The Secrets of Time and Fate

Jackdaw Hammond #3

by Rebecca Alexander

16th CenturyEdward Kelley and his mentor Dr John Dee have come to a crossroads. At the mercy of Countess Elizabeth Báthory, they set out to find a cure for her unnatural condition.21st CenturyJackdaw Hammond is living rough in London, blacking out and waking with a sense of dread. Can the lessons of the past help defeat the dark magic that threatens to steal her soul?

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2016

About the author

Having had a career in psychology, Rebecca Alexander decided to take time out to raise and home educate six children - and home educate herself with an MA in Creative Writing. The Secrets of Life and Death (2013) was a runner up in the 2011 novel writing competition with Mslexia and an agent and book deal for three books ensued. The Secrets of Blood and Bone (2014) and The Secrets of Time and Fate (2016) were published by Del Rey UK. With a historical strand exploring 16th century sorcery and a contemporary story about revenants, the books enjoyed a fantasy readership.

Since then, A Baby's Bones will be published by Titan Books (May 1 2018) and is decidedly crime. A sequel comes out next April, and the books follow the work of an archaeologist trying to solve crimes in the past. And staying safe in the present, with the help of Felix Guichard from the Secrets series. Things are still going bump in the night.

Reviews

[JJ DeBenedictis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good find and I'll be buying more in the series. It's the second book, but I had no trouble jumping in despite not having read the first. The action is clear and engaging, the characters are interesting, and it's a nicely smart and quick-paced story. I had a bit of trouble keeping characters straight, because the book is split between three separate time eras and there are a lot of people running around, mostly with generic European names (including two women whose knicknames are men's names, which really did not help). Other than that, however, this was a fun, easy read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first two books in this series a few years ago but never got around to the final one until now. The book introduces some new characters while following the dual timeline format of the previous books. I found the inclusion of the pirates and the sea battle a fun touch in an otherwise dark and dramatic fantasy story. The series comes to a satisfying conclusion, with some characters surviving and some not.

[Linda Humberstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this final book in this trilogy. It moves along smoothly and the second half becomes more and more exciting. I was sorry that some of the characters had to be sacrificed as I had grown to like them but 'alls well that ends well' and these three books were a very good read that enabled me to enjoy the Christmas break.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series. Interesting concept. Fantasy isn’t my go-to unless it has some basis in something could even be remotely possible in real life - and this series does. I got very attached to the characters and liked that there was a satisfying end on all the different levels. My 4 stars is really a 4.5. Wish there was an option for half stars!

[Kariss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story and the people - should have started with book 1

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit I didn`t enjoy this book, it kept jumping from century to century so I gave it up. Maybe I will try it again next year

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is interesting and does follow on from the previous books, but it jumps to and fro between timelines for me to really enjoy it. I kept losing track of who was who in the plot.

[jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

making me wanna get better at latin, this was so interesting and i shouldve read the first two books but i really didnt realise until i started reading!! felix <333 my fave

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this book, was a good ending. Wouldn't read again

[Kerry Bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saraquel, the angel, has taken possession of Jackdaw Hammond and is trying to turn her into a monster. Felix Guichard, will stop at nothing to help Jack vanquish Saraquel. But Jack is a revenant, a person living beyond their time, and the only way to stop Saraquel may well stop Jack too. With the help of the Vatican exorcism team, can Felix bring back Jack?

This book is the last in a trilogy and, unfortunately, I have not read the first two before getting to this one. For some novels this wouldn't matter, but this one does lean heavily on the fact that the reader knows the back stories of the characters, and clearly in htis case I did not!

That being said, although I did have to assume in some parts that the events referenced had been explained in previous novels, I did enjoy this one and found it an involving story. The way that the characters of Felix and Jack particularly were written, did make me care about them and want them to succeed, and the over arcing story did seem to be an interesting one.

Although this is clearly a fantasy novel it is grounded enough not to be too fantastic and might well appeal to those who like a medieval read as well as those who like a good fantasy, so it does have a wide possible readership.

All in all, I would recommend starting at the beginning of the trilogy, but I might well go away and do that myself as I do think it I would enjoy it.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild, daring, alchemical, and wicked series

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really grabbing me... (and I'm half-way through) but I'm persisting... lol
I suspect this is one of those cases where having started with book one, rather than book three, would have been a good idea. I don't feel any of the characters are particularly sympathetic, with the possible exception of Kelly's daughter, in her occasional appearances.
**
Having now finished the novel, I do admit to finding the second half of the book a fraction more riveting...