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The Girl Who Sold Time
A unique sci-fi adventure about a young girl and her robotic best friend as they battle to save the remnants of humanity.
Living 400 years in the future among a forest filled with the rusting shells of giant robots, Violet and Jackdaw steal and trade mysterious marbles that can pause time. Yet time is not on their side. A vicious mutation has spread through the forest and soon, the only habitable place left on the planet will be gone forever.
When Violet finds a marble that will pause time for an entire year, she embarks on a journey to unlock its secrets in the hope that it will be the key to saving the forest.
But Violet is not the only one who knows of the marble’s existence, and soon, everything she knows about her world is turned upside down. Perhaps she should have listened to Jackdaw and left the marble alone? But then, Violet is not that sort of girl…
Filled with time’s trickery, vicious thieves and an elevator to space, The Girl Who Sold Time is perfect for readers of all ages who love feisty girls, sardonic robots and inventive science.
“A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!” The Wishing Shelf
Living 400 years in the future among a forest filled with the rusting shells of giant robots, Violet and Jackdaw steal and trade mysterious marbles that can pause time. Yet time is not on their side. A vicious mutation has spread through the forest and soon, the only habitable place left on the planet will be gone forever.
When Violet finds a marble that will pause time for an entire year, she embarks on a journey to unlock its secrets in the hope that it will be the key to saving the forest.
But Violet is not the only one who knows of the marble’s existence, and soon, everything she knows about her world is turned upside down. Perhaps she should have listened to Jackdaw and left the marble alone? But then, Violet is not that sort of girl…
Filled with time’s trickery, vicious thieves and an elevator to space, The Girl Who Sold Time is perfect for readers of all ages who love feisty girls, sardonic robots and inventive science.
“A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!” The Wishing Shelf
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2025
10 people are currently reading
813 people want to read
About the author
V.S. Nelson
3 books56 followersV S Nelson writes unconventional middle grade and young adult fantasy, science fiction and supernatural stories for readers who enjoy something a little strange.
His first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. His second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after. His most recent story is The Girl Who Sold Time, a middle grade science fiction adventure about friendship, discovery and finding your place in the universe.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with his wife, two children and two cats. When not writing, he's either working as a scientist, out somewhere with explorer scouts or building Lego.
His first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. His second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after. His most recent story is The Girl Who Sold Time, a middle grade science fiction adventure about friendship, discovery and finding your place in the universe.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with his wife, two children and two cats. When not writing, he's either working as a scientist, out somewhere with explorer scouts or building Lego.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 12, 2025
In this story we follow Violet, a 12-year-old girl (apparently) who lives in a strange mutating forest several hundred years into the future. The forest around the space elevator leading to the orbital station is the last habitable place on Earth, and even that is rapidly disappearing. Violet is a special person: unlike others, she can handle the "time marbles" - small orbs, consuming which stops time for you. With the help of her robot friend Jackdaw, Violet collects these marbles in the Time Mine and sells them to the villagers who live in the forest. One day, however, she finds an unusually long time marble, which draws the attention of the wrong people to her, and drives her to confront the confusing aspects of her life in the forest, as well as the fact that the forest doesn't have much time left if nothing is done.
I really liked the post-apocalyptic vibe of the story, people living in the empty shells of giant robots. The sci-fi concept around the time marbles is also quite interesting, as the story meticulously follows the rules of what is possible and what is not possible (and what suddenly becomes dangerous) when you stop time with a time marble.
I am clearly not the target audience, so my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt, but this really reminded me of some obscure books I found at a local library that I enjoyed when I was in the target age range. The books that probably wouldn't be approved by supervising adults, though (luckily for me, no one really censored my reading). This one, too, contains some pretty violent interactions and some creepy things that other characters do or threaten to do to Violet that adults don't usually want to see in their children's middle grade books. (And that's a whole other discussion as to whether that's a valid concern, but I feel like it needs to be stated in case anyone makes decisions about making this book accessible to their teen readers based on reviews here).
As for a book supposedly about the climate crisis, I would like to see more interaction with the actual lived environment here - on a stylistic rather than conceptual level, that is. And - I hope this is not a huge spoiler that a children's book ends with the protagonist successfully saving the world? - but it seemed really off to me that one of the measures of her success in saving the world is that the human population has bounced back. What about biodiversity? I'd love to hear that biodiversity has bounced back, but that's somehow outside the scope of this story, surprisingly for a cli-fi.
I am grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy via Edelweiss Plus. The review above is entirely my own opinion.
I really liked the post-apocalyptic vibe of the story, people living in the empty shells of giant robots. The sci-fi concept around the time marbles is also quite interesting, as the story meticulously follows the rules of what is possible and what is not possible (and what suddenly becomes dangerous) when you stop time with a time marble.
I am clearly not the target audience, so my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt, but this really reminded me of some obscure books I found at a local library that I enjoyed when I was in the target age range. The books that probably wouldn't be approved by supervising adults, though (luckily for me, no one really censored my reading). This one, too, contains some pretty violent interactions and some creepy things that other characters do or threaten to do to Violet that adults don't usually want to see in their children's middle grade books. (And that's a whole other discussion as to whether that's a valid concern, but I feel like it needs to be stated in case anyone makes decisions about making this book accessible to their teen readers based on reviews here).
As for a book supposedly about the climate crisis, I would like to see more interaction with the actual lived environment here - on a stylistic rather than conceptual level, that is. And - I hope this is not a huge spoiler that a children's book ends with the protagonist successfully saving the world? - but it seemed really off to me that one of the measures of her success in saving the world is that the human population has bounced back. What about biodiversity? I'd love to hear that biodiversity has bounced back, but that's somehow outside the scope of this story, surprisingly for a cli-fi.
I am grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy via Edelweiss Plus. The review above is entirely my own opinion.
April 8, 2025
Ok I enjoyed this so much, especially the first half. I’ll admit I felt the last half was a bit disjointed or just rushed to where my rating went just below 4 ⭐️ but that’s often the nature of middle grade books. It was so so fun and sweet and I loved the characters and the friendships 😭 The concepts and plot were so intriguing and unique, loved it. An animated adaptation would go so hard, Hayao Miyazaki get your hands on this NOW
March 25, 2025
V.S. Nelson’s The Girl Who Sold Time is a wild, clever, and surprisingly heartfelt ride through a world where time is not just something you experience—it’s something you can dig up and trade. The story follows Violet, a tough and resourceful young girl who mines for time marbles, which hold the power to freeze time for varying lengths. Alongside her sarcastic, robot-like companion Jackdaw, Violet navigates a dying world filled with desperate refugees, brutal thugs, and eerie mechanical beasts, all while searching for a way to fix the unraveling ecosystem. It’s a story about survival, ingenuity, and the consequences of power, and it wastes no time (pun intended) throwing you into its intricate world.
Right from the start, I was hooked by Nelson’s writing style. It’s fast, it’s sharp, and it knows exactly when to linger and when to push forward. The opening scene in the time mine, where Violet digs through dirt hoping for valuable marbles, sets the tone perfectly—it’s harsh, sweaty, and full of quiet desperation. I loved how Violet’s frustration builds, her hunger gnaws at her, and her friendship with Jackdaw is instantly clear in their banter. Jackdaw, by the way, is an absolute gem—think of the best sassy sidekicks in fiction, then make him a mechanical boy with a bit of a superiority complex, and you’ve got Jackdaw. There’s a moment where he sulks after an argument, and Violet says, “I was sulking,” to which he smugly replies, “It was a very good sulk, actually.” The dialogue feels natural and often hilarious, breaking up the bleakness of their world.
Speaking of bleak, the world-building is fantastic. The forest is mutating, trees are growing too fast to support their weight, and even the food is turning poisonous. The desperation in the village of Dean is gut-wrenching, especially when the refugees arrive, starving and hopeless. But it’s not just a grim dystopia—it’s layered with mystery and wonder. The time marbles themselves are an incredible concept, and the scene where Violet finds a year-long marble was one of my favorites. The way Nelson describes the eerie time confusion—how Violet sees herself pulling it from the ground before she even touches it—gave me chills. And, of course, there’s the terrifying moment when a sleek mechanical Pinscher appears out of nowhere, turning what was already a dangerous scavenging trip into a full-blown chase for survival. The action is intense, but it never feels over-the-top or exhausting. Every scene serves a purpose, either deepening the characters or pushing the plot forward.
The book left me craving more answers. The time marbles are fascinating, but the mechanics behind them remain a bit of a mystery. Maybe that’s the point—some things are just unknowable—but I kept hoping for a clearer explanation of their origins. And Caleb, the ruthless, manipulative antagonist, is chillingly well-written, but I wanted even more of him. His scene with Violet, where he recounts what happened to his ex-girlfriend in a casually horrifying way, made my skin crawl. He’s the kind of villain who gets under your skin, the one you love to hate, and I wish we got to see him even more unhinged.
The Girl Who Sold Time is a must-read for fans of imaginative sci-fi, strong female leads, and razor-sharp storytelling. If you like stories with survivalist grit, fast-paced adventure, and a touch of dark humor, this one’s for you.
Right from the start, I was hooked by Nelson’s writing style. It’s fast, it’s sharp, and it knows exactly when to linger and when to push forward. The opening scene in the time mine, where Violet digs through dirt hoping for valuable marbles, sets the tone perfectly—it’s harsh, sweaty, and full of quiet desperation. I loved how Violet’s frustration builds, her hunger gnaws at her, and her friendship with Jackdaw is instantly clear in their banter. Jackdaw, by the way, is an absolute gem—think of the best sassy sidekicks in fiction, then make him a mechanical boy with a bit of a superiority complex, and you’ve got Jackdaw. There’s a moment where he sulks after an argument, and Violet says, “I was sulking,” to which he smugly replies, “It was a very good sulk, actually.” The dialogue feels natural and often hilarious, breaking up the bleakness of their world.
Speaking of bleak, the world-building is fantastic. The forest is mutating, trees are growing too fast to support their weight, and even the food is turning poisonous. The desperation in the village of Dean is gut-wrenching, especially when the refugees arrive, starving and hopeless. But it’s not just a grim dystopia—it’s layered with mystery and wonder. The time marbles themselves are an incredible concept, and the scene where Violet finds a year-long marble was one of my favorites. The way Nelson describes the eerie time confusion—how Violet sees herself pulling it from the ground before she even touches it—gave me chills. And, of course, there’s the terrifying moment when a sleek mechanical Pinscher appears out of nowhere, turning what was already a dangerous scavenging trip into a full-blown chase for survival. The action is intense, but it never feels over-the-top or exhausting. Every scene serves a purpose, either deepening the characters or pushing the plot forward.
The book left me craving more answers. The time marbles are fascinating, but the mechanics behind them remain a bit of a mystery. Maybe that’s the point—some things are just unknowable—but I kept hoping for a clearer explanation of their origins. And Caleb, the ruthless, manipulative antagonist, is chillingly well-written, but I wanted even more of him. His scene with Violet, where he recounts what happened to his ex-girlfriend in a casually horrifying way, made my skin crawl. He’s the kind of villain who gets under your skin, the one you love to hate, and I wish we got to see him even more unhinged.
The Girl Who Sold Time is a must-read for fans of imaginative sci-fi, strong female leads, and razor-sharp storytelling. If you like stories with survivalist grit, fast-paced adventure, and a touch of dark humor, this one’s for you.
March 2, 2025
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVIEW
18th February 2025
TITLE: The Girl Who Sold Time
AUTHOR: V S Nelson
Star Rating: 5
‘A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I loved this book! But then I’m a sci-fi fan – BIG TIME! This is the story of Violet who’s living in a forest a looooooonnnnnggg time into the future. By then, there’s not a lot of us left so the protagonist hasn’t so much got a best ‘human’ pal, but a best ‘robotic’ pal named Jackdaw – which I felt was a cool name for a robot - and who’s very good at sulking. Anyway, Violet trades time marbles for technology. ‘What’s a time marble?” I hear you cry. Well, they stop time – simple really. One marble might stop time for just a second, another for a week. But when she finds a marble that will stop time for a year – yes, a YEAR! – her life begins to get very complicated. What follows is a well-written, smartly plotted sci-fi mystery/adventure as we follow Violet in her attempts to stop the forest from mutating.
There were a number of elements to this story I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the writing flows well, the book written in such a way that it’s accessible to middle grade readers. Secondly, I loved Violet; she’s determined, caring and, well, the sort of protagonist you WANT to root for. And thirdly, there’s such a lot of ‘story’ here; so much so, I don’t think any 9 – 12 year old will ever get bored reading it. The time marbles are particularly interesting – and original too. They reminded me a little of the ‘wands’ in Harry Potter - not simply a magic stick - or the ‘spice’ in Dune. The marbles are complex, magical – ‘How do they work?” I wanted to know. “Why are they here?” All good mystery stuff!
So, all you middle graders out there, grab a copy of this book. I think you’ll love the characters, and the tantalising plot will have you eagerly turning the page. All in all, a FAB read for 9 – 12 year olds.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
EDITORIAL REVIEW
18th February 2025
TITLE: The Girl Who Sold Time
AUTHOR: V S Nelson
Star Rating: 5
‘A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I loved this book! But then I’m a sci-fi fan – BIG TIME! This is the story of Violet who’s living in a forest a looooooonnnnnggg time into the future. By then, there’s not a lot of us left so the protagonist hasn’t so much got a best ‘human’ pal, but a best ‘robotic’ pal named Jackdaw – which I felt was a cool name for a robot - and who’s very good at sulking. Anyway, Violet trades time marbles for technology. ‘What’s a time marble?” I hear you cry. Well, they stop time – simple really. One marble might stop time for just a second, another for a week. But when she finds a marble that will stop time for a year – yes, a YEAR! – her life begins to get very complicated. What follows is a well-written, smartly plotted sci-fi mystery/adventure as we follow Violet in her attempts to stop the forest from mutating.
There were a number of elements to this story I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the writing flows well, the book written in such a way that it’s accessible to middle grade readers. Secondly, I loved Violet; she’s determined, caring and, well, the sort of protagonist you WANT to root for. And thirdly, there’s such a lot of ‘story’ here; so much so, I don’t think any 9 – 12 year old will ever get bored reading it. The time marbles are particularly interesting – and original too. They reminded me a little of the ‘wands’ in Harry Potter - not simply a magic stick - or the ‘spice’ in Dune. The marbles are complex, magical – ‘How do they work?” I wanted to know. “Why are they here?” All good mystery stuff!
So, all you middle graders out there, grab a copy of this book. I think you’ll love the characters, and the tantalising plot will have you eagerly turning the page. All in all, a FAB read for 9 – 12 year olds.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
May 9, 2025
An Engaging Adventure!
First, I would like to extend my thanks to V.S. Nelson, the author, and to Storygraph for the giveaway.
This book presents a very exciting story of a girl, Violet, and her robot companion, Jackdaw. A unique and mysterious science fiction setup that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.
At the beginning, we meet Violet's friends, which creates a familiar feeling of a found family. We're also introduced to the time marbles. A collectable treasure Violet used for currency in place of money.
To me, the depiction of Earth in this book is both vast and claustrophobic. While the Earth is , the stakes involve saving all of humanity and the ecosystem, the environmental devastation makes the world feel small and oppressive.
There are so many twists and turns that keep the plot exciting! I found myself growing as cautious as Violet,
As an audiobook, some technical aspects near the end were a bit confusing, with new concepts piling on top of each other in each chapter.
It's important to note that this is not a book for those seeking a technical closure to the science fiction components. However, it serves as a wonderful story for building empathy, especially for young readers. The emotional depth and character experiences make it a valuable read.
Rosie Akerman's performance was spectacular! She embodies each character with distinctive voices that feel firm and sure. However, one downside is that when characters shouted or screamed, it was too loud for comfortable headphone listening.
This experience was a delight, and I highly recommend the book to others who love or want to introduce SF/dystopian stories!
First, I would like to extend my thanks to V.S. Nelson, the author, and to Storygraph for the giveaway.
This book presents a very exciting story of a girl, Violet, and her robot companion, Jackdaw. A unique and mysterious science fiction setup that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.
At the beginning, we meet Violet's friends, which creates a familiar feeling of a found family. We're also introduced to the time marbles. A collectable treasure Violet used for currency in place of money.
To me, the depiction of Earth in this book is both vast and claustrophobic. While the Earth is , the stakes involve saving all of humanity and the ecosystem, the environmental devastation makes the world feel small and oppressive.
There are so many twists and turns that keep the plot exciting! I found myself growing as cautious as Violet,
As an audiobook, some technical aspects near the end were a bit confusing, with new concepts piling on top of each other in each chapter.
It's important to note that this is not a book for those seeking a technical closure to the science fiction components. However, it serves as a wonderful story for building empathy, especially for young readers. The emotional depth and character experiences make it a valuable read.
Rosie Akerman's performance was spectacular! She embodies each character with distinctive voices that feel firm and sure. However, one downside is that when characters shouted or screamed, it was too loud for comfortable headphone listening.
This experience was a delight, and I highly recommend the book to others who love or want to introduce SF/dystopian stories!
April 14, 2025
So the reason I wanted to read this book was genuinely because the synopsis sounded super cool so I applied for an ARC. Friends, I'm really happy I got to read this one. I'm not going to lie, Sci Fi is not usually a genre I typically pick up so this could've gone either way for me. The start of this story is a little slow because of the world building and explaining the time marbles and how everything works as well as Violet's relationships with other people. However, the moment this book picked up it picked up. This book was so much fun and my favourite thing about it is it had one of my favourite tropes which is found family. Not only were the characters caring towards each other but they truly treat each other with the respect and love that I expect from these types of friendships. I loved how much this book highlighted good female friendships especially with such a badass main character such as Violet. I LOVED Jackdaw so much and I found it really hard to remember that he wasn't human (literally every time he was referenced to as a robot it was a little shock to the system). I really appreciated how much detail the author went into on how the time marbles worked and how they were used throughout the story. I feel like we got a very clear and concise vision of what the author was trying to portray. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone and everyone and think it's a perfect beginner book for getting into sci fi (for me personally anyway). I will 100% be reading more of V.S. Nelson's books.
May 9, 2025
The Girl Who Sold Time is a cute middle grade novel with a focus on a post apocalyptic world destroyed by climate change. I really enjoyed the first half of the novel where the scene is being set - Violet's strange relationships with locals and her adorable relationship with her robot companion Jackdaw really grew on me. The concept of time marbles which freeze time was well done and I liked how the author played with the scientific concepts.
The author sets the world up wonderfully with the mutating forest, food scarcity and strange towns built on the foundations of old robotics. It's eerie and haunting yet there's also a wonder and a mystery that seeps through the desperation and poverty. The world and the characters come to life around you.
I felt the last half of the novel was a little more rushed and less engaging. It propelled the story along, but lost some of the magic and in depth world-building. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very strong novel but the first half was definitely the stand out part of this.
All in all, this is a wonderful novel for young and old readers alike, capturing the imagination and magic along with the desperate times the people find themselves in. It's worth noting that there are depictions of violence and threat here - nothing overly graphic, but potentially upsetting to more sensitive younger readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.
The author sets the world up wonderfully with the mutating forest, food scarcity and strange towns built on the foundations of old robotics. It's eerie and haunting yet there's also a wonder and a mystery that seeps through the desperation and poverty. The world and the characters come to life around you.
I felt the last half of the novel was a little more rushed and less engaging. It propelled the story along, but lost some of the magic and in depth world-building. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very strong novel but the first half was definitely the stand out part of this.
All in all, this is a wonderful novel for young and old readers alike, capturing the imagination and magic along with the desperate times the people find themselves in. It's worth noting that there are depictions of violence and threat here - nothing overly graphic, but potentially upsetting to more sensitive younger readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.
May 26, 2025
Rounded up from 3.75 stars
I was fortunate to receive this book in a giveaway from the author and The StoryGraph - thank you!
This story does a lot of things right. The characters are very well written and come alive on the page. The plot is cohesive, the science - and there's a lot of science! - makes sense within the confines of the narrative, the resolution is satisfying.
That said, I have a few quibbles. The book feels more like YA than middle-grade, even if the protagonist is 12 years old; there are some heavy themes happening here. Also, there were several scenes where I expected more emotional impact (especially on a child) than I saw on the page. The reactions of the characters felt off.
What I really loved was the development of the mystery, both regarding the protagonist and the wider world. The worl building was great. The overall problem, of course, is very timely (environmental destruction leads to humanity's extinction), and I appreciate how the book looked at how we got there (hint: we have no one to blame but ourselves).
Overall a very enjoyable read!
I was fortunate to receive this book in a giveaway from the author and The StoryGraph - thank you!
This story does a lot of things right. The characters are very well written and come alive on the page. The plot is cohesive, the science - and there's a lot of science! - makes sense within the confines of the narrative, the resolution is satisfying.
That said, I have a few quibbles. The book feels more like YA than middle-grade, even if the protagonist is 12 years old; there are some heavy themes happening here. Also, there were several scenes where I expected more emotional impact (especially on a child) than I saw on the page. The reactions of the characters felt off.
What I really loved was the development of the mystery, both regarding the protagonist and the wider world. The worl building was great. The overall problem, of course, is very timely (environmental destruction leads to humanity's extinction), and I appreciate how the book looked at how we got there (hint: we have no one to blame but ourselves).
Overall a very enjoyable read!
May 4, 2025
First off, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to check out this book.
In the beginning, I was attracted to this book while browsing the titles here and thought that the cover looked really appealing and the premise sounded very interesting having not read nor seen anything of it before. The author was unknown to me too. Upon jumping in, it became quickly apparent that I (a man in his 30's) was not the target audience for the book though.
Nevertheless, Nelson has crafted a world that is very interesting. Post apocalypse settings are a well worn path at this point in time but this one is very refreshing and has a good lead. Violet's interactions and character are well handled throughout. She's a good protagonist that you want to see succeed in her endeavours. The artwork within the book is also very well thought out and drawn. Chapters are snappy and not too long. Just a good length where you finish one, look ahead to the next one and say "maybe just one more..." I could see it as book and a world I would have been obsessed with when I was younger.
In the beginning, I was attracted to this book while browsing the titles here and thought that the cover looked really appealing and the premise sounded very interesting having not read nor seen anything of it before. The author was unknown to me too. Upon jumping in, it became quickly apparent that I (a man in his 30's) was not the target audience for the book though.
Nevertheless, Nelson has crafted a world that is very interesting. Post apocalypse settings are a well worn path at this point in time but this one is very refreshing and has a good lead. Violet's interactions and character are well handled throughout. She's a good protagonist that you want to see succeed in her endeavours. The artwork within the book is also very well thought out and drawn. Chapters are snappy and not too long. Just a good length where you finish one, look ahead to the next one and say "maybe just one more..." I could see it as book and a world I would have been obsessed with when I was younger.
May 21, 2025
3.75 stars. I won this in a StoryGraph giveaway and was excited to read it as the description said "space elevator" and "time marbles" so I was in! I have to say it is quite an ambitious book for middle grade! At no point did I know what was going to happen next and the fact that the plot twists kept coming pretty much up until the end was very impressive! I got a bit confused about the conversion from marbles to bubbles and time to knowledge, and that's where this would have benefitted from being a young adult or adult book, because the author may have had a chance to go into greater detail there, but otherwise I enjoyed it. The topic did not feel middle grade, and neither did the vocabulary, although the writing style of short, choppy sentences did; thus, it lacked the flow and smoothness that would have made the reading experience better as an adult, but I understand that this is aimed towards younger readers. Great themes of climate change, environmental protection, found (and made) family, and the importance of education and awareness.
April 1, 2025
Having won this via a Goodreads giveaway, I want to first thank the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In the interest of full disclosure, I normally don't care for dystopian or Sci-Fi stories, but I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I wasn't sure I would like it, but found myself immediately drawn into Violet's and Jackdaw's world. The story was well-crafted, the characters engaging, and the scenes, though a tad depressing at times, were vividly written. The plot moved along at a good pace and kept me intrigued. I was a little disappointed in the conclusion- it felt incomplete, though I can't really tell you why. Other than that, it was a fascinating read and I would definitely recommend to any lover of Sci-Fi/dystopian fiction over the age of 12.
In the interest of full disclosure, I normally don't care for dystopian or Sci-Fi stories, but I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I wasn't sure I would like it, but found myself immediately drawn into Violet's and Jackdaw's world. The story was well-crafted, the characters engaging, and the scenes, though a tad depressing at times, were vividly written. The plot moved along at a good pace and kept me intrigued. I was a little disappointed in the conclusion- it felt incomplete, though I can't really tell you why. Other than that, it was a fascinating read and I would definitely recommend to any lover of Sci-Fi/dystopian fiction over the age of 12.
April 18, 2025
Okay so... I really wanted to like this one💫, but honestly? I just couldn’t get into it🙊. I know I’m not the target 🎯 audience, but that’s never stopped me before—if a book is written well, I’ll enjoy it no matter the age range. But this one just didn’t do it for me😬.
The worldbuilding felt kind of hard to visualise🎭, like the details were there but they didn’t really land🥀. I kept trying to picture everything, and after a while I realised what I was imagining didn’t even match🧩 what was being described—which definitely pulled me out of the story. Could be a me problem, but still.
I can see how other people enjoy it, but for me personally? It felt a bit too disjointed😶🌫️. Like, I was constantly trying to understand what was going on. While it's not for me I can definitely see others loving this.
Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC 🧸 💫📖
The worldbuilding felt kind of hard to visualise🎭, like the details were there but they didn’t really land🥀. I kept trying to picture everything, and after a while I realised what I was imagining didn’t even match🧩 what was being described—which definitely pulled me out of the story. Could be a me problem, but still.
I can see how other people enjoy it, but for me personally? It felt a bit too disjointed😶🌫️. Like, I was constantly trying to understand what was going on. While it's not for me I can definitely see others loving this.
Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC 🧸 💫📖
May 12, 2025
Thank you to Storygraph and V.S Nelson for this audiobook arc!!
Personally, I felt like this was a bit immature for me and is very young adult in the way that it is best for young teenagers and kids to read it. Which is fitting considering that the main character was 12 years old (but the audio book narrator made her sound like a child which made it worse).
I probably wouldn’t have finished this book if I wasn’t listening to it as an audiobook because like I said, it was too YA for me, and I probably wouldn’t have found it very interesting if it was my sole focus.
As an audiobook it was decent though. And I liked the (plot) twists and reveals that came at the end, although the end was quite rushed.
It was an interesting and novel concept for a book!
Personally, I felt like this was a bit immature for me and is very young adult in the way that it is best for young teenagers and kids to read it. Which is fitting considering that the main character was 12 years old (but the audio book narrator made her sound like a child which made it worse).
I probably wouldn’t have finished this book if I wasn’t listening to it as an audiobook because like I said, it was too YA for me, and I probably wouldn’t have found it very interesting if it was my sole focus.
As an audiobook it was decent though. And I liked the (plot) twists and reveals that came at the end, although the end was quite rushed.
It was an interesting and novel concept for a book!
February 25, 2025
This one was a great surprise. I thought it was going to be a middlegrade dystopian, but it has some complexity and scifi elements with great plot twists. After the 50% mark, I couldn't put it down. The story becomes more and unveils a larger plot that may or not include space elevators, people who quit life to live in their "holodecks," and time traveling to save the planet. The mutation of the trees brings urgency. The use of time marbles shows creativity. I love the artwork as well. Great characters, great progressive journey, and concept.
March 18, 2025
good original story
The subject matter is 100% appropriate for young adolescents, but kept me (an adult) interested and entertained. One twist I was able to guess at, but others took me by surprise. I’m glad I won this from a Goodreads giveaway
The subject matter is 100% appropriate for young adolescents, but kept me (an adult) interested and entertained. One twist I was able to guess at, but others took me by surprise. I’m glad I won this from a Goodreads giveaway
dnf
August 7, 2025dnf’d at 13%
i’m gonna be so candid i can’t do this because the narrator’s voice actually hurts me. it hurts my ears. the concept is interesting but holy hell i cannot do those voices for another 7 hours
defo want to come back to this but in an e-book format
i’m gonna be so candid i can’t do this because the narrator’s voice actually hurts me. it hurts my ears. the concept is interesting but holy hell i cannot do those voices for another 7 hours
defo want to come back to this but in an e-book format
May 20, 2025
Main Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Supporting Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
World-Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
Beginning: ⭐⭐⭐
Middle: ⭐⭐⭐
End: ⭐⭐⭐
My opinion: ⭐⭐⭐
3,25⭐
Supporting Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
World-Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
Beginning: ⭐⭐⭐
Middle: ⭐⭐⭐
End: ⭐⭐⭐
My opinion: ⭐⭐⭐
3,25⭐
May 30, 2025
Won this audiobook in a StoryGraph giveaway- thank you so much!
I absolutely loved this book, and have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it!
I absolutely loved this book, and have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it!
dnf
October 28, 2025DNF @ 36%
I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.
I have been branching into sci-fi more lately, so I gave this one a try but I just didn’t find the plot very compelling.
I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.
I have been branching into sci-fi more lately, so I gave this one a try but I just didn’t find the plot very compelling.
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