology of historical events. This seems like something which could be placed at the end of the book, not smack dab in the middle! It was very distracting to go from reading prose, to reading a list of events, then back to prose.
#3 I had a really difficult time accepting that a 14 year old (David) and a 17 year old (Anna), who lived in modern times in America, knew the language of middle Welsh and Welsh history so well. Well enough to not only fit in, but to advise others as to upcoming events. Sure, their mother was highly educated in those things, and with good cause, but still…these are American kids, the majority of whom probably find anything concerning history to be dry, boring and totally unrelated to anything going on in their present day lives. Most care more about the latest technology than about how people lived in the thirteenth century.
#4 The fourteen year old boy sure picked up sword-fighting easily…enough to go into battle. He also knew battle strategy enough to plan and then lead one of the flanks of military men. On top of that, by the time he is sixteen he's settling disputes and other such things. I don't doubt young noblemen of that time did those things, but it seemed a stretch for a young boy raised in modern day America. Especially the ability to strategize when he had not been raised around warfare. The majority of fourteen, fifteen and sixteen year olds of our times are certainly not prepared, nor do they have the maturity to take on those kinds of responsibilities and that type of decision making.
#5 The possibility of Math and Anna developing a romantic relationship was completely skipped over when the author jumped ahead 18 months!! By that time the two of them were already married! I felt cheated out of watching that relationship develop.
#6 Language…Again, this 14 year old boy (he's 16 by the time I stopped reading) speaks often in the formal speech of an adult living in thirteen century Wales. I'm sorry, but he seems to have fit in way too well from the very start. I know, I know, it was the same in the Chronicles of Narnia books/movies. Young boys and girls with swords and bows, ruling a kingdom. But that was fantasy and this series, in spite of the time-travel element, is based on actual historical events/alternate events and the real times in which people lived. It is not true fantasy with an entire created world as was the majority of the Narnia series.
#7 How the heck does this time travel thing work? Twice people landed back in time due to a car accident, one other time it was due to…we don't know since events took place "off camera" so to speak, other than the fact that Meg was flying around in an airplane and noticed the terrain was no longer of modern times, but rather the once familiar landscape of the thirteenth century.
And what causes people to pop back to their time period of origin? Why these people? Why this particular time period? Perhaps some of this will be answered in one of the other books in the series.
Perhaps I am being too critical here. The story has a wonderful premise and I would like to know more…but I'd like more character development and less of the historical information dump. I'd also like to have more of the scenes where we're really right in the moment with the characters! There are a few of those scenes and they are so good, but much of the time I'm being told a story instead of being involved in it.
December 3, 2013
I love Wales.
I have been to Wales and I loved it. I did not stay there long, just two days on my trip around England, Ireland and Scotland but I fell in love while I was there. I also happen to love the concept of time travel, and I love good, simple, clean stories. Stories that you can pick up, get lost in, and have an intense desire to keep reading whenever you are forced to put the book down.
Footsteps in Time by Sarah Woodbury is one of those books.
When I was fifteen I was given The Dark Age by Traci Harding and I just consumed that book and the series thereafter -- though in the end -- I was somewhat disillusioned by the ending of the whole series I still, to this day, pick up everyone of her books.
Footsteps in Time reminded me instantly of that delightful feeling that Traci Harding's books gave me. Being home again. Being safe in a book series. Without a doubt, I will buy every single one of Sarah Woodbury's books.
Sarah Woodbury uses very little description of characters and settings, rather like how C.S Lewis writes. You are given leave to build your own picture of what the characters look like, of what Wales looks like and it makes the story so much more inviting, as your imagination draws you deeper into the tale. I ended up dreaming that I was there, with the characters, at night and it was wonderful to feel that sensation again. I have not had such a sensation in a very, very long time.
I adored the characters, for once I felt like I could relate to the female lead, Anna. I liked her, I felt like her, and it made me connect to her in the situations she found herself in. As for David, her brother, he was fabulous! He acted just how a young teenage boy would act given the situation he was, it was as though I was staring right at my little brother in the pages of a book!
Considering the fact that it was my Dad who recommended this book to me, and that he enjoyed this, and he very rarely reads these types of tales, I highly recommend this book.
I'll be starting Book 2 tonight, as I cannot wait to return to Wales.
I have been to Wales and I loved it. I did not stay there long, just two days on my trip around England, Ireland and Scotland but I fell in love while I was there. I also happen to love the concept of time travel, and I love good, simple, clean stories. Stories that you can pick up, get lost in, and have an intense desire to keep reading whenever you are forced to put the book down.
Footsteps in Time by Sarah Woodbury is one of those books.
When I was fifteen I was given The Dark Age by Traci Harding and I just consumed that book and the series thereafter -- though in the end -- I was somewhat disillusioned by the ending of the whole series I still, to this day, pick up everyone of her books.
Footsteps in Time reminded me instantly of that delightful feeling that Traci Harding's books gave me. Being home again. Being safe in a book series. Without a doubt, I will buy every single one of Sarah Woodbury's books.
Sarah Woodbury uses very little description of characters and settings, rather like how C.S Lewis writes. You are given leave to build your own picture of what the characters look like, of what Wales looks like and it makes the story so much more inviting, as your imagination draws you deeper into the tale. I ended up dreaming that I was there, with the characters, at night and it was wonderful to feel that sensation again. I have not had such a sensation in a very, very long time.
I adored the characters, for once I felt like I could relate to the female lead, Anna. I liked her, I felt like her, and it made me connect to her in the situations she found herself in. As for David, her brother, he was fabulous! He acted just how a young teenage boy would act given the situation he was, it was as though I was staring right at my little brother in the pages of a book!
Considering the fact that it was my Dad who recommended this book to me, and that he enjoyed this, and he very rarely reads these types of tales, I highly recommend this book.
I'll be starting Book 2 tonight, as I cannot wait to return to Wales.
December 14, 2019
The hero is a Mary Sue. The heroine is a Mary Sue. Hell the whole book is a fucking Mary Sue. I admit that time travel requires some kind of handwaving in order for the protagonists to live longer that 24 hours in the past...but the plot goes out of its way to remove every obstacle from these sibling's path. I swear to god, the author might have succeeded in writing the single most boring time travel book in existence.
March 16, 2011
There's no denying that Sarah Woodbury did a great deal of research for Footsteps in Time. She has the time period well-defined, and describes medieval Welsh culture beautifully.
The book is well-written, for the most part, although at times it seems as though the book was originally composed in first-person and converted to third-person at a later date. There were also some continuity issues -- such as the family being alternately from Pennsylvania or Oregon, depending on which chapter you read.
As YA historical fantasy goes, this is middle-of-the-road stuff. To be honest, I wavered between a three- and four-star rating before ultimately coming down on the higher side. My problems had to do with the teenage heroes, whom I found unbelievable. When their car runs through a snowbank and comes out into the middle of a bunch of mounted knights, do they think "Wow, this must be a film set" or "Wow, this must be a Renaissance Faire" (both of them common events?). No, they immediately go to "Wow, we must have traveled through time."
Furthermore, despite having no training in tactics, etc., David (the 14-year-old boy) is suddenly quite battle-savvy; we are to presume, I guess, that he has learned all of this from video games.
I really wanted to like this book far better, given the medieval history involved (to say nothing of the extensive research) ... but I just couldn't get past my lukewarm feelings about David and Anna (the 17-year-old sister).
The book is well-written, for the most part, although at times it seems as though the book was originally composed in first-person and converted to third-person at a later date. There were also some continuity issues -- such as the family being alternately from Pennsylvania or Oregon, depending on which chapter you read.
As YA historical fantasy goes, this is middle-of-the-road stuff. To be honest, I wavered between a three- and four-star rating before ultimately coming down on the higher side. My problems had to do with the teenage heroes, whom I found unbelievable. When their car runs through a snowbank and comes out into the middle of a bunch of mounted knights, do they think "Wow, this must be a film set" or "Wow, this must be a Renaissance Faire" (both of them common events?). No, they immediately go to "Wow, we must have traveled through time."
Furthermore, despite having no training in tactics, etc., David (the 14-year-old boy) is suddenly quite battle-savvy; we are to presume, I guess, that he has learned all of this from video games.
I really wanted to like this book far better, given the medieval history involved (to say nothing of the extensive research) ... but I just couldn't get past my lukewarm feelings about David and Anna (the 17-year-old sister).
August 10, 2023
Satisfying read! I enjoy this mix of history with time travel!
2022 reread! I still enjoy this series.
2023 reread!
2022 reread! I still enjoy this series.
2023 reread!
October 26, 2018
I've been trying to read this novel for some time now; the first chapter was painfully slow for me (due to necessary world building), and so it took several library check outs for me to actually get going with this book, the first in a series.
I'm so glad I stuck it out.
Set (almost entirely) in Medieval Wales, this is the story of siblings Anna and David, who time travel from 2013 to 1282, in the moment just prior to the (last native) Prince of Wales being killed by English soldiers. In this re-imagining of events, however, the Prince is narrowly saved, and thus begins an alternative history of how things might have been (for Wales) if the English hadn't won that day. I loved it!
Footsteps in Time is a fascinating adventure in Medieval Welsh culture. Sarah Woodbury clearly did a ton of research for this book, and although the story stalled out a few times, I generally enjoyed tagging along (in my mind) for glimpses of castle life, as well as some thrilling battles!
The final pages of this book were nail-biters, and oh, did Woodbury write us a heckuva cliffhanger! I'll definitely continue with this series, though probably at a leisurely pace.
I'm so glad I stuck it out.
Set (almost entirely) in Medieval Wales, this is the story of siblings Anna and David, who time travel from 2013 to 1282, in the moment just prior to the (last native) Prince of Wales being killed by English soldiers. In this re-imagining of events, however, the Prince is narrowly saved, and thus begins an alternative history of how things might have been (for Wales) if the English hadn't won that day. I loved it!
Footsteps in Time is a fascinating adventure in Medieval Welsh culture. Sarah Woodbury clearly did a ton of research for this book, and although the story stalled out a few times, I generally enjoyed tagging along (in my mind) for glimpses of castle life, as well as some thrilling battles!
The final pages of this book were nail-biters, and oh, did Woodbury write us a heckuva cliffhanger! I'll definitely continue with this series, though probably at a leisurely pace.
August 27, 2024
Teenage siblings David (14) and Anna (17) crash their car and appear someplace unexpected. They are in a field of bodies and horses. It’s not long before they figure out they seem to have travelled back in time. Not only that, they ended up on a battlefield where they saved the life of Prince Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, who should have died in this fight with England. Lucky for David and Anna, their mother is a historian with a particular interest in 13th century Wales, so they know quite a bit about the time period. Due to their saving Llewellyn’s life, they are taken in and taken care of. Not only that, David is being trained to help out in this Welsh war. And Anna is a bit bored, since women aren’t really allowed to do much. But they make the most of it, though with David rightfully scared with a real war happening that it appears they are training him to help in!
I really liked this. I was thinking this was 2nd in a series, but it’s technically the first; I’ve just read the prequel already (I would actually recommend reading the prequel first). The time travel is really just the first part of the book, and after that, it’s primarily historical fiction (one of my favourite genres); ah, I guess the time travel does come up again a couple of times. 13th century Wales is definitely not a place nor time period I know much about, so that was definitely interesting. I also loved the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book – I did refer back to that a few times!
I really liked this. I was thinking this was 2nd in a series, but it’s technically the first; I’ve just read the prequel already (I would actually recommend reading the prequel first). The time travel is really just the first part of the book, and after that, it’s primarily historical fiction (one of my favourite genres); ah, I guess the time travel does come up again a couple of times. 13th century Wales is definitely not a place nor time period I know much about, so that was definitely interesting. I also loved the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book – I did refer back to that a few times!
January 10, 2012
When I first learned the story of Llywelyn ap Gryffydd of Wales, I cried. Glad I was doing the reading for class at home! Sarah Woodbury creates an amazing what if tale, having Llywelyn survive the ambush on the field of Cilmeri. I'm only half way done but I really enjoy how she has taken this tragic story and turned it into beautiful tale of triumph! Can't wait to find out how she ends it. I really don't want Edward I to win in this fictional account.
March 27, 2011
I fell in love with the characters and the possibility of changing history in an alternate universe. I found it very hard to put this one down, and wanted more when I did!
July 24, 2015
This is the first book in the After Cilmeri Series. Cilmeri was near the place where the last Prince of Wales from Wales was ambushed and killed by the English under Edward I of England, but in this time-travel series, Prince Llewellyn ap Gruffydd is saved by two teenagers from the 21st C, Anna and David. I enjoy time- travel books and I love British history and I am an avid Anglophile except right now I am quite a bit angry at Edward I - not a very honorable man in this book. Edward was quite the warrior king, but with King John as his grandfather, it does make one wonder. I came into this series through the back door as I read a couple of Gwen and Gareth Mysteries first. I had a fabulous trip in Wales seeing mostly all of Edward's castles, and they are something to see, but I never thought how terrible it must have been for the people of Wales, and then Edward's attempt to conquer Scotland. I am beginning to think Edward was just an arrogant, land greedy King- not honorable at all. There are great twists and turns in the book, and I am sure I shall read book 2, and I'm sure that I shall enjoy it just as much or maybe more. Interesting and fun!!
May 9, 2011
A few gaffes don't ruin a book. I've changed the location and names of characters and inadvertently left a couple of the old names behind. Caught them eventually because of that newfangled search/replace feature on most word processors.
Other than that I really enjoyed this book. The history is obviously well done, and the writing is great overall.
I'd recommend it to anybody who likes historical. It even has a bit of romance, but I wouldn't put it in that subgenre.
Because of the Sarah's adherence to history, I did get a bit put out by the subjugation of Anna and Meg to less-than-person status. While totally true in an historical sense, I would have preferred to see the women retain their personhood a bit more, maybe start the woment's liberation movement of the 13th Century.
That's a very minor nitpick, however. The book mainly follows Anna's brother, David (Daffyd) and he steps up to his new role in the 13th C. Welsh world.
Anything more, and I'd have to warn of spoilers.
Other than that I really enjoyed this book. The history is obviously well done, and the writing is great overall.
I'd recommend it to anybody who likes historical. It even has a bit of romance, but I wouldn't put it in that subgenre.
Because of the Sarah's adherence to history, I did get a bit put out by the subjugation of Anna and Meg to less-than-person status. While totally true in an historical sense, I would have preferred to see the women retain their personhood a bit more, maybe start the woment's liberation movement of the 13th Century.
That's a very minor nitpick, however. The book mainly follows Anna's brother, David (Daffyd) and he steps up to his new role in the 13th C. Welsh world.
Anything more, and I'd have to warn of spoilers.
January 21, 2014
This is a fun romp of a read, easy and fun to get lost in.
If you are thinking about picking this up, I suggest reading Daughter of time first although it is not necessary.
I also think this is appropriate for teens . If you are thinking of this for a teen, I would have them read Daughter of Time as it is too romantically inclined.
I loved that this book is told by multiple different characters (in chronological order). After the switch in the second chapter to a different character, you know to look at the chapter heading to see who is telling the story. Woodbury did a good job of telling the story from both a male and a female viewpoint, although that isn't the purpose of switching characters (rather to give an omnipotent view of what is going on).
I'm sure diehard travel in time/alternate reality readers will find loop-holes in logic or science...but I found it a fun read, mildly educational, and a fast read.
If you are thinking about picking this up, I suggest reading Daughter of time first although it is not necessary.
I also think this is appropriate for teens . If you are thinking of this for a teen, I would have them read Daughter of Time as it is too romantically inclined.
I loved that this book is told by multiple different characters (in chronological order). After the switch in the second chapter to a different character, you know to look at the chapter heading to see who is telling the story. Woodbury did a good job of telling the story from both a male and a female viewpoint, although that isn't the purpose of switching characters (rather to give an omnipotent view of what is going on).
I'm sure diehard travel in time/alternate reality readers will find loop-holes in logic or science...but I found it a fun read, mildly educational, and a fast read.
June 19, 2013
This book has so much potential but it just didn't seem to reach it. I wanted to do like it. There were some moments that I really enjoyed it but others were I was so bored. I just didn't feel a connection to the characters. There was too much history not enough emotion. I agree with another review that said we were cheated out of 18 months of the romance between Math and Anna. Feel like the author really missed the opportunity to build the characters and build a connection between readers and the characters. I bought this story in a bundle with the next book Prince of Time but I'm not sure that I will even read it.
March 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as Daughters of Time. I am interested in that period of history, especially concerning Wales. Having lived there for a long time and also attended WEA courses with enthusiastic tutors, we visited many of the sites and so I can feel I am actually there with them.
Looking forward to starting Prince of Time.
Looking forward to starting Prince of Time.
September 26, 2011
Time travel handled tastefully with a great background in historical fiction and you have a winner. Footsteps in time takes you back to Wales and isn't afraid to make a few changes in history here and there - but no man waits for time and this book keeps you guessing on how, when and why the next decision will affect the heroines
June 20, 2014
I'm not at all sure how different reading this would have been if I hadn't read "daughter" first. I know it was written first, but I just can't imagine reading it first. This is the book that gets Anna and David into 13th century Wales, and saves prince Llewellyn, and starts the alternate history on its alternate track. Enjoyed it, want to keep reading!
April 7, 2011
Sarah Woodbury's obvious understanding of the 12th Century Wales gives her book the setting that draws one in immediately.
May 3, 2011
I liked this one much better than the first one. Woodbury knows her history! Takes place in 13th century Wales. Time Travel Novel.
July 28, 2011
LOVED it! Can't wait to buy Prince of Time!
October 17, 2011
I really liked this book! I liked the Characters, I liked the way the author did the time travel and I thought it was an enjoyable read. As soon as I finished I started book 2.
February 9, 2012
Medieval Wales.
February 11, 2012
Makes you think about what might have been it history could have been changed.
May 4, 2012
i just wanted more romance development between math and anna. is that too much to ask?
June 26, 2012
Sequel to Daughter of Time was very satisfying!
November 4, 2012
Loved this book, as well as the others in the series! If you are a historical fiction buff this series is for you. Wish there were more great reads like this out there.
May 31, 2015
Fun read, intriguing premise of an alternate world. I wish there had been more exploration of medieval life, but amusing.
to-read-own
August 2, 20158/2/15 Audible sale $3.95.
June 20, 2012
okay,I am seriously not getting much done. I cant put these books down. She's terrific!
May 15, 2025
These books are so funny because they're a blend between being bland and pretty one-note, and then also being... kind of bonkers in the best way? Like, if these were longer books I probably would drop off because they're not really well-written or compelling enough to grab my interest for long, but because they're such short little morsels and quick reads, I find myself at least curious enough to try a few more.
What these books are not, are interesting character studies or romances. The romance between Anna and Math happens in a time skip. We see a spark of interest, and then time jump, they're married and Anna's pregnant. What these books are not, are complex novels about the interior experience of twenty-first century teenagers figuring out how to exist in this wildly different context. Sure, David and Anna talk about how different things are here or there, but they adjust remarkably well and fit in and make lives for themselves within months of arriving. What these books are not, are rich with intricate and lived-in historical detail - I think of Outlander, of course, because of the time travel thing, and I also think of Nicola Griffith's Hild because I just read it recently, (Hild > Outlander just to be very crystal clear lol). In those books, the intricacy of the historical detail, the lived-in descriptions of the clothes and the food and the natural environment and the architecture and the style of speech etc. etc., really make you feel like you've gone to a different time and place. These books, by contrast, don't really have the heft and depth to achieve the same thing.
BUT. All that being said, in this book the fictional son of the very real Prince Llywelyn of Wales takes his dad for a drive in a car, just for funsies. In this book, that same fictional son has a SWORD FIGHT with the KING OF ENGLAND who by the way is a total rat bastard in this book, just like a truly dishonorable piece of shit... and then the brother of their friendly Jewish doctor MURDERS the king and a bunch of important English lords by poison. I got to the end of this book like WHAT now? lol. It's truly wild and very freeing and fun how much the book takes big swings in contrast to the actual historical happenings. We are very much in an alternate version of reality. This is what I think will be the big differentiator with this series and other time travel "romance" stuff, is that the central question of how the world is changing is going to be the driving force of the narrative. And I think that's a lot of fun! King Edward I is dead ahead of schedule, and I really have no idea what other spiraling changes might come from here!
What these books are not, are interesting character studies or romances. The romance between Anna and Math happens in a time skip. We see a spark of interest, and then time jump, they're married and Anna's pregnant. What these books are not, are complex novels about the interior experience of twenty-first century teenagers figuring out how to exist in this wildly different context. Sure, David and Anna talk about how different things are here or there, but they adjust remarkably well and fit in and make lives for themselves within months of arriving. What these books are not, are rich with intricate and lived-in historical detail - I think of Outlander, of course, because of the time travel thing, and I also think of Nicola Griffith's Hild because I just read it recently, (Hild > Outlander just to be very crystal clear lol). In those books, the intricacy of the historical detail, the lived-in descriptions of the clothes and the food and the natural environment and the architecture and the style of speech etc. etc., really make you feel like you've gone to a different time and place. These books, by contrast, don't really have the heft and depth to achieve the same thing.
BUT. All that being said, in this book the fictional son of the very real Prince Llywelyn of Wales takes his dad for a drive in a car, just for funsies. In this book, that same fictional son has a SWORD FIGHT with the KING OF ENGLAND who by the way is a total rat bastard in this book, just like a truly dishonorable piece of shit... and then the brother of their friendly Jewish doctor MURDERS the king and a bunch of important English lords by poison. I got to the end of this book like WHAT now? lol. It's truly wild and very freeing and fun how much the book takes big swings in contrast to the actual historical happenings. We are very much in an alternate version of reality. This is what I think will be the big differentiator with this series and other time travel "romance" stuff, is that the central question of how the world is changing is going to be the driving force of the narrative. And I think that's a lot of fun! King Edward I is dead ahead of schedule, and I really have no idea what other spiraling changes might come from here!
May 4, 2021
As I understand things, this was the original first book written in this series. About a brother and sister who end up travelling in time between 21st century Pennsylvania to 13th century Wales. When they arrive, they end up accidently killing the English soldiers who were trying to kill the Welsh ruler. His name was Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, In our history books, he was killed by the English at a plave called Cilmeri (kill-mary) and because he had no son to succeed him, Wales as a country disappeared as it was ruled over and abused by the English overlords.
This author, Sarah Woodbury asked the question - What if Llewelyn was not killed in 1282. What if he survived. How could history have changed? This is the story of what how British History was changed.
In this world, since Llewelyn did survive, he was able to get an army together and slowly he and his son, David (Prince Daffydd) began to rule Wales with benevolence and to remove all English, and Norman influence from their lands.
Most of Book 1 was about David and Anna learning how to survive in medieval Wales and for the David to learn that he was in fact Llewelyn's son. We will learn the how of this in another review.
I loved the World Building, despite the fact that Women were not permitted to be equal with their spouses or brothers, and that they must be protected at all times.
I have no right to complain about this attitude, as this is a well known fact of life back in that era. The 2 siblings, Anna and Davis both knew this so they had no choice but to accept it.
Anna is able to choose her her husband. She was married at 17 and a mother by age 19. Her husband was a knight in the employ of Prince Llewelyn. He may even have been related to the Prince as well, but I cannot remember the details.
I love history and this was a well written and well researched story with plenty of action. I did not feel that that the exposition (historical details) were written as "info dumps." The world building was well done and mostly added as parts of conversations. Both sides (the Prince and his children) were having to learn new things, hence the conversations.
I loved this book and I gave it 4 stars, mostly because it is mostly world buildings. There are around 15 more books after this one and I cannot wait to read them all.
This author, Sarah Woodbury asked the question - What if Llewelyn was not killed in 1282. What if he survived. How could history have changed? This is the story of what how British History was changed.
In this world, since Llewelyn did survive, he was able to get an army together and slowly he and his son, David (Prince Daffydd) began to rule Wales with benevolence and to remove all English, and Norman influence from their lands.
Most of Book 1 was about David and Anna learning how to survive in medieval Wales and for the David to learn that he was in fact Llewelyn's son. We will learn the how of this in another review.
I loved the World Building, despite the fact that Women were not permitted to be equal with their spouses or brothers, and that they must be protected at all times.
I have no right to complain about this attitude, as this is a well known fact of life back in that era. The 2 siblings, Anna and Davis both knew this so they had no choice but to accept it.
Anna is able to choose her her husband. She was married at 17 and a mother by age 19. Her husband was a knight in the employ of Prince Llewelyn. He may even have been related to the Prince as well, but I cannot remember the details.
I love history and this was a well written and well researched story with plenty of action. I did not feel that that the exposition (historical details) were written as "info dumps." The world building was well done and mostly added as parts of conversations. Both sides (the Prince and his children) were having to learn new things, hence the conversations.
I loved this book and I gave it 4 stars, mostly because it is mostly world buildings. There are around 15 more books after this one and I cannot wait to read them all.
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