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The Hourmaker
Nine months ago, Winston Cobb's dreams of a basketball scholaship were crushed along with much of his ankle when a late night raver turned into a fiery car crash. To make matters worse, no one believed him when he talked about the shadowy figure in the middle of the road or the strangely pretty girl who pulled him out of the wreckage. Guess having liquor on your breath makes you a less than reliable witness all of a sudden.Now, having been banished from his fairweather cool clique, Winston's counting down the days until he graduates and he can walk out of that school forever: or at least hobble, depending on how physical therapy goes. When the pretty girl from the night of accident shows up at school though, Winston goes all out to prove that she was there, that he's not crazy, and that what happened that night was more than just a drunken mistake.
When he finds out that the girl (along with one of his childhood best friends) is really a time traveler, Winston is transported to The Sands at Alpha-Omega; a boarding school for future (or past/present; depending on your point of origin) time travelers. There he's told that an artifact found by time scavangers has ID'ed him as the person who will one day be responsible for taking down the Hood; the most mysterious and dangerous terrorist in the entire timestream-bum leg and all. What follows is a twisty era-bending tale where Winston learns (among other things) what really happened to Amelia Earhart, why the Big Bang wasn't as big or 'bangish' as you might believe, why it's never a good idea to take down a sabretooth tiger with a shotgun and, most importanly, why the past isn't always worth revisting.
When he finds out that the girl (along with one of his childhood best friends) is really a time traveler, Winston is transported to The Sands at Alpha-Omega; a boarding school for future (or past/present; depending on your point of origin) time travelers. There he's told that an artifact found by time scavangers has ID'ed him as the person who will one day be responsible for taking down the Hood; the most mysterious and dangerous terrorist in the entire timestream-bum leg and all. What follows is a twisty era-bending tale where Winston learns (among other things) what really happened to Amelia Earhart, why the Big Bang wasn't as big or 'bangish' as you might believe, why it's never a good idea to take down a sabretooth tiger with a shotgun and, most importanly, why the past isn't always worth revisting.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 30, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book! Normally, I don’t do time travel in any entertainment medium. Why? Because I find it too complicated. All the paradoxes and blah, blah. I say that to tell you one of my favorite things about this book. Easy to follow time travel. The novel was obviously well thought out and intelligent, but even though some of the concepts are complex, it doesn’t read that way. Kressley is easy and fun to read. I love all the characters.
Winston is a former basketball stud who injured his ankle and now spends his time doing typical nerdy teenage boy things. Dungeons and Dragons. Magic. I love him because everyone knew someone like him in high school, and if you are still in high school, you know someone like this right now. Anyway, he’s just doing his physical therapy-sort of-and hanging out with his best friend Roger when some thugs from way back attack him and a girl with multi colored eyes.
Then, Winston learns all about Carriers and the time stream. He finds out that his best friend is one of them, and soon visits The Sands at Alpha-Omega, a training ground for time Carriers and home of the Time Council. I loved reading about this place, the explanation behind it was brilliant, but I won’t give it away here. Obviously. It is during this time that Winston learns that he is supposed to stop The Hood, the greatest time terrorist that was and ever will be. Oh yes, and he has to do this without any training. Oh, and he has to do it to save the world. And, only he can do it. How does the Time Council know this? Because he’s already done it and all that’s left is for him to do it.
Time travel…
My absolute, without a doubt, favorite part of the book is the plot twist in the end. It involves the identity of The Hood. I was shocked.
Seriously, it was one of the best plot twists I’ve read in awhile. It took it from four stars to five for me, and it puts the MC in a bit of an impossible situation. I happen to be a huge fan of impossible situations.
So yeah, even if you’re not a big fan of time travel, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Definitely for lovers of YA. Colorful, realistic cast of characters, well paced and inventive story telling.
Winston is a former basketball stud who injured his ankle and now spends his time doing typical nerdy teenage boy things. Dungeons and Dragons. Magic. I love him because everyone knew someone like him in high school, and if you are still in high school, you know someone like this right now. Anyway, he’s just doing his physical therapy-sort of-and hanging out with his best friend Roger when some thugs from way back attack him and a girl with multi colored eyes.
Then, Winston learns all about Carriers and the time stream. He finds out that his best friend is one of them, and soon visits The Sands at Alpha-Omega, a training ground for time Carriers and home of the Time Council. I loved reading about this place, the explanation behind it was brilliant, but I won’t give it away here. Obviously. It is during this time that Winston learns that he is supposed to stop The Hood, the greatest time terrorist that was and ever will be. Oh yes, and he has to do this without any training. Oh, and he has to do it to save the world. And, only he can do it. How does the Time Council know this? Because he’s already done it and all that’s left is for him to do it.
Time travel…
My absolute, without a doubt, favorite part of the book is the plot twist in the end. It involves the identity of The Hood. I was shocked.
Seriously, it was one of the best plot twists I’ve read in awhile. It took it from four stars to five for me, and it puts the MC in a bit of an impossible situation. I happen to be a huge fan of impossible situations.
So yeah, even if you’re not a big fan of time travel, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Definitely for lovers of YA. Colorful, realistic cast of characters, well paced and inventive story telling.
March 19, 2015
I had the honor of reading Conner's book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit this was the first of Conner's books that I have ever read, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Even with the mother of all cliffhanger endings.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone and I can not wait for the next installment in the series. Hats off to you Conner and I look forward to reading more of your books soon.
I have to admit this was the first of Conner's books that I have ever read, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Even with the mother of all cliffhanger endings.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone and I can not wait for the next installment in the series. Hats off to you Conner and I look forward to reading more of your books soon.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews