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A Dance in Time: The Gods of Time
She mastered time travel. Now, she must stop her mother from unleashing an immortal warrior.
In 2075, Malaya Castillo cracks the code for time travel, only to have her mother, Lilith, steal it. A seer haunted by visions of catastrophe, Lilith is convinced that history must be rewritten to save humanity. But her true goal is even more dangerous—unlocking a legendary, immortal warrior to tip the balance of time itself.
Betrayed and determined to stop her, Malaya pursues Lilith across centuries, from the battlefields of ancient Sparta to the shadowed streets of Edo-period Japan and the fierce warbands of Viking-age Europe. Alongside the exiled Spartan Vasilis, whose past is tied to Lilith’s deadly plan, Malaya assembles an unlikely band of warriors to fight for the future. But as she uncovers the truth, her world shatters—magic is real, history is not what it seems, and the fate of time itself hangs in the balance.
A genre-bending blend of sci-fi and historical fantasy, A Dance in Time is perfect for fans of The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., The 100, and Shadow of Night.
Step into the past. Fight for the future. But beware—time doesn’t play fair.
In 2075, Malaya Castillo cracks the code for time travel, only to have her mother, Lilith, steal it. A seer haunted by visions of catastrophe, Lilith is convinced that history must be rewritten to save humanity. But her true goal is even more dangerous—unlocking a legendary, immortal warrior to tip the balance of time itself.
Betrayed and determined to stop her, Malaya pursues Lilith across centuries, from the battlefields of ancient Sparta to the shadowed streets of Edo-period Japan and the fierce warbands of Viking-age Europe. Alongside the exiled Spartan Vasilis, whose past is tied to Lilith’s deadly plan, Malaya assembles an unlikely band of warriors to fight for the future. But as she uncovers the truth, her world shatters—magic is real, history is not what it seems, and the fate of time itself hangs in the balance.
A genre-bending blend of sci-fi and historical fantasy, A Dance in Time is perfect for fans of The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., The 100, and Shadow of Night.
Step into the past. Fight for the future. But beware—time doesn’t play fair.
Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
3 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Hidalgo
1 bookI am Jay. Florida-based author of the "A Dance in Time" duology, blending history, sci-fi, and fantasy into epic adventures. Anime fan, gamer, car enthusiast, and family man. My stories take readers on journeys of creativity and heart.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 30, 2025
A Dance in Time isn't just a book... it’s an emotional gut punch dressed in myth, time travel, and heartbreak.
At the heart of this stunning novel lies a tangled web of relationships—some tender, some toxic, and all of them unforgettable. This story isn't just about gods or fate. It’s about mothers and daughters, soldiers and survivors, broken love and unspoken truths.
Malaya and Lilith absolutely shattered me. Their relationship is the kind you read about with a lump in your throat. Lilith isn’t your standard antagonist. She’s a mother who made impossible choices and forced her daughter to bear the weight of them. Watching Malaya grow from the shadows of her mother’s ambition into a force of her own is breathtaking. Their dynamic reminded me of Clarke and Abby from The 100, but darker, more mythic, and far more devastating.
Malaya and Aaron gave me the kind of slow-burn tension that romance readers live for. You don’t just root for them—you ache for them. The chemistry simmers under the surface of every glance and every moment they’re forced apart. And when those barriers crack? Sparks. Painful, beautiful sparks.
Then there’s Vasilis and Malaya—not romantic, but easily one of my favorite dynamics. Their bond is raw and real, like siblings forged in fire. Vasilis is this war-scarred Spartan with a haunted sense of duty, and Malaya is all sharp edges and heart. Their banter, their pain, their loyalty? Chef’s kiss.
The supporting relationships hit just as hard. Kasumi and Vasilis, Inoichi and Vasilis, Aaron and Elias—each adds a new emotional layer to the story. This book doesn't just show love—it explores the cost of it. The betrayal. The sacrifice. The grief. The hope.
If you're someone who reads for the characters—who wants romance with weight, tension with teeth, and relationships that leave bruises—you need A Dance in Time on your shelf. Immediately.
At the heart of this stunning novel lies a tangled web of relationships—some tender, some toxic, and all of them unforgettable. This story isn't just about gods or fate. It’s about mothers and daughters, soldiers and survivors, broken love and unspoken truths.
Malaya and Lilith absolutely shattered me. Their relationship is the kind you read about with a lump in your throat. Lilith isn’t your standard antagonist. She’s a mother who made impossible choices and forced her daughter to bear the weight of them. Watching Malaya grow from the shadows of her mother’s ambition into a force of her own is breathtaking. Their dynamic reminded me of Clarke and Abby from The 100, but darker, more mythic, and far more devastating.
Malaya and Aaron gave me the kind of slow-burn tension that romance readers live for. You don’t just root for them—you ache for them. The chemistry simmers under the surface of every glance and every moment they’re forced apart. And when those barriers crack? Sparks. Painful, beautiful sparks.
Then there’s Vasilis and Malaya—not romantic, but easily one of my favorite dynamics. Their bond is raw and real, like siblings forged in fire. Vasilis is this war-scarred Spartan with a haunted sense of duty, and Malaya is all sharp edges and heart. Their banter, their pain, their loyalty? Chef’s kiss.
The supporting relationships hit just as hard. Kasumi and Vasilis, Inoichi and Vasilis, Aaron and Elias—each adds a new emotional layer to the story. This book doesn't just show love—it explores the cost of it. The betrayal. The sacrifice. The grief. The hope.
If you're someone who reads for the characters—who wants romance with weight, tension with teeth, and relationships that leave bruises—you need A Dance in Time on your shelf. Immediately.
September 25, 2025
The story revolves around rewriting history through Time Travel, to save a future of possible human extinction. When a certain physicist discovers the secret to time traveling, to then have it stolen by someone who believes the only way to save humanity is to travel back in time and guide the timelines by force. Willing to sacrifice innocent people for the greater good, and a total timeline collapse for the very future in need of saving. But not everyone agrees with this logic..
The story is a mix of history, myth, fantasy, and sci-fi. Involving a wide range of characters from the current reality of New Seattle 2075, to history lore and legends of Sparta and immortals.
With the complexity of the story and alternate timelines involved, at times it became a bit difficult to follow. It could have used a bit more explanation around the advance tech used for the development of characters. Some of which who are brought from the past into the future, somehow already understanding how the modern day and society works. It’s touched on, but just an example of where things could be elaborated on. There was also a few times throughout the story that I got a bit lost as the story would pivot to new settings or locations for characters without explanation as to what lead them there.
The story, characters, and concept still make this story worth reading. It’s an interesting take on Time Travel, and what happens when you try to change the future, by trying to rewrite the past. It makes you question the theory of time travel, and ask yourself if altering the past could really change the future for the better? Or just cause further damage to an already written story?
Thanks to the authors J.C. Hidalgo & Michael Johnson for providing me with a free ARC copy of A Dance in Time. This review was voluntary.
The story is a mix of history, myth, fantasy, and sci-fi. Involving a wide range of characters from the current reality of New Seattle 2075, to history lore and legends of Sparta and immortals.
With the complexity of the story and alternate timelines involved, at times it became a bit difficult to follow. It could have used a bit more explanation around the advance tech used for the development of characters. Some of which who are brought from the past into the future, somehow already understanding how the modern day and society works. It’s touched on, but just an example of where things could be elaborated on. There was also a few times throughout the story that I got a bit lost as the story would pivot to new settings or locations for characters without explanation as to what lead them there.
The story, characters, and concept still make this story worth reading. It’s an interesting take on Time Travel, and what happens when you try to change the future, by trying to rewrite the past. It makes you question the theory of time travel, and ask yourself if altering the past could really change the future for the better? Or just cause further damage to an already written story?
Thanks to the authors J.C. Hidalgo & Michael Johnson for providing me with a free ARC copy of A Dance in Time. This review was voluntary.
April 2, 2025
A Dance Through Time has the bones of an epic. A true fusion of sci-fi and fantasy, it successfully bridges the ancient with the future. The authors did their research on ancient Sparta, and the ancient portions feel authentic. The future sections feel authentic as well, although I could've used more explanation about tech concepts.
The novel's forte is it's dialog. It is witty and sharp, and draws you deep into each character very quickly.
Kudos for the time and effort that went into this work. It isn't easy to do that, and it is very impressive.
What Works:
-Witty Banter--dialog was on point.
-Lilith's Seer Gift--a wonderful fantasy addition to the sci-fi.
-World building--You can feel the different locations like you're there.
-Early character intros--I felt strongly connected with certain characters early on.
-Sparta description--on point.
What Doesn't:
-Sprawling Narrative: After the first 8 chapters or so, I had no idea what was going on. I think the authors assumed it was obvious due to their proximity to the subject matter. I didn't find that to be true.
-Underexplanation of technology--tech concepts weren't spelled out or grounded. Authors understand them well. Do readers?
-Weak transitions--setting often shifted without warning
-Feels Rushed--I personally thought the first 13 chapters would make a great book unto themselves. I think it needs to be longer, and the concepts developed even more.
I received the book for free as an ARC. This review is based off of the first 13 chapters.
The novel's forte is it's dialog. It is witty and sharp, and draws you deep into each character very quickly.
Kudos for the time and effort that went into this work. It isn't easy to do that, and it is very impressive.
What Works:
-Witty Banter--dialog was on point.
-Lilith's Seer Gift--a wonderful fantasy addition to the sci-fi.
-World building--You can feel the different locations like you're there.
-Early character intros--I felt strongly connected with certain characters early on.
-Sparta description--on point.
What Doesn't:
-Sprawling Narrative: After the first 8 chapters or so, I had no idea what was going on. I think the authors assumed it was obvious due to their proximity to the subject matter. I didn't find that to be true.
-Underexplanation of technology--tech concepts weren't spelled out or grounded. Authors understand them well. Do readers?
-Weak transitions--setting often shifted without warning
-Feels Rushed--I personally thought the first 13 chapters would make a great book unto themselves. I think it needs to be longer, and the concepts developed even more.
I received the book for free as an ARC. This review is based off of the first 13 chapters.
May 7, 2025
When Malaya invents time travel, her mother steals it to unleash an immortal warrior and rewrite history. Now, Malaya must chase her across centuries to save the future.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews