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The Quantum Curators #4
The Quantum Curators and the Shattered Timeline: Deutsche Übersetzung (The Quantum Curators. Deutsche Übersetzung 4)
Any fool can destroy the timeline. Fixing it requires nerves of steel!
Minju Chen survived the coup with her secret identity intact. Her plans are in tatters, but that won’t stop her from trying again to take control of Alexandria and the quantum facility. Only one person can stop her and she’s stuck in a hospital bed.
Neith Salah has a bullet in her head and has lost her ability to communicate.
There is a plan to restore Neith’s language, but it requires Julius Strathclyde and the traitor Clio Masoud to work together. What could possibly go wrong? Beyond destroying Earth’s timeline and obliterating generations of innocents, that is.
Minju Chen survived the coup with her secret identity intact. Her plans are in tatters, but that won’t stop her from trying again to take control of Alexandria and the quantum facility. Only one person can stop her and she’s stuck in a hospital bed.
Neith Salah has a bullet in her head and has lost her ability to communicate.
There is a plan to restore Neith’s language, but it requires Julius Strathclyde and the traitor Clio Masoud to work together. What could possibly go wrong? Beyond destroying Earth’s timeline and obliterating generations of innocents, that is.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2022
129 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 12, 2022
It was so lovely to be back with The Quantum Curators and they were at their very best, there was nothing to disappoint and many things to delight in this fourth volume. Not least of which, some wonderful new characters, whom I very much hope to meet again. They added a lot of heart to interactions with old favourites, whilst we caught up with all the happenings. The story flowed and progressed well, and the characters did too. I really enjoyed the experience and it definitely made me hungry for the next offering, especially as the first chapter of the fifth book was included. I thought that this preview into the next instalment, plus the Author’s notes at the end, were a genius move and a marvellous addition. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with The Quantum Curators. If you thought their world was on a knife edge before, it certainly is now!
July 14, 2022
This story is full of twists and turns, and that's saying something coming from this series! With an amazing blend of history, time travel, political intrigue, sock-folding, friendship, and suspense this book was a page-turner from the start. As Alpha Earth reconciles their belief system after being attacked by gods, Neith struggles to regain her sanity. The character development is wonderful and continues to improve. No one is one dimensional which is so refreshing. So many series are inconsistent, but that is not a problem with this one. Eagerly anticipating the next volume!
(Full disclosure, I was provided an advanced copy for an honest review. This in no way influenced my rating)
(Full disclosure, I was provided an advanced copy for an honest review. This in no way influenced my rating)
July 7, 2022
I may be slightly biased, I love these books. It started as an "I suppose it's already been done" thought until I started reading. If you haven't started at the begin, it is a very good place to start. If you head straight in at this one, you won't have a blind idea what the hell is going on, who are these people?, are they Canadians they're so polite? And what has a Welsh granny got to to with it.
If like me, you have read the previous books, your going to love this one, more secrecy, more intrigue, more annoying 'but don't you just love Clio' bits to yell at and the odd nod to writers gone before that should make you really LOL. Prepare for more twists than a piggys tail, or should that be a cats tail? Can't I give it an eleven?
If like me, you have read the previous books, your going to love this one, more secrecy, more intrigue, more annoying 'but don't you just love Clio' bits to yell at and the odd nod to writers gone before that should make you really LOL. Prepare for more twists than a piggys tail, or should that be a cats tail? Can't I give it an eleven?
October 3, 2022
Excellent addition to the series.
I keep expecting them to bump into Max and the other historians from St. Mary's :)
Looking forward to what happens next.
I keep expecting them to bump into Max and the other historians from St. Mary's :)
Looking forward to what happens next.
July 25, 2022
Stepping Out of the Quantum Comfort Zone
Once upon a time in a parallel universe about two years away there were funny, entertaining stories using quantum entanglement for mixing up different worlds and timeframes. And seemingly all resident within Earth.
Eva St. John’s 2022 fourth installment, “The Quantum Curators and the Shattered Timeline” has gotten confused in the rush to extend this series and lost its sense of humor. Reminiscent of some Star Wars sequels.
Be warned: if you haven’t read the first three books, you will probably feel overwhelmed and muddled trying to follow what’s going on with this episode. And that’s from someone who has read the earlier books.
The primary characters, Julius Strathclyde from Beta Earth (our world) and Neith Salah from Alpha Earth (a future, possibly parallel world), return to their homebase of Alexandria, Egypt, along with other personalities carried from earlier installments. Everybody is in various stages of mending from the great fiction and reality mash-up battle of the previous story. OK?
The wrecked quantum jumper, aka “the stepper”, allowing Alpha Earth members to retrieve Beta Earth artefacts for posterity, has been repaired and ready for a test run. Just like new…oh, yeah. While Neith is recovering from near-death damage suffered in the prior episode, Julius and another colleague, Clio, with her own dark history are chosen to go back and retrieve crown jewels during a failed 1303 robbery attempt from Westminster Abbey.
But the stepper is still iffy. They make unexpected choices during their travels, end up in the late 15th century with the two little princes who suspiciously disappeared from the Tower of the London and almost run into themselves from a prior visit opening a whole can of quantum whoopsy daisy.
It gets even murkier by confusing nefarious doings in Alpha world pushing beyond science fiction and ending with a cliffhanger of sorts. Like the second Star Wars Installment with Hans Solo frozen at the end.
This chapter of Quantum Curators may be a science fantasy bridge too far…even for fans.
(Here are links to my Amazon posted reviews of Eva St. John’s other books in this series:
“The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg” (2020):
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2T3P9A...
“The Quantum Curators and the Enemy Within” (2020): https://www.amazon.com/review/R35DZN5...
“The Quantum Curators and the Missing Codex” (2021): https://www.amazon.com/review/R2J1XN0...)
ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8)
Once upon a time in a parallel universe about two years away there were funny, entertaining stories using quantum entanglement for mixing up different worlds and timeframes. And seemingly all resident within Earth.
Eva St. John’s 2022 fourth installment, “The Quantum Curators and the Shattered Timeline” has gotten confused in the rush to extend this series and lost its sense of humor. Reminiscent of some Star Wars sequels.
Be warned: if you haven’t read the first three books, you will probably feel overwhelmed and muddled trying to follow what’s going on with this episode. And that’s from someone who has read the earlier books.
The primary characters, Julius Strathclyde from Beta Earth (our world) and Neith Salah from Alpha Earth (a future, possibly parallel world), return to their homebase of Alexandria, Egypt, along with other personalities carried from earlier installments. Everybody is in various stages of mending from the great fiction and reality mash-up battle of the previous story. OK?
The wrecked quantum jumper, aka “the stepper”, allowing Alpha Earth members to retrieve Beta Earth artefacts for posterity, has been repaired and ready for a test run. Just like new…oh, yeah. While Neith is recovering from near-death damage suffered in the prior episode, Julius and another colleague, Clio, with her own dark history are chosen to go back and retrieve crown jewels during a failed 1303 robbery attempt from Westminster Abbey.
But the stepper is still iffy. They make unexpected choices during their travels, end up in the late 15th century with the two little princes who suspiciously disappeared from the Tower of the London and almost run into themselves from a prior visit opening a whole can of quantum whoopsy daisy.
It gets even murkier by confusing nefarious doings in Alpha world pushing beyond science fiction and ending with a cliffhanger of sorts. Like the second Star Wars Installment with Hans Solo frozen at the end.
This chapter of Quantum Curators may be a science fantasy bridge too far…even for fans.
(Here are links to my Amazon posted reviews of Eva St. John’s other books in this series:
“The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg” (2020):
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2T3P9A...
“The Quantum Curators and the Enemy Within” (2020): https://www.amazon.com/review/R35DZN5...
“The Quantum Curators and the Missing Codex” (2021): https://www.amazon.com/review/R2J1XN0...)
ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8)
October 20, 2022
This is the fourth volume in what is becoming an addictive SF/fantasy series that involves alternate Earths, time travel, medieval skulduggery, politics in utopia, and occasional rogue deities, and I’m surprised it hasn’t been picked up yet by one of the major publishers. But no, they’re all available (so far) for free, if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
There’s far too much highly original worldbuilding to get into the setup in any detail, so I’ll just say the attempted coup on Alpha Earth has been defeated -- or so everyone assumes, but Julius Strathclyde, ex-Oxford don and now the only curator from Beta Earth, isn’t so sure. But being less civilized, Betas are just naturally suspicious. And the gods (who are actually “quantum beings”) have been sent back to wherever they came from, but their incursion has shaken the collective worldview of the Alphas. And they don’t know it, but the woman who was secretly behind the attempted takeover is still around and still plotting. Neith Salah, the greatest curator ever, was shot in the head during the battle and survived, but it scrambled her neurolinguistic abilities and she’s been in hospital for the past six months, raging at her inability to communicate. Neith’s previously closest friend, Clio (who had turned traitor for purely venal reasons), is back and claiming to be reformed, and Julius doesn’t believe it, but the two of them are going to have work together anyway to try to say Neith. But Julius’s days may also be numbered.
Okay, I know all that sounds very confusing, but you’ll just have to take my word for it that this whole series is a romp and very much worth your time. Just go and find the first episode and settle in. And be aware that the fifth volume is now out, with at least several more still to come.
There’s far too much highly original worldbuilding to get into the setup in any detail, so I’ll just say the attempted coup on Alpha Earth has been defeated -- or so everyone assumes, but Julius Strathclyde, ex-Oxford don and now the only curator from Beta Earth, isn’t so sure. But being less civilized, Betas are just naturally suspicious. And the gods (who are actually “quantum beings”) have been sent back to wherever they came from, but their incursion has shaken the collective worldview of the Alphas. And they don’t know it, but the woman who was secretly behind the attempted takeover is still around and still plotting. Neith Salah, the greatest curator ever, was shot in the head during the battle and survived, but it scrambled her neurolinguistic abilities and she’s been in hospital for the past six months, raging at her inability to communicate. Neith’s previously closest friend, Clio (who had turned traitor for purely venal reasons), is back and claiming to be reformed, and Julius doesn’t believe it, but the two of them are going to have work together anyway to try to say Neith. But Julius’s days may also be numbered.
Okay, I know all that sounds very confusing, but you’ll just have to take my word for it that this whole series is a romp and very much worth your time. Just go and find the first episode and settle in. And be aware that the fifth volume is now out, with at least several more still to come.
November 14, 2022
Three and a half stars.
Spoiler for the previous books in this series.
Minju is safe for now and is wheedling her way in with the new Pharoah. As long as she can keep Neith and Julius apart she believes she will be safe. Neith's splice with Julius together with the bullet in her head has resulted in her speaking an ancient version of Welsh which the Alexandrian computers cannot translate. Clio has expressed contrition for her previous actions, which the Alphas totally buy into, and as a consequence she and Julius are sent to medieval Wales to 'borrow' some ancient texts in the hope that they will help the computers to understand what Neith is saying (now I think about it, how will having books written in a language you can't read help Neith?). Julius and Clio must put aside their differences to work together, but a minor mistake causes the Beta timeline to begin unravelling, can they stop it before Julius ceases to exist?
I had started to give up on this series, it seemed to be bouncing off in all directions and wasn't the time travelling adventure I had hoped for, but this book brings it all back to what I was hoping for. Let's hope the next book follows in the same vein.
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
Spoiler for the previous books in this series.
Minju is safe for now and is wheedling her way in with the new Pharoah. As long as she can keep Neith and Julius apart she believes she will be safe. Neith's splice with Julius together with the bullet in her head has resulted in her speaking an ancient version of Welsh which the Alexandrian computers cannot translate. Clio has expressed contrition for her previous actions, which the Alphas totally buy into, and as a consequence she and Julius are sent to medieval Wales to 'borrow' some ancient texts in the hope that they will help the computers to understand what Neith is saying (now I think about it, how will having books written in a language you can't read help Neith?). Julius and Clio must put aside their differences to work together, but a minor mistake causes the Beta timeline to begin unravelling, can they stop it before Julius ceases to exist?
I had started to give up on this series, it seemed to be bouncing off in all directions and wasn't the time travelling adventure I had hoped for, but this book brings it all back to what I was hoping for. Let's hope the next book follows in the same vein.
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
January 20, 2024
This series is very different -- sort of a combination of parallel worlds and time travel, with various political machinations as well. At the end of book #3, there was a coup/revolution of sorts that completely changed the perspective of residents of Alpha Earth. But it left them with too few curators: those who actually travel between Alpha and Beta Earth and back in time. However it also resulted in some technological breakthroughs.
Julius is a native of Beta earth, living on Alpha as the result of accidentally tagging along when Neith came back from a jump. But he's thriving ... until the attempted overthrow, and his friend Neith has suffered severe brain damage; she's perfectly healthy but her language processing has been destroyed and she can't make anyone understand her. So he's paired with Clio -- a reformed revolutionary (or is she) -- to go back to collect language books that might help re-connect.
Politically, everyone believes that all those who took part in the coup attempt were either killed or have been successfully rehabilitated. But Neith knows one who is still a danger -- but there's no one she could tell even if she could make them understand.
You really do need to have read the first 3 before even trying this one. And I'd suggest you don't wait too long because having the details in mind will help. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Julius is a native of Beta earth, living on Alpha as the result of accidentally tagging along when Neith came back from a jump. But he's thriving ... until the attempted overthrow, and his friend Neith has suffered severe brain damage; she's perfectly healthy but her language processing has been destroyed and she can't make anyone understand her. So he's paired with Clio -- a reformed revolutionary (or is she) -- to go back to collect language books that might help re-connect.
Politically, everyone believes that all those who took part in the coup attempt were either killed or have been successfully rehabilitated. But Neith knows one who is still a danger -- but there's no one she could tell even if she could make them understand.
You really do need to have read the first 3 before even trying this one. And I'd suggest you don't wait too long because having the details in mind will help. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
July 14, 2022
In case of emergency, break glass but don't break the time line
It was the perfect plan. Simple, clean, really nothing more than going to a library and borrowing a few books. What possibly could go wrong with that plan other than everything? I mean seriously, who would ever have suspected that opening a door could change history? Faced with a shattered timeline, Julius and the Quantum Curators must desperately rush to keep time itself from unraveling before Beta Earth is destroyed while they simultaneously scramble to keep Neith from being put on ice, literally. Join Neith, Julius, Rami And the rest of the QC team on a wild ride as they learn first hand why family spats are anything but a bed of roses, and why having the heir apparent to the throne of Britain learn Welsh was not just a clever political ploy. The fourth installment in the series, the Quantum Curators and Shattered Timeline ends in a cliffhanger of an ending that will leave reader's in breathless anticipation for the next installment of this modern day saga.
It was the perfect plan. Simple, clean, really nothing more than going to a library and borrowing a few books. What possibly could go wrong with that plan other than everything? I mean seriously, who would ever have suspected that opening a door could change history? Faced with a shattered timeline, Julius and the Quantum Curators must desperately rush to keep time itself from unraveling before Beta Earth is destroyed while they simultaneously scramble to keep Neith from being put on ice, literally. Join Neith, Julius, Rami And the rest of the QC team on a wild ride as they learn first hand why family spats are anything but a bed of roses, and why having the heir apparent to the throne of Britain learn Welsh was not just a clever political ploy. The fourth installment in the series, the Quantum Curators and Shattered Timeline ends in a cliffhanger of an ending that will leave reader's in breathless anticipation for the next installment of this modern day saga.
September 26, 2022
The problem...
...with books in this series are manifold. First and foremost, the author presents most inhabitants of Alpha Earth as unbelievably naive. There are occasional deep dark secrets to explain some of that naivete away but for the most part we are left with allusions to a culture of complacency. A better explanation: lazy writing.
The other significant issue is that the inhabitants of Alpha Earth, whose timeline diverged from our own 2000 years ago, talk like contemporary Brits, up to and including the usual class markers that are supposed to distinguish "bad 'uns" from "good 'uns." Even allowing for the conceit that the author is just translating from 21st Century Egyptian, we get back to the same explanation as above.
Fortunately (unfortunately?), Julius and Neith are just engaging enough for this reader to want to know "what happens next?"
...with books in this series are manifold. First and foremost, the author presents most inhabitants of Alpha Earth as unbelievably naive. There are occasional deep dark secrets to explain some of that naivete away but for the most part we are left with allusions to a culture of complacency. A better explanation: lazy writing.
The other significant issue is that the inhabitants of Alpha Earth, whose timeline diverged from our own 2000 years ago, talk like contemporary Brits, up to and including the usual class markers that are supposed to distinguish "bad 'uns" from "good 'uns." Even allowing for the conceit that the author is just translating from 21st Century Egyptian, we get back to the same explanation as above.
Fortunately (unfortunately?), Julius and Neith are just engaging enough for this reader to want to know "what happens next?"
September 3, 2022
This is book 4.
Eva St John has created a very vivid alternative and parallel history adventure, with a massive amount of thought that has gone into the planning and worldbuilding, but it is handled very lightly. This one sees Julius and Neath being told to accept that Clio is a truly remorseful reformed character and they have to work with her and trust her again.
Another lovely nuanced work of complicated relationships and Julius's outsiders view coming in useful - some of the time. Looking forward to the sequel which Eva is expecting to release in the next few months, as in the first draft of this book, she managed to write a lot of the material which really belongs in the next book.
Ends on a "oh no they didn't" cliff hanger.
Eva St John has created a very vivid alternative and parallel history adventure, with a massive amount of thought that has gone into the planning and worldbuilding, but it is handled very lightly. This one sees Julius and Neath being told to accept that Clio is a truly remorseful reformed character and they have to work with her and trust her again.
Another lovely nuanced work of complicated relationships and Julius's outsiders view coming in useful - some of the time. Looking forward to the sequel which Eva is expecting to release in the next few months, as in the first draft of this book, she managed to write a lot of the material which really belongs in the next book.
Ends on a "oh no they didn't" cliff hanger.
November 11, 2022
good series with time travel and philosophical discussion of ramifications, alternative worlds and philosophical discussion of that, greed, friendship, betrayal, etc.
however...... I have an issue with Ms. St. John's editor. in the whole series so far, for EVERY instance needing a verb for "sit" the editor uses "sat." there are no correct conjugations for "sit." they even use it for the word "seated" in several instances. see: https://conjugator.reverso.net/conjug...
there are a few other grammatical mistakes, but not many.
this is really annoying and detracts from reading enjoyment.
however...... I have an issue with Ms. St. John's editor. in the whole series so far, for EVERY instance needing a verb for "sit" the editor uses "sat." there are no correct conjugations for "sit." they even use it for the word "seated" in several instances. see: https://conjugator.reverso.net/conjug...
there are a few other grammatical mistakes, but not many.
this is really annoying and detracts from reading enjoyment.
October 30, 2024
An absolute belter. Again.
Another top read from Eva St. John.
Book four is absolutely superb. All the characters are back and some new ones turn up, whether they want to or not.
It's a shame that Salah is stuck in a hospital bed as they limited her involvement but allowed Julius to take the lead. Interestingly, it requires Julius and the traitor Clio to work together, with excellent interaction. Having the humour ongoing helps make this already easy to get stuck into, even more engrossing.
Sadly, only one book left....
Another top read from Eva St. John.
Book four is absolutely superb. All the characters are back and some new ones turn up, whether they want to or not.
It's a shame that Salah is stuck in a hospital bed as they limited her involvement but allowed Julius to take the lead. Interestingly, it requires Julius and the traitor Clio to work together, with excellent interaction. Having the humour ongoing helps make this already easy to get stuck into, even more engrossing.
Sadly, only one book left....
August 12, 2022
Getting weirder
I read the second book in this series first and had no idea what was going on. I had to go back and start over.
When I tried to read this book, I had to start over at the beginning again. Books in series should ha e a bit of follow through so readers don't have to start over each time.
Plus, each book is getting a bit more ridiculous. Personified gods? Moving the two princes ahead in time? This has become a cliche.
I read the second book in this series first and had no idea what was going on. I had to go back and start over.
When I tried to read this book, I had to start over at the beginning again. Books in series should ha e a bit of follow through so readers don't have to start over each time.
Plus, each book is getting a bit more ridiculous. Personified gods? Moving the two princes ahead in time? This has become a cliche.
August 31, 2024
In the hands of a better wordsmith this series might have been adequate, but it's really not well written, and I can't recommend it. Compare this to writers of genuine skill like Kate Atkinson or Natasha Pulley, and you quickly realise this work might impress if it were an 11 year old's summer holiday project.
August 30, 2022
Highly enjoyable series of books. Love the style of writing and the differences between alpha and beta world! Didn't find this one as compelling as previous books but am still looking forward to the next installment and following the adventures of the curators.
October 26, 2024
So good, I love how these books end with such a cliffhanger! This was a really good adventure, in the way that the first in the series was. The writing is easy to consume and the story flows really well. I’m looking forward to reading the final book soon!
November 11, 2024
This was another good one. Very complicated, the story is principally about the adventures of Julius and Cleo while Neith is trying to recover in hospital. Much changes and is resolved at the end but much is left hanging for Book 5.
September 14, 2025
It was a rush. A lot of time was dedicated to Julius and Clio going to Beta Earth and for a while, it looked rather bleak with Keith. I loved every word, laughed a lot and was shocked by the end. Can't wait to read a follow up.
July 12, 2022
Bloody Loved it. No idea wear the day went, shocked when I turned over the last page and relalised I was finished. Over too soon
July 19, 2022
A worthy continuation of the series
The characters are more developed and the plot starts out slow but ends in a big twist. Enjoyable read for fans.
The characters are more developed and the plot starts out slow but ends in a big twist. Enjoyable read for fans.
August 2, 2022
Another excellent addition to the series
Finished this in two sittings during the week, what an amazing series and I can’t wait for the next one!
Finished this in two sittings during the week, what an amazing series and I can’t wait for the next one!
August 3, 2022
This series never disappoints, in fact I think it just keeps getting better. Can't wait for the next instalment…
August 5, 2022
Loved the book, great likeable characters. Read the book too quickly. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
August 13, 2022
Excellent continuation of the series! Good story, same likeable characters and good pace. I’ve ordered the next one already!
August 15, 2022
Shattered Timeline
This one was crazy! Timelines out of control, going back in time twice, Julius and Clio as partners, trying to heal Neith, etc. can’t wait til the next one!
This one was crazy! Timelines out of control, going back in time twice, Julius and Clio as partners, trying to heal Neith, etc. can’t wait til the next one!
August 20, 2022
A step up from previous, better, back to characters, less plot silliness, more intrigue, more believable, and great storyline continues.
January 16, 2023
great read!
These just keep getting better! The character development and plot twists are so much fun! Starting the next book immediately!
These just keep getting better! The character development and plot twists are so much fun! Starting the next book immediately!
January 19, 2023
Hoping this doesn't go beyond a fifth book
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog whilst the cow jumps over the moon, which today is fuller than one would expect.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog whilst the cow jumps over the moon, which today is fuller than one would expect.
March 12, 2023
omg just when i thought this book is not as interesting as the others, the last chapter makes me want more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews