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Keepers of Time and Order
Meet David, a fourteen-year-old grappling with the sudden loss of his mother. When a long-lost father reemerges from the shadows, David's life takes an astonishing turn. A majestic castle, an enigmatic butler, and a captivating redhead named Sarah lead him to an extraordinary discovery: a portal to the past.
Drawn by an eerie whisper of destiny, David steps through the time portal and finds himself in the ancient city of Pompeii. A web of intrigue unfolds as he learns the truth about his mother and the power of his family legacy.
Join David as he navigates a labyrinth of secrets, encounters unexpected allies, and confronts dark forces that threaten to alter history. An exhilarating tale of courage, love, and the power of family, "Keepers of Time and Order" is a teen time-travel adventure that will captivate and leave you yearning for more.
Drawn by an eerie whisper of destiny, David steps through the time portal and finds himself in the ancient city of Pompeii. A web of intrigue unfolds as he learns the truth about his mother and the power of his family legacy.
Join David as he navigates a labyrinth of secrets, encounters unexpected allies, and confronts dark forces that threaten to alter history. An exhilarating tale of courage, love, and the power of family, "Keepers of Time and Order" is a teen time-travel adventure that will captivate and leave you yearning for more.
215 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2024
4 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Klara Peranić
2 books3 followersWriting has always been Klara’s first love, closely followed by any art form that can be brought to life. That passion led her to study literature and theatre. She writes for teenagers and children, believing they are at a unique turning point: poised between a world full of imagination and possibility, and the expectations that come with growing up. Klara hopes that everyone keeps a child’s spirit alive—remaining open to wonder and to the worlds we create in our minds and hearts. After all, who knows? Maybe those worlds are real, somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 4, 2024
Keepers of Time and Order is an interesting read, filled with adventure and a few surprising twists along the way that kept me guessing.
One piece of the writing I really enjoyed was the footnotes. As a proud footnotes enthusiast, I can honestly say I've only ever come across one other middle grade/YA fiction book that contained footnotes (The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson), so I was quite excited to see this in Keepers of Time and Order as well. As is usually done with footnotes, those in Keepers of Time and Order helped expound on the world, characters, and settings in some way. There was no shortage of footnotes either, with there being at least one every other page or so. Some of them were unnecessary while others might have instead just been added to the main body of text itself. The amount of footnotes seemed a bit excessive and could be pared down. That aside, I loved that the author took the time to plan out and add footnotes, which isn't done very often in fiction for this age bracket. So shoutout to the author, because it's certainly no easy task!
The plot was interesting and I enjoyed hearing David's story. There's a lot of detail in both the main text and the footnotes that, on the whole, make the story more vivid. Unfortunately, there were grammatical errors, vocabulary misuse, and vague details scattered throughout the narrative that jarred my immersion in the story and left me confused. For example:
"We approached the long steps descending in a semicircle as if heading towards the abyss. We climbed to the third floor and came down a narrow corridor" (Page 10).
Were they going up the stairs or down? Ascending or descending? I'm still not entirely sure.
Here's another example:
The castle where David's father lives is described as looking "fresh, not weathered at all. " However, a few paragraphs later, David says that the stairs leading to the front doors look "at least a hundred years old."
I also wanted to point out that the red canopy over David’s bed is mistakenly called a baldachin, which is actually a type of canopy used over an altar or throne. Now, not every reader is going to stop and look up what a baldachin actually is, but there are certainly some who will. Even for middle grade and YA books, it's important to fact-check to ensure the story details and vocabulary are being used correctly. Accurate terminology matters.
On a final note, the book is listed as a YA fantasy adventure, but it seems more suited for middle grade readers, minus certain scenes (looking at you, *ahem* "toy" scene).
Overall, Keepers of Time and Order is an enjoyable fantasy adventure. I am giving it a 3.5 star rating.
I received an ARC copy of Keepers of Time and Order and am leaving this review voluntarily. All comments and opinions are my own.
One piece of the writing I really enjoyed was the footnotes. As a proud footnotes enthusiast, I can honestly say I've only ever come across one other middle grade/YA fiction book that contained footnotes (The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson), so I was quite excited to see this in Keepers of Time and Order as well. As is usually done with footnotes, those in Keepers of Time and Order helped expound on the world, characters, and settings in some way. There was no shortage of footnotes either, with there being at least one every other page or so. Some of them were unnecessary while others might have instead just been added to the main body of text itself. The amount of footnotes seemed a bit excessive and could be pared down. That aside, I loved that the author took the time to plan out and add footnotes, which isn't done very often in fiction for this age bracket. So shoutout to the author, because it's certainly no easy task!
The plot was interesting and I enjoyed hearing David's story. There's a lot of detail in both the main text and the footnotes that, on the whole, make the story more vivid. Unfortunately, there were grammatical errors, vocabulary misuse, and vague details scattered throughout the narrative that jarred my immersion in the story and left me confused. For example:
"We approached the long steps descending in a semicircle as if heading towards the abyss. We climbed to the third floor and came down a narrow corridor" (Page 10).
Were they going up the stairs or down? Ascending or descending? I'm still not entirely sure.
Here's another example:
The castle where David's father lives is described as looking "fresh, not weathered at all. " However, a few paragraphs later, David says that the stairs leading to the front doors look "at least a hundred years old."
I also wanted to point out that the red canopy over David’s bed is mistakenly called a baldachin, which is actually a type of canopy used over an altar or throne. Now, not every reader is going to stop and look up what a baldachin actually is, but there are certainly some who will. Even for middle grade and YA books, it's important to fact-check to ensure the story details and vocabulary are being used correctly. Accurate terminology matters.
On a final note, the book is listed as a YA fantasy adventure, but it seems more suited for middle grade readers, minus certain scenes (looking at you, *ahem* "toy" scene).
Overall, Keepers of Time and Order is an enjoyable fantasy adventure. I am giving it a 3.5 star rating.
I received an ARC copy of Keepers of Time and Order and am leaving this review voluntarily. All comments and opinions are my own.
March 1, 2025
A book that feels chaotic at first, but when you step back, you realize—it’s brilliantly designed.
I have to be honest—I was a little confused when I first started reading this book. The writing felt fragmented, the pacing unusual, and David’s narration almost too scattered. But then I read the author’s bio. She studied literature. And suddenly, everything clicked.
This book plays with styles and literary techniques in a way you rarely see in YA fantasy. At first glance, it feels like a straightforward time-travel adventure, but beneath the surface, it’s something much deeper.
David, our protagonist, is chaotic, impulsive, and sarcastic—but also incredibly realistic. His voice is so distinct that you feel like you’re inside his head, following his unfiltered stream of thoughts. What initially seems like clumsy sentences are actually a carefully constructed stream of consciousness that mirrors his personality.
Instead of polished, perfectly structured sentences, we experience David’s unfiltered stream of thought—raw, honest, and deeply immersive. The use of footnotes adds another layer to the storytelling, disrupting the traditional narrative structure. It feels almost meta, as if the book is aware of itself, constantly shifting and reshaping as you read—mirroring David’s own struggle to grasp time and reality.
!SPOILER ALERT! - One of the most mind-blowing aspects of the book is Alice’s role. The deeper you go, the more it seems like Alice is not just a character but a stand-in for the author herself. She doesn’t just manipulate time—she creates it, just like an author creates a book.
The novel feels fragmented and chaotic at times, but when you step back, the puzzle pieces fit together. Just like Alice builds the world, the author builds the book. This is not just a YA fantasy; it’s an experiment in storytelling, where the boundaries between fiction and reality blur. If you love books that make you question the act of reading itself (think Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler), you’ll love this.
This is NOT your average YA fantasy. If you’re looking for a simple, linear adventure, you might feel lost. But if you enjoy books that challenge the way stories are told, that mix literary theory with genre fiction, this is a hidden gem.
Final Rating: 4.5/5
I have to be honest—I was a little confused when I first started reading this book. The writing felt fragmented, the pacing unusual, and David’s narration almost too scattered. But then I read the author’s bio. She studied literature. And suddenly, everything clicked.
This book plays with styles and literary techniques in a way you rarely see in YA fantasy. At first glance, it feels like a straightforward time-travel adventure, but beneath the surface, it’s something much deeper.
David, our protagonist, is chaotic, impulsive, and sarcastic—but also incredibly realistic. His voice is so distinct that you feel like you’re inside his head, following his unfiltered stream of thoughts. What initially seems like clumsy sentences are actually a carefully constructed stream of consciousness that mirrors his personality.
Instead of polished, perfectly structured sentences, we experience David’s unfiltered stream of thought—raw, honest, and deeply immersive. The use of footnotes adds another layer to the storytelling, disrupting the traditional narrative structure. It feels almost meta, as if the book is aware of itself, constantly shifting and reshaping as you read—mirroring David’s own struggle to grasp time and reality.
!SPOILER ALERT! - One of the most mind-blowing aspects of the book is Alice’s role. The deeper you go, the more it seems like Alice is not just a character but a stand-in for the author herself. She doesn’t just manipulate time—she creates it, just like an author creates a book.
The novel feels fragmented and chaotic at times, but when you step back, the puzzle pieces fit together. Just like Alice builds the world, the author builds the book. This is not just a YA fantasy; it’s an experiment in storytelling, where the boundaries between fiction and reality blur. If you love books that make you question the act of reading itself (think Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler), you’ll love this.
This is NOT your average YA fantasy. If you’re looking for a simple, linear adventure, you might feel lost. But if you enjoy books that challenge the way stories are told, that mix literary theory with genre fiction, this is a hidden gem.
Final Rating: 4.5/5
October 17, 2025
From the opening chapters, I could tell The Keepers of Time and Order would be a roller coaster journey.
David is exactly how you'd expect a fourteen year old boy to think and act. Sarah gives strong Hermione Granger vibes, her voice sharp, curious, and slightly self-righteous in a way that feels both endearing and intentional. The minor characters were a fresh and welcomed breath away from this rather elementary pair.
At first, the prose seems almost purposefully like a stream of consciousness, which made me wonder if this was part of an unreliable narrator setup rather than a limitation of style. It’s a smart choice, because what starts off feeling simple quickly reveals layers of wit and self-awareness.
The footnotes deserve a special mention. They’re not just a gimmick, but rather they become an integral narrative device, offering a running commentary that’s equal parts Morgan Freeman gravitas and Emperor Kuzco sarcasm. I actually laughed out loud, which isn’t something I can often say about my reading preferences.
Tonally, it reads as if it’s written by a fourteen-year-old, and deliberately so. That choice grounds the story in authenticity while creating space for some genuinely funny, self-mocking observations. It also makes the secondary POVs — Donna and then eventually Alice — feel all the more distinct, which is a real feat of craft. You can tell Peranić knows exactly what she's doing stylistically.
And then there’s the twist at footnote 41, and the moment you realise who is writing them. It’s an absolute chef’s kiss reveal that re-frames everything you’ve just read and rewards you for paying attention.
Overall, The Keepers of Time and Order is a witty, what-else-could-happen novel that feels more like Jumanji than time travel. It is absolutely intended for a younger audience, but that doesn’t undercut how cleverly constructed it is.
A confident 4.5 stars from me.
David is exactly how you'd expect a fourteen year old boy to think and act. Sarah gives strong Hermione Granger vibes, her voice sharp, curious, and slightly self-righteous in a way that feels both endearing and intentional. The minor characters were a fresh and welcomed breath away from this rather elementary pair.
At first, the prose seems almost purposefully like a stream of consciousness, which made me wonder if this was part of an unreliable narrator setup rather than a limitation of style. It’s a smart choice, because what starts off feeling simple quickly reveals layers of wit and self-awareness.
The footnotes deserve a special mention. They’re not just a gimmick, but rather they become an integral narrative device, offering a running commentary that’s equal parts Morgan Freeman gravitas and Emperor Kuzco sarcasm. I actually laughed out loud, which isn’t something I can often say about my reading preferences.
Tonally, it reads as if it’s written by a fourteen-year-old, and deliberately so. That choice grounds the story in authenticity while creating space for some genuinely funny, self-mocking observations. It also makes the secondary POVs — Donna and then eventually Alice — feel all the more distinct, which is a real feat of craft. You can tell Peranić knows exactly what she's doing stylistically.
And then there’s the twist at footnote 41, and the moment you realise who is writing them. It’s an absolute chef’s kiss reveal that re-frames everything you’ve just read and rewards you for paying attention.
Overall, The Keepers of Time and Order is a witty, what-else-could-happen novel that feels more like Jumanji than time travel. It is absolutely intended for a younger audience, but that doesn’t undercut how cleverly constructed it is.
A confident 4.5 stars from me.
February 16, 2024
This novel plays with genres, so we can say that it is a YA novel, a science fiction novel, but also a new historical novel.
The novel begins with David waking up on what should have been an ordinary day. So, the summer school holidays are still going on and we follow fourteen-year-old David who wakes up and comes to the kitchen to eat a healthy breakfast that his mother has prepared for him. Like any teenager, David is looking disapprovingly at the avocado toast when he suddenly hears the doorbell. It's the bell that, although he does not know it yet, will change his life. There's a social worker at the door who informs him that his mother has died and that he will now go to his father, whom he didn't even know existed. That's when David's adventure begins and all the mysterious events that we will follow in the further unfolding of the novel. It's precisely because of these mysterious events that David comes to Pompeii, the ancient city of the Roman Empire, and learns that the power of time travel flows in his family blood.
David is actually the protagonist of this story, and on the following pages we will meet his assistants and the antagonist of the story, whose name is Panther.
Within the book we have two narrative lines - the first narrator is David and we mostly follow the story precisely from his perspective; the second narrator is mysterious almost until the very end, he inserts himself in the footnotes and gives us additional information.
I recommend this novel to all fans of science fiction literature and to those who fantasize and like to imagine different worlds. Also, I recommend to the teachers to offer this novel to their children as a book for optional reading because it will surely delight them.
The novel begins with David waking up on what should have been an ordinary day. So, the summer school holidays are still going on and we follow fourteen-year-old David who wakes up and comes to the kitchen to eat a healthy breakfast that his mother has prepared for him. Like any teenager, David is looking disapprovingly at the avocado toast when he suddenly hears the doorbell. It's the bell that, although he does not know it yet, will change his life. There's a social worker at the door who informs him that his mother has died and that he will now go to his father, whom he didn't even know existed. That's when David's adventure begins and all the mysterious events that we will follow in the further unfolding of the novel. It's precisely because of these mysterious events that David comes to Pompeii, the ancient city of the Roman Empire, and learns that the power of time travel flows in his family blood.
David is actually the protagonist of this story, and on the following pages we will meet his assistants and the antagonist of the story, whose name is Panther.
Within the book we have two narrative lines - the first narrator is David and we mostly follow the story precisely from his perspective; the second narrator is mysterious almost until the very end, he inserts himself in the footnotes and gives us additional information.
I recommend this novel to all fans of science fiction literature and to those who fantasize and like to imagine different worlds. Also, I recommend to the teachers to offer this novel to their children as a book for optional reading because it will surely delight them.
March 20, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
David's world is shattered by the news of his mother Donna's death, thrusting him into a tumultuous journey of discovery and adventure. Relocated to his father's castle, David grapples with fear and resentment towards his distant father, who remains aloof to David's struggles. Amidst his turmoil, he encounters Sarah, a walking encyclopedia, and faces eerie disturbances at night, including shadowy spiders and cryptic drawings.
Unexpectedly, David and Sarah find themselves transported back to Pompeii, just days before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. There, they cross paths with Jakana and Imaca, embarking on a mission to rescue David's supposedly deceased mother, who was abducted by Panther across time. As the quest unfolds, the true extent of the stakes becomes clear, intertwining the threads of time, family, and destiny.
The narrative is punctuated by a side note narrator, whose presence adds complexity to the storytelling. While initially challenging to navigate, this narrative device ultimately offers both assistance and distraction. David, though central to the plot, emerges not as the traditional hero, but as a character grappling with his own limitations and uncertainties.
Despite its flaws, the story boasts captivating plot twists that keep readers engaged. With the promise of a potential sequel, the book leaves room for further exploration, ensuring that readers remain intrigued by the unfolding saga. Overall, while imperfect, the novel offers an intriguing blend of mystery, adventure, and speculative fiction that warrants attention.
David's world is shattered by the news of his mother Donna's death, thrusting him into a tumultuous journey of discovery and adventure. Relocated to his father's castle, David grapples with fear and resentment towards his distant father, who remains aloof to David's struggles. Amidst his turmoil, he encounters Sarah, a walking encyclopedia, and faces eerie disturbances at night, including shadowy spiders and cryptic drawings.
Unexpectedly, David and Sarah find themselves transported back to Pompeii, just days before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. There, they cross paths with Jakana and Imaca, embarking on a mission to rescue David's supposedly deceased mother, who was abducted by Panther across time. As the quest unfolds, the true extent of the stakes becomes clear, intertwining the threads of time, family, and destiny.
The narrative is punctuated by a side note narrator, whose presence adds complexity to the storytelling. While initially challenging to navigate, this narrative device ultimately offers both assistance and distraction. David, though central to the plot, emerges not as the traditional hero, but as a character grappling with his own limitations and uncertainties.
Despite its flaws, the story boasts captivating plot twists that keep readers engaged. With the promise of a potential sequel, the book leaves room for further exploration, ensuring that readers remain intrigued by the unfolding saga. Overall, while imperfect, the novel offers an intriguing blend of mystery, adventure, and speculative fiction that warrants attention.
January 28, 2024
Keepers of Time and Order is the kind of stream-of-consciousness writing that may be perfect for a YA audience. Unfortunately, I'm not actually YA, and the scattered discourse and deep pile of footnotes wasn't for me. Footnotes were sometimes helpful, adding color to the scenes, and belonging in the body of the text. Others were genuinely footnotes, consisting of historical commentary. Not knowing which would be which, and constantly pulling up a footnote which could be two words or several paragraphs, was incredibly immersion breaking.
The story itself introduced the main character for the series, has decent plot, and sets up the rest of the series quite well. I just couldn't get into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story itself introduced the main character for the series, has decent plot, and sets up the rest of the series quite well. I just couldn't get into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a young adult fantasy novel. The protagonist was fourteen-year-old David, and I found him a little bit odd, but also quite endearing. The story had a lot of bizarre elements and I found it a little bit unpredictable, but that was what kept me turning the pages. I think it seems more like the type of book that I would have read as a teenager, but it was a fun read.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
This was a young adult fantasy novel. The protagonist was fourteen-year-old David, and I found him a little bit odd, but also quite endearing. The story had a lot of bizarre elements and I found it a little bit unpredictable, but that was what kept me turning the pages. I think it seems more like the type of book that I would have read as a teenager, but it was a fun read.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
May 27, 2024
I found this book really fun to read, especially if you're into history and postmodern stuff... One cool thing about it is the footnotes—you can skip them if you want, but they give you extra insights if you read them. The author, who stays mysterious until the end, plays around with different writing styles, which adds a playful "creator" vibe to the story. These postmodern tricks make the book super engaging. Some people might find the mix of styles a bit tricky, but I thought it was great. It added depth and creativity, making it a perfect pick for a light yet interesting weekend read! :)
January 20, 2024
This was a fun YA time travel fantasy novel that I hope is the start to a very long series. I really enjoyed the historical facts about Pompei and the hero's journey start of a young boy who will find out more about his gifts in future books. The side characters were also interesting. There are footnotes but I didn't read any of them until the end of the book. They were fun to read afterwards. I look forward to reading more in this series.
October 14, 2025
A layered story you can read two ways.
Keepers of Time and Order sits somewhere between middle grade and YA; simple enough to enjoy without overthinking, yet full of hidden layers if you want to read it as a meta-story. You can switch off your brain and just follow the adventure, or you can dive deeper and explore the meaning beneath it. Either way, it’s imaginative, thought-provoking, and surprisingly heartfelt.
Keepers of Time and Order sits somewhere between middle grade and YA; simple enough to enjoy without overthinking, yet full of hidden layers if you want to read it as a meta-story. You can switch off your brain and just follow the adventure, or you can dive deeper and explore the meaning beneath it. Either way, it’s imaginative, thought-provoking, and surprisingly heartfelt.
October 20, 2025
I don’t usually read young adult fiction, but Keepers of Time and Order really drew me in. It’s a fun, imaginative time travel fantasy with a strong start. I especially enjoyed the historical details and the classic hero’s journey of a young boy discovering his gifts. The side characters were a real highlight and added depth. The footnotes were a delightful bonus. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
January 17, 2024
The plot is really interesting with characters that are, in my opinion, well written. The main character David gives the humorous element which I really liked. Also, the footnotes fit so well and they enrich the whole story; they are giving more depth with explaining the history of Pompeii, characters, etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2024
The book was great. The main character, David, is a good representation of a fourteen-year-old who is obsessed with food and older girls. The writing style is perfect for teenagers, maybe even the lower teenage years between 13 and 16/17.
February 9, 2024
A very quick read with a likeable seemingly ordinary main character. Definitely recommend for YA or teens. I enjoyed the book and would read any sequels.
February 16, 2024
Find my full review at Nevy's Bookshelf
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