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The Quantum Curators #2
The Quantum Curators and the Enemy Within (The Quantum Curators Series)
That belongs in a museum!
Julius Strathclyde has been dragged through to an alternative earth. Now, training as a quantum curator, every ancient book, every stolen gem, and every lost masterpiece lies at his fingertips. It's incredible.
But he has some problems; he can't get home, priceless artefacts are being stolen, and someone is trying to kill him. Oh, and he can't get a decent cup of tea anywhere.
Following the disastrous Fabergé assignment, Neith Salah is blinded by grief and rage. She's hardly a stable companion, but she's the only one he trusts. From the Titanic to the Blitz and through Medieval France, they race to save treasures and their own skins.
As their unknown enemies draw closer, can they stay alive and reveal who is behind the looting of the museum?
Julius Strathclyde has been dragged through to an alternative earth. Now, training as a quantum curator, every ancient book, every stolen gem, and every lost masterpiece lies at his fingertips. It's incredible.
But he has some problems; he can't get home, priceless artefacts are being stolen, and someone is trying to kill him. Oh, and he can't get a decent cup of tea anywhere.
Following the disastrous Fabergé assignment, Neith Salah is blinded by grief and rage. She's hardly a stable companion, but she's the only one he trusts. From the Titanic to the Blitz and through Medieval France, they race to save treasures and their own skins.
As their unknown enemies draw closer, can they stay alive and reveal who is behind the looting of the museum?
1 pages, Audio CD
First published November 24, 2020
400 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
September 6, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
This is Book 2 in the Quantum Curators series; it offers mystery, adventure, and "Postman Pat" karaoke. And it's even better than Book 1. The author further explains what happened when Earth divided into Earth Alpha and Earth Beta; AFAIK, I don't think anyone else has considered how parallel universes might form, so this is quite unique. Earth Alpha is fleshed out to a great extent by looking at it from the POV of Julius, who is from Beta; he sees flaws that others don't. Similarly, the value of artifacts from Earth Beta is highlighted more than ever. The myth of Good Guys vs Bad Guys is destroyed even more as characters prove to be more complicated than they seem. Check out how splicing affects the two main characters; the author uses physicality to underscore the point.
All of this gets my vote, and that's not even going into the time travel adventures!
1/2 star is deducted for some confusing passages, that seem to be wrapped in confusion. Are these overheard "ghost" conversations intended to provide clues? TBH, I've never been able to guess whodunnit, so maybe you'll have better luck with this part.
I heartily recommend this book, and have already pre-ordered the third in the series (no other series has ever inspired me to do so).
This is Book 2 in the Quantum Curators series; it offers mystery, adventure, and "Postman Pat" karaoke. And it's even better than Book 1. The author further explains what happened when Earth divided into Earth Alpha and Earth Beta; AFAIK, I don't think anyone else has considered how parallel universes might form, so this is quite unique. Earth Alpha is fleshed out to a great extent by looking at it from the POV of Julius, who is from Beta; he sees flaws that others don't. Similarly, the value of artifacts from Earth Beta is highlighted more than ever. The myth of Good Guys vs Bad Guys is destroyed even more as characters prove to be more complicated than they seem. Check out how splicing affects the two main characters; the author uses physicality to underscore the point.
All of this gets my vote, and that's not even going into the time travel adventures!
1/2 star is deducted for some confusing passages, that seem to be wrapped in confusion. Are these overheard "ghost" conversations intended to provide clues? TBH, I've never been able to guess whodunnit, so maybe you'll have better luck with this part.
I heartily recommend this book, and have already pre-ordered the third in the series (no other series has ever inspired me to do so).
September 8, 2021
Having read the first book, after accidentally purchasing during an incident with my cat, I was very much looking forward to the next one. I wasn't disappointed. Although this wasn't so much of a romp, less action and hiding behind things, it was no less enjoyable to read and did include bullets, bombs and the odd kick here and there . We get to see more of the culture and traditions of Alpha Earth, (if you don't know, you really should have read The Faberge Egg, it's very good,) and it's occupants including a lady with a tail. Although this book moves at a more sedate pace, the yarn unravels less like a Welsh granny knitting socks, but a cat let loose in her knitting bag. There is a tangle of conspiracy like the gordian knot for Neith and Julius to unravel, they solve part of the riddle, ousting some of its major players, but the yarn hasn't given up yet. We are left with more questions that need answering. I do hope the third book will be as good.
Edit, P. S. The third book doesn't disappoint.
Edit, P. S. The third book doesn't disappoint.
December 15, 2020
Good story, poorly edited
I like the idea and the characters, but the editing is so spotty that it’s actually painful to read. Misuse of words (reigns instead of reins, discrete instead of discreet, etc.), erratic use of British vs American spelling, and most of all an utter lack of badly needed semicolons. I don’t remember the first one being this bad; not sure what happened? Can only hope the next one is better!
I like the idea and the characters, but the editing is so spotty that it’s actually painful to read. Misuse of words (reigns instead of reins, discrete instead of discreet, etc.), erratic use of British vs American spelling, and most of all an utter lack of badly needed semicolons. I don’t remember the first one being this bad; not sure what happened? Can only hope the next one is better!
August 4, 2022
I think this book improves on the story. I was a little annoyed at the explanation of the other world and they dealt with some of that in this book. I still feel like a story was written and broken into three books or so. I wish they would not do that. Although the first book had an ok ending point. This one definitely sets up the next book in the series though. #timetravel
December 16, 2020
Great Read!
Loved the first book in the series, so I was ready to snap this one up when it was released. No disappointments! Julius and Neith are a great team, with lots of hilarious moments.
Excellent story telling, good twists and an alternate universe- what’s not to love?
Loved the first book in the series, so I was ready to snap this one up when it was released. No disappointments! Julius and Neith are a great team, with lots of hilarious moments.
Excellent story telling, good twists and an alternate universe- what’s not to love?
December 12, 2020
Happy to say I wasn't disappointed in book two, although as usual I am impatient for the next one.
August 23, 2023
I enjoyed this book even more than the first. It’s funny how the more time spent on Alpha Earth, the more flawed it is.
ANTI-SPOILER ALERT!
Do not read the epilogue. The author does not know how to surprise the reader, and she blatantly reveals who the evil mastermind is. She did the same thing in the first book as well.
ANTI-SPOILER ALERT!
Do not read the epilogue. The author does not know how to surprise the reader, and she blatantly reveals who the evil mastermind is. She did the same thing in the first book as well.
January 31, 2023
THIS BOOK IS SOA FUCKFONG W GOOODDDDD GOD
February 12, 2023
Enjoyed it more than the first, so I'm hooked now.
February 14, 2021
I really am enjoying this series. A lot of people said it was just a copy of what Jodi Taylor was doing with her St. Mary's series (which I love btw), but this book really proved that wrong. The two series are quite different. This one focuses much more on an internal mystery on the alternative earth known as the Alpha Earth (as opposed to the earth we know, which they refer to as Beta). Despite believing themselves to be above the unevolved primitive flaws of our earth, such as greed, jealousy, corruption, and so on, it appears that Alpha version of Earth is more like us than they thought.
In the first book, a mystery began... one that left some of the main characters wondering who sabotaged the mission they had been sent on... to rescue a rare Faberge egg from destruction and bring it back to Alpha for display and preservation. When things started going wrong, the quantum curator team began looking at each other, trying to figure out if one of them had done what seemed almost inconceivable... become a traitor! The first book ended dramatically, with Julius Strathclyde. a Beta earth academic pulled through into Alpha world by Neith, one of the top quantum curators.
This book carries on with that storyline and opens with Julius working his way through courses and classes and simulations to attempt to become a quantum curator himself. He has some advantages, as he and Neith ended up trading certain parts of themselves when they came through the "stepper" that allows them to travel between the two parallel earths. But in other ways he struggles with a world so different than his own. And due to the fact that he is from Beta, he's able to recognize and identify corruption happening much more easily than the others, who can't seem to believe that anyone on Alpha would be so crass as to actually sell off rare Beta artifacts to private collectors to enrich themselves. Greed and selfishness are just not concepts they feel open to accepting, but it's clear that something is happening and together they need to figure out what. Meanwhile, they have no idea who can or cannot be trusted, which makes the book quite fun to read, as you are trying to figure out who the bad guys are and what is going on.
As the team members come to accept the idea that there are some corrupt people in power, it opens a can of worms that makes them question all kinds of things they hadn't considered before... lost teams that they had assumed were the result of accidents are suddenly since in a more sinister light, especially when Neith and Julius find themselves almost becoming such a statistic themselves.
I'm really looking forward to the third book, especially in light of a few things revealed at the end of this book!
In the first book, a mystery began... one that left some of the main characters wondering who sabotaged the mission they had been sent on... to rescue a rare Faberge egg from destruction and bring it back to Alpha for display and preservation. When things started going wrong, the quantum curator team began looking at each other, trying to figure out if one of them had done what seemed almost inconceivable... become a traitor! The first book ended dramatically, with Julius Strathclyde. a Beta earth academic pulled through into Alpha world by Neith, one of the top quantum curators.
This book carries on with that storyline and opens with Julius working his way through courses and classes and simulations to attempt to become a quantum curator himself. He has some advantages, as he and Neith ended up trading certain parts of themselves when they came through the "stepper" that allows them to travel between the two parallel earths. But in other ways he struggles with a world so different than his own. And due to the fact that he is from Beta, he's able to recognize and identify corruption happening much more easily than the others, who can't seem to believe that anyone on Alpha would be so crass as to actually sell off rare Beta artifacts to private collectors to enrich themselves. Greed and selfishness are just not concepts they feel open to accepting, but it's clear that something is happening and together they need to figure out what. Meanwhile, they have no idea who can or cannot be trusted, which makes the book quite fun to read, as you are trying to figure out who the bad guys are and what is going on.
As the team members come to accept the idea that there are some corrupt people in power, it opens a can of worms that makes them question all kinds of things they hadn't considered before... lost teams that they had assumed were the result of accidents are suddenly since in a more sinister light, especially when Neith and Julius find themselves almost becoming such a statistic themselves.
I'm really looking forward to the third book, especially in light of a few things revealed at the end of this book!
March 31, 2021
I devoured this one pretty quickly. There was more to it than the first book, Julius was a great character, and Alpha Earth is brilliantly sketched with great detail. We see things from Julius' point of view and of course, being Beta Earthlings ourselves, get to share most of his opinions on the too-perfect society of Alpha Earth. Plenty happens, with time travel, subterfuge, and secret plots. I found the communication interludes less effective than in the first book (they were much longer and more like full conversations), and there were one too many POVs to contend with - it not always being clear (besides from the chapter title) who was narrating. The only narrator who really stood out was Julius, even though I found Neith's chapters a little annoying - though her arc develops well in the end. At some point the author dangled one plot line, but then changed direction quite sharply and rapidly (the reappearance of a character from book 1, which seemed random and is left unexplained).
Despite devouring the plot, I was tempted to drop a star or two. The book was riddled with typos, and there were several repeated/very similar sentences within the dialogue which seem to have been missed in the edit. Also, the end was very confusing (King Arthur suddenly appears and Julius 'cracks' the alleged greater mystery, but we are left none the wiser - perhaps we find out in book 3?) which rather overshadowed the how the author had brought everything to a nice conclusion. Anyway, I will be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!
Despite devouring the plot, I was tempted to drop a star or two. The book was riddled with typos, and there were several repeated/very similar sentences within the dialogue which seem to have been missed in the edit. Also, the end was very confusing (King Arthur suddenly appears and Julius 'cracks' the alleged greater mystery, but we are left none the wiser - perhaps we find out in book 3?) which rather overshadowed the how the author had brought everything to a nice conclusion. Anyway, I will be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!
February 21, 2021
Very much like The chronicles of St Mary’s by Jodi Taylor but less of the humour writing and more of the actual story.
After the cataclysmic ending of the last book we meet up with Julius as he tries to adjust to life in an alternate reality, and a spirit broken Nieth. Corruption is rife in the mouseion and the two must rally together and figure out what the hell is going on whilst everyone tries to kill them in the process.
I prefer these over the former since it’s much easier to understand what’s going on. The main characters are far more likeable too.
Julius, for example, is by far my favourite. He’s the most logical when everyone around him is blindsided by their culture, and he’s also not cocky, which makes for a much more appealing character.
I like that these books aren’t too long. Their relatively short and sweet and the pace is such that the passage of time is so slow that not a lot of major plot points occurs. I like this as it means that we get to know that characters and their motivations even if throughout, apart from our main characters, we’re not really sure who to trust.
I think that this makes it better than Jodi Taylor in my opinion because I did find that difficult to follow some times especially because in that series there are so many characters that when reading the first book I found it hard to keep track.
All in all very much worth the read and I look forward to reading the next one.
After the cataclysmic ending of the last book we meet up with Julius as he tries to adjust to life in an alternate reality, and a spirit broken Nieth. Corruption is rife in the mouseion and the two must rally together and figure out what the hell is going on whilst everyone tries to kill them in the process.
I prefer these over the former since it’s much easier to understand what’s going on. The main characters are far more likeable too.
Julius, for example, is by far my favourite. He’s the most logical when everyone around him is blindsided by their culture, and he’s also not cocky, which makes for a much more appealing character.
I like that these books aren’t too long. Their relatively short and sweet and the pace is such that the passage of time is so slow that not a lot of major plot points occurs. I like this as it means that we get to know that characters and their motivations even if throughout, apart from our main characters, we’re not really sure who to trust.
I think that this makes it better than Jodi Taylor in my opinion because I did find that difficult to follow some times especially because in that series there are so many characters that when reading the first book I found it hard to keep track.
All in all very much worth the read and I look forward to reading the next one.
July 11, 2024
2.5 stars. Is this high literature? No. Does it pass the time listening to Alex Wyndham's sexy voice reading silly time travel novels to me while I'm working? Absolutely.
May 6, 2021
What fun, what Mystery, What a great read!
I was originally drawn to the first book because of the reference to the Faberge egg. What I found was a truly intriguing storyline that I wanted to continue beyond the first book...luckily Eva St.John did not end the storyline after the first book. This story begins where the first book ended. We learn much more about not only the characters introduced in the first book but the “second earth”. I truly enjoyed reading this book and reaping the rewards of St. John’s vivid imagination. If you like History, Mystery and Time Travel, this book and the original will be your “cup of tea”. I highly recommend these two books. Cannot wait for the next and I am truly hoping there are many more.
I was originally drawn to the first book because of the reference to the Faberge egg. What I found was a truly intriguing storyline that I wanted to continue beyond the first book...luckily Eva St.John did not end the storyline after the first book. This story begins where the first book ended. We learn much more about not only the characters introduced in the first book but the “second earth”. I truly enjoyed reading this book and reaping the rewards of St. John’s vivid imagination. If you like History, Mystery and Time Travel, this book and the original will be your “cup of tea”. I highly recommend these two books. Cannot wait for the next and I am truly hoping there are many more.
July 6, 2021
Slightly better than the first, but not by much. The foreshadowing, last sentence of doom at the end of *every* chapter was a bit much (like, eye rolling, almost put the book down, ott much).
I feel like it has the chance to be clever and just, wasn’t. Why, for example, did N&J stay in the vault, even though they knew he was coming home?
Just, blah. I wanted it to be better, and disappointingly you can practically see how it could have been, with a few more edits and a strong hand. Gutted this book showed only the glimmer of its potential, and was not the glorious shining beacon it could have been.
I think I’ll pass on the third.
I feel like it has the chance to be clever and just, wasn’t. Why, for example, did N&J stay in the vault, even though they knew he was coming home?
Just, blah. I wanted it to be better, and disappointingly you can practically see how it could have been, with a few more edits and a strong hand. Gutted this book showed only the glimmer of its potential, and was not the glorious shining beacon it could have been.
I think I’ll pass on the third.
February 26, 2021
A most excellent book to clear lockdown blues
I came across this book on kindle and thought I would give it a go, I'm very glad I did!. It combines time travel, Egyptians and Indiana Jones type curation into a brilliant story. I have very quickly made my way through the first and second books and am now eagerly awaiting the third. Being English the subtle jokes about English culture were hilarious and really cheered me up.
Keep doing what you are doing you have a new lifelong fan. Thank you.
I came across this book on kindle and thought I would give it a go, I'm very glad I did!. It combines time travel, Egyptians and Indiana Jones type curation into a brilliant story. I have very quickly made my way through the first and second books and am now eagerly awaiting the third. Being English the subtle jokes about English culture were hilarious and really cheered me up.
Keep doing what you are doing you have a new lifelong fan. Thank you.
March 9, 2021
Actually, a fun romp through middle England. Julius and Neith make an interesting ying/yang team and each providing excellent banter. I enjoyed it and thought the base story of "Enemy Within" was a good one. No one really wants a perfect world :). flips between British, Welsh and American linguistics and dialect. It wasn't perfect but being both (American and British) and living in Wales I found it good enough to take it and enjoy it.
July 19, 2021
Parallel Plurality???
Ms. St. John captured my attention with her wildly entertaining Faberge Egg novel. She “has gone Yard” as Beta baseball fans would say with her second Quantum Curator tale! She now has me eagerly counting down the days til the release of part three, The Missing Codex. Best new series to come along since the Rivers of London IMHO. Please keep them coming Ms. St. John.
Ms. St. John captured my attention with her wildly entertaining Faberge Egg novel. She “has gone Yard” as Beta baseball fans would say with her second Quantum Curator tale! She now has me eagerly counting down the days til the release of part three, The Missing Codex. Best new series to come along since the Rivers of London IMHO. Please keep them coming Ms. St. John.
December 12, 2020
A second fine adventure
Recombining the characters from the first book (minus those that died). Neath, Julius and Rami find a flaw in the seeming perfection of Alpha Earth. Who to trust becomes an issue. This book combines time travel, a detective novel and spies to spice up the story. Deftly handled and exciting from start to finish. Brava.
Recombining the characters from the first book (minus those that died). Neath, Julius and Rami find a flaw in the seeming perfection of Alpha Earth. Who to trust becomes an issue. This book combines time travel, a detective novel and spies to spice up the story. Deftly handled and exciting from start to finish. Brava.
February 24, 2021
Excellent second installment
I enjoyed the additional world building and character development in this second visit to Earth Alpha. It kept me turning pages, and the plot holds up well. Good for fans of Jasper Fforde or Jodi Taylor, but sufficiently different to offer something new.
I enjoyed the additional world building and character development in this second visit to Earth Alpha. It kept me turning pages, and the plot holds up well. Good for fans of Jasper Fforde or Jodi Taylor, but sufficiently different to offer something new.
March 11, 2021
Better Than Book One!
I’m so glad the author decided to ditch the foul language and loose sex relationships in her second book! The story was engaging and enjoyable without reservations for me this time, I hope her third book continues in this direction as I will read it with pleasure!
I’m so glad the author decided to ditch the foul language and loose sex relationships in her second book! The story was engaging and enjoyable without reservations for me this time, I hope her third book continues in this direction as I will read it with pleasure!
December 11, 2020
Entertaining
Innovative and entertaining speculative fiction about parallel Earth(s) and alternate timelines and the organized crime that could ensue, with better than average plot and characters. I particularly like the two protagonists. I look forward to the third book.
Innovative and entertaining speculative fiction about parallel Earth(s) and alternate timelines and the organized crime that could ensue, with better than average plot and characters. I particularly like the two protagonists. I look forward to the third book.
December 25, 2020
Answers and more questions
St John bursts the bubble on the perfection of Alpha Earth in this second tale. I loved watching Julius find his feet and seeing how the group came together to take on the challenge. Can’t wait for book 3.
St John bursts the bubble on the perfection of Alpha Earth in this second tale. I loved watching Julius find his feet and seeing how the group came together to take on the challenge. Can’t wait for book 3.
June 7, 2022
Better than the first in the series- but i really don't like books that are written to set up the next in the series. The end of The Enemy Within is clearly written solely to push the reader towards book 3 in The Quantum Curators series.
December 19, 2020
Liked very much
Well drawn characters, good dialogue, well imagined storyline. Could do with a teeny bit more reviewing for grammar and punctuation, but it's a minor issue.
Well drawn characters, good dialogue, well imagined storyline. Could do with a teeny bit more reviewing for grammar and punctuation, but it's a minor issue.
Read
December 14, 2025DNF. loved the first one, but the sequel was disappointing. The editor slept through this one, spelling mistakes even I could spot. Clumsy plotting, the list goes on.
December 10, 2024
Gripping plot, but I found the intonation of the audiobook cast totally annoying.
June 7, 2021
Something is rotten in the state of Alpha Earth.
Not Denmark, as Shakespeare wrote in “Hamlet”, but… Alpha Earth?
And there’s the rub with Eva St. John’s 2020 “The Quantum Curators and the Enemy Within”, the sequel to her first effort, “The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg”.
Some follow-ons can stand alone. This one really needs familiarity with the situation and characters from the first installment to better understand why the idealized parallel world of Alpha Earth, created with the near destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria in 48BC by Julius Caesar in original or Beta Earth, bears closer scrutiny this time around.
The saga proceeds with many of the same characters: the Alpha Earth Steppers, or time travelers, in search of Beta Earth missing or about to be missing artifacts for their Mouseion (or nowadays Museum) are on the move across time barriers.
Led by Neith and others from the previous tale, they are joined by Julius Strathclyde, former Cambridge University scholar and professor who unexpectedly and perhaps unwillingly made the jump across the “many worlds” divide to become a Stepper-in-Training. And he questions whether everything is what it appears to be. Could he be Caesar’s ghost or just another Julius?
Before long, Neith and Julius are visiting London during the World War II blitz, fifteenth century France in addition to training runs on the sinking Titanic. Great fun but before long not only the characters but also readers are aware of a more sinister phantom cabal with devious designs in paradise – which is increasingly reminiscent of earlier British futurist Aldus Huxley’s “Brave New World”.
The dashing around and speculation about the meaning of a significant Codex to all parties remain to be resolved in an upcoming third Quantum Curator installment. However, the lure of the chase and the quirkiness of the personalities are beginning to show some wear.
Even the time warping device is reaching its limit. For a different though complex twist on time travel, you might try Charles Yu’s 2010 “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe”.
In the meantime enjoy moving through space and time in this amusing twilight zone.
(Here are the links to my Amazon posted reviews for
Eva St. John’s 2020 “The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg”: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2T3P9A...
Charles Yu’s 2010 “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe”:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R4C87L4...)
Not Denmark, as Shakespeare wrote in “Hamlet”, but… Alpha Earth?
And there’s the rub with Eva St. John’s 2020 “The Quantum Curators and the Enemy Within”, the sequel to her first effort, “The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg”.
Some follow-ons can stand alone. This one really needs familiarity with the situation and characters from the first installment to better understand why the idealized parallel world of Alpha Earth, created with the near destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria in 48BC by Julius Caesar in original or Beta Earth, bears closer scrutiny this time around.
The saga proceeds with many of the same characters: the Alpha Earth Steppers, or time travelers, in search of Beta Earth missing or about to be missing artifacts for their Mouseion (or nowadays Museum) are on the move across time barriers.
Led by Neith and others from the previous tale, they are joined by Julius Strathclyde, former Cambridge University scholar and professor who unexpectedly and perhaps unwillingly made the jump across the “many worlds” divide to become a Stepper-in-Training. And he questions whether everything is what it appears to be. Could he be Caesar’s ghost or just another Julius?
Before long, Neith and Julius are visiting London during the World War II blitz, fifteenth century France in addition to training runs on the sinking Titanic. Great fun but before long not only the characters but also readers are aware of a more sinister phantom cabal with devious designs in paradise – which is increasingly reminiscent of earlier British futurist Aldus Huxley’s “Brave New World”.
The dashing around and speculation about the meaning of a significant Codex to all parties remain to be resolved in an upcoming third Quantum Curator installment. However, the lure of the chase and the quirkiness of the personalities are beginning to show some wear.
Even the time warping device is reaching its limit. For a different though complex twist on time travel, you might try Charles Yu’s 2010 “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe”.
In the meantime enjoy moving through space and time in this amusing twilight zone.
(Here are the links to my Amazon posted reviews for
Eva St. John’s 2020 “The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg”: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2T3P9A...
Charles Yu’s 2010 “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe”:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R4C87L4...)
October 21, 2022
I enjoyed the first book in this series (thank you Amazon Prime), it was like a budget Just One Damned Thing After Another, or at least it looked like it might be. The basic premise is that there are two alternate Earths: Alpha Earth in which the African nations overthrew the Romans, this has developed along ore peaceful lines, favouring science and development over war; and Beta Earth (ours) which is more primitive and violent, but also produces greater works of art. Alpha has developed time travel to Beta where it specialises in rescuing priceless works of art before they are destroyed/lost forever.
Julius Strathclyde was a Beta Cambridge Professor, academic, and researcher who got drawn into the Alpha world when his best friend was murdered over a priceless Faberge egg and he became acquainted with Neith Salah, an Alpha quantum curator. At the end of the first book .
This book starts some months after the first book ended. Julius is now training/studying to be a Quantum Curator, Neith is mourning the loss of her partner and blaming her former best friend Ramin. The Director of the quantum curators, Sam, decides to pair Julius up with Neith, partly because none of the other trainees wants to be his partner, and partly to get Neith back into the fold. But it seems as though someone wants to kill Julius, and there is a mysterious group on Alpha plotting to take over the Quantum Field for their own purposes.
As the title suggests, this book is concerned with uncovering (some of) the plots on Alpha Earth, although it seems that there is more than one group up to no good. Although there is some time-travel (mainly as part of Julius' training) this feels more centred on Alpha.
What I liked about the first book was that Julius was extremely good-looking, but totally oblivious to it, and an academic whereas Neith was the gun-toting (well stunner), athletic, special forces type. Well, after their splicing incident and because of all his quantum curator training, Julius is now also ultra-fit and able to fight which kind of makes Neith redundant.
It all got a bit confused with different plots and plotters, I also felt that this was a very different book from the first book, maybe I wanted more world-building and character establishment before we launched into conspiracies, you know a few light-hearted time-travel adventures?
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
Julius Strathclyde was a Beta Cambridge Professor, academic, and researcher who got drawn into the Alpha world when his best friend was murdered over a priceless Faberge egg and he became acquainted with Neith Salah, an Alpha quantum curator. At the end of the first book .
This book starts some months after the first book ended. Julius is now training/studying to be a Quantum Curator, Neith is mourning the loss of her partner and blaming her former best friend Ramin. The Director of the quantum curators, Sam, decides to pair Julius up with Neith, partly because none of the other trainees wants to be his partner, and partly to get Neith back into the fold. But it seems as though someone wants to kill Julius, and there is a mysterious group on Alpha plotting to take over the Quantum Field for their own purposes.
As the title suggests, this book is concerned with uncovering (some of) the plots on Alpha Earth, although it seems that there is more than one group up to no good. Although there is some time-travel (mainly as part of Julius' training) this feels more centred on Alpha.
What I liked about the first book was that Julius was extremely good-looking, but totally oblivious to it, and an academic whereas Neith was the gun-toting (well stunner), athletic, special forces type. Well, after their splicing incident and because of all his quantum curator training, Julius is now also ultra-fit and able to fight which kind of makes Neith redundant.
It all got a bit confused with different plots and plotters, I also felt that this was a very different book from the first book, maybe I wanted more world-building and character establishment before we launched into conspiracies, you know a few light-hearted time-travel adventures?
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
April 22, 2022
This is the second volume of four about the adventures of an organization of rescuers of about-to-be-destroyed artifacts fro Alpha Earth, where the great Library of Alexandria wasn’t destroyed, and where the world is a much more civilized place (in their opinion). They carry out their secret operations in both the present and the past we obviously don’t on Beta Earth, which they justify because the Betas (i.e., us) are so violent and nationalistic and we obviously don’t deserve such nice things. In the first book, Julius Strathclyde, an academic researcher at Cambridge University, got caught up in one of their missions, and his very different perspective and deep knowledge of his (our) world’s history ended up saving the Alphas’ bacon for them. Sort of. And at the end of the mission, which also led Julius to realize there must be a criminal conspiracy under way on Alpha, he was dragged back to Alpha via the “stepper” on the spur of the moment in order to same his life.
So now Julius is stranded indefinitely on Alpha Earth, and while he loves the vast Library and all those records of the ancient world that didn’t survive in our world, he’s also rather put off by the casual superiority of his hosts, who assume he’s naturally dangerous (being a barbarian and all). And he can’t make the Alphas understand what is so obvious to him -- that there are people in high positions of power on Alpha who are up to no good -- and that they are the dangerous ones. Such things simply aren’t possible in their near utopia. So Julius ends up going through the training to become a Quantum Curator himself (they Alphas don’t quite know what else to do with him), and he links up again with Neith Salah, who had rescued him, and who is still reeling from the betrayal of her closest friend and mission partner in the first book. And all the while he’s poking into things gathering evidence and trying desperately to get people to listen. It’s a combination of science fiction, crime thriller, and head-long romp, and there’s a lot of very British humor (Julius and Neith both have sharp tongues), and there are two more volumes to go (though the last book isn’t quite out yet).
So now Julius is stranded indefinitely on Alpha Earth, and while he loves the vast Library and all those records of the ancient world that didn’t survive in our world, he’s also rather put off by the casual superiority of his hosts, who assume he’s naturally dangerous (being a barbarian and all). And he can’t make the Alphas understand what is so obvious to him -- that there are people in high positions of power on Alpha who are up to no good -- and that they are the dangerous ones. Such things simply aren’t possible in their near utopia. So Julius ends up going through the training to become a Quantum Curator himself (they Alphas don’t quite know what else to do with him), and he links up again with Neith Salah, who had rescued him, and who is still reeling from the betrayal of her closest friend and mission partner in the first book. And all the while he’s poking into things gathering evidence and trying desperately to get people to listen. It’s a combination of science fiction, crime thriller, and head-long romp, and there’s a lot of very British humor (Julius and Neith both have sharp tongues), and there are two more volumes to go (though the last book isn’t quite out yet).
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