Timekeeper

Keeping Time #2

by Heather Albano

What happens when the Law of Unintended Consequences meets the Time-Travel Paradox?

Find out in the thrilling continuation of the Keeping Time trilogy!

Follow Elizabeth, William, Maxwell, and the rest as they do their best to set time right... again. Struggling to get history flowing correctly, they encounter a brutal, dystopian regime, steam-powered airships, breathtaking revelations, and a pocket watch that is both a tool and a trap.

Time travelers, freedom fighters, Frankenstein’s monster, the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon invading Britain by dirigible. 

What could possibly go wrong?

(Science fiction -- Steampunk time-travel, historical romance and adventure)

"If Jane Austen and Mary Shelley had locked H. G. Wells in a dungeon and revised his wildest work, the result would have been something like this rollicking steampunk time-travel adventure that still manages to be a comedy of manners. Albano s delightful characters confront the not only monsters and killer robots, but their own divided loyalties between personal happiness and the fate of their country." --Ken Schneyer, The Law & the Heart:

Genres: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

280 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2012

About the author

Heather Albano is a storyteller, history geek, and lover of both time-travel tropes and re-imaginings of older stories. In addition to novels, she writes interactive fiction. She finds the line between the two getting fuzzier all the time.

Heather lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two cats, a tankful of fish, and an excessive amount of tea. Learn more about her various projects at heatheralbano.com.

Reviews

[Steve Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed to wrap things up (to an extent). Somewhat reluctant to dive into the third book of the trilogy, but almost certainly will. Good for anyone who likes steampunk and time-travel.

[Janie Dullard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. The plot ran smoother, the characters had more depth, and the writing was just as strong as the first book, Timepiece. All of the minor quibbles I had with the first book were nonexistent here. I think you could read this book as a standalone, but I wouldn’t really recommend it – it definitely follows straight on from the first, and you’d miss a lot of the context. I think one of the great strengths of this book was how she took the same people and made them believably act differently due to their external circumstances, yet consistently with their characterization in the alternate timeline.

The story wraps up satisfactorily for two of the main characters, and there is enough closure for the third that you don’t feel left hanging, although that story is certainly not finished. I’ll certainly read that when/if she writes it, but I was very happy with the way things concluded.

**Review originally appeared at Lector's Books**

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful steam-punk time travel novel is the sequel to Timepiece, and picks up directly where that book ends. Elizabeth, William, and Maxwell must fix the damage they have done to the 19th century timeline, while grappling with issues both personal and global. There's adventure, romance, and philosophical musings, all of a most satisfying variety. I found it all so compelling that I nearly missed my bus stop while reading.
I really liked what Albano did with the character of Brenda Trevelyan in this book, revealing depths and complexities that were not at all apparent in Timepiece. It kind of reminded me of what Glen Duncan did with Madeline in Tallula Rising. I also liked the way the different timelines brought out different aspects of the various characters yet also showed what was most essential because it was constant.

[Katy Surber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

This series has all that I look for in books; creativity, excellent characters and time travel that doesn't get too confusing. Slight romance without getting too cloying. Plus Frankenstein monsters versus giant metal monsters. What's not too love?

[Alecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel that doesn't fall prey to the sophomore slump. We begin where "Timepiece" ends and this time, our protagonists are trying to prevent dystopia.

I need more!

[Laurie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love time travel books, and this one didn't disappoint. I'm waiting for Heather to write something else. I'll buy it.

[Tony Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel - now have to wait or a year to finish! Well written and better than first in series ( which was good)

[J.L. Dobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timekeeper (Timepiece series) by Heather Albano

I love a book that makes me work and this one did that.

Well not just this one, there's the stack of historical romance novels that all boast the name Trevelyan on them somewhere and then there's the previous series of Steampunk I've read with a Lady Trevelyan and now this with one with minor major characters of the same name. So of course being a neophyte of both Steampunk and Historical Romance and possibly even History itself, I needed to explore to find out about the obsession here.

Were talking Victorian era and that's usually most likely associated some how or another with the UK and others of the EU. There really is a family of that name that seems to have quite a colorful history with the UK and some show up nicely in this time frame. I would hope or imagine this is more in reference to G. M. Trevelyan who was a noted historian after whom was named a college. As an aside to that I noted that Trevelyan College of Durham University ( named after the historian G. M. Trevelyan) presently boasts a professor Trevelyan of mechanics in the school of engineering and that Cardiff University boasts a Dr. who obtained his PhD under the supervision of same said Trevelyan. So there may even be relevance today for the engineering skills of this Trevelyan character.

That said I loved this story as much as the previous but felt in a way that as far as the real plot of this one it was encapsulated within only a small portion of this book and probably could have been inserted into the end of the previous novel. That's just an observation and not a judgement. Surely had it been condensed into the part that seemed appropriate to the plot if we were to continue from the plot of the previous book then we would have missed out on the gem that showcases the authors skills in writing. Since I really enjoyed the story and a prevailing theme is about people making informed choices I can't possibly complain since this sets these people up for an informed choice.

We have here, largely, the story of Gavin Trevelyan and Brenda Evens; Katerina Rasmirovna and Frederick Kent. All of these we have met or heard mention of previously in another reality. This is mostly the story of what they must decide to sacrifice or not in order that our time travelers, Maxwell, William and Elizabeth can move on and attempt to muddle up history again. I can't say that I'm totally happy that it seemed they were almost forced (by events) into the decision in the long run, but at the very least it thrusts our characters back into the main plot-line, which is the important part.

I could almost envision William and Elizabeth as two authors who are writing and rewriting the story of these people. They should try to realize that the more they rewrite the less they may want to actually get to know these people, especially since introductions seem to include having at some time to reveal that they could inadvertently be the architects of these peoples lives. I suppose Maxwell had escaped that by trying in most cases to not reveal too much of who he was.

There is one more time traveler in this one; but you will simply have to read it to find out who it is.

This book brings us to a satisfactory conclusion while leaving the door open for more novels in this set. I can honestly say by the time it finished I almost felt I had spent more time at Waterloo than Napoleon and Wellington. Thankfully Heather keeps every visit there visually entertaining and somewhat modified: each time.

If you've read the previous book you will enjoy this one as much. If not you should: it should interest anyone interested in alternate history and SFF and SteamPunk ; although this one seems more Victorian Romance than Steampunk. In that respect it did lose a bit of... Steam.

I might slowly be coming to be a fan of Steampunk and even some limited-ly so of Victorian Romance. I'm definitely becoming a fan of Heather Albano.

J.L. Dobias

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Timekeeper" eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Heather Albano (https://www.facebook.com/heatheralban...). This is Ms. Albano's second publication and the second in her "Keeping Time" series.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set across time in Europe. The primary character is 17-year-old Elizabeth Barton. She, along with her love interest William Carrington and mysterious friend Maxwell, continue their fight to put the timeline back the way it should be. 

They use their time travel pocketwatch to move to one critical moment in time after another. They are fighting a very dangerous battle to keep both the Frankenstein like monsters and the metal giants from ever being created. They must also find a way to keep Napolean from victory at Waterloo. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 280-page young adult steampunk thriller. This novel is just a continuation of "Timepiece" the first novel in the series. The characters are much the same as in that first novel. I have enjoyed the first two novels in the trilogy and look forward to the third. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5. 

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent conclusion to the first book! It balances the other nicely (but will make much more sense if book 1 is read first). The descriptions of Mary Shelley meets HG Wells is quite apt, and it reminds me a bit of the recent TV show Timeless, though rather than people from the present going back in time to change/fix time, it is people from the Regency era moving forward (and a bit backward, as the occasion demands) to ensure a safe and healthy future. I greatly enjoyed the two together.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the previous volume Elizabeth and William have done what they set out to do. But when they return 1885 to see if things are fixed, they find a different disaster than the first visit. Britain is under the rule of France. They have to convince the Resistance that they are on their side and tell them what has happened. Some new players are in the group and the previous characters have developed differently over time. Most of the action this time happens in 1885, less time jumping. Some secrets are revealed and the ending does a decent job of solving most of the problems, but leaves some questions for the third book of the trilogy.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the author's previous book Timepiece a great deal, so I was building up high expectations for this one. Unfortunately, for me it never quite caught fire, even in the scene where the house literally caught fire.

Part of the issue may have been with the pacing. There were long stretches of reflection in between scenes of relatively little action.

Breaking it down into my four reviewing categories:

1. Language. It was competently written, though clogged with verbosity a couple of times. I realize that this was partly an attempt to convey a period feel (or an homage to Frankenstein), but I found it dragged. The editing is also a touch rough, though I've read much, much, much worse (including in at least four books from HarperCollins). There were a couple of incorrect homophones ("errant nonsense" for "arrant nonsense", and "affect" where it should have been "effect"), but most of the errors were missing or misplaced words in sentences. It was clear enough what they meant, but the effect (not affect) was to give an impression that the writing was rushed and sloppy. I know this wasn't the case, because I've been following the author's blog and she has worked hard over a long period on this book, but there it is. Language: 3 stars.

2. Plot. I didn't have quite the sense of intricacy from the plot this time, perhaps because there was a lot less time traveling than in the previous book. Instead, there were flashbacks to how secondary characters ended up doing what they were doing, interspersed between a lot of scenes in which the main characters agonized over what they should do next to fix what they'd done wrong last time. There was a theme about when one should take decisive action and when one should think things through, and the balance was definitely towards the latter. Although the stakes were high, this held the characters back from action more than it propelled them towards it. Plot: 3 stars.

3. Characters. We got to meet alternate versions of some characters from the previous book, and they were different enough to be interesting, though one was less likable and the other wasn't likable in either book. We also met some people who had brief appearances or were mentioned in the other book, and I found them appealing and interesting. Unfortunately, though, I didn't feel that the main characters developed all that much this time. Their relationship became spoken rather than unspoken, but that was almost a formality by that point.

The themes of giving women their independence and of getting people to change their actions by talking candidly like sensible adults were well chosen, I thought, and well demonstrated by the characters. I'll give this section 4 stars.

4. Setting. Heather Albano takes a great deal of trouble over her research, and it shows. The historical details felt real without a lot of infodumping, and were concisely and naturally conveyed. The different feel of the different versions of London came through well, I thought, and the various settings were made clearly distinct from one another with a minimum of description. Four stars for the setting.

If you've been keeping track and doing the mental arithmetic, you'll see that I've arrived at 3.5 stars, which is about where I ended up as an overall score. I didn't round it up to 4 because I just didn't quite feel it was a 4-star book. With better editing and tighter pacing, I think it would have been.

Now, I'm aware that I've frequently said that I liked the first book in part because it wasn't the usual style of steampunk, where the author hotglues brass gears to a top hat and sticks it on Indiana Jones. It was more thoughtful than that, better researched, and the characters had more depth and realism. But this, I think, has gone just a couple of steps too far in the other direction, and needed more action to be the book I was hoping for.

[Brian Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Timekeeper, the sequel to Timepiece, Ms. Albano continues the story of Elizabeth, William, and Maxwell as they travel through time trying to create a better future.

Why to buy this book: This book focuses more on relationships and less on action than its predecessor, and I think the book is better off for it. This author seems more skilled at the romantic elements and character development, and she plays to her strengths. Truthfully, though, even the action sequences are better.

Why not to buy the book: Whereas I had a litany of complaints about the first book, I felt this one was much better. There was one interlude chapter I skip-read because it annoyed me so badly. The only other major issue I had was that some of the character conflicts got a little repetitious.

Bottom Line: This wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read or anything, but it was a good experience, well worth the $3 I paid for it. 4 Stars.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great follow up to the first in the trilogy as we find out how the changes induced in the first book impacted the course of history and whether it corrected the world or brought its own list of problems for them to fix. Of course, you know the answer to that as it is only the second book of the trilogy,

I really loved how we got to know Gavin Trevelyan's wife, Brenda, whose back story and role in this book is much larger than in the first. It was also enticing to read about another similar, yet different Katerina. There are so many other surprises and mysteries along the way, but I won't spoil them! The writing is still engaging, the characters still draw you in and I was still sitting on the edge of my seat, anxious to find out what happened next!

This is a must read, as is the rest of the trilogy!

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description
What happens when the Law of Unintended Consequences meets the Time-Travel Paradox? Find out in the thrilling continuation of the Keeping Time trilogy! Follow Elizabeth, William, Maxwell, and the rest as they do their best to set time right...again. Struggling to get history flowing correctly, they encounter a brutal dystopian regime, steam-powered airships, breathtaking revelations, and a pocket watch that is both a tool and a trap. Time travelers, freedom fighters, Frankenstein's monster, the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon invading Britain by dirigible - what could possibly go wrong?

My Review
Let me start off with saying that this is part of a trilogy and I highly recommend you read all three books. That being said Timekeeper has well-crafted characters, interesting plot and the kind of books that keeps you entertained until the very end.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second installment of this trilogy. Getting to know Elizabeth & William better & who they are in relation to Maxwell. Their continued adventure & to know where things will eventually end up.
The first book was a little slow for me & I found Elizabeth's character a bit petulant but I can now understand her frustrations & disliking the role life has put her in because she's a woman & not a man. She has a courageous heart & one that wants to see the world made right & does all that she can to make sure things happen & change.
William is a nice, calm contrast to Elizabeth's spur of the moment, feisty personality. They compliment each other well & he tempers Elizabeth's exuberance.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone that likes period, steampunk genres.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This original story line continues as the cast of characters must "fix" the history that has been broken to limit consequences in the future. As they move through time, the reader must keep up with the differing changes that happen quickly. Whether they are the right changes we won't be able to tell until time moves forward again. This is book #2 of the trilogy. It picks up right where the first book left off and zooms into history at a very quick pace. The characters must decide quickly what actions to take or face another drastic change in their tomorrows. A unique spin on a history book that has a little fun as they work.

[Marian Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to Timepiece picks up directly where the first book left off, and plays merry hell with notions of linear time and causality. It's a good, fast read, but suffers from a lack of good editing. Albano has a tendency to fall in love with certain words ('indigo' being one that immediately springs to mind) and overuse them - that's something any editor worth their salt should pick up and rectify.

Nonetheless, it's lots of fun and well worth the time.

[Stefanie Lubkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it's possible, I think I enjoyed this even more than the first in the series, Timepiece. Excellent pacing, great storytelling.

[Linda Cavanaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as exciting as the first book of the series, but still a great read.

[Volpot · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. DNF. Confusing and poorly written story. If there will be more to this series, I won't read them