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End the Dissonance. Restart the Timeline.
Nirel and Jase escape, but arrive in the past injured and far from their destination. A new mission rescue the prince from the assassination that began the war.

However, the Goddess of Time is silent, leaving them without guidance when they need it the most.

In the present, Corvin fears the worst when he cannot locate Nirel, not even with the assistance of forbidden magic. This new power urges him to take innocent lives, and his spiral threatens destruction for the entire kingdom.

If those in the past can't save the present, the future will cease to exist at all.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2023

7 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

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Sarah Emmer

3 books73 followers

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5 stars
32 (52%)
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22 (36%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for ShandyReads.
143 reviews26 followers
January 22, 2024
Was privileged to be on Sarah’s ARC team, leaving my thoughts and feelings here:

Prepare to have your mind blown! Book 2 in the Laeviin series starts right where book 1 ends. So no guessing games because there’s no time jump or anything like that. Just continuing the story which I love in a book series. H

Nirel is still an awesome FMC. The romance is there. But I love the plot. The time traveling and magic and political unrest in this story. Sarah did a fantastic job and I cannot wait for book 3!!!!
44 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2023
ARC review (but my honest opinion. Gosh I'm a full grown adult I can't be bribed into a review *flicks lint off shoulder*)

Let me just preface this by saying that I read Nirel as an ARC as well and was blown away by Sarah Emmer's ability to take tropes I DON'T like... and write them in a way that they don't infuriate me.

Witchcraft I tell ya. 🧙‍♀️

So when I started Dissonance, I braced myself because I knew there were tropes I didn't like (looking at you love triangle!) And I was nervous this would be the book that I'd have to DNF.

It's Sarah Emmer. Why was I even worried?

Dissonance picks up right where Nirel ends. It is a bit slower in the beginning as you get a feel for the characters once again. It's like coming home to old friends.

Once you hit about 13% though... get ready cause things start happening and don't let up!

I will say the writing in this one was phenomenal. Jase handled his trauma really well. It was written in a believable way and I felt for him (even though I'm team Corvin). Speaking of! Corvin was a bit softer in this one, but I LOVED his spiral. And Bernard? Bernard?!🥵

Maybe I've read too many age gaps lately, but I'm building a ship for Benard. Who will I ship him with? I have no idea, but I need that hunky daddy shipped with someone! 🚢

Once you hit the 80% mark things start fitting together. Though this is a time travel, I never once felt lost or overwhelmed and I always read for the ✨️vibes✨️, so when I tell you I could follow, that means you can too!

The characters were so well fleshed out, you could really relate to them and feel their pain and struggles.

Absolutely stupendous writing, and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store!
Profile Image for Daan Katz.
Author 11 books26 followers
December 8, 2023
After devouring “Nirel” in just under a week (which is extremely fast for a slow reader like me), I couldn’t wait to dive into “Dissonance”. And get this: I’m not a romance reader at all!

Just like with “Nirel”, I read the book because of the awesome diverse representation, which was even better in “Dissonance” than in “Nirel”, because we get even more diverse characters.

Again, the book was too heavy on romance to my taste, but this is romantasy, after all, so… it was no deal-breaker, as there was plenty to enjoy for me. Dark, fast-paced, very light on worldbuilding, with smooth prose and great characterisation, it was a wonderful read, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Dani Scott.
69 reviews5 followers
December 8, 2023
This is book 2 of the Timekeepers of Laeviin series. The amount of world building in these books is perfect. A lot of times there is either a complete info dump through the whole book or no plot at all but this was the perfect amount of description. I love the love between Nirel and Jase. I am team Jase all the way lol. I really enjoyed getting to know the other characters through their point of view. I will always be a big fan of multiple points of view in books. It explained some questions I had from book one but now I have so many more lol. I can’t wait for the next book already!
Profile Image for Kayla Cindric.
92 reviews17 followers
July 26, 2025
Wow, Sarah Emmer really knows how to warp my brain with a good plot. Book 2 starts with Nirel and Jase going back in time and given a mission: save Prince Zarin while Corvin teams up with the goddess: Dimension (we hate her, guys). He does some pretty crappy things in this book that made me definitely root for my home boy, Jase. Also the plot twists were twisting! I won't spoil it but the time travel aspect makes the plot of it all incredible.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
158 reviews17 followers
January 30, 2024
“Dissonance” is the second book in Sarah Emmers’s series “The Timekeepers of Laeviin “, and it’s a very strong second book! There are SO many threads to keep track of and move forward and she’s done a great job!The seamless transition from the events from book one re-immerse the reader with little need for “when last we left our heroes”, which I love since both are out now!

Nirel and Jase are tasked to fix the Dissonance, the timeline that should not exist. The goddess is largely silent, but gives Nirel the directive to save someone when she and Jase arrive in the recent past. They arrive near an inn and tavern with a pregnant owner, and I am already theorizing who the baby is.

Corvin is back, and trying to track Nirel. Daiyu, Priya, Bernard all have perspectives as well. The characters from book one are all further rounded out with backstory and depth, and new ones are added along the way. Nothing feels forced, it all evolves very understandably. The dark forces are expanded and plentiful in this book, and the revelation of hidden connections between characters just keeps popping up in the action and adventure. Of course, things combine into a whirlwind near the end of the book, so I came out of it not knowing which end was up, to be honest. But in a good way, the way it was intended, wondering how all this is going to be rectified as the series continues! Like.. whaaaat?!?! I believe in the authors storytelling and I’m sure everything has meaning and definitely has consequence. Can’t wait till book three!
Profile Image for Mariva.
81 reviews17 followers
December 2, 2023

Dissonance starts right where the previous book, Nirel, left us.
In this second installment of the series, the time traveling becomes fundamental, one event in particular around which all characters' storylines end up revolving.
I find it remarkable how time travel is handled in a world where the history is different from ours, yet we understand the stakes and consequences of a change in the past.
The book's pacing is similar to Nirel, in the sense that most of it is a gradual buildup, as all the characters move like chess pieces across the board until they are where they should.
Then, the story explodes .
You'd better hold tight onto your seat for that last 20 - 25% where things take a spectacular turn and leave you up on your head, out of breath, and wondering what the hell just hit you.
And if you thought the first cliffhanger was hard to take... Well, be warned on this second one.
Now, off waiting for the third book 😅🥲


Profile Image for Kealsi Fanter.
29 reviews7 followers
December 11, 2023
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
We start off right where Nirel ended. Nirel and Jase find themselves in the past while the others are in the present. Nothing is as it seems in the past or in the present as Nirel and her friends fight to fix what was broken in the past.

I loved this continuation of Nirels story. The twists and turned had me hooked into the story. This book was as well written as the first and kept the same sort of momentum up until the last chapter. The last 10 chapters had so many twists and raised so many raised and unanswered questions.

I can’t wait for the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lois Garrett.
362 reviews11 followers
January 17, 2024
Wow! What a ride. I was able to read both book 1 and book 2 back to back. The second book picks up right after the second book and adds more POVs. I loved seeing Nirel and Jase grow more and learn to deal with the challenges they are facing. I liked getting to see from some of the others. I can’t wait to see what happens next as it ends on a cliff hangar. i’m in a total book hangover from these two books.
Profile Image for Alana.
Author 4 books61 followers
April 21, 2025
There's something about Sarah's writing that is addictive. I couldn't put this book down.

All the character's were wonderfully written. Even those I wasn't too sure of in Nirel (book one) swayed me. And the time travel element plus the revelation of how past events occurred was amazing.

Loved it. And I have to say, Jase has taken the lead over Corvin. Will it stay that way? Can't wait to read the final instalment.
12 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2024
The second book introduces compelling new characters. Raz, in particular, stands out as an incredible addition, bringing a fresh dynamic to the story. His interactions with the existing characters add depth to the relationships, fostering growth and forging bonds that feel authentic and earned.

Nirel and Jase’s journey, learning to trust each other and themselves, evolves their relationship, and it becomes a cornerstone of the story, adding an emotional resonance that elevates the stakes.

Corvin’s struggle (yes, I still love him) makes for character development that is both tragic and captivating, making him an even more complex figure.

Sarah’s ability to weave these character arcs with the intricate plot leaves me eagerly anticipating the third book. The anticipation to see how she ties it all together—resolving the conflicts, relationships, and the timeline itself—makes the wait for the finale all the more exciting.
Profile Image for Jazmine Gillman Heath.
106 reviews4 followers
September 25, 2025
This is the sequel everyone needs. I was so excited to read it i barely put the first one down before I started it! please please read her series because youll love them! its so good
Profile Image for Jennifer.
375 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2024
Great Second Book

The second book is a great builder for the third book. Lots of details left unanswered so I can't wait to have the conclusion? Will there be more books 🤔
Profile Image for Katelyn.
4 reviews
December 29, 2023
I received this book as an ARC. 100% honest opinion.

The second book of the series starts off right where the first book ended, and if I thought there were twists and turns in the first book this one is even better. The use of time travel is very well done. It's so easy for time travel to become a confusing mess, but the rules are well established and kept in line.

Sarah Emmer does a great job of building each of the characters, even secondary characters, so that you grow to really care about what happens to each of them. I was on the edge of my seat as I neared the end waiting to see what would happen next.

Sometimes jumping between the characters so often can make it hard to keep track of who's point of view we're reading. I found myself a few times having to remind myself where we are, but it doesn't detract from the overall story. Honestly I'm hooked, and I'm invested in the lives of these characters, and I can't wait for the 3rd book to see where this goes next.
Profile Image for A.J. Ashton.
Author 8 books136 followers
February 2, 2024
I loved book 1, Nirel, and couldn't wait to read this one. You are straight into the events that happened at the end of book 1, and this one didn't disappoint. I loved the development of the characters and Nirel and Jase's relationship as it developed more. I also loved how you got to find out more about all the key characters and the adventure developed. I can't wait to find out what will happen in book 3.
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,220 reviews75 followers
December 11, 2023
Jumping straight into the events at the end of book 1, we follow Jase and Nirel as they adapt to their new surroundings and work together on a new mission back in time. Corvin meanwhile battles to find Nirel desperately using his powers and delving into the deadly forbidden magic granted by Dimension, and crosses a line he might not return from.
We also get to see new POV from Daiyu and Prisha, and deeper insights into characters as their paths merge towards the same goals and destiny drives them together.
With creative worldbuilding, intriguing magic, building romance, secrets exposed and devastating revelations, this is an intense journey that keeps you gripped from start to end, even with the heartbreaking cliffhanger and ghosts from the past.
Another amazing story in the series, and anxiously awaiting book 3!

Honest and Voluntary ARC review
2 reviews
January 22, 2024
I am really enjoying this time travel fantasy series so far. Lots of little details that are starting to come together. I love it when authors create all these little twists and details that start connecting like a puzzle as the story progresses. I am looking forward to book 3 and can't wait to see how everything comes together as book 2 was a little bit of a cliff hanger. Great little comfort fantasy read.
I received this book as an ARC read and I'm so glad I had the chance to discover this author. Can't wait to see what else she comes up with next.
227 reviews4 followers
January 18, 2024
This book is a wild ride. As soon as I have made up my mind about what happens, who happens, who is bad, who is good it all just gets turned on end. I read book 1 & 2 in two days because I just HAD to know and now I have to wait for the next one and it may unalive me. It was so much more than I had hoped for and if you love, confused characters, time travel, found family, magic and more you NEED to check this series out.
Profile Image for Brittany.
192 reviews11 followers
June 1, 2025
*update. Read it a second time to get ready for the final book which is ready... I still feel dumb haha, but I'm ready to start the last book!

I feel.... Confused. I mean I've made sense of things.... But with the time magic, the lies, the changing scenarios my head is still spinning. I also thought this was a duology so I didn't expect to be so confused now, Oops. I am enjoying the story, now I have to wait and hope my favorites don't die or stay dead, since anything can happen 
Profile Image for R.M. Krogman, Dark and Epic Fantasy Author.
Author 11 books50 followers
December 19, 2023
"Dissonance" by Sarah Emmer is the second in series of a fantasy romance with a fascinating aspect of time traveling magic, and it picks up right where "Nirel" ended. This one is a little more complicated given the present and past timelines and the question of whether fate is fate and events are truly fixable. They must be, if the goddess of time believes in the mission she's given our heroes: to fix the Dissonance.

However, there is more to time than you might think. She is silent when you think you most need her, and she pulls the chronological strings of many characters regardless of whether we perceive them to be good or bad. Is time truly in our favor, or is it corrupted by something evil? Was it never on our side in the first place?

I enjoyed the increased attention on Nirel and Jase's points of view and liked their development. I struggled to empathize with Corvin and Daiyu, but I'm sure they will both play a key role in the third book. There are more questions posed in this book, many which are not answered and seem to be related to the complex interweaving of time. Characters are more connected than they could imagine, and the intrigues of court politics and lies stem from the shadows of the past. Because of the many suggestions (hints? Red herrings?), this book isn't quite as self-contained as the first book, and as I said I think some of things will come together later.

Fantasy romance tropes include love triangle, close proximity, forbidden magic, healing magic, grumpy cinnamon roll, a character with IBS, bipolar rep, and LGBTQ+ rep. The romance scenes were medium spice and fit the story line, but again if the reader has any concerns there is a complete list of warnings provided. I hope to see more autism rep in the next book.

4.5/5 Stars
Profile Image for Hilma.
609 reviews
December 6, 2023
“If those in the past can't save the present, the future will cease to exist at all.”

Dissonance by Sarah Emmer is the second book in The Timekeepers of Laeviin series, and the book I wanted to read immediately after I finished the first book. I wanted to know what would happen next after the explosive ending.

The story starts just after the events at the end of Nirel, the first book. And again I coud not stop reading. Sarah Emmer’s writing style is so mesmerizing, so flowing. The multilpe POV is just wonderful to read. Nirel and Jase are on the run, while Corvin gets sucked into the dark and forbidden magic. Somehow I almost felt sorry for him.

In this book the timehealing has a more defined role, but can you change the future by altering the past? It is a tricky situation and one Nirel finds hard. The truth is also coming out in this book, as Jase understands who Nirel is. Their relationship builds more in this book and that was one I was rooting for. And Jase has to come to terms for who he really is and what he can do. Some characters from the first book show up as well, and that was nice to read. And of course in this book there is an even more disturbing cliffhanger, so I now I am waiting eagerly for the next book!

This series is just wonderful, both books were such a joy to read. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Roxana Ortega.
14 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2023
This is the second book of the series and all I can say is WOW. The transition into the second book is seamless. It starts right were book one ended and smoothly continues into the second book. It's a well put together continuation of the story with an exceptional writing style that fits this story beautifully. I enjoy how the book transitions between each character. Getting glimpses between the different character's POVs is refreshing and well put together. Makes the story/plots moving seamlessly through out the story line. Nothing feels forced with this series. The characters are definitely explored more in depth in this book but it still feels like a natural progression of each character. The characters are definitely more defined in this book, not that they weren't in book one. But they are more refined into their roles. I'm team Jase since book one. So I loved how his character is fine tuned in this book. I love how delicately his relationship with Nirel evolves. Truths are revealed in this book as well. Thee book does end in an unexpected cliffhanger that leaves you wanting for more. I can't wait for book three.
Profile Image for Nikki .
244 reviews22 followers
January 19, 2024

Dissonance is the second book in the Timekeepers of Laeviin series.

I really enjoyed both books. I like the way this book follows the first book. I enjoyed Sarah’s writing style. The way she puts romantic fantasy together. There’s turns and twists and at times I was trying to guess where things were going. I absolutely loved Nirels character even more. I’m not a big fan of Corvin. I tried to feel for him but once upon learning how he was, I just couldn’t.
There’s so much more point of views in this book. Sometimes having more of them gets you confused but they were all well put together. I love a good time traveling and magic all in one. I am looking forward to seeing where book three goes because that ending just leaves you with your jaw open.




@sarahemmer_author @rrbooktours
 

#rrbooktours #rrbtdissonance #dissonance #romantasy #timetravel #timetravelfantasy #elementalmagic #onlyonebed #fakemarriage #highfantasy #romanticfantasybooks #romanticfantasy
Profile Image for Riss 🫶🏻☕️.
652 reviews15 followers
January 14, 2024
A romantic fantasy with time travel was the perfect read I needed. I loved the beginning of this story, it takes us right into action with Nirel and Jase landing in the past to stop the assassination of the prince. Otherwise, a war will start and things will get ugly. But in the present time, Corvin is using forbidden magic that takes him down a dark path. I love the romance between Nirel and Jase (personally) and cannot wait to see what happens in book three. The writing is well done and the time travel aspect is very prominent. I will say there were times I wasn't sure what was going to happen but it had me on the edge of my couch.
Profile Image for Blythe Brandenburg.
Author 3 books8 followers
February 25, 2024
Dissonance is the sequel to Emmer's debut novel, Nirel. It picks up immediately after the first book, so why not snuggle in and read them back-to-back? While book 1 feels like a more conventional fantasy love triangle (a well-done one), book 2 expands on Emmer's world and magic, and ups the stakes considerably by adding point-of-view characters, plot complications, and unexpected villains. The main characters are flung back in time to try and change an assassination that threw their countries into war.
Dissonance is a slightly spicy, quick-paced read that would be perfect for a rainy afternoon or the beach.
Profile Image for Noriboo.
692 reviews41 followers
December 17, 2023
🌶🌶 (1 open door scene)

•••


The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The story picks up directly where Nirel left us. We follow multiple POV at different points in the timeline.
The pacing is similar to Nirel, and then in the last 25%, it goes into the fast track, and things get explosive.
I just had to sit and stare off into the distance for a while after I had finished this 😭

And I think reading all the dark romances has corrupted my brain because I like Corvin way too much, and I hope we see way more of him in the next book.

•••

I received a free ARC. My opinions are my own.
Profile Image for The_bookish_cave_of_wonders .
152 reviews10 followers
January 18, 2024
I enjoyed this story. The concept is different to my normal genre, which kept it fresh. The plot and gentle world building keep it engaging and easy to read and follow along with. I am not usually a fan of the old love triangle trope but it was written very well within this story and the character depth and development as you move through book really gets you behind the characters allowing you to root for them and connect with them on an emotional level.

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of romantasy
Profile Image for Ceej.
44 reviews21 followers
January 19, 2024
I enjoyed the multiple magic types and cultural worldbuilding in the first book, Nirel, and was keen to see more of that in this sequel. I'm happy to say thay I got that!

I love the time magic. I'm keen to learn more about the goddesses as the multiple timelines and mechanics of time travel and vortexes is a little confusing at times. I also love that we're seeing more wielders too.

There was far less allusion to and discussion of purity culture in this book, which was my main criticism of Nirel. I was much more comfortable with the characterisation in this book.

I like Emmer's writing style and tone. It's very easy to read and there were some strong descriptions, especially during the climactic action scenes. Prisha's POV reslly stood out in these moments.

I read the book on my Kindle and noticed that viewing the chapter headings in dark mode washed out the titles and POV, so I couldn't immediately tell whose perspective I was in until I switched back to normal mode. There were too many character POVs than I typically enjoy (6 total I think), however Emmer did a great job of giving each their own voice — Daiyu and Corvin were especially distinct.

I had to go back and reread chapters at times because the multiple POVs and timelines meant that taking reading breaks lost me a little bit. You could definitely read this book in one sitting, and I think you'd get the best experience doing it that way.

In terms of the plot I did feel that it meandered a bit. We stayed in the same location for much of the book as we waited for the countdown to the climax, and at this stage in the series I'm not super sure what role the events of this book will play in the grand scheme of things, especially with Raquel and the baby. I'm sure they'll come into play later on as Emmer loves dropping hints and laying groundwork for excellent revelations, but this book did drag through the middle even with all the perspectives. I ploughed through Nirel in two days; Dissonance took a month or so to read (but I've got a full schedule so I had less long hours to dedicate to reading).

In summary, this was a good sequel that builds upon existing characters in a new setting, and lays a strong foundation for an exciting and twisty conclusion in later books.
Profile Image for bv Sloan.
Author 12 books40 followers
December 12, 2023
I loved the time travel in this book. It was really well done and made for suspense rather than wonder what everyone was doing or where everyone was.

The variety of characters was incredible and woven in naturally rather than forced in there as an afterthought.

If you want a series that keeps you guessing (in the good way) then pick this series up! I can’t wait for book 3!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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