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Splinter Effect #1
Splinter Effect: A Novel
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 05:18:47
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
In this action-packed debut, time traveling archaeologist Rabbit Ward maneuvers through the past to recover a long-lost, precious menorah hiding out in ancient Rome.
Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Although exceptional at his job, Rabbit is not without faults. In a spectacular failure twenty years ago, he lost both the menorah of the second temple and his hot-headed mentee, Aaron. So, when new evidence reveals the menorah’s reappearance in 6th century Constantinople, Rabbit seizes the chance for redemption.
But from the moment he arrives in the past, things start to go wrong. Rabbit quickly finds out that his prime competition, an unlicensed and annoyingly appealing “stringer” named Helen, is also in Constantinople hunting the menorah. And that’s only the beginning. The oppressed Jewish population of the city is primed for revolution, Constantinople’s leading gang seems to have it out for Rabbit personally, and someone local is interested enough in the menorah to kill for it.
As the past closes in on him and his previous failures compound, will Rabbit be able to recover the menorah before it's once again lost in time? With new and old dangers alike hiding behind every corner, time might just be up for Rabbit’s redemption—and possibly his life.
Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Although exceptional at his job, Rabbit is not without faults. In a spectacular failure twenty years ago, he lost both the menorah of the second temple and his hot-headed mentee, Aaron. So, when new evidence reveals the menorah’s reappearance in 6th century Constantinople, Rabbit seizes the chance for redemption.
But from the moment he arrives in the past, things start to go wrong. Rabbit quickly finds out that his prime competition, an unlicensed and annoyingly appealing “stringer” named Helen, is also in Constantinople hunting the menorah. And that’s only the beginning. The oppressed Jewish population of the city is primed for revolution, Constantinople’s leading gang seems to have it out for Rabbit personally, and someone local is interested enough in the menorah to kill for it.
As the past closes in on him and his previous failures compound, will Rabbit be able to recover the menorah before it's once again lost in time? With new and old dangers alike hiding behind every corner, time might just be up for Rabbit’s redemption—and possibly his life.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2025
30 people are currently reading
7090 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Ludington
3 books47 followersAndrew Ludington writes transportive adventure stories intended to make you forget your commute. He graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in English Literature and lives in Evanston, IL where he moonlights as a technologist for Northwestern University. Splinter Effect is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
March 11, 2025
Splinter Effect: if a significant change is made by a time traveler, another universe is created, one that splinters off our own timeline.
I like a really good time travel story and this one sounded like a good one. The summary made it kind of sound like a time traveling Indiana Jones, which is a pretty good description. Rabbit definitely has that whole Indiana Jones vibe going on. The book summary pretty much lays out the whole premise for the primary storyline. What it doesn’t say much about is the secondary storyline where 20yrs ago, Aaron, a newbie time traveler, got left behind and stuck in 455 Rome.
In an alternate universe, there are now laws that allow time travel under certain circumstances. However, because of the tremendous expense, the only people who can afford it are groups of extremely rich people who only fund expeditions that will benefit them in some way and almost none of the time travel that is done is for research purposes; Aaron’s parents are among this group. Rabbit’s reputation as a successful time traveler (he has experienced yet another failure) is basically over until an anonymous benefactor has agreed to finance another trip to obtain a renown Jewish artifact, the same one that Rabbit and Aaron tried to obtain 20yrs ago. It’s here that my armchair detective pretty much narrows in on two potential suspects.
Most of the story has Rabbit traveling back to 535 Rome to try and obtain this Jewish artifact – again. There are obstacles everywhere and those who are determined to see Rabbit fail – again. One of those would be Helen, who foiled Rabbit on his last unsuccessful trip. They form a tenuous alliance to obtain the artifact, but there is absolutely no trust whatsoever so they are trying to outmaneuver each other the whole time they’re working together, which is pretty much the whole second half. I was so far off the mark!
There is so much going on from the war between the Christians and Jews, and the tenuous alliance between Rome and Constantinople and the search for the Jewish artifact as well as the hunt for Rabbit by a gang of Christian defenders. Throughout the story, Rabbit is constantly reciting a boatload of obscure historical facts about the locales, people and time period that would probably be unknown to anyone but a historian. History buffs would probably love this kind of story. I found the constant info dumps kind of interrupted the flow of the story and the characters activities at those moments. Then again, I’m not a historian or much of a Greek/Roman history buff.
The character development for Rabbit was pretty good, and ok for a few other characters, but really thin for the rest making most of them nothing more than talking heads. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline intriguing. The writing was ok, I guess, not terrible. Although, I did really enjoy the ending, which left an overall good feeling and a smile on my face. I’m looking at an overall rate 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #SplinterEffect
I like a really good time travel story and this one sounded like a good one. The summary made it kind of sound like a time traveling Indiana Jones, which is a pretty good description. Rabbit definitely has that whole Indiana Jones vibe going on. The book summary pretty much lays out the whole premise for the primary storyline. What it doesn’t say much about is the secondary storyline where 20yrs ago, Aaron, a newbie time traveler, got left behind and stuck in 455 Rome.
In an alternate universe, there are now laws that allow time travel under certain circumstances. However, because of the tremendous expense, the only people who can afford it are groups of extremely rich people who only fund expeditions that will benefit them in some way and almost none of the time travel that is done is for research purposes; Aaron’s parents are among this group. Rabbit’s reputation as a successful time traveler (he has experienced yet another failure) is basically over until an anonymous benefactor has agreed to finance another trip to obtain a renown Jewish artifact, the same one that Rabbit and Aaron tried to obtain 20yrs ago. It’s here that my armchair detective pretty much narrows in on two potential suspects.
Most of the story has Rabbit traveling back to 535 Rome to try and obtain this Jewish artifact – again. There are obstacles everywhere and those who are determined to see Rabbit fail – again. One of those would be Helen, who foiled Rabbit on his last unsuccessful trip. They form a tenuous alliance to obtain the artifact, but there is absolutely no trust whatsoever so they are trying to outmaneuver each other the whole time they’re working together, which is pretty much the whole second half. I was so far off the mark!
There is so much going on from the war between the Christians and Jews, and the tenuous alliance between Rome and Constantinople and the search for the Jewish artifact as well as the hunt for Rabbit by a gang of Christian defenders. Throughout the story, Rabbit is constantly reciting a boatload of obscure historical facts about the locales, people and time period that would probably be unknown to anyone but a historian. History buffs would probably love this kind of story. I found the constant info dumps kind of interrupted the flow of the story and the characters activities at those moments. Then again, I’m not a historian or much of a Greek/Roman history buff.
The character development for Rabbit was pretty good, and ok for a few other characters, but really thin for the rest making most of them nothing more than talking heads. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline intriguing. The writing was ok, I guess, not terrible. Although, I did really enjoy the ending, which left an overall good feeling and a smile on my face. I’m looking at an overall rate 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #SplinterEffect
December 20, 2025
**3.5-stars**
Splinter Effect is a Time Travel Thriller that features heavy historical aspects. I found it to be a unique read, that definitely improved for me in the 2nd-half of the book.
While it started slowly and was a bit heavy-handed in the historical politics, there were definitely some fun twists towards the end that hooked me back in.
In this story, we follow Rabbit Ward, a Smithsonian Archaeologist tasked with traveling through time in order to rescue precious artifacts before they are lost to history.
Even though Rabbit is quite successful in his career, there was an epic screw-up decades ago that included the loss of his mentee, Aaron, and it has haunted him ever since. They were after a special menorah during that mission, and recently evidence has surfaced that the menorah has now been located in another time and place.
Rabbit sets out again to try to recover it, mistakenly thinking this time, it won't be quite as difficult. However, from the moment he arrives in the past, things go wrong.
Apparently, there are others, contemporary competitors, of his searching for the same artifact. One in particular, Helen, becomes a real thorn in his side.
In addition to this though, the time and place they're in, 6th-Century Constantinople, is on the brink of revolution. It's a dangerous place for anyone to be, and Rabbit and Helen find themselves thrust right into the middle of it all.
I listened to the audiobook and am glad that I did. The narrator, Roger Wayne, had a film noir quality to his voice, which I feel worked very well for this story. I would recommend that format if you're going to pick it up.
I think as a start to a series, this is strong. I have a feeling the longer the series goes on, the better it is going to get, as the Reader becomes more attached to the MC, and also gains a better understanding of the time travel system.
The concepts did take a minute to get used to, as it is sort of a fresh take on time travel, and one I did thoroughly enjoy.
For me though, it did lean a little too heavily into the politics and societal happenings of the time that Rabbit traveled back to. I felt that brought the pace of the story down, which detracted from the high-stakes mission Rabbit was on by sucking some intensity out of it.
As mentioned above, there were some great twists towards the end though that I definitely didn't see coming. One in particular, helped to completely reinvest me into the story, which was starting to lose me.
I would be interested in continuing on with the series. I think my decision will most likely be made after I read the synopsis for the 2nd-book; if the mission sounds intriguing enough to me, I will continue.
Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I do enjoy checking out different styles of Time Travel stories, and this one was fascinating. Even though I had some few issues with it, I still think the author did a great job in developing the plot, settings and characters.
Splinter Effect is a Time Travel Thriller that features heavy historical aspects. I found it to be a unique read, that definitely improved for me in the 2nd-half of the book.
While it started slowly and was a bit heavy-handed in the historical politics, there were definitely some fun twists towards the end that hooked me back in.
In this story, we follow Rabbit Ward, a Smithsonian Archaeologist tasked with traveling through time in order to rescue precious artifacts before they are lost to history.
Even though Rabbit is quite successful in his career, there was an epic screw-up decades ago that included the loss of his mentee, Aaron, and it has haunted him ever since. They were after a special menorah during that mission, and recently evidence has surfaced that the menorah has now been located in another time and place.
Rabbit sets out again to try to recover it, mistakenly thinking this time, it won't be quite as difficult. However, from the moment he arrives in the past, things go wrong.
Apparently, there are others, contemporary competitors, of his searching for the same artifact. One in particular, Helen, becomes a real thorn in his side.
In addition to this though, the time and place they're in, 6th-Century Constantinople, is on the brink of revolution. It's a dangerous place for anyone to be, and Rabbit and Helen find themselves thrust right into the middle of it all.
I listened to the audiobook and am glad that I did. The narrator, Roger Wayne, had a film noir quality to his voice, which I feel worked very well for this story. I would recommend that format if you're going to pick it up.
I think as a start to a series, this is strong. I have a feeling the longer the series goes on, the better it is going to get, as the Reader becomes more attached to the MC, and also gains a better understanding of the time travel system.
The concepts did take a minute to get used to, as it is sort of a fresh take on time travel, and one I did thoroughly enjoy.
For me though, it did lean a little too heavily into the politics and societal happenings of the time that Rabbit traveled back to. I felt that brought the pace of the story down, which detracted from the high-stakes mission Rabbit was on by sucking some intensity out of it.
As mentioned above, there were some great twists towards the end though that I definitely didn't see coming. One in particular, helped to completely reinvest me into the story, which was starting to lose me.
I would be interested in continuing on with the series. I think my decision will most likely be made after I read the synopsis for the 2nd-book; if the mission sounds intriguing enough to me, I will continue.
Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I do enjoy checking out different styles of Time Travel stories, and this one was fascinating. Even though I had some few issues with it, I still think the author did a great job in developing the plot, settings and characters.
February 18, 2025
Splinter Effect
by Andrew Ludington
Science Fiction Historical
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 16+
Rabbit Ward is an archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian to retrieve lost treasures the moment they disappear from history, funded by the government and private collectors. But the Smithsonian and its sponsors aren't the only people who have the time travel technology, and there is one woman, Helen, who seems to pop up during Rabbit's expeditions, stealing what he retrieved.
On an expedition to Constantinople, hunting for the menorah, the same one that in a previous expedition had cost the life of the young man accompanying Rabbit, once again Helen is there, shadowing his search. When it starts to look as if there is someone else who also wants the menorah, willing to kill to achieve their goal, the two of them make a truce. But there is something about the whole thing that feels out of place to Rabbit.
I was hoping for more time travel adventures, but this story pretty much stayed at Constantinople. I am not a history buff, so I do not know how much of the detail descriptions, which sometimes dragged on to irritable, were correct, or the time frame and events that were talked about, and while I hope there is truth to it and the author did their research, I took it, as I do with all history/scientific fiction, with a grain of salt. The author is human, so mistakes can happen and embellishments are a part of fiction.
This story moved along at a good and steady pace, had action here and there, and the characters and setting were really developed, though I kind of wish a little more was spent on the science of the time travel. The how it worked and was discovered, I don't feel was described, but the 'splinter effect' (different timelines) was really thought out.
If it hadn't been for the over descriptions that I started to skim so I didn't get bored, I would've given this one more star. Because I can see how this could become a series, I would be interested in reading more.
3 Stars
by Andrew Ludington
Science Fiction Historical
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 16+
Rabbit Ward is an archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian to retrieve lost treasures the moment they disappear from history, funded by the government and private collectors. But the Smithsonian and its sponsors aren't the only people who have the time travel technology, and there is one woman, Helen, who seems to pop up during Rabbit's expeditions, stealing what he retrieved.
On an expedition to Constantinople, hunting for the menorah, the same one that in a previous expedition had cost the life of the young man accompanying Rabbit, once again Helen is there, shadowing his search. When it starts to look as if there is someone else who also wants the menorah, willing to kill to achieve their goal, the two of them make a truce. But there is something about the whole thing that feels out of place to Rabbit.
I was hoping for more time travel adventures, but this story pretty much stayed at Constantinople. I am not a history buff, so I do not know how much of the detail descriptions, which sometimes dragged on to irritable, were correct, or the time frame and events that were talked about, and while I hope there is truth to it and the author did their research, I took it, as I do with all history/scientific fiction, with a grain of salt. The author is human, so mistakes can happen and embellishments are a part of fiction.
This story moved along at a good and steady pace, had action here and there, and the characters and setting were really developed, though I kind of wish a little more was spent on the science of the time travel. The how it worked and was discovered, I don't feel was described, but the 'splinter effect' (different timelines) was really thought out.
If it hadn't been for the over descriptions that I started to skim so I didn't get bored, I would've given this one more star. Because I can see how this could become a series, I would be interested in reading more.
3 Stars
June 25, 2025
(4.5 stars)
I love a good time travel story and I love reading about ancient civilizations and archaeology (I even thought about majoring in that, back in the day). Add in a significant amount of Jewish interest, and you have a trifecta. So Splinter Effect was a perfect book for me
“Robbit” Ward is a chrono-archaeologist. In Splinter Effect, there are ways to time travel back to a specific time and place. Chrono-archaeologists use this technology to go back to a particular point in history right before a significant treasure was lost (lost to history or destroyed). As the book opens, Rabbit is in Egypt in 48 BCE, as the Alexandria Library is being burned by Julius Caesar. Rabbit is there to save some manuscripts, plays by Sophocles, that were lost forever in that fire.
Rabbit’s “white whale” is the lost menorah, stolen, along with other treasures, from Jerusalem by the Romans and immortalized on the triumphal arch still standing in Rome. His efforts to retrieve the menorah before it’s lost to history form the bulk of the story. Much of the action takes place in Constantinople in 535 CE. In addition to the search for the menorah, Rabbit is consumed by the tragedy of losing his young partner, Aaron, twenty years earlier, in an ill-fated attempt to retrieve the menorah during the sacking of Rome by the Vandals in 455 CE. He also seems to have a rival at many of his “excursions,” a woman he refers to as a “stringer,” someone who isn’t funded by the government, the way Rabbit is.
This is a strong debut by Andrew Ludington, and I hope that there will be more adventures for Rabbit in our future.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I love a good time travel story and I love reading about ancient civilizations and archaeology (I even thought about majoring in that, back in the day). Add in a significant amount of Jewish interest, and you have a trifecta. So Splinter Effect was a perfect book for me
“Robbit” Ward is a chrono-archaeologist. In Splinter Effect, there are ways to time travel back to a specific time and place. Chrono-archaeologists use this technology to go back to a particular point in history right before a significant treasure was lost (lost to history or destroyed). As the book opens, Rabbit is in Egypt in 48 BCE, as the Alexandria Library is being burned by Julius Caesar. Rabbit is there to save some manuscripts, plays by Sophocles, that were lost forever in that fire.
Rabbit’s “white whale” is the lost menorah, stolen, along with other treasures, from Jerusalem by the Romans and immortalized on the triumphal arch still standing in Rome. His efforts to retrieve the menorah before it’s lost to history form the bulk of the story. Much of the action takes place in Constantinople in 535 CE. In addition to the search for the menorah, Rabbit is consumed by the tragedy of losing his young partner, Aaron, twenty years earlier, in an ill-fated attempt to retrieve the menorah during the sacking of Rome by the Vandals in 455 CE. He also seems to have a rival at many of his “excursions,” a woman he refers to as a “stringer,” someone who isn’t funded by the government, the way Rabbit is.
This is a strong debut by Andrew Ludington, and I hope that there will be more adventures for Rabbit in our future.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Rabbit Ward is a time traveling archaeologist who is still reeling from the grief over a young mentee. Hoping to overcome the whispers that surround him, Rabbit once more sets out to recover the menorah of the second temple. His quest leads him to Constantinople in the 6th century. But will he make it out alive?
This was a good story. It happens to be Andrew Ludington's debut novel. Based on the descriptions in the novel, the author was very well versed in the time that he had transported his main protagonist. I feel that readers might see more of Rabbit in the future. Personally, it wasn't a book that moved me. I was expecting a bit more action and I felt restless the longer we stuck around Constantinople.
I am certain that this book will win over a great number of readers. But I just lacked interest.
Love that cover though!
Expected publication 18/03/25
Goodreads Review 06/03/25
Rabbit Ward is a time traveling archaeologist who is still reeling from the grief over a young mentee. Hoping to overcome the whispers that surround him, Rabbit once more sets out to recover the menorah of the second temple. His quest leads him to Constantinople in the 6th century. But will he make it out alive?
This was a good story. It happens to be Andrew Ludington's debut novel. Based on the descriptions in the novel, the author was very well versed in the time that he had transported his main protagonist. I feel that readers might see more of Rabbit in the future. Personally, it wasn't a book that moved me. I was expecting a bit more action and I felt restless the longer we stuck around Constantinople.
I am certain that this book will win over a great number of readers. But I just lacked interest.
Love that cover though!
Expected publication 18/03/25
Goodreads Review 06/03/25
February 6, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 18, 2025
Rabbit Ward is a Smithsonian chrono-archaeologist, traveling through time in order to unearth precious treasures from days past. Twenty years ago, Rabbit lost his partner and his prize when a search went very, very wrong. Now, Rabbit has the oppourtunity to get back what he lost but it doesn’t come without risk. Once he makes the jump and ends up in 6th century Constantinople not only does he have to outrun his competitor, a young woman named Helen, but he also has to do the best he can to ensure he doesn’t change the path of history, while the country itself is on the verge of a revolution.
Andrew Ludington’s “Splinter Effect: A Novel” is his first novel, and, no doubt, it will be the first novel in a series. Sharp and creative, “Effect” is a historical fiction novel with some nifty sci-fi elements and it is definitely a unique and engaging read.
If, during time travel, Rabbit or his comrades act in such a way that the future as they know it, the universe experiences what Rabbit calls a “splinter effect” and the time traveler is stuck in that era forever, unable to return to their time. Not just a crafty name for the novel, the “splinter effect” provides readers with a solid and sensible time travel theory that answers all the obvious questions. Ludington manages to explain a highly complex and detailed scientific process with generalizable words and language, and he deserves high praise.
Rabbit travels back to a time much farther back than most alternate-time frame novels I’ve read, and it is this factor that helps “Splinter” rise above the rest. Chariot racing, gladiator battles and lost relics add more drama to the already entertaining plot, as Rabbit races to unearth a valuable artifact before his time runs out and he can’t return home.
High-octane, informative, well-written and imaginative, “Splinter Effect: A Novel” is a stellar debut that will appeal to a wide variety of readers and I hope to hear more from Ludington (and hopefully Rabbit)!
Expected publication date: Mar. 18, 2025
Rabbit Ward is a Smithsonian chrono-archaeologist, traveling through time in order to unearth precious treasures from days past. Twenty years ago, Rabbit lost his partner and his prize when a search went very, very wrong. Now, Rabbit has the oppourtunity to get back what he lost but it doesn’t come without risk. Once he makes the jump and ends up in 6th century Constantinople not only does he have to outrun his competitor, a young woman named Helen, but he also has to do the best he can to ensure he doesn’t change the path of history, while the country itself is on the verge of a revolution.
Andrew Ludington’s “Splinter Effect: A Novel” is his first novel, and, no doubt, it will be the first novel in a series. Sharp and creative, “Effect” is a historical fiction novel with some nifty sci-fi elements and it is definitely a unique and engaging read.
If, during time travel, Rabbit or his comrades act in such a way that the future as they know it, the universe experiences what Rabbit calls a “splinter effect” and the time traveler is stuck in that era forever, unable to return to their time. Not just a crafty name for the novel, the “splinter effect” provides readers with a solid and sensible time travel theory that answers all the obvious questions. Ludington manages to explain a highly complex and detailed scientific process with generalizable words and language, and he deserves high praise.
Rabbit travels back to a time much farther back than most alternate-time frame novels I’ve read, and it is this factor that helps “Splinter” rise above the rest. Chariot racing, gladiator battles and lost relics add more drama to the already entertaining plot, as Rabbit races to unearth a valuable artifact before his time runs out and he can’t return home.
High-octane, informative, well-written and imaginative, “Splinter Effect: A Novel” is a stellar debut that will appeal to a wide variety of readers and I hope to hear more from Ludington (and hopefully Rabbit)!
December 26, 2024
Indiana Jones meets Back To The Future? Kind of. Sounds great alright although this one didn’t quite hit the mark.
A story of people travelling back in time to find precious lost artefacts, hide them so they can be found in the future and jump back to present day within a certain time.
Time travel is legal but heavily regulated and although it is used by museums, there are also privately funded missions also.
I thought this one would be a lot more fun than it was. Interesting ideas but the vast majority of the book takes place approximately 500AD and I found it a little boring. Too heavy on detail of the setting, buildings etc and not enough happening or even dialogue. I also found it hard to keep track of all the characters.
It’s not a bad book per se and it had some cool ideas but it dragged a lot for me and ended up feeling all a bit convoluted.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
A story of people travelling back in time to find precious lost artefacts, hide them so they can be found in the future and jump back to present day within a certain time.
Time travel is legal but heavily regulated and although it is used by museums, there are also privately funded missions also.
I thought this one would be a lot more fun than it was. Interesting ideas but the vast majority of the book takes place approximately 500AD and I found it a little boring. Too heavy on detail of the setting, buildings etc and not enough happening or even dialogue. I also found it hard to keep track of all the characters.
It’s not a bad book per se and it had some cool ideas but it dragged a lot for me and ended up feeling all a bit convoluted.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
July 16, 2024
Review: This novel takes off like a rocket into a past rich in historical fact married to the fiction of the moment.
I loved the detailed history coupled with constant movement as Rabbit and his hottie pard wend their way through the past to secure a religious artifact. This novel left me wanting more. The characters all play off of each other in a well rendered display that builds depth and attachement.
If you love history and time travel that is better than Dr. Who by a long shot, GET THIS!
I loved the detailed history coupled with constant movement as Rabbit and his hottie pard wend their way through the past to secure a religious artifact. This novel left me wanting more. The characters all play off of each other in a well rendered display that builds depth and attachement.
If you love history and time travel that is better than Dr. Who by a long shot, GET THIS!
September 3, 2025
Read to 9%.
Jaunty, adventurous tone. Fun concept.
Forced-in diversity checklist bingo gay drop at 9%.
- Desiree Reads
September 3, 2025
Jaunty, adventurous tone. Fun concept.
Forced-in diversity checklist bingo gay drop at 9%.
- Desiree Reads
September 3, 2025
March 13, 2025
*3-3.5 stars for a debut time-travel thriller that takes us to the ancient world. Robert 'Rabbit' Ward
is 'an extremely accomplished chrono-archaeologist headquartered with the Smithsonian Institution. Specializing in the ancient Hellenic and classical Mediterranean, he has participated in over eighty expeditions in his twenty-year career.' Time travel was legally sanctioned twenty-seven years ago and has heavily favored reclamation of artifacts over research. Private sponsorship has paid for virtually all time travel in the United States. The Splinter Effect states that history cannot be materially altered or reality splinters, creating a parallel reality.
Rabbit Ward's one great failure was while trying to procure a menorah in ancient Rome. Not only was the mission a failure but his young partner was killed. The rules of time travel do not allow a traveller to return to the same moment in time to try again, but now the menorah has shown up in merchant records in Constantinople and his boss, collections curator at the National History Museum in Washington DC, wants him to try again. Only this time he will have competition.
Exciting action and interesting setting make for a fun read. Rabbit is a brave and clever time traveler with his own moral code, carrying a load of guilt over his failures. If there was a flaw in this adventure novel, I'd say it was in not trying hard enough to make the dialog match the historic time. I believe one character actually says, 'Give me a break!' And maybe piling on the adventures when there had already been enough. As an artist once said, The trick is knowing when to stop, when a work is done. Great action-movie material here though!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
is 'an extremely accomplished chrono-archaeologist headquartered with the Smithsonian Institution. Specializing in the ancient Hellenic and classical Mediterranean, he has participated in over eighty expeditions in his twenty-year career.' Time travel was legally sanctioned twenty-seven years ago and has heavily favored reclamation of artifacts over research. Private sponsorship has paid for virtually all time travel in the United States. The Splinter Effect states that history cannot be materially altered or reality splinters, creating a parallel reality.
Rabbit Ward's one great failure was while trying to procure a menorah in ancient Rome. Not only was the mission a failure but his young partner was killed. The rules of time travel do not allow a traveller to return to the same moment in time to try again, but now the menorah has shown up in merchant records in Constantinople and his boss, collections curator at the National History Museum in Washington DC, wants him to try again. Only this time he will have competition.
Exciting action and interesting setting make for a fun read. Rabbit is a brave and clever time traveler with his own moral code, carrying a load of guilt over his failures. If there was a flaw in this adventure novel, I'd say it was in not trying hard enough to make the dialog match the historic time. I believe one character actually says, 'Give me a break!' And maybe piling on the adventures when there had already been enough. As an artist once said, The trick is knowing when to stop, when a work is done. Great action-movie material here though!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
March 1, 2025
The premise of time travel and collecting artifacts from the past really intrigued me. And I thought that the Constantinople setting would be interesting. Unfortunately, the Roman and Greek empires were not in my wheelhouse.
The storytelling is really good as I got immersed in the narrative in the beginning. But once the time travel took place back to Greece 535 CE, I lost all future interest. It's no fault of the author. I just became aware that I'm really not a fan of Roman and Greek history.
I'm sure there are a number of readers who will find Splinter Effect an excellent novel. But for me I just lacked the interest. One star DNF.
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts an opinions.
The storytelling is really good as I got immersed in the narrative in the beginning. But once the time travel took place back to Greece 535 CE, I lost all future interest. It's no fault of the author. I just became aware that I'm really not a fan of Roman and Greek history.
I'm sure there are a number of readers who will find Splinter Effect an excellent novel. But for me I just lacked the interest. One star DNF.
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts an opinions.
January 12, 2025
I'm often leery of reading time travel books, because I can only suspend so much disbelief. But, I REALLY enjoyed this take on time travel. Rabbit Ward is a great main character. He has been recovering precious artifacts for years, but a particular menorah is his "great white whale". I loved the glimpses of history, the characters (especially Rabbit) and the plot. The pacing was good, and the book kept me interested from start to finish.
August 5, 2024
I liked this one, but felt at times like I was reading historical fiction about ancient Constantinople rather than the "action-packed" time traveling archaeologist novel I was expecting... That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it did give it a very different feel than I was looking for, and that wasn't always good. I admit, I skimmed a bit in the vast middle section of the book when all the action, such as it was, was centered in life in ancient Turkey. I definitely found the time travel/stealing artifacts/conspiracies and betrayals elements the most engaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
April 6, 2025
I just finished Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington and here are my thoughts. Firstly, the audiobook was a tad bland but I did get used to it after a while and got sucked in.
We are introduced to Rabbit Ward… A time traveling Archaeologist who has gone into the past to find a long lost menorah (candelabrum used in Jewish worship) from Ancient Rome. Things couldn’t have gone more wrong from the second he arrives and when a rival, Helen arrives to find the very same item… He knows there's a mole in his organization… Yet the only way to find the Menorah might be to work with the very person who is here to steal from him…
Genre - Time Travel - Science Fiction
Date of Release - March 18th 2025
Publisher - @minotaur_books
It was an interesting book. It was a tad monotonal but I think that was done on purpose. Rabbit is very rigid and I think the tone of the book was to match him. I didn’t much care for that but I did get used to it.
The plot is insane!!! I loved the storyline! The author did a phenomenal job of creating this story and I couldn’t find a hole in it. Not one plot hole… That right there is incredible because the story has a ton going on and most of the time there is something in a book that doesn’t fit or get explained.. Not here so bravo!
I liked Rabbit ok. I think he was growing on me towards the end of the book but I did love Helen! I know I'm not supposed to have warm feelings for the “bad guy” but I couldn’t help it. I am really glad this is book 1 and it’s a debut novel so honestly, if this is the level the author is already writing at… I am excited to see what comes next.
I adored all the sights of Rome and all the wonderful backstory delivered in a really clever way. Honestly the only things I can say about the book is the tone was a tad off for me and it could have had a slightly faster pace but these things are like a grain of rice compared to how excellent this book is.
4.5 stars! I know you are looking at the genre and thinking… I don’t read sci-fi… It’s really so much more than that! It’s a Historical Fiction, Adventure, Mystery Thriller so give it a go!
Thank you to Minotaur books for my gifted hardcover and @netgalley for my ALC!
We are introduced to Rabbit Ward… A time traveling Archaeologist who has gone into the past to find a long lost menorah (candelabrum used in Jewish worship) from Ancient Rome. Things couldn’t have gone more wrong from the second he arrives and when a rival, Helen arrives to find the very same item… He knows there's a mole in his organization… Yet the only way to find the Menorah might be to work with the very person who is here to steal from him…
Genre - Time Travel - Science Fiction
Date of Release - March 18th 2025
Publisher - @minotaur_books
It was an interesting book. It was a tad monotonal but I think that was done on purpose. Rabbit is very rigid and I think the tone of the book was to match him. I didn’t much care for that but I did get used to it.
The plot is insane!!! I loved the storyline! The author did a phenomenal job of creating this story and I couldn’t find a hole in it. Not one plot hole… That right there is incredible because the story has a ton going on and most of the time there is something in a book that doesn’t fit or get explained.. Not here so bravo!
I liked Rabbit ok. I think he was growing on me towards the end of the book but I did love Helen! I know I'm not supposed to have warm feelings for the “bad guy” but I couldn’t help it. I am really glad this is book 1 and it’s a debut novel so honestly, if this is the level the author is already writing at… I am excited to see what comes next.
I adored all the sights of Rome and all the wonderful backstory delivered in a really clever way. Honestly the only things I can say about the book is the tone was a tad off for me and it could have had a slightly faster pace but these things are like a grain of rice compared to how excellent this book is.
4.5 stars! I know you are looking at the genre and thinking… I don’t read sci-fi… It’s really so much more than that! It’s a Historical Fiction, Adventure, Mystery Thriller so give it a go!
Thank you to Minotaur books for my gifted hardcover and @netgalley for my ALC!
March 16, 2025
Thank you Minotaur books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies of Splinter Effects.
I went back and forth on this one, but in the end, I really enjoyed it… and now I need book two like yesterday.
This book started sloooow. And I don’t just mean it took too long to get to the action (which it did), but the early chapters themselves were so boring.They do lay the groundwork for how time travel works in this universe, but I think it could have been done more efficiently without losing impact. That said, I’m chalking it up to this being the first book in a series.
But about 40% through, it got reeeeeal good and I completely lost myself in the story. When it ended, I was like WHAT?! because I needed more.
So if this book sounds interesting to you, give it a shot—and don’t give up after a slow start! It’s worth sticking with.
Audio: Roger Wayne is an easy listen, and his voice felt like a great fit for the main character. Definitely a solid choice for audio.
I went back and forth on this one, but in the end, I really enjoyed it… and now I need book two like yesterday.
This book started sloooow. And I don’t just mean it took too long to get to the action (which it did), but the early chapters themselves were so boring.They do lay the groundwork for how time travel works in this universe, but I think it could have been done more efficiently without losing impact. That said, I’m chalking it up to this being the first book in a series.
But about 40% through, it got reeeeeal good and I completely lost myself in the story. When it ended, I was like WHAT?! because I needed more.
So if this book sounds interesting to you, give it a shot—and don’t give up after a slow start! It’s worth sticking with.
Audio: Roger Wayne is an easy listen, and his voice felt like a great fit for the main character. Definitely a solid choice for audio.
July 17, 2024
Time-traveling archeologist Rabbit Ward has made a name for himself by going back in time to retrieve priceless artifacts before they are lost to history. However, twenty years ago he lost his chance of obtaining a precious menorah. He also lost his mentee Aaron along the way, and both losses have deeply affected him ever since. The Smithsonian has called him back into action to finish what he started by retrieving the menorah again and rectifying the wrongs of his past.
Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a thrilling historical adventure novel filled with plenty of thrills, twists, and action. Being a fan of history myself, I was captivated by the story and seeing historically significant cities during the height of their prominence was incredible. There are plenty of obstacles that Rabbit has to contend with including a mysterious woman who seems to steal the artifacts away from him at the last moment. He also has to work against time as Constantinople’s gangs seem to be after him. This book felt like a science fiction Indiana Jones story and as someone who loves Indy, that was right up my alley!
Ludington also does an exceptional job with the characters. You really feel for Rabbit who is still filled with regret for losing Aaron all those years ago, and you get the sense that he’s a man who will do anything for his friends and loved ones.
If you love historical adventure stories or time traveling tales, you’ll really enjoy Splinter Effect! I hope there are more in the series, I want to see where (and when) Rabbit will travel to next! This was a terrific debut for Andrew Ludington.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a thrilling historical adventure novel filled with plenty of thrills, twists, and action. Being a fan of history myself, I was captivated by the story and seeing historically significant cities during the height of their prominence was incredible. There are plenty of obstacles that Rabbit has to contend with including a mysterious woman who seems to steal the artifacts away from him at the last moment. He also has to work against time as Constantinople’s gangs seem to be after him. This book felt like a science fiction Indiana Jones story and as someone who loves Indy, that was right up my alley!
Ludington also does an exceptional job with the characters. You really feel for Rabbit who is still filled with regret for losing Aaron all those years ago, and you get the sense that he’s a man who will do anything for his friends and loved ones.
If you love historical adventure stories or time traveling tales, you’ll really enjoy Splinter Effect! I hope there are more in the series, I want to see where (and when) Rabbit will travel to next! This was a terrific debut for Andrew Ludington.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
March 5, 2025
An interesting historical fiction adventure set during the 580s AD and the search for a missing menorah. "Rabbit" is the present-day agent who goes back in time to find it. He has to deal with warring factions, bad bookkeeping, and time-traveling competitors. To me, the story was occasionally gripping and occasionally snarky/funny. By taking the middle ground, it did neither adventure nor humor exceptionally well. 3.5 rounded up. A better historical time-travelling tale is Connie Willis' classic, Doomsday Book.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #SplinterEffect for review purposes. Publication date: 18 March 2025.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #SplinterEffect for review purposes. Publication date: 18 March 2025.
April 25, 2025
This is fun like watching "The Librarians" or "Warehouse 13" are fun, though both those shows are probably more enjoyable because there are larger casts, not mostly an angsty man main character with the appearance of a mysterious criminal partner woman reminiscent of older pulp fiction. I would say the woman character isn't well-developed, but none of the characters are particularly well-developed, so it wasn't just that the author felt the need to include a hot chick à la Indiana Jones or 007. There was also a somewhat long, proportionally to the other scenes in the book, description of a chariot race, as if the book were trying to channel Ben Hur. Now that I'm writing this review, I'm realizing that I found this book more mediocre than I initially thought. There was nothing particularly new about this setup, nor was it done exceedingly well. I can't even tell if the similarities to all the works that I mentioned, and others, was intentional, as if it were supposed to be referential and/or Easter-eggy, but the result was very middling, though entertaining. I don't know much about the period of history that the story takes place, so I can't say much about the portrayl's accuracy.
There is also a conversation between the characters basically saying "we both steal priceless historical artifacts for rich people," and then they just shrug and keep on going 🤷 There are other works that engage more meaningfully in this topic and/or stolen artifacts that are also fun (Rebecca Roanhorse's "Takeback Tango" and Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge's Finders/Keepers just off the top of my head)
At least two or three times in the book, a character thinks or wonders aloud why everyone is so mean to Jewish people, which is fair, especially with a long historical lens. On the other hand, since this book was published in 2025, the sentiments could easily be (mis)construed(?) as pro-Israeli-state.
There is also a conversation between the characters basically saying "we both steal priceless historical artifacts for rich people," and then they just shrug and keep on going 🤷 There are other works that engage more meaningfully in this topic and/or stolen artifacts that are also fun (Rebecca Roanhorse's "Takeback Tango" and Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge's Finders/Keepers just off the top of my head)
At least two or three times in the book, a character thinks or wonders aloud why everyone is so mean to Jewish people, which is fair, especially with a long historical lens. On the other hand, since this book was published in 2025, the sentiments could easily be (mis)construed(?) as pro-Israeli-state.
January 13, 2025
This book was a disappointment at best. The author tried to establish a storyline with an Indiana Jones type character that just did not come up to snuff. The author’s writing style just did not resonate with me. The book was a challenge to complete as the storyline, which had great potential, did not hold my interest. Some others seem to enjoy the book so I will leave it to you as to whether or not you want to gives this novel a try.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
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August 22, 2024Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC copy they provided.
Unfortunately, I just did not feel enough of a pull to finish reading this book, and will be putting it on my incomplete pile. This decision has nothing to do with the quality of the writing, and everything to do with my own personal preference. Splinter Effect just wasn’t quite what I imagined it would be when I read the blurb and picked it up.
And that is completely on me, and not the author or publisher. From what I did read of it, Splinter Effect feels like a relaxing read with a solid plot and enormous room to draw people in with action and numerous twists and turns. It might not be my style, but I’m sure plenty of other people will love it.
Unfortunately, I just did not feel enough of a pull to finish reading this book, and will be putting it on my incomplete pile. This decision has nothing to do with the quality of the writing, and everything to do with my own personal preference. Splinter Effect just wasn’t quite what I imagined it would be when I read the blurb and picked it up.
And that is completely on me, and not the author or publisher. From what I did read of it, Splinter Effect feels like a relaxing read with a solid plot and enormous room to draw people in with action and numerous twists and turns. It might not be my style, but I’m sure plenty of other people will love it.
February 19, 2025
Rabbit is a successful and respected chrono-archeologist, someone who travels to the past to retrieve lost historical artifacts. However, when an illegal time traveler steals an artifact from him before it can be recovered, his backers pull their funding from his missions, and he has to do something drastic to prevent the end of his career. He must try once again to retrieve the menorah from the second Jewish temple, a mission that ended in failure and tragedy the first time. This time he'll be searching in ancient Constantinople, the then Capitol of the Roman Empire, as he dodges political unrest and threats to his very life in an attempt to find the priceless piece of history.
While this book isn't expertly written, it is very entertaining, and I highly recommend it. Exploring ancient Constantinople, learning about the beautiful architecture and foreign culture is fun. The story is also packed with action – fights, escapes, a chariot race at the Hippodrome, and much more that I can’t mention without providing spoilers. The plot, especially the last third or so, is also full of twists and turns that surprised the heck out of me. It left me legitimately unsure what to expect out of the next book in the series, but in the best possible way. I can’t wait to find out what is next for the main character, as well as the supporting characters.
That being said, from a technical standpoint, this book has some serious weaknesses. The plot relies on coincidence way too much, in my opinion. The story structure is odd enough that I thought I had hit the end at least three times before the book actually ended. I sometimes struggled to know who was saying what during conversations because there weren’t enough dialogue tags and other indications to provide clarity. Also, something about the prose felt, for lack of a better word, immature. That might have been a stylist choice on the part of the writer, but if it was, it was a choice that didn’t work for me.
That being said, this is the writer’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what type of a novelist they mature into with experience. This book demonstrates that they have a great deal of creativity and many interesting, and I look forward to seeing where they take the rest of this series and any other books the writer may write.
Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
TW: death, murder, gun violence, physical violence, imprisonment, antisemitism, somewhat graphic medical situation
While this book isn't expertly written, it is very entertaining, and I highly recommend it. Exploring ancient Constantinople, learning about the beautiful architecture and foreign culture is fun. The story is also packed with action – fights, escapes, a chariot race at the Hippodrome, and much more that I can’t mention without providing spoilers. The plot, especially the last third or so, is also full of twists and turns that surprised the heck out of me. It left me legitimately unsure what to expect out of the next book in the series, but in the best possible way. I can’t wait to find out what is next for the main character, as well as the supporting characters.
That being said, from a technical standpoint, this book has some serious weaknesses. The plot relies on coincidence way too much, in my opinion. The story structure is odd enough that I thought I had hit the end at least three times before the book actually ended. I sometimes struggled to know who was saying what during conversations because there weren’t enough dialogue tags and other indications to provide clarity. Also, something about the prose felt, for lack of a better word, immature. That might have been a stylist choice on the part of the writer, but if it was, it was a choice that didn’t work for me.
That being said, this is the writer’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what type of a novelist they mature into with experience. This book demonstrates that they have a great deal of creativity and many interesting, and I look forward to seeing where they take the rest of this series and any other books the writer may write.
Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
TW: death, murder, gun violence, physical violence, imprisonment, antisemitism, somewhat graphic medical situation
February 8, 2025
A fast-paced tale with a believable protagonist and well-done setting
In The Splinter Effect, mankind has accomplished time travel. This gives archaeologists wonderful opportunities to explore old eras and even to retrieve precious artifacts, but time travelers must be VERY CAREFUL not to disturb anything that could change history. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is determined to find and bring back a precious gold menorah, especially since his previous attempt to obtain the menorah had resulted in the loss of his young mentee Aaron. Rabbit travels to 6th-century Constantinople but finds more obstacles when he arrives than he had anticipated, including a would-be collaborator/competitor named Helen. Where did she come from, and how did she find out about this expedition?
I am a science fiction fan, but you do not have to like SF to enjoy this book. There is a lot to like in The Splinter Effect. First of all, there is a gripping plot with lots of unpredictable but credible twists and turns. Rabbit is a believable nicely drawn character that I could sympathize with and root for. The historical time travel gives an opportunity for some well-done exploration of the eras Rabbit visits, and I enjoyed the information about times that were not covered in my survey history classes. It was interesting and thought-provoking to read Rabbit’s musings as he tries to fit into the eras he visits, such as the etiquette of being a good guest in Constantinople in 535 CE. A feature I always enjoy in a book is humorous commentary, like Rabbit trying to fit into the protocols of the era and coming to understand why the word “byzantine” had come to be synonymous with complexity.
Back to the plot. Finally, The Splinter Effect has a satisfying ending with a surprise that makes room for more adventures in a follow-up book! I look forward to it.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books.
In The Splinter Effect, mankind has accomplished time travel. This gives archaeologists wonderful opportunities to explore old eras and even to retrieve precious artifacts, but time travelers must be VERY CAREFUL not to disturb anything that could change history. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is determined to find and bring back a precious gold menorah, especially since his previous attempt to obtain the menorah had resulted in the loss of his young mentee Aaron. Rabbit travels to 6th-century Constantinople but finds more obstacles when he arrives than he had anticipated, including a would-be collaborator/competitor named Helen. Where did she come from, and how did she find out about this expedition?
I am a science fiction fan, but you do not have to like SF to enjoy this book. There is a lot to like in The Splinter Effect. First of all, there is a gripping plot with lots of unpredictable but credible twists and turns. Rabbit is a believable nicely drawn character that I could sympathize with and root for. The historical time travel gives an opportunity for some well-done exploration of the eras Rabbit visits, and I enjoyed the information about times that were not covered in my survey history classes. It was interesting and thought-provoking to read Rabbit’s musings as he tries to fit into the eras he visits, such as the etiquette of being a good guest in Constantinople in 535 CE. A feature I always enjoy in a book is humorous commentary, like Rabbit trying to fit into the protocols of the era and coming to understand why the word “byzantine” had come to be synonymous with complexity.
Back to the plot. Finally, The Splinter Effect has a satisfying ending with a surprise that makes room for more adventures in a follow-up book! I look forward to it.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books.
October 12, 2024
If you like historical fiction with time travel, you'll probably enjoy this book. I dont know much history about Rome and Constantinople, so not entirely sure if the chracters mentioned in this book during that time period were actual people or not. We meet Robert "Rabbit" Ward, who works to obtain artifacts from the past by time traveling to the past to retrieve said objects. The one object he didnt retrieve was one where his partner at the time had died and Rabbit had to leave Aaron behind, to the dismay of Aaron's parents. Another opportunity comes up where Rabbit can go back to try and retrieve the Menorah, and the book is mainly about this excursion. There is also a woman in play who seems to know where Rabbit is and steal the artifact from him. But with what happens in the book, they kind of work together to save each other.
I did enjoy this book. I might have enoyed this more if I knew the history more though. I know the author tries to explain, but still I sometimes was lost. I enjoyed the twist and wonder if there will be a romance. It was a bit slow between 30-50% of the book, but then the last half picked up when we finally got to the heist.
Okay some spoilers below:
Aaron being the Levi person and trying to leave Rabbit to rule shocked me! Also i think Rabbit and Helen will fall in love or something. I hope Andor is a good ruler. I liked his character. The end when Rabbit decides to save Aaron and bring him back this time was nice. Came somewhat full circle.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy this book. I might have enoyed this more if I knew the history more though. I know the author tries to explain, but still I sometimes was lost. I enjoyed the twist and wonder if there will be a romance. It was a bit slow between 30-50% of the book, but then the last half picked up when we finally got to the heist.
Okay some spoilers below:
Aaron being the Levi person and trying to leave Rabbit to rule shocked me! Also i think Rabbit and Helen will fall in love or something. I hope Andor is a good ruler. I liked his character. The end when Rabbit decides to save Aaron and bring him back this time was nice. Came somewhat full circle.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
Please, please do not put this book down in the first third. It is slow. It is detailed, but if you can hold out, you will be rewarded with a great adventure tale set in the 6th century.
Rabbit Ward is a time traveler. Chrono Archaeologist to be more precise, but he does travel through time to retrieve relics that may have been lost to history otherwise. There is a time jump in his past that has forever haunted him, and people are starting to whisper that maybe it’s time for him to hang up his jumping shoes. Dr. Ward thinks otherwise.
He keeps encountering this mysterious modern day woman on his jumps. Rabbit wants to determine who she is. Then there is the rumor that someone is selling out secrets so that she can keep finding him on his travels. Someone within his own ranks. The Smithsonian. Whoever she is, she has an uncanny ability to cross paths with him.
On a trip to 535 CE they cross paths again. This time, though, it might take both of them to get out of this trip safely. Can Rabbit trust her?
As I said, the beginning of this novel tends to be fairly methodical with a lot of backstory. A lot of research went into getting the historical details correct. It’s crazy! Do not fret! Keep along and you’ll find an amazing trip through history, with a lot of hijinks and mayhem. I flew through the second half of this book.
For a person who is not enamored of historical novels, I did enjoy this one. It has enough intrigue to keep anyone entertained.
Rabbit Ward is a time traveler. Chrono Archaeologist to be more precise, but he does travel through time to retrieve relics that may have been lost to history otherwise. There is a time jump in his past that has forever haunted him, and people are starting to whisper that maybe it’s time for him to hang up his jumping shoes. Dr. Ward thinks otherwise.
He keeps encountering this mysterious modern day woman on his jumps. Rabbit wants to determine who she is. Then there is the rumor that someone is selling out secrets so that she can keep finding him on his travels. Someone within his own ranks. The Smithsonian. Whoever she is, she has an uncanny ability to cross paths with him.
On a trip to 535 CE they cross paths again. This time, though, it might take both of them to get out of this trip safely. Can Rabbit trust her?
As I said, the beginning of this novel tends to be fairly methodical with a lot of backstory. A lot of research went into getting the historical details correct. It’s crazy! Do not fret! Keep along and you’ll find an amazing trip through history, with a lot of hijinks and mayhem. I flew through the second half of this book.
For a person who is not enamored of historical novels, I did enjoy this one. It has enough intrigue to keep anyone entertained.
March 19, 2025
Rabbit Ward is an archaeologist, who happens to use time travel to search for and recover priceless items lost to time.
Rabbit is a difficult person, and he's never played all that well with others, including possible patrons. He's also still reeling with guilt for leaving a young colleague behind on a job several years ago.
Given a chance to recover a menorah, he heads to sixth century Constantinople, meets a sympathetic and young soldier, has an audience with the king and his advisor, and also has to outwit a frequent competitor, Helen, whose methods are a little suspect, but who has been highly successful in the past.
It's clear author Andrew Ludington knows this time in history, as the time spent in Constantinople felt lived in and real. There is action, intrigue, violence, betrayals, and a surprise in store for Rabbit.
Though this story was not really my thing, despite its premise of a time travelling Indiana Jones. I could appreciate the historical detail, the action, and the intrigue in the novel, however.
I have a feeling that we'll be seeing Rabbit again, based on the ending.
I went back and forth between the text and the audio, and voice actor Roger Wayne did a good job voicing Rabbit, but I found his Helen a little less convincing, which is too bad, because Helen is clearly the more interesting of the two characters. I did like Wayne's work as the king's advisor.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
Rabbit is a difficult person, and he's never played all that well with others, including possible patrons. He's also still reeling with guilt for leaving a young colleague behind on a job several years ago.
Given a chance to recover a menorah, he heads to sixth century Constantinople, meets a sympathetic and young soldier, has an audience with the king and his advisor, and also has to outwit a frequent competitor, Helen, whose methods are a little suspect, but who has been highly successful in the past.
It's clear author Andrew Ludington knows this time in history, as the time spent in Constantinople felt lived in and real. There is action, intrigue, violence, betrayals, and a surprise in store for Rabbit.
Though this story was not really my thing, despite its premise of a time travelling Indiana Jones. I could appreciate the historical detail, the action, and the intrigue in the novel, however.
I have a feeling that we'll be seeing Rabbit again, based on the ending.
I went back and forth between the text and the audio, and voice actor Roger Wayne did a good job voicing Rabbit, but I found his Helen a little less convincing, which is too bad, because Helen is clearly the more interesting of the two characters. I did like Wayne's work as the king's advisor.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
September 18, 2025
Rating: 3.5⭐
Diversity: no (or not recognizable)
I was able to receive an eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What hooked me right away was the premise, anthropologist-type time travelers who go back in time to recover lost artifacts. I love that concept. It gave me strong vibes of the 90s film The Mummy (though admittedly, far less sexy). The adventure element works, and the story was engaging enough that I finished it and found myself curious about where the sequel might go.
That said, a few things pulled me out of the experience. The biggest issue for me was continuity and consistency. For example, hearing modern banter or having characters in ancient times casually measure distance in “miles” was jarring and historically inaccurate. A pet peeve of mine and makes the story far less believable. I get it, it's fiction, but if you want readers to fall into your story and get lost in it, you got to make your world somewhat believable. Small details like that break immersion in a story that otherwise has a great setup.
I also struggled with the main character. He falls into the “mediocre+ guy who still wins with the help of a much smarter female” trope, and it’s getting old. For a protagonist like this, I want to see real intelligence, strategy, and charisma. Give me Jason Bourne, Danny Ocean, Thomas Crown, or Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Instead, this felt more like ego with something to prove.
Overall, Splinter Effect has a lot of potential. The premise is strong, the bones of an exciting series are here, and I’m intrigued enough to pick up the sequel to see if things evolve. But unless the continuity issues tighten up and the lead character develops into someone more compelling, I’m not sure it will keep my interest long term.
Great if you love time travel, series with adventure, and aren't picky about continuity issues (like I am).
Diversity: no (or not recognizable)
I was able to receive an eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What hooked me right away was the premise, anthropologist-type time travelers who go back in time to recover lost artifacts. I love that concept. It gave me strong vibes of the 90s film The Mummy (though admittedly, far less sexy). The adventure element works, and the story was engaging enough that I finished it and found myself curious about where the sequel might go.
That said, a few things pulled me out of the experience. The biggest issue for me was continuity and consistency. For example, hearing modern banter or having characters in ancient times casually measure distance in “miles” was jarring and historically inaccurate. A pet peeve of mine and makes the story far less believable. I get it, it's fiction, but if you want readers to fall into your story and get lost in it, you got to make your world somewhat believable. Small details like that break immersion in a story that otherwise has a great setup.
I also struggled with the main character. He falls into the “mediocre+ guy who still wins with the help of a much smarter female” trope, and it’s getting old. For a protagonist like this, I want to see real intelligence, strategy, and charisma. Give me Jason Bourne, Danny Ocean, Thomas Crown, or Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Instead, this felt more like ego with something to prove.
Overall, Splinter Effect has a lot of potential. The premise is strong, the bones of an exciting series are here, and I’m intrigued enough to pick up the sequel to see if things evolve. But unless the continuity issues tighten up and the lead character develops into someone more compelling, I’m not sure it will keep my interest long term.
Great if you love time travel, series with adventure, and aren't picky about continuity issues (like I am).
March 2, 2025
Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is like if National Treasure, Timeless, and Indiana Jones had a baby. It has the adventure of National Treasure with the history, the action of Indiana Jones, and the time traveling technology of Timeless. I thought it was great. Rabbit Ward is the historian, time traveling, treasure hunter who jumps back in time to recover lost artifacts. He also has to find out who the mysterious woman is that is stealing his treasures. Rabbit gets a bit obsessed with finding an ancient menorah because it keeps slipping through his hands. When he goes back to try to locate it again, he finds out that there is something wrong with this timeline and he faces being caught in a Splinter Effect.
I could see Rabbit Ward being the next action hero on the big screen. The story is action packed, the history is well researched, and the character is fun. I'd be interested in reading another Rabbit Ward story.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity read this ARC.
I could see Rabbit Ward being the next action hero on the big screen. The story is action packed, the history is well researched, and the character is fun. I'd be interested in reading another Rabbit Ward story.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity read this ARC.
March 17, 2025
This debut novel is set in a world just like our own, but where time travel exists and is used mostly by government agencies and private sponsors to recover artifacts. Main character Rabbit is an archaeologist still haunted by losing a young coworker twenty years ago on a mission to ancient Rome to recover a special menorah from Jerusalem. When he finds out there is another possible mission to retrieve it from ancient Constantinople, he gets himself involved but things are complicated as many people are vying for it.
This was such a fun read, combining historical fiction, adventure, and time travel. Imagine if a Dan Brown book was crossed with the tv show Timeless. I literally know nothing about ancient Constantinople but this book made me feel like I could picture it and I enjoyed the many twists and turns of the plot. Would make a great tv show or movie, and I’ll definitely be on board to read the sequel this book seems to be setting up for.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out tomorrow 3/18/25); all opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read, combining historical fiction, adventure, and time travel. Imagine if a Dan Brown book was crossed with the tv show Timeless. I literally know nothing about ancient Constantinople but this book made me feel like I could picture it and I enjoyed the many twists and turns of the plot. Would make a great tv show or movie, and I’ll definitely be on board to read the sequel this book seems to be setting up for.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out tomorrow 3/18/25); all opinions are my own.
February 28, 2025
St. Martin's Press provided an early galley for review.
This seems to be my year for time-travel books which is fine by me (I tend to enjoy them). Ludington doles out the world-building details on an as-needed basis which works in the book's favor. I like that relationships come first. When he does get down to the mechanics of the time travel, they are in a manner that are practical and not overpowering. When dealing with such a fantastical concept, having some built in limitations always makes the story more interesting and higher-stakes.
The author clearly is also into history; the details of ancient times are informative in an entertaining manner. I am certain I learned quite a bit just from reading this novel.
There certainly appears to be potential for a sequel down the road. If Ludington revisits Rabbit and his world, I would certainly be on board for another jump.
This seems to be my year for time-travel books which is fine by me (I tend to enjoy them). Ludington doles out the world-building details on an as-needed basis which works in the book's favor. I like that relationships come first. When he does get down to the mechanics of the time travel, they are in a manner that are practical and not overpowering. When dealing with such a fantastical concept, having some built in limitations always makes the story more interesting and higher-stakes.
The author clearly is also into history; the details of ancient times are informative in an entertaining manner. I am certain I learned quite a bit just from reading this novel.
There certainly appears to be potential for a sequel down the road. If Ludington revisits Rabbit and his world, I would certainly be on board for another jump.
March 26, 2025
The concept of a time traveling archeologist going back in time to rescue artifacts before they are forever lost in time was unique and entertaining. The time traveler’s mission is to recover the artifacts without doing anything to alter history or there will be a splinter effect in the historical timeline. The snapshots of ancient history were interesting. Rabbit Ward has traveled back to 535 CE Constantinople to retrieve a menorah in hopes he’ll find redemption from a previous mission to recover the menorah that went horribly wrong. Rabbit, as well as his career, have never recovered from the loss of his mentee, Aaron, on that failed mission. There’s plenty of suspense and action in this enjoyable story.
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