Emperors of Time

Emperors of Time #1

by James Wilson Penn

Four modern day teens must figure out a puzzle spanning centuries as they travel through time to save the world from a coterie of evil scientists.
Tim is a shy history nerd, Julie is popular and smart, Billy is athletic and confident, and Rose is clever and quirky. But what none of them understand is why Steven Hopkins, a Time Traveler from the 24th century, has chosen them to take on the Emperors of Time. The four teens must travel back to 1916 San Francisco to stop the past from being changed. If they fail, the self-proclaimed Emperors of Time will control the future. Their adventure takes them from a bridge over the Susquehanna River in the days before the Battle of Gettysburg to a settlement of outcasts from the Emperors' futuristic paradise and from the seediest to the swankiest parts of 1916 San Francisco.
American History plays as the backdrop for this YA Time-Travel novel.

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2014

Reviews

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting feast for YA fantasy readers and adults alike.
Traveling back in time to change future events from happening is nothing new to the fiction world. We've all seen or read tales like this in movies and books before. What's enjoyable about 'Emperors of Time' is that it has a different flavor which gives a breath of fresh air to historical and mystical adventures.

Four very different and ordinary teens, Rose, Julie, Tim, and Billy are chosen for an important mission, to go back in time to San Fransisco to the year of 1916 and stop past events from being changed forever. If they fail, the corrupt and power hungry Emperor of time will alter the future and all history as we know it will seize to happen. Changing one effect can drastically wipe out everything.... (no spoilers)

The detail of historical events play a smooth role as the story unfolds. The characters are well liked and their personalities are strong and separate. I have read other books where if there is more than 2-3 characters, there personalities run into one another which leads to confusion with dialogue. The realism was centered and believable which made 'Emperors of Time' an enjoyable read.

[Marva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like time travel stories. There is so much that can be done with the different permutations and paradoxes. Emperors of Time is an enjoyable YA story using real and alternate histories. It starts out with a bang, so to speak, when the mysterious time traveler leaves instructions for Julie on how to travel back in time. She arrives in 1865 and has a brief talk with the time traveler, who then proceeds to save John Wilkes Booth so he can assassinate Lincoln. Seems like the bad guy, right? But we learn that events in history have been tweaked by the so-called emperors of time (the scientists who developed the time travel disk) to makes themselves powerful.

The book is interesting in its use of potential points of history which might have set time onto a different course than the one we know. For that matter, are we living in a different timeline since some future madmen tweaked the history of our past? Hm. That's food for thought.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. Another aspect is the well-developed relationships between the four teens who take on the emperors of time to set things right.

[Lune Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the time travel stories, and this scores very high overall on the list of the books i have read so far. When a time traveler from a distant future in the 24th century, Steven Hopkins, meets the four teens, they discover his wish for them to go in the year 1916 to change certain events to effect a change in the future. The biggest task teens have is to face Emperors of Time, and thus stop the future from going into unwanted hands.

The hook of the novel is that the emperors of time have effected the alteration of the events in the history. The story is very intricately developed, is faultless, and at times made me think philosophically. The plot is new and proves yet again that not all the time travel books are the same. The characters could have been developed a little bit more-but they were great as it is-and a time travel story is not really about a deep dive in every character anyways.

It was such an engaging and easy read that I did not know before I reached the end of the book and ended up wishing I had access to the next book as well. Recommended without reservations to readers of time travel, fantasy.

[Loren Lockner · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the 1st chapter, Emperors of Time hooks you. This is a great book for both teens and adults. Full of American history, time travel, and adventurous characters named Tim, Billy, Rose, and Julie, the story surrounds how these four teens travel back in time. Their mission is to try and halt the damage the corrupt emperors of time have done to the timelines of history. The story is marvelous in how it relays the tale and makes plausible the various timelines, proving that changing one event can seriously alter the future. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was first approached by James to be a Beta Reader of his story The Emperors of Time I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of the story. Four seemingly average teens must travel back in time to stop the past from “ruining” the future. Time travel is such an interesting concept and anything with history has me ready to read.

The Emperors of Time was hard to put down I wanted to keep reading to find out if the four main characters; Tim, Julie, Rose, and Billy were going to be successful on there mission. It was almost a little like a mystery that the reader was trying to solve along with the kids. Having some of the normal teenage elements in the story made it relatable; those awkward little “teenage moments” made the reader feel like their were back walking home with their own first time crush. Each of the characters had quirks and it was interesting to read through the story and watch their relationships with each other develop. The plot and flow of the book were very easy to follow and overall I thought the flow of the book was really good.

I liked how each chapter had name it was kind of a mystery in and of itself to see how that name was going to play out in what the chapter was about. I felt like there was a lot that was packed into the 210 pages of this book but I definitely wanted more!

This review can also be found at my blog, Rachel In The Stacks!

[Kenneth Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Emperors of Time," James Wilson Penn has written story that is both entertaining and educational. Readers will find themselves enthralled by the adventures of Tim, Julie, Rose and Billy as they leap through time in an attempt to save the world from the mysterious Emperors of Time. The Emperors of Time have altered the timeline in an effort to take over the world. It is the job of the protagonists to restore the timeline. James Wilson Penn masterfully weaves historical references into the story. The narrative demonstrates the historical significance of these events. Changing any historical event will have a dramatic, long-lasting and unpredictable effect on events to come. Hence, the unique challenge that is faced by these teenage protagonists. Julie approaches Tim with a dilemma. Given the ability to travel through time, she is approaching Tim from an alternate timeline where her history is quite different from the history that Tim is familiar with. Her mission is to fix the damage that has been caused by the Emperors of Time, and she wants Tim to help her. Julie and Tim enlist the help of their friends Billy and Rose. Together, they seek to find where and at what point the timeline has been altered. This leads them to 1916 San Francisco. Their goal is to prevent a bomb from detonating and taking the presidency from Woodrow Wilson. Penn has an intimate knowledge of history, and this knowledge is used to craft a very entertaining story. The characters are charming and often quite funny. Check it out! You won't be disappointed!

[E.M. Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Emperors of Time’ is a fascinating, fast moving story that sets the scene for an absorbing, mind-bending series.

When Julie, a teenage mathematics talent, receives a mysterious package containing a letter and a medallion, a Dominus Temporis, she is transported in time to nineteenth-century Washington D.C. where she meets a time traveller. Along with three friends, Tim, Rose and Billy, she is thrown into a time travelling adventure with the challenge of preventing corrupt scientists manipulating historical events. Constrained by time travel rules and the complexities of different timelines, the teenagers approach problems using their talents of knowledge and logic. The teenagers also learn of other travellers and must determine who they can trust.

James Wilson Penn writes in a clear and accessible style that conveys complex ideas with ease. His characters move in various landscapes through time — the historical ones are well researched, while the futuristic are creative and convincing. The characters are distinct and their interactions are natural and amusing, which nicely balances the sci-fi and historical aspects of the story.

‘Emperors of Time’ is a science-fiction meets adventure book that will simultaneously entertain and make you think. The possibilities for further books in the series are limitless and I believe the ideas and writing will appeal to a wide audience.

[Patrick Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to save humanity from an oppressive government more than three centuries in the future, four teens - Tim, Julie, Rose and Billy - must travel back in time to put right history, which said government has altered so that they may assume power over humanity.

Well, obviously, in any story about time travel, the devil's in the details, and J.W. Penn has spared none of them. In intricate detail, he shows us not only his love for history but for his characters, as both they and we learn that all it takes is one tiny event to create a ripple effect that can change everything.

Given the gravity and the unfamiliarity of their situation, it would be easy for the teenage protagonists to become deathly serious, but Penn never that happen in Emperors of Time. He never lets us forget that these are teenagers, complete with all of the quirks, foibles and awkwardness of being teenagers, who find a way to embrace the spirit of the mind-boggling tasks they must perform despite their inexperience.

This was a fast, easy read, thoroughly enjoyable, and with lots of potential. Some of the paragraphs were a little overlong, but that's a minor detractor in an otherwise greatly entertaining story.

[Dana Burkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO MAD!!!!!

Why did this book have to end like that?!?!?!? I am dying to know what is going to happen next, and there is not a second book yet..... UGH!!!!!!!


This book was amazing! It reminded me of a mix of like Jumper and National treasure! All in all it was wonderful!! It is one of my favorite new books for sure, and I cannot wait to read what is going to happen next!!!!!!!


Edit:
I just finished the book for the second time, and have to say I still love this book. There are some things I noticed this read through, but it wasn't enough for me to lower my rating. This read through the characters seem much younger than juniors in high school. There were also times where the book felt like it was using conversation, explanations, and even exposition that seemed a little long winded and un-needed. But, I have a love for history, time travel, and YA fiction so I'm glad I got to revisit this book. And now, I can finally give into books 2 and 3 and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next with these characters and the time paradox they have found themselves in!!

[Brody Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emperors of Time is a fun time-travelling ride. Perfect for middle grade and young adult readers (and old people who enjoy YA like me). I would recommend this book to any kids looking for a quick, well-written, and enjoyable story. The story follows Tim and his friends as they go back in time to change events in history that the Emperors of Time have caused. With the help from a man from the future, the friends set out to stop a bomb that changed the course of the presidency. The plot is very simple to follow (even with elements that have the potential to be very confusing), which is great for young readers. I won't say anymore as to spoil the story.

One major pro is the editing. As an editor, I appreciate the due diligence in making this piece almost error free. I saw a few grammatical issues/errors, but very few, which is uncommon among self-publishing.

My only cons were that the story didn't jump around in time more. I would have loved to see other destinations, with twists and turns to boot. But, I can't be too hard on the author, as the simplicity of the story works well for younger readers. Overall, a great story. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.

[Ryan Alls · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

‘Emperors of Time’ is a fun roller coaster through time that would prove entertaining for all young adults. JW tells an attention-grabbing tale about time travel with characters who are experts at igniting all of your emotions and desire to protect them from the ‘Emperors of Time.’ I am usually not one to nitpick because everyone has different writing styles, but the major con that I found was that the story seemed almost TOO edited.The voice of the writer was lost in the overly-edited and overly-structured paragraphs of the book. I found a couple of typos here and there but I didn’t focus on them too much since I’m more story focused and the small typos did nothing to take my attention away from the story (i.e. toward instead of towards in chapter 1)

All in all despite the small mishaps above, ‘Emperors of Time’ is a fun read that many would enjoy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emperors of time tells the story of four teenagers who are charged with the task of correcting manipulations in our time line. Unfortunately, this isn’t as simple as it sounds, not only do they have to correct the altercations, they must find the singular cause in order to do so.

Part sci-fi, part mystery and part adventure, the Emperors of time is a well thought out story and an engaging read.

Readers will relate to the four teenagers, all of whom bring their own beliefs and personality to the story. To succeed they must work together, while dealing with everyday issues of being a teen; secret crushes, mum and dad and siblings.

The writing is clear and concise, the story engaging, and I for one am looking forward to seeing more from J.W.Penn.

[Jeff Folschinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This type of book is usually not my cup of tea but I found myself enjoying it. The whole concept of kids trying to undo changes that a group known as the Emperors of Time made to history to suit their own ends was very intriguing. This could have very easily fell in the realm of melodrama but the author did a marvelous job of balancing the seriousness of the characters while at the same time making the story very fun to read. Also with many time traveler type stories I've read over the years the authors go off the rails trying to overly explain the whole rules of time travel. This was not the case with this book. There was just enough to allow me to buy into the story and move the action along. I feel this was a very good first installment to what is sure to be a very enjoyable series.

[Kimberly Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA book had me looking up some of my history facts. It esteems and encourages intellect and the pursuit of furthering one's knowledge. I think it might make a good assignment for kids to read in history class. It would be enjoyable for them as well as informative. Emperors of Time is clear of foul language, sex, and graphic violence and would be fine for any age. I feel these are unique teens with exceptional vocabularies. They do not use the same colloquialisms teens I know use. I would like to see the characters as they develop. The end of the book leaves leaves room for the next book.

[S.R. Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well worth the price. I love anything that has to do with time travel; from Lost in Time by Caroline B. Cooney to the Dr. Who series on television. The author really did a wonderful job making the characters believable and sucking the readers into the action. I loved pretty much everything about the book, I am so glad I decided to read it. I have read other comments about the book, but I was too engrossed in the story to notice any major errors. I can't wait for more adventures by this author.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced time travel adventure

Jim, Julie, Billy, and Rose team up to thwart the
Emperors of Time and return to the old timeline in this well-written YA adventure. The teens travel from the McDonald's parking lot to 1916, battle thugs, and use their wits to complete their mission. But the last part of the story hints that it's far from over. I hope a sequel is in the works.

Highly recommended.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting and interesting read. The four teens are unique in their own way.

The biggest problem I had, and the main reason why I didn't give this 5 stars is that the flow of the book felt awkward. So much happened in such a short time that the details seemed lacking and the exposition via conversation was stilted.

Still, not an awful read and I wouldn't object to continuing to read the series.

[Cheryl Lopatka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

Not a bad book, but it could really use an editor. The plot was intriguing and the characters were likeable, but the story was a little bit cluttered with unnecessary conversations that didn't really feel natural and didn't further the plot. The ending was satisfying but obviously a set-up for the next book. I'm undecided about continuing this series, and will appreciate hearing what my fellow readers decide.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Tim Jennings receives a letter from Julie Chapman at first he thinks the contents must be a joke. But when Julie shows him a coin from 1865 and a way to travel in time, Tim can't dismiss what Julie is saying. With the help of two friends, Billy and rose, the quartet is going to go on an adventure through time and with some unexpected results. Good rad that is fun and a bit of history, although some unexpected.