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The Chronos Files #2.5
Time's Mirror
The only things on Prudence Pierce's mind are seducing her violin instructor and, with the help of her sister Deborah, avoiding the wrath of their mother for stepping out of the house dressed like Madonna. Her mother might also be a teensy bit angry about the medallion Pru swiped from the attic--a medallion that glows lime green and has an oddly hypnotic, holographic effect when Pru holds it in her hand.
A simple blink is all it takes to yank Pru from the car with her dad into a world of hurt. She awakens in 2305 to find herself pinned under what's left of CHRONOS headquarters, thanks to a recent terrorist attack. Their prime suspect? Her mother, Katherine Shaw. And everyone wants to know how Pru got her hands on a CHRONOS key.
Pru is convinced that the key is the answer to all her problems. She'll use it to stop her mother, fix her relationship with Deb, and even restore CHRONOS, so that her new friend Tate can return to the job he loves.
She can't do it alone, however. Fortunately, she finds Saul Rand, and he's more than willing to help.
This digital novella follows Prudence's story from her fateful first journey with the CHRONOS key to the point where her story intersects with Kiernan Dunne in the first novella, Time's Echo. It also helps sets the stage for Time's Divide, the third and final book in The CHRONOS Files, coming from Skyscape in October.
A simple blink is all it takes to yank Pru from the car with her dad into a world of hurt. She awakens in 2305 to find herself pinned under what's left of CHRONOS headquarters, thanks to a recent terrorist attack. Their prime suspect? Her mother, Katherine Shaw. And everyone wants to know how Pru got her hands on a CHRONOS key.
Pru is convinced that the key is the answer to all her problems. She'll use it to stop her mother, fix her relationship with Deb, and even restore CHRONOS, so that her new friend Tate can return to the job he loves.
She can't do it alone, however. Fortunately, she finds Saul Rand, and he's more than willing to help.
This digital novella follows Prudence's story from her fateful first journey with the CHRONOS key to the point where her story intersects with Kiernan Dunne in the first novella, Time's Echo. It also helps sets the stage for Time's Divide, the third and final book in The CHRONOS Files, coming from Skyscape in October.
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First published June 30, 2015
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About the author
Rysa Walker
71 books1,522 followersRYSA WALKER is the author of the bestselling CHRONOS Files series. Timebound, the first book in the series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The CHRONOS Files has sold nearly half a million copies since 2013 and has been translated into fourteen languages.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
October 3, 2015
Full Review, 09/29/2015
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this knowing it would be from Prudence's point of view. But it starts off in 1984, when Pru is being driven to a violin lesson by her Dad. She snuck this weird, glowy medallion she found in the attic out with her, partly to piss her Mom off and to find out if her instructor can see the light too. She doesn't expect to be sucked out of her own time, into the bombing of the Chronos building in 2305! Pru has most of the bones in her body, including her spine, shattered. In recovery she finds out that her Mom wasn't who she thought and that her Dad wasn't her biological father -- some guy named Saul is her "real" father. Oh, and her accident caused the death of the man she thought WAS her Dad. :(
Add in the fact that she has to come to terms with her parents, sister and everyone she knows having been dead for hundreds of years and Pru is understandably vulnerable! The only one she can count on is Tate, a former CHRONOS Historian who studied Vikings, who is stranded now and only useful for being a museum tour guide. He kind of becomes Pru's mentor and there are sparks between them as well, despite a bit of an age gap...
But when Saul's former frenemie, and fellow Objectivist Club member, Morgen Campbell reveals that he has possession of a CHRONOS key and Saul wants Pru to use it to meet up with him, she has to make a decision. And when Saul shows her some horrific things in the history of the Earth that he wants to change and make better, Pru wants nothing more than to help him stop genocides, hunger, war, etc. After awhile, it becomes obvious things are nowhere near as simple as she thought...and that Saul may not be as good as he claims. Can Pru find a way to make up for the damage she has done, while doing the "right thing"? And can she save her sister Deborah, her niece Kate and even herself from blinking out of existence? It's like teenaged Pru says:
"I don't like the fact that my niece is working with Mother, but I no longer believe that there are clear sides in all of this. It's not black or white, good or evil, from where I'm standing. Here in the middle, everything looks gray."
Original Pre-Review, 08/01/2015
HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS???!!! Must. Read. IMMEDIATELY.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this knowing it would be from Prudence's point of view. But it starts off in 1984, when Pru is being driven to a violin lesson by her Dad. She snuck this weird, glowy medallion she found in the attic out with her, partly to piss her Mom off and to find out if her instructor can see the light too. She doesn't expect to be sucked out of her own time, into the bombing of the Chronos building in 2305! Pru has most of the bones in her body, including her spine, shattered. In recovery she finds out that her Mom wasn't who she thought and that her Dad wasn't her biological father -- some guy named Saul is her "real" father. Oh, and her accident caused the death of the man she thought WAS her Dad. :(
Add in the fact that she has to come to terms with her parents, sister and everyone she knows having been dead for hundreds of years and Pru is understandably vulnerable! The only one she can count on is Tate, a former CHRONOS Historian who studied Vikings, who is stranded now and only useful for being a museum tour guide. He kind of becomes Pru's mentor and there are sparks between them as well, despite a bit of an age gap...
But when Saul's former frenemie, and fellow Objectivist Club member, Morgen Campbell reveals that he has possession of a CHRONOS key and Saul wants Pru to use it to meet up with him, she has to make a decision. And when Saul shows her some horrific things in the history of the Earth that he wants to change and make better, Pru wants nothing more than to help him stop genocides, hunger, war, etc. After awhile, it becomes obvious things are nowhere near as simple as she thought...and that Saul may not be as good as he claims. Can Pru find a way to make up for the damage she has done, while doing the "right thing"? And can she save her sister Deborah, her niece Kate and even herself from blinking out of existence? It's like teenaged Pru says:
"I don't like the fact that my niece is working with Mother, but I no longer believe that there are clear sides in all of this. It's not black or white, good or evil, from where I'm standing. Here in the middle, everything looks gray."
Original Pre-Review, 08/01/2015
HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS???!!! Must. Read. IMMEDIATELY.
July 3, 2015
Rysa nailed it again, this time with an amazing novella from Pru's point of view! We get Pru's back story starting from when she was a spoiled snarky teen.
I loved all the insight into Pru's development into the Sister Pru we all came to know and hate. And this novella almost (almost) makes me feel sorry for her. The timey wimey parts that can make your head spin is Rysa's GENIUS as she seriously pulls it off to where it actually begins to make sense!
I especially loved seeing the future and all its incredible technology!
I was so happy to delve back into the Chronos world and this novella was perfect to keep me going until Time's Divide releases!!
I loved all the insight into Pru's development into the Sister Pru we all came to know and hate. And this novella almost (almost) makes me feel sorry for her. The timey wimey parts that can make your head spin is Rysa's GENIUS as she seriously pulls it off to where it actually begins to make sense!
I especially loved seeing the future and all its incredible technology!
I was so happy to delve back into the Chronos world and this novella was perfect to keep me going until Time's Divide releases!!
March 4, 2016
I didn't think it would be possible, but after reading this book, I like Pru!
March 23, 2017
I never thought I would feel sorry for Pru, but I do. Obviously she’s still a horrible person down the line, but the way she was manipulated at the start is so sad.
It was interesting to see more about the aftermath of the explosion at CHRONOS, and just all the technology from that time. It just reinforces how much of a culture shock it must have been for Katherine and all the other historians who were stuck in the past.
It's going to be interesting going into the last book now (after how book 2 ended) knowing all this new information about Pru. And having a new sympathy for Pru too. Well, at least for younger Pru.
It was interesting to see more about the aftermath of the explosion at CHRONOS, and just all the technology from that time. It just reinforces how much of a culture shock it must have been for Katherine and all the other historians who were stuck in the past.
It's going to be interesting going into the last book now (after how book 2 ended) knowing all this new information about Pru. And having a new sympathy for Pru too. Well, at least for younger Pru.
July 8, 2015
“It’s not black or white, good or evil, from where I’m standing. Here in the middle, everything looks gray.”
-Prudence
Prudence is the star in Time’s Mirror. We left off in the previous book, Time’s Edge, where Kate and Kiernan are gradually gathering medallions trying to stop Kate’s grandfather, Saul, from changing everything about history, so he can be worshiped through his Cyrist religion. Walker has backtracked to the infamous car accident involving Prudence and her adoptive father; explaining where she went and how she discovered the CHRONOS medallions. Prudence has accidentally traveled to the bombing of the CHRONOS lab and is hence stuck in the future, where she learns of an opposite turn of events than Kate has been told.
Prudence’s character is different than was perceived in the previous novels, according to Kate and her grandmother’s point of view. Thus far, I feel incredibly sorry for Prudence and the situation in which she’s found herself, although at the beginning she doesn’t see it that way. According to Prudence, she really can’t decipher who is the evil one, her mother or father, because she has been told stories that her mother is behind the bombing of CHRONOS, not her father. So, here we have Kate and Prudence, virtually the same age, in separate times, being told two totally different stories, but which is correct? After reading what Prudence went through, I must say I’m a little perplexed, and not so gung-ho about bashing her for all the rotten things she’s done; I’d agree with Prudence, “…everything looks gray.”
I cannot say enough about this series. This novella gives us Timebound fanatics another side of the story, Kate’s Aunt Prudence’s side. All this time we’ve thought Prudence was an evil, terrible, out of her mind lunatic, but now we get a little glimpse into why Prudence is the way she is. If this is the beginning of Walker’s third installment of the Timebound series, I’m buckled up and ready! So many twists and turns in this book and a lot of ah-ha moments, that I’m not sure I can wait until October for the final book! In short, this novella was a tease, it sucked me right back into the world of time travel and learning why Saul is so egotistical. Although, not all my questions were answered, which leads me to believe they will be in the new book. I feel like it was another key for the Timebound road map.
Be on the look out for an exclusive interview with Rysa Walker, author of the best-selling series Timebound: The CHRONOS Files only at Gilt & Buckram.
**** 4 Stars
Time’s Mirror: A Chronos Files Novella
by Rysa Walker
156 Pages
Published in 2015
Genre: Fiction, YA, Series
For more reviews visit dawnbritt.com
-Prudence
Prudence is the star in Time’s Mirror. We left off in the previous book, Time’s Edge, where Kate and Kiernan are gradually gathering medallions trying to stop Kate’s grandfather, Saul, from changing everything about history, so he can be worshiped through his Cyrist religion. Walker has backtracked to the infamous car accident involving Prudence and her adoptive father; explaining where she went and how she discovered the CHRONOS medallions. Prudence has accidentally traveled to the bombing of the CHRONOS lab and is hence stuck in the future, where she learns of an opposite turn of events than Kate has been told.
Prudence’s character is different than was perceived in the previous novels, according to Kate and her grandmother’s point of view. Thus far, I feel incredibly sorry for Prudence and the situation in which she’s found herself, although at the beginning she doesn’t see it that way. According to Prudence, she really can’t decipher who is the evil one, her mother or father, because she has been told stories that her mother is behind the bombing of CHRONOS, not her father. So, here we have Kate and Prudence, virtually the same age, in separate times, being told two totally different stories, but which is correct? After reading what Prudence went through, I must say I’m a little perplexed, and not so gung-ho about bashing her for all the rotten things she’s done; I’d agree with Prudence, “…everything looks gray.”
I cannot say enough about this series. This novella gives us Timebound fanatics another side of the story, Kate’s Aunt Prudence’s side. All this time we’ve thought Prudence was an evil, terrible, out of her mind lunatic, but now we get a little glimpse into why Prudence is the way she is. If this is the beginning of Walker’s third installment of the Timebound series, I’m buckled up and ready! So many twists and turns in this book and a lot of ah-ha moments, that I’m not sure I can wait until October for the final book! In short, this novella was a tease, it sucked me right back into the world of time travel and learning why Saul is so egotistical. Although, not all my questions were answered, which leads me to believe they will be in the new book. I feel like it was another key for the Timebound road map.
Be on the look out for an exclusive interview with Rysa Walker, author of the best-selling series Timebound: The CHRONOS Files only at Gilt & Buckram.
**** 4 Stars
Time’s Mirror: A Chronos Files Novella
by Rysa Walker
156 Pages
Published in 2015
Genre: Fiction, YA, Series
For more reviews visit dawnbritt.com
April 30, 2016
I really liked this book! It was great to get to see things from Pru's perspective and I ended up seeing her in a new light (). I am eager to read the final book whenever I get the chance - hopefully early next month. :)
October 5, 2015
I originally read Time's Mirror as a beta read (and can I just say what an amazing honor that was!) so I've been eager to reread the final version and even more eager to listen to the audiobook! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!! I'm going into The Chronos Files withdrawals! The audio of Time's Divide cannot get here soon enough!! My original review is below.
Rysa nailed it again, this time with an amazing novella from Pru's point of view! We get Pru's back story starting from when she was a spoiled snarky teen.
I loved all the insight into Pru's development into the Sister Pru we all came to know and hate. And this novella almost (almost) makes me feel sorry for her. The timey wimey parts that can make your head spin is Rysa's GENIUS as she seriously pulls it off to where it actually begins to make sense!
I especially loved seeing the future and all its incredible technology!
I was so happy to delve back into the Chronos world and this novella was perfect to keep me going until Time's Divide releases!!
Rysa nailed it again, this time with an amazing novella from Pru's point of view! We get Pru's back story starting from when she was a spoiled snarky teen.
I loved all the insight into Pru's development into the Sister Pru we all came to know and hate. And this novella almost (almost) makes me feel sorry for her. The timey wimey parts that can make your head spin is Rysa's GENIUS as she seriously pulls it off to where it actually begins to make sense!
I especially loved seeing the future and all its incredible technology!
I was so happy to delve back into the Chronos world and this novella was perfect to keep me going until Time's Divide releases!!
January 2, 2019
This novella is number 2.5 in the Chronos Files series, and it is told from the point of view of a young Prudence, before she has been turned by her father, Saul into the megalomaniac Mother Prudence, you are familiar with in the novels.
Gosh, reading that, you would get the impression The Chronos Files is a cartoonish series, not worth reading.
Not true. It is a cut above average YA girly science fiction. The characters are compelling. The storyline is believable, if confusing at times, and the romantic scenes are just spicy enough to appeal to a young reader, while not offending her mom.
"Time's Mirror," being a tale outside of the normal storyline can be somewhat disconbobulating, with different versions of the characters from different time periods running around, sometimes interacting with each other.
There were times when I wondered whether this story was following an alternate timeline, because this Prudence doesn't seem nearly bad enough to become what she does. Oh, but at the end, you get a glimpse. She has a thought about what she might do it she had all that power, the good she could accomplish, the lives she could make better...
Gosh, reading that, you would get the impression The Chronos Files is a cartoonish series, not worth reading.
Not true. It is a cut above average YA girly science fiction. The characters are compelling. The storyline is believable, if confusing at times, and the romantic scenes are just spicy enough to appeal to a young reader, while not offending her mom.
"Time's Mirror," being a tale outside of the normal storyline can be somewhat disconbobulating, with different versions of the characters from different time periods running around, sometimes interacting with each other.
There were times when I wondered whether this story was following an alternate timeline, because this Prudence doesn't seem nearly bad enough to become what she does. Oh, but at the end, you get a glimpse. She has a thought about what she might do it she had all that power, the good she could accomplish, the lives she could make better...
July 10, 2019
1,5 ⭐
didn't really add much to the Story...
didn't really add much to the Story...
August 3, 2015
This is a great novella that gives a lot of insight into the "villains" perspective. That being said, this book felt rushed compared to the others. I often found myself re-reading a paragraph to make sure I understood what the author was saying which was not a problem in the past books.
That being said the way the book ended is making me stupid excited to read the last installment of this series.
I really need to know what Pru's motivations are.
That being said the way the book ended is making me stupid excited to read the last installment of this series.
I really need to know what Pru's motivations are.
October 30, 2015
Rysa Walker gives Chronos fans a special treat with this novella. Told from the perspective of Prudence Pierce, Time's Mirror chronicles Pru's transformation from a spunky 80's girl to Sister Prudence, the manipulative (and manipulated) figurehead of Cyrist international. An interesting read that will leave fans waiting all the more eagerly for the final installment.
October 22, 2015
HOW did I not know this was out. I better get on it before I get the next book.
Loved hearing Pru's side of things. She doesn't seem so bad. On to the final book!
Loved hearing Pru's side of things. She doesn't seem so bad. On to the final book!
June 11, 2018
I enjoyed this novella. It's obviously quite interesting and somewhat sad to see how Pru became the unstable pawn that she seems to be from Kate's point of view.
I love time travel, I enjoyed Pru learning to use the power and figure out how it could help her in her own cause.
I went in to this novella hoping for more answers to my confusion over events in Time's Divide and it helped a bit. Mostly with the motivations of Saul and Pru, herself.
I really did enjoy this whole series. I'm thinking one day, I will read it again and maybe catch on to what I must have missed. As of the date of writing this review, it's been almost 2 years since finishing the 3rd installment and I remember liking the books very much. However, my constant confusion of who worked for whom, why characters made certain choices and such, stands out to me more than my enjoyment. Oh well.
I love time travel, I enjoyed Pru learning to use the power and figure out how it could help her in her own cause.
I went in to this novella hoping for more answers to my confusion over events in Time's Divide and it helped a bit. Mostly with the motivations of Saul and Pru, herself.
I really did enjoy this whole series. I'm thinking one day, I will read it again and maybe catch on to what I must have missed. As of the date of writing this review, it's been almost 2 years since finishing the 3rd installment and I remember liking the books very much. However, my constant confusion of who worked for whom, why characters made certain choices and such, stands out to me more than my enjoyment. Oh well.
November 11, 2020
Interesting backstory for Prudence. I gained empathy for her. However, I think all this was is backstory for, I presume, the next book. As for what I could see, this wasn't really a story with a beginning, middle, and end. I didn't see much point to the story or much change in Prudence. This novella was more vulgar than the rest of them, probably to reflect Pru's story.
January 3, 2019
Another .5 novella to help fill in the gaps.
But, I think I'm starting to feel like old Pru now. Not sure who is who or when is when...
But, I think I'm starting to feel like old Pru now. Not sure who is who or when is when...
November 3, 2015
So I just finished this book and went back to see what I rated the others in the series. I noticed that they all got 4 stars and my feelings on this book is another 4 stars. But I wish there was a way to give this overall series a score somewhere. While each book has some weaknesses I feel that the overall story is a solid 5 stars.
I love the characters and my head spins while trying to keep everything straight with so many timelines and multiple versions of the same people floating around. It really is great stuff. The books stick with you after you are done reading while you try to really get a grasp on what is going on. I may have to revisit the individual ratings after I finish Time's Divide.
As for this book itself I like that it gives you a new perspective on Pru and I started to understand why she could end up as her older self. It is another .5 story that is good at bridging the gap between main books. I don't want to go into spoilers so I will just say that I don't hate her character anymore after reading this.
I love the characters and my head spins while trying to keep everything straight with so many timelines and multiple versions of the same people floating around. It really is great stuff. The books stick with you after you are done reading while you try to really get a grasp on what is going on. I may have to revisit the individual ratings after I finish Time's Divide.
As for this book itself I like that it gives you a new perspective on Pru and I started to understand why she could end up as her older self. It is another .5 story that is good at bridging the gap between main books. I don't want to go into spoilers so I will just say that I don't hate her character anymore after reading this.
January 25, 2022
Rysa Walker’s ‘Time's Mirror’ is a real treat for Timebound fans! Written from the perspective of a rebellious and teenage Prudence Pierce, we finally get to see what led to the crazy, older ‘Mother Prudence’ referenced throughout the Chronos Files. This novella follows Pru as she uses the medallion for the first time and travels to 2306 to meet Tate Poulson and Morgan Campbell, who then lead her to Saul Rand, in an effort to fix CHRONOS headquarters after the blast. The Pru we meet here is around the same age as Kate, though she learns about the future and time travel and what happened in the blast from Saul’s perspective, rather than Katherine’s.
As always, Walker’s writing style is captivating. I only wish we could see more events from Pru's point of view. This novella simply is a must-read for fans of the Timebound series!
As always, Walker’s writing style is captivating. I only wish we could see more events from Pru's point of view. This novella simply is a must-read for fans of the Timebound series!
October 23, 2015
I absolutely love Rysa Walker, her stories, her writing style, and her imagination. This novella was exquisite. Even though it was unusual at first to reading the story from Prudence's point of view, I eventually settled down and truly enjoyed hearing Pru's perspective.... Here I was thinking that Pru is this evil twin who plots to destroy her mother and sister throughout the last two novels, but the reality is so much more complicated and very different. My heart aches for Pru and her situation and I'm somewhat angry at Katherine, her mom, for not educating her properly on the dangers of the Key as it could have really minimized, if not completely avoided, Pru's entire situation.
Overall, I have to say that this is an awesome Novella that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys time travel books. Happy Reading!
Overall, I have to say that this is an awesome Novella that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys time travel books. Happy Reading!
October 11, 2015
This wasn't the best installment in this series, but it does give me some major background on Prudence which is helpful in understanding her role in the larger series. I think some of the time travel stuff was confusing with her. Not in an unfollowable way, but in a needed-fleshed-out-more way. Like pieces were missing that would make everything flow together. I also don't fully remember everything from the first two books, so I could be missing some huge "aha! That explains that!" moments. On to book three, which I'll probably also struggle to keep up with because I've forgotten the last two...sigh.
February 10, 2016
Something happens about midway through this novella that fills out details of Prudence's story before we hit the full 3rd book that blows it for me. I felt as if I understood Prudence and her point of view and then suddenly I lost track - the details begin to match up with the details of the previous novels but the clarity of motivation and intent disappears somehow and I stop understanding why she did anything. Looking forward to seeing if the final book in the trilogy clears this up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2016
This is good, but mostly just sad.
All I know is that I hate Saul and Simon even more now. The way that they control and manipulate Pru infuriates me. This has completely changed the way I view her now. I am so curious to see how she will be portrayed in the next book - will I still view her in this new light?
Let's see how this all ends in the final book!
All I know is that I hate Saul and Simon even more now. The way that they control and manipulate Pru infuriates me. This has completely changed the way I view her now. I am so curious to see how she will be portrayed in the next book - will I still view her in this new light?
Let's see how this all ends in the final book!
July 2, 2015
Absolutely love this series.
September 14, 2015
A novella from Pru's perspective. Just a reminder as to why we hate Simon so much, we long for Kiernan, and just a glimpse as to how crazy this jumping through time can be.
June 6, 2018
Honestly, I wasn't super excited to read this novella based upon my opinion of Prudence from the previous stories. But this was a whole new perspective on her situation and while Adult!Pru may still be a terrible person, I can appreciate how horrible of an experience this all was for Teen!Pru and definitely sympathize with her. It was infuriating how everyone in the future and all the Cyrists believe that Katherine was the CHRONOS traitor but they were certainly effective brainwashing Pru to believe it as well. At times the time hopping and characters crossing over their own lifespan gets a little tricky to follow, but overall it wasn't too bad. I know hold out some hope that Pru can be swayed by Kate & Kiernan to actually become an ally in the fight against Saul. As a younger person Pru seemed most interested in doing good for the world and she could still have that as her legacy while bringing down Saul. She has the ability to make sure they Cyrists are used for good in the world instead of the manipulative purposes Saul uses them for as the timeline stands now. This final installment in the overall CHRONOS story should be a wild ride.
October 14, 2020
OMG when I saw that this novella was all about Prudence, I dove right in. I NEEDED answers to all of the questions I had about her and boy the author did not disappoint. I actually felt bad for her by the end of it.
Anywhooo, Pru was your typical rebellious teenager. She's trying to seduce her violin teacher, stealing things from her mother that her mother doesn't want her having, jumping into the future - what? Yes you read that right. What teenager doesn't timehop? Pru ends up hopping into the future to the Chronos Headquarters at the same time the huge event occurs that caused this wonderful series to be written. While she is recovering she speaks to no one. She eventually grows close to one of the former agents and he becomes her mentor, and object of her affection eventually. She even meets her real father and hears his grand plan.
Pru was naive though. Of course she wants to help fix the world and solve the problems of all but she quickly learns that she is in over her head. She starts to try and reverse everything she has done while keep up pretenses but in the end starts severely suffering.
Anywhooo, Pru was your typical rebellious teenager. She's trying to seduce her violin teacher, stealing things from her mother that her mother doesn't want her having, jumping into the future - what? Yes you read that right. What teenager doesn't timehop? Pru ends up hopping into the future to the Chronos Headquarters at the same time the huge event occurs that caused this wonderful series to be written. While she is recovering she speaks to no one. She eventually grows close to one of the former agents and he becomes her mentor, and object of her affection eventually. She even meets her real father and hears his grand plan.
Pru was naive though. Of course she wants to help fix the world and solve the problems of all but she quickly learns that she is in over her head. She starts to try and reverse everything she has done while keep up pretenses but in the end starts severely suffering.
March 14, 2022
My least favorite book of this series.
This book follows Prudence, and her backstory. It is all very interesting, but the constant gloom of her situation and her future, really brought the tone of this book down.
The series generally has an optimistic tone, that things will work out, and problems can be solved. However, this book isn't like that. Her story isn't happy, it doesn't work out, it is gloomy.
Having that that, it is well written and interesting. It provides real insight into the character, her behavior and elaborates on odd things from the other books.
Voice narration, by Kate Rudd, is once again very well done. She brings the story to life, and is easy to listen to.
All in all, this "short" story is interesting and provides a great insight into a pivotal antagonist. However, it's tone is much more dark than the other books and is definitely not as enjoyable.
This book follows Prudence, and her backstory. It is all very interesting, but the constant gloom of her situation and her future, really brought the tone of this book down.
The series generally has an optimistic tone, that things will work out, and problems can be solved. However, this book isn't like that. Her story isn't happy, it doesn't work out, it is gloomy.
Having that that, it is well written and interesting. It provides real insight into the character, her behavior and elaborates on odd things from the other books.
Voice narration, by Kate Rudd, is once again very well done. She brings the story to life, and is easy to listen to.
All in all, this "short" story is interesting and provides a great insight into a pivotal antagonist. However, it's tone is much more dark than the other books and is definitely not as enjoyable.
September 14, 2024
The first time I read this series, I somehow missed this novella backstory for Prudence. I don't think I missed anything then--we don't really *need* to know her backstory to understand the rest of the series (which I guess is why it's book 2.5 and not 3). Prudence is a villain--sort of--for most of the series, and this book shows that she didn't start out too terribly likable either. But she's not all bad, and she had good intentions and motives; she was just misguided. Which is true of all interesting villains, I suppose. Saul, the true villain, never gets a backstory, because I think he's just evil through and through, but that serves the plot too.
If I ever listen to this series again, I'll probably skip this one, but it still held my interest.
If I ever listen to this series again, I'll probably skip this one, but it still held my interest.
June 27, 2019
This one is my least favorite so far of the series. The language was worse and the sexual content was increased. There was nothing descriptive or graphic -- just more of it than I would like in YA fiction. The background information was really interesting. And while I understand Pru better, and probably like her a little better, overall, I didn't find her really likable. I also really struggled with this book because it was the same narrator, and in first person present tense. Suddenly, the I's were referring to someone different as well as who the mother and father were. I found that pretty confusing. It makes me not quite as anxious for the next book in the series.
June 29, 2025
Time’s Mirror is a short novella set in and around the other Timebound books. This one is from Pru’s point of view and left me wondering if Kiernan is right about her and maybe she can be trusted at least a little bit (or perhaps has a fatal flaw when it comes to her family). It was full of useful information, anyway, that rounds out the rest of the series a little bit. As usual the time travel made perfect sense and was never confusing even when there were two, maybe more, Pru’s in the same area at the same time. It really does fascinate me that the author is able to make complex time travel just work so easily somehow.
August 13, 2017
A kind of slutty teenage girl accidentally time travels to the future, then to the past, then starts a cult.
This is a pretty standard starter story for a middle school fanfic author. It feels like a first draft in that all the elements to a plotline are there, but no elements adding gravity or character have been incorporated. It was really short as well, which really added to the first draft feel.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this. It just wasn’t very good, and even if it had been fleshed out more I don’t think I would have cared about any of the characters or story.
This is a pretty standard starter story for a middle school fanfic author. It feels like a first draft in that all the elements to a plotline are there, but no elements adding gravity or character have been incorporated. It was really short as well, which really added to the first draft feel.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this. It just wasn’t very good, and even if it had been fleshed out more I don’t think I would have cared about any of the characters or story.
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