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TimeRiders #8
TimeRiders: The Mayan Prophecy
Get ready for TimeRiders: The Mayan Prophecy, the 8th book in Alex Scarrow's #1 bestselling time-travel adventure series.
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 . . .
When Maddy finally unlocks fragments of the secret that Becks has been holding on to, the TimeRiders start to piece together their true purpose. Racing through time to connect the clues, the team discover a Mayan tribe and an ancient relic provides a vital link to the past . . . and future.
But not all the TimeRiders can cope with the discovery, and one threatens to bring them all down if they can act out their revenge . . .
** Book eight in the bestselling TimeRiders series by Alex Scarrow.
** Perfect for fans of Doctor Who and Indiana Jones
** TimeRiders (Book 1) won the Red House Book Award older readers category, and was Penguin UK's first ever number one on the iBookstore.
** Alex Scarrow is a World Book Day 2013 author with TimeRiders: The Nearly Girl on the WBD Movellas app.
Alex Scarrow used to be a rock guitarist, then he became a graphic artist, then he decided to be a computer games designer. Finally, he grew up and became an author. He has written a number of successful thrillers and several screenplays, but it's YA fiction that has allowed him to really have fun with the ideas and concepts he was playing around with designing games.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2013
48 people are currently reading
1887 people want to read
About the author
Alex Scarrow
77 books1,044 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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August 7, 2013
Well we're drawing near to the end. Just one more book to go in this nine book epic time travel journey in which the concluding final instalment will be released in June 2014.
So how does this penultimate instalment measure up to the previous books? Well, its as enthralling, playful and exciting as the previous instalments but it also packs in more gut wrenching, heartbreaking moments and finally plummets into a very frightening dark place teased on by earlier books.
As one would expect in a chronicle fantasy/scifi series, the penultimate instalments would take a a more darker turn. No exception here. So embrace yourself but dont fear it, as Scarrow's narrative still sparkles with plenty of humour, thought provocation on world, political and current issues, splendid character developments and a supreme flair for storytelling. He keeps the narrative fresh by switching between a plethora of different perspectives keeping the story rolling with a sweeping kinetic flow. I know there will be some who would have liked a little more expansion on certain elements but I think perhaps they are sacrificed for the sake of keeping the novel within a YA criteria (which surely is borderline already given the gory content and some adult themes of this series).
There is a surprise historical character that will knock some scifi geeks for six and as usual with Scarrow's historical characters, spins a new twisty layer on the character, while maintaining the known legacy.
Again, its a tremendous page turner. Where this book differs from previous books is that this is no longer an "adventure of the week" instalment. We are now firmly seated on the main story arc train and towards the end of the book, is at full throttle heading towards, what promises to be a colossal finale with grand revelations.
So shall I sum up now? Ok.
Brilliant. Thats it. Not much more than that. Just flaming brilliant.
Roll on the conclusion in 297 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes and 51 seconds
5/5
So how does this penultimate instalment measure up to the previous books? Well, its as enthralling, playful and exciting as the previous instalments but it also packs in more gut wrenching, heartbreaking moments and finally plummets into a very frightening dark place teased on by earlier books.
As one would expect in a chronicle fantasy/scifi series, the penultimate instalments would take a a more darker turn. No exception here. So embrace yourself but dont fear it, as Scarrow's narrative still sparkles with plenty of humour, thought provocation on world, political and current issues, splendid character developments and a supreme flair for storytelling. He keeps the narrative fresh by switching between a plethora of different perspectives keeping the story rolling with a sweeping kinetic flow. I know there will be some who would have liked a little more expansion on certain elements but I think perhaps they are sacrificed for the sake of keeping the novel within a YA criteria (which surely is borderline already given the gory content and some adult themes of this series).
There is a surprise historical character that will knock some scifi geeks for six and as usual with Scarrow's historical characters, spins a new twisty layer on the character, while maintaining the known legacy.
Again, its a tremendous page turner. Where this book differs from previous books is that this is no longer an "adventure of the week" instalment. We are now firmly seated on the main story arc train and towards the end of the book, is at full throttle heading towards, what promises to be a colossal finale with grand revelations.
So shall I sum up now? Ok.
Brilliant. Thats it. Not much more than that. Just flaming brilliant.
Roll on the conclusion in 297 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes and 51 seconds
5/5
October 10, 2022
Κα-τα-πλη-κτι-κό βιβλίο με σούπερ δυνατή εξέλιξη της ιστορίας, το διάβασα απνευστί. Δίνονται απαντήσεις και γεννιούνται καινούριες απορίες. Ένα από τα καλύτερα της σειράς!
May 24, 2018
Ένα βιβλίο πριν το τέλος και γίνεται ένας μικρός χαμούλης. Δεν έχει νόημα να γράψω πολλά… Θα αρκεστώ στα κλασικά πλέον. Όποιος έχει φτάσει έως εδώ σημαίνει πως του αρέσει η σειρά οπότε γρήγορα για το τελευταίο! (επιτέλους!!!!!!! :-) )
September 19, 2017
Μετά από οχτώ βιβλία, αισίως εννιά, έχω εξαντλήσει όλους τους πιθανούς τρόπους με τους οποίους θα μπορούσα να κάνω εισαγωγή στην ανάλυση ενός ακόμα βιβλίου της σειράς "Οι Φύλακες του Χρόνου". Όχι πως έχουν ανάγκη από εισαγωγές, ή πως και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας της, Alex Scarrow, έχει ανάγκη από τις δικές μου συστάσεις, αλλά όπως και να το κάνουμε... θες να κάνεις εντυπωσιακή "είσοδο". Και αφού, λοιπόν, απέτυχα παταγωδώς να το κάνω, κι επειδή δεν έχω πιει ακόμα τον δεύτερο καφέ της ημέρας για να σκεφτώ κάτι πιο ευφάνταστο και έξυπνο, ας περάσουμε στο ζουμί και ας σταματήσω την ακατάπαυστη φλυαρία μου.
Η Μάντι έχει καταφέρει να φέρει στο φως κάποια στοιχεία που αποκαλύπτουν ένα μέρος του γρίφου πίσω από την πραγματικό λόγο ύπαρξης των Φυλάκων του Χρόνου. Όμως η αναζήτησή τους, με σκοπό την ανακάλυψη ολόκληρης της αλήθειας, δεν έχει ακόμα τελειώσει, με τους φίλους μας να ξεκινάνε ένα ακόμα ταξίδι στο χρόνο, σε μια αγωνιώδη προσπάθεια να βρουν απαντήσεις, μα και τα κομμάτια που υπολείπονται από το μυστηριώδες παζλ που καλύπτει την ταυτότητά τους. Κάπως έτσι θα φτάσουν στο να ανακαλύψουν μια φυλή Μάγια, μα και ένα αρχαίο αντικείμενο που συνδέεται, τόσο με το παρελθόν όσο και με το μέλλον. Όμως η αποκάλυψη ενός ακόμα μυστικού, θα οδηγήσει ένα από τα μέλη της ομάδας σε μία μεγάλη έκρηξη, τροφοδοτώντας τη μανία του να εκδικηθεί.
Το έχω ξαναπεί, αλλά θα το πως ακόμα μία φορά. Ο Scarrow είναι ένας εξαιρετικός αφηγηματογράφος του φανταστικού. Έχει μια απίστευτη ικανότητα να δημιουργεί δικούς του κόσμους οι οποίοι, ωστόσο, έχουν τις ρίζες τους κάπου στην πραγματική ζωή, με αποτέλεσμα αυτοί να φαντάζουν πιο ρεαλιστικοί και στέρεοι. Διαθέτει μια αστείρευτη φαντασία, χτίζοντας μια δικιά του Ιστορία η οποία, επίσης, έχει τις ρίζες της στην πραγματική, γεγονός που μας παρασύρει ακόμα περισσότερο και κάνει τη γνώση μας για το γνωστό να μπερδεύεται με τη δίψα μας για τη γνώση που έχει εκείνος να προσφέρει, χάνοντας τα όρια του τι είναι αλήθεια και τι όχι όσο η αφήγησή του προχωράει και εξελίσσεται. Όσον αφορά τη δράση, γιατί δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε πως μιλάμε για μια επική περιπέτεια φαντασίας, τα λόγια είναι μάλλον περιττά, αφού με κάθε νέο του βιβλίο επιτυγχάνει να εκτοξεύσει την αγωνία μας και την ένταση της ιστορίας του ακόμα πιο ψηλά.
Όμως, αυτό που ξεχωρίζει, τόσο στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο, όσο και στα τελευταία βιβλία της σειράς γενικότερα, είναι η ανάλυση και η ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων του. Όχι πως δεν ήταν καλοδουλεμένοι από την αρχή απλά, τώρα πια, τους έχει πάει σε ένα άλλο, διαφορετικό επίπεδο. Τους έχει περάσει από σαράντα κύματα, τους έχει βάλει, πολλές φορές, να σηκώσουν μεγαλύτερα βάρη απ' αυτά που μπορούν ν' αντέξουν, όμως όλα αυτά έχουν μία σκοπιμότητα. Να οδηγήσουν στο σήμερα, με τους ίδιους να έχουν μεγαλώσει, όχι μόνο σωματικά, αλλά και πνευματικά. Να έχουν ωριμάσει, αλλά παράλληλα, να έχει ενισχυθεί κάθε άγριο ένστικτό τους, είτε αυτό σχετίζεται με την επιβίωσή τους και την προστασία της ανθρωπότητας, είτε με τη βαθιά ριζωμένη, μέσα σε ορισμένους, δίψα για εκδίκηση. Ειδικά η ανάπτυξη του ψυχογραφήματος της Σαλ, στο βιβλίο αυτό, είναι αριστοτεχνική.
Εν κατακλείδι, λίγο πριν από το οριστικό τέλος της μακράς αυτής περιπέτειας, ο Scarrow μάς προσφέρει ένα ακόμα βιβλίο με εντάσεις, δράση, περιπέτεια, αγωνία, αλλά και μεγάλο προβληματισμό. Είναι το κομβικό εκείνο σημείο όπου πρέπει να παρθούν αποφάσεις που θα καθορίσουν την τελική πορεία των ορίων μας, αλλά και το photo finish μίας διαδρομής που μπορεί να μην ήταν εύκολη ή ευχάριστη, τουλάχιστον όχι όλες τις φορές, αλλά που είχε να προσφέρει γνώσεις, εμπειρίες, δυνατά κι έντονα συναισθήματα, όλα τα στοιχεία εκείνα, δηλαδή, που χρειάζεται ένας άνθρωπος προκειμένου να μπορέσει να οδηγηθεί ολοκληρωμένος και πλήρης στην ενηλικίωσή του. Κι αν δεν έχετε διαβάσει ήδη τα προηγούμενα βιβλία, ίσως τώρα να είναι μια καλή ευκαιρία να ξεκινήσετε και να καλύψετε το χαμένο έδαφος.
Η Μάντι έχει καταφέρει να φέρει στο φως κάποια στοιχεία που αποκαλύπτουν ένα μέρος του γρίφου πίσω από την πραγματικό λόγο ύπαρξης των Φυλάκων του Χρόνου. Όμως η αναζήτησή τους, με σκοπό την ανακάλυψη ολόκληρης της αλήθειας, δεν έχει ακόμα τελειώσει, με τους φίλους μας να ξεκινάνε ένα ακόμα ταξίδι στο χρόνο, σε μια αγωνιώδη προσπάθεια να βρουν απαντήσεις, μα και τα κομμάτια που υπολείπονται από το μυστηριώδες παζλ που καλύπτει την ταυτότητά τους. Κάπως έτσι θα φτάσουν στο να ανακαλύψουν μια φυλή Μάγια, μα και ένα αρχαίο αντικείμενο που συνδέεται, τόσο με το παρελθόν όσο και με το μέλλον. Όμως η αποκάλυψη ενός ακόμα μυστικού, θα οδηγήσει ένα από τα μέλη της ομάδας σε μία μεγάλη έκρηξη, τροφοδοτώντας τη μανία του να εκδικηθεί.
Το έχω ξαναπεί, αλλά θα το πως ακόμα μία φορά. Ο Scarrow είναι ένας εξαιρετικός αφηγηματογράφος του φανταστικού. Έχει μια απίστευτη ικανότητα να δημιουργεί δικούς του κόσμους οι οποίοι, ωστόσο, έχουν τις ρίζες τους κάπου στην πραγματική ζωή, με αποτέλεσμα αυτοί να φαντάζουν πιο ρεαλιστικοί και στέρεοι. Διαθέτει μια αστείρευτη φαντασία, χτίζοντας μια δικιά του Ιστορία η οποία, επίσης, έχει τις ρίζες της στην πραγματική, γεγονός που μας παρασύρει ακόμα περισσότερο και κάνει τη γνώση μας για το γνωστό να μπερδεύεται με τη δίψα μας για τη γνώση που έχει εκείνος να προσφέρει, χάνοντας τα όρια του τι είναι αλήθεια και τι όχι όσο η αφήγησή του προχωράει και εξελίσσεται. Όσον αφορά τη δράση, γιατί δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε πως μιλάμε για μια επική περιπέτεια φαντασίας, τα λόγια είναι μάλλον περιττά, αφού με κάθε νέο του βιβλίο επιτυγχάνει να εκτοξεύσει την αγωνία μας και την ένταση της ιστορίας του ακόμα πιο ψηλά.
Όμως, αυτό που ξεχωρίζει, τόσο στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο, όσο και στα τελευταία βιβλία της σειράς γενικότερα, είναι η ανάλυση και η ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων του. Όχι πως δεν ήταν καλοδουλεμένοι από την αρχή απλά, τώρα πια, τους έχει πάει σε ένα άλλο, διαφορετικό επίπεδο. Τους έχει περάσει από σαράντα κύματα, τους έχει βάλει, πολλές φορές, να σηκώσουν μεγαλύτερα βάρη απ' αυτά που μπορούν ν' αντέξουν, όμως όλα αυτά έχουν μία σκοπιμότητα. Να οδηγήσουν στο σήμερα, με τους ίδιους να έχουν μεγαλώσει, όχι μόνο σωματικά, αλλά και πνευματικά. Να έχουν ωριμάσει, αλλά παράλληλα, να έχει ενισχυθεί κάθε άγριο ένστικτό τους, είτε αυτό σχετίζεται με την επιβίωσή τους και την προστασία της ανθρωπότητας, είτε με τη βαθιά ριζωμένη, μέσα σε ορισμένους, δίψα για εκδίκηση. Ειδικά η ανάπτυξη του ψυχογραφήματος της Σαλ, στο βιβλίο αυτό, είναι αριστοτεχνική.
Εν κατακλείδι, λίγο πριν από το οριστικό τέλος της μακράς αυτής περιπέτειας, ο Scarrow μάς προσφέρει ένα ακόμα βιβλίο με εντάσεις, δράση, περιπέτεια, αγωνία, αλλά και μεγάλο προβληματισμό. Είναι το κομβικό εκείνο σημείο όπου πρέπει να παρθούν αποφάσεις που θα καθορίσουν την τελική πορεία των ορίων μας, αλλά και το photo finish μίας διαδρομής που μπορεί να μην ήταν εύκολη ή ευχάριστη, τουλάχιστον όχι όλες τις φορές, αλλά που είχε να προσφέρει γνώσεις, εμπειρίες, δυνατά κι έντονα συναισθήματα, όλα τα στοιχεία εκείνα, δηλαδή, που χρειάζεται ένας άνθρωπος προκειμένου να μπορέσει να οδηγηθεί ολοκληρωμένος και πλήρης στην ενηλικίωσή του. Κι αν δεν έχετε διαβάσει ήδη τα προηγούμενα βιβλία, ίσως τώρα να είναι μια καλή ευκαιρία να ξεκινήσετε και να καλύψετε το χαμένο έδαφος.
August 7, 2013
I finished this book within 3 days, and I'm now gutted that the series I fell in love with is coming to an end. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I originally bought the first book way back in 2010, purely because it mentioned the Titanic, a subject which I'm fascinated by. But it's become so much more than that, in three years. Book 9 will be released in 2014, and it looks like the die hard fans are going to be waiting almost a year to get their hands on it.
I've read some of the other reviews have mentioned that the first half of the book is quite slow, but I disagree. I was giggling by page 21, and was sucked straight back into the world of Maddy, Liam, Sal, Bob and Becks. After the revelations from previous books and the appearance of Bertie (who has some diary entries in this), I have a feeling there's plenty more where that came from, up Alex's sleeve. There were a couple of subtle hints at what the final book could contain, which, along with the previous revelations, are shocking and always seem to come out of nowhere. But at the same time, always seem to make perfect sense. It's like a big lightbulb going off multiple times over your head.
There were times I did feel like slowing down my reading of the Mayan Prophecy, and savour it a bit more, but unfortunately, I just could not put it down. I was desperate to find out more about Bertie (some reviewers apparently didn't see this coming, but I totally did, and I hope to see him in the final book).
I have to say, for a YA book, this part of the series, has a very dark and quite frightening ending. I'm not exactly the age group for this kind of book, but even I found the events leading up to the last page quite mind boggling, and if I could have hid behind the couch, I would have done.
So far, I have read only a couple of Alex Scarrow's adult books ([[ASIN:0752884298 October Skies]] and [[ASIN:1409103072 The Candle Man]]) but I don't think anything he will ever write will top this series. I pre-order every book as soon as I possibly can (for instance, I pre-ordered this book in February - it wasn't released until August) and I just know, it will be the same with the last book. I do think, like many other Time Riders fans, there's going to be great mourning when this series is over. I don't think I remember falling in love with a YA series since my days of Sweet Valley High and The Babysitter's Club (showing my age!)
I hope after book 9 is released, it doesn't go down the path of "I'm bored of the series now, so they will wake up in the shower, and it was all a dream", but something tells me that Alex has had the whole story arc in his head from the beginning. He knows how it's going to end and where it's going to end, and I'm sure he too will be sad to finish writing it. I also hope that Liam, Maddy, Sal, Bob and Becks manage to live on in some way - I can totally picture it as a TV series, or on a movie screen near you.
I just hope I don't need any tissues for the last book, as I nearly needed tissues for this one!
I've read some of the other reviews have mentioned that the first half of the book is quite slow, but I disagree. I was giggling by page 21, and was sucked straight back into the world of Maddy, Liam, Sal, Bob and Becks. After the revelations from previous books and the appearance of Bertie (who has some diary entries in this), I have a feeling there's plenty more where that came from, up Alex's sleeve. There were a couple of subtle hints at what the final book could contain, which, along with the previous revelations, are shocking and always seem to come out of nowhere. But at the same time, always seem to make perfect sense. It's like a big lightbulb going off multiple times over your head.
There were times I did feel like slowing down my reading of the Mayan Prophecy, and savour it a bit more, but unfortunately, I just could not put it down. I was desperate to find out more about Bertie (some reviewers apparently didn't see this coming, but I totally did, and I hope to see him in the final book).
I have to say, for a YA book, this part of the series, has a very dark and quite frightening ending. I'm not exactly the age group for this kind of book, but even I found the events leading up to the last page quite mind boggling, and if I could have hid behind the couch, I would have done.
So far, I have read only a couple of Alex Scarrow's adult books ([[ASIN:0752884298 October Skies]] and [[ASIN:1409103072 The Candle Man]]) but I don't think anything he will ever write will top this series. I pre-order every book as soon as I possibly can (for instance, I pre-ordered this book in February - it wasn't released until August) and I just know, it will be the same with the last book. I do think, like many other Time Riders fans, there's going to be great mourning when this series is over. I don't think I remember falling in love with a YA series since my days of Sweet Valley High and The Babysitter's Club (showing my age!)
I hope after book 9 is released, it doesn't go down the path of "I'm bored of the series now, so they will wake up in the shower, and it was all a dream", but something tells me that Alex has had the whole story arc in his head from the beginning. He knows how it's going to end and where it's going to end, and I'm sure he too will be sad to finish writing it. I also hope that Liam, Maddy, Sal, Bob and Becks manage to live on in some way - I can totally picture it as a TV series, or on a movie screen near you.
I just hope I don't need any tissues for the last book, as I nearly needed tissues for this one!
August 7, 2013
No words ...
...
...
Ok I'm good. So...
...
But...
...
*Deep breath* Ok. Sals a seeker. Maddie fell in love and then Adam died. They all went back to the Windrunners and destroyed a civilisation. And we still don't know what's in Becks head.
Great book. Fantastic book. Much better then 7 but lets not be coy here. Latest theory is a giant alien experiment that Waldstein is in on. The epilogue would seem to back them up.
A floating circular object. Assumed by the reader to be a ship. That holds people working on the giant energy flow device. BUT THEY WEREN'T THE ONES WHO BUILT IT. It's very clear about that.
So we are looking at 2 very distinct sets of beings. The ones who created the device all those centuries ago, henceforth known as 'the builders'. And the ones whose ship came with the passage to be written on the wall, henceforth known as 'the writers'.
So here is what I understand PRIOR to the 8 book re-read that will definitely occur.
•The builders built the device.
•The writers found the device, modded it, and had the text painted on the wall.
•Adam Lewis sees the text.
•Adam Lewis then sees the Voynich Manuscript which was a copy of the holy grail. Decrypting a single line.
•Becks then decrypts the entire manuscript which is in fact a message from older Liam detailing events of pandora.
•Unable to divulge the details until "the end", Becks spits out the phrase "Windrunners" causing them to go back to the Mayans and destroy the Windrunners.
•Alex Scarrow is an evil genius.
Have I missed anything because its a convoluted story make no mistake. 2014 is the next one. Lets get ready. Because its gonna go down. One way or another. And we're going down together.
...
...
Ok I'm good. So...
...
But...
...
*Deep breath* Ok. Sals a seeker. Maddie fell in love and then Adam died. They all went back to the Windrunners and destroyed a civilisation. And we still don't know what's in Becks head.
Great book. Fantastic book. Much better then 7 but lets not be coy here. Latest theory is a giant alien experiment that Waldstein is in on. The epilogue would seem to back them up.
A floating circular object. Assumed by the reader to be a ship. That holds people working on the giant energy flow device. BUT THEY WEREN'T THE ONES WHO BUILT IT. It's very clear about that.
So we are looking at 2 very distinct sets of beings. The ones who created the device all those centuries ago, henceforth known as 'the builders'. And the ones whose ship came with the passage to be written on the wall, henceforth known as 'the writers'.
So here is what I understand PRIOR to the 8 book re-read that will definitely occur.
•The builders built the device.
•The writers found the device, modded it, and had the text painted on the wall.
•Adam Lewis sees the text.
•Adam Lewis then sees the Voynich Manuscript which was a copy of the holy grail. Decrypting a single line.
•Becks then decrypts the entire manuscript which is in fact a message from older Liam detailing events of pandora.
•Unable to divulge the details until "the end", Becks spits out the phrase "Windrunners" causing them to go back to the Mayans and destroy the Windrunners.
•Alex Scarrow is an evil genius.
Have I missed anything because its a convoluted story make no mistake. 2014 is the next one. Lets get ready. Because its gonna go down. One way or another. And we're going down together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2013
I almost gave this a three-star rating....but I realized that I really didn't like this one all that much, compared to the other books. I had like the small romance going on and some details of the plot, which I almost gave it a three for (I'm a sucker for romance haha), but nope
I hated how (WARNING, may contain SPOILERS, so don't read if you don't wanna know), Alex Scarrow totally ruined Sal. She was my least favorite character already and now...well, I just hate her.
Then the whole, this planet is an experient bla bla bla
Crazy minds forming a strange beast....
It was just too crazy (for me)
I just didn't enjoy as much....creative, but in a bad way (in my opinion)
I still give it to him though, Alex Scarrow makes an interesting read....I was never bored
And I'm still curious to know where he's taking this :)
I'm still in love with Liam! haha
I hated how (WARNING, may contain SPOILERS, so don't read if you don't wanna know), Alex Scarrow totally ruined Sal. She was my least favorite character already and now...well, I just hate her.
Then the whole, this planet is an experient bla bla bla
Crazy minds forming a strange beast....
It was just too crazy (for me)
I just didn't enjoy as much....creative, but in a bad way (in my opinion)
I still give it to him though, Alex Scarrow makes an interesting read....I was never bored
And I'm still curious to know where he's taking this :)
I'm still in love with Liam! haha
January 5, 2018
I have loved every single TimeRiders novel but The Mayan Prophecy, the eighth, is sensational. Without doubt the best of a brilliant series, it is literally unputdownable (I read it in one day and night) and completely mesmerising. As the series moves towards its conclusion with the next novel, here there are more clues and more answers but also an awful lot more trauma, danger and heartbreak for our fabulous heroes Maddy, Liam, Sal, Bob, Becks and their friends. A corker of a book.
October 25, 2014
17/20
En bref, un avant dernier tome plein de surprises et de rebondissements, l'auteur n'épargne pas les personnages et nous laisse entendre que le final sera en apothéose ! On est toujours aussi pris par l'intrigue, j'ai adoré le "monde" qu'ils découvrent dans ce livre et j'apprécie toujours autant de suivre ces personnages !
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
En bref, un avant dernier tome plein de surprises et de rebondissements, l'auteur n'épargne pas les personnages et nous laisse entendre que le final sera en apothéose ! On est toujours aussi pris par l'intrigue, j'ai adoré le "monde" qu'ils découvrent dans ce livre et j'apprécie toujours autant de suivre ces personnages !
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
December 30, 2018
Jelek banget kisah dalam buku ini, kesannya seperti semacam filler. mencari-cari petualangannya terlalu mengada-ngada, bahkan cenderung gegabah mengulang yang sudah terjadi.
Maunya dengan ada tema Suku Maya, yang notabene punya hubungan erat dengan waktu (ramalan 2012 yang sempat heboh itu ) seharusnya buku ini jadi menarik!! Namun apa daya, Suku Maya yang diusung cuma jadi tempelan. Shame!!
Maunya dengan ada tema Suku Maya, yang notabene punya hubungan erat dengan waktu (ramalan 2012 yang sempat heboh itu ) seharusnya buku ini jadi menarik!! Namun apa daya, Suku Maya yang diusung cuma jadi tempelan. Shame!!
March 27, 2020
I am flying through this series and after finding the last couple not at the top of my 5+ reads this was a welcome read for me. I loved this one and after finishing it in 24 hours it shows how much I couldn't put it down. I was glad to see Sal gone now though as she was just irritating me with all the moaning and bitching. I only have 1 more to read in this series and part of me doesn't want it to end after 9 books as I feel like I know these characters and I dont want it to end. One of the best series I've ever read and I can say that without even having read the last one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2024
3,5/5
Από πλευράς εξελίξεων και δράσης είναι το καλύτερο της σειράς μέχρι τώρα , προφανώς οδεύουμε προς το τέλος του οράματος του Σκαροου και η γνώση αυτή τον κάνει πιο περιεκτικό και συγκεντρωτικό σε αυτά που θέλει να πει . Σίγουρα ανυπομονώ για το φιναλε …
Από πλευράς εξελίξεων και δράσης είναι το καλύτερο της σειράς μέχρι τώρα , προφανώς οδεύουμε προς το τέλος του οράματος του Σκαροου και η γνώση αυτή τον κάνει πιο περιεκτικό και συγκεντρωτικό σε αυτά που θέλει να πει . Σίγουρα ανυπομονώ για το φιναλε …
May 18, 2018
Boring and repetitive after 8 books. TBH don't even know how I read the first 7.
February 3, 2020
I was so sad with what ended up happening at the end. I'm really worried about what's going to happen and how they will go from there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
ill have to be so honest w you rn, i have no idea what i just read
August 9, 2017
Tydac sabar nunggu buku finalnya... argh
July 21, 2023
Les temps se mélangent, les dangers se multiplient, le dénouement approche !
August 9, 2013
A fantastic penultimate addition to the phenomenal TimeRiders series. I couldn't put it down from page 1 to page 391. TimeRiders: The Mayan Prophecy" is a incomprehensibly addictive read.
The story begins with our heroes, the formerly-employed lackeys of Waldstein and his TimeRiders initiative, Maddy, Liam and Sal accompanied by their meaty-robot henchman/woman Bob and Becks and the wandering scientist, Rashim, from a doomed 2070; questioning their role in the greater scheme of things and trying to figure out the mysterious messages left behind for them all throughout time indicating toward a doomsday event levelled as "Pandora".
Amazing theories and revelations are brougth to the table during the course of the book and it results in an incarnation of "the devil itself" to quote the famous H.G. Wells (Just go with it) rising out of what could be described as Hell (Seriously, just go with it). As frightening truths are dug up from the past and even more terrifying character developments come to light the ex-TimeRiders face their most perilous adventure to date.
And considering they have access to every date ever, that's a lot of peril.
As this is book 8 of a 9 book series I am beginning to get upset about thinking of what could happen once this series is over. I believe I will miss this series more than I did Harry Potter. I actually prefer this series to the aforementioned series. I put this down to the characters. Since the first book of the series released in 2010 we have followed the lives of Maddy, Liam and Sal through it all. Their characters have grown, developed in to people I for one care for greatly. Add to that the occasional comical input from Bob and/or Becks (and the more frequent ass-kickings they dish out) and you have what I think of as as close to a perfect team as I think any writer could achieve in this lifetime.
There are talks of a film series or a TV series of some sorts but I am unsure as to whether or not it is mere speculation at present. Here's hoping it happens though because with the addition of this story it adds to what would be a beautiful piece of storytelling to be seen by audiences far and wide.
The story begins with our heroes, the formerly-employed lackeys of Waldstein and his TimeRiders initiative, Maddy, Liam and Sal accompanied by their meaty-robot henchman/woman Bob and Becks and the wandering scientist, Rashim, from a doomed 2070; questioning their role in the greater scheme of things and trying to figure out the mysterious messages left behind for them all throughout time indicating toward a doomsday event levelled as "Pandora".
Amazing theories and revelations are brougth to the table during the course of the book and it results in an incarnation of "the devil itself" to quote the famous H.G. Wells (Just go with it) rising out of what could be described as Hell (Seriously, just go with it). As frightening truths are dug up from the past and even more terrifying character developments come to light the ex-TimeRiders face their most perilous adventure to date.
And considering they have access to every date ever, that's a lot of peril.
As this is book 8 of a 9 book series I am beginning to get upset about thinking of what could happen once this series is over. I believe I will miss this series more than I did Harry Potter. I actually prefer this series to the aforementioned series. I put this down to the characters. Since the first book of the series released in 2010 we have followed the lives of Maddy, Liam and Sal through it all. Their characters have grown, developed in to people I for one care for greatly. Add to that the occasional comical input from Bob and/or Becks (and the more frequent ass-kickings they dish out) and you have what I think of as as close to a perfect team as I think any writer could achieve in this lifetime.
There are talks of a film series or a TV series of some sorts but I am unsure as to whether or not it is mere speculation at present. Here's hoping it happens though because with the addition of this story it adds to what would be a beautiful piece of storytelling to be seen by audiences far and wide.
May 12, 2022
2022 52 Book Challenge - 12) Set on at least two continents
I've been sitting here trying to write this review for almost half an hour with no idea what to write because this book, all I can say about it is that it's readable.
The whole book feels like filler, like its just setting up the final book and it reads like the author was losing touch with the series a little because the entire book felt like nothing was happening, even when it got to the final quarter of the book and things did start happening, it all felt extremely flat.
One of the main characters disappears and later dies and the other characters are like "oh we've lost her, we'll stay here in this village where we're not welcome and try to find her tomorrow." That level is how the entire book felt. This event possibly leads to the slaughter of the entire community, but the characters just don't seem to care that they effectively caused a genocide? I'm sorry, what happened to the characters from the first book? Are these even the same characters?
After pining for him for so many books, Maddy finally brings back Adam, so we get a lovely mini romance for most of this novel which is just... boring. She accepted that she fancied him in previous books, so why does she spent this entire book denying it all over again?
And to cap all of it off, it seems like the entire premise of the novels - of the TimeRiders field office - is to say that human history is an alien's science experiment, doomed to repeat over and over again. Joyous.
I've been sitting here trying to write this review for almost half an hour with no idea what to write because this book, all I can say about it is that it's readable.
The whole book feels like filler, like its just setting up the final book and it reads like the author was losing touch with the series a little because the entire book felt like nothing was happening, even when it got to the final quarter of the book and things did start happening, it all felt extremely flat.
One of the main characters disappears and later dies and the other characters are like "oh we've lost her, we'll stay here in this village where we're not welcome and try to find her tomorrow." That level is how the entire book felt. This event possibly leads to the slaughter of the entire community, but the characters just don't seem to care that they effectively caused a genocide? I'm sorry, what happened to the characters from the first book? Are these even the same characters?
After pining for him for so many books, Maddy finally brings back Adam, so we get a lovely mini romance for most of this novel which is just... boring. She accepted that she fancied him in previous books, so why does she spent this entire book denying it all over again?
And to cap all of it off, it seems like the entire premise of the novels - of the TimeRiders field office - is to say that human history is an alien's science experiment, doomed to repeat over and over again. Joyous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2014
It's currently 5 in the morning so I'll keep this short...
It took me a long time to read this one, mainly because nothing particularly interesting or relevant to the overarching story happened until 3/4 of the way into the book, so until that point my interest levels didn't allow me to read more than 20-25 pages at a time.
Too many main characters. It means that we're starting to lose depth to the characters which is always a bad thing.
We had a teenage romance in this one... If you're like me you'll skim these parts...
After finishing the novel I just kept thinking that everything that happened could have been avoided or undone quite easily but never was.
I'll admit, the last 50 pages or so was actually quite good, but this just annoys me further because it means that the author was just lazy for the first 3/4 of writing. (I realize this is harsh, but I know he can be so much better than this.)
It took me a long time to read this one, mainly because nothing particularly interesting or relevant to the overarching story happened until 3/4 of the way into the book, so until that point my interest levels didn't allow me to read more than 20-25 pages at a time.
Too many main characters. It means that we're starting to lose depth to the characters which is always a bad thing.
We had a teenage romance in this one... If you're like me you'll skim these parts...
After finishing the novel I just kept thinking that everything that happened could have been avoided or undone quite easily but never was.
I'll admit, the last 50 pages or so was actually quite good, but this just annoys me further because it means that the author was just lazy for the first 3/4 of writing. (I realize this is harsh, but I know he can be so much better than this.)
September 27, 2015
4.5 stars.
Absolutely brilliant!
It was great to see Adam back for a while. Billy and Bertie were great characters too.
I didn't see much point in the whole Maddy-and-Adam-kidnapped-by-bandits. Why was that there?
Sal! Seeing what happens to her in this book made me realize how much I love her as a character! Yes, she was self-centered but most girls are her age. She didn't deserve what she got.
Alex Scarrow also introduced a bunch of new theories of what on earth (geddit?) was going on. While very interesting, I didn't completely understand it. I was also confused at the underground column and what it was there for but that's probably answered in the last book which I'll have to wait until around June to get!
Absolutely brilliant!
It was great to see Adam back for a while. Billy and Bertie were great characters too.
I didn't see much point in the whole Maddy-and-Adam-kidnapped-by-bandits. Why was that there?
Sal! Seeing what happens to her in this book made me realize how much I love her as a character! Yes, she was self-centered but most girls are her age. She didn't deserve what she got.
Alex Scarrow also introduced a bunch of new theories of what on earth (geddit?) was going on. While very interesting, I didn't completely understand it. I was also confused at the underground column and what it was there for but that's probably answered in the last book which I'll have to wait until around June to get!
January 2, 2014
I started waiting for it once I completed The Pirate Kings. Such a great read. Is it possible to fill in more stars?? i loved it I place this next to The Doomsday Code and Day of the Predator in my favorites.
It is impossible to put the book down once you start.Absolute page turner, I Completed in just one day. :)
It is impossible to put the book down once you start.Absolute page turner, I Completed in just one day. :)
October 15, 2013
I am going to be very sad when this series finally finishes. One more book to go after this one and everything is heading toward what I suspect will be a conclusion with a few twists and turns to it.
This was another fast paced enjoyable read with a lot of character growth, and a few goodbyes to characters which, while not expected, fitted the storyline well. I do wonder though whether it is the last we've seen of them. I liked the fact that
This was another fast paced enjoyable read with a lot of character growth, and a few goodbyes to characters which, while not expected, fitted the storyline well. I do wonder though whether it is the last we've seen of them. I liked the fact that
November 16, 2013
My brain has been completely messed by this latest twist. Taken on a ride, jumping back and forth in time from Victorian London to the brink of the 16th Century to the mid-1990s and a far fast forward past the Pandora event. The fundamental questions of our existence as being meaningful get asked. So are we truly alone in vast universe? The Time Riders come ever closer to more questions than answers and this latest outing shakes the team to its core. Was Waldstein correct after all?
September 28, 2013
The last but one book in the series. This is a darker one.
It is difficult talk about this book without giving away too much.
It did not take long for me to found out who was Bertie. I liked his appearance.
Now I have to wait until June 2014 to see whether I drew the right conclusions or not.
It is difficult talk about this book without giving away too much.
It did not take long for me to found out who was Bertie. I liked his appearance.
Now I have to wait until June 2014 to see whether I drew the right conclusions or not.
November 26, 2013
OMG great book, characters where amazing. it was thrilling and exiting can't wait for book 9 it will answer the questions hopefully also if there becomes a book 10 it will round it off and finish the books for good because I got the feeling the end is amazing and VERY ANXIOUS to read it :D so great book and can't wait.
September 1, 2013
Wow! Surprises left and right (love the inclusion of one of my FAVORITE writers of all time). I really am sort of dreading the next book because it will be the last. Now if oly we can get the Kickstarter "Time Riders movie" campaign going...
September 18, 2013
I love the timerider series so much and I loved the ending of this book. The only problem I had is that things tend to get a bit boring and paceless in the middle whilst all the previous books have kept you entertained the whole way through.
August 17, 2013
If there weren't enough questions already,"The Mayan Prophecy" just adds more intrigue to the Timeriders series. Too bad we have to edit till 2014 to see how it ends.
July 17, 2013
I love the timeriders series. If you haven't read them, you must. We see the loose ends slowly being tied up. Can't wait for the next book and can't bare the thought that it will soon be all over.
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