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The Time Key
As Stanley got closer, he saw two figures beating on a lone man, while four others stood back to watch. “Hey!” Stanley’s voice sounded hoarse in his ears. “Leave him be!”
SHADOWS THAT MOVE ON THEIR own, a mysterious device that looks like a pocket watch, a man on the run from monsters that exist in dreams—all are connected to Stanley because he interrupted a mugging. Now Stanley holds the Time Key, an object that allows him to travel through time. With the extraordinary gift of being able to see both the past and the future, he may be the only one who can save his family.
SHADOWS THAT MOVE ON THEIR own, a mysterious device that looks like a pocket watch, a man on the run from monsters that exist in dreams—all are connected to Stanley because he interrupted a mugging. Now Stanley holds the Time Key, an object that allows him to travel through time. With the extraordinary gift of being able to see both the past and the future, he may be the only one who can save his family.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2016
5 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Bateman
6 books68 followersMelanie Bateman is a freelance illustrator whose passion for nature and pretty pictures will sometimes translate into written stories. When she isn’t daydreaming, she enjoys being a mom.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 27, 2016
I enjoyed Melanie Bateman's story on time travel. The story is fresh and full of interesting characters. Many of them are not human.
The story his told as a narrative. The narrator sometimes gets ahead of him/her self and has to remember to get back to the story instead of skipping ahead. In some ways the style reminded me of "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I thought it worked well and was a great way to tell the story.
Stanley is a widower who has spent the past six years drinking. He wants to forget the pain of loosing his wife and daughter, but drowning his sorrows hasn't worked well for him. In a moment when he is about to end everything, he becomes a hero and ends up with the Time Key. A watch that gives him the ability to move around in time. With his new possession comes peril to himself and those he cares about. He is also given a gift that helps him move in a positive direction. Her name is Lena and she is a vaelie , a person of childhood fantasy.
I was impressed with the depth of the story. There are many events that keep interest throughout the story. The pacing was well done. The story is set in the late 1890's. The mode of transportation is carriages and horses. In one scene in the story Stanley travels 40 years to the future and sees the devastation of war with aircraft dropping bombs. It added a new perspective.
This book can appeal to many ages. It is clean with some violence. I would suggest to tweens and above.
The story his told as a narrative. The narrator sometimes gets ahead of him/her self and has to remember to get back to the story instead of skipping ahead. In some ways the style reminded me of "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I thought it worked well and was a great way to tell the story.
Stanley is a widower who has spent the past six years drinking. He wants to forget the pain of loosing his wife and daughter, but drowning his sorrows hasn't worked well for him. In a moment when he is about to end everything, he becomes a hero and ends up with the Time Key. A watch that gives him the ability to move around in time. With his new possession comes peril to himself and those he cares about. He is also given a gift that helps him move in a positive direction. Her name is Lena and she is a vaelie , a person of childhood fantasy.
I was impressed with the depth of the story. There are many events that keep interest throughout the story. The pacing was well done. The story is set in the late 1890's. The mode of transportation is carriages and horses. In one scene in the story Stanley travels 40 years to the future and sees the devastation of war with aircraft dropping bombs. It added a new perspective.
This book can appeal to many ages. It is clean with some violence. I would suggest to tweens and above.
July 14, 2016
Six years ago, Stanley Becker lost his wife and daughter in an accident and his grief has consumed him. On a cold December night in 1897, he is ready to give in to the darkness. Instead, he ends up saving a man's life and gaining possession of a time key. He is quickly filled with the desire to go back and fix the fateful night that changed everything.
This is a complex book. There are multiple characters and stories and I was curious as to how it would all come together. The characters were interesting and fun to get to know, whether I liked them or not. We learn what's happening through a mystery narrator and I thought that worked pretty well.
Stanley takes full advantage of the opportunity to travel through time. I did find that to be confusing at times but was able to get the gist of what was happening along the way so that didn't bother me too much. There comes a point when he travels to a time that we recognize and I enjoyed reading how he adjusted to it.
Stanley was only given bits and pieces of information at any given time and I felt like I was there with him trying to figure out what was happening. I really wasn't sure how this story would end since there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. Stanley was a very different man by the end of the book. The ending is left open for more of this story to be told! If you enjoy fantasy and time travel, this is a book you will want to pick up!
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review. My opinion is 100% my own.
This is a complex book. There are multiple characters and stories and I was curious as to how it would all come together. The characters were interesting and fun to get to know, whether I liked them or not. We learn what's happening through a mystery narrator and I thought that worked pretty well.
Stanley takes full advantage of the opportunity to travel through time. I did find that to be confusing at times but was able to get the gist of what was happening along the way so that didn't bother me too much. There comes a point when he travels to a time that we recognize and I enjoyed reading how he adjusted to it.
Stanley was only given bits and pieces of information at any given time and I felt like I was there with him trying to figure out what was happening. I really wasn't sure how this story would end since there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. Stanley was a very different man by the end of the book. The ending is left open for more of this story to be told! If you enjoy fantasy and time travel, this is a book you will want to pick up!
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review. My opinion is 100% my own.
July 30, 2016
A magical and captivating story of time travel and mystical creatures. This is a story that will pull you into the adventure from page one and tug you along and keep you there until the very beginning. Common themes in the story deal with family, redemption, and sacrifice. Melanie Bateman has written a fun, riveting, and thrilling adventure and time travel story that readers will absolutely not want to miss.
Genre: science fiction, fantasy, time travel
Publisher: Sweetwater Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort
Publication date: June 14, 2015
Number of pages: 320
Content Rating: PG, violence, nothing graphic
Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Cedar Fort and SLB Tours.
Genre: science fiction, fantasy, time travel
Publisher: Sweetwater Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort
Publication date: June 14, 2015
Number of pages: 320
Content Rating: PG, violence, nothing graphic
Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Cedar Fort and SLB Tours.
June 18, 2016
Wow! The Time Key by Melanie Batemen was absolutely brilliant! I have read many books for blog tours, and have given several 5 star reviews, but most of those books did not have the same caliber of story line, character development, and perfect mixture of period, mystery, science-fiction, and fantasy. I can only imagine how much time it took this first-time author to perfect her story, filling in all the holes she wished to fill, and keeping the reader completely mesmerized the entire 312 pages. The beautiful illustrations at the end of each chapter definitely were something to look forward to - how wonderful that the author could bring her own scenes to life through word and picture.
The novel has a mysterious narrator, whose identity we do not know until the very end. This narrator follows Stanley Becker, a 36-year-old Englishman from the year 1897. He is a man so depressed, that he has drunk his life away for the past six years due to tragedy that befell his family. In the first scene of the book, he is about to take his own life, but instead witnesses, and intervenes on, an eerie disturbance in the street that will change his life forever.
Characters range from close acquaintances to Stanley, to gypsies, to a vaelie (read the book to find out what that is), to other-worldly demons, and even a goddess. The novel is full of danger, surprises, confusion, and consequences, but perhaps most importantly, love and change of perspective.
Even though there are many thrilling, dangerous, and scary moments in the book, The Time Key also includes poignant moments of longing, self-reflection, sacrifice, and bravery. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, and will keep you guessing.
The concept of the time key itself is a little confusing to the reader because of its intricacy, as well as how traveling through time can (or cannot) affect the past, present and future. However, those moments of confusion made complete sense to me. How else could we connect to our protagonist, if not by feeling the same feelings he felt? He took many leaps of faith by time traveling, understanding little of the consequences. I truly felt I was taking Stanley's journeys, physical and emotional, with him.
I literally read this book in all my free time, and finished in three days. It was so good, I just had to keep picking it up. I think the Epilogue may have been my favorite part. The last chapter I was content with, but, well, you will see what I mean. Read this book and tell all your friends about it!
ablisscomplete.com
The novel has a mysterious narrator, whose identity we do not know until the very end. This narrator follows Stanley Becker, a 36-year-old Englishman from the year 1897. He is a man so depressed, that he has drunk his life away for the past six years due to tragedy that befell his family. In the first scene of the book, he is about to take his own life, but instead witnesses, and intervenes on, an eerie disturbance in the street that will change his life forever.
Characters range from close acquaintances to Stanley, to gypsies, to a vaelie (read the book to find out what that is), to other-worldly demons, and even a goddess. The novel is full of danger, surprises, confusion, and consequences, but perhaps most importantly, love and change of perspective.
Even though there are many thrilling, dangerous, and scary moments in the book, The Time Key also includes poignant moments of longing, self-reflection, sacrifice, and bravery. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, and will keep you guessing.
The concept of the time key itself is a little confusing to the reader because of its intricacy, as well as how traveling through time can (or cannot) affect the past, present and future. However, those moments of confusion made complete sense to me. How else could we connect to our protagonist, if not by feeling the same feelings he felt? He took many leaps of faith by time traveling, understanding little of the consequences. I truly felt I was taking Stanley's journeys, physical and emotional, with him.
I literally read this book in all my free time, and finished in three days. It was so good, I just had to keep picking it up. I think the Epilogue may have been my favorite part. The last chapter I was content with, but, well, you will see what I mean. Read this book and tell all your friends about it!
ablisscomplete.com
August 15, 2016
I have to say this book was partially a cover buy. I love historical fiction, but the cover sealed the deal. In a way, I thought this story set in late 1800s London would fill my "Downton Abbey" void, but The Time Key was so surprising and took me in so many directions I did not expect. Not only is it historical fiction, but also a time traveling fantasy enriched with a wide spectrum of characters and emotional depth.
I don't like books that pull out all the stops to try to make me cry. But The Time Key didn't. The author simply presented the characters as they are and the hardships they deal with and I ended up crying on my own. I really felt connected to Stanley and his desperation to try anything to just get his family back. I felt all of his emotions right along with him and was determined to see him through to the end.
I also really appreciate the aspect of fantasy in this book. The Time Key is based in old London, but suggests the universe is much bigger than we imagine with different realms and races. I'm not sure what the author has planned for her next book but I hope she writes another book centered around Lena, a tiny tree dwelling, human like creature trapped far away from her enchanted home. I want to explore more of the world that Bateman only gives us glimpses of.
Probably the only problem I had with this book, was a personal pet-peeve of mine. The book is written in third person, however, instead of staying silent and letting the reader soak in the story, the flow is periodically interrupted by the unidentified narrator directly addressing the reader. You don't know anything about the narrator until the very end of the story so it's very difficult to connect to "them". This drove me bonkers, as it always does. It's probably not a problem for most people, but its just a "no no" for me.
For those of you craving a certain level of romance in books, you won't find much of that here. Except for Stanley's enduring devotion for his wife even so many years after her death. Falling in love isn't what this book is about. Instead, it focuses more on regaining that love once it is lost forever. Definitely a recommended read from me.
4.5 stars
I don't like books that pull out all the stops to try to make me cry. But The Time Key didn't. The author simply presented the characters as they are and the hardships they deal with and I ended up crying on my own. I really felt connected to Stanley and his desperation to try anything to just get his family back. I felt all of his emotions right along with him and was determined to see him through to the end.
I also really appreciate the aspect of fantasy in this book. The Time Key is based in old London, but suggests the universe is much bigger than we imagine with different realms and races. I'm not sure what the author has planned for her next book but I hope she writes another book centered around Lena, a tiny tree dwelling, human like creature trapped far away from her enchanted home. I want to explore more of the world that Bateman only gives us glimpses of.
Probably the only problem I had with this book, was a personal pet-peeve of mine. The book is written in third person, however, instead of staying silent and letting the reader soak in the story, the flow is periodically interrupted by the unidentified narrator directly addressing the reader. You don't know anything about the narrator until the very end of the story so it's very difficult to connect to "them". This drove me bonkers, as it always does. It's probably not a problem for most people, but its just a "no no" for me.
For those of you craving a certain level of romance in books, you won't find much of that here. Except for Stanley's enduring devotion for his wife even so many years after her death. Falling in love isn't what this book is about. Instead, it focuses more on regaining that love once it is lost forever. Definitely a recommended read from me.
4.5 stars
July 27, 2016
As soon as I read the synopsis of The Time Key, I knew it would be a book I would enjoy reading. What I didn’t realize was how much I would love it! Sometimes when there is a book by a newer author, one you’ve never heard of, you can be a bit leery thinking.”How good will this book be?”.
The Time Key was GREAT! I just cannot explain how blow away I was by this book. It’s not just a book about time travel, though time travel does play a big part. What I really felt in this book was hope. When the book begins, Stanley has no hope. He is a widower who not only lost his wife, but he also lost his daughter. He is wallowing in his despair, and he’s ready to end his existence. What stops him is so completely fantastical that you’ve got to read it to “believe” it!
The characters in The Time Key will blow you away. They are so well-written. There are a lot of characters, yet they are all so three dimensional. You will absolutely walk away from this book feeling like this really happened. Like these are real people! The way the story is laid out is just perfect. Each element of the book makes it feel more real. It is so fantastical, yet you will completely believe that The Time Key exists.
I am in love with this book and cannot wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 huge stars! Buy it today!
The Time Key was GREAT! I just cannot explain how blow away I was by this book. It’s not just a book about time travel, though time travel does play a big part. What I really felt in this book was hope. When the book begins, Stanley has no hope. He is a widower who not only lost his wife, but he also lost his daughter. He is wallowing in his despair, and he’s ready to end his existence. What stops him is so completely fantastical that you’ve got to read it to “believe” it!
The characters in The Time Key will blow you away. They are so well-written. There are a lot of characters, yet they are all so three dimensional. You will absolutely walk away from this book feeling like this really happened. Like these are real people! The way the story is laid out is just perfect. Each element of the book makes it feel more real. It is so fantastical, yet you will completely believe that The Time Key exists.
I am in love with this book and cannot wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 huge stars! Buy it today!
June 27, 2016
I loved this book. It was a touching story of one mans search for redemption. The characters are fleshed out and the story is well written. There is the whole time traveling aspect, as well as some characters from other dimensions, some are sweet and others are not. I give it five stars. There is no swearing or sexual content, there is some mild violence. Suited for teens and up. I will be looking for more from this author. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2016
What an incredible and unique book! If you're looking for a deep, complex, and well-written time travel adventure that delves into themes of redemption, perspective and sacrifice, look no further. THE TIME KEY by Melanie Bateman is a little bit of a sci-fi/fantasy version of, "It's a Wonderful Life" mixed with a touch of Neil Gaiman's voice to me. Plus, she also illustrates her story throughout which is a delight. I'd recommend this for teens on up. It's definitely worth checking out!
June 21, 2016
Time travel is a popular genre, but The Time Key gives us a fresh take on an oldie-but-goodie. The opening scene is riveting, and the ending is the very best part!
June 24, 2016
I really wanted to like this book. And I really did like aspects of it. But overall it wasn’t as fulfilling of a read as I had hoped. It does have an interesting plot and the writer’s voice is refreshing and intelligent. The first chapter was fabulous! I was hooked by the mysterious narrator and the strange events that prevented Stanley Becker from taking his own life. My desire to learn the secrets that were introduced in the first few chapters kept me interested enough to read to the end.
The difficulties for me came in with the flow of the events and with the many and varied characters and fantasy elements involved in the storytelling. This is a time travel book so I was expecting the events would not follow a linear timeline, but the transitions between times and timelines was sometimes hard to follow. I also found the passage of time to be underdeveloped. Stanley is supposedly developing relationships in his “present” with other characters, but there wasn’t enough description of the time spent in those relationships for me to get attached or to really believe that the characters themselves were growing much closer. It was difficult for me to understand and believe the character’s motivations at times because the relationships between them seemed rushed and a little shallow.
I did enjoy Stanley Becker’s character development in the first half from an “intellectual” perspective. As he travels to the past to attempt to make a right a tragedy I found his decisions and reactions interesting. I am fascinated by psychology, how people react to the events in their lives and why they react that way. Stanley makes for an interesting psychological study; I just didn’t have much sentimental attachment to him. Several of the characters were still entertaining and I enjoyed their “voices” even if I didn’t fall in love with them.
What really prevented me from being fully wrapped up in the story was the lack of setup for the rules of the book’s world. I was expecting the time travel/science fiction element in the book, but I was caught a little off guard when a broad spectrum of mythical and mythological elements were introduced as well. Readers learn about “shadows creatures” in the first chapter and I while I hadn’t been expecting them, I was interested to see how they would fit in with the time traveling. However, as the story continued there were more and more creatures of fantasy and mythology, and fantastical powers to go along with them. Add to that the setting in late 1800’s London and a troop of gypsies having a major role in story, and it was all just a little too random and inconsistent for me. I couldn’t really settle in to the feel of the book with so much going on from so many different genre angles.
I kept reading though, curious to see if the connections between all of these various elements could be explained, but the explanations and connections just never fully formed for me. Each element was presented quickly and suddenly without much description of how and why the element exists, how it relates to all of the other mythical people and things, and by what rules it and its powers are bound.
While science fiction and fantasy, by definition, will include elements that are fictional, fantastic, and outside the realm of reality, the elements have to be presented in such a way that readers would find them possible and reasonable within the world created in the book. As a reader I need to be given reasonable explanation and description of the world and the rules that govern it so that I can suspend my disbelief in the magical and mystical for a little while and get wrapped up in fantasy. I never could get wrapped up because there was not enough information provided for me to see how all of these varied elements could and did coexist. I felt little suspense particularly through the second half of the book because there were very few rules explained for how all of these great powers functioned. It felt more like I was just sitting back and watching random worlds collide, and the events that followed were aimless. With no rules and connections to help guide my expectations or predictions for the characters or events, it was difficult to care about the outcome.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read; I just wasn’t invested in it. I think it’s a decent work for a first time author. Her voice is so fun to read, and I hope she writes more! The pieces that were missing for me in The Time Key are all things that a little deeper and broader editing process could help flesh out. There are so many other aspects of good literature that aren’t easily learned or improved upon, and fortunately, Melanie Bateman has natural talent for those. So, I will look forward to reading whatever she has coming up next!
Check out more of my reviews at www.thereaderssalon.com
The difficulties for me came in with the flow of the events and with the many and varied characters and fantasy elements involved in the storytelling. This is a time travel book so I was expecting the events would not follow a linear timeline, but the transitions between times and timelines was sometimes hard to follow. I also found the passage of time to be underdeveloped. Stanley is supposedly developing relationships in his “present” with other characters, but there wasn’t enough description of the time spent in those relationships for me to get attached or to really believe that the characters themselves were growing much closer. It was difficult for me to understand and believe the character’s motivations at times because the relationships between them seemed rushed and a little shallow.
I did enjoy Stanley Becker’s character development in the first half from an “intellectual” perspective. As he travels to the past to attempt to make a right a tragedy I found his decisions and reactions interesting. I am fascinated by psychology, how people react to the events in their lives and why they react that way. Stanley makes for an interesting psychological study; I just didn’t have much sentimental attachment to him. Several of the characters were still entertaining and I enjoyed their “voices” even if I didn’t fall in love with them.
What really prevented me from being fully wrapped up in the story was the lack of setup for the rules of the book’s world. I was expecting the time travel/science fiction element in the book, but I was caught a little off guard when a broad spectrum of mythical and mythological elements were introduced as well. Readers learn about “shadows creatures” in the first chapter and I while I hadn’t been expecting them, I was interested to see how they would fit in with the time traveling. However, as the story continued there were more and more creatures of fantasy and mythology, and fantastical powers to go along with them. Add to that the setting in late 1800’s London and a troop of gypsies having a major role in story, and it was all just a little too random and inconsistent for me. I couldn’t really settle in to the feel of the book with so much going on from so many different genre angles.
I kept reading though, curious to see if the connections between all of these various elements could be explained, but the explanations and connections just never fully formed for me. Each element was presented quickly and suddenly without much description of how and why the element exists, how it relates to all of the other mythical people and things, and by what rules it and its powers are bound.
While science fiction and fantasy, by definition, will include elements that are fictional, fantastic, and outside the realm of reality, the elements have to be presented in such a way that readers would find them possible and reasonable within the world created in the book. As a reader I need to be given reasonable explanation and description of the world and the rules that govern it so that I can suspend my disbelief in the magical and mystical for a little while and get wrapped up in fantasy. I never could get wrapped up because there was not enough information provided for me to see how all of these varied elements could and did coexist. I felt little suspense particularly through the second half of the book because there were very few rules explained for how all of these great powers functioned. It felt more like I was just sitting back and watching random worlds collide, and the events that followed were aimless. With no rules and connections to help guide my expectations or predictions for the characters or events, it was difficult to care about the outcome.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read; I just wasn’t invested in it. I think it’s a decent work for a first time author. Her voice is so fun to read, and I hope she writes more! The pieces that were missing for me in The Time Key are all things that a little deeper and broader editing process could help flesh out. There are so many other aspects of good literature that aren’t easily learned or improved upon, and fortunately, Melanie Bateman has natural talent for those. So, I will look forward to reading whatever she has coming up next!
Check out more of my reviews at www.thereaderssalon.com
July 30, 2016
Ms. Bateman brings up the questions of is it worth it to change time? Can we and if we do, will fate just ensure the end result happens?
More than that, I think it's a story of a man who needs to find his purpose after tragedy has impacted his life. Can he rise above and answer the call to be a better man? These questions slowly reveal themselves until the reader feels the need to find out if Stanley can save his family.
*I received a free copy via SLB tours in exchange for an honest review.
** Full review at: http://tonishiloh.weebly.com/blog/the...
More than that, I think it's a story of a man who needs to find his purpose after tragedy has impacted his life. Can he rise above and answer the call to be a better man? These questions slowly reveal themselves until the reader feels the need to find out if Stanley can save his family.
*I received a free copy via SLB tours in exchange for an honest review.
** Full review at: http://tonishiloh.weebly.com/blog/the...
June 28, 2016
This was such a great book! I was sucked in on page one and had a hard time putting it down when responsibility came. There were new twists at every turn and her words let my imagination draw great pictures. I would recommend this book to young and old.
December 5, 2021
The Time Key was a wonderfully engaging novel by debut author Melanie Bateman. This book had me fully engaged in the first couple chapters and I was anxious to know Stanley's complete story.
Stanley Becker was at the end of his rope and contemplating suicide after the disastrous death of his wife and daughter. He had become an alcoholic and was unable to cope with the despair. However, an interesting turn of events led him to saving another man's life instead of taking his own. This act would direct Stanley down a road of extraordinary adventures he never could have imagined.
Stanley ends up with The Time Key, a device that allows him to travel anywhere in time. The laws of time travel in this novel are different from other books that I've read, so it was interesting to see how his actions affected both the future and the past.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was all the different twists and turns it had. I really expected it to be all about one certain thing, but there is so much more to this book than I anticipated. It certainly kept me on my toes! That was also the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. There was SO much going on that I did find myself getting confused at times. Several times I found myself having to go back and re-read parts to make sure I understood what was going on and to make sure I had the characters straight. However, I loved all the different facets of the book and the many different worlds that the author brought into this story.
My favorite character was Lena. I thought she was a delicate balance to Stanley's strong emotional personality and it was nice to see his softer side when he knew he had to care for her. I also loved to see Mr. & Mrs. Miller's love for Stanley and how much they cared for him.
The Time Key is beautifully written and a great combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and time travel! A fantastic debut novel for Melanie Bateman and I highly recommend it!
Stanley Becker was at the end of his rope and contemplating suicide after the disastrous death of his wife and daughter. He had become an alcoholic and was unable to cope with the despair. However, an interesting turn of events led him to saving another man's life instead of taking his own. This act would direct Stanley down a road of extraordinary adventures he never could have imagined.
Stanley ends up with The Time Key, a device that allows him to travel anywhere in time. The laws of time travel in this novel are different from other books that I've read, so it was interesting to see how his actions affected both the future and the past.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was all the different twists and turns it had. I really expected it to be all about one certain thing, but there is so much more to this book than I anticipated. It certainly kept me on my toes! That was also the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. There was SO much going on that I did find myself getting confused at times. Several times I found myself having to go back and re-read parts to make sure I understood what was going on and to make sure I had the characters straight. However, I loved all the different facets of the book and the many different worlds that the author brought into this story.
My favorite character was Lena. I thought she was a delicate balance to Stanley's strong emotional personality and it was nice to see his softer side when he knew he had to care for her. I also loved to see Mr. & Mrs. Miller's love for Stanley and how much they cared for him.
The Time Key is beautifully written and a great combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and time travel! A fantastic debut novel for Melanie Bateman and I highly recommend it!
October 17, 2019
DNF: After a while, I felt like reading this story was a task. I just couldn't get into it. I nearly stopped at page one because I disliked the style of having a first person narrator that is omniscient. I didn't like it, especially since the narrator had no character. I didn't see the point in writing that first person narrator that wasn't in the story. I couldn't get into the story or the characters. It just wasn't what I was looking for in a book.
September 17, 2022
Gosh! This book blown me away. It has twists and turns. I read it in three days because I had to know. I like Stanley and Lena and some of the likable characters. The author had done well and captured the story. I was saddened when he died. She left a hook that I am like what. I can't wait to read more of these series. If you like The Book Theif and Tinker Bell and The Time Traveler's Wife, then you will like this book!
March 6, 2017
I was hoping for a fun time-travel, sci-fi novel. Not what I got. This is a rather dark story, time-travel combined with fairy-tale-ish elements. And some quirks in syntax, with modifying phrases at the end of sentences, even when modifying subjects at the beginning of the sentence. Just didn't enjoy this one.
November 17, 2016
I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
The Time Key takes a bit of a twist on the usual time traveling stories, where instead of a time machine, we follow the main character with his ever handy time key.
Though the storyline is enjoyable and well thought out, it progresses so slowly that I felt like I was never getting any further into the story, that with every chapter I had more questions than answers and the ending was, unfortunately, weak in providing those answers.
I did enjoy the action that took place, as well as each and every one of the characters, I just couldn’t get into the story as much as I would have liked to. But when looking at the book’s content, I was pleased that it was clean of any swearing as well as nothing sexual. The action had a tendency to get decently detailed and because the perps are shadows, some readers may be disturbed by how they gruesomely kill their victims. As for morals, there was a good amount of family bonding and understanding that the mistakes of the past don’t define who we are but they do guide the future, also that dwelling on the past often corrupts the future.
So overall, I give The Time Key 3 out of 5 stars and am resolved to say that this book simply wasn’t for me, but some of you who follow Literature Approved will more than likely enjoy it.
This review was originally published on Literature Approved (http://literatureapproved.wordpress.com)
The Time Key takes a bit of a twist on the usual time traveling stories, where instead of a time machine, we follow the main character with his ever handy time key.
Though the storyline is enjoyable and well thought out, it progresses so slowly that I felt like I was never getting any further into the story, that with every chapter I had more questions than answers and the ending was, unfortunately, weak in providing those answers.
I did enjoy the action that took place, as well as each and every one of the characters, I just couldn’t get into the story as much as I would have liked to. But when looking at the book’s content, I was pleased that it was clean of any swearing as well as nothing sexual. The action had a tendency to get decently detailed and because the perps are shadows, some readers may be disturbed by how they gruesomely kill their victims. As for morals, there was a good amount of family bonding and understanding that the mistakes of the past don’t define who we are but they do guide the future, also that dwelling on the past often corrupts the future.
So overall, I give The Time Key 3 out of 5 stars and am resolved to say that this book simply wasn’t for me, but some of you who follow Literature Approved will more than likely enjoy it.
This review was originally published on Literature Approved (http://literatureapproved.wordpress.com)
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June 14, 2016This book starts out with a very depressed Stanley wanting to die and be with his wife and daughter who died a few years prior and unable to get the gun to shoot him, he stumbles upon a mugging and helps a stranger who leaves something with him unbeknownst to Stanley. What does this mysterious item do? Will it help Stanley get over the death of his loved ones? Will he finally be able to leave earth to be with them?
Not long you find out the mysterious tranger Stanley helped is Luis and he comes back and retrieves something out of the time piece a vial and leaves Stanley again. Stanley finds himself with more questions than answers.
This book was a great adventure with twists and turns and I found I couldn't put it down. The book is written back in time and the details she includes are definitely accurate to what we know of the time period. I enjoyed being with Stanley to see how he deals with The Time Key. Definitely a great book for those who love time travel!
Not long you find out the mysterious tranger Stanley helped is Luis and he comes back and retrieves something out of the time piece a vial and leaves Stanley again. Stanley finds himself with more questions than answers.
This book was a great adventure with twists and turns and I found I couldn't put it down. The book is written back in time and the details she includes are definitely accurate to what we know of the time period. I enjoyed being with Stanley to see how he deals with The Time Key. Definitely a great book for those who love time travel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2016
I loved the characters, the narration, and the beautiful illustrations. This was the first book I read in this genre and it challenged me and opened my eyes. I had so many questions as I read, and they were all answered. Some I had to wait for until the very last page, but they were worth the wait!
July 21, 2016
Time travel intrigues me and this book does a wonderful spin on what could happen if one could truly travel in time. Includes a lot of suspense and a little fantasy too.
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