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The Archivist
“The Archivist is the best debut novel I’ve read in years, a page turner with a fresh and original take on time travel, and all the mystery and romance a reader could want.” — George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
"A breakout thriller packed with huge characters—fast and sexy and so, so smart." — Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
What if the blood running through your veins holds the power to change everything?
Twenty-two-year-old Cora Moreau has always lived a quiet life in Durango, Colorado—never had a boyfriend, never ventured far from home. But after a life-altering surgery, she uncovers a shocking her blood holds extraordinary, untapped power.
In an instant, Cora's world is turned upside down. Leaving behind her mundane waitress job, she accepts an offer to work at a high-tech research facility in Spain—only to discover the job is more dangerous and mysterious than she ever imagined.
Assigned to protect Cora is Nick, brooding former military and her father’s trusted ally. But as they navigate the dark secrets of genetic memory and time travel, their relationship intensifies in ways neither expected—sparking a forbidden romance that challenges everything they thought they knew about duty, loyalty, and love.
As they uncover hidden truths, a powerful enemy lurks in the shadows, determined to exploit Cora’s abilities for their own nefarious purposes. With time running out, Cora and Nick must fight not just for survival, but for the fate of the future itself.
The Archivist is a thrilling blend of high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and mind-bending science. Perfect for fans of gripping science fiction and intense love stories, this spellbinding novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
"A breakout thriller packed with huge characters—fast and sexy and so, so smart." — Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
What if the blood running through your veins holds the power to change everything?
Twenty-two-year-old Cora Moreau has always lived a quiet life in Durango, Colorado—never had a boyfriend, never ventured far from home. But after a life-altering surgery, she uncovers a shocking her blood holds extraordinary, untapped power.
In an instant, Cora's world is turned upside down. Leaving behind her mundane waitress job, she accepts an offer to work at a high-tech research facility in Spain—only to discover the job is more dangerous and mysterious than she ever imagined.
Assigned to protect Cora is Nick, brooding former military and her father’s trusted ally. But as they navigate the dark secrets of genetic memory and time travel, their relationship intensifies in ways neither expected—sparking a forbidden romance that challenges everything they thought they knew about duty, loyalty, and love.
As they uncover hidden truths, a powerful enemy lurks in the shadows, determined to exploit Cora’s abilities for their own nefarious purposes. With time running out, Cora and Nick must fight not just for survival, but for the fate of the future itself.
The Archivist is a thrilling blend of high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and mind-bending science. Perfect for fans of gripping science fiction and intense love stories, this spellbinding novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
19 people are currently reading
1490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 12, 2025
3.5 🌟
First, thank you, Netgalley and RBmedia, for the ARC!
This was pretty good for and deput novel. I liked the sci-fi elements in the story a lot. Time travel is always a fun topic to read about. That being said, I felt like the action and actual time traveling was a bit lacking. I reallyyyyyy were waiting for an actual time traveling to take place. Not just the talk about it. The story also had a big focus on romance, which I just wasn't expecting.
I do feel like the story has a lot of potential, and I'm very curious to see where the author will take us next. There is definitely a lot to unpack in the second book!
First, thank you, Netgalley and RBmedia, for the ARC!
This was pretty good for and deput novel. I liked the sci-fi elements in the story a lot. Time travel is always a fun topic to read about. That being said, I felt like the action and actual time traveling was a bit lacking. I reallyyyyyy were waiting for an actual time traveling to take place. Not just the talk about it. The story also had a big focus on romance, which I just wasn't expecting.
I do feel like the story has a lot of potential, and I'm very curious to see where the author will take us next. There is definitely a lot to unpack in the second book!
October 12, 2025
3.75 ⭐
Thank you Netgalley and Ti Mikkel for the Arc of this audiobook!
I was really curious about where the story was heading. There are a lot of secrets woven throughout the storyline. The book kept me interested and was well written! I also enjoyed the narrator's voice for the audio aspect.
I felt like there was enough character building around the MC Cora. Also the world building was great! I would have preferred a deeper background story around Nick. For me, the romance between Nick and Cora also felt instant and there was a lack of story building between them as a couple. There were a lot of names included in the story and I would've preferred it if Cora's parents weren't referred to by name but as 'Cora's parents'.
For now, I'm still left wondering why the time travelling is so important (except for scientific purposes) and why Diego is so obsessed with Cora. Since this is the first book of a trilogy, I hope I'll find the answers in the next book. I do think there are a lot of opportunities to make the story a bit more suspenseful than the first book was. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next book since the story has a lot of potential!
Thank you Netgalley and Ti Mikkel for the Arc of this audiobook!
I was really curious about where the story was heading. There are a lot of secrets woven throughout the storyline. The book kept me interested and was well written! I also enjoyed the narrator's voice for the audio aspect.
I felt like there was enough character building around the MC Cora. Also the world building was great! I would have preferred a deeper background story around Nick. For me, the romance between Nick and Cora also felt instant and there was a lack of story building between them as a couple. There were a lot of names included in the story and I would've preferred it if Cora's parents weren't referred to by name but as 'Cora's parents'.
For now, I'm still left wondering why the time travelling is so important (except for scientific purposes) and why Diego is so obsessed with Cora. Since this is the first book of a trilogy, I hope I'll find the answers in the next book. I do think there are a lot of opportunities to make the story a bit more suspenseful than the first book was. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next book since the story has a lot of potential!
November 1, 2025
The concept of this book is amazing, a rare type of blood that lets them time travel? Phenomenal. The execution? Not so great.
Unfortunately, this needed a few more rounds of editing. Besides spelling errors and formatting issues, this did not read like a finished book. Almost every single scene felt like it was unfinished or a first draft. I don’t need to know the order you put your hair up, your shirt on then your jacket, your shoes and how tied your laces every time you leave your room.
Honestly, I felt like I knew more about what she ate for meals than I knew about our supposed male main character. He felt like a NPC, we didn’t even get an actual personal conversation with him until like Chp 16 yet I’m supposed to believe they have a romantic connection? Their relationship is so unbelievable. No tension, no yearning…tbh it felt like they were all teenagers. These characters are very one dimensional. Cora is weak, whiny and frankly insufferable. Our MMC asks her to tell him when she’s gonna go off alone (he is her bodyguard remember?) and she gets angry and proceeds stomp off into the woods alone. She is very childish and I couldn’t stand it. She complains about every single training she’s supposed to do. Self defense, exams, nick, the claustrophobia box, the blood, the dance, the animal skinning, SHE COMPLAINS ABOUT ALL OF IT.
90% of this book had nothing happen. It was incredibly boring and even when it DID have something interesting happen it was done and over with in 2 seconds. This book just wasn’t interesting enough to keep me wanting to continue the series.
Unfortunately, this needed a few more rounds of editing. Besides spelling errors and formatting issues, this did not read like a finished book. Almost every single scene felt like it was unfinished or a first draft. I don’t need to know the order you put your hair up, your shirt on then your jacket, your shoes and how tied your laces every time you leave your room.
Honestly, I felt like I knew more about what she ate for meals than I knew about our supposed male main character. He felt like a NPC, we didn’t even get an actual personal conversation with him until like Chp 16 yet I’m supposed to believe they have a romantic connection? Their relationship is so unbelievable. No tension, no yearning…tbh it felt like they were all teenagers. These characters are very one dimensional. Cora is weak, whiny and frankly insufferable. Our MMC asks her to tell him when she’s gonna go off alone (he is her bodyguard remember?) and she gets angry and proceeds stomp off into the woods alone. She is very childish and I couldn’t stand it. She complains about every single training she’s supposed to do. Self defense, exams, nick, the claustrophobia box, the blood, the dance, the animal skinning, SHE COMPLAINS ABOUT ALL OF IT.
90% of this book had nothing happen. It was incredibly boring and even when it DID have something interesting happen it was done and over with in 2 seconds. This book just wasn’t interesting enough to keep me wanting to continue the series.
October 15, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ I will definitely be reading this series. I love how inventive this plot is, but maybe the best part is imagining George R.R. Martin reading a bodyguard time travel romance and then liking it enough to blurb it lol.
October 23, 2025
ALC 3 Stars!
Sci Fi + Time Travel Secret Facility + Romance + Murder Mystery
This books follows Cora, who finds out she has a special blood type after a spinal surgery for her scoliosis. This special type of blood alerts a secret society for time travel research and soon she find herself being swept away to Spain to become a member at this top secret facility. Her father and mother were also part of this society and she is made aware of this before her trip. Because she has never ventured far from home before, her father entrusts Nick, a former Navy Seal, to be her body guard during this transition to a new and unfamiliar environment. While at this facility she learns about time travel and how it is powered by her blood. She also meets a fun new group of friends and it forces her out of her shell.
During Cora's time at this top secret facility she learns more about her mother and discovers connections to her that she had never been told before. She also starts to develop feelings for her bodyguard, Nick. Tensions are high and things are occurring in the background at this facility. With her safety hanging by a thread, Cora is thrust into survival mode, doing whatever it takes to protect herself and Nick.
Overall, I wanted more time travel aspects. I wanted Cora to experience time travel first hand or have more dialogue with characters who experienced time travel. I found that most of the plot was either about her everyday routine or about her relationship with Nick and it fell flat for me. I didn't feel a connection between Cora and Nick. I would have liked more angst or build up to their relationship. I feel like this book would have been a 5 star for me if it had either no romance and focused on the sci fi aspects and time travel, or if it was a more developed romance with more emotional connection and character development.
With that being said, the epilogue was amazing! I wish what was revealed in the epilogue was the climax of the book and then more events and secrets were revealed and explored afterwards! It was so shocking and I was not expecting that at all.
The narrator was great and made the book an enjoyable listen.
This book was sent to me from Netgalley for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sci Fi + Time Travel Secret Facility + Romance + Murder Mystery
This books follows Cora, who finds out she has a special blood type after a spinal surgery for her scoliosis. This special type of blood alerts a secret society for time travel research and soon she find herself being swept away to Spain to become a member at this top secret facility. Her father and mother were also part of this society and she is made aware of this before her trip. Because she has never ventured far from home before, her father entrusts Nick, a former Navy Seal, to be her body guard during this transition to a new and unfamiliar environment. While at this facility she learns about time travel and how it is powered by her blood. She also meets a fun new group of friends and it forces her out of her shell.
During Cora's time at this top secret facility she learns more about her mother and discovers connections to her that she had never been told before. She also starts to develop feelings for her bodyguard, Nick. Tensions are high and things are occurring in the background at this facility. With her safety hanging by a thread, Cora is thrust into survival mode, doing whatever it takes to protect herself and Nick.
Overall, I wanted more time travel aspects. I wanted Cora to experience time travel first hand or have more dialogue with characters who experienced time travel. I found that most of the plot was either about her everyday routine or about her relationship with Nick and it fell flat for me. I didn't feel a connection between Cora and Nick. I would have liked more angst or build up to their relationship. I feel like this book would have been a 5 star for me if it had either no romance and focused on the sci fi aspects and time travel, or if it was a more developed romance with more emotional connection and character development.
With that being said, the epilogue was amazing! I wish what was revealed in the epilogue was the climax of the book and then more events and secrets were revealed and explored afterwards! It was so shocking and I was not expecting that at all.
The narrator was great and made the book an enjoyable listen.
This book was sent to me from Netgalley for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
I’d like to first start this review by saying I feel so fortunate to have received an ARC of Ti Mikkel’s debut novel, The Archivist. It felt like such a rare treasure to be one of the first to experience this story and go on this adventure and let me tell you, what an adventure it was!
As George R. R. Martin’s quote on the front cover says, this book is a page turner. I found myself unable to put it down, needing to know what was going to happen next. So much so that I actually read it in the span of less than 48 hours!
Mikkel possesses the rare ability to transport the reader into the story with her rich descriptions that create a depth of scenery and character that submerge you into the world itself and make you feel like you’re right there experiencing it with the characters. I truly felt like I just made new friends in these characters (Kevin is obviously my new bestie) and when I finished I actually felt sad that I had to let them go. Luckily, I know we will get more of them in time as this is only the first of the trilogy and I must say, I genuinely can’t wait to see where Ti takes the story next.
As far as plot goes, there really isn’t a dull moment. One of my biggest complaints for most books is how long it takes to get into the action, but with The Archivist, the reader is basically dropped right into it in a way that is easy to digest and flow with. I also feel like I have to point out that in a time where fantasy and romantasy has gotten so popular (and might I even say, oversaturated), this plot still felt super original! I don’t feel like I’ve read this before and as an avid reader, that’s really saying something. And of course, I HAVE to mention the romance of it all! Without giving too much away, I lovedddd the romance aspect of this novel. It felt so much more real, healthy, and magnetic than some of the ones I’ve read recently. Like a relationship that could actually be seen in real life while still giving the fantasy aspect. I definitely can’t WAIT to get more of those chapters in the future!
It’s hard to imagine a more well thought out, researched, and written debut novel. It’s been over a week and I haven’t stopped thinking about it, which of course makes me yearn to know… when is the next one???
Overall, a major brava to Ti Mikkel! I tip my hat off to you, ma’am!
As George R. R. Martin’s quote on the front cover says, this book is a page turner. I found myself unable to put it down, needing to know what was going to happen next. So much so that I actually read it in the span of less than 48 hours!
Mikkel possesses the rare ability to transport the reader into the story with her rich descriptions that create a depth of scenery and character that submerge you into the world itself and make you feel like you’re right there experiencing it with the characters. I truly felt like I just made new friends in these characters (Kevin is obviously my new bestie) and when I finished I actually felt sad that I had to let them go. Luckily, I know we will get more of them in time as this is only the first of the trilogy and I must say, I genuinely can’t wait to see where Ti takes the story next.
As far as plot goes, there really isn’t a dull moment. One of my biggest complaints for most books is how long it takes to get into the action, but with The Archivist, the reader is basically dropped right into it in a way that is easy to digest and flow with. I also feel like I have to point out that in a time where fantasy and romantasy has gotten so popular (and might I even say, oversaturated), this plot still felt super original! I don’t feel like I’ve read this before and as an avid reader, that’s really saying something. And of course, I HAVE to mention the romance of it all! Without giving too much away, I lovedddd the romance aspect of this novel. It felt so much more real, healthy, and magnetic than some of the ones I’ve read recently. Like a relationship that could actually be seen in real life while still giving the fantasy aspect. I definitely can’t WAIT to get more of those chapters in the future!
It’s hard to imagine a more well thought out, researched, and written debut novel. It’s been over a week and I haven’t stopped thinking about it, which of course makes me yearn to know… when is the next one???
Overall, a major brava to Ti Mikkel! I tip my hat off to you, ma’am!
December 1, 2025
I've read and reviewed this title in October already, but somehow it turned out to be for an audio version to be published in 2026. I'm happy I found a better version, although I've not read the hardcover but the Kindle version. However, I cannot seem to publish my review with the Kindle version...
The Archivist is a thrilling blend of high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and mind-bending science. Perfect for fans of gripping science fiction and intense love stories, this spellbinding novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
At least, this is what the blurb promised me. The Archivist is a story about time travel and people with extraordinary skills. Sadly, I was rather underwhelmed. Main character Cora lives with her father and holds a simple job in a diner. Her father tends his greenhouse. Both are still grieving about the loss of Cora’s mother, ten years ago. Her name was Sophie and she was a renowned scientist; so renowned, that at a young age, she was asked to participate in a secret experiment that had to do with time travel. She moved to Spain where people built a secret lab, met Raymond, fell in love with him but they relocated back to the US when she became pregnant with Cora. Eleven years after the birth of Cora Sophie went back to Spain, only to be killed in a car crash.
Now, suddenly (for Cora at least) it becomes clear that Cora inherited something from her mother: she is a ‘Rh null’, which means she has neither the Rhesus positive nor the Rhesus negative factor in her blood. It is very, very rare but apparently it means people with Rh null heal very fast and are also very healthy. And not to forget, their blood is needed to get a time machine working – that also works on steam.
Yes! At the start of the book we get a long explanation about how thousands of years ago the time machine was invented, but the plans for building such a machine got lost when the library of Alexandria was destroyed.
Anyway, Cora is asked to come to Spain and because it is apparently dangerous out there, her father wants her to go with Nick as her bodyguard. Cora travels to Spain, where she meets a lot of nice/strange/dangerous people, learns a lot of things among which shooting a gun and defending herself, and falls in love with Nick.
I finished this book because of the writing style and the hope that there would be an actual explanation about what the time travellers are going to do once they arrive at their destination. The author describes the nature and the lab very well and Cora’s new friends are an interesting group of people.
I gave the book two stars mainly because Cora’s is such an ignorant and sometimes even stupid person. Some highlights? She’s apparently graduated magna cum laude from high school but she really constantly surprised about the world around her. She’s surprised that there are wolves in Europe… She refuses to read the ‘welcome packet’ in the secret facility and thus is constantly surprised about everything that she has to do or learn only because the packet is a thick booklet with difficult words and subjects… When people leave the lab to travel to the nearby village, they use horses. Not one time Cora mounts her horse herself, she has to be helped. She’s a slob too, because she arrives with a big bag of clothing but is constantly trying to find clean clothes because she forgets to wash them, let alone fold. She’s unhappy and stumbles all the time. She doesn’t drink alcohol but later in the book she suddenly drinks lot of beer (why?).
There is some ‘scientific’ talk but it amounts to nothing. There is only talk of how the machine is supposed to work but further than ‘blood’ and ‘water ‘ we learn nothing. And then the part where Cora and Nick fall in love: it reads like a romcom for teenagers. Cora is swooning over Nicks’ firm jaw and broad chest as if she’s sixteen instead of twenty three. The erotic scenes are right out of a mediocre Netflix-film.
Suffice to say that when things go horribly wrong, and Cora and Nick find themselves in another secret lab (guess where?) the book ends with a cliff-hanger. I don’t think I’m really interested in reading the second book in the series. I would have loved to read a good time travel story and although I don’t expect an author to invent a working time machine, this story lacks all background to make it really interesting. I think I better go and read H.G. Wells’ book again.
Thanks to City Owl Press and Edelweiss for this review copy.
The Archivist is a thrilling blend of high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and mind-bending science. Perfect for fans of gripping science fiction and intense love stories, this spellbinding novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
At least, this is what the blurb promised me. The Archivist is a story about time travel and people with extraordinary skills. Sadly, I was rather underwhelmed. Main character Cora lives with her father and holds a simple job in a diner. Her father tends his greenhouse. Both are still grieving about the loss of Cora’s mother, ten years ago. Her name was Sophie and she was a renowned scientist; so renowned, that at a young age, she was asked to participate in a secret experiment that had to do with time travel. She moved to Spain where people built a secret lab, met Raymond, fell in love with him but they relocated back to the US when she became pregnant with Cora. Eleven years after the birth of Cora Sophie went back to Spain, only to be killed in a car crash.
Now, suddenly (for Cora at least) it becomes clear that Cora inherited something from her mother: she is a ‘Rh null’, which means she has neither the Rhesus positive nor the Rhesus negative factor in her blood. It is very, very rare but apparently it means people with Rh null heal very fast and are also very healthy. And not to forget, their blood is needed to get a time machine working – that also works on steam.
Yes! At the start of the book we get a long explanation about how thousands of years ago the time machine was invented, but the plans for building such a machine got lost when the library of Alexandria was destroyed.
Anyway, Cora is asked to come to Spain and because it is apparently dangerous out there, her father wants her to go with Nick as her bodyguard. Cora travels to Spain, where she meets a lot of nice/strange/dangerous people, learns a lot of things among which shooting a gun and defending herself, and falls in love with Nick.
I finished this book because of the writing style and the hope that there would be an actual explanation about what the time travellers are going to do once they arrive at their destination. The author describes the nature and the lab very well and Cora’s new friends are an interesting group of people.
I gave the book two stars mainly because Cora’s is such an ignorant and sometimes even stupid person. Some highlights? She’s apparently graduated magna cum laude from high school but she really constantly surprised about the world around her. She’s surprised that there are wolves in Europe… She refuses to read the ‘welcome packet’ in the secret facility and thus is constantly surprised about everything that she has to do or learn only because the packet is a thick booklet with difficult words and subjects… When people leave the lab to travel to the nearby village, they use horses. Not one time Cora mounts her horse herself, she has to be helped. She’s a slob too, because she arrives with a big bag of clothing but is constantly trying to find clean clothes because she forgets to wash them, let alone fold. She’s unhappy and stumbles all the time. She doesn’t drink alcohol but later in the book she suddenly drinks lot of beer (why?).
There is some ‘scientific’ talk but it amounts to nothing. There is only talk of how the machine is supposed to work but further than ‘blood’ and ‘water ‘ we learn nothing. And then the part where Cora and Nick fall in love: it reads like a romcom for teenagers. Cora is swooning over Nicks’ firm jaw and broad chest as if she’s sixteen instead of twenty three. The erotic scenes are right out of a mediocre Netflix-film.
Suffice to say that when things go horribly wrong, and Cora and Nick find themselves in another secret lab (guess where?) the book ends with a cliff-hanger. I don’t think I’m really interested in reading the second book in the series. I would have loved to read a good time travel story and although I don’t expect an author to invent a working time machine, this story lacks all background to make it really interesting. I think I better go and read H.G. Wells’ book again.
Thanks to City Owl Press and Edelweiss for this review copy.
October 15, 2025
3 1/2 stars for The Archivist because it took a little time to find its rhythm, but once it did, I was hooked. The slower start gave way to a layered and intriguing plot that kept me invested all the way through. I'm really glad I stuck with it because the payoff was worth it.
What stood out most to me was how well the story balanced mystery, danger, and just the right touch of romance. The slow burn and forbidden love elements were subtle but effective, adding tension without overwhelming the main story.
The narrators were great, a perfect match for the tone of the book.
And yes... the cliffhanger ending hit hard. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one as soon as it drops.
What stood out most to me was how well the story balanced mystery, danger, and just the right touch of romance. The slow burn and forbidden love elements were subtle but effective, adding tension without overwhelming the main story.
The narrators were great, a perfect match for the tone of the book.
And yes... the cliffhanger ending hit hard. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one as soon as it drops.
October 10, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
First, a HUGE thank you to Ti and her team for the ARC, I am so grateful.
What a fun read! Sci- fi mixed with romance and I had a great time. Nick was the best amount of grumpy and he had me smiling a ridiculous amount
Kevin though. I need an entire book on Kevin!
I’m so excited to see where this series goes! Add this one to your list. 🥰
First, a HUGE thank you to Ti and her team for the ARC, I am so grateful.
What a fun read! Sci- fi mixed with romance and I had a great time. Nick was the best amount of grumpy and he had me smiling a ridiculous amount
Kevin though. I need an entire book on Kevin!
I’m so excited to see where this series goes! Add this one to your list. 🥰
June 24, 2025
I look forward to reading more from this author! Ti Mikkel's debut felt original and well researched. Her time as a writing assistant to George R.R. Martin was clear in the prose and descriptive narrative. I love that he gave a review quote for her cover, but after reading The Archivist, it appears Mikkel can craft a solid story and will soon stand on her own laurels as a solo author.
Thank you Edelweiss, City Owl Press and of course Author, Ti Mikkel for an advance review copy. These are my honest opinions.
Thank you Edelweiss, City Owl Press and of course Author, Ti Mikkel for an advance review copy. These are my honest opinions.
October 15, 2025
This This story captured my attention from the very beginning. I was drawn by the promise of time travel and the romance had me sticking around.
Cora is one of a few with a rare blood type that holds the key to time travel. She is whisked away to Spain to train with the possibility of making this a reality for her. She is not alone - enter Nick, the handsome bodyguard hired by her father to keep her safe - her mother died because of the secrets kept by the archivists.
The romance aspect was actually not expected, but it was a welcome treat. Cora is supposed to be smart, but she comes across as rather naive, so that felt a bit strange to me. However, she is a likable character and still growing (she was quite sheltered before this). I did like the bodyguard/love interest Nick. I did not find the story much of a thriller, more of a mystery, but this book is not the end. I am also holding out hope for some actual time travel to take place.
This was a well written and gripping debut. I look forward to reading more by this author. There are a number of things left to unpack, so I’ll be keeping an eye for the sequel.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job bring in the story and characters to life.
Many thanks to Tantor Media and NetGalley for an early listening copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
Cora is one of a few with a rare blood type that holds the key to time travel. She is whisked away to Spain to train with the possibility of making this a reality for her. She is not alone - enter Nick, the handsome bodyguard hired by her father to keep her safe - her mother died because of the secrets kept by the archivists.
The romance aspect was actually not expected, but it was a welcome treat. Cora is supposed to be smart, but she comes across as rather naive, so that felt a bit strange to me. However, she is a likable character and still growing (she was quite sheltered before this). I did like the bodyguard/love interest Nick. I did not find the story much of a thriller, more of a mystery, but this book is not the end. I am also holding out hope for some actual time travel to take place.
This was a well written and gripping debut. I look forward to reading more by this author. There are a number of things left to unpack, so I’ll be keeping an eye for the sequel.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job bring in the story and characters to life.
Many thanks to Tantor Media and NetGalley for an early listening copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
October 17, 2025
This was a decently written debut novel and I enjoyed what sci-fi that did play a part in this story. I was hoping for more of the time travelling and the action aspect of the story instead it was more talk and less action of it. This story had more of a romance focus than sci-fi and I wasn’t really expecting that at all however, I will not complain at some romance being introduced.
I do think this story has the good potential to grow further in the series and I would very much like to see where this time travelling aspect takes us and look forward to see what happens next.
Final thoughts: I am going to give this a 3.5 star, I did need more from the Sci-Fi to be involved rather than the romance but I didn’t hate it. I was surprised to see an author introduce a character with Scoliosis and I thought it was great to see that type of representation, I don’t think I’ve read hardly any books that even mentions it apart from medical journals and my own diaries. So I say well done for adding that in.
All in all I did enjoy my time reading this, even with the lack of time travelling and action and I am hoping for bigger, more exciting things in the next one and I can’t wait to continue reading the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Ti Mikkel for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I do think this story has the good potential to grow further in the series and I would very much like to see where this time travelling aspect takes us and look forward to see what happens next.
Final thoughts: I am going to give this a 3.5 star, I did need more from the Sci-Fi to be involved rather than the romance but I didn’t hate it. I was surprised to see an author introduce a character with Scoliosis and I thought it was great to see that type of representation, I don’t think I’ve read hardly any books that even mentions it apart from medical journals and my own diaries. So I say well done for adding that in.
All in all I did enjoy my time reading this, even with the lack of time travelling and action and I am hoping for bigger, more exciting things in the next one and I can’t wait to continue reading the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Ti Mikkel for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
October 15, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
I have been wanting to give sci-fi a chance and I think this was a good starting point to ease me into the genre. I went in pretty blind so I was totally sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find there is a romance in the story so that helped keep my focus on the storyline since I am a romance reader at heart. I thought the storyline was pretty interesting. I’m excited for book 2 to see if they explore time travel a little more in the next book.
I have been wanting to give sci-fi a chance and I think this was a good starting point to ease me into the genre. I went in pretty blind so I was totally sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find there is a romance in the story so that helped keep my focus on the storyline since I am a romance reader at heart. I thought the storyline was pretty interesting. I’m excited for book 2 to see if they explore time travel a little more in the next book.
October 24, 2025
I could not put this one down once I picked it up. read and be rewarded dear readers!! cannot wait for a sequel and beyond
October 10, 2025
If you enjoyed Michael Crichton’s Timeline, but wish there was more focus on relationships and also love an academy setting, The Archivist may be a great book for you.
Overall, this was a fun story sign some likeable characters but also some things that just don’t add up for me - hopefully I can tack a “yet” on their and these issues will be resolved in the next book.
The epilogue was my favorite part of the book and was the difference maker for me in my overall rating - it left me wanting more and looking forward to the next book.
Tropes and Content Specifics:
- Time Travel
- Gifted and Talented
- Academy to Employment track
- Secret Society
- Bodyguard
- Found Family
- SciFi
- 🌶️ light spice
- Past Lives/Memories
Mini synopsis:
Our FMC Cora is a smart, but unmotivated young woman grappling with the loss of her mother, her father’s debts, and a lifetime of thinking she was broken and ugly due to scoliosis. She is working in a local diner, barely scraping by until she learns that her parents were both archivists and she has the same abilities due to her own blood. Archivists are a special group of people able to travel through time, but only after years of study and preparation.
Cora’s father had wanted to protect her from the danger the archivists face and his this truth from her, but knowing now that it is time to allow her to make her own decision, he hires the son of his best friend (Nick) to be her bodyguard while she travels to Spain to enter the ranks of this secret society for learning, researching, and eventually traveling through time.
Cora finds herself having friends for the first time and finds herself the center of much interest due to the circumstances of her mother’s tragic death and due to being more beautiful than she realizes. (This bit had me cringeing… I hate when the FMC is the most beautiful but doesn’t know it 🙄)
Although Cora and her friends are essentially students, they are considered employees and receive substantial pay, which many use to support their families.
As Cora finds herself, she also starts to wonder more about her mother and whether she herself will ever have the opportunity to travel to her memory in the past.
Some of the things that don’t make sense (stop here if you don’t like spoilers)
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*
*
*
*
*
*
*
No. Really. Stop here!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Last warning.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Nick was previously an employee that was fired, yet many people treat him like he’s a boss. One person even refers to him as “jefe”. Additionally, his role is supposed to be as Cora’s bodyguard but he takes on other tasks within the organization that take him away from protecting Cora.
The pay is generous ($15k a month if my memory serves) and employees are given food and lodging within the society, yet no one seems able to save money to leave? What are they spending their money on?
Cora’s constant pressure towards Nick to have sex is simply icky and if the roles were reversed I think people would be outraged.
Overall, this was a fun story sign some likeable characters but also some things that just don’t add up for me - hopefully I can tack a “yet” on their and these issues will be resolved in the next book.
The epilogue was my favorite part of the book and was the difference maker for me in my overall rating - it left me wanting more and looking forward to the next book.
Tropes and Content Specifics:
- Time Travel
- Gifted and Talented
- Academy to Employment track
- Secret Society
- Bodyguard
- Found Family
- SciFi
- 🌶️ light spice
- Past Lives/Memories
Mini synopsis:
Our FMC Cora is a smart, but unmotivated young woman grappling with the loss of her mother, her father’s debts, and a lifetime of thinking she was broken and ugly due to scoliosis. She is working in a local diner, barely scraping by until she learns that her parents were both archivists and she has the same abilities due to her own blood. Archivists are a special group of people able to travel through time, but only after years of study and preparation.
Cora’s father had wanted to protect her from the danger the archivists face and his this truth from her, but knowing now that it is time to allow her to make her own decision, he hires the son of his best friend (Nick) to be her bodyguard while she travels to Spain to enter the ranks of this secret society for learning, researching, and eventually traveling through time.
Cora finds herself having friends for the first time and finds herself the center of much interest due to the circumstances of her mother’s tragic death and due to being more beautiful than she realizes. (This bit had me cringeing… I hate when the FMC is the most beautiful but doesn’t know it 🙄)
Although Cora and her friends are essentially students, they are considered employees and receive substantial pay, which many use to support their families.
As Cora finds herself, she also starts to wonder more about her mother and whether she herself will ever have the opportunity to travel to her memory in the past.
Some of the things that don’t make sense (stop here if you don’t like spoilers)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
No. Really. Stop here!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Last warning.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Nick was previously an employee that was fired, yet many people treat him like he’s a boss. One person even refers to him as “jefe”. Additionally, his role is supposed to be as Cora’s bodyguard but he takes on other tasks within the organization that take him away from protecting Cora.
The pay is generous ($15k a month if my memory serves) and employees are given food and lodging within the society, yet no one seems able to save money to leave? What are they spending their money on?
Cora’s constant pressure towards Nick to have sex is simply icky and if the roles were reversed I think people would be outraged.
October 17, 2025
2.5
The Archivist started off with a strong sci-fi feel, an interesting time travel concept and a very intriguing premise. Personally, ) was disappointed when this shifted so much that it felt like a totally different story.
This book has so much potential and it isn't bad per se. It's just all over the place and underperformed in aspects that are vital to me, personally.
PLOT
I don't always love a time travel story but was immediately hooked on the concept when it was introduced here. The sci-fi mystery felt promising and thought through. Unfortunately, over the course of the book it evolved into more of a college romance with petty drama, little depth and a side of mystery.
This isn't bad per se, just, imo, not consistent with how the book started off and therefore disappointing. Somehow, although it was the entire foundation for the plot, the whole time travel business turned into barely anything more than a side note. Between the romance plot taking over and the big event towards the end of the book, the story just ended up feeling all over the place.
CHARACTERS
This is where my biggest issue lay. To base characters on stereotypes is not a bad thing in itself. However, the longer I read, the more it became clear that most of them didn't receive any depth or personality beyond that.
Between the German who whined when there was no Techno music at the Christmas ball kind of thing and the one gay person who only cared about hot guys, hot gossip and hot clothes, pretty much everyone except for the FMC was but a stereotypical performance.
Even the love interest had so little depth that the romance, while not unexpected per se, felt like it came out of nowhere because it just lacked padding and believability.
I frankly felt bad for the characters because, again, the story had potential and it felt like they deserved better.
ULTIMATELY
... I stopped reading at around 86% and while I know that this book will find its readers who don't mind the shift into the romcom vibe, it sadly wasn't for me.
What I liked:
- The scientific approach to time travel
- The premise, linking the FMC to her parent's past and setting the stage for a mystery
- The set-up with people from all over the world in an academic sort of setting
- The writing itself and the narration were good
What I didn't like:
- Highly stereotypical characters that lacked depth beyond clichés
- RomCom vibe replacing the sci-fi aspects
- Relationships that tried to drive the plot when the pace was slow but felt too fabricated (presumably bc of the missing character depth)
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and the author for an ALC of this book
The Archivist started off with a strong sci-fi feel, an interesting time travel concept and a very intriguing premise. Personally, ) was disappointed when this shifted so much that it felt like a totally different story.
This book has so much potential and it isn't bad per se. It's just all over the place and underperformed in aspects that are vital to me, personally.
PLOT
I don't always love a time travel story but was immediately hooked on the concept when it was introduced here. The sci-fi mystery felt promising and thought through. Unfortunately, over the course of the book it evolved into more of a college romance with petty drama, little depth and a side of mystery.
This isn't bad per se, just, imo, not consistent with how the book started off and therefore disappointing. Somehow, although it was the entire foundation for the plot, the whole time travel business turned into barely anything more than a side note. Between the romance plot taking over and the big event towards the end of the book, the story just ended up feeling all over the place.
CHARACTERS
This is where my biggest issue lay. To base characters on stereotypes is not a bad thing in itself. However, the longer I read, the more it became clear that most of them didn't receive any depth or personality beyond that.
Between the German who whined when there was no Techno music at the Christmas ball kind of thing and the one gay person who only cared about hot guys, hot gossip and hot clothes, pretty much everyone except for the FMC was but a stereotypical performance.
Even the love interest had so little depth that the romance, while not unexpected per se, felt like it came out of nowhere because it just lacked padding and believability.
I frankly felt bad for the characters because, again, the story had potential and it felt like they deserved better.
ULTIMATELY
... I stopped reading at around 86% and while I know that this book will find its readers who don't mind the shift into the romcom vibe, it sadly wasn't for me.
What I liked:
- The scientific approach to time travel
- The premise, linking the FMC to her parent's past and setting the stage for a mystery
- The set-up with people from all over the world in an academic sort of setting
- The writing itself and the narration were good
What I didn't like:
- Highly stereotypical characters that lacked depth beyond clichés
- RomCom vibe replacing the sci-fi aspects
- Relationships that tried to drive the plot when the pace was slow but felt too fabricated (presumably bc of the missing character depth)
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and the author for an ALC of this book
October 24, 2025
Wow. Just… wow. This book was not what I normally reach for, but I am so incredibly glad that I did, from the very first chapter, The Archivist pulled me into a world that blends science, history, and raw human emotion in a way that feels both grounded and otherworldly.
The author, T.I. Mikkel, crafted something that sits perfectly between intellect and imagination, the kind of story that makes you think, question, and feel all at once. The blend of scientific theories, historical echoes, and emotional depth made it impossible to put down and even when some of the historical parts were more fiction than fact, they were written so believably that I found myself Googling names and events just to see if they were real. That’s how you know an author did their job, when you’re half convinced you’ve stumbled into a secret corner of reality.
Cora, our main character, was such a complex and relatable FMC. Her insecurities weren’t just mentioned, they bled through the pages. I felt them. The way she second-guessed herself, the way she fought to belong, the way her curiosity warred with her fear and it all made her feel human. She’s the kind of character you root for because you see pieces of yourself in her.
And then there’s Nick. Protective. Steady. A little mysterious. There’s something about the way he’s written, like he carries entire galaxies of loyalty in his chest. He’s not just “the love interest” he’s the grounding force in a chaotic worldand every time he appeared on the page, I swear I exhaled a little easier.
The world-building deserves its own standing ovation. It’s intricate without being overwhelming; scientific detail and historical layering that somehow feel effortless. It reminded me of peeling back the pages of a lost manuscript or unlocking a sealed vault of forgotten knowledge. The mix of old-world academia and modern emotional tension gave this story such a unique pulse.
I went into this book expecting a curiosity read… and came out obsessed. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about how Mikkel writes, both cerebral and heart-piercing.
If you love stories that make you think while simultaneously wrecking your emotions, The Archivist might just surprise you the same way it surprised me.
Thank you City Owl Press!
The author, T.I. Mikkel, crafted something that sits perfectly between intellect and imagination, the kind of story that makes you think, question, and feel all at once. The blend of scientific theories, historical echoes, and emotional depth made it impossible to put down and even when some of the historical parts were more fiction than fact, they were written so believably that I found myself Googling names and events just to see if they were real. That’s how you know an author did their job, when you’re half convinced you’ve stumbled into a secret corner of reality.
Cora, our main character, was such a complex and relatable FMC. Her insecurities weren’t just mentioned, they bled through the pages. I felt them. The way she second-guessed herself, the way she fought to belong, the way her curiosity warred with her fear and it all made her feel human. She’s the kind of character you root for because you see pieces of yourself in her.
And then there’s Nick. Protective. Steady. A little mysterious. There’s something about the way he’s written, like he carries entire galaxies of loyalty in his chest. He’s not just “the love interest” he’s the grounding force in a chaotic worldand every time he appeared on the page, I swear I exhaled a little easier.
The world-building deserves its own standing ovation. It’s intricate without being overwhelming; scientific detail and historical layering that somehow feel effortless. It reminded me of peeling back the pages of a lost manuscript or unlocking a sealed vault of forgotten knowledge. The mix of old-world academia and modern emotional tension gave this story such a unique pulse.
I went into this book expecting a curiosity read… and came out obsessed. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about how Mikkel writes, both cerebral and heart-piercing.
If you love stories that make you think while simultaneously wrecking your emotions, The Archivist might just surprise you the same way it surprised me.
Thank you City Owl Press!
December 29, 2025
I won a copy of this off of goodreads and was excited to read it. This book had its moments that were good but overall it was lacking. The premise is an interesting concept but the execution needs work. The pacing in the book is all over the place. Some things feel entirely drawn out while others happen so fast it leaves you wondering what is going Insta love is never for me in books. The main charachters relationship was not built on at all, at one point they barely like each other and then they're falling in love. Meanwhile they've only had a handful of interactions between them. That also goes for the friendships in the book. They're instantly friends. Character development is non existent. Im not even going to mention the sex scenes or the absurdity of the actual first time they have intercourse.
The FMC is unlikable at times. She continuously puts herself in danger despite her Dad hiring an entire bodyguard for her and her mom having been killed in a car crash (This of course we can assume was not an accident by the events in the book). Also the obsessiveness of the bodyguard/mmc for her saftey but then he just throws it out the window multiple times and does things that dont align with that. Some of the things that occur are just eye roll worthy. I kept reminding myself that its a sci-fyish book where time travel exists and I shouldn't get hung up on the fact that theres no way no one wouldnt see lights in Mesa Verde and other random things throughout the book that are badly explained away. The lab apparently pays them outrageous sums to work there but even towards the end of the book the characters are still forced to basically stay/worry because they need the money to support their famiies. They should've amassed enough money in the time of the book to have a nice little savings. Im not sure I will continue with the next book despite the Cliffhanger and overall intrigue that it leaves the reader with. If book two is written as well as the highs of book 1 then it might be decent but I'll probably wait for others reviews to see if I will read it.
The FMC is unlikable at times. She continuously puts herself in danger despite her Dad hiring an entire bodyguard for her and her mom having been killed in a car crash (This of course we can assume was not an accident by the events in the book). Also the obsessiveness of the bodyguard/mmc for her saftey but then he just throws it out the window multiple times and does things that dont align with that. Some of the things that occur are just eye roll worthy. I kept reminding myself that its a sci-fyish book where time travel exists and I shouldn't get hung up on the fact that theres no way no one wouldnt see lights in Mesa Verde and other random things throughout the book that are badly explained away. The lab apparently pays them outrageous sums to work there but even towards the end of the book the characters are still forced to basically stay/worry because they need the money to support their famiies. They should've amassed enough money in the time of the book to have a nice little savings. Im not sure I will continue with the next book despite the Cliffhanger and overall intrigue that it leaves the reader with. If book two is written as well as the highs of book 1 then it might be decent but I'll probably wait for others reviews to see if I will read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
I wanted to start off by extending a huge thank you to City Owl Press and the author herself, Ti Mikkel, for graciously offering me an ARC of The Archivist. Now time for the review!!
~ A quick synopsis: This book follows 22 year old Cora Moreau who works as a waitress at her small town diner. Cora lives a quaint, comfortable life until information arises that changes her life. She finds out that her blood holds unparalleled power.
After learning this, everything changes for Cora. She is offered a position at a top-secret high-tech company that explores the complexities of Rh Null blood and time travel. The financial benefits that come with accepting this position are undeniable, so Cora leaves her ordinary life to travel to Spain and explore all of the unknowns surrounding her blood . While in Spain, Cora gets closer and closer to uncovering the mystery surrounding her mother’s death.
Someone important to mention is Nick, the bodyguard assigned to protect Cora. These two have an instant, undeniable connection. While uncovering the mysteries and dangers that come with being in a top-secret lab in Spain with some unknown enemies lurking around every corner, Nick is always one step behind Cora.
~ Honestly some of my favorite parts of the book were whenever danger was coming for Cora and Nick was always there to save her. It was so cute to see their relationship blossom.
Since Cora grew up for the most part with just her Father and her adorable Chihuahua, Cowboy, it was extremely heartwarming to see her find and develop her own family while in Spain. This includes Kevin and Renee who help Cora come out of her shell and really impact her character development in a positive way.
The end of this book was absolutely insane and had my jaw hanging on the floor. It was a completely unexpected twist and gave the backstory on why some things happened previously in the book. This was such a fun book to read, and I seriously could not put it down!!
~ A quick synopsis: This book follows 22 year old Cora Moreau who works as a waitress at her small town diner. Cora lives a quaint, comfortable life until information arises that changes her life. She finds out that her blood holds unparalleled power.
After learning this, everything changes for Cora. She is offered a position at a top-secret high-tech company that explores the complexities of Rh Null blood and time travel. The financial benefits that come with accepting this position are undeniable, so Cora leaves her ordinary life to travel to Spain and explore all of the unknowns surrounding her blood . While in Spain, Cora gets closer and closer to uncovering the mystery surrounding her mother’s death.
Someone important to mention is Nick, the bodyguard assigned to protect Cora. These two have an instant, undeniable connection. While uncovering the mysteries and dangers that come with being in a top-secret lab in Spain with some unknown enemies lurking around every corner, Nick is always one step behind Cora.
~ Honestly some of my favorite parts of the book were whenever danger was coming for Cora and Nick was always there to save her. It was so cute to see their relationship blossom.
Since Cora grew up for the most part with just her Father and her adorable Chihuahua, Cowboy, it was extremely heartwarming to see her find and develop her own family while in Spain. This includes Kevin and Renee who help Cora come out of her shell and really impact her character development in a positive way.
The end of this book was absolutely insane and had my jaw hanging on the floor. It was a completely unexpected twist and gave the backstory on why some things happened previously in the book. This was such a fun book to read, and I seriously could not put it down!!
November 7, 2025
✨ Archivist Series Note:
This series grabbed me from page one. It blends mind-bending science, forbidden romance, and pulse-racing suspense in a way that feels fresh and addictive. Each book peels back another layer of secrets, raising the stakes and deepening the emotional pull. If you love your sci-fi served with high-stakes danger, heart-wrenching romance, and a heroine you can root for every step of the way, the Archivist series delivers.
A Thrilling Start with Science, Secrets, and Forbidden Heat
I dove into The Archivist not knowing what to expect, and wow—this story took me places I wasn’t ready for but absolutely loved. Cora starts out as a quiet, almost sheltered young woman, and then suddenly her entire life is flipped upside down when she discovers her blood isn’t just blood—it’s power. That twist alone hooked me, but what really pulled me under was the mix of mystery, danger, and emotional intensity that followed.
The move from her small life in Colorado to a research facility in Spain had such an international thriller vibe, and the science woven into genetic memory and time travel made my brain hum in the best way. But let’s be real—the biggest surprise for me was Nick. Brooding, protective, tied to her estranged father… and carrying a forbidden edge that made every interaction between him and Cora sizzle. Their chemistry isn’t just attraction—it’s that complicated, soul-deep connection that makes you question everything right along with them.
What I loved most was how this book balanced pulse-pounding danger with the slow unraveling of secrets. Every chapter left me needing just one more. By the end, I wasn’t just invested—I was already desperate for book two.
If you like your science fiction with a heavy dose of romance, danger, and emotional twists, The Archivist is a must-read.
This series grabbed me from page one. It blends mind-bending science, forbidden romance, and pulse-racing suspense in a way that feels fresh and addictive. Each book peels back another layer of secrets, raising the stakes and deepening the emotional pull. If you love your sci-fi served with high-stakes danger, heart-wrenching romance, and a heroine you can root for every step of the way, the Archivist series delivers.
A Thrilling Start with Science, Secrets, and Forbidden Heat
I dove into The Archivist not knowing what to expect, and wow—this story took me places I wasn’t ready for but absolutely loved. Cora starts out as a quiet, almost sheltered young woman, and then suddenly her entire life is flipped upside down when she discovers her blood isn’t just blood—it’s power. That twist alone hooked me, but what really pulled me under was the mix of mystery, danger, and emotional intensity that followed.
The move from her small life in Colorado to a research facility in Spain had such an international thriller vibe, and the science woven into genetic memory and time travel made my brain hum in the best way. But let’s be real—the biggest surprise for me was Nick. Brooding, protective, tied to her estranged father… and carrying a forbidden edge that made every interaction between him and Cora sizzle. Their chemistry isn’t just attraction—it’s that complicated, soul-deep connection that makes you question everything right along with them.
What I loved most was how this book balanced pulse-pounding danger with the slow unraveling of secrets. Every chapter left me needing just one more. By the end, I wasn’t just invested—I was already desperate for book two.
If you like your science fiction with a heavy dose of romance, danger, and emotional twists, The Archivist is a must-read.
October 11, 2025
Cora &Nick. 4 ⭐️’s. Ok what the heck was that?! so not going to lie and say that I am a little disappointed on how it ended. Not because it ended badly but because I need to know more of what is happening and also, why is Cora’s memory so important. Now you tell me I have to wait for the second book to come out when this one is not even out yet! What the heck Ti?! The anticipation is going to kill me. I don’t wanna give out too much because I do think that it is a great story. It is very different from what I’ve have read before and I love the romance aspect of it. I love that there’s not only Cora and Nick‘s relationship but also the other two couples are so cute. There is a lot of world building in this first book, even though it is taking place on earth there is a lot of science stuff that we needed and also a lot of of the background information. It did drag on for me in a few parts however, the story overall kept me very engaged. The narrator, Sarah Naughton, did an excellent job in this audiobook and was just a delight to listen to. Even though she was having to voice a lot of different characters, she did great. There are some spicy scenes in this story and I was all here for it they as they are as strategically placed, and they’re not just hot but also very romantic and you know what that does to my hopelessly romantic heart. I am very much looking forward to continuing the series and getting all of my questions answered. I also love Cow and I am so happy that we get to see him more. If you wanna know who he is, you’re definitely gonna have to read. Thank you to Tantor Media and Audio for allowing me the chance to review this audiobook prior to publishing.
October 20, 2025
Cora - at twenty two years old, she has always lived a quiet life in Durango, Colorado—never had a boyfriend, never ventured far from home. But after a life-altering surgery, she uncovers a shocking her blood holds extraordinary, untapped power.
In an instant, Cora's world is turned upside down. Leaving behind her mundane waitress job, she accepts an offer to work at a high-tech research facility in Spain—only to discover the job is more dangerous and mysterious than she ever imagined.
Nick - assigned to protect Cora, he is brooding former military and her father’s trusted ally. But as they navigate the dark secrets of genetic memory and time travel, their relationship intensifies in ways neither expected—sparking a forbidden romance that challenges everything they thought they knew about duty, loyalty, and love.
We see Cora's adventure on her new life, one which moves her away from her father and the life she once knew, to finding out secrets and timetravel, only it isn't as safe as she may think.
This is a beautifully written Sci-fi, adventure and romance mixed novel.
This book caught me hook line and sinker, I ate this novel up! This is a debut novel from this new author and I can honestly say this story did not disappoint.
The storyline and the characters were brilliantly created. This storyline pulls you in and captures you!
The ending of this book made me want and need more! The ending I was not expecting!
I would highly recommend this author and this book!
I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next!
In an instant, Cora's world is turned upside down. Leaving behind her mundane waitress job, she accepts an offer to work at a high-tech research facility in Spain—only to discover the job is more dangerous and mysterious than she ever imagined.
Nick - assigned to protect Cora, he is brooding former military and her father’s trusted ally. But as they navigate the dark secrets of genetic memory and time travel, their relationship intensifies in ways neither expected—sparking a forbidden romance that challenges everything they thought they knew about duty, loyalty, and love.
We see Cora's adventure on her new life, one which moves her away from her father and the life she once knew, to finding out secrets and timetravel, only it isn't as safe as she may think.
This is a beautifully written Sci-fi, adventure and romance mixed novel.
This book caught me hook line and sinker, I ate this novel up! This is a debut novel from this new author and I can honestly say this story did not disappoint.
The storyline and the characters were brilliantly created. This storyline pulls you in and captures you!
The ending of this book made me want and need more! The ending I was not expecting!
I would highly recommend this author and this book!
I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next!
October 22, 2025
The narrative offers moments of intrigue but falls short in character development. The romance appears central to the plot but lacks the depth and complexity that one might expect. Moreover, the pacing fluctuates significantly, with certain chapters dragging on while others rush to conclusion, causing a disjointed reading experience. In conclusion, despite its apparent aspirations, The Archivist does not fully deliver on its premise and fails to engage in the manner one would hope for such a compelling concept. As it stands, this book may please those who enjoy light science fiction but may not satisfy readers looking for a more sophisticated blend. As a reader, one might find themselves yearning for more clarity and cohesion in these threads, that could have elevated the story. Moments of vivid imagery shine through, effectively transporting the reader into another world. Yet, these instances are sporadic, leading one to wish that the author had dedicated more effort to honing the narrative's foundation rather than racing toward a twist-laden conclusion. The Archivist serves as a reminder that even the most innovative premises require diligent execution. While its echoing themes of love and sacrifice resonate, they do so within a framework that feels more like a setup for another plot rather than a satisfying resolution. For readers of the genre, this might be a worthy foray, yet it undoubtedly raises the bar for any prospective sequel.
I received a review copy of this book from LibraryThing.
I received a review copy of this book from LibraryThing.
October 23, 2025
I love a time travel plot, so I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read The Archivist. The science fiction and romance elements were well blended. The story did not feel romance heavy. It was a believably developed element to the story. The time travel element was done in a cool way I haven't seen before, where a very rare and specific type of blood is the necessary ingredient to make it possible.
The setting was largely at a laboratory which was also an academic setting where newly identified people with the needed blood type are trained and provided education to potentially withstand time travel (physically and mentally).
I really appreciated the inclusion of the main character struggling with advanced scoliosis and her accompanying struggles with body dysmorphia.
I was disappointed by the lack of actual time traveling in this first installment. I don't know how many books are planned in this series. I understand the characters are new recruits and learning about time travel and training for it, so I can see them not actually traveling anywhere (anywhen?) yet, but I had hoped for an emergency or forced travel due to the climax with the antagonist, but it didn't happen. Hopefully we go to a new time and place in book two.
The cliffhanger was a banger. I'll definitely be grabbing the second installment as soon as it's available.
Thank you so much to Ti Mikkel, City Owl Books, and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour and for the gifted digital copy! 💜
The setting was largely at a laboratory which was also an academic setting where newly identified people with the needed blood type are trained and provided education to potentially withstand time travel (physically and mentally).
I really appreciated the inclusion of the main character struggling with advanced scoliosis and her accompanying struggles with body dysmorphia.
I was disappointed by the lack of actual time traveling in this first installment. I don't know how many books are planned in this series. I understand the characters are new recruits and learning about time travel and training for it, so I can see them not actually traveling anywhere (anywhen?) yet, but I had hoped for an emergency or forced travel due to the climax with the antagonist, but it didn't happen. Hopefully we go to a new time and place in book two.
The cliffhanger was a banger. I'll definitely be grabbing the second installment as soon as it's available.
Thank you so much to Ti Mikkel, City Owl Books, and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour and for the gifted digital copy! 💜
October 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. I went into it quite blind after seeing the cover and a very brief description, so decided to give it a shot & I'm very glad I did. I listened to the audio version, and thought the narrator did a great job.
Cora was a very likeable character. Her struggles, both emotionally and with little rebellions against authority figures, were real without being whiny or too repetitive.
I thought that the world that was built was well thought through and complex enough to be engaging without being a complete info dump to sort through. The way we learn everything alongside Cora also helped.
There's something about the MMC, Nick, that I am not too sure about - their romance was oddly drawn out and at the same time felt a bit forced? Don't get me wrong, I love tension build up and a slow-burn, but the hesitations and delays, as well as the speed of their budding affections, didn't quite come together for me. I often felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The ending left just enough of a cliff-hanger to ensure I'll be back for book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley/Author/Publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC.
Cora was a very likeable character. Her struggles, both emotionally and with little rebellions against authority figures, were real without being whiny or too repetitive.
I thought that the world that was built was well thought through and complex enough to be engaging without being a complete info dump to sort through. The way we learn everything alongside Cora also helped.
There's something about the MMC, Nick, that I am not too sure about - their romance was oddly drawn out and at the same time felt a bit forced? Don't get me wrong, I love tension build up and a slow-burn, but the hesitations and delays, as well as the speed of their budding affections, didn't quite come together for me. I often felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The ending left just enough of a cliff-hanger to ensure I'll be back for book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley/Author/Publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC.
October 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. First off, I need the sequel NOW, @timikkel. Second, this review is not influenced by@me knowing the author. So. Let’s get into it.
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Twenty-two year old Cora Moreau’s boring but predictable and safe life is tired completely upside down when she learns that she is Null, which means her blood type is incredibly rare and powerful. Her parents have the same blood type, which lends itself to time travel. So she’s recruited by this top secret lab in Spain, where both of her parents worked, and where her mom was visiting when she died in a car accident. It’s an offer she can’t refuse, both because of the pay and the fact that she doesn’t have much else in the way of career prospects. But her dad insists on hiring a bodyguard, who is, of course, way hot, and that turns into something. But then tragedy strikes, and the secrets and betrayal bubbles to the surface, threatening lives and the lab forever. SO good for readers looking for a fresh take on sci fi and romance. This book found me at the right time and simultaneously helped me out of a slump and put me into a book hangover because I want to stay in this world. Anyway, read it. #grownupreads
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Twenty-two year old Cora Moreau’s boring but predictable and safe life is tired completely upside down when she learns that she is Null, which means her blood type is incredibly rare and powerful. Her parents have the same blood type, which lends itself to time travel. So she’s recruited by this top secret lab in Spain, where both of her parents worked, and where her mom was visiting when she died in a car accident. It’s an offer she can’t refuse, both because of the pay and the fact that she doesn’t have much else in the way of career prospects. But her dad insists on hiring a bodyguard, who is, of course, way hot, and that turns into something. But then tragedy strikes, and the secrets and betrayal bubbles to the surface, threatening lives and the lab forever. SO good for readers looking for a fresh take on sci fi and romance. This book found me at the right time and simultaneously helped me out of a slump and put me into a book hangover because I want to stay in this world. Anyway, read it. #grownupreads
October 25, 2025
Okay so I’ve never posted a book review before so I don’t know if I’m doing this right but my book club just read this and since this is a brand new book and author I wanted to give it some well deserved hype.
My friends and I are very into game of thrones and when we saw that not only did George RR Martin blurb this book, but upon further research, Ti Mikkel is a writer on House of the Dragons as well as an assistant to Martin himself, we knew we had to give it a shot. Now I have to warn you that it’s NOTHING like GOT or HOTD, but this book really did capture our attention. Mikkel did such a great job coming up with what we felt was a really original take on time travel and infusing it with romance (something I, myself, haven’t really come across before) and it was such a fun one to read. And bro wow, that epilogue!! Yeah, she really popped off with that one! Haha I am so so eager to see where the next book takes us and really just excited to see what more we can expect from this author!
My friends and I are very into game of thrones and when we saw that not only did George RR Martin blurb this book, but upon further research, Ti Mikkel is a writer on House of the Dragons as well as an assistant to Martin himself, we knew we had to give it a shot. Now I have to warn you that it’s NOTHING like GOT or HOTD, but this book really did capture our attention. Mikkel did such a great job coming up with what we felt was a really original take on time travel and infusing it with romance (something I, myself, haven’t really come across before) and it was such a fun one to read. And bro wow, that epilogue!! Yeah, she really popped off with that one! Haha I am so so eager to see where the next book takes us and really just excited to see what more we can expect from this author!
November 7, 2025
This is a romance story that has science fiction elements as opposed to being a science fiction story that has romantic elements. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but just wanted to give you guys a heads up to know what you’re getting into.
For being a debut novel from a first time author, it’s a spirited first attempt… but this is definitely not a great book IMO. The characters are pretty flat, the romance is extremely cheesy and rather one-note, and the prose leans quite heavily on telling-not-showing.
The science fiction elements and training sessions are intriguing and there’s potential there… but those elements are so few and far between and bogged down by long cheesy sections of admiring Nick’s muscles, kissing in a lagoon and just general banter between a lot of these one note characters that doesn’t really have much in the way of intrigue or in moving the story forward.
I’m curious to see where we go from here, but this is definitely not a book that will stick with me
For being a debut novel from a first time author, it’s a spirited first attempt… but this is definitely not a great book IMO. The characters are pretty flat, the romance is extremely cheesy and rather one-note, and the prose leans quite heavily on telling-not-showing.
The science fiction elements and training sessions are intriguing and there’s potential there… but those elements are so few and far between and bogged down by long cheesy sections of admiring Nick’s muscles, kissing in a lagoon and just general banter between a lot of these one note characters that doesn’t really have much in the way of intrigue or in moving the story forward.
I’m curious to see where we go from here, but this is definitely not a book that will stick with me
November 20, 2025
Pretty solid "first book in a series." In The Archivist we follow Cora. A 22 year old woman who lives in Denver with her father while working at the local diner to keep the bills paid. Cora discovers, through a surgery to straighten her spine due to scoliosis, that she has a rare blood type. One that she shares with her father and late mother. A blood type that makes her valuable to the right people.
This book was very much a world building and character building book with a very basic plot line and a slow burn romance. I enjoyed the science fiction aspect and I would like more of it in future books in the series. The romantic relationship was fine. But I just feel like this series could be so much more than that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their low spice romance with a side of science fiction and mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor media for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
This book was very much a world building and character building book with a very basic plot line and a slow burn romance. I enjoyed the science fiction aspect and I would like more of it in future books in the series. The romantic relationship was fine. But I just feel like this series could be so much more than that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their low spice romance with a side of science fiction and mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor media for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2025
This book was such a delight. The concept this world was built around is such a unique idea. There was so much mystery, intrigue, and politics and it was really well done. The foundation for why the blood is important is really well explained. I liked that there were lots of conversations surrounding the why/how the characters were chosen for this specific job. Not to mention how cool it was to see how each persons ancestry or past lives really played into their experiences within the job. The interpersonal relationships were awesome, it really felt like we were meeting our new found family. The slowest of slow burns here, but the amount of pining that we get in the story was so good. Who doesn’t love a little bit of a forbidden romance in the middle of a world changing mission? And the ending? I was staring into space going “WHAT”. Such a fun read.
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