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The TimeFall Trilogy #2
The Bewildering Courage of Emma Bloom
Trapped in the future, Emma Bloom and Clay Danvers travel beneath Transom City in a desperate attempt to escape the Marshall. They reunite with Adams Klein who is back from the dead and now possesses powers beyond natural human ability. Together, the three friends flee civilization, seeking a secret resistance community rumored to exist deep in the wilderness. But the kids discover that hiding is no way to live. They must weigh the cost of true freedom. Emma inspires and leads the charge, but will the Marshall prove to be a more formidable foe than anyone could have imagined?
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2025
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Greco
65 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 18, 2025
Updated review, after prayer, reflection, and conversation with my mom
Scripture Connection
And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14b
In addition to being referenced on the dedication page (a sweet reminder to John’s middle child), this verse is also integral to the book’s thematic content and very fitting in a story about time travel.
Spiritual Themes
Several adult characters demonstrate an abiding conviction in God’s Sovereignty. While the characters have different ideas about how God will handle things, they agree that He is in control.
What I Liked
After completing a major genrefication project at work, I’ve realized that science fiction is actually toward the top of my list. I never really noticed that before, but I found that some of my favorite authors have a bit work that falls into that category. And, while I know that time slip / dual timeline books are a genre to themselves, I haven’t personally read a lot of Christian time travel / science fiction books.
For this reason, I really appreciate the clear Christian themes woven into the narrative of Greco’s second Timefall book. While Haddix’s Missing series (which I really, really, like) has a few references to God, Greco’s work is straightforward in its discussion of God and time travel, and I like how the two are not considered mutually exclusive. It’s not a “God or science” dichotomy. Instead, characters reflect on God’s sovereignty over all of time– even when time travel enters the picture. I want to see more sci-fi Christian books for kids and teens that do this same thing: stripping away the false dichotomy.
Also, a quick shout-out to Aedan Peterson (whose work Moody also used for the Tree Street Kids series) for the excellent cover art! At first, I was a bit put off by the gross looking animals on the cover (especially the squid tentacles), so I didn’t look that closely. However, after I had finished reading, it was neat to see some of the smaller details that I hadn’t noticed, at first.
Respectful Discussion
In addition to being reunited with the three main characters from book 1, we also encounter a large assortment of new characters. While I can appreciate that these characters contributed to the story in terms of their settings and functions, it was a bit to follow. In one of the interludes, in particular, there were a bunch of names being thrown around. Based on the narration, I got that these were characters from the first two books, but they didn’t all leave a lasting impression on me. I think that this interlude would have been more powerful with characters who were more memorable.
Content Consideration: Inclusion of Osiris
Thematically, I had one major concern with this book. In book one, the characters got their hands on an artifact from the ancient Osirian civilization. This installment picks up that element of the plot, with one of the evil characters actually desiring to partner with Osiris and invite Osiris into the world.
I was wary of this element due to the potential for false gods as a source of intrigue (similar to the premise, say, of the very popular Percy Jackson series). On top of that, I was also concerned about the author invoking a “real” (historical) false god because, as Greco points out, the idols of the Bible and ancient tradition are more than just myths.
While I get that Osiris is being presented as a fictional character insofar as he’s appearing in a make-believe universe, I feel a bit of pause because he’s based on a recorded entity.
With that said, Greco’s treatment of the theme is solid (although I would have liked to have seen the theme teased out more, since discussion is mainly concentrated in one passage).
In a meaningful discussion, one of the characters makes it very clear that “There is only one God with a capital G” (p. 228), but explains that there are also created, supernatural beings in rebellion: “People in the Bible sometimes referred to them as god’s, and also demons, principalities, or powers” (p. 228). Greco adds that these beings “are evil and vindictive and not to be toyed with” (p. 228). I found this discussion excellent, overall, including the additional commentary about the somewhat blurred line between legend and history as far as accounts of these beings go.
I also think that, uncomfortable as I am with the inclusion of Osiris, this is a valuable discussion for a Christian book: The observation that the world is more than just the people and events that we see. The Bible makes it clear that God is ALL POWERFUL and works supernaturally, and the Bible also tells us that we have supernatural, invisible enemies. I think that sometimes, Christians (myself included) can feel squeamish enough about the latter reality that we ignore the former one. We get afraid of, or dismiss the work of the Holy Spirit (including His gifts), because we’re so afraid of accidentally encountering something that isn’t God.
But the thing is, as my mom has pointed out to me, people are wired for wonder and mystery. When it’s taught that God is limited to our understanding of the visible world and doesn’t work supernaturally, then people may be more likely to turn to things like witchcraft, in pursuit of the sense of wonder that is meant to be filled in beautiful relationship with the powerful, loving, and indeed, supernatural, Creator.
All this to say… after prayer and reflection, I’ve come to a better appreciation for what Greco is doing here, by showing that, yes, demons are real, but NO, they are not any competition for God!
With that said, this is book two in the series, so right now, we are seeing this in more of a “telling” sense rather than a showing, and it does happen pretty much in the one conversation. The epilogue leaves us in a pretty dark place… but we still have one more book to go.
Recommendation Status
Due to the above concerns, this is a title for which I would certainly recommend reader discretion. With that said, I’d love to see this in the hands of readers who would otherwise be reading Percy Jackson, and I’m also pleased to see Christian sci-fi / time travel for this age group.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection
And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14b
In addition to being referenced on the dedication page (a sweet reminder to John’s middle child), this verse is also integral to the book’s thematic content and very fitting in a story about time travel.
Spiritual Themes
Several adult characters demonstrate an abiding conviction in God’s Sovereignty. While the characters have different ideas about how God will handle things, they agree that He is in control.
What I Liked
After completing a major genrefication project at work, I’ve realized that science fiction is actually toward the top of my list. I never really noticed that before, but I found that some of my favorite authors have a bit work that falls into that category. And, while I know that time slip / dual timeline books are a genre to themselves, I haven’t personally read a lot of Christian time travel / science fiction books.
For this reason, I really appreciate the clear Christian themes woven into the narrative of Greco’s second Timefall book. While Haddix’s Missing series (which I really, really, like) has a few references to God, Greco’s work is straightforward in its discussion of God and time travel, and I like how the two are not considered mutually exclusive. It’s not a “God or science” dichotomy. Instead, characters reflect on God’s sovereignty over all of time– even when time travel enters the picture. I want to see more sci-fi Christian books for kids and teens that do this same thing: stripping away the false dichotomy.
Also, a quick shout-out to Aedan Peterson (whose work Moody also used for the Tree Street Kids series) for the excellent cover art! At first, I was a bit put off by the gross looking animals on the cover (especially the squid tentacles), so I didn’t look that closely. However, after I had finished reading, it was neat to see some of the smaller details that I hadn’t noticed, at first.
Respectful Discussion
In addition to being reunited with the three main characters from book 1, we also encounter a large assortment of new characters. While I can appreciate that these characters contributed to the story in terms of their settings and functions, it was a bit to follow. In one of the interludes, in particular, there were a bunch of names being thrown around. Based on the narration, I got that these were characters from the first two books, but they didn’t all leave a lasting impression on me. I think that this interlude would have been more powerful with characters who were more memorable.
Content Consideration: Inclusion of Osiris
Thematically, I had one major concern with this book. In book one, the characters got their hands on an artifact from the ancient Osirian civilization. This installment picks up that element of the plot, with one of the evil characters actually desiring to partner with Osiris and invite Osiris into the world.
I was wary of this element due to the potential for false gods as a source of intrigue (similar to the premise, say, of the very popular Percy Jackson series). On top of that, I was also concerned about the author invoking a “real” (historical) false god because, as Greco points out, the idols of the Bible and ancient tradition are more than just myths.
While I get that Osiris is being presented as a fictional character insofar as he’s appearing in a make-believe universe, I feel a bit of pause because he’s based on a recorded entity.
With that said, Greco’s treatment of the theme is solid (although I would have liked to have seen the theme teased out more, since discussion is mainly concentrated in one passage).
In a meaningful discussion, one of the characters makes it very clear that “There is only one God with a capital G” (p. 228), but explains that there are also created, supernatural beings in rebellion: “People in the Bible sometimes referred to them as god’s, and also demons, principalities, or powers” (p. 228). Greco adds that these beings “are evil and vindictive and not to be toyed with” (p. 228). I found this discussion excellent, overall, including the additional commentary about the somewhat blurred line between legend and history as far as accounts of these beings go.
I also think that, uncomfortable as I am with the inclusion of Osiris, this is a valuable discussion for a Christian book: The observation that the world is more than just the people and events that we see. The Bible makes it clear that God is ALL POWERFUL and works supernaturally, and the Bible also tells us that we have supernatural, invisible enemies. I think that sometimes, Christians (myself included) can feel squeamish enough about the latter reality that we ignore the former one. We get afraid of, or dismiss the work of the Holy Spirit (including His gifts), because we’re so afraid of accidentally encountering something that isn’t God.
But the thing is, as my mom has pointed out to me, people are wired for wonder and mystery. When it’s taught that God is limited to our understanding of the visible world and doesn’t work supernaturally, then people may be more likely to turn to things like witchcraft, in pursuit of the sense of wonder that is meant to be filled in beautiful relationship with the powerful, loving, and indeed, supernatural, Creator.
All this to say… after prayer and reflection, I’ve come to a better appreciation for what Greco is doing here, by showing that, yes, demons are real, but NO, they are not any competition for God!
With that said, this is book two in the series, so right now, we are seeing this in more of a “telling” sense rather than a showing, and it does happen pretty much in the one conversation. The epilogue leaves us in a pretty dark place… but we still have one more book to go.
Recommendation Status
Due to the above concerns, this is a title for which I would certainly recommend reader discretion. With that said, I’d love to see this in the hands of readers who would otherwise be reading Percy Jackson, and I’m also pleased to see Christian sci-fi / time travel for this age group.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
December 19, 2025
This book was worth the wait!
I read the first book in the Timefall trilogy in May and was not disappointed. I finished it in a day. I had to wait a while for this one, but it was worth it, and such a wonderful continuation of the story. I mean, Adams Klein has superhuman abilities! What could be better than that!
I was curious about how the author would work God into the story, since this is a Christian book, and none of the characters in the beginning knew much about him. In this book, the characters begin to learn about him and understand him and even pray occasionally.
The unfortunate thing is that the third book isn't out yet, and the ending to this book is a massive cliffhanger! But this book was excellent, well written, and a wonderful story, as Adams, Emma, and Clay continue their efforts to stop the Marshall and save the world.
Content Consideration: Slight bit of crush action on the part of Clay, who likes Emma. Emma's parents are divorced, as in the last book, and it is brought up in her thoughts, since she is trapped in the future. Violence and injuries, and an evil god that the Marshall and his assistant unleash. The god, to me, seems to embody the image of Satan and his demons, and is evil to the core.
Thanks to Moody Publishing for my own free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read the first book in the Timefall trilogy in May and was not disappointed. I finished it in a day. I had to wait a while for this one, but it was worth it, and such a wonderful continuation of the story. I mean, Adams Klein has superhuman abilities! What could be better than that!
I was curious about how the author would work God into the story, since this is a Christian book, and none of the characters in the beginning knew much about him. In this book, the characters begin to learn about him and understand him and even pray occasionally.
The unfortunate thing is that the third book isn't out yet, and the ending to this book is a massive cliffhanger! But this book was excellent, well written, and a wonderful story, as Adams, Emma, and Clay continue their efforts to stop the Marshall and save the world.
Content Consideration: Slight bit of crush action on the part of Clay, who likes Emma. Emma's parents are divorced, as in the last book, and it is brought up in her thoughts, since she is trapped in the future. Violence and injuries, and an evil god that the Marshall and his assistant unleash. The god, to me, seems to embody the image of Satan and his demons, and is evil to the core.
Thanks to Moody Publishing for my own free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Book Review: The Bewildering Courage of Emma Bloom
John Greco’s trilogy continues to shine with The Bewildering Courage of Emma Bloom, a gripping second installment that shifts the spotlight from Adams to Emma without losing any of the momentum that made book one so unputdownable. Diving into Emma’s perspective feels both fresh and familiar—fresh because we’re finally exploring her depths, strengths, and doubts; familiar because the story still carries all the heart-pounding, page-turning elements that hooked readers from the start.
What makes this book especially compelling is how the future it portrays feels eerily possible. Greco paints a world that’s imaginative yet grounded, sparking that little voice in the back of your mind that says, “This could really happen.” That tension keeps you flipping pages long after you meant to stop.
The faith elements woven throughout the story add another meaningful layer. Instead of feeling heavy-handed, they come through naturally—in the characters’ decisions, in their courage, in the hope they cling to when the world around them feels uncertain. It’s the kind of subtle, steady spiritual depth that enriches the adventure without slowing it down.
And although this installment centers on Emma, it stays fully accessible and exciting for boys and girls 10 and up. The themes of bravery, identity, friendship, and purpose reach across gender and age, making it a great pick for young readers who love action with heart.
This genre is truly blessed to have a trilogy like this from John Greco and Moody Publishers. If books one and two are any indication, the finale is going to be something special—I’m more than ready for the last adventure!
John Greco’s trilogy continues to shine with The Bewildering Courage of Emma Bloom, a gripping second installment that shifts the spotlight from Adams to Emma without losing any of the momentum that made book one so unputdownable. Diving into Emma’s perspective feels both fresh and familiar—fresh because we’re finally exploring her depths, strengths, and doubts; familiar because the story still carries all the heart-pounding, page-turning elements that hooked readers from the start.
What makes this book especially compelling is how the future it portrays feels eerily possible. Greco paints a world that’s imaginative yet grounded, sparking that little voice in the back of your mind that says, “This could really happen.” That tension keeps you flipping pages long after you meant to stop.
The faith elements woven throughout the story add another meaningful layer. Instead of feeling heavy-handed, they come through naturally—in the characters’ decisions, in their courage, in the hope they cling to when the world around them feels uncertain. It’s the kind of subtle, steady spiritual depth that enriches the adventure without slowing it down.
And although this installment centers on Emma, it stays fully accessible and exciting for boys and girls 10 and up. The themes of bravery, identity, friendship, and purpose reach across gender and age, making it a great pick for young readers who love action with heart.
This genre is truly blessed to have a trilogy like this from John Greco and Moody Publishers. If books one and two are any indication, the finale is going to be something special—I’m more than ready for the last adventure!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews