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TimeRiders #6
Les Brumes de Londres
Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.
But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...
Hunted by cyborg assassins from the future, the TimeRiders must abandon New York and go on the run. They escape to Victorian London and the streets where Jack the Ripper roams. But, before they can establish their new base, they make their most shattering discovery yet - and it will change everything ...
**Book six in the bestselling TimeRiders series by Alex Scarrow.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.
But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...
Hunted by cyborg assassins from the future, the TimeRiders must abandon New York and go on the run. They escape to Victorian London and the streets where Jack the Ripper roams. But, before they can establish their new base, they make their most shattering discovery yet - and it will change everything ...
**Book six in the bestselling TimeRiders series by Alex Scarrow.
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2013
42 people are currently reading
2246 people want to read
About the author
Alex Scarrow
63 books1,047 followersI live a nomadic existence with my wife Frances, and son Jacob. For now we're living in Norwich. I spent the first 10 years out of college in the music business chasing record deals and the next 12 years in the computer games business as a graphic artist and eventually a games designer. For those of you who like their computer games, here's some of the titles I've worked on:
Waterworld, Evolva, The Thing, Spartan, Gates of Troy, Legion Arena
Since signing up as an author with Orion, I seem to spend most of my time hunched over my laptop in various cafes and coffee bars sipping lattes, tapping keys and watching the ebb and flow of shoppers outside on the street. As I write this, I'm awaiting the launch of my next book - the sequel to , LAST LIGHT, and getting ready to find a publisher for the first book in a separate series, ELLIE QUIN. Ahead of me, lies research work for my next thriller, and also some screenplays I'm looking forward to writing. Although I'm glad to be where I am now, I do occasionally kick myself for not having succumbed to the writing bug much earlier. But then we all just muddle along through life, don't we? There's rarely a plan.
-Source: http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html
Waterworld, Evolva, The Thing, Spartan, Gates of Troy, Legion Arena
Since signing up as an author with Orion, I seem to spend most of my time hunched over my laptop in various cafes and coffee bars sipping lattes, tapping keys and watching the ebb and flow of shoppers outside on the street. As I write this, I'm awaiting the launch of my next book - the sequel to , LAST LIGHT, and getting ready to find a publisher for the first book in a separate series, ELLIE QUIN. Ahead of me, lies research work for my next thriller, and also some screenplays I'm looking forward to writing. Although I'm glad to be where I am now, I do occasionally kick myself for not having succumbed to the writing bug much earlier. But then we all just muddle along through life, don't we? There's rarely a plan.
-Source: http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 11, 2012
I have to ask myself how this series has not been picked up by someone for making into a TV series or even better a series of full length movies.
With every book Alex Scarrow has teased, tantalised and thrilled. He quite clearly has had the whole story arc (for the series) in his head from day one. This has allowed him to write and play with the plot and characters in such a way that he has pulled the audience into other worlds, other times other realities.
His imagination as an author is staggering. (something he uses in Both this series and his Adult Thrillers books
A Thousand Suns
October Skies
The Candle Man
Last Light
Afterlight )
and this entire amazing Young Adult series. A series that appeals to me at 41 as much as it does ny nieces and nephews 13+.
It will be very hard to actually tell you about this story, because this book in the series gives away so much more than previous books. So much about the team is revealed it leaves you gasping! The revelations about the team are shocking to say the least, add in some amusing drop ins like the origin of a certain time travel story and this really is an excellent read.
Where can Alex go next? well pop along to his forum and speculate with the rest of us... because every time i thought i had the plot pegged Alex suprised me. [...]
So if you have stumbled on this book and wonder if you should read it...yes yes yes yes...but go get these books first.
TimeRiders (Book 1)
TimeRiders: Day of the Predator (Book 2)
TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code (Book 3)
TimeRiders: The Eternal War (Book 4)
TimeRiders: Gates of Rome (Book 5)
Would i recommend this book to you..Yes Highly no matter your age.
Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by
With every book Alex Scarrow has teased, tantalised and thrilled. He quite clearly has had the whole story arc (for the series) in his head from day one. This has allowed him to write and play with the plot and characters in such a way that he has pulled the audience into other worlds, other times other realities.
His imagination as an author is staggering. (something he uses in Both this series and his Adult Thrillers books
A Thousand Suns
October Skies
The Candle Man
Last Light
Afterlight )
and this entire amazing Young Adult series. A series that appeals to me at 41 as much as it does ny nieces and nephews 13+.
It will be very hard to actually tell you about this story, because this book in the series gives away so much more than previous books. So much about the team is revealed it leaves you gasping! The revelations about the team are shocking to say the least, add in some amusing drop ins like the origin of a certain time travel story and this really is an excellent read.
Where can Alex go next? well pop along to his forum and speculate with the rest of us... because every time i thought i had the plot pegged Alex suprised me. [...]
So if you have stumbled on this book and wonder if you should read it...yes yes yes yes...but go get these books first.
TimeRiders (Book 1)
TimeRiders: Day of the Predator (Book 2)
TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code (Book 3)
TimeRiders: The Eternal War (Book 4)
TimeRiders: Gates of Rome (Book 5)
Would i recommend this book to you..Yes Highly no matter your age.
Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by
July 12, 2012
Science Fiction and time travel at its most entertaining, enthralling and thought provoking best in this knock-out game changing instalment.
This is the 6th instalment of a planned 9 book scifi time travel epic. Whilst each book has a near standalone "adventure of the week" storyline there is an intriguing and mystifying grand story arc that underlines all 9 books.
This instalment however, changes that structural pattern and texture, instead taking us full whack into the main story arc from start to finish, effectively making this the most stunning and exhilarating entry yet. There are revelations here that would knock you out unconscious. With book 5 ending with a cliffhanger, book 6 wastes no time resuming where it left off, after a customary sidestepping prologue.
In every previous book, the author, Alex Scarrow, has always exhibited a truly masterful talent for storytelling. He constantly drives the narrative at an entertainingly fast pace, exuding heart pumping thrills and a delightfully grounded, logical sense of imagination when depicting alternate realities, past, present and future, depending on the nature of time travelling tamperings. Every bit of science fiction from technology to social/society behaviour to time travelling are given realistic air of possibilities with logical (sometimes head spinning!) explanations. Scarrow maintains those quality ingredients in this novel but then excels further by sweeping us into the grand story arc, flooring us with the radical plot turns (which have clearly been planned meticulously well from the beginning), and infusing our minds with intelligent thought provoking philosophies on life, society and humanity, through the eyes of our much much loved protagonists, Maddy, Liam and Sal.
But for all the mind blowing narrative wizardry, the heart and soul of the book always lie with the journey of 3 lonely teen-aged characters burdened with the simple task of saving the world with the most limited of external guidance, and a surmountable load of murderous obstacles. As much as Harry Potter fans have grown attached to Harry, Ron and Hermione, we Timeriders fans have by now become as equally attached to the fates of these superbly crafted characters and to their support unit sidekicks. The revelations in this book binds us even more towards them than ever. This book is their story all the way.
There are other heavily written important elements in the story, characters and locations in time and space that will delight and instil fear in equal measure but I shall not mention any of them, as part of the fun is their reveal and integration with our protagonists' journey. I don't want to spoil any of that for you.
There isnt as much action set-pieces and thrills as in previous books but that is compensated for the pure dynamite storytelling and I assure all Timeriders fans, you will be turning those pages no less frequent than the previous books, if anything you will be turning them quicker (I finished the book myself in 3 days). I actually thought book 5 was the pivotal point of the series and prematurely claimed that entry to be the equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back. I take that back, this is the TRUE Empire Strikes Back of the series. This is the game changer. This is magnificent science fiction.
If you are new to the Timeriders series than this book may not make any sense, or have any impact if you jump straight to this. It is the least standalone book of the series. I simply recommend, without hesitation, for you to start with Book 1. I shall then envy you as you experience Alex Scarrows' remarkable science fiction chronicles for the first time.
But as for you fellows Timeriders fans, ah Jay'zuz, wait til' ye get a load o' this one!
Note: Dont be anxious about the last 3 books yet to be written and published. These books have been released at an astonishing frequency, at least 2 instalments a year. At this rate of Alex's incredible, almost android like, frequency of publications, those last 3 books may be all released by the end of 2013 and indeed, the next one is already scheduled for February 2013 release date.
This is the 6th instalment of a planned 9 book scifi time travel epic. Whilst each book has a near standalone "adventure of the week" storyline there is an intriguing and mystifying grand story arc that underlines all 9 books.
This instalment however, changes that structural pattern and texture, instead taking us full whack into the main story arc from start to finish, effectively making this the most stunning and exhilarating entry yet. There are revelations here that would knock you out unconscious. With book 5 ending with a cliffhanger, book 6 wastes no time resuming where it left off, after a customary sidestepping prologue.
In every previous book, the author, Alex Scarrow, has always exhibited a truly masterful talent for storytelling. He constantly drives the narrative at an entertainingly fast pace, exuding heart pumping thrills and a delightfully grounded, logical sense of imagination when depicting alternate realities, past, present and future, depending on the nature of time travelling tamperings. Every bit of science fiction from technology to social/society behaviour to time travelling are given realistic air of possibilities with logical (sometimes head spinning!) explanations. Scarrow maintains those quality ingredients in this novel but then excels further by sweeping us into the grand story arc, flooring us with the radical plot turns (which have clearly been planned meticulously well from the beginning), and infusing our minds with intelligent thought provoking philosophies on life, society and humanity, through the eyes of our much much loved protagonists, Maddy, Liam and Sal.
But for all the mind blowing narrative wizardry, the heart and soul of the book always lie with the journey of 3 lonely teen-aged characters burdened with the simple task of saving the world with the most limited of external guidance, and a surmountable load of murderous obstacles. As much as Harry Potter fans have grown attached to Harry, Ron and Hermione, we Timeriders fans have by now become as equally attached to the fates of these superbly crafted characters and to their support unit sidekicks. The revelations in this book binds us even more towards them than ever. This book is their story all the way.
There are other heavily written important elements in the story, characters and locations in time and space that will delight and instil fear in equal measure but I shall not mention any of them, as part of the fun is their reveal and integration with our protagonists' journey. I don't want to spoil any of that for you.
There isnt as much action set-pieces and thrills as in previous books but that is compensated for the pure dynamite storytelling and I assure all Timeriders fans, you will be turning those pages no less frequent than the previous books, if anything you will be turning them quicker (I finished the book myself in 3 days). I actually thought book 5 was the pivotal point of the series and prematurely claimed that entry to be the equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back. I take that back, this is the TRUE Empire Strikes Back of the series. This is the game changer. This is magnificent science fiction.
If you are new to the Timeriders series than this book may not make any sense, or have any impact if you jump straight to this. It is the least standalone book of the series. I simply recommend, without hesitation, for you to start with Book 1. I shall then envy you as you experience Alex Scarrows' remarkable science fiction chronicles for the first time.
But as for you fellows Timeriders fans, ah Jay'zuz, wait til' ye get a load o' this one!
Note: Dont be anxious about the last 3 books yet to be written and published. These books have been released at an astonishing frequency, at least 2 instalments a year. At this rate of Alex's incredible, almost android like, frequency of publications, those last 3 books may be all released by the end of 2013 and indeed, the next one is already scheduled for February 2013 release date.
October 4, 2022
Και τα κομματάκια του παζλ σιγά σιγά ενώνονται..
Λαμβάνουμε και μία πολύ ωραία εξέλιξη στη γραφή του συγγραφέα, εμπλουτισμένη με στοχευμένο κι αβίαστο θα έλεγα χιούμορ.
Γρήγορα στο επόμενο!
Λαμβάνουμε και μία πολύ ωραία εξέλιξη στη γραφή του συγγραφέα, εμπλουτισμένη με στοχευμένο κι αβίαστο θα έλεγα χιούμορ.
Γρήγορα στο επόμενο!
January 29, 2015
"Maddie, Liam and Sal are up the creek without a paddle and covered in the brown stuff currently"
Welcome to Hell, or in this case 1888, The Whitecapel murders aka Jack the Ripper slice N dice time. The Timeriders have to make some dramatic changes, as they are now being hunted by a very overt team of hunter killer robots, who are sent from the future to deal with the meddling questions posed by Maddie. That being the question of ‘what is Pandora’! This was the cliff hanger that was left in the wake of book five – so six obviously fills the void with answers posed from that previous novel.
Agent Cooper who is thrown into the fray works for a clandestine group which even the President doesn’t know about – they work with secrets such as; Roswell, Unified Field Theory etc etc. Oh and if you recall the original opening novel tells the story of a team of individuals going back to kill off Hitler – well it just so happens Cooper has some photos taken which show certain weapons which were time spammed with a ‘Made In 2066’ handy that! He becomes involved in the case once a few of those killer cyborgs decide to dust off a few police officers in New York (while the Timeriders are on the run too Boston). Cooper just introduce a ‘current events’ slant on the story, but for me feels like he was just thrown in to beef the story up. There’s no mention of this department previously and I found it difficult to get my head around after that other ‘super-top-secret’ government department became involved in books three-five.
As you can tell, the Timeriders are on the run, they end up in Boston, where Maddie makes a life changing discovery. During this the team including Bob and Becks (the teams own killer-cyborgs) make a plan to go back into the past so not to be discovered by those wishing to kill them. With them comes Rashim and SpongeBobba, the two who survived a jump from the future (2070 – when they world is annihilating itself) when attempting to change historical Rome. Rashim specialises in time travel, SpongeBobba, well he just says cliché lines from (you guessed it) SpongeBob! They all find themselves preparing for the jump to Victorian Britain, when just as they are jumping the brown stuff hits the fan!
A real issue with some currently story telling seems to be that the main plot is covered over several books (which is fine in itself). The real problem lies with the writer spreading out this over-arching thesis throughout nine books, but by the sixth nearly all the questions are answered. It’s becoming fairly obvious by now what is going to happen. It’s difficult for me to say exactly what (for spoiler reasons), so put it like this – a man recruits several individuals to run a department that stop history from being changed. Situations happen where the team become curious of why they are actually fighting to prevent changes in history given humanity kills itself off by 2070. The person who created the Timeriders department begins to question the team’s ability to follow orders and decides to eliminate the current roster aka Maddie, Liam and Sal. Foster the older character who originally recruited the team seems to be the architect of this plot – whereas during the story Roald Waldstein is running things in the future. It doesn’t really take much to put A and B together, giving you C.
What I do find interesting weaved within the story is the moral questions (and to some extend the amoral ones). Humanity reaches the point from 2020 where the world cannot support itself via fossil fuels – there’s just too many of us wanting more. It begs the question how to deflect this issue, without it becoming a global issue. Wars of course. Human nature is one of being one big sociopath - history has shown this throughout our time, from the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Crusades, Civil Wars, Revolutions, World Wars, Cold War. The list goes on. The Timeriders ask the question, “If the future is so bad, why don’t we change it for the better of humankind! That’s exactly what they attempt to do once they re-establish their base in Victorian London.
‘City of Shadows’ isn’t a bad read in itself, I just found myself wondering how the writer found it prudent to wrap up the major plots when there are still three books in the series. Well, we’re see how they get out of their current predicament next time kids!
Welcome to Hell, or in this case 1888, The Whitecapel murders aka Jack the Ripper slice N dice time. The Timeriders have to make some dramatic changes, as they are now being hunted by a very overt team of hunter killer robots, who are sent from the future to deal with the meddling questions posed by Maddie. That being the question of ‘what is Pandora’! This was the cliff hanger that was left in the wake of book five – so six obviously fills the void with answers posed from that previous novel.
Agent Cooper who is thrown into the fray works for a clandestine group which even the President doesn’t know about – they work with secrets such as; Roswell, Unified Field Theory etc etc. Oh and if you recall the original opening novel tells the story of a team of individuals going back to kill off Hitler – well it just so happens Cooper has some photos taken which show certain weapons which were time spammed with a ‘Made In 2066’ handy that! He becomes involved in the case once a few of those killer cyborgs decide to dust off a few police officers in New York (while the Timeriders are on the run too Boston). Cooper just introduce a ‘current events’ slant on the story, but for me feels like he was just thrown in to beef the story up. There’s no mention of this department previously and I found it difficult to get my head around after that other ‘super-top-secret’ government department became involved in books three-five.
As you can tell, the Timeriders are on the run, they end up in Boston, where Maddie makes a life changing discovery. During this the team including Bob and Becks (the teams own killer-cyborgs) make a plan to go back into the past so not to be discovered by those wishing to kill them. With them comes Rashim and SpongeBobba, the two who survived a jump from the future (2070 – when they world is annihilating itself) when attempting to change historical Rome. Rashim specialises in time travel, SpongeBobba, well he just says cliché lines from (you guessed it) SpongeBob! They all find themselves preparing for the jump to Victorian Britain, when just as they are jumping the brown stuff hits the fan!
A real issue with some currently story telling seems to be that the main plot is covered over several books (which is fine in itself). The real problem lies with the writer spreading out this over-arching thesis throughout nine books, but by the sixth nearly all the questions are answered. It’s becoming fairly obvious by now what is going to happen. It’s difficult for me to say exactly what (for spoiler reasons), so put it like this – a man recruits several individuals to run a department that stop history from being changed. Situations happen where the team become curious of why they are actually fighting to prevent changes in history given humanity kills itself off by 2070. The person who created the Timeriders department begins to question the team’s ability to follow orders and decides to eliminate the current roster aka Maddie, Liam and Sal. Foster the older character who originally recruited the team seems to be the architect of this plot – whereas during the story Roald Waldstein is running things in the future. It doesn’t really take much to put A and B together, giving you C.
What I do find interesting weaved within the story is the moral questions (and to some extend the amoral ones). Humanity reaches the point from 2020 where the world cannot support itself via fossil fuels – there’s just too many of us wanting more. It begs the question how to deflect this issue, without it becoming a global issue. Wars of course. Human nature is one of being one big sociopath - history has shown this throughout our time, from the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Crusades, Civil Wars, Revolutions, World Wars, Cold War. The list goes on. The Timeriders ask the question, “If the future is so bad, why don’t we change it for the better of humankind! That’s exactly what they attempt to do once they re-establish their base in Victorian London.
‘City of Shadows’ isn’t a bad read in itself, I just found myself wondering how the writer found it prudent to wrap up the major plots when there are still three books in the series. Well, we’re see how they get out of their current predicament next time kids!
November 11, 2024
Όταν μια σειρά αποτελείται από πάρα πολλά βιβλία, έχεις την αίσθηση πως δεν έχεις κάτι καινούργιο να πεις, όταν πρέπει να μιλήσει -ξανά- για κάποιο από αυτά, ή πως αν το κάνεις, θα καταλήξεις αναπόφευκτα στο να επαναλαμβάνεσαι ή να χρησιμοποιείς κλισέ ατάκες που ίσως ορισμένοι να βρουν και υπερβολικές. Κάτι τέτοιο συμβαίνει και στην περίπτωσή μου, όσον αφορά τους "Φύλακες του χρόνου" του Alex Scarrow, με μένα να καλούμαι σήμερα να πω την άποψή μου για το έκτο -ω ναι, φτάσαμε τα έξι- βιβλίο της σειράς που ναι, είναι το καλύτερο όλων μέχρι στιγμής, και είναι εκείνο που κατάφερε να με συγκινήσει περισσότερο απ' όλα τ' άλλα μέχρι σήμερα, τουλάχιστον, καθότι δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε πως έπεται συνέχεια.
Ο Λίαμ, η Μάντι και η Σαλ βρίσκονται κυνηγημένοι από εκτελεστές κυβερνο-ρομπότ από το μέλλον. Η μοναδική τους ελπίδα για να γλιτώσουν, είναι ακόμα ένα ταξίδι και αυτή τη φορά, ο δρόμος τους θα τους οδηγήσει στο Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο, την ίδια εποχή που ο Τζακ ο Αντεροβγάλτης σκορπίζει τον φόβο και τον τρόμο τις νύχτες. Στόχος τους, να στήσουν το νέο τους αρχηγείο ώστε να μπορούν ν' αναλάβουν και πάλι δράση. Όμως τα πράγματα δεν εξελίσσονται ακριβώς όπως θα περίμεναν, αφού μια σημαντική και τρομακτική ανακάλυψη έρχεται στο φως, για ν' ανατρέψει όλα όσα ήξεραν και πίστευαν μέχρι στιγμής. Μια ανακάλυψη που -ίσως- αλλάξει τους ίδιους, αλλά και τον σκοπό της αποστολής που έχουν αναλάβει να φέρουν εις πέρας και που σε κάθε τους βήμα, φαντάζει όλο και πιο δύσκολη.
Πρέπει να ξεκαθαρίσω -αν και όσοι με διαβάζετε συστηματικά θα το ξέρετε ήδη- πως έχω μια παθολογική εμμονή με το Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο. Ο έρωτάς μας γεννήθηκε πριν πολλά χρόνια και διατηρείται άσβεστος μέχρι και σήμερα, κάτι που δεν φαντάζομαι ν' αλλάξει, ούτε καν στο μακρινό μέλλον. Είναι το ιδανικό σκηνικό για να χτίσει κανείς τη δικιά του ιστορία, ακόμα κι αν αυτή περιλαμβάνει κυβερνο-ρομπότ από το μέλλον. Ξέρω πως αυτό ακούγεται αρκετά οξύμωρο, αλλά ο Scarrow έχει τη μοναδική ικανότητα να δίνει στις ιστορίες ��ου μοναδικές διαστάσεις, με κάθε νέα του περιπέτεια να σέβεται τον χωροχρόνο στον οποίο αυτή τοποθετείται, εισάγοντας ωστόσο με τρόπο διεξοδικό και μεθοδευμένο, όλα εκείνα τα στοιχεία που φέρουν την προσωπική του σφραγίδα, και που μετατρέπουν το εκάστοτε σκηνικό σε ιδανικό τρόπο δράσης κι εξέλιξης μιας περιπέτειας, έστω κι αν αυτή έχει επιστημονικές, φανταστικές προεκτάσεις. Και ακριβώς αυτό συμβαίνει και στην προκειμένη περίπτωση.
Υπάρχει, όμως, κάτι ακόμα πιο σημαντικό που καθιστά τα βιβλία, και κατ' επέκτασιν την πένα του Scarrow, τόσο ιδιαίτερα. Το γεγονός πως ο συγγραφέας διαθέτει το εξαιρετικό ταλέντο της εμβάθυνσης στον συναισθηματικό κόσμο των χαρακτήρων του. Τα ψυχογραφήματά του είναι κέντημα, και αποτελούν παράδειγμα προς μίμηση. Η διεισδυτική του ματιά φτάνει μέχρι τα άδυτα της ψυχής των ηρώων του, καταφέρνοντας να εκμαιεύσει απ' αυτούς κάθε τι μικρό ή μεγάλο, μετατρέποντάς το σε κάτι πραγματικά σημαντικό και σπουδαίο. Δεν ξεχνάει στιγμή πως έχει να κάνει με εφήβους, ούτε την δυσκολία των καταστάσεων που αυτοί έρχονται αντιμέτωποι, αλλά ούτε και το πεπρωμένο που καλούνται ν' ακολουθήσουν και που, δίχως να μπορούν να τ' αποφύγουν, θα τους οδηγήσει κάποια στιγμή σ' ένα σημείο χωρίς επιστροφή, με τους ίδιους να έχουν χάσει πολλά στην διάρκεια της διαδρομής.
Στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο της σειράς, η αυλαία είχε πέσει κάνοντας εκκωφαντικό κρότο και προετοιμάζοντάς μας για όσα επρόκειτο ν' ακολουθήσουν. Ουσιαστικά, είναι τα -μέχρι τώρα- δύο εκείνα βιβλίο που συνδέονται πιο άρρηκτα μεταξύ τους, με τον συγγραφέα να μην χάνει καθόλου το χρόνο του, εισάγοντάς μας στην βασική πλοκή από τα πρώτα κιόλας λεπτά, ενώ αφηγείται τις κινηματογραφικές εξελίξεις με ρυθμό που σε καθηλώνει και σου κόβει την ανάσα. Όσοι δεν έχετε γνωρίσει, λοιπόν, την πένα του Scarrow, πρέπει να το κάνετε άμεσα, όχι μόνο για να διαπιστώσετε μόνοι σας πόσο δραματική -με την θετική έννοια του όρου- εξέλιξη μπορεί να έχει η γραφή ενός δημιουργού, αλλά πόσο μοναδική είναι η ικανότητά του να παίρνει πραγματικά γεγονότα, πρόσωπα, καταστάσεις, τόπους και χρόνους, και μαγικά να τους μετατρέπει σε κάτι. Σε φανταστικές περιπετειώδεις ιστορίες στις οποίες εμπλέκονται ήρωες που δεν μπορείς να μην αγαπήσεις, πόσο μάλλον, να μην συμπάσχεις μαζί τους.
Ο Λίαμ, η Μάντι και η Σαλ βρίσκονται κυνηγημένοι από εκτελεστές κυβερνο-ρομπότ από το μέλλον. Η μοναδική τους ελπίδα για να γλιτώσουν, είναι ακόμα ένα ταξίδι και αυτή τη φορά, ο δρόμος τους θα τους οδηγήσει στο Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο, την ίδια εποχή που ο Τζακ ο Αντεροβγάλτης σκορπίζει τον φόβο και τον τρόμο τις νύχτες. Στόχος τους, να στήσουν το νέο τους αρχηγείο ώστε να μπορούν ν' αναλάβουν και πάλι δράση. Όμως τα πράγματα δεν εξελίσσονται ακριβώς όπως θα περίμεναν, αφού μια σημαντική και τρομακτική ανακάλυψη έρχεται στο φως, για ν' ανατρέψει όλα όσα ήξεραν και πίστευαν μέχρι στιγμής. Μια ανακάλυψη που -ίσως- αλλάξει τους ίδιους, αλλά και τον σκοπό της αποστολής που έχουν αναλάβει να φέρουν εις πέρας και που σε κάθε τους βήμα, φαντάζει όλο και πιο δύσκολη.
Πρέπει να ξεκαθαρίσω -αν και όσοι με διαβάζετε συστηματικά θα το ξέρετε ήδη- πως έχω μια παθολογική εμμονή με το Βικτοριανό Λονδίνο. Ο έρωτάς μας γεννήθηκε πριν πολλά χρόνια και διατηρείται άσβεστος μέχρι και σήμερα, κάτι που δεν φαντάζομαι ν' αλλάξει, ούτε καν στο μακρινό μέλλον. Είναι το ιδανικό σκηνικό για να χτίσει κανείς τη δικιά του ιστορία, ακόμα κι αν αυτή περιλαμβάνει κυβερνο-ρομπότ από το μέλλον. Ξέρω πως αυτό ακούγεται αρκετά οξύμωρο, αλλά ο Scarrow έχει τη μοναδική ικανότητα να δίνει στις ιστορίες ��ου μοναδικές διαστάσεις, με κάθε νέα του περιπέτεια να σέβεται τον χωροχρόνο στον οποίο αυτή τοποθετείται, εισάγοντας ωστόσο με τρόπο διεξοδικό και μεθοδευμένο, όλα εκείνα τα στοιχεία που φέρουν την προσωπική του σφραγίδα, και που μετατρέπουν το εκάστοτε σκηνικό σε ιδανικό τρόπο δράσης κι εξέλιξης μιας περιπέτειας, έστω κι αν αυτή έχει επιστημονικές, φανταστικές προεκτάσεις. Και ακριβώς αυτό συμβαίνει και στην προκειμένη περίπτωση.
Υπάρχει, όμως, κάτι ακόμα πιο σημαντικό που καθιστά τα βιβλία, και κατ' επέκτασιν την πένα του Scarrow, τόσο ιδιαίτερα. Το γεγονός πως ο συγγραφέας διαθέτει το εξαιρετικό ταλέντο της εμβάθυνσης στον συναισθηματικό κόσμο των χαρακτήρων του. Τα ψυχογραφήματά του είναι κέντημα, και αποτελούν παράδειγμα προς μίμηση. Η διεισδυτική του ματιά φτάνει μέχρι τα άδυτα της ψυχής των ηρώων του, καταφέρνοντας να εκμαιεύσει απ' αυτούς κάθε τι μικρό ή μεγάλο, μετατρέποντάς το σε κάτι πραγματικά σημαντικό και σπουδαίο. Δεν ξεχνάει στιγμή πως έχει να κάνει με εφήβους, ούτε την δυσκολία των καταστάσεων που αυτοί έρχονται αντιμέτωποι, αλλά ούτε και το πεπρωμένο που καλούνται ν' ακολουθήσουν και που, δίχως να μπορούν να τ' αποφύγουν, θα τους οδηγήσει κάποια στιγμή σ' ένα σημείο χωρίς επιστροφή, με τους ίδιους να έχουν χάσει πολλά στην διάρκεια της διαδρομής.
Στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο της σειράς, η αυλαία είχε πέσει κάνοντας εκκωφαντικό κρότο και προετοιμάζοντάς μας για όσα επρόκειτο ν' ακολουθήσουν. Ουσιαστικά, είναι τα -μέχρι τώρα- δύο εκείνα βιβλίο που συνδέονται πιο άρρηκτα μεταξύ τους, με τον συγγραφέα να μην χάνει καθόλου το χρόνο του, εισάγοντάς μας στην βασική πλοκή από τα πρώτα κιόλας λεπτά, ενώ αφηγείται τις κινηματογραφικές εξελίξεις με ρυθμό που σε καθηλώνει και σου κόβει την ανάσα. Όσοι δεν έχετε γνωρίσει, λοιπόν, την πένα του Scarrow, πρέπει να το κάνετε άμεσα, όχι μόνο για να διαπιστώσετε μόνοι σας πόσο δραματική -με την θετική έννοια του όρου- εξέλιξη μπορεί να έχει η γραφή ενός δημιουργού, αλλά πόσο μοναδική είναι η ικανότητά του να παίρνει πραγματικά γεγονότα, πρόσωπα, καταστάσεις, τόπους και χρόνους, και μαγικά να τους μετατρέπει σε κάτι. Σε φανταστικές περιπετειώδεις ιστορίες στις οποίες εμπλέκονται ήρωες που δεν μπορείς να μην αγαπήσεις, πόσο μάλλον, να μην συμπάσχεις μαζί τους.
August 3, 2012
After a small dip with The Eternal War, this is back on track. City Of Shadows, the sixth book of the proposed nine in the series, is fantastic.
As usual, all my other books get ignored. This is the series for me at the moment, despite it being aimed primarily at young adults (although I do think it can be read by adults too), and I can't wait for EVERYTHING to be revealed.
If you haven't read the previous five books, I really don't know what you're doing reading this book. Yes, each book is a standalone book, but there's so much backstory included, that you do need to have read the previous books, in order. I have read them since the first book and eagerly devoured them since. I did not like The Eternal War, book number 4 in the series, but it's very obvious that Alex has a huge plot all mapped out in his head. And every series has their weak points - hello The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon.
Book number five left us with a cliffhanger, and this book picks up straight away from that point, with a slightly irritating prologue but that's over within a couple of pages. And it does all make sense the further on in the book you get. Maddy, Liam, Sal, Foster, Bob and Becks are still there, but they face big revelations in this book. Revelations so big I was nearly bouncing on my seat and squealing. Quite embarrassing when you're on a bus full of people. Revelations SO big that I didn't see it coming, but everything makes sense now. Kind of. These are the kind of revelations that make you realise every little thing you read has been a lie (maybe?) but still leaves you panting eagerly for more.
There are still a few tweaks here and there I would make, if I was the author, but I'm not. There's nothing major. Just let me have the next three books NOW. You know, that kind of tweak. (Next one is due to be released February 2013 woohoo!) There isn't that much time travelling in this book, but when they did, I was turning pages so frantically, I nearly set the book on fire. I still feel Sal is majorly a background character - but now I'm thinking that was the point all along. I still don't understand what the word "hexadecimal" is in doing in a YA book! I had to ask my Dad to tell me what it meant - and then tell me what it meant a second time, as I still didn't understand it. I'm even more confuddled now than when I asked him! Is this what they're teaching kids in school nowadays - I must have missed that lesson!
There's also a couple of nods to his last non TimeRiders release, The Candle Man, which I found quite interesting, but dare I say, a cop out at the same time? Not to ruin anything for anyone who hasn't read this book, or read The Candle Man (a book I was disappointed in and no longer own), but he could have done something different. I believe there is some reasoning behind his writing, so we'll leave it at that.
What I am looking forward to is when book nine is released, I'm going to go back to the very start, and read them all again - and try and like The Eternal War this time for all the haters of my review out there. And then hopefully everything will become very clear. There's still a lot of loose ends that I think need to be tied up before the end of book nine. How, where, what and why did this happen, that happen and the cow jump over the moon happen? (Ha.) Things are starting to make a little more sense now. I just need all three books to finish the series in my hands and looking gorgeous on my shelf.
As usual, all my other books get ignored. This is the series for me at the moment, despite it being aimed primarily at young adults (although I do think it can be read by adults too), and I can't wait for EVERYTHING to be revealed.
If you haven't read the previous five books, I really don't know what you're doing reading this book. Yes, each book is a standalone book, but there's so much backstory included, that you do need to have read the previous books, in order. I have read them since the first book and eagerly devoured them since. I did not like The Eternal War, book number 4 in the series, but it's very obvious that Alex has a huge plot all mapped out in his head. And every series has their weak points - hello The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon.
Book number five left us with a cliffhanger, and this book picks up straight away from that point, with a slightly irritating prologue but that's over within a couple of pages. And it does all make sense the further on in the book you get. Maddy, Liam, Sal, Foster, Bob and Becks are still there, but they face big revelations in this book. Revelations so big I was nearly bouncing on my seat and squealing. Quite embarrassing when you're on a bus full of people. Revelations SO big that I didn't see it coming, but everything makes sense now. Kind of. These are the kind of revelations that make you realise every little thing you read has been a lie (maybe?) but still leaves you panting eagerly for more.
There are still a few tweaks here and there I would make, if I was the author, but I'm not. There's nothing major. Just let me have the next three books NOW. You know, that kind of tweak. (Next one is due to be released February 2013 woohoo!) There isn't that much time travelling in this book, but when they did, I was turning pages so frantically, I nearly set the book on fire. I still feel Sal is majorly a background character - but now I'm thinking that was the point all along. I still don't understand what the word "hexadecimal" is in doing in a YA book! I had to ask my Dad to tell me what it meant - and then tell me what it meant a second time, as I still didn't understand it. I'm even more confuddled now than when I asked him! Is this what they're teaching kids in school nowadays - I must have missed that lesson!
There's also a couple of nods to his last non TimeRiders release, The Candle Man, which I found quite interesting, but dare I say, a cop out at the same time? Not to ruin anything for anyone who hasn't read this book, or read The Candle Man (a book I was disappointed in and no longer own), but he could have done something different. I believe there is some reasoning behind his writing, so we'll leave it at that.
What I am looking forward to is when book nine is released, I'm going to go back to the very start, and read them all again - and try and like The Eternal War this time for all the haters of my review out there. And then hopefully everything will become very clear. There's still a lot of loose ends that I think need to be tied up before the end of book nine. How, where, what and why did this happen, that happen and the cow jump over the moon happen? (Ha.) Things are starting to make a little more sense now. I just need all three books to finish the series in my hands and looking gorgeous on my shelf.
November 9, 2020
Wow wow wow. This is my favourite in the TimeRiders series. The revelations that drop on you like an atom bomb. The uncertainty of how the plot will turn out. The change of everything we have become familiar with. In real life that would be awful and painful but in fiction it is kind of amazing how attached you can become to a fictional place or characters. The introduction of new characters that I came to love. Alex has a brilliant way of making history and alternative history come alive, in the viewpoint of three lovable characters.
I am so glad I chose to re-read this series. I missed so much before and I just can't be having that!
I am so glad I chose to re-read this series. I missed so much before and I just can't be having that!
August 14, 2016
One of my favorite time travel series!
May 30, 2020
I’m disappointed actually.. i usually end any time rider book within two days, but this one was different. Maybe because of the plot twist. It was convincing but it disconnected our feeling towards the main characters.
May 25, 2015
This was ok. A lot happened, but there was also a lot of nothing that happened too ha.
March 24, 2020
This isn't my favourite book in the series and to be honest I was warned that the more they went on the more it stopped being about individual time change events but one of the biggest twists made it a 3 star for me. I've been enjoying this series since the beginning and I love the interaction between all the characters. Not many books for me to read now but I cant wait to continue it and see where it takes us.
November 3, 2023
felt what i felt for the first book which actually led me to finish the series here again. the plot twist we were promised was worth it. this felt somehow way too short tho. excited for more and a hopefully thrilling end
October 16, 2023
THE PLOT TWIST!
February 19, 2024
I've felt this series dragging on a bit but this one was a lot more gripping again. Not a lot of time actually spent in the Victorian era but you get a lot more information about our characters.
October 26, 2019
Best fantasy: Time Riders by Alex Scarrow
When you, as the author of historical adventure books, where the main characters travel in time, find time travel books with historical elements, then I can do nothing but rejoice. Exactly four weeks ago today I started my journey with the main characters Liam, Maddy and Sal.
All three sentenced to death in various disasters, but rescued at the last moment by a time traveler. They meet and are instructed to save the world from a disaster by keeping the timeline constant. To their aid they have two androids, Becs and Bob.
In the first book Time Riders, the three gather together and are stationed in New York 2001, the day before the World Trade Center disaster. Here I get to know the main characters and get caught by the action.
Liam OConnor would have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter would have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram would have died in a fire in 2026.
But just moments before death would happen, someone appeared mysteriously and said: Take my hand. But Liam, Maddy and Sal were not saved. They were recruited by an agency that no one knows and has only one goal to correct inaccurate history. Because you can travel in time, and there are people who want to travel back in time and change the past. That's why Time Riders are there to protect us. To prevent time travel from destroying the world.
In Time Riders Day of the Predator, something goes very wrong. Liam and Bec's end up at the dinosaurs along with several young people who happened to be on the trip. They have no chance to go home again and Sal and Maddy have no idea where they are. Very exciting!
Time Riders The Doomsday Code is a fascinating story about a multi-thousand-year-old document. Here comes a new protagonist into the plot, Adam. Together with him they go back in time to the Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. A very different story.
Time Riders TheEternal War is a really screwed up story, where Abraham Lincoln sneaks back in time and causes disaster in the sequence.
Time Riders Gates of Rome is probably the book I liked least, although I liked it a lot too. Here they travel back in time and get another companion, Rashim. He is from the future 2070 and tells us that the world's population is dying from a horrible disease. Therefore, in the future, they have opened a gate to Roman times and intend to move all important people there. Something that will be disastrous.
Time Riders City of Shadows is a very exciting book where they are chased by cyborgs who are looking to kill Time Travelers. They are posted by the same person who once hired Maddy, Liam and Sal for the mission of keeping the timeline constant. And that person knows everything about them ...
Time Riders The Pirate Kings, a charming story set in the pirate era. Where even the most benevolent can do wrong in the eyes of others.
Time Riders The Mayan Prophect. Since I have written the Mayan secret, I am well aware of that time. It was lovely reading, and a very scary story. It was not without tears when the book was over.
Time Riders The Infinity Cage. All the other eight books I have listened to for a while and gone longer walks than normal, cleaned more than I usually did, worked in the garden for longer moments, all to listen as long as possible. But with this book, the last of the series, I've pulled it off. I haven't always listened when I've been on a walk or done any of the above. Just because I knew that with this book the series was over and I would feel empty and sad afterwards. But oh so wrong I was. Tonight I finished the last book. Instead of feeling sad that the book series was over, I lay with a wide smile and just enjoyed the perfect ending to a book. It can't be more perfect than this.
As you probably understand, I recommend you listen to all the books in this magical fantasy series with historical elements. It is noticeable that the author is well read in the historical subjects, I know, because I have written books on most of the events that the author addresses.
Read the books, or rather, listen to them, because it enhances the whole story. What a fantastic author and reader.
When you, as the author of historical adventure books, where the main characters travel in time, find time travel books with historical elements, then I can do nothing but rejoice. Exactly four weeks ago today I started my journey with the main characters Liam, Maddy and Sal.
All three sentenced to death in various disasters, but rescued at the last moment by a time traveler. They meet and are instructed to save the world from a disaster by keeping the timeline constant. To their aid they have two androids, Becs and Bob.
In the first book Time Riders, the three gather together and are stationed in New York 2001, the day before the World Trade Center disaster. Here I get to know the main characters and get caught by the action.
Liam OConnor would have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter would have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram would have died in a fire in 2026.
But just moments before death would happen, someone appeared mysteriously and said: Take my hand. But Liam, Maddy and Sal were not saved. They were recruited by an agency that no one knows and has only one goal to correct inaccurate history. Because you can travel in time, and there are people who want to travel back in time and change the past. That's why Time Riders are there to protect us. To prevent time travel from destroying the world.
In Time Riders Day of the Predator, something goes very wrong. Liam and Bec's end up at the dinosaurs along with several young people who happened to be on the trip. They have no chance to go home again and Sal and Maddy have no idea where they are. Very exciting!
Time Riders The Doomsday Code is a fascinating story about a multi-thousand-year-old document. Here comes a new protagonist into the plot, Adam. Together with him they go back in time to the Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. A very different story.
Time Riders TheEternal War is a really screwed up story, where Abraham Lincoln sneaks back in time and causes disaster in the sequence.
Time Riders Gates of Rome is probably the book I liked least, although I liked it a lot too. Here they travel back in time and get another companion, Rashim. He is from the future 2070 and tells us that the world's population is dying from a horrible disease. Therefore, in the future, they have opened a gate to Roman times and intend to move all important people there. Something that will be disastrous.
Time Riders City of Shadows is a very exciting book where they are chased by cyborgs who are looking to kill Time Travelers. They are posted by the same person who once hired Maddy, Liam and Sal for the mission of keeping the timeline constant. And that person knows everything about them ...
Time Riders The Pirate Kings, a charming story set in the pirate era. Where even the most benevolent can do wrong in the eyes of others.
Time Riders The Mayan Prophect. Since I have written the Mayan secret, I am well aware of that time. It was lovely reading, and a very scary story. It was not without tears when the book was over.
Time Riders The Infinity Cage. All the other eight books I have listened to for a while and gone longer walks than normal, cleaned more than I usually did, worked in the garden for longer moments, all to listen as long as possible. But with this book, the last of the series, I've pulled it off. I haven't always listened when I've been on a walk or done any of the above. Just because I knew that with this book the series was over and I would feel empty and sad afterwards. But oh so wrong I was. Tonight I finished the last book. Instead of feeling sad that the book series was over, I lay with a wide smile and just enjoyed the perfect ending to a book. It can't be more perfect than this.
As you probably understand, I recommend you listen to all the books in this magical fantasy series with historical elements. It is noticeable that the author is well read in the historical subjects, I know, because I have written books on most of the events that the author addresses.
Read the books, or rather, listen to them, because it enhances the whole story. What a fantastic author and reader.
January 3, 2022
2021 52 Book Challenge - 27) First chapter ends on an odd number
This book completely diverged from the standard plot of the previous books in the series, and I could not be happier. Honestly, I think this is my favourite Time Riders books, after book 1 because it was just so different.
The major thing that I liked about this book is that it has finally started to explore Waldstein and the whole mystery of what is going on in the 2060s. We even had some chapters from Walstein and his associates POVs and I thought that was great. In fact, I could have just read the book with just his perspective.
I also liked that we saw the creation of the Time Riders and how it was set up and the mystery behind Foster and Liam being the same person. I liked how it explained how all of the events that have kickstarted the previous books have happened and tied them into a bigger picture.
While I have really wanted more focus on Sal in the previous books, and that has really happened in this book, she has become a whiny brat, which just puts me right off her character. I do still consider her character pointless and surplus, and especially now that the group has moved out of the archway (I didn't particularly want to see this happen, but it was handled very well and I do think the characters benefit from it) I think her character is even more pointless. Her entire point is to notice changes in the surroundings to predict a time wave occurring but Maddy was the one who recognized it which makes Sal even more pointless.
What I did really like was the fallout of the big reveal of the book and Liam and Sal's differing responses. I think it illustrated human nature and the emotional and mental struggle of reacting to unwelcome news very well and that every person will react differently.
However, the actual time travel mishap of the book, I don't feel like the book actually needed it. It felt incredibly forced and it really was only 100 pages of this 417 page book. I get that they needed to get Faith to the same time period and have the time to figure out how to disable her but... it was so unnecessary to involve Jack the Ripper and the future socialist Britain that sprung up in response to the changes.
Honestly, with each book it's like the characters become even more stupid. They have Faith's body and they're able to flick the hard switch, leaving just the mechanical body behind. I don't understand why they haven't transferred Beck's AI over into Faith's body considering that they can't let Faith run around without murdering them.
There was also a minor continuity error about Rashim talking about the virus from the future, but that was information known to Rashim's older self who was left to die of self neglect and starvation in the previous book rather than the young Rashim that the Time Riders effectively kidnapped.
One minor pet love is that the author included H. G. Wells and I just love the implications of that.
One minor pet peeve is that the characters spent all this time looking into electricity and mentioned the major scientists and movers of the time but didn't mention Nikola Tesla. The AC motor was created in 1887 and patented in early 1888 with his company, Tesla Electric Company, created in early 1887. He was around at the time that the group were looking at.
This book completely diverged from the standard plot of the previous books in the series, and I could not be happier. Honestly, I think this is my favourite Time Riders books, after book 1 because it was just so different.
The major thing that I liked about this book is that it has finally started to explore Waldstein and the whole mystery of what is going on in the 2060s. We even had some chapters from Walstein and his associates POVs and I thought that was great. In fact, I could have just read the book with just his perspective.
I also liked that we saw the creation of the Time Riders and how it was set up and the mystery behind Foster and Liam being the same person. I liked how it explained how all of the events that have kickstarted the previous books have happened and tied them into a bigger picture.
While I have really wanted more focus on Sal in the previous books, and that has really happened in this book, she has become a whiny brat, which just puts me right off her character. I do still consider her character pointless and surplus, and especially now that the group has moved out of the archway (I didn't particularly want to see this happen, but it was handled very well and I do think the characters benefit from it) I think her character is even more pointless. Her entire point is to notice changes in the surroundings to predict a time wave occurring but Maddy was the one who recognized it which makes Sal even more pointless.
What I did really like was the fallout of the big reveal of the book and Liam and Sal's differing responses. I think it illustrated human nature and the emotional and mental struggle of reacting to unwelcome news very well and that every person will react differently.
However, the actual time travel mishap of the book, I don't feel like the book actually needed it. It felt incredibly forced and it really was only 100 pages of this 417 page book. I get that they needed to get Faith to the same time period and have the time to figure out how to disable her but... it was so unnecessary to involve Jack the Ripper and the future socialist Britain that sprung up in response to the changes.
Honestly, with each book it's like the characters become even more stupid. They have Faith's body and they're able to flick the hard switch, leaving just the mechanical body behind. I don't understand why they haven't transferred Beck's AI over into Faith's body considering that they can't let Faith run around without murdering them.
There was also a minor continuity error about Rashim talking about the virus from the future, but that was information known to Rashim's older self who was left to die of self neglect and starvation in the previous book rather than the young Rashim that the Time Riders effectively kidnapped.
One minor pet love is that the author included H. G. Wells and I just love the implications of that.
One minor pet peeve is that the characters spent all this time looking into electricity and mentioned the major scientists and movers of the time but didn't mention Nikola Tesla. The AC motor was created in 1887 and patented in early 1888 with his company, Tesla Electric Company, created in early 1887. He was around at the time that the group were looking at.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2016
3.5 stars. I'm torn on this one. Parts of it were great and game changing and compelling. And parts of it dragged on foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever.
I've been excited about reading this one from the get-go because VICTORIAN LONDON AND JACK THE RIPPER OMG. But the book is two-thirds done before they even get to Victorian London. The first two-thirds is our usual TimeRiders plus Rashim and his suuuuuuper annoying robot based on Spongebob Squarepants, who I hate with the fire of a thousand sons, going on the run after a team is sent from the future to assassinate them. So I was a little disappointed that I got shafted on the Victorian London side of things. And the part where they were on the run went on for WAY longer than was necessary. I mean, WAY longer. So all of that came out to a two and a half star book.
BUT.
There was so much in here that was absolutely brilliant.
The character development was well done, and I loved the change in the standard formulation that we've been chugging along with for the past five books. So all of that stuff was a 4.5 star book for me. Average it out, and it's 3.5 stars.
I've been excited about reading this one from the get-go because VICTORIAN LONDON AND JACK THE RIPPER OMG. But the book is two-thirds done before they even get to Victorian London. The first two-thirds is our usual TimeRiders plus Rashim and his suuuuuuper annoying robot based on Spongebob Squarepants, who I hate with the fire of a thousand sons, going on the run after a team is sent from the future to assassinate them. So I was a little disappointed that I got shafted on the Victorian London side of things. And the part where they were on the run went on for WAY longer than was necessary. I mean, WAY longer. So all of that came out to a two and a half star book.
BUT.
There was so much in here that was absolutely brilliant.
The character development was well done, and I loved the change in the standard formulation that we've been chugging along with for the past five books. So all of that stuff was a 4.5 star book for me. Average it out, and it's 3.5 stars.
February 26, 2013
Book Review – Time Riders, City of Shadows by Alex Scarrow 4/5
This is the sixth book in the Time Riders series. I have to admit I was beginning to tire of this series the last two or three books repeated teasers from the older books but didn’t take us anywhere nearer the answers. The storylines, although set in different eras, didn’t enthral me. This book though, has changed this; we finally have some answers! We see how the agency was begun and why many of the curious happenings link together. Warnings and strange events that just didn’t add up now do. I am finally satisfied.
The story also has a good storyline with the team fleeing from two more genetically created pursuers. We see the mistakes they make and the lengths they travel to correct them as well as the distance in time and location to become hidden again. Towards the end there is also a time altering event involving Jack the Ripper in London. I won’t say much more as I don’t want to spoil the plot, however, if like me you were beginning to feel these books were becoming stale then with this one they are revived again. I already have the next one on my kindle so it won’t be too long before I indulge.
This is the sixth book in the Time Riders series. I have to admit I was beginning to tire of this series the last two or three books repeated teasers from the older books but didn’t take us anywhere nearer the answers. The storylines, although set in different eras, didn’t enthral me. This book though, has changed this; we finally have some answers! We see how the agency was begun and why many of the curious happenings link together. Warnings and strange events that just didn’t add up now do. I am finally satisfied.
The story also has a good storyline with the team fleeing from two more genetically created pursuers. We see the mistakes they make and the lengths they travel to correct them as well as the distance in time and location to become hidden again. Towards the end there is also a time altering event involving Jack the Ripper in London. I won’t say much more as I don’t want to spoil the plot, however, if like me you were beginning to feel these books were becoming stale then with this one they are revived again. I already have the next one on my kindle so it won’t be too long before I indulge.
August 14, 2012
Definitely as good as the first book in the series.
There are so many things going on. So many revelations in one book!
And there are still open questions which hopefully will be answered in
the seventh and final book.
There are so many things going on. So many revelations in one book!
And there are still open questions which hopefully will be answered in
the seventh and final book.
December 15, 2017
It was good and i enjoyed it, a nice sequel.
January 31, 2021
Η ανατροπή της ανατροπής ! Όσα γνωρίζαμε μέχρι σήμερα ανατρέπονται και δίνουν την θέση τους σε νέα δεδομένα. Καταπληκτικός Scarrow για άλλη μια φορά και έτοιμος για να ξεκινήσω το 7ο βιβλίο !
June 25, 2023
Les dangers se précipitent et le présent prend le pas sur l'avenir...
November 30, 2023
Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2022/...
Extrait :
Le groupe fini par échapper à leurs assaillants, mais ce n’est qu’une question de temps avant qu’ils ne les retrouvent. Comment réussir à ce cacher, même Foster a été victime de ses cyborgs du futur… Les secrets commencent à être découvert, et ils ne sont pas toujours plaisant à entendre. Que va t-il donc se passer désormais, la fuite n’est-elle pas qu’une option temporaire ?
Pris de panique, la troupe fuit avec Foster, après un certains temps, ils décident de faire une pause dans un centre commercial afin de prendre un bon repas. Malheureusement pour eux, le repos ne fût que très bref, car les cyborg les ont rapidement retrouvés et ont déclenchés une grosse vague de panique dans le magasin. Visiblement, passer inaperçu n’est pas dans leur programme, j’imagine que c’est normal car l’histoire peut toujours être corrigée par la suite, non ? Jusqu’à présent, la mort, tout comme la vie, n’avait pas vraiment d’importance, même si Bob en a fait les frais, il n’est pas vraiment mort… Mais à partir de ce tome, on peut considérer que la donne à changer, et que la vie de nos protagonistes est désormais bien en danger et sur un point de non retour.
Après tout, dans leur fuite, ils n’ont pris que le minimum, à savoir les disques durs et la machine pour voyager. Ils n’ont donc pas de cuves supplémentaires en cas de pertes d’un de leur soutien à l’avenir. Leurs vies sont désormais sur un pied d’égalité, et ce plus que jamais après une nouvelle révélation, qui met en doute toute l’équipe. Acculés, ils finissent par faire un choix décisifs, celui de partir dans le temps afin de tenter d’échapper à leurs agresseurs, pour l’époque, elle est toute choisie : celle de Jack L’éventreur en Angleterre.
[...]
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2022/...
Extrait :
Le groupe fini par échapper à leurs assaillants, mais ce n’est qu’une question de temps avant qu’ils ne les retrouvent. Comment réussir à ce cacher, même Foster a été victime de ses cyborgs du futur… Les secrets commencent à être découvert, et ils ne sont pas toujours plaisant à entendre. Que va t-il donc se passer désormais, la fuite n’est-elle pas qu’une option temporaire ?
Pris de panique, la troupe fuit avec Foster, après un certains temps, ils décident de faire une pause dans un centre commercial afin de prendre un bon repas. Malheureusement pour eux, le repos ne fût que très bref, car les cyborg les ont rapidement retrouvés et ont déclenchés une grosse vague de panique dans le magasin. Visiblement, passer inaperçu n’est pas dans leur programme, j’imagine que c’est normal car l’histoire peut toujours être corrigée par la suite, non ? Jusqu’à présent, la mort, tout comme la vie, n’avait pas vraiment d’importance, même si Bob en a fait les frais, il n’est pas vraiment mort… Mais à partir de ce tome, on peut considérer que la donne à changer, et que la vie de nos protagonistes est désormais bien en danger et sur un point de non retour.
Après tout, dans leur fuite, ils n’ont pris que le minimum, à savoir les disques durs et la machine pour voyager. Ils n’ont donc pas de cuves supplémentaires en cas de pertes d’un de leur soutien à l’avenir. Leurs vies sont désormais sur un pied d’égalité, et ce plus que jamais après une nouvelle révélation, qui met en doute toute l’équipe. Acculés, ils finissent par faire un choix décisifs, celui de partir dans le temps afin de tenter d’échapper à leurs agresseurs, pour l’époque, elle est toute choisie : celle de Jack L’éventreur en Angleterre.
[...]
July 2, 2020
Liam O'Connor seharusnya mati tahun 1912, tenggelam bersama kapal Titanic yang legendaris itu.
Madelaine Carter seharusnya mati dalam ledakan pesawat tahun 2010.
Saleena Vikram seharusnya mati dalam kebakaran gedung di tahun 2026.
Namun mereka tetap hidup dan direkrut sebagai anggota TimeRiders untuk mengawasi sejarah dan memperbaikinya.
Namun, benarkah demikian?
Kali ini yang dipersoalkan adalah sejarah mereka sendiri. Padahal mereka sedang berhadapan dengan masalah besar. Markas mereka di New York mau tidak mau harus ditinggalkan sebab keberadaan mereka sebagai agen sudah bukan rahasia lagi. Musuh sudah mengetahui keberadaan mereka dan ada unit pembunuh yang ditugaskan untuk menghabisi mereka semua.
Mereka harus pindah dengan segera. Pertanyaannya: kemana?
.... dan ke waktu yang mana?
Madelaine Carter seharusnya mati dalam ledakan pesawat tahun 2010.
Saleena Vikram seharusnya mati dalam kebakaran gedung di tahun 2026.
Namun mereka tetap hidup dan direkrut sebagai anggota TimeRiders untuk mengawasi sejarah dan memperbaikinya.
Namun, benarkah demikian?
Kali ini yang dipersoalkan adalah sejarah mereka sendiri. Padahal mereka sedang berhadapan dengan masalah besar. Markas mereka di New York mau tidak mau harus ditinggalkan sebab keberadaan mereka sebagai agen sudah bukan rahasia lagi. Musuh sudah mengetahui keberadaan mereka dan ada unit pembunuh yang ditugaskan untuk menghabisi mereka semua.
Mereka harus pindah dengan segera. Pertanyaannya: kemana?
.... dan ke waktu yang mana?
October 11, 2019
Yet again, I very much enjoyed this book/continuation in the series. Major plot twist - didn't see that coming! Now I am questioning everything and everyone... I also loved the nod to HG Wells, and the very random but it made me chuckle Only Fools and Horses reference (just for the oldies reading the series). I can't work out where the series is going - other than at some point to the future! I can't work out how it will all end. Will they get a happily ever after or will it simply be... the end?! I have to find out!!
May 1, 2025
This is probably my favorite book of the series so far. It really took me on an emotional rollercoaster. At times it was funny, sad, shocking, or suspenseful. The plot twist? Had me floored for a good ten minutes before I could pick the book back up again. It also really had me questioning a lot about morality and ethics surrounding what it means to be human and surrounding the concept of time travel. I loved getting more of a glimpse into how the agency started as well, and I can’t wait to unravel more of the mystery!
July 22, 2025
Wow!
Book 5 and now book 6 in this series have been amazing! The Time Riders are now armed with information that will, possibly, change how they view their task at keeping time safe and the future unchanged.
Seeing how they will adjust to a new location and time, as well as the possible new addition (do they turn the unit back on and take the chance they will still want to kill them or do they leave it in a vegetation state??)
With not many more pages to read in the series, how will time wind up?
Book 5 and now book 6 in this series have been amazing! The Time Riders are now armed with information that will, possibly, change how they view their task at keeping time safe and the future unchanged.
Seeing how they will adjust to a new location and time, as well as the possible new addition (do they turn the unit back on and take the chance they will still want to kill them or do they leave it in a vegetation state??)
With not many more pages to read in the series, how will time wind up?
July 12, 2017
Another great one. I loved how the scenery and plot suddenly completely changed and I can't wait what other mysteries has the author in store.
My only note is that the time aberration in 1888 London felt a little forced - I know it did kind of make sense that something might happen when they got there, but it felt like a little afterthought in the sense of "wow, a whole book behind me... wait, there was no time-repairing in this one". But aside from that I was really having fun.
My only note is that the time aberration in 1888 London felt a little forced - I know it did kind of make sense that something might happen when they got there, but it felt like a little afterthought in the sense of "wow, a whole book behind me... wait, there was no time-repairing in this one". But aside from that I was really having fun.
June 19, 2025
TimeRiders: City of Shadows is an exciting and fast-paced installment in the TimeRiders series. I really enjoyed the book—the story was engaging from start to finish and full of twists that kept me hooked. The adventure was thrilling, with just the right mix of action, suspense, and time-travel intrigue. The characters continue to grow in interesting ways, and the new setting added a fresh layer to the series. Overall, a great read for anyone who loves time travel and a gripping sci-fi journey!
November 5, 2016
I honestly feel awful saying this, but... the writing is atrocious. The same expressions (Jayzus, devil-may-care), no character development at all, the same plots over and over again.
Scarrow had a brilliant idea for the series. But he hasn't been able to develop it well. It's like a Ryan Murphy show. Great idea, terrible execution.
Scarrow had a brilliant idea for the series. But he hasn't been able to develop it well. It's like a Ryan Murphy show. Great idea, terrible execution.
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