The Gambit

The Chronos Files

by Rysa Walker

Saul Rand is one of a select group of genetically-engineered CHRONOS historians who study the past firsthand. Convinced that he can create a better future than random chance and human blunder, Saul's main challenge is circumventing the system's safeguards--and he thinks he's found the perfect opening move.

This short story was originally published in The Time Travel Chronicles.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Short Stories, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2016

About the author

RYSA 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.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saul is just awful. For Pru and Simon, you can at least see how they weren't bad in the beginning. But Saul is just rotten to the core. The way he manipulates Katherine straight away... It's sad how easily she falls for it all, but she's young and trusting of her mentor, which you can't fault her for at all. But knowing she's going to fall in love with a man who thought about snapping her neck more than once on their first jump. It's so sad.
And to top it all off he so casually lists off his to-do list at the end, one item being the God's Hollow incident.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, Saul is a piece of work!

[Allison Clowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to read about the beginning of it all, and to see how Saul was always evil, even before devising all the Cyrist schemes. Easy, quick, and a good read!

[Emily M. McGuirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

More insight into the Narcissistic Saul

This was an interesting short story and it showed a lot more of how manipulative and narcissistic Saul really is as a character. Classic abuser with Kathy, convincing her it was something she did to change the events. As always, well written and reads quickly.

[Tesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good quick read

I truly love these Cronos books! They are very well written in my opinion. They always seem to have much research and knowledge coming through the paper! Love it! Hope you will write more!!!!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these background character dives

Oh Saul. It’s only now that I truly know & understand why & how Saul set up Kathy for the explosion that decimated Chronos.

I do love these novellas as each one has given more substance to a particular character’s actions or the history of the story as a whole.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed seeing Saul and Katherine together

It was short, super short, but still an enjoyable read. I wish I could see more of Saul and Katherine to see how their relationship evolved. Did he ever actually care for her?

[Tony Drummond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and shows how Saul and Katherine first meet.

We don't really learn anything new - I would like to know what made Saul such a villain and perhaps this is in a another book

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interesting to see things from Simons eyes. And to see the difficulty it was to be Simon.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saul Rand

Is awful. He is a bad influence completely. But girls love the bad boys don't they? "Sigh" poor Katherine. She could have done so much better.

[David Blaylock · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite book in the series, told from the POV of my least favorite character in the series.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story...

About Saul. He takes Katherine on their first trip into the past together. Not much added to cannon, but interesting.

[Darlene Klapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, he was evil even in the beginning.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick Saul story of little consequence but still fun

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!! Saul has been evil since the beginning. I knew it. Fun to see Katherine on her first jump. Loved this short story.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun teen/young adult series.