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After Cilmeri #4

Children of Time

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November 1288. Bereft of a king or rightful heir, England hurtles towards civil war for the second time in a generation. When David, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Lili, travel to London to attend the wedding of William de Bohun and Princess Joan, they have no intention of involving themselves in local politics.

But as infighting leads to murder, David and Lili find themselves at the center of a far-reaching conspiracy. Trapped between history and legend, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to save not only their own country, but the people of England as well.

Meanwhile, back in Wales, Llywelyn and Meg discover that time is no barrier to either adventure or trouble ...

Children of Time, book four in the After Cilmeri series, continues the story of Llywelyn, Meg, and their children in the medieval kingdom of Wales.

344 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2012

398 people are currently reading
1049 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Woodbury

164 books750 followers
With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

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5 stars
1,035 (52%)
4 stars
652 (32%)
3 stars
252 (12%)
2 stars
33 (1%)
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17 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Lizzie.
58 reviews8 followers
December 28, 2012
I loved this book! Best in the series so far. Great job Sarah Woodbury, I was looking forward to this book since the third (forth with the prequel) came out, and you didn't disappoint!

In this edition the story focuses on David and Lili, and Llywelyn and Meg. It starts out with David with his parents getting ready to take off to London to attend the wedding of William de Bohun. When Llywelyn seems to have a heart attack, luckily they are on a balcony with a 40 ft drop so Meg and Goronwy jump with him as previously arranged between the two of them when Llywelyn had been in poor health since the summer when he was swept up in the storm during battle (in the last book). This way he could get medical care in Meg's world, present time. This left David as ruler of Wales in the meantime and having to make decisions on his own without his father the King for the first time. It seemed bad timing with the trip to Wales, but maybe it was great timing to force David to find confidence in himself. That was not an easy task since he was still fearing for the life of his father, and the outcome of the trip that Llywelyn, Meg, and Goronwy took. To add on to this stream of events along with the wedding happening in London there would also be a meeting of the nobles of Wales and England to find who would finally take the thrown of England which has been empty for three years. Without making a decision it would surly mean civil war in England. On his journey to London, David realizes that not only do the people of Wales believe he is the reincarnation of Arthur, but so do the people of England and they want him to be King!

This was a great addition to the series. I was really excited that Llywelyn and Meg were a focus again, which they haven't been a focus together since Daughter of Time, which before this book was my favorite of the series. I love the relationship between the two of them! It was also fun to finally see David and Lili together as a couple since it was more teased about in the past couple books. I really have nothing bad to say about this book, except I wanted more! This was the first book in awhile that I put it down and just wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know more of the characters and what happened next. Saying that I better mention that this book does not end in a cliff hanger. It has a great ending. You will just have to read to find out what happens to all the characters!
Profile Image for Leona.
313 reviews132 followers
August 23, 2013



On amazon.com:
"November 1288. Bereft of a king or rightful heir, England hurtles towards civil war for the second time in a generation. When David, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Lili, travel to London to attend the wedding of William de Bohun and Princess Joan, they have no intention of involving themselves in local politics.

But as infighting leads to murder, David and Lili find themselves at the center of a far-reaching conspiracy. Trapped between history and legend, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to save not only their own country, but the people of England as well.

Meanwhile, back in Wales, Llywelyn and Meg discover that time is no barrier to either adventure or trouble ...

Children of Time, book four in the After Cilmeri series, continues the story of Llywelyn, Meg, and their children in the medieval kingdom of Wales."
Main Character:

Main Characters:
The Welsh:
David ap Llywelyn, Dafydd, Prince of Wales
Ieuan ap Cynan, Welsh knight
Bronwen Llywelyn, an Amercian married to Ieuan
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, King of Wales, David's father
Marged, Queen of Wales, Mother of David and Anna
Anna, David's half sister
Mathonwy ap Rhys, Anna's husband; nephew to Llywelyn
Cadell, son of Anna and Math
Bevyn, Welsh knight
Nicholas de Carew, Norman/Welsh lord

The English:
Edward l (deceased), King of England
Eleanor of England, Edward's daughter
Joan of England,Edward's daughter
Sir John de Falkes, Castellan of Carlisle Castle
Humphrey de Bohun, Regent of Hereford
William de Bohun, Humphrey's son
Maud de Bohun, Humphrey's wife
John Peckham, Archbishop of Canterbury
Edmund Mortimer, Lord of the March
Gilbert de Clare, Lord of the March
My review:
Children of Time is Book 4 of the After Climeri Series.
In this book, the chapters are from each of the main characters and what they feel and think. It was not confusing to go back and forth with the chapters.
King Arthur is brought into this book and I personally liked the addition.
No sex and the language is not bad. I think these books would be good reads for young people interested in history.
I think the readers should read the prequel, Daughter of Time, but each book does stand alone.
I am giving this book a 5 star because it held my interest. It is a fast read.
I got my copy to read from my library system.
Dedicated to my sister (who is nothing like Megs's sister even if they live in the same house)


Profile Image for Maya.
488 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2013
This is one of the best in the series.
Meg takes Llywelyn to the future because he is having heart problems. MI5 hunts for them all over Wales and one of their agents ends up traveling back in time with them.

David is having big problems back in England. There is some much intrigue going on, and he must figure it out all the players.
Profile Image for Leslie Jenison.
Author 6 books3 followers
January 3, 2013
I picked all these up as e-books on amazon for a song. They are quick reads, enjoyable, and a perfect entertainment for a busy month. If you are a reader of historical fiction, time-travel, and fantasy, I believe you will enjoy them. Fast reads, one and all.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
Author 16 books38 followers
September 14, 2013
This is a wonderful series that is so exciting with how history could be changed if there really was time travel.
Profile Image for Angela.
47 reviews8 followers
January 29, 2013
I'm so in love with this series. I think it would be a perfect adaptation for TV....
Profile Image for Jeanne Loidolt.
Author 1 book1 follower
October 27, 2021
Unexpected royalty from a snake pit of evil

Who would have guessed what this plot led to! However, Woodbury has formed a believable foundation to support her creative imagination. Who else in this alternate reality merits the honor and adoration due this returning Arthur than a 14-year-old from the 21st century who assumed his place at age 20 on the throne of England. Only solid historical research could bring this bud to flower in a manner that keeps a reader cheering and wanting more. Reminiscent of a Frodo whose goodness stems from honorable character traits and puts the needs of others before his own, Daffyd unwittingly steps forward to defy the evil around him to uphold the goodness within him. I am more an historical fiction person than fantasy howerver I am as absorbed and enthralled with this tale as I was 50 years ago with Middle earth. I am anxious to enjoy the imaginations and adventures in the next book.
Profile Image for Dawn Dorsey.
155 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2017
Phew! The continuing "if only" history of Wales has progressed to the point that it significantly changes the course of English history (since the two countries are so proximate and intertwined), and Wales has become what it and Scotland have always dreamed of being: an independent country of equal legal standing with England, Spain, and any other free country. You won't believe what follows as the logical development.
5 reviews
Read
July 13, 2025
I put this in my wishlist thinking that this was the other Children of Time which is also science fiction and involves the past and the future (afaik). I still went on with it and started the After Cilmeri series from book 0.5 after realizing that this wasn't the book I was looking for, because the summary sounded interesting and seeing that it had 18 books felt like this would be a fleshed out fantasy.
Profile Image for Bruce.
1,043 reviews1 follower
December 5, 2017
I found the first couple of chapters of this book to be slow and not very interesting, but once the plot got past the transit in time, it became very intreating. Sarah Woodbury's writing skills improve with every book, her earlier simple characters become more complex and her simple story lines become multiple parallel story lines weaving into richer plots.
67 reviews
February 16, 2020
Llewellyn heart issue and David's London trip

The King of Wales puts his hand on his chest and goes down. Meg thinks time travel. Meanwhile David learns of a secret society meant to keep him safe. Travels to London for wedding suddenly have two ladies dead. England still needs a king to head off a civil war. Who will be chosen or killed next before they make it?
Profile Image for Susan.
564 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2024
This tells the story of the Welsh family of David, his wife and his entourage heading to England for the wedding of friend William and Joan and all the foibles along the way. There is a side story of Meg, Llewelyn and Geverny traveling once again to 2016.
Profile Image for Takiyah Dudley.
428 reviews1 follower
November 30, 2017
great continuation to one of my favorite series. a nice happy, intriguing twidt at the end to keep you hooked.
Profile Image for Laurie Pringle.
97 reviews2 followers
June 24, 2018
I love the new characters that continue to keep this story alive... The hitchhikers keep each book fresh and interesting. So glad I picked up this series.
11 reviews
July 24, 2019
Great series

Once you start you'll be hooked. Great series from start to finish. I didn't want it to end! Highly recommend
Profile Image for Lawrence Lassek.
15 reviews
November 22, 2019
Interesting. Similar to the Outlander series except the time travel is over 700 instead of 200 years.
Profile Image for M T.
121 reviews
April 27, 2020
Getting a little far fetched, even for a time travel book, but still enjoyable.
25 reviews
Read
January 29, 2022
Children of time

This was the best book ever, and I would and will recommend it too.. Its a book and a series worth reading. Always/p griffith
Profile Image for Richard Pierce.
Author 5 books41 followers
June 30, 2022
I love this stuff. Great research, thrilling writing, a logical alternate universe. Compelling characters, and likable, too. And some very bad baddies.
1,628 reviews12 followers
February 6, 2023
3 stars. Not bad. Less "action" and more political intrigue. Unfortunately, much of that intrigue was hidden from the readers and never really explained; just "revealed".
19 reviews
January 16, 2024
3.5. I enjoyed the pacing and the different events that took place in this one.
Profile Image for Heather.
85 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2025
Another fun installment

This series is unexpected, in the sense that I did not expect an alternate timeline to be so plausible. I recommend the entire series, so far.
Profile Image for Long Nights.
13 reviews
October 24, 2025
This is the last book I read from the series. I honestly loved the beginning of the series' plot, but now things are just getting far-fetched.
Profile Image for Michelle Louise.
441 reviews20 followers
September 6, 2017
Good but odd stylistic choice

While I'm still enjoying the series, I wonder why the author chose to write this in first person when most of the series is written in third person limited. This odd pov choice kept knocking me out of the story.

I'm glad to see that traveling to the future like a personal get out jail free card is starting to have consequences for Meg and her family. Seriously. It was long overdue.

The political intrigue is what keeps me interested and there is that in spades. And I'm glad to see that the newest arrival from the future doesn't speak welsh. Honestly that was starting to stretch credulity.

In all I enjoyed this but not as much as other books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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