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TimeRiders #7
The Pirate Kings
ISBN 9780141337180 moved to the most recent edition here
Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.
But all three have been given a second chance—to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...
Relocated to Victorian London, the TimeRiders joy-ride back to 1666 to witness the Great Fire of London. In the ensuing chaos, Liam and their newest recruit, Rashim, find themselves trapped between the fire and the Thames. They escape onboard a river boat, only to be confronted by an unscrupulous captain with his heart set on treasures of the high seas ...
Back in 1888, Maddy and the rest of the team are frantically trying to track them down. But with limited resources at their new base, can Liam and Rashim survive the bloodthirsty and barbaric age of piracy long enough to be rescued?
Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.
But all three have been given a second chance—to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...
Relocated to Victorian London, the TimeRiders joy-ride back to 1666 to witness the Great Fire of London. In the ensuing chaos, Liam and their newest recruit, Rashim, find themselves trapped between the fire and the Thames. They escape onboard a river boat, only to be confronted by an unscrupulous captain with his heart set on treasures of the high seas ...
Back in 1888, Maddy and the rest of the team are frantically trying to track them down. But with limited resources at their new base, can Liam and Rashim survive the bloodthirsty and barbaric age of piracy long enough to be rescued?
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2013
46 people are currently reading
2034 people want to read
About the author
Alex Scarrow
63 books1,047 followersI live a nomadic existence with my wife Frances, and son Jacob. For now we're living in Norwich. I spent the first 10 years out of college in the music business chasing record deals and the next 12 years in the computer games business as a graphic artist and eventually a games designer. For those of you who like their computer games, here's some of the titles I've worked on:
Waterworld, Evolva, The Thing, Spartan, Gates of Troy, Legion Arena
Since signing up as an author with Orion, I seem to spend most of my time hunched over my laptop in various cafes and coffee bars sipping lattes, tapping keys and watching the ebb and flow of shoppers outside on the street. As I write this, I'm awaiting the launch of my next book - the sequel to , LAST LIGHT, and getting ready to find a publisher for the first book in a separate series, ELLIE QUIN. Ahead of me, lies research work for my next thriller, and also some screenplays I'm looking forward to writing. Although I'm glad to be where I am now, I do occasionally kick myself for not having succumbed to the writing bug much earlier. But then we all just muddle along through life, don't we? There's rarely a plan.
-Source: http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html
Waterworld, Evolva, The Thing, Spartan, Gates of Troy, Legion Arena
Since signing up as an author with Orion, I seem to spend most of my time hunched over my laptop in various cafes and coffee bars sipping lattes, tapping keys and watching the ebb and flow of shoppers outside on the street. As I write this, I'm awaiting the launch of my next book - the sequel to , LAST LIGHT, and getting ready to find a publisher for the first book in a separate series, ELLIE QUIN. Ahead of me, lies research work for my next thriller, and also some screenplays I'm looking forward to writing. Although I'm glad to be where I am now, I do occasionally kick myself for not having succumbed to the writing bug much earlier. But then we all just muddle along through life, don't we? There's rarely a plan.
-Source: http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 20, 2018
Έβδομο βιβλίο της σειράς και συνεχίζουμε δυναμικά όπως και τα προηγούμενα. Στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο βέβαια δεν «προχωράει» ιδιαίτερα η γενική ιστορία αλλά έχουμε και πάλι μία πολύ ωραία περιπέτεια! Φυσικά όσοι έχουν φτάσει έως εδώ, εννοείται πως πρέπει να το διαβάσουν και όσοι δεν έχουν ξεκινήσει ακόμα τη σειρά, ας πιάσουν το πρώτο βιβλίο άμεσα!
Πάμε τώρα στο επόμενο βιβλίο που πλησιάζουμε όλο και περισσότερο στην ολοκλήρωση της ιστορίας!!!
Πάμε τώρα στο επόμενο βιβλίο που πλησιάζουμε όλο και περισσότερο στην ολοκλήρωση της ιστορίας!!!
February 21, 2013
Oh my, I think I have written a review for each book in this series and so I fear by now, the first paragraph of all my reviews may have become too clichéd and repetitive because quite frankly, I cant think of anything more to say, other than "Alex does it again!" "Yet another rip-roaring adventure in Time", "Brilliantly narrated", "breakneck pace", "The best book in the series so far!" and "it made me cry"...
wait....wait..."it made me cry" ?...I dont think I had done that with the other books, perhaps a little within but not outwardly.
This time, I er...I cried outwardly. Damn you Mr Alex Scarrow, for ruining my proudly worn masculine posture in one well aimed slash of the sword.
There are numerous reasons that makes this series so wonderful, so magnificent and so epic. Firstly, each book offers thrilling setpieces and rip-roaring adventures set in a diversity of timeline scenarios (both current and alternate) that are brilliantly imaginative that would appeal to both lovers of science fiction and adventure. The series story arc is also tremendously compelling with underlying themes of world ecology and changing environments.
But the most important reason of all, the ingredient that would make all of the other reasons pointless, are the author's penetrating and soulful prose on the emotional depth and journey of our three hapless teenage time travelling protagonists.
The previous instalment had an "Empire Strikes Back" style bombshell of a twist striking them with such impact, that it has changed their lives and purpose. In this instalment, we see them deal with this bombshell...badly. We see them divide, reach the furthest depths of despair, lost, no sense of purpose. Yet despite this gloom, Alex does not ever forget to entertain, to thrill us, to raise our anxiety levels and inducing a large dose of fun.
So what we have here is a glorious high seas adventure of pirates, sword fights and treasure hunting underlined with a heavyweight theme of 17th century morality, racism, barbaric justice, and even cruelty to women...nothing is held back. Nothing. There is violence at every corner in the narrative just as there was in the smoke filled streets of 17th century London and Jamaica. Dont worry, if you are thinking about the "cruelty to women" part, there is nothing explicit but suggestions are clear. Yes, these books are quite strong in violence, often graphic, so parents of younger readers may want to assess first. If you have the train of thought that its best to educate youngsters of the harsh realities of history and the world at present then this book will serve a great purpose in that respect, as the harsh realities are vitally complemented with very clear moral values. These are not books glorifying violence, quite the opposite. This is an intelligent series, championing moral values while uglifying violence. There are heroes, anti heroes and complicated villains.
This book took me back to the days when I read Treasure Island, Lord of the Flies, HUckberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Dare I place this amongst them on my shelf? Damn right, I will. Call me blasphomous if you will but if a book raises my pulse, has me turning the pages quicker than a Mark Twain novel, thought provokes me, thrills me, knocks my senses out and...makes me bloody cry, damn it, then yes, this, I place among classics of young adult fiction.
So it is obvious that I love this book. It is my favourite of the series so far and I cant believe I am saying that with each book. I cant think of any other series where I have enjoyed each book more than its last. Not even the great Harry Potter series had that progressive consistency.
Two more books to go. Both to be published within the next 12 months, I believe. So, if you have not read the earlier books yet, love adventure, love science fiction, thought provocation, and brilliant page turning narrative then seriously, what are you waiting for? Surf the waves with the timeriders, you wont regret it.
wait....wait..."it made me cry" ?...I dont think I had done that with the other books, perhaps a little within but not outwardly.
This time, I er...I cried outwardly. Damn you Mr Alex Scarrow, for ruining my proudly worn masculine posture in one well aimed slash of the sword.
There are numerous reasons that makes this series so wonderful, so magnificent and so epic. Firstly, each book offers thrilling setpieces and rip-roaring adventures set in a diversity of timeline scenarios (both current and alternate) that are brilliantly imaginative that would appeal to both lovers of science fiction and adventure. The series story arc is also tremendously compelling with underlying themes of world ecology and changing environments.
But the most important reason of all, the ingredient that would make all of the other reasons pointless, are the author's penetrating and soulful prose on the emotional depth and journey of our three hapless teenage time travelling protagonists.
The previous instalment had an "Empire Strikes Back" style bombshell of a twist striking them with such impact, that it has changed their lives and purpose. In this instalment, we see them deal with this bombshell...badly. We see them divide, reach the furthest depths of despair, lost, no sense of purpose. Yet despite this gloom, Alex does not ever forget to entertain, to thrill us, to raise our anxiety levels and inducing a large dose of fun.
So what we have here is a glorious high seas adventure of pirates, sword fights and treasure hunting underlined with a heavyweight theme of 17th century morality, racism, barbaric justice, and even cruelty to women...nothing is held back. Nothing. There is violence at every corner in the narrative just as there was in the smoke filled streets of 17th century London and Jamaica. Dont worry, if you are thinking about the "cruelty to women" part, there is nothing explicit but suggestions are clear. Yes, these books are quite strong in violence, often graphic, so parents of younger readers may want to assess first. If you have the train of thought that its best to educate youngsters of the harsh realities of history and the world at present then this book will serve a great purpose in that respect, as the harsh realities are vitally complemented with very clear moral values. These are not books glorifying violence, quite the opposite. This is an intelligent series, championing moral values while uglifying violence. There are heroes, anti heroes and complicated villains.
This book took me back to the days when I read Treasure Island, Lord of the Flies, HUckberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Dare I place this amongst them on my shelf? Damn right, I will. Call me blasphomous if you will but if a book raises my pulse, has me turning the pages quicker than a Mark Twain novel, thought provokes me, thrills me, knocks my senses out and...makes me bloody cry, damn it, then yes, this, I place among classics of young adult fiction.
So it is obvious that I love this book. It is my favourite of the series so far and I cant believe I am saying that with each book. I cant think of any other series where I have enjoyed each book more than its last. Not even the great Harry Potter series had that progressive consistency.
Two more books to go. Both to be published within the next 12 months, I believe. So, if you have not read the earlier books yet, love adventure, love science fiction, thought provocation, and brilliant page turning narrative then seriously, what are you waiting for? Surf the waves with the timeriders, you wont regret it.
December 12, 2015
'In Victorian London-town there lived cyborgs… apparently.'
1886, London. It’s dirty, grimy and full of English types. Nightmare for some, not for our glorious time travelling ‘humans’ – Maddy, Liam, Sal and Rashin. The team is broken both mentally and physically. This theme carries on from the ending of ’City of Shadows’’ the sixth book in the series. We’ve had a bit of everything thrown at us by Alex Scarrow, from dinosaurs, Romans and futuristic cyborgs. It’s been a ride up until now and one I’ve enjoyed in regards to the plot. Pirates are up next with a few historical personas thrown in, it almost feels like I’m in Port Royale, Jamaica. Kudos to the author for bringing that alive for me.
Let’s get the negative out of the way firstly. Ready? Let’s go! When writing creatively or reviews sometimes I feel like a broken record – wherein at times I believe I’m repeating myself over and over again. Perhaps it’s both a conscious and unconscious though process. The reason I bring this up is my real problem with Alex Scarrow’s ’Timeriders’ series, there is hardly any character progression when it comes to the females – Maddy is hamstrung by her inability to stop repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Now you could put this down to a conscious effort by the author to show flaws within one’s character. That’s fine, but not by the seventh book in the series. Why do I say this? Well if you can be bothered to go over my past reviews, your find a pattern emerging – that being that Maddy is a repeat offender by her inability to lead. She makes the same mistakes over and over again, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Right at the beginning she decides to go on a ‘time travelling’ holiday which results in a massive shitstorm that screws over the entire team. Books two, three, five and this one show this pattern. It’s annoying me as apart from this the plot would work brilliantly. It’s held back by this ‘quibble’ of mine, for me anyway. I’ve seen rave reviews by many for this series – that’s great. For me however two important factors make a story engaging – character progression and plot. The plot works, the characters’ progression does not. Sal is another persona that is held back by the lack of interaction with anything remotely beyond her own self-doubt. Though this time around Sal does become more interesting as she begins to make decisions for herself. Liam is overloaded (he is the main character) at times as he is the only one who goes out on time travelling missions – generally accompanied by Bob the biomechanical behemoth. It reeks of a lack of developed of ‘some’ of the characters while the plot is honed to a fine point.
So I might of mentioned Maddy makes another glaring mistake – she decides to go sightseeing, back to see the events of the Great Fire of London (as you do), which I believe was in 1666, though I could be wrong. Things, as you can imagine don’t go quite to plan. A hiccup here, a hiccup there, throw in burny things and a city worth of panicking people, it turns into a massive cock-up. I’ll say no more, as I don’t want to spoil the enjoyment of this event – as really at times, reading it made me feel like I was there myself – the smoke, the hot tinged of the fire lapping at me. Not good, I mean I don’t even tan that well!!
1886, London. It’s dirty, grimy and full of English types. Nightmare for some, not for our glorious time travelling ‘humans’ – Maddy, Liam, Sal and Rashin. The team is broken both mentally and physically. This theme carries on from the ending of ’City of Shadows’’ the sixth book in the series. We’ve had a bit of everything thrown at us by Alex Scarrow, from dinosaurs, Romans and futuristic cyborgs. It’s been a ride up until now and one I’ve enjoyed in regards to the plot. Pirates are up next with a few historical personas thrown in, it almost feels like I’m in Port Royale, Jamaica. Kudos to the author for bringing that alive for me.
Let’s get the negative out of the way firstly. Ready? Let’s go! When writing creatively or reviews sometimes I feel like a broken record – wherein at times I believe I’m repeating myself over and over again. Perhaps it’s both a conscious and unconscious though process. The reason I bring this up is my real problem with Alex Scarrow’s ’Timeriders’ series, there is hardly any character progression when it comes to the females – Maddy is hamstrung by her inability to stop repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Now you could put this down to a conscious effort by the author to show flaws within one’s character. That’s fine, but not by the seventh book in the series. Why do I say this? Well if you can be bothered to go over my past reviews, your find a pattern emerging – that being that Maddy is a repeat offender by her inability to lead. She makes the same mistakes over and over again, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Right at the beginning she decides to go on a ‘time travelling’ holiday which results in a massive shitstorm that screws over the entire team. Books two, three, five and this one show this pattern. It’s annoying me as apart from this the plot would work brilliantly. It’s held back by this ‘quibble’ of mine, for me anyway. I’ve seen rave reviews by many for this series – that’s great. For me however two important factors make a story engaging – character progression and plot. The plot works, the characters’ progression does not. Sal is another persona that is held back by the lack of interaction with anything remotely beyond her own self-doubt. Though this time around Sal does become more interesting as she begins to make decisions for herself. Liam is overloaded (he is the main character) at times as he is the only one who goes out on time travelling missions – generally accompanied by Bob the biomechanical behemoth. It reeks of a lack of developed of ‘some’ of the characters while the plot is honed to a fine point.
So I might of mentioned Maddy makes another glaring mistake – she decides to go sightseeing, back to see the events of the Great Fire of London (as you do), which I believe was in 1666, though I could be wrong. Things, as you can imagine don’t go quite to plan. A hiccup here, a hiccup there, throw in burny things and a city worth of panicking people, it turns into a massive cock-up. I’ll say no more, as I don’t want to spoil the enjoyment of this event – as really at times, reading it made me feel like I was there myself – the smoke, the hot tinged of the fire lapping at me. Not good, I mean I don’t even tan that well!!
April 2, 2017
novel yang luar biasa
November 11, 2024
Ξέρω πως έχω αρχίσει να επαναλαμβάνομαι επικίνδυνα όσον αφορά τις εισαγωγές των reviews μου για τη σειρά "Οι Φύλακες του Χρόνου", αλλά ειλικρινά... ο Alex Scarrow καταφέρνει κάθε φορά να ξεπερνά, τόσο τις προσδοκίες μου, όσο και τον ίδιο του τον εαυτό. Εκεί που σκέφτομαι: "Δεν μπορεί να κάνει κάτι άλλο για να με εκπλήξει, να διατηρήσει το ενδιαφέρον μου αμείωτο, να με συγκινήσει περισσότερο", έρχεται το επόμενό του βιβλίο για να διαλύσει τις σκέψεις μου αυτές και να τις τοποθετήσει στη σφαίρα του μη ρεαλιστικού. Και ναι, ξέρω πως το έχω ξαναπεί -και αυτό-, αλλά το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο της σειράς είναι το καλύτερο ως τώρα, και θα σας εξηγήσω τους λόγους ευθύς αμέσως.
Οι ήρωές μας, μετά τα γεγονότα που έλαβαν χώρα στην "Πόλη των σκιών", έχουν εγκατασταθεί μόνιμα στο Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο, αποκτώντας μια νέα βάση. Στην ομάδα τους, έχει προστεθεί πλέον κι ένα νέο μέλος, ο Ρασίμ, και είναι έτοιμοι ν' αναλάβουν και πάλι δράση. Ο Λίαμ, λοιπόν, μαζί με τον Ρασίμ, ταξιδεύουν στο 1666 προκειμένου να δουν από κοντά τη Μεγάλη Πυρκαγιά του Λονδίνου, μια πράξη που θα έχει αποτέλεσμα να μπλεχτούν σε μία κατάσταση που θα τους εγκλωβίσει στο χρόνο, αλλά και σε ένα πειρατικό ποταμόπλοιο στο οποίο ανεβαίνουν προκειμένου να γλιτώσουν από τη φωτιά. Ο καπετάνιος του ποταμόπλοιου δεν αστειεύεται καθόλου, έχει άγριες διαθέσεις και σκοτεινά σχέδια, και οι ήρωές μας δεν έχουν πολλά περιθώρια να ξεφύγουν. Άραγε, η ομάδα μου έχει μείνει στη βάση, θα καταφέρει με τα φτωχά μέσα που έχει στη διάθεσή της να τους σώσει, ή οι φίλοι τους θα χαθούν για πάντα;
Η αφήγηση είναι έξοχη, όπως και η δομή και η εξέλιξη της πλοκής, ο ρυθμός είναι ιλιγγιώδης, η δράση καταιγιστική, στοιχεία που διέθεταν όλα τα βιβλία της σειράς μέχρι στιγμής και που απλά, ίσως να είναι ελάχιστα πιο έντονα στο συγκεκριμένο. Ο Scarrow έχει βρει μια πετυχημένη συνταγή στο να δομεί και να συντηρεί την περιπετειώδη δράση στις εκάστοτε ιστορίες του, και με εξαίρεση το τρίτο μέρος που έπασχε σε κάποιο βαθμό ιστορικά, τα καταφέρνει περίφημα. Τι είναι, λοιπόν, αυτό που καθιστά το "Οι βασιλείς των πειρατών" πιο ξεχωριστό από τα προηγούμενα; Ότι καταφέρνει να εξελίξει ακόμα περισσότερο το συναισθηματικό υπόβαθρο της αφήγησής του, παρουσιάζοντάς μας πτυχές των ηρώων μας που δεν είχαμε δει μέχρι σήμερα, εξελίσσοντας κάποιες άλλες, ήδη υπάρχουσες.
Ο συγγραφέας έχει μια ιδιαίτερη διεισδυτική ματιά και αυτό φαίνεται ξεκάθαρα από το πόσο έχει εξελιχθεί, όχι μόνο η ιστορία του και ο τρόπος που την αφηγείται, αλλά και ο ίδιος μέσω αυτής. Χειρίζεται τους ήρωές τους με αγάπη αλλά και με σκληρότητα, τους φέρνει αντιμέτωπους με κάποιες όμορφες στιγμές, αλλά πολύ περισσότερο με δύσκολες, γιατί αυτό σημαίνει να μένεις πιστός στον ρεαλισμό, ακόμα κι αν τοποθετείσαι μέσα σε ένα φανταστικό, ίσως και φουτουριστικό στα σημεία, σύμπαν. Ο Scarrow δεν θέλει να μας χαϊδέψει τ' αφτιά, ούτε να μας προσφέρει μία ακόμα περιπέτεια με την οποία θα περάσουμε ευχάριστα την ώρα μας. Θέλει να μας μιλήσει και για πιο σοβαρά πράγματα, ν' αποτυπώσει την σκληρή μετάβαση από την εφηβεία στην ενηλικίωση, όπου δεν είναι όλα ρόδινα και που πολλές φορές χάνουμε κομμάτια από το είναι μας, άλλες για να τα βρούμε στην πορεία, και άλλες αφήνοντάς τα πίσω για πάντα. Και αυτό, φίλοι μου, είναι η ίδια η ζωή.
Στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο, οι ήρωές μας ήρθαν αντιμέτωποι με γεγονότα και καταστάσεις που έμελλε ν' αλλάξουν το μέλλον τους για πάντα. Στο βιβλίο αυτό, ουσιαστικά καλούνται για πρώτη φορά να έρθουν αντ��μέτωποι με το αποτέλεσμα των γεγονότων αυτών και στην πορεία να χάνουν, όχι μόνο τον στόχο τους ή ο ένας τον άλλον, αλλά ένα κομμάτι του εαυτού τους, για οποίο πρέπει να παλέψουν προκειμένου αυτό να μην εξαφανιστεί για πάντα, βυθισμένοι στα άδυτα της απελπισίας και της απόγνωσης. Και όλο αυτό δεν γίνεται να μην σε συγκινήσει, σε περισσότερα επίπεδα απ' όσα ίσως να φαντάζεσαι διαβάζοντας αυτές τις γραμμές. Ό,τι και να πω, δεν θα είναι αρκετό, γι' αυτό θ' αρκεστώ, φίλε αναγνώστη, στο να συμβουλεύσω το εξής: Διάβασέ το και απόλαυσέ το, μα κυρίως, άφησέ το να μιλήσει στην καρδιά σου όπως πρέπει.
Οι ήρωές μας, μετά τα γεγονότα που έλαβαν χώρα στην "Πόλη των σκιών", έχουν εγκατασταθεί μόνιμα στο Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο, αποκτώντας μια νέα βάση. Στην ομάδα τους, έχει προστεθεί πλέον κι ένα νέο μέλος, ο Ρασίμ, και είναι έτοιμοι ν' αναλάβουν και πάλι δράση. Ο Λίαμ, λοιπόν, μαζί με τον Ρασίμ, ταξιδεύουν στο 1666 προκειμένου να δουν από κοντά τη Μεγάλη Πυρκαγιά του Λονδίνου, μια πράξη που θα έχει αποτέλεσμα να μπλεχτούν σε μία κατάσταση που θα τους εγκλωβίσει στο χρόνο, αλλά και σε ένα πειρατικό ποταμόπλοιο στο οποίο ανεβαίνουν προκειμένου να γλιτώσουν από τη φωτιά. Ο καπετάνιος του ποταμόπλοιου δεν αστειεύεται καθόλου, έχει άγριες διαθέσεις και σκοτεινά σχέδια, και οι ήρωές μας δεν έχουν πολλά περιθώρια να ξεφύγουν. Άραγε, η ομάδα μου έχει μείνει στη βάση, θα καταφέρει με τα φτωχά μέσα που έχει στη διάθεσή της να τους σώσει, ή οι φίλοι τους θα χαθούν για πάντα;
Η αφήγηση είναι έξοχη, όπως και η δομή και η εξέλιξη της πλοκής, ο ρυθμός είναι ιλιγγιώδης, η δράση καταιγιστική, στοιχεία που διέθεταν όλα τα βιβλία της σειράς μέχρι στιγμής και που απλά, ίσως να είναι ελάχιστα πιο έντονα στο συγκεκριμένο. Ο Scarrow έχει βρει μια πετυχημένη συνταγή στο να δομεί και να συντηρεί την περιπετειώδη δράση στις εκάστοτε ιστορίες του, και με εξαίρεση το τρίτο μέρος που έπασχε σε κάποιο βαθμό ιστορικά, τα καταφέρνει περίφημα. Τι είναι, λοιπόν, αυτό που καθιστά το "Οι βασιλείς των πειρατών" πιο ξεχωριστό από τα προηγούμενα; Ότι καταφέρνει να εξελίξει ακόμα περισσότερο το συναισθηματικό υπόβαθρο της αφήγησής του, παρουσιάζοντάς μας πτυχές των ηρώων μας που δεν είχαμε δει μέχρι σήμερα, εξελίσσοντας κάποιες άλλες, ήδη υπάρχουσες.
Ο συγγραφέας έχει μια ιδιαίτερη διεισδυτική ματιά και αυτό φαίνεται ξεκάθαρα από το πόσο έχει εξελιχθεί, όχι μόνο η ιστορία του και ο τρόπος που την αφηγείται, αλλά και ο ίδιος μέσω αυτής. Χειρίζεται τους ήρωές τους με αγάπη αλλά και με σκληρότητα, τους φέρνει αντιμέτωπους με κάποιες όμορφες στιγμές, αλλά πολύ περισσότερο με δύσκολες, γιατί αυτό σημαίνει να μένεις πιστός στον ρεαλισμό, ακόμα κι αν τοποθετείσαι μέσα σε ένα φανταστικό, ίσως και φουτουριστικό στα σημεία, σύμπαν. Ο Scarrow δεν θέλει να μας χαϊδέψει τ' αφτιά, ούτε να μας προσφέρει μία ακόμα περιπέτεια με την οποία θα περάσουμε ευχάριστα την ώρα μας. Θέλει να μας μιλήσει και για πιο σοβαρά πράγματα, ν' αποτυπώσει την σκληρή μετάβαση από την εφηβεία στην ενηλικίωση, όπου δεν είναι όλα ρόδινα και που πολλές φορές χάνουμε κομμάτια από το είναι μας, άλλες για να τα βρούμε στην πορεία, και άλλες αφήνοντάς τα πίσω για πάντα. Και αυτό, φίλοι μου, είναι η ίδια η ζωή.
Στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο, οι ήρωές μας ήρθαν αντιμέτωποι με γεγονότα και καταστάσεις που έμελλε ν' αλλάξουν το μέλλον τους για πάντα. Στο βιβλίο αυτό, ουσιαστικά καλούνται για πρώτη φορά να έρθουν αντ��μέτωποι με το αποτέλεσμα των γεγονότων αυτών και στην πορεία να χάνουν, όχι μόνο τον στόχο τους ή ο ένας τον άλλον, αλλά ένα κομμάτι του εαυτού τους, για οποίο πρέπει να παλέψουν προκειμένου αυτό να μην εξαφανιστεί για πάντα, βυθισμένοι στα άδυτα της απελπισίας και της απόγνωσης. Και όλο αυτό δεν γίνεται να μην σε συγκινήσει, σε περισσότερα επίπεδα απ' όσα ίσως να φαντάζεσαι διαβάζοντας αυτές τις γραμμές. Ό,τι και να πω, δεν θα είναι αρκετό, γι' αυτό θ' αρκεστώ, φίλε αναγνώστη, στο να συμβουλεύσω το εξής: Διάβασέ το και απόλαυσέ το, μα κυρίως, άφησέ το να μιλήσει στην καρδιά σου όπως πρέπει.
March 31, 2022
2022 52 Book Challenge - 43) Author who has published in more than one genre
I can honestly say, without a doubt, this is my all time most disliked book in the series. There is no overall series plot development at all in this book, and the plot of the book itself is pretty weak and tenuous.
There is barely any character development. The development that we do get is for Rashim, and it's pretty much all negative character traits. I kept wondering why I walked out of my first read through of this series with a dislike for Rashim, and this book might explain that. Maddy and Sal have about five chapters between them, and that was probably enough because they're both depressed after the revelations of a previous book. They're allowed to be depressed and it should be discussed, but this book does not really do it in an appropriate way. In comparison, two of my favourite characters, Bob and Becks were barely in this book. Even less than Maddy and Sal.
Honestly, the book spends 97% of its time focusing on Liam and Rashim being pirates. I hated it. It was so boring. Rashim's character development is enough to make you hate him and Liam just feels hamstrung by the fact that Rashim is there. The whole plot just really seems to be the author trying to make a statement on slavery through Liam and the message is as garbled as the mental health issues that plague Sal.
I was pretty glad that this book was over.
I can honestly say, without a doubt, this is my all time most disliked book in the series. There is no overall series plot development at all in this book, and the plot of the book itself is pretty weak and tenuous.
There is barely any character development. The development that we do get is for Rashim, and it's pretty much all negative character traits. I kept wondering why I walked out of my first read through of this series with a dislike for Rashim, and this book might explain that. Maddy and Sal have about five chapters between them, and that was probably enough because they're both depressed after the revelations of a previous book. They're allowed to be depressed and it should be discussed, but this book does not really do it in an appropriate way. In comparison, two of my favourite characters, Bob and Becks were barely in this book. Even less than Maddy and Sal.
Honestly, the book spends 97% of its time focusing on Liam and Rashim being pirates. I hated it. It was so boring. Rashim's character development is enough to make you hate him and Liam just feels hamstrung by the fact that Rashim is there. The whole plot just really seems to be the author trying to make a statement on slavery through Liam and the message is as garbled as the mental health issues that plague Sal.
I was pretty glad that this book was over.
April 21, 2023
Une suite captivante entre les pirates, les dangers et les quiproquos !
June 20, 2017
**spoiler alert**
Hmmm...kenapa saya merasa TimeRiders buku ke-tujuh ini kurang seru ya? Biasanya kalau membaca TimeRiders itu, saya bawaannya selalu baca cepat-cepat dan tidak mau berhenti karena penasaran. Tapi The Pirate Kings ceritanya tidak terlalu menegangkan. Saya sempat berhenti membacanya beberapa kali dan butuh waktu yang jauh lebih lama untuk menamatkannya dibandingkan buku-buku pendahulunya dari seri ini.
Setelah berbagai misteri tentang apa itu TimeRiders di buku sebelumnya terkuak, di buku ini minim informasi. Ini adalah buku pertama di mana Maddy, Liam dan Sal bekerja independen.
Ternyata mereka masih punya pekerjaan pasca melarikan diri dari Waldstein. Pekerjaan tidak terduga gara-gara Maddy ingin melakukan rekreasi sejarah.
Entah kenapa, Maddy merasa, melihat kebakaran hebat di London pada tahun 1666 itu menarik. Dan bisa diduga, setelah mereka melihatnya secara langsung, tiba-tiba kebakaran itu tidak menarik lagi. Mereka semua terjebak. Untunglah Maddy dan Sal berhasil kembali. Namun sayangnya, Liam dan Rashid memilih jalur melarikan diri yang salah. Mereka tidak sengaja menaiki kapal bajak laut dan dipaksa menjadi awak di sana.
Sayangnya, meskipun tahu Liam dan Rashid berada di tahun berapa, namun posisi kapal yang terus bergerak mengakibatkan Maddy kesulitan melacak mereka berdua. Perlu waktu yang sangat-sangat lama bagi Maddy dan Sal untuk menemukan Liam. Bahkan mereka sempat mengalami momen salah paham segala.
Sementara Liam dan Rashid mati-matian meninggalkan pertanda agar keberadaan mereka di tahun 1666 bisa menimbulkan kontaminasi waktu di tahun 1889.
Namun, meskipun ingin pulang, Liam dan Rashid lama-kelamaan merasa betah menjadi bajak laut. Apalagi setelah mereka menjadi kapten berhasil merampok sebuah pulau penuh harta berharga.
Nah lo, bagaimana nasib Liam dan Rashid setelah sukses menjadi raja bajak laut? Apakah Maddy dan Sal berhasil membawa pulang mereka? Dan apakah mereka semua memang benar-benar terbebas dari Waldstein? Oke saya masih penasaran. Buku selanjutnya akan segera terbit dan saya sudah PO sama Mbak Maria XD. Semoga buku selanjutnya tidak mengecewakan ^^
Hmmm...kenapa saya merasa TimeRiders buku ke-tujuh ini kurang seru ya? Biasanya kalau membaca TimeRiders itu, saya bawaannya selalu baca cepat-cepat dan tidak mau berhenti karena penasaran. Tapi The Pirate Kings ceritanya tidak terlalu menegangkan. Saya sempat berhenti membacanya beberapa kali dan butuh waktu yang jauh lebih lama untuk menamatkannya dibandingkan buku-buku pendahulunya dari seri ini.
Setelah berbagai misteri tentang apa itu TimeRiders di buku sebelumnya terkuak, di buku ini minim informasi. Ini adalah buku pertama di mana Maddy, Liam dan Sal bekerja independen.
Ternyata mereka masih punya pekerjaan pasca melarikan diri dari Waldstein. Pekerjaan tidak terduga gara-gara Maddy ingin melakukan rekreasi sejarah.
Entah kenapa, Maddy merasa, melihat kebakaran hebat di London pada tahun 1666 itu menarik. Dan bisa diduga, setelah mereka melihatnya secara langsung, tiba-tiba kebakaran itu tidak menarik lagi. Mereka semua terjebak. Untunglah Maddy dan Sal berhasil kembali. Namun sayangnya, Liam dan Rashid memilih jalur melarikan diri yang salah. Mereka tidak sengaja menaiki kapal bajak laut dan dipaksa menjadi awak di sana.
Sayangnya, meskipun tahu Liam dan Rashid berada di tahun berapa, namun posisi kapal yang terus bergerak mengakibatkan Maddy kesulitan melacak mereka berdua. Perlu waktu yang sangat-sangat lama bagi Maddy dan Sal untuk menemukan Liam. Bahkan mereka sempat mengalami momen salah paham segala.
Sementara Liam dan Rashid mati-matian meninggalkan pertanda agar keberadaan mereka di tahun 1666 bisa menimbulkan kontaminasi waktu di tahun 1889.
Namun, meskipun ingin pulang, Liam dan Rashid lama-kelamaan merasa betah menjadi bajak laut. Apalagi setelah mereka menjadi kapten berhasil merampok sebuah pulau penuh harta berharga.
Nah lo, bagaimana nasib Liam dan Rashid setelah sukses menjadi raja bajak laut? Apakah Maddy dan Sal berhasil membawa pulang mereka? Dan apakah mereka semua memang benar-benar terbebas dari Waldstein? Oke saya masih penasaran. Buku selanjutnya akan segera terbit dan saya sudah PO sama Mbak Maria XD. Semoga buku selanjutnya tidak mengecewakan ^^
October 9, 2022
Δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου, το βρήκα φλύαρο και στάσιμο συγκριτικά με το προηγούμενο βιβλίο όπου αποκαλύπτει την πραγματική ταυτότητα των φυλάκων του χρόνου και γενικά δίνει πολλές πληροφορίες για τους ήρωες του βιβλίου.
Δεν δίνει καμία καινούρια πληροφορία παρά μόνο αναπτύσει μία καινούρια περιπέτεια όπου και αυτή από βλακεία τους βρέθηκαν ο Λίαμ κι ο Ρασίμ παγιδευμένοι στο παρελθόν. Από την πρώτη σελίδα κι όλας αναρωτιόμουν μα καλά πάτε καλά; Πάτε στη φωτιά που κατέκαψε τα πάντα στο Λονδίνο κι αυτό επειδή η Μάντι βαριέται;!!
Ακόμα και το τέλος του βιβλίου δεν μου άρεσε, αναφέρει τις σκέψεις της Σαλ όπου δίνει μία υπόσχεση πως θα αποτρέψει τον πατέρα της να γνωρίσει την μητέρα της ώστε να προστατεύσει με αυτόν τον τρόπο την πραγματική Σαλ, χμμμ όχι από μένα είναι όχι.
Στα καλά τώρα του βιβλίου, όπως και στα 4 πρώτα βιβλία της σειράς βλέπουμε την ικανότητα του Άλεξ Σκάροου να βάλει τον αναγνώστη σε μία ωραία ροή κι εξέλιξη μίας περιπετειώδης ιστορίας.
Επίσης βλέπουμε το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο μεταξύ των χαρακτήρων ακόμα και των ρομπότ Μπομπ και Μπέκα.
Θα συνεχίσω με το επόμενο διότι η περιέργεια μου για την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας δεν ικανοποιήθηκε ούτε στο ελάχιστο με αυτό το βιβλίο.
Δεν δίνει καμία καινούρια πληροφορία παρά μόνο αναπτύσει μία καινούρια περιπέτεια όπου και αυτή από βλακεία τους βρέθηκαν ο Λίαμ κι ο Ρασίμ παγιδευμένοι στο παρελθόν. Από την πρώτη σελίδα κι όλας αναρωτιόμουν μα καλά πάτε καλά; Πάτε στη φωτιά που κατέκαψε τα πάντα στο Λονδίνο κι αυτό επειδή η Μάντι βαριέται;!!
Ακόμα και το τέλος του βιβλίου δεν μου άρεσε, αναφέρει τις σκέψεις της Σαλ όπου δίνει μία υπόσχεση πως θα αποτρέψει τον πατέρα της να γνωρίσει την μητέρα της ώστε να προστατεύσει με αυτόν τον τρόπο την πραγματική Σαλ, χμμμ όχι από μένα είναι όχι.
Στα καλά τώρα του βιβλίου, όπως και στα 4 πρώτα βιβλία της σειράς βλέπουμε την ικανότητα του Άλεξ Σκάροου να βάλει τον αναγνώστη σε μία ωραία ροή κι εξέλιξη μίας περιπετειώδης ιστορίας.
Επίσης βλέπουμε το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο μεταξύ των χαρακτήρων ακόμα και των ρομπότ Μπομπ και Μπέκα.
Θα συνεχίσω με το επόμενο διότι η περιέργεια μου για την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας δεν ικανοποιήθηκε ούτε στο ελάχιστο με αυτό το βιβλίο.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2021
3 stars
*contains spoilers*
I absolutely adore this series so much. I've got two more books to go and I can't wait to see how the story ends!
Truthfully, after the sixth book (which I found so exciting and definitely one of my favourites), this book seven felt more of a filler story. I felt like it didn't really get going until about the thirtieth chapter which is quite a big chunk into the story.
I also found the jump of twenty years in the last couple of chapters quite jarring. Not that I expected to have seen the past twenty years where Liam and Rashim lived out their life on land, but it was a very big part of their character development that was quite rushed.
Saying all that though, it was really interesting seeing how Liam coped with the events and realisations of the previous book and I am very intrigued to see if Sal is going to really mess with time as hinted in the last chapter!
*contains spoilers*
I absolutely adore this series so much. I've got two more books to go and I can't wait to see how the story ends!
Truthfully, after the sixth book (which I found so exciting and definitely one of my favourites), this book seven felt more of a filler story. I felt like it didn't really get going until about the thirtieth chapter which is quite a big chunk into the story.
I also found the jump of twenty years in the last couple of chapters quite jarring. Not that I expected to have seen the past twenty years where Liam and Rashim lived out their life on land, but it was a very big part of their character development that was quite rushed.
Saying all that though, it was really interesting seeing how Liam coped with the events and realisations of the previous book and I am very intrigued to see if Sal is going to really mess with time as hinted in the last chapter!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
Apart from every character in this book pissing me off at least once, it was a I really enjoyable read! If Maddy can’t get herself together though, the rest of this series is only going to serve to raise my blood pressure…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
A somewhat unncessary entry in the series
November 8, 2023
mostly just a filler excuse of a book for scarrow to write a pirate adventure, with some interesting sal moments sprinkled in between.
March 26, 2020
Another one in the series finished and who doesn't love a pirate story. For me this books last few chapters were the pinnacle for me after seeing what happened to Liam and Rashim years after they went back in time. Again this wasnt a story based on a key moment in time which I'm finding disappointing as I really enjoyed the first ones due to this but this had a very Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it so that's why I gave it more stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2013
Now that was a fine piece of fiction! This was by far my favorite in the series so far. And it's not just because our boy Liam becomes a Pirate King either. It was really, really good. There was a lot of good tension and suspense, just the right amount of paradoxical time-travel, and a heap of damn fine narrative involving pirates doing pirate things. I absolutely loved it.
Now for the spoilers.
I also enjoyed the humor Mr. Scarrow added to the work here - for instance, when naming the ship, Liam said every good ship should be named with MC initials. He names a couple, and then throws in Miley Cyrus. I chuckled heartily at that. Good fun, this book was. All in all, a perfect delight. I can't wait to dive into the next one - the last one available for now. And though part of me wants the series to continue well into their lives - fifteen, twenty books? - part of me is also ready for an end. Not because I'm bored with it and ready to stop. No, but rather because - well, I guess I just hate having to wait for the next book to come out.
Back when I started the series, I told myself I would finish them all this year. That would be part of my annual reading goal. Fine. But I guess part of me in the back of my mind wondered if I'd really get around to it. Or if they would even be good enough to warrant that kind of dedication. Well, they are. And now with one more book to go, it's very clear to me I will be waiting for book nine. And hoping for more afterward.
Good job, Mr. Scarrow. Well done.
Now for the spoilers.
I also enjoyed the humor Mr. Scarrow added to the work here - for instance, when naming the ship, Liam said every good ship should be named with MC initials. He names a couple, and then throws in Miley Cyrus. I chuckled heartily at that. Good fun, this book was. All in all, a perfect delight. I can't wait to dive into the next one - the last one available for now. And though part of me wants the series to continue well into their lives - fifteen, twenty books? - part of me is also ready for an end. Not because I'm bored with it and ready to stop. No, but rather because - well, I guess I just hate having to wait for the next book to come out.
Back when I started the series, I told myself I would finish them all this year. That would be part of my annual reading goal. Fine. But I guess part of me in the back of my mind wondered if I'd really get around to it. Or if they would even be good enough to warrant that kind of dedication. Well, they are. And now with one more book to go, it's very clear to me I will be waiting for book nine. And hoping for more afterward.
Good job, Mr. Scarrow. Well done.
August 24, 2014
The book Time Riders - The Pirate Kings is about three children who have a job to look after the timeline of the world, to prevent people from going back in time and changing it. In this book the three children, Sal, Maddy, Liam, and a man called Rashim, who comes along with them, go back in time to watch the Great Fire of London. Unfortunately they get separated along the way. Two of them live to become great pirates.
I chose this book because I have read the first six books of this series and I really like them. The title of this book “The Pirate Kings” sounded very interesting to me.
One of the strong points of this book was the part that talked about the pirates and about Liam and Rashim’s achievements until they became the captains of the ship they were sailing on. It was interesting to read about how pirates used to behave. I thought their lives seemed exciting, especially when they were raiding a few different ships.
The weak point of the book was when Sal went forward in time to a point where she found herself with a real family. Sal wanted to see what would happen if she met herself, but nothing really happened. She simply kept talking to herself. It wasn't exciting reading the book at that part.
I really liked the book and I look forward to reading the next books in the Time Riders series. I would recommend the book to 10–16 years old kids because I feel that I enjoyed it now, but in ten years I wouldn't. I would probably find the subject a bit too childish by then but at the moment I find it exciting.
I chose this book because I have read the first six books of this series and I really like them. The title of this book “The Pirate Kings” sounded very interesting to me.
One of the strong points of this book was the part that talked about the pirates and about Liam and Rashim’s achievements until they became the captains of the ship they were sailing on. It was interesting to read about how pirates used to behave. I thought their lives seemed exciting, especially when they were raiding a few different ships.
The weak point of the book was when Sal went forward in time to a point where she found herself with a real family. Sal wanted to see what would happen if she met herself, but nothing really happened. She simply kept talking to herself. It wasn't exciting reading the book at that part.
I really liked the book and I look forward to reading the next books in the Time Riders series. I would recommend the book to 10–16 years old kids because I feel that I enjoyed it now, but in ten years I wouldn't. I would probably find the subject a bit too childish by then but at the moment I find it exciting.
February 28, 2020
*3.5
This was a great addition to an already amazing series! It went in a new direction, which I appreciated and loved. I love getting to see the progression to where the characters are not and seeing them grow up. The only thing that I had trouble with was the it didn't seem to hold my attention half way through the book. And some of the middle chapters felt unnecessary or just used to make the book longer. Overall, I still really enjoy this series and all it's characters, so I can't wait to pick up the next book!
This was a great addition to an already amazing series! It went in a new direction, which I appreciated and loved. I love getting to see the progression to where the characters are not and seeing them grow up. The only thing that I had trouble with was the it didn't seem to hold my attention half way through the book. And some of the middle chapters felt unnecessary or just used to make the book longer. Overall, I still really enjoy this series and all it's characters, so I can't wait to pick up the next book!
February 6, 2013
OMG IT HAS A COVER GUYS! ONLY 90 DAYS TO GO!!!!
August 7, 2019
I enjoyed the book even if it starts off a bit slow, I loved the joke about Pirates near the end - very Liam.
June 19, 2015
*Contains spoilers for anyone who hasn't read from book 5 and up.
This Time Riders entry was far different than any of the previous 6 books. There was a completely off balance dynamic than the normal formula that mostly drove the previous books (Liam gets lost -> where in time is Liam -> do the math and get Liam back to 2001). Typically Liam can be lost from anywhere between 6 or 7 months. This entry in the series flips that formula over.
While this book DOES start off very slow, the payoff is great. Given that book 5 and 6 were swarming with reveals (the Rider's memories are implants), The Pirate Kings takes it easy with the reveals for a while. In fact, it feels like we are taken back into a flat out "adventure" (misadventure) for the sake of a needed lull in the series. I'm assuming the last two books will be pretty explosive based on this story's set up.
Off the bat, this a VERY "Liam/Rashim" intensive book. If you are a bigger fan of Madeline and her sarcastically jaded humor/dry wit, then you probably won't enjoy Pirate Kings as much as the last books. She is in the story out of obligation, but in terms of plot is pretty much unnecessary and used very minimally. Understandably so; Book 5 was very much centered around Madeline's discovery of who/what she, Sal, and Liam are. It was based on her colossal disappointments. Well, seemingly The Pirate Kings is the Sal character's turn for introspection. And even given that this book focuses more on Sal's processing of their self discovery from book 5, Sal's story still comes second to Liam and Rashim's predicament which pretty much monopolizes about 90% of the story. Like Madeline, Bob and Becks are present because it wouldn't be an entry in the series without the "Big Dumb Ape" and the "Ice Queen". But in this story they too are virtually unused.
Since Book 6, the Riders have thrown "agency" policy out of the window and have decided that THEY are the ones who are going to call the shots in terms of when or what time contaminations get corrected. They even begin to use the time displacement technology for "sightseeing". And given that their new base of operations is Victorian London 1889, they decide to visit 223 years previous to 1666- The Great Fire of London.
The gang thought it a seemingly good idea to witness history happen as the city of London burnt down but misjudged the fact that they'd be witnessing one of the greatest tragedies of that era. Madeline also miscalculates the ratio of the destruction and the group gets separated in an explosion. This is where Liam and Rashim break off from the group as Madeline, Bob, Sal, and Becks take a window back to 1889.
Meanwhile, back in the fire of London, Rashim and Liam find themselves being cornered on a dock where boat merchants are high balling people for fairs to save their lives. In quick thinking, Rashim proclaims himself a "man of great wealth" and identifies Liam as his servant. He is allowed onto a vessel on the condition of a huge payment when he is safe. Before making his way onto the vessel, Liam is practically begged by a woman to save her very young boy William. Liam does so after fighting his conscience.
After the life saving ferry ride, Rashim reveals that he is in fact NOT a man of affluence and as repayment, he, Liam, and young William are press ganged onto a "Privateer" ship. Very shortly it is revealed that in the 1600s, "privateer" was a very polite way of saying "pirate" and piracy was even legalized provided a captain could procure a letter of marque from any series of high ranking officials, chiefly governors.
Shortly after their stay on the ship, the Clara Jane, Rashim begins to earn the crew's respect as a man of intelligence and science. Liam, as usual, earns the crew's respect through camaraderie - being one of the "working joes". Slowly the crew notices, through Rashim's guidance, that the ship's current Captain, Capt. Jacob Teal, is nothing more than a failed stage actor with a flair for the dramatic. After Rashim out's captain Teal, Teal is forced off the Clara Jane and Rashim is voted in as the new Captain, and Liam is pronounced Co-Captain, an unfamiliar position with real "Privateers" of the time.
It is after getting used to their new care free life as pirates that Liam and Rashim encounter a Spanish ship carrying treasures of the king of Spain. The Clara Jane chases down the Spanish ship, and Liam and Rashim make the snap decision to plunder it.
Through this course of confrontation, the reader gets to see a more adult and darker side of Liam. Books 1-6 toyed with adult themes (death/murder, racism, hate, evolution, creationism, violence, slavery, war, end of world scenarios), but book 7 is DEFINITELY where the line gets crossed. Liam examines (and answers his own question) regarding his willingness to taking a life. At first Liam's confrontations are proceeded with talk of fear and pre fight jitters. But by later in the book (an older) Liam is portrayed as a battle hardened and experienced fighter. Killer even. The parts where Liam kills for survival are pretty graphic and well thought out.
After plundering the Spanish ship, the Co Captains take the spoils to Port Royal, Jamaica to see Sir Thomas Modyford, Port Royal's governor, in hopes of procuring a letter of Marque, which they procure after bribing Modyford with the spoils gotten from the Spanish ship.
It is then where Liam and Rashim set out to make themselves VERY wealthy in hopes of changing the course of history to get Maddy and Sal's attention ahead in the year 1889. They decide to attempt changes in history, such as asking an artillery specialist to create more elongated bullet-like cannon ball with fins, to travel further with more destructive power. They use this "new" technology to plunder the seas to high hell and become very well feared and respected. It is their hope that Maddy, in 1889, will read records and accounts of historical significance that will pop out as clues as to WHERE and WHEN Liam and Rashim were during the 1660s through the 1680s.
The course of the story changes for the worse for Liam and Rashim when it is discovered that they hire on escaped slaves to their charter- Slaves that once belonged to Sir Thomas Modyford (the very governor whom granted them a letter of marque in the first place) himself. Upon returning from an excursion, Sir Modyford is waiting for them to have them apprehended and hanged. A fight breaks out in the port and the co-captains undock their ships (by this point in the story they have two- Rashim even jokes that TECHNICALLY that is a fleet and that would make him an Admiral).
While more or less 1 week has passed in 1889 and Sal and Maddy are losing hope in finding the boys, roughly 20 years have passed in Liam and Rashim's end of the spectrum of time.
The BIG Spoilers:
It is then revealed that Liam and Rashim took their two ships to what is known today as Haiti. They take over the lawless island and institute order and governance. They name the island Pandora (a desperate attempt to get Maddy's attention from the past), they name their port Vikram (Sal's last name), and their second ship the "Madeline Carter". Their entire career as seamen/governing lords of Pandora was dedicated both to getting Madeline's attention in 1889, and to providing a safe haven for both freed and runaway slaves as well as people who just wanted to live peaceful and industrious lives.
Having become infamous figures of history (starting an island nation and all), Sal and Madeline read about the boys in a history book in London 1889. On reviewing the historical accounts and details of their exploits, Maddy is able to send Bob back to Port Royal, Jamaica in 1667, only 7 months after Liam and Rashim get press ganged onto a ship. She specifically sends Bob back to the date where Sir Modyford was waiting ashore for Liam and Rashim to have them hanged for harboring slaves.
Liam and Rashim return back to themselves 20 years younger, and are once again with Maddy, Sal, Bob, and Becks.
The Time Riders books usually play with prominent historical figures, but it appears as if this entry was focused more on the attention to life in the Caribbean during the 1600s- the realistic side of what Pirates REALLY were as opposed to the Hollywood image of hooks for hands, eye patches, and peg legs. It was more or less a semi-legalized industry of theft and violence. The only difference between prosecution and freedom for pirates was the support and backing (or lack thereof) of political figures.
One VERY humorous and interesting part of the books sees Alex Scarrow demonstrating the principle that history is written by the victors. This is demonstrated when Sal and Maddy are reading the historical account of Liam and Rashim's downfall- the battle where they were eventually to have been captured and hanged by a joint effort of the Spanish and English governments' naval forces. The account portrayed Rashim as a merciless dictator of the island nation of Pandora, even referring to him a Lord Governor Rashim "Blackbeard" Anwar. In the historical account, Liam is not even addressed by his correct name as the history books have him recorded as "Lionel O'Connor". Historical accounts go on to portray the two as cowardly and power hungry mad men.
This is definitely one of the more interesting entries in the Time Riders series. It deviates from the usual formula and focuses more on what the crew can do when they aren't blindly following orders for an agency that they themselves aren't 100% sure exists. It plays with the idea that anyone with that kind of power (time travel technology) would use it for leisure as well.
This Time Riders entry was far different than any of the previous 6 books. There was a completely off balance dynamic than the normal formula that mostly drove the previous books (Liam gets lost -> where in time is Liam -> do the math and get Liam back to 2001). Typically Liam can be lost from anywhere between 6 or 7 months. This entry in the series flips that formula over.
While this book DOES start off very slow, the payoff is great. Given that book 5 and 6 were swarming with reveals (the Rider's memories are implants), The Pirate Kings takes it easy with the reveals for a while. In fact, it feels like we are taken back into a flat out "adventure" (misadventure) for the sake of a needed lull in the series. I'm assuming the last two books will be pretty explosive based on this story's set up.
Off the bat, this a VERY "Liam/Rashim" intensive book. If you are a bigger fan of Madeline and her sarcastically jaded humor/dry wit, then you probably won't enjoy Pirate Kings as much as the last books. She is in the story out of obligation, but in terms of plot is pretty much unnecessary and used very minimally. Understandably so; Book 5 was very much centered around Madeline's discovery of who/what she, Sal, and Liam are. It was based on her colossal disappointments. Well, seemingly The Pirate Kings is the Sal character's turn for introspection. And even given that this book focuses more on Sal's processing of their self discovery from book 5, Sal's story still comes second to Liam and Rashim's predicament which pretty much monopolizes about 90% of the story. Like Madeline, Bob and Becks are present because it wouldn't be an entry in the series without the "Big Dumb Ape" and the "Ice Queen". But in this story they too are virtually unused.
Since Book 6, the Riders have thrown "agency" policy out of the window and have decided that THEY are the ones who are going to call the shots in terms of when or what time contaminations get corrected. They even begin to use the time displacement technology for "sightseeing". And given that their new base of operations is Victorian London 1889, they decide to visit 223 years previous to 1666- The Great Fire of London.
The gang thought it a seemingly good idea to witness history happen as the city of London burnt down but misjudged the fact that they'd be witnessing one of the greatest tragedies of that era. Madeline also miscalculates the ratio of the destruction and the group gets separated in an explosion. This is where Liam and Rashim break off from the group as Madeline, Bob, Sal, and Becks take a window back to 1889.
Meanwhile, back in the fire of London, Rashim and Liam find themselves being cornered on a dock where boat merchants are high balling people for fairs to save their lives. In quick thinking, Rashim proclaims himself a "man of great wealth" and identifies Liam as his servant. He is allowed onto a vessel on the condition of a huge payment when he is safe. Before making his way onto the vessel, Liam is practically begged by a woman to save her very young boy William. Liam does so after fighting his conscience.
After the life saving ferry ride, Rashim reveals that he is in fact NOT a man of affluence and as repayment, he, Liam, and young William are press ganged onto a "Privateer" ship. Very shortly it is revealed that in the 1600s, "privateer" was a very polite way of saying "pirate" and piracy was even legalized provided a captain could procure a letter of marque from any series of high ranking officials, chiefly governors.
Shortly after their stay on the ship, the Clara Jane, Rashim begins to earn the crew's respect as a man of intelligence and science. Liam, as usual, earns the crew's respect through camaraderie - being one of the "working joes". Slowly the crew notices, through Rashim's guidance, that the ship's current Captain, Capt. Jacob Teal, is nothing more than a failed stage actor with a flair for the dramatic. After Rashim out's captain Teal, Teal is forced off the Clara Jane and Rashim is voted in as the new Captain, and Liam is pronounced Co-Captain, an unfamiliar position with real "Privateers" of the time.
It is after getting used to their new care free life as pirates that Liam and Rashim encounter a Spanish ship carrying treasures of the king of Spain. The Clara Jane chases down the Spanish ship, and Liam and Rashim make the snap decision to plunder it.
Through this course of confrontation, the reader gets to see a more adult and darker side of Liam. Books 1-6 toyed with adult themes (death/murder, racism, hate, evolution, creationism, violence, slavery, war, end of world scenarios), but book 7 is DEFINITELY where the line gets crossed. Liam examines (and answers his own question) regarding his willingness to taking a life. At first Liam's confrontations are proceeded with talk of fear and pre fight jitters. But by later in the book (an older) Liam is portrayed as a battle hardened and experienced fighter. Killer even. The parts where Liam kills for survival are pretty graphic and well thought out.
After plundering the Spanish ship, the Co Captains take the spoils to Port Royal, Jamaica to see Sir Thomas Modyford, Port Royal's governor, in hopes of procuring a letter of Marque, which they procure after bribing Modyford with the spoils gotten from the Spanish ship.
It is then where Liam and Rashim set out to make themselves VERY wealthy in hopes of changing the course of history to get Maddy and Sal's attention ahead in the year 1889. They decide to attempt changes in history, such as asking an artillery specialist to create more elongated bullet-like cannon ball with fins, to travel further with more destructive power. They use this "new" technology to plunder the seas to high hell and become very well feared and respected. It is their hope that Maddy, in 1889, will read records and accounts of historical significance that will pop out as clues as to WHERE and WHEN Liam and Rashim were during the 1660s through the 1680s.
The course of the story changes for the worse for Liam and Rashim when it is discovered that they hire on escaped slaves to their charter- Slaves that once belonged to Sir Thomas Modyford (the very governor whom granted them a letter of marque in the first place) himself. Upon returning from an excursion, Sir Modyford is waiting for them to have them apprehended and hanged. A fight breaks out in the port and the co-captains undock their ships (by this point in the story they have two- Rashim even jokes that TECHNICALLY that is a fleet and that would make him an Admiral).
While more or less 1 week has passed in 1889 and Sal and Maddy are losing hope in finding the boys, roughly 20 years have passed in Liam and Rashim's end of the spectrum of time.
The BIG Spoilers:
It is then revealed that Liam and Rashim took their two ships to what is known today as Haiti. They take over the lawless island and institute order and governance. They name the island Pandora (a desperate attempt to get Maddy's attention from the past), they name their port Vikram (Sal's last name), and their second ship the "Madeline Carter". Their entire career as seamen/governing lords of Pandora was dedicated both to getting Madeline's attention in 1889, and to providing a safe haven for both freed and runaway slaves as well as people who just wanted to live peaceful and industrious lives.
Having become infamous figures of history (starting an island nation and all), Sal and Madeline read about the boys in a history book in London 1889. On reviewing the historical accounts and details of their exploits, Maddy is able to send Bob back to Port Royal, Jamaica in 1667, only 7 months after Liam and Rashim get press ganged onto a ship. She specifically sends Bob back to the date where Sir Modyford was waiting ashore for Liam and Rashim to have them hanged for harboring slaves.
Liam and Rashim return back to themselves 20 years younger, and are once again with Maddy, Sal, Bob, and Becks.
The Time Riders books usually play with prominent historical figures, but it appears as if this entry was focused more on the attention to life in the Caribbean during the 1600s- the realistic side of what Pirates REALLY were as opposed to the Hollywood image of hooks for hands, eye patches, and peg legs. It was more or less a semi-legalized industry of theft and violence. The only difference between prosecution and freedom for pirates was the support and backing (or lack thereof) of political figures.
One VERY humorous and interesting part of the books sees Alex Scarrow demonstrating the principle that history is written by the victors. This is demonstrated when Sal and Maddy are reading the historical account of Liam and Rashim's downfall- the battle where they were eventually to have been captured and hanged by a joint effort of the Spanish and English governments' naval forces. The account portrayed Rashim as a merciless dictator of the island nation of Pandora, even referring to him a Lord Governor Rashim "Blackbeard" Anwar. In the historical account, Liam is not even addressed by his correct name as the history books have him recorded as "Lionel O'Connor". Historical accounts go on to portray the two as cowardly and power hungry mad men.
This is definitely one of the more interesting entries in the Time Riders series. It deviates from the usual formula and focuses more on what the crew can do when they aren't blindly following orders for an agency that they themselves aren't 100% sure exists. It plays with the idea that anyone with that kind of power (time travel technology) would use it for leisure as well.
October 26, 2019
Best fantasy: Time Riders by Alex Scarrow
When you, as the author of historical adventure books, where the main characters travel in time, find time travel books with historical elements, then I can do nothing but rejoice. Exactly four weeks ago today I started my journey with the main characters Liam, Maddy and Sal.
All three sentenced to death in various disasters, but rescued at the last moment by a time traveler. They meet and are instructed to save the world from a disaster by keeping the timeline constant. To their aid they have two androids, Becs and Bob.
In the first book Time Riders, the three gather together and are stationed in New York 2001, the day before the World Trade Center disaster. Here I get to know the main characters and get caught by the action.
Liam OConnor would have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter would have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram would have died in a fire in 2026.
But just moments before death would happen, someone appeared mysteriously and said: Take my hand. But Liam, Maddy and Sal were not saved. They were recruited by an agency that no one knows and has only one goal to correct inaccurate history. Because you can travel in time, and there are people who want to travel back in time and change the past. That's why Time Riders are there to protect us. To prevent time travel from destroying the world.
In Time Riders Day of the Predator, something goes very wrong. Liam and Bec's end up at the dinosaurs along with several young people who happened to be on the trip. They have no chance to go home again and Sal and Maddy have no idea where they are. Very exciting!
Time Riders The Doomsday Code is a fascinating story about a multi-thousand-year-old document. Here comes a new protagonist into the plot, Adam. Together with him they go back in time to the Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. A very different story.
Time Riders TheEternal War is a really screwed up story, where Abraham Lincoln sneaks back in time and causes disaster in the sequence.
Time Riders Gates of Rome is probably the book I liked least, although I liked it a lot too. Here they travel back in time and get another companion, Rashim. He is from the future 2070 and tells us that the world's population is dying from a horrible disease. Therefore, in the future, they have opened a gate to Roman times and intend to move all important people there. Something that will be disastrous.
Time Riders City of Shadows is a very exciting book where they are chased by cyborgs who are looking to kill Time Travelers. They are posted by the same person who once hired Maddy, Liam and Sal for the mission of keeping the timeline constant. And that person knows everything about them ...
Time Riders The Pirate Kings, a charming story set in the pirate era. Where even the most benevolent can do wrong in the eyes of others.
Time Riders The Mayan Prophect. Since I have written the Mayan secret, I am well aware of that time. It was lovely reading, and a very scary story. It was not without tears when the book was over.
Time Riders The Infinity Cage. All the other eight books I have listened to for a while and gone longer walks than normal, cleaned more than I usually did, worked in the garden for longer moments, all to listen as long as possible. But with this book, the last of the series, I've pulled it off. I haven't always listened when I've been on a walk or done any of the above. Just because I knew that with this book the series was over and I would feel empty and sad afterwards. But oh so wrong I was. Tonight I finished the last book. Instead of feeling sad that the book series was over, I lay with a wide smile and just enjoyed the perfect ending to a book. It can't be more perfect than this.
As you probably understand, I recommend you listen to all the books in this magical fantasy series with historical elements. It is noticeable that the author is well read in the historical subjects, I know, because I have written books on most of the events that the author addresses.
Read the books, or rather, listen to them, because it enhances the whole story. What a fantastic author and reader.
When you, as the author of historical adventure books, where the main characters travel in time, find time travel books with historical elements, then I can do nothing but rejoice. Exactly four weeks ago today I started my journey with the main characters Liam, Maddy and Sal.
All three sentenced to death in various disasters, but rescued at the last moment by a time traveler. They meet and are instructed to save the world from a disaster by keeping the timeline constant. To their aid they have two androids, Becs and Bob.
In the first book Time Riders, the three gather together and are stationed in New York 2001, the day before the World Trade Center disaster. Here I get to know the main characters and get caught by the action.
Liam OConnor would have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter would have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram would have died in a fire in 2026.
But just moments before death would happen, someone appeared mysteriously and said: Take my hand. But Liam, Maddy and Sal were not saved. They were recruited by an agency that no one knows and has only one goal to correct inaccurate history. Because you can travel in time, and there are people who want to travel back in time and change the past. That's why Time Riders are there to protect us. To prevent time travel from destroying the world.
In Time Riders Day of the Predator, something goes very wrong. Liam and Bec's end up at the dinosaurs along with several young people who happened to be on the trip. They have no chance to go home again and Sal and Maddy have no idea where they are. Very exciting!
Time Riders The Doomsday Code is a fascinating story about a multi-thousand-year-old document. Here comes a new protagonist into the plot, Adam. Together with him they go back in time to the Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. A very different story.
Time Riders TheEternal War is a really screwed up story, where Abraham Lincoln sneaks back in time and causes disaster in the sequence.
Time Riders Gates of Rome is probably the book I liked least, although I liked it a lot too. Here they travel back in time and get another companion, Rashim. He is from the future 2070 and tells us that the world's population is dying from a horrible disease. Therefore, in the future, they have opened a gate to Roman times and intend to move all important people there. Something that will be disastrous.
Time Riders City of Shadows is a very exciting book where they are chased by cyborgs who are looking to kill Time Travelers. They are posted by the same person who once hired Maddy, Liam and Sal for the mission of keeping the timeline constant. And that person knows everything about them ...
Time Riders The Pirate Kings, a charming story set in the pirate era. Where even the most benevolent can do wrong in the eyes of others.
Time Riders The Mayan Prophect. Since I have written the Mayan secret, I am well aware of that time. It was lovely reading, and a very scary story. It was not without tears when the book was over.
Time Riders The Infinity Cage. All the other eight books I have listened to for a while and gone longer walks than normal, cleaned more than I usually did, worked in the garden for longer moments, all to listen as long as possible. But with this book, the last of the series, I've pulled it off. I haven't always listened when I've been on a walk or done any of the above. Just because I knew that with this book the series was over and I would feel empty and sad afterwards. But oh so wrong I was. Tonight I finished the last book. Instead of feeling sad that the book series was over, I lay with a wide smile and just enjoyed the perfect ending to a book. It can't be more perfect than this.
As you probably understand, I recommend you listen to all the books in this magical fantasy series with historical elements. It is noticeable that the author is well read in the historical subjects, I know, because I have written books on most of the events that the author addresses.
Read the books, or rather, listen to them, because it enhances the whole story. What a fantastic author and reader.
August 1, 2017
The most touching adventure of the trio si far. I cant stop sighing "aww" at the last half of the book.
I feel like this book's sole purpose is to show the personal conflict that the trio felt after realizing the fact that they were not born like they thought they were. Finding out that you're a living machine designed to think that they were a human, saved from death by a time traveller could fuck up someone's mind, and thats exactly what happened to the trio. Since the last book where they got busy being chased by the terminator bobs and becks', i feel like they didnt get enough thoughts and feelings about these. But this book give them a redemption.
The Pirate King shows so much feelings of each of the trio. How Liam got so comfortable with his pirate life, almost as comfortable as back when he was sherriff in nottingham back in book two, but at the same time he still fights the thoughts of staying there forever as a pirate with his feelings and thoughts to go home to maddy and Sal. And sal realizing that, as artificial as they think they are, they still have memories and feelings that, even bob who was made as one of the most intellegent robot could not do. And of course, how maddy got so fucked up with her blaming over herself for causing Liam and Rashim got stuck back in 1600.
Not only its show the trio's feelings and thoughts remarkably, The Pirate King also serves the reader with a quite interesting adventure. It started out pretty slow pacing for a while that i closed the book and left it a few times. But it gets better and it gets way more interesting that i couldnt stop finishing it in one sitting. Some side characters are lovable also. I really do love how they got their happy ending, even as a side character.
The twist and the adventure may not be the strong point of the book. The feeling it gives from the characters with all their thoughts and decision is. The book shows irony especially on Liam's adventure. It shows that how Liam, someone who up until this book recognize himself as a clone, a man-made being who's not so different from a robot like bob, is way more humane than those who were born out of flesh and blood. And i personally love the idea.
In conclusion, i cant stop being awestrucked with this one.
I feel like this book's sole purpose is to show the personal conflict that the trio felt after realizing the fact that they were not born like they thought they were. Finding out that you're a living machine designed to think that they were a human, saved from death by a time traveller could fuck up someone's mind, and thats exactly what happened to the trio. Since the last book where they got busy being chased by the terminator bobs and becks', i feel like they didnt get enough thoughts and feelings about these. But this book give them a redemption.
The Pirate King shows so much feelings of each of the trio. How Liam got so comfortable with his pirate life, almost as comfortable as back when he was sherriff in nottingham back in book two, but at the same time he still fights the thoughts of staying there forever as a pirate with his feelings and thoughts to go home to maddy and Sal. And sal realizing that, as artificial as they think they are, they still have memories and feelings that, even bob who was made as one of the most intellegent robot could not do. And of course, how maddy got so fucked up with her blaming over herself for causing Liam and Rashim got stuck back in 1600.
Not only its show the trio's feelings and thoughts remarkably, The Pirate King also serves the reader with a quite interesting adventure. It started out pretty slow pacing for a while that i closed the book and left it a few times. But it gets better and it gets way more interesting that i couldnt stop finishing it in one sitting. Some side characters are lovable also. I really do love how they got their happy ending, even as a side character.
The twist and the adventure may not be the strong point of the book. The feeling it gives from the characters with all their thoughts and decision is. The book shows irony especially on Liam's adventure. It shows that how Liam, someone who up until this book recognize himself as a clone, a man-made being who's not so different from a robot like bob, is way more humane than those who were born out of flesh and blood. And i personally love the idea.
In conclusion, i cant stop being awestrucked with this one.
June 23, 2018
(En månad tog det att lyssna ut ljudboken. Daang. Så lång tid alltså? Hmm, känns som det gått mycket fortare tbh.)
Well, you can already tell by the number of stars I've given what I thought about this 7th installment of the TimeRiders series. Since I listened to the audiobook (it's frickin' amazing, go listen to it if you have the chance) I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to continue to buy the rest of the physical books. Buut noo, yes, Imma buy thEM ALL!! I just love them all too much. Must. fulfill. my collection, even if it makes me broke.
Ok, ok. So, it was great (as usual)! If you, like me, already come this far, you already know what to do next. (... What? Go read the next one, of course!! Sheesh) Do I need to further develop my thoughts to persuade you to continue reading? Well, how about this:
(Read only if you've read the previous book. So, don't read Brillis)
I laughed because it's so sad. That has to be that best description of bitter loneliness while being among other 'people' that I've ever read. Alex Scarrow knows how to put feelings into words, alright.
Ok, and then the ENDING. Can we talk about that ending?! It. was. utterly. heart wrenching. to read. But it was all good when the music in the audiobook came on later. Yes, the audiobook has MUSIC, that's right. It's great (but it's not as you might think). Yet another reason to listen to the book rather than reading. Like, I just suddenly started to like Rashim's character the most, just because of Trevor White's excellent work at impersonating the characters and differentiating them by accents (imagine Modyford: "OH, the accents") and emotion (how do he do that).
I ramble. I need to ramble a bit before I let go of this precious.
All and all, it was a quite jolly wonderful journey, so it was. I can believe it's over soon. *cries*
End of review.
Well, you can already tell by the number of stars I've given what I thought about this 7th installment of the TimeRiders series. Since I listened to the audiobook (it's frickin' amazing, go listen to it if you have the chance) I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to continue to buy the rest of the physical books. Buut noo, yes, Imma buy thEM ALL!! I just love them all too much. Must. fulfill. my collection, even if it makes me broke.
Ok, ok. So, it was great (as usual)! If you, like me, already come this far, you already know what to do next. (... What? Go read the next one, of course!! Sheesh) Do I need to further develop my thoughts to persuade you to continue reading? Well, how about this:
(Read only if you've read the previous book. So, don't read Brillis)
I laughed because it's so sad. That has to be that best description of bitter loneliness while being among other 'people' that I've ever read. Alex Scarrow knows how to put feelings into words, alright.
Ok, and then the ENDING. Can we talk about that ending?! It. was. utterly. heart wrenching. to read. But it was all good when the music in the audiobook came on later. Yes, the audiobook has MUSIC, that's right. It's great (but it's not as you might think). Yet another reason to listen to the book rather than reading. Like, I just suddenly started to like Rashim's character the most, just because of Trevor White's excellent work at impersonating the characters and differentiating them by accents (imagine Modyford: "OH, the accents") and emotion (how do he do that).
I ramble. I need to ramble a bit before I let go of this precious.
All and all, it was a quite jolly wonderful journey, so it was. I can believe it's over soon. *cries*
End of review.
April 20, 2020
A very solid addition to the franchise.
Each book so far that I've read in Alex Scarrow's TimeRiders series has been extremely solid and complex, each book following a set out story arc that has little agonizing cliff-hanger hints about what's going to come next, leaving you reading each one to find out what on earth is going on.
This book lives up to each one's awesomeness.
It has a very interesting plot and is quite thought-provoking with great themes. It explores the deepest depths of each character as they try and deal with some shocking realizations about what exactly they are and really makes you think.
It has great humour and quite an exciting story. It's also quite bleak in a way - not in an off-putting way, but in an engaging way. It's a type of bleak where you want to keep reading to see what exactly is going to happen next with the characters as they have to come to grips with their new reality and newly-discovered secrets about themselves.
A great addition to the franchise and I can't wait to read the next one!
Each book so far that I've read in Alex Scarrow's TimeRiders series has been extremely solid and complex, each book following a set out story arc that has little agonizing cliff-hanger hints about what's going to come next, leaving you reading each one to find out what on earth is going on.
This book lives up to each one's awesomeness.
It has a very interesting plot and is quite thought-provoking with great themes. It explores the deepest depths of each character as they try and deal with some shocking realizations about what exactly they are and really makes you think.
It has great humour and quite an exciting story. It's also quite bleak in a way - not in an off-putting way, but in an engaging way. It's a type of bleak where you want to keep reading to see what exactly is going to happen next with the characters as they have to come to grips with their new reality and newly-discovered secrets about themselves.
A great addition to the franchise and I can't wait to read the next one!
March 10, 2025
franchement long pas assez des filles, aucun apport à l’histoire de base, et même quand ça aurait pu être le cas (vis à vis de ce qu’ont « vécu» les filles dans ce tome) elles évoluent à peine et l’histoire n’a aucun avancement dommage
en espèrent que nous en apprenions encore plus dans le tome suivant
j’en attendait + tout le long surtout vu la tournure qu’avait pris le tome 6
j’avoue également que les histoires de pirates et bateaux ce n’est pas forcément mon truc à la base alors j’ai peut être été influencé par ça mais j’ai espéré tout le long que quelque chose de plus se passe mais non …
en espèrent que nous en apprenions encore plus dans le tome suivant
j’en attendait + tout le long surtout vu la tournure qu’avait pris le tome 6
j’avoue également que les histoires de pirates et bateaux ce n’est pas forcément mon truc à la base alors j’ai peut être été influencé par ça mais j’ai espéré tout le long que quelque chose de plus se passe mais non …
February 28, 2021
Vote: 3,80
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(seventh book of the TimeRiders Series)
This book feels somewhat incidental to the main plot of the series, letting us live an adventure in the Caribbean Seas in the Pirate Era, but without adding too much to the TimeRiders mistery.
However it remains a great time travel book for all the fan of the genre: the (obvious) time travel paradoxes are either cleverly solved or very well hidden and the flow of the story is quite convincing.
I can't wait to read the last!
To read and to enjoy.
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(seventh book of the TimeRiders Series)
This book feels somewhat incidental to the main plot of the series, letting us live an adventure in the Caribbean Seas in the Pirate Era, but without adding too much to the TimeRiders mistery.
However it remains a great time travel book for all the fan of the genre: the (obvious) time travel paradoxes are either cleverly solved or very well hidden and the flow of the story is quite convincing.
I can't wait to read the last!
To read and to enjoy.
July 11, 2017
Another good story. This time Liam and Rashim lived until ripe age, made history and died while lost in time, and were saved just before they write history. Go figure :) It is complicated, but I think Scarrow had done a nice job juggling all the time frame at once. I'm disappointed only because this time Bob and Becks doing almost nothing. So now the team had proved themselves to be capable of doing the history saving while going rebel. Wonder what's in store in the next book.
July 14, 2017
Another good one. The only note I have, though, is that there was nothing from the continuous plot of the books. Well, except for that one thing with Sal, but other than that it seemed like the author decided to take a break from it for a little bit. Which I'm not saying is necessarily a bad thing. But after giving us one mystery after another, it seems kinda weird to cut it off now.
But that's all. I definitely enjoyed this one just as much as the previous ones.
But that's all. I definitely enjoyed this one just as much as the previous ones.
February 13, 2019
This one is my favorite from the saga. I like pirates show such anime, the series and movies. This arc gave us history about the golden age of caribbean pirates.
I found it really interesting when you stuck for few years in the age of pirates, made a great fleet of pirates and family. Then you lost all of it, when you desperately hopeless your companion saved you from the death.
You survive but you lost everything.
I found it really interesting when you stuck for few years in the age of pirates, made a great fleet of pirates and family. Then you lost all of it, when you desperately hopeless your companion saved you from the death.
You survive but you lost everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
It's an impossibility for me not to rate TimeRiders 5 star. No other book can entertain, educate and make me feel as strongly as this series. I've never really had much of an interest in history until these novels.
This book is the most emotional of the lot. Liam and Rashim really make a life in 1667 and it's amazing to see that all unfurl. It's intense, inspiring, heart wrenching and exhilarating as the rest of them.
I can't get enough of the gang.
This book is the most emotional of the lot. Liam and Rashim really make a life in 1667 and it's amazing to see that all unfurl. It's intense, inspiring, heart wrenching and exhilarating as the rest of them.
I can't get enough of the gang.
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