What do you think?
Rate this book
Time is a Room
Time doesn't heal. Time bends.
A literary speculative novel in the form of a dark contemporary fantasy, weaving together threads of love, betrayal, and the price of power across multiple realities. Debut author Sarah K. Trainor crafts a mesmerizing tale about the choices we make when time itself hangs in the balance, and captures a singular type of loneliness as we follow an imperfect main character. Perfect for fans of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, Scott Alexander Howard's The Other Valley, V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic and Blake Crouch's Dark Matter, Time is a Room is a spellbinding journey through the nature of time, destiny, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
In a world where time is malleable and reality splinters into infinite possibilities, Eliza Martin's ordinary life is shattered when her boyfriend mysteriously vanishes. Enter Alden, an enigmatic man who offers her a deal: he'll help find Connor if she agrees to become his apprentice in Epoch, a town that exists outside of time itself.
As Eliza develops her nascent ability to see through the threads of time and parallel realities, she discovers that she's not alone in her power. A shadowy force has been systematically eliminating people from existence, collapsing entire universes in its wake. Caught between her growing feelings for Alden, her friendship with the charming scientist Sid, and her desperate search for Connor, Eliza must navigate a web of loyalties and deception to discover where her true destiny lies.
This is the first of two books in The Doyen Series.
A literary speculative novel in the form of a dark contemporary fantasy, weaving together threads of love, betrayal, and the price of power across multiple realities. Debut author Sarah K. Trainor crafts a mesmerizing tale about the choices we make when time itself hangs in the balance, and captures a singular type of loneliness as we follow an imperfect main character. Perfect for fans of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, Scott Alexander Howard's The Other Valley, V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic and Blake Crouch's Dark Matter, Time is a Room is a spellbinding journey through the nature of time, destiny, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
In a world where time is malleable and reality splinters into infinite possibilities, Eliza Martin's ordinary life is shattered when her boyfriend mysteriously vanishes. Enter Alden, an enigmatic man who offers her a deal: he'll help find Connor if she agrees to become his apprentice in Epoch, a town that exists outside of time itself.
As Eliza develops her nascent ability to see through the threads of time and parallel realities, she discovers that she's not alone in her power. A shadowy force has been systematically eliminating people from existence, collapsing entire universes in its wake. Caught between her growing feelings for Alden, her friendship with the charming scientist Sid, and her desperate search for Connor, Eliza must navigate a web of loyalties and deception to discover where her true destiny lies.
This is the first of two books in The Doyen Series.
- GenresFantasy
362 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2024
8 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Sarah K. Trainor
2 books4 followersSarah K. Trainor is a first-generation Korean-American living in Philadelphia after a long stint in California. She is an author and avid reader of books in all genres.
Sarah is originally from New Hampshire and like a good New Englander, she loves maple syrup, not smiling, and banter. In her free time, when she's not hanging out with her husband and toddler, she’s cooking, reading, going out for wine, or making trinkets out of clay.
Sarah is originally from New Hampshire and like a good New Englander, she loves maple syrup, not smiling, and banter. In her free time, when she's not hanging out with her husband and toddler, she’s cooking, reading, going out for wine, or making trinkets out of clay.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 28, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When I first chose this book, I felt drawn to its intriguing title, striking cover illustration, and description.
This dark fantasy is the first in a series called The Doyen. The protagonist is Eliza, whose world changes forever when her boyfriend, Connor, seems to disappear without a trace. I found that even from the beginning, this book gave me chills. Something about it felt eerie and otherworldly, and I was interested in the way Eliza articulated herself to the reader, describing sensations and emotions.
After a while, I experienced the odd feeling that I was outside of myself, as I escaped into Epoch, the world created by this author. This book was dark, ambiguous and beautifully complex. It was a page turner, and I found it absorbing, but at the same time, I felt the need to read it slowly, to fully appreciate it. It took me a few hours to finish this, but it was worth it. If you enjoy dark fantasy with some romance, give this a try.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
When I first chose this book, I felt drawn to its intriguing title, striking cover illustration, and description.
This dark fantasy is the first in a series called The Doyen. The protagonist is Eliza, whose world changes forever when her boyfriend, Connor, seems to disappear without a trace. I found that even from the beginning, this book gave me chills. Something about it felt eerie and otherworldly, and I was interested in the way Eliza articulated herself to the reader, describing sensations and emotions.
After a while, I experienced the odd feeling that I was outside of myself, as I escaped into Epoch, the world created by this author. This book was dark, ambiguous and beautifully complex. It was a page turner, and I found it absorbing, but at the same time, I felt the need to read it slowly, to fully appreciate it. It took me a few hours to finish this, but it was worth it. If you enjoy dark fantasy with some romance, give this a try.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
February 28, 2025
5 ⭐️ Time is a room is the first book in the doyen series. The book has a very unique magic system and has a very dreamlike quality. I really liked how the story telling changes along with Eliza’s (the main character) character growth and how it highlights her struggles with mental health. I loved the way she was able to bring herself out of those struggles but they didn’t completely disappear in the end, she just learned to keep herself going. And lastly the plot twists! I really didn’t know where it was going until the end and it was such a fun read
January 4, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Time Is A Room is about a women named Eliza, a woman who tries to keep a hold of herself in a world which she feels like she doesn't belong in. However, when her boyfriend is kidnapped after an argument between them, she is dragged into the world of Epoch by a mysterious man named Alden in an attempt to find him.
I liked this book, and I think for a debut it has all the bones to be an amazing series in the future. However, there were some things that I wish could have been more explained. I liked the jump from some chapters being in first person POV to the scenes where Eliza is experiencing her powers being in second person POV, but I feel like in the beginning it was very jarring trying to figure out what was happening. I would have liked if it could have been explained a bit earlier so there was an understanding of what was happening there. Overall, I really liked the world of Epoch, as well as it's unique magic system. I am excited to see where Sarah Trainor may take the story of Epoch from here. I feel like the plot was strongly plotted but could have been better executed. It feels like some parts of the story dragged on while others ended way too quickly. I liked the characters, with some of my favorites being Fiadh and Dusty. I would love to see more of the side characters and learn more about them and how they arrived in Epoch in later books of the series.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and found it to be a very interesting read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes thought out magic systems and interesting characters.
Time Is A Room is about a women named Eliza, a woman who tries to keep a hold of herself in a world which she feels like she doesn't belong in. However, when her boyfriend is kidnapped after an argument between them, she is dragged into the world of Epoch by a mysterious man named Alden in an attempt to find him.
I liked this book, and I think for a debut it has all the bones to be an amazing series in the future. However, there were some things that I wish could have been more explained. I liked the jump from some chapters being in first person POV to the scenes where Eliza is experiencing her powers being in second person POV, but I feel like in the beginning it was very jarring trying to figure out what was happening. I would have liked if it could have been explained a bit earlier so there was an understanding of what was happening there. Overall, I really liked the world of Epoch, as well as it's unique magic system. I am excited to see where Sarah Trainor may take the story of Epoch from here. I feel like the plot was strongly plotted but could have been better executed. It feels like some parts of the story dragged on while others ended way too quickly. I liked the characters, with some of my favorites being Fiadh and Dusty. I would love to see more of the side characters and learn more about them and how they arrived in Epoch in later books of the series.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and found it to be a very interesting read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes thought out magic systems and interesting characters.
December 21, 2024
3.5
I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about Time is a Room by Sarah K. Trainor because the premise was so good. It’s about time and the people who can control it, which hooked me right away. I struggled to put it down, even when I was supposed to be working or finishing other projects.
That said, the main character, Eliza, was a bit of a challenge for me. I couldn’t relate to her constant disappointment with the world and everyone around her. She came across as one of those people who are never happy, and her addictions—to alcohol and even people—made it harder to connect with her.
The book really picks up about two-thirds of the way in. Some of the side characters stood out, and I found myself imagining their backstories, which was fun because we don’t actually get much about them. You can tell the author poured so much into this book. The descriptions of the epoch and the different places in the story are beautifully written. You can see the care in how every sentence is crafted to explain something clearly.
Still, there were parts I struggled with. The switch between third and second person narration threw me off a bit, and the ending felt rushed. It wrapped up too quickly, leaving me wishing it had taken more time to fully develop.
Even with its flaws, I think this book is worth picking up. The concept alone is so creative, and the author’s passion really shines through.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ms. Trainor for allowing me to review it.
I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about Time is a Room by Sarah K. Trainor because the premise was so good. It’s about time and the people who can control it, which hooked me right away. I struggled to put it down, even when I was supposed to be working or finishing other projects.
That said, the main character, Eliza, was a bit of a challenge for me. I couldn’t relate to her constant disappointment with the world and everyone around her. She came across as one of those people who are never happy, and her addictions—to alcohol and even people—made it harder to connect with her.
The book really picks up about two-thirds of the way in. Some of the side characters stood out, and I found myself imagining their backstories, which was fun because we don’t actually get much about them. You can tell the author poured so much into this book. The descriptions of the epoch and the different places in the story are beautifully written. You can see the care in how every sentence is crafted to explain something clearly.
Still, there were parts I struggled with. The switch between third and second person narration threw me off a bit, and the ending felt rushed. It wrapped up too quickly, leaving me wishing it had taken more time to fully develop.
Even with its flaws, I think this book is worth picking up. The concept alone is so creative, and the author’s passion really shines through.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ms. Trainor for allowing me to review it.
February 28, 2025
I really, really loved this book. I think the premise of the story is so good and it was executing extremely well. The writing is simply beautiful, I have so many highlights from this book it’s insane. But just the words used, and the way that concepts are described is just wonderful.
My one caveat for this book is that all she does is think about or talk about alcohol. She is constantly guzzling down wine, and if there’s no wine, it’s vodka or scotch. She downs gulps of wine before and after doing literally anything. And if she can’t drink, then it’s acknowledged that she thinks about it. I mean, obviously drinking is fine but come on! There’s not even any description on her being drunk other than the fact she slurs a single word like one time, but she’s also never hungover.
The alcoholism is too much. Otherwise, I would’ve given this 5 stars, loved it.
My one caveat for this book is that all she does is think about or talk about alcohol. She is constantly guzzling down wine, and if there’s no wine, it’s vodka or scotch. She downs gulps of wine before and after doing literally anything. And if she can’t drink, then it’s acknowledged that she thinks about it. I mean, obviously drinking is fine but come on! There’s not even any description on her being drunk other than the fact she slurs a single word like one time, but she’s also never hungover.
The alcoholism is too much. Otherwise, I would’ve given this 5 stars, loved it.
March 30, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.
Now, please, buckle up, because this is going to be a certified RANT. I didn't like this book a bit and I'm gonna shred it to pieces. Politely. But honestly, as all my other reviews. There's a lot I want to cover so hopefully I'll have both the space and the coherence.
Eliza has an average life, with a boyfriend name Connor, working from home and some friends in common. Except for the vivid and terrifying dreams that she suffers with from time to time. But, she does everything she can to just go along with her mundane life. Which bores her to death. Until Connor disappears, just like in one of her recent dreams. Enter Alden, who says that he might be able to help and that Eliza has special abilities that could help him save his home, Epoch, a city outside of time itself; mutual help for their loved ones. And such is the start of a new life for Eliza.
The premise is what drove me to this book: a boyfriend gone, Eliza left behind and finding out that not only is time malleable but that she's able to look into it, which she'll use to find said boyfriend. For once, it is him who disappears and her who goes looking for him, nor the other way around, and time travel and defying the laws of physics is something I'm always up to read, so I should have liked this book. But the execution was quite poor, hitting some cliches and with a character that tried to justify her actions when these hurt others.
So, where do I start? Maybe, let's try with the only aspect of the book that I did like: the world the characters inhabit and the magic system, which was well done in my opinion. Epoch is described in most of its possible aspects: distribution, the people that live there and how they contribute, who's Alden to them all and how they came to live there. It feels like a city that exists, a city well develop, rich and alive at every corner you look at. That is something that I'll grant the author grace for: that the world she's created, the magic system the characters use to manipulate time to their will and how this same phenomenon endangers them is very develop, details given out when necessary and without overwhelming the reader. Eliza visits most of the city, new to her, and so, new to us.
And this bothers me so much, because, the rest of the writing is so jarring in comparison. Moreover, when comparing the writing of the first part of the book (from the star right up to Eliza accepting going with Alden) to the rest of it; it feels like two different people wrote it. I think it mainly has to do with Eliza, who changes so much in a couple pages without justification, that it gave me whiplash.
She's nervous, reserved and quite bored with her life at the start, but the moment she accepts going with Alden, she makes a 180º change and all this is forgotten. And I'm not saying that's bad, as a reader I expect characters to change as their personal arc advances (for good or for bad), just not like that, in a way that is not possible and that in a character like Eliza feels unbelievable. She should have had a more gradual change, coming out of her shell little by little, finding out who she truly is and what she's capable of, flourishing in an environment that would let her. But no, we have to make her change almost entirely at the start, make her look like an awful person in some aspects so her attraction towards dangerous Alden can be justified.
That's what I liked less about the book: the dam romance. This might seem a bit spoilery, but I need to talk about it; besides, the book is already out, so, people can go and read it if they want to find out. Eliza is a f*cking cheater, and not once but two times. Since the synopsis only mentions her attraction to Alden, I won't mention the other man she forges a romantic relationship with just in case someone could consider it a spoiler (though I'm of the opinion that it is quite clear). But yeah, she's a cheater. To Connor. As of the time of this book, he's gone not dead, and so I'm of the opinion that Eliza should try to respect him. I would have understand it if she has changed so much that she fell out of love with Connor and, when she find him, tell him so. In fact, it was what I expected to happen. But no, she goes and pursue a romantic relationship with a man and barely spares a thought for Connor not does she feel bad. And later on, while still in this relationship, she ends up in a new relationship with Alden, without the other man knowing.
I can't stand this, because she rarely thought about Connor at all throughout the book, or wonders how he must be feeling and doesn't put any effort into making Alden find him or conquer her abilities so she can be the one to find him. And the, she goes and cheats on him with two other men, one to whom she also cheats on. I hate her for that. She (and the narration by extent) even tried to justify it. Sorry, but not to me, not in this life.
Also, the romance with the first man at least is develop, they spend a lot of time together, talking about their jobs, doing things together and enjoying each other so much that it sweats sugar. If it hadn't been for the cheating, I would have rooted for these two to end up together at the end of the book.
But with Alden there was no development at all. They share, like, 4 scenes total out of the whole book, and one of them is at the start, when Alden recruits her. The other three are full of idiotic banter (as if Eliza couldn't hep herself but be like that ONLY with him, so we know he is the final romantic interest) and a murder. There, I said it: I can't believe Eliza saw Alden murder someone in front of her, an innocent someone that he killed as a demonstration of power, and still wanted to be like him. Not only for sex, but as in "I love you, Alden". I wanted to puke right there and then.
They also try to compete for the "worst person in Epoch" title, though Alden clearly hols that title, given what I said in my previous paragraph. Eliza is only a bit mean to some people, drinks as if there's no tomorrow so she is off most of the time and refuses to practice with her abilities. And yet, there's a moment when she says (about her and Alden), quoting: "he is my monster, and I am his". Please, girl, you wouldn't even hurt a butterfly and you hate them (she states this fact quite a handful times, actually).
Anyway, I think you can tell by now that my main problem with this book was Eliza and the way she navigates new places and new relationships. Mainly, as mentioned, drinking copious amount of wine that would put a rum-addicted pirate to shame. And yet, she is never affected by this, no does someone try to intervene even after they find out about it. I would describe her behavior as one of an alcoholic, and she should get help with it before she develops liver problems. Though, she's past overdue. But, as I said, the only issues she faces out of this drinking habit is not being able to perform that well at her time readings to clients, and even then, the actual problem is that she doesn't have such a good handle on her abilities more than the alcohol itself. It feels like the author wanted to give Eliza some flaws, something that could affect her while also making this book look adult (see, my protagonist is a drunkar) but without the full commitment to it and what means for someone to drink so much. Alcoholism has real devastating effects on people, and those neither the consequences were explore accurately here.
I want to give a paragraph to how the women characters are treated in this book, too. I feel like doing that a lot lately in some of my reviews, but maybe, if they were treated better, equally to the men characters, I wouldn't have to. In "Time is a Room", there are three named women, including Eliza, and the other are a to-be friend that, at the end, turns out to be evil and someone Eliza has to fight off, and the other one that is a servant to Alden. Yet, the men are both good and evil, they're scientist like Sid, or trainers like the man that helps Eliza with her abilities in the name of Alden, or are complex enough. I hate it here, really.
Also, maybe because it is the first book in a series and, I believe, the first of this author, but the writing felt quiet clunky, sometimes introducing aspects or elements that didn't make much sense, trying to establish something and feeling short, to abandon it a chapter later, leaving us teetering at an edge that wasn't even real because nothing stayed long enough.
Anyway, I think I've ranted enough and manage to cover all I wanted to cover, really: my issues with characters, romance and the only thing I liked. So, I can say my goodbyes and until the next review. Obviously, I do not recommend this one. I'm grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity, but even if the next one of the series gets up there, I'll stay far away from it.
Now, please, buckle up, because this is going to be a certified RANT. I didn't like this book a bit and I'm gonna shred it to pieces. Politely. But honestly, as all my other reviews. There's a lot I want to cover so hopefully I'll have both the space and the coherence.
Eliza has an average life, with a boyfriend name Connor, working from home and some friends in common. Except for the vivid and terrifying dreams that she suffers with from time to time. But, she does everything she can to just go along with her mundane life. Which bores her to death. Until Connor disappears, just like in one of her recent dreams. Enter Alden, who says that he might be able to help and that Eliza has special abilities that could help him save his home, Epoch, a city outside of time itself; mutual help for their loved ones. And such is the start of a new life for Eliza.
The premise is what drove me to this book: a boyfriend gone, Eliza left behind and finding out that not only is time malleable but that she's able to look into it, which she'll use to find said boyfriend. For once, it is him who disappears and her who goes looking for him, nor the other way around, and time travel and defying the laws of physics is something I'm always up to read, so I should have liked this book. But the execution was quite poor, hitting some cliches and with a character that tried to justify her actions when these hurt others.
So, where do I start? Maybe, let's try with the only aspect of the book that I did like: the world the characters inhabit and the magic system, which was well done in my opinion. Epoch is described in most of its possible aspects: distribution, the people that live there and how they contribute, who's Alden to them all and how they came to live there. It feels like a city that exists, a city well develop, rich and alive at every corner you look at. That is something that I'll grant the author grace for: that the world she's created, the magic system the characters use to manipulate time to their will and how this same phenomenon endangers them is very develop, details given out when necessary and without overwhelming the reader. Eliza visits most of the city, new to her, and so, new to us.
And this bothers me so much, because, the rest of the writing is so jarring in comparison. Moreover, when comparing the writing of the first part of the book (from the star right up to Eliza accepting going with Alden) to the rest of it; it feels like two different people wrote it. I think it mainly has to do with Eliza, who changes so much in a couple pages without justification, that it gave me whiplash.
She's nervous, reserved and quite bored with her life at the start, but the moment she accepts going with Alden, she makes a 180º change and all this is forgotten. And I'm not saying that's bad, as a reader I expect characters to change as their personal arc advances (for good or for bad), just not like that, in a way that is not possible and that in a character like Eliza feels unbelievable. She should have had a more gradual change, coming out of her shell little by little, finding out who she truly is and what she's capable of, flourishing in an environment that would let her. But no, we have to make her change almost entirely at the start, make her look like an awful person in some aspects so her attraction towards dangerous Alden can be justified.
That's what I liked less about the book: the dam romance. This might seem a bit spoilery, but I need to talk about it; besides, the book is already out, so, people can go and read it if they want to find out. Eliza is a f*cking cheater, and not once but two times. Since the synopsis only mentions her attraction to Alden, I won't mention the other man she forges a romantic relationship with just in case someone could consider it a spoiler (though I'm of the opinion that it is quite clear). But yeah, she's a cheater. To Connor. As of the time of this book, he's gone not dead, and so I'm of the opinion that Eliza should try to respect him. I would have understand it if she has changed so much that she fell out of love with Connor and, when she find him, tell him so. In fact, it was what I expected to happen. But no, she goes and pursue a romantic relationship with a man and barely spares a thought for Connor not does she feel bad. And later on, while still in this relationship, she ends up in a new relationship with Alden, without the other man knowing.
I can't stand this, because she rarely thought about Connor at all throughout the book, or wonders how he must be feeling and doesn't put any effort into making Alden find him or conquer her abilities so she can be the one to find him. And the, she goes and cheats on him with two other men, one to whom she also cheats on. I hate her for that. She (and the narration by extent) even tried to justify it. Sorry, but not to me, not in this life.
Also, the romance with the first man at least is develop, they spend a lot of time together, talking about their jobs, doing things together and enjoying each other so much that it sweats sugar. If it hadn't been for the cheating, I would have rooted for these two to end up together at the end of the book.
But with Alden there was no development at all. They share, like, 4 scenes total out of the whole book, and one of them is at the start, when Alden recruits her. The other three are full of idiotic banter (as if Eliza couldn't hep herself but be like that ONLY with him, so we know he is the final romantic interest) and a murder. There, I said it: I can't believe Eliza saw Alden murder someone in front of her, an innocent someone that he killed as a demonstration of power, and still wanted to be like him. Not only for sex, but as in "I love you, Alden". I wanted to puke right there and then.
They also try to compete for the "worst person in Epoch" title, though Alden clearly hols that title, given what I said in my previous paragraph. Eliza is only a bit mean to some people, drinks as if there's no tomorrow so she is off most of the time and refuses to practice with her abilities. And yet, there's a moment when she says (about her and Alden), quoting: "he is my monster, and I am his". Please, girl, you wouldn't even hurt a butterfly and you hate them (she states this fact quite a handful times, actually).
Anyway, I think you can tell by now that my main problem with this book was Eliza and the way she navigates new places and new relationships. Mainly, as mentioned, drinking copious amount of wine that would put a rum-addicted pirate to shame. And yet, she is never affected by this, no does someone try to intervene even after they find out about it. I would describe her behavior as one of an alcoholic, and she should get help with it before she develops liver problems. Though, she's past overdue. But, as I said, the only issues she faces out of this drinking habit is not being able to perform that well at her time readings to clients, and even then, the actual problem is that she doesn't have such a good handle on her abilities more than the alcohol itself. It feels like the author wanted to give Eliza some flaws, something that could affect her while also making this book look adult (see, my protagonist is a drunkar) but without the full commitment to it and what means for someone to drink so much. Alcoholism has real devastating effects on people, and those neither the consequences were explore accurately here.
I want to give a paragraph to how the women characters are treated in this book, too. I feel like doing that a lot lately in some of my reviews, but maybe, if they were treated better, equally to the men characters, I wouldn't have to. In "Time is a Room", there are three named women, including Eliza, and the other are a to-be friend that, at the end, turns out to be evil and someone Eliza has to fight off, and the other one that is a servant to Alden. Yet, the men are both good and evil, they're scientist like Sid, or trainers like the man that helps Eliza with her abilities in the name of Alden, or are complex enough. I hate it here, really.
Also, maybe because it is the first book in a series and, I believe, the first of this author, but the writing felt quiet clunky, sometimes introducing aspects or elements that didn't make much sense, trying to establish something and feeling short, to abandon it a chapter later, leaving us teetering at an edge that wasn't even real because nothing stayed long enough.
Anyway, I think I've ranted enough and manage to cover all I wanted to cover, really: my issues with characters, romance and the only thing I liked. So, I can say my goodbyes and until the next review. Obviously, I do not recommend this one. I'm grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity, but even if the next one of the series gets up there, I'll stay far away from it.
January 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
Get ready for stream of consciousness in the first person.
Desperate to find meaning in a life she primarily dissociates through, our protagonist Eliza won't be for everyone. If you view this story as a more speculative addition to the subgenre of "weird girl litfic", you'll likely have a better time. For me, this was a drawn out series of occasionally pretty quotes surrounded by nothing of substance and characters I didn't care about.
Eliza could almost be a perfect caricature of a 50s housewife. Oblivious to her own malaise, she passively moves throughout her life doing whatever she's told. Convinced she's always on the outside looking in—othered and longing to mask it—she's internalized the mantra "fake it 'til you make it" to a frightening degree.
Feeling more like a hollow shell than a person, Eliza isn't an unreliable narrator in the traditional sense just occasionally oblivous. Horrifically depressed and dissatisfied with her life, it takes a literal foray into the unknown to both realize and accept she longs for a different life. This does shift as Eliza spirals into alcoholism and disregards the myriad of red flags around her.
Interesting ideas were presented here—with the occasional philosophical aside—yet they never seemed to reach their full potential. I think another run through the draft to spend a bit more time showing concepts instead of mentioning them in passing would do this book a load of good. As this is the beginning of a series, I have hope that when I read the next book it will be a more enjoyable time.
A unique world that's part thought experiment, Epoch is a place I wish we explored more of. How does one find meaning in a functionally frozen world where little to nothing changes? The type of protagonist we follow dictates the story, and thus I knew what I wanted wouldn't be what followed in the text. A pity really, as i desperately tried to enjoy myself here.
Get ready for stream of consciousness in the first person.
Desperate to find meaning in a life she primarily dissociates through, our protagonist Eliza won't be for everyone. If you view this story as a more speculative addition to the subgenre of "weird girl litfic", you'll likely have a better time. For me, this was a drawn out series of occasionally pretty quotes surrounded by nothing of substance and characters I didn't care about.
Eliza could almost be a perfect caricature of a 50s housewife. Oblivious to her own malaise, she passively moves throughout her life doing whatever she's told. Convinced she's always on the outside looking in—othered and longing to mask it—she's internalized the mantra "fake it 'til you make it" to a frightening degree.
Feeling more like a hollow shell than a person, Eliza isn't an unreliable narrator in the traditional sense just occasionally oblivous. Horrifically depressed and dissatisfied with her life, it takes a literal foray into the unknown to both realize and accept she longs for a different life. This does shift as Eliza spirals into alcoholism and disregards the myriad of red flags around her.
Interesting ideas were presented here—with the occasional philosophical aside—yet they never seemed to reach their full potential. I think another run through the draft to spend a bit more time showing concepts instead of mentioning them in passing would do this book a load of good. As this is the beginning of a series, I have hope that when I read the next book it will be a more enjoyable time.
A unique world that's part thought experiment, Epoch is a place I wish we explored more of. How does one find meaning in a functionally frozen world where little to nothing changes? The type of protagonist we follow dictates the story, and thus I knew what I wanted wouldn't be what followed in the text. A pity really, as i desperately tried to enjoy myself here.
December 15, 2024
I received this book as a free ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I think this book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite come through. This book is a debut novel, as well as the first in a series. While I do think there was some missed potential in this book, I think the ideas are very strong, which shows a lot of promise for the author’s future works.
World-building: 4/5
I think Epoch is a really interesting idea, and the magic system is fascinating, though I do wish we spent a little more time on Eliza learning to use it (but I’m personally a huge fan of training arcs in general, so that’s just personal preference).
Plot: 3/5
I think the plot had a strong foundation, but could have been executed a little better. I feel like we spent a lot of time building up to conflicts, and then a lot of time resolving them, but I personally would have loved some of the tenser scenes to last longer.
Characters: 2/5
Personally I didn’t really connect to any of the characters. I liked Dusty and Fiahd, but since I wasn’t super attached to the main characters, I also wasn’t as invested in their relationships.
Writing: 3/5
I think the writing is effective. There are some periods where it feels a little dull, but I think that helps to immerse the reader into the perspective of someone who seems to be suffering from depression. It kinda has the feel of older classics at times, which I could definitely see some people loving.
I think this book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite come through. This book is a debut novel, as well as the first in a series. While I do think there was some missed potential in this book, I think the ideas are very strong, which shows a lot of promise for the author’s future works.
World-building: 4/5
I think Epoch is a really interesting idea, and the magic system is fascinating, though I do wish we spent a little more time on Eliza learning to use it (but I’m personally a huge fan of training arcs in general, so that’s just personal preference).
Plot: 3/5
I think the plot had a strong foundation, but could have been executed a little better. I feel like we spent a lot of time building up to conflicts, and then a lot of time resolving them, but I personally would have loved some of the tenser scenes to last longer.
Characters: 2/5
Personally I didn’t really connect to any of the characters. I liked Dusty and Fiahd, but since I wasn’t super attached to the main characters, I also wasn’t as invested in their relationships.
Writing: 3/5
I think the writing is effective. There are some periods where it feels a little dull, but I think that helps to immerse the reader into the perspective of someone who seems to be suffering from depression. It kinda has the feel of older classics at times, which I could definitely see some people loving.
January 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
**"Time is a Room" by Sarah K. Trainor** is a poetic and introspective novel that explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The writing is lyrical and reflective, with moments of profound beauty. The concept of time being a room that can be entered and revisited is an intriguing one, offering a unique framework for the story.
However, despite the beautiful prose, the novel can sometimes feel overly abstract and slow-paced. The fragmented narrative style may leave some readers struggling to connect with the characters or the emotional core of the story. While the themes are thought-provoking, the disjointed structure made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the plot.
The characters, though sympathetic, remain somewhat distant, and I found it challenging to develop a strong emotional connection with them. The novel certainly has a lot to offer in terms of philosophical depth, but it may not be the most accessible read for those looking for a more straightforward narrative.
**Rating:** ★★★ (3/5)
*Time is a Room* is a book that will resonate with readers who enjoy reflective, slow-burning stories. However, the abstract narrative and pacing may make it harder for others to fully engage with the themes and characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
**"Time is a Room" by Sarah K. Trainor** is a poetic and introspective novel that explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The writing is lyrical and reflective, with moments of profound beauty. The concept of time being a room that can be entered and revisited is an intriguing one, offering a unique framework for the story.
However, despite the beautiful prose, the novel can sometimes feel overly abstract and slow-paced. The fragmented narrative style may leave some readers struggling to connect with the characters or the emotional core of the story. While the themes are thought-provoking, the disjointed structure made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the plot.
The characters, though sympathetic, remain somewhat distant, and I found it challenging to develop a strong emotional connection with them. The novel certainly has a lot to offer in terms of philosophical depth, but it may not be the most accessible read for those looking for a more straightforward narrative.
**Rating:** ★★★ (3/5)
*Time is a Room* is a book that will resonate with readers who enjoy reflective, slow-burning stories. However, the abstract narrative and pacing may make it harder for others to fully engage with the themes and characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
January 29, 2025
I’m DNFing this about 55% through🥲 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this, all opinions are my own.
I’ve tried so hard to get into reading this book as the plot was promising and was really intrigued by the synopsis, but I just can’t get into it. The writing is a little clunky for me and I feel like there’s a lot of random things thrown in that make no sense as to why they’re actually thrown in there. It’s a little unclear/uninspired. I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more if the book would’ve stuck more with working on her powers with Alden instead of him putting her in a weird uncanny valley ish town and having him randomly dip out and her becoming wine drunk every night. The chapters are also wayyyyy too long.
I’ve tried so hard to get into reading this book as the plot was promising and was really intrigued by the synopsis, but I just can’t get into it. The writing is a little clunky for me and I feel like there’s a lot of random things thrown in that make no sense as to why they’re actually thrown in there. It’s a little unclear/uninspired. I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more if the book would’ve stuck more with working on her powers with Alden instead of him putting her in a weird uncanny valley ish town and having him randomly dip out and her becoming wine drunk every night. The chapters are also wayyyyy too long.
December 31, 2024
I was sent a free ARC of this book through the author and Netgalley. I am voluntarily leaving my review as follows.
The premise of this series is super interesting and caught my attention right away!
The story follows our main character Eliza who can travel through time both past and future. With that said I did find her a little difficult to read after a while because of how dissatisfied she was with everything. I do know that this is the first book in a series so I am very excited to see how it all changes within the series! Thank you so much for this ARC and I can't wait to see where the story goes!
The premise of this series is super interesting and caught my attention right away!
The story follows our main character Eliza who can travel through time both past and future. With that said I did find her a little difficult to read after a while because of how dissatisfied she was with everything. I do know that this is the first book in a series so I am very excited to see how it all changes within the series! Thank you so much for this ARC and I can't wait to see where the story goes!
December 17, 2024
I had such difficulty with the writing style of this author in TIME IS A ROOM. Author Sarah Trainor has written this book in a stream of consciousness, daydream-like style that is so murky I often lost interest or just lost the plot. Is our protagonist depressed, visionary, psychotic or… incredibly inwardly focused. Some parts of the book really stand out in terms of mood and place creation. But apparently I am not the right reader for this book. I received my copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
January 2, 2025
Eliza's boyfriend vanishes and as time splinters into endless possibilities, she isn't sure where to start to find him. She agrees to be apprenticed to Aiden.
I wasn't sure about this book and was originally attracted by the description and it was an interesting concept but I felt it needed more development.
The world's and system of magic were interesting.
I did feel the characters could have been more developed. It is however a first book so they might be given more depth in the next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.
I wasn't sure about this book and was originally attracted by the description and it was an interesting concept but I felt it needed more development.
The world's and system of magic were interesting.
I did feel the characters could have been more developed. It is however a first book so they might be given more depth in the next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.
January 28, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wanted to like this book. The concept is interesting, and it had so much potential. The writing was not easy to get immersed in. I had to reread portions several times over to make sense of what was happening. The pacing felt weird. The first 2/3 of the book I felt like it was dragging and making no progress. The last third sped up significantly, and the last 3 chapters were like a blur, moving too fast.
I wanted to like this book. The concept is interesting, and it had so much potential. The writing was not easy to get immersed in. I had to reread portions several times over to make sense of what was happening. The pacing felt weird. The first 2/3 of the book I felt like it was dragging and making no progress. The last third sped up significantly, and the last 3 chapters were like a blur, moving too fast.
March 24, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book and how it worked as a opening chapter to the Doyen series. The characters worked well in this storyline and genre and was glad it was so well done. It uses the dark fantasy element that I was wanting and thought the characters worked well in this world. Sarah K. Trainor has a strong writing style and left me wanting more in this universe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 25, 2024
good and dreamy writing and interesting magic style that is a little undermined by the weakness of the characters. 3 stars. tysm for the arc.
April 8, 2025
Time is a Room is an uneven, meandering tale that feels both too long and too short.
The book follows Eliza, a young woman who is unhappy in her stable, but perhaps a bit boring life. She starts fights with her boyfriend Connor, knowing that she's just lashing out without cause. She also experiences episodes in which she seems to be in two places at once, and can perhaps see the future?
Then Connor goes missing on night and she is visited by someone named Alden who tells her that she has some sort of time bending ability and that he will help her find him if she agrees to be his apprentice. She agrees and is taken to a place called Enoch, a place "between time".
The beginning was fairly intriguing but once Eliza is in Enoch, the pacing slows down to an agonizing crawl. We're introduced to a myriad of characters who all sort of blend together. The rules and structure of Enoch are not clearly defined or understandable (no one ages, yet they have a high school? Are there people who are just perpetually 16?)
We barely see Alden in the story and him and Sid, a scientist (though it's not clear what science he's doing) who follows Eliza around for again unclear reasons are far too similar. Eliza also quickly falls into alcoholism which is never really addressed and the repetitive beating me over the head with how Eliza is always drinking gets old fast.
The rest of the plot doesn't make a lot of sense and the ending is rushed and unsatisfying.
The book follows Eliza, a young woman who is unhappy in her stable, but perhaps a bit boring life. She starts fights with her boyfriend Connor, knowing that she's just lashing out without cause. She also experiences episodes in which she seems to be in two places at once, and can perhaps see the future?
Then Connor goes missing on night and she is visited by someone named Alden who tells her that she has some sort of time bending ability and that he will help her find him if she agrees to be his apprentice. She agrees and is taken to a place called Enoch, a place "between time".
The beginning was fairly intriguing but once Eliza is in Enoch, the pacing slows down to an agonizing crawl. We're introduced to a myriad of characters who all sort of blend together. The rules and structure of Enoch are not clearly defined or understandable (no one ages, yet they have a high school? Are there people who are just perpetually 16?)
We barely see Alden in the story and him and Sid, a scientist (though it's not clear what science he's doing) who follows Eliza around for again unclear reasons are far too similar. Eliza also quickly falls into alcoholism which is never really addressed and the repetitive beating me over the head with how Eliza is always drinking gets old fast.
The rest of the plot doesn't make a lot of sense and the ending is rushed and unsatisfying.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews