What do you think?
Rate this book
The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek #3
Mirror at the Heart of Time
Blind greed tears at the fabric of space-time … and an acclaimed trilogy concludes!
When Ixdahan Daherek, the arrogant son of a Snaldrialooran aristocrat was exiled to Earth, he began a journey that took him to the boundaries of the settled universe and the limits of consciousness. Throughout his struggles, Ixdahan’s heart has always relied on Earth girl Lena Gabrilowicz, the only person in eight galaxies who knows what planet he's on.
Now, in the concluding chapter of Ixdahan’s saga, a shadowy figure warns of a new and terrifying conflict: battle for control of Time itself.
Will Ixdahan stop the erosion of space-time and win Lena’s love? The answer depends on the maniacal schemes of an ancient diet doctor, the amorous yearnings of a vast multiversal mentality … and the quiet empathy of a thoughtful Treolan rebel.
When Ixdahan Daherek, the arrogant son of a Snaldrialooran aristocrat was exiled to Earth, he began a journey that took him to the boundaries of the settled universe and the limits of consciousness. Throughout his struggles, Ixdahan’s heart has always relied on Earth girl Lena Gabrilowicz, the only person in eight galaxies who knows what planet he's on.
Now, in the concluding chapter of Ixdahan’s saga, a shadowy figure warns of a new and terrifying conflict: battle for control of Time itself.
Will Ixdahan stop the erosion of space-time and win Lena’s love? The answer depends on the maniacal schemes of an ancient diet doctor, the amorous yearnings of a vast multiversal mentality … and the quiet empathy of a thoughtful Treolan rebel.
210 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
142 people want to read
About the author
Mark Laporta
7 books17 followersThe stories that move me are about people shaped by moral dilemmas, love, and the sheer absurdity of everyday life. I'm intrigued by people smart enough to know how stupid they are—but unable to stop themselves from obeying their compulsions. That is, until a critical event shakes their foundations and opens a fissure in their rock-solid view of reality.
How do these people think, what's driving their emotions, as they hurtle toward the trouble lurking just around the corner?
Sometimes success starts with a patch of bad luck. And sometimes what looks like a windfall turns out to be a rampaging hurricane, lifting them up and out of everything they believe in. At both extremes are situations absurd enough to look tragic and grave enough to look ridiculous—if only we slap on the right pair of lenses.
Yet within this skewed matrix we like to call "The Way Things Are," every random occurrence opens a world of possibility to people with vision. My favorite characters lie just within that range. Heroes? No. Just people driven by nature to poke around in destiny’s darkest shadows.
How do these people think, what's driving their emotions, as they hurtle toward the trouble lurking just around the corner?
Sometimes success starts with a patch of bad luck. And sometimes what looks like a windfall turns out to be a rampaging hurricane, lifting them up and out of everything they believe in. At both extremes are situations absurd enough to look tragic and grave enough to look ridiculous—if only we slap on the right pair of lenses.
Yet within this skewed matrix we like to call "The Way Things Are," every random occurrence opens a world of possibility to people with vision. My favorite characters lie just within that range. Heroes? No. Just people driven by nature to poke around in destiny’s darkest shadows.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2017
This review was originally posted at Fanbase Press .
font size decrease font size increase font size Print Email
WRITTEN BY JODI SCAIFE, FANBASE PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
TUESDAY, 30 MAY 2017 19:18 READ 122 TIMES
‘MIRROR AT THE HEART OF TIME:’ BOOK REVIEW
‘Mirror at the Heart of Time:’ Book Review
Disaffected and spoiled Snaldrialooran teen Ixdahan Daherek became an unexpected hero during his exile to Earth in Heart of Earth and found himself drawn back towards greatness when he stumbled across a plot for universal conquest in his second adventure, Heart of Mystery; however, nothing could prepare him for the sheer megalomaniacal wackiness of the Zoktylese plan to subjugate “non-sentient” worlds to cultivate more fields of the root that form the basis of their diet. Add in the fact that Ixdahan has become a little less, well, corporeal due to events at the end of the previous book, and the youngster is struggling to come to terms with his new situation while he transitions from youth to man.
To me the focus of The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek trilogy is how a selfish, self-centered youngster learns how to care about others and grow into a functional adult. Sure, there are a lot of trappings of interstellar warfare, alien worlds, fun spaceships, and all manner of sci-fi shenanigans, but none of the stories are just about space opera. The person Ixdahan is at the beginning of the trilogy and the final pages is very different, and while much of Mirror at the Heart of Time can stand alone, I think reading all three books enhanced my experience.
The basic story in Mirror at the Heart of Time is that Ixdahan has gotten embroiled in yet another interstellar plot that threatens the planet he loves, Earth. The Zoktylese (a not-too-subtle jab at crazy diet fads) are rapidly running out of space to grow Zoktyla root fields, the sole food in their diet, and they’re looking further afield for new societies to subjugate (i.e., eliminate). Earth is on the radar, and Ixdahan along with the Onkendren, some new friends from Book 2, prepare to prevent the strike. Throw in an Earth girl Ixdahan can’t forget: Lena Gabrilowicz; a beautiful and sexually confident Onkendren; Vendera; and not having a fleshly body, and the teenage protagonist faces a lot of complications. Mark Laporta’s other additions to the plot serve to open a universe far larger than humans have ever imagined, and while this book ends Ixdahan’s trilogy, I suspect there may be more stories to be told in the rich creation.
I absolutely adored the depth of Laporta’s world building in Mirror at the Heart of Time, although it helped that I knew some of the various races from the first two books. Each race or species felt unique and not just a humanoid with odd hair or appendages stuck to the face. In my opinion, any focus on Earth felt unnecessary, because I was intrigued by the new planets and societies, not how a relatively backward Earth had to be protected from the knowledge of sentient life forms in the universe.
Mirror at the Heart of Time is a young adult novel, so I wasn’t surprised at the hint of romance included along with the adventure and heroics. Most teenagers grapple with the pain of first love or love in general, so it’s relatable to the target audience; however, it felt shoehorned into the story, even the bits with multiversal beings readying themselves for mating/courtship season. The references took me out of the rich science fiction story, and sometimes I found the characters’ behavior a little irritating. (I haven’t been a teenager in a long time you see…) I know that some readers probably would find it charming; it just didn’t work entirely for me. The only major plus is that Laporta avoided one of my least favorite young adult tropes: your first love or high school love being The One ™. The romance exists, but it’s definitely not perfect.
Overall, if you enjoy world building and inventive science fiction that shows the wonders of the universe, Mirror at the Heart of Time, is an excellent read (however, please read all three books in the series, because they’re just better that way). Elements will appeal to adults and younger readers alike, and the characters within the pages will stay with you after the last pages are turned.
4 Unexpected Dietary Side Effects out of 5
font size decrease font size increase font size Print Email
WRITTEN BY JODI SCAIFE, FANBASE PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
TUESDAY, 30 MAY 2017 19:18 READ 122 TIMES
‘MIRROR AT THE HEART OF TIME:’ BOOK REVIEW
‘Mirror at the Heart of Time:’ Book Review
Disaffected and spoiled Snaldrialooran teen Ixdahan Daherek became an unexpected hero during his exile to Earth in Heart of Earth and found himself drawn back towards greatness when he stumbled across a plot for universal conquest in his second adventure, Heart of Mystery; however, nothing could prepare him for the sheer megalomaniacal wackiness of the Zoktylese plan to subjugate “non-sentient” worlds to cultivate more fields of the root that form the basis of their diet. Add in the fact that Ixdahan has become a little less, well, corporeal due to events at the end of the previous book, and the youngster is struggling to come to terms with his new situation while he transitions from youth to man.
To me the focus of The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek trilogy is how a selfish, self-centered youngster learns how to care about others and grow into a functional adult. Sure, there are a lot of trappings of interstellar warfare, alien worlds, fun spaceships, and all manner of sci-fi shenanigans, but none of the stories are just about space opera. The person Ixdahan is at the beginning of the trilogy and the final pages is very different, and while much of Mirror at the Heart of Time can stand alone, I think reading all three books enhanced my experience.
The basic story in Mirror at the Heart of Time is that Ixdahan has gotten embroiled in yet another interstellar plot that threatens the planet he loves, Earth. The Zoktylese (a not-too-subtle jab at crazy diet fads) are rapidly running out of space to grow Zoktyla root fields, the sole food in their diet, and they’re looking further afield for new societies to subjugate (i.e., eliminate). Earth is on the radar, and Ixdahan along with the Onkendren, some new friends from Book 2, prepare to prevent the strike. Throw in an Earth girl Ixdahan can’t forget: Lena Gabrilowicz; a beautiful and sexually confident Onkendren; Vendera; and not having a fleshly body, and the teenage protagonist faces a lot of complications. Mark Laporta’s other additions to the plot serve to open a universe far larger than humans have ever imagined, and while this book ends Ixdahan’s trilogy, I suspect there may be more stories to be told in the rich creation.
I absolutely adored the depth of Laporta’s world building in Mirror at the Heart of Time, although it helped that I knew some of the various races from the first two books. Each race or species felt unique and not just a humanoid with odd hair or appendages stuck to the face. In my opinion, any focus on Earth felt unnecessary, because I was intrigued by the new planets and societies, not how a relatively backward Earth had to be protected from the knowledge of sentient life forms in the universe.
Mirror at the Heart of Time is a young adult novel, so I wasn’t surprised at the hint of romance included along with the adventure and heroics. Most teenagers grapple with the pain of first love or love in general, so it’s relatable to the target audience; however, it felt shoehorned into the story, even the bits with multiversal beings readying themselves for mating/courtship season. The references took me out of the rich science fiction story, and sometimes I found the characters’ behavior a little irritating. (I haven’t been a teenager in a long time you see…) I know that some readers probably would find it charming; it just didn’t work entirely for me. The only major plus is that Laporta avoided one of my least favorite young adult tropes: your first love or high school love being The One ™. The romance exists, but it’s definitely not perfect.
Overall, if you enjoy world building and inventive science fiction that shows the wonders of the universe, Mirror at the Heart of Time, is an excellent read (however, please read all three books in the series, because they’re just better that way). Elements will appeal to adults and younger readers alike, and the characters within the pages will stay with you after the last pages are turned.
4 Unexpected Dietary Side Effects out of 5
February 5, 2017
This was an enthralling book with amazing ideas, characters, and planets. Something as innocent as a diet can become very complicated and evil, which then causes a chain of problems that various characters in the book are trying to solve. In my opinion, this was the best of the series. It was very interesting to watch the characters grow and change.
February 10, 2017
A smashing end to a great trilogy; this one is a metaphysical marvel, lifting the whole series into an unexpected dimension. It's a complicated piece of work, still great for kids but more sophisticated, and still funny and crazy as always. Highly recommended.
August 20, 2017
Mirror at the Heart of Time is a brilliant conclusion to an equally brilliant series that will leave readers ecstatic, on the edge of their seats, and heart broken to see such great characters go, but it’s well worth it.
In case you haven’t noticed, I adore these books. The wonderful characters, the outlandish conflicts, the strange worlds and aliens, all of it. Mirror at the Heart of Time is no exception. In addition everything I loved about the first two books, the trilogy’s conclusion reaches a level of maturity that makes it a must-read for fans of YA, especially fans of YA sci-fi and fantasy.
I’ve talked at lengths about Laporta’s great world building and creative story telling in the reviews for Heart of Earth and Heart of Mystery, but I can’t emphasize enough how great his characters are, especially in this final installment. It’s been quite the adventure watching Ixdahan and Lena grow as characters over the course of these books and Laporta gives them the perfect send off, both for the characters as well the readers, I think.
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning again: If you write YA, sci-fi or otherwise, I highly recommend this series just to see how Laporta writes teenagers, because he does it brilliantly.
So, if you’re a fan of YA, sci-fi, or you want to take a few hours and feel like a kid again, check out the entire Changing Hearts series. It’s a smart, funny, endearing trip through the cosmos you won’t soon forget.
In case you haven’t noticed, I adore these books. The wonderful characters, the outlandish conflicts, the strange worlds and aliens, all of it. Mirror at the Heart of Time is no exception. In addition everything I loved about the first two books, the trilogy’s conclusion reaches a level of maturity that makes it a must-read for fans of YA, especially fans of YA sci-fi and fantasy.
I’ve talked at lengths about Laporta’s great world building and creative story telling in the reviews for Heart of Earth and Heart of Mystery, but I can’t emphasize enough how great his characters are, especially in this final installment. It’s been quite the adventure watching Ixdahan and Lena grow as characters over the course of these books and Laporta gives them the perfect send off, both for the characters as well the readers, I think.
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning again: If you write YA, sci-fi or otherwise, I highly recommend this series just to see how Laporta writes teenagers, because he does it brilliantly.
So, if you’re a fan of YA, sci-fi, or you want to take a few hours and feel like a kid again, check out the entire Changing Hearts series. It’s a smart, funny, endearing trip through the cosmos you won’t soon forget.
February 20, 2017
Mark Laporta sticks the landing with the conclusion of his trilogy, Mirror at the Heart of Time.
It contains teen drama, political intrigue, and neat sci-fi stuff with space-time and the multiverse. It's light-hearted and sweet, and contains an optimism that many SF writers forget about or are not interested in.
The writer makes some interesting choices in naming characters and places. They're long and complex: Ixdahan Daherek. Snaldrialooran. The names look funny, like something from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but they're not played that way.
I approve. These names stand out, unlike those of many sci-fi writers, who keep to the same naming tropes as everyone else, with varying amounts of apostrophes.
This collection contains all three of the books in the series, which is great for readers who misplace books easily. You don't have to keep track of all three, they're right here! So convenient.
(This review is from an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. So nice! Honesty is a good thing and leads to cool books.)
It contains teen drama, political intrigue, and neat sci-fi stuff with space-time and the multiverse. It's light-hearted and sweet, and contains an optimism that many SF writers forget about or are not interested in.
The writer makes some interesting choices in naming characters and places. They're long and complex: Ixdahan Daherek. Snaldrialooran. The names look funny, like something from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but they're not played that way.
I approve. These names stand out, unlike those of many sci-fi writers, who keep to the same naming tropes as everyone else, with varying amounts of apostrophes.
This collection contains all three of the books in the series, which is great for readers who misplace books easily. You don't have to keep track of all three, they're right here! So convenient.
(This review is from an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. So nice! Honesty is a good thing and leads to cool books.)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews