Time Spent

313 #2 of 3

by J. David Clarke

"313" Volume 2: "If you leave me here, you won't like what happens next!" The mystery of MISSING TIME is over. Now, the passengers of school bus 313 must deal with an even greater threat, as dangerously powerful foes are unleashed in their world. Even worse, they are plagued by memories of an event they don't fully understand. They must piece together the threads of what happened: the rooftop, the cracks in the sky, and a strange otherworldly being. Is the bus driver's prophecy coming true? The end is closer than you think.
TIME SPENT

548 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2013

About the author

J. David Clarke was published in the literary journal of Tarrant County Jr College before moving on to become a Fine Arts graduate of Southwest Texas State University.

He has written four books: one collection of short stories called "The Rubberband Man and Other Stories". The YA fantasy adventure THE WIZARD IN MY WINDOW. MISSING TIME, Volume 1 of a science fiction series called "313" and Volume 2, TIME SPENT. He is currently working on Volume 3, TIME LOST and anticipates its release in 2014. He is also currently working on an epic fantasy series called "Keeper of Days", Volume 1 of which, "The Book of Day and Night", he hopes to have completed in 2014.

He is a lover of all things nerd: movies, television, books, science fiction/fantasy, role playing, and gaming.

He lives in Texas with his cat, Nightingale.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You don’t forget the end of the world.” It is amazing how this first statement gets to you. Certainly not when reading it at the beginning of the prologue. The importance and/or meaning becomes crystal clear as the story proceeds. This statement is equally impressive as “You were on the bus with me.” from Missing Time which has “Call me Ishmael.” quality.

You need to have read Missing Time before starting Time Spent. Otherwise you won’t stand a chance to understand. Again you find yourself in a fast paced story. Lots of information is exchanged between the protagonists and the reader. Be ready to stay on board as the knowledge about what has happened is revealed a little more. Just a few pages into the story you realise that this is not a simple task. The story evolves by hopping back and forth between the lives before, during and after the accident, and interaction which are newly revealed. This is a very distinctive style, a style that does not make it an easy read, yet attracts the reader to continue. Meet the protagonists again and let them tell you what has happened because I will not tell you more. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.

With this second volume of a series, J. David Clarke proves that it is not required to give never-ending descriptions or have to keep a flow. You can clearly imagine what the protagonists have to go through. Time Spent perhaps seems to be a complicated read at first – however, you get used to it pretty fast.

I am now looking forward to reading the third book in the 313 series: Time Lost. :-)

[watson387 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarke's second book in the 313 trilogy beautifully confuses only to explain all (well most anyway) when you least expect it. The super powered teens from bus 313 are drawn back together to confront their worst fears! The chapters are laid out like the first book with each chapter being about a separate character, and the story jumps around through time. The book unexpectedly goes from superhero sci-fi to almost Lovecraftian horror and is exciting the whole way through. The first book was great and this one even better. I recommend it!