What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Time
If someone took everything you live for, how far would you go to get it back?
From award-winning author D. L. ORTON comes book three in the Between Two Evils series...
Shannon fights to stay alive inside a rogue biodome and discovers something totally unexpected... Peter. Lani is forced into the role of the reluctant heroine but rediscovers her street-kid mojo and sets out to find everything she's lost. Diego receives another dirty sock (and a note) from the poorly aimed fireball express: "The window between universes is closing." If Diego has any hope of getting back to Iz, he must get to the Magic Kingdom and power up the time machine before it's too late.
What could possibly go wrong?
From award-winning author D. L. ORTON comes book three in the Between Two Evils series...
Shannon fights to stay alive inside a rogue biodome and discovers something totally unexpected... Peter. Lani is forced into the role of the reluctant heroine but rediscovers her street-kid mojo and sets out to find everything she's lost. Diego receives another dirty sock (and a note) from the poorly aimed fireball express: "The window between universes is closing." If Diego has any hope of getting back to Iz, he must get to the Magic Kingdom and power up the time machine before it's too late.
What could possibly go wrong?
495 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2017
42 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Orton
8 books469 followersAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DL ORTON lives in the Tropics with her husband, a golden retriever mix, a Siberian cat, and a bazillion geckos.
In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Website:
http://DLOrton.com
Ms Orton is a graduate of Stanford University's Writers Workshop and a past editor of "Top of the Western Staircase," a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
You can email her at dlo at dlorton dot com.
In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Website:
http://DLOrton.com
Ms Orton is a graduate of Stanford University's Writers Workshop and a past editor of "Top of the Western Staircase," a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
You can email her at dlo at dlorton dot com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 18, 2017
Book three in the series has me really glad that I read all three books. I love Diego and I love that he is written with a good heart. He has made the series for me. I like Shannon, but I always pull for Diego. He has been steadfast throughout all three books. I like that there will be a new generation with additional characters. The action in this book was phenomenal and kept me racing through the tense sections at breakneck speed. I love the way Orton writes. The characters are such that I am drawn tot hem and invested in their journey as well as their outcome.
I suggest you read the series from book 1 and find out for yourself how this Dystopian Time Travel book suits you. It truly sets a high bar in entertainment.
I suggest you read the series from book 1 and find out for yourself how this Dystopian Time Travel book suits you. It truly sets a high bar in entertainment.
January 23, 2025
Set in a dystopian future where humanity’s survival hinges on all the characters, Dead Time by DL Orton takes the readers through a series of interwoven timelines. Some of the characters names have changed taking which takes some figuring out. I would take you through all the changes, but it hurts my brain to remember them.
I highly suggest reading this series from the beginning. This is not a standalone book; it will be even more confusing than it already is. If you have been following the series, Crossing In Time Book 1 and Lost Time by DL Orton, at the heart of the story is the quest of Diego and Isabel to find each other again. Star-crossed lovers sort of story except when the world is on the brink of extinction. Do they find each other alas?
The third book, Dead Time, continues when Diego has taken a second try at time travel because the first one has gone so well. Only in this world characters and personalities have changed along with their pasts. Everything in this world seems to be upside down.
Meanwhile, Lani is on a rant to find her daughter, Shannon, again. But uncharacteristically, she becomes a martyr by going on an expedition on her own to save all the people in her failing biodome. I thought she was a doctor not an explorer. Why would you send your finest healer to find a new place for your tribe to live?
In this book, Shannon is kidnapped by individuals from another biodome who hold the belief that females are of lesser value. Their belief system is said to be based on bible values, but few in this community even know how to read. Does this make the religious or ignorant? She is soon married to Peter. How does this work out?
Get the answers to all my questions when you read the series. In my opinion, the third book is packed with excitement and adventure. And like I said before, it is very perplexing. Like the other two books, DL Orton leaves you with a little doubt that this is the end of the series. As the author attempts to tie up loose endings, do the star-crossed lovers ever meet again?
I highly suggest reading this series from the beginning. This is not a standalone book; it will be even more confusing than it already is. If you have been following the series, Crossing In Time Book 1 and Lost Time by DL Orton, at the heart of the story is the quest of Diego and Isabel to find each other again. Star-crossed lovers sort of story except when the world is on the brink of extinction. Do they find each other alas?
The third book, Dead Time, continues when Diego has taken a second try at time travel because the first one has gone so well. Only in this world characters and personalities have changed along with their pasts. Everything in this world seems to be upside down.
Meanwhile, Lani is on a rant to find her daughter, Shannon, again. But uncharacteristically, she becomes a martyr by going on an expedition on her own to save all the people in her failing biodome. I thought she was a doctor not an explorer. Why would you send your finest healer to find a new place for your tribe to live?
In this book, Shannon is kidnapped by individuals from another biodome who hold the belief that females are of lesser value. Their belief system is said to be based on bible values, but few in this community even know how to read. Does this make the religious or ignorant? She is soon married to Peter. How does this work out?
Get the answers to all my questions when you read the series. In my opinion, the third book is packed with excitement and adventure. And like I said before, it is very perplexing. Like the other two books, DL Orton leaves you with a little doubt that this is the end of the series. As the author attempts to tie up loose endings, do the star-crossed lovers ever meet again?
April 17, 2017
Where to start?
First off, although I won't spoiler anything in this book I will have to recap the first two books (imagine the cheesy voiceover) just to remind readers what happened in them.
Fair warning, I'm pretty sure you won't understand what is going on if you haven't read the two preceding books - this can't really be read as a stand-alone.
Diego and Isabel can be viewed as star-crossed lovers. They were in love, argued and didn't see each other again for twenty years. They got back together just as the world was overtaken by a disastrous plague which scientists accelerated in their futile attempts to engineer a cure. A group of scientists investigate a mysterious falling asteroid which contains a formula, a sock and Diego's name. What they discover is a way of looking into alternate universes, by viewing these universes they determine that Diego and Isabel's failed first romance is somehow the common factor to the alternate universes that survive. They attempt to send Diego 20 years back in time (to an alternate universe) to stop them from breaking up but accidentally send him 20 years into the future. In this reality Diego's former best friend, Dave, (who was the catalyst/beneficiary of the original break-up) has designed and built a series of biodomes to keep safe what is left of humanity in the continental US.
Are you still with me?
Diego arrives outside a biodome where a young girl, Shannon, is outside in her biosuit. She and her mother Lani rescue Diego and heal his broken bones (he landed in a tree and fell a loooong way down. Diego is immune to the virus which wiped out 99% of humanity, the result of another gift from the asteroid, but the nanotechs that give him immunity are keyed to his DNA - they don't work on anyone else. As an added kicker, Diego met Lani on the night the asteroid hit earth, a few months ago in his past but 20 years ago in hers. At the end of the last book Diego, Shannon and Madders are flying to meet Dave so that he and his scientists can study Diego's blood/ DNA and try to design a cure for all. Diego also wants to find the Magic Mountain, a subterranean city populated by the army/ scientists who sent him forward in time, he hopes that in this reality they may have attempted something similar. Unfortunately, they can't refuel at one of the other biodomes due to bad weather and have to land at a biodome run by a group of misogynist religious devotees who kidnap Shannon but let Diego and Madders free, they then marry poor Shannon off to the head honcho's spotty son. Oh, and Shannon is Dave's daughter.
Whew! Just to make life more confusing, Isabel has actually been sent 20 years back in time and has met the other Diego on that timeline. Also, people often go by different names both because their names are literally slightly different but also because they use nicknames or refer to people by their surnames in the different realities, added to which Diego often uses different aliases!
Also, I might have got some of the above wrong.
The trouble is, when I try to tell you about what happens in this book it's all spoilers. There's Dave's wife (which I guessed), but then there's also what happens with Shannon and her new husband, and then what happened to Diego (or James as he was called in this reality). There's what Lani does and what Diego does ... and I can't tell you any of it!
Suffice it to say, Diego discovers more similarities between his reality and the alternate reality 20 years in the future than he might have realised, questions are answered and more are raised. Leopards don't change their spots ...
Loved it, can't wait for the next one. I wonder what has happened to Isabel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
First off, although I won't spoiler anything in this book I will have to recap the first two books (imagine the cheesy voiceover) just to remind readers what happened in them.
Fair warning, I'm pretty sure you won't understand what is going on if you haven't read the two preceding books - this can't really be read as a stand-alone.
Diego and Isabel can be viewed as star-crossed lovers. They were in love, argued and didn't see each other again for twenty years. They got back together just as the world was overtaken by a disastrous plague which scientists accelerated in their futile attempts to engineer a cure. A group of scientists investigate a mysterious falling asteroid which contains a formula, a sock and Diego's name. What they discover is a way of looking into alternate universes, by viewing these universes they determine that Diego and Isabel's failed first romance is somehow the common factor to the alternate universes that survive. They attempt to send Diego 20 years back in time (to an alternate universe) to stop them from breaking up but accidentally send him 20 years into the future. In this reality Diego's former best friend, Dave, (who was the catalyst/beneficiary of the original break-up) has designed and built a series of biodomes to keep safe what is left of humanity in the continental US.
Are you still with me?
Diego arrives outside a biodome where a young girl, Shannon, is outside in her biosuit. She and her mother Lani rescue Diego and heal his broken bones (he landed in a tree and fell a loooong way down. Diego is immune to the virus which wiped out 99% of humanity, the result of another gift from the asteroid, but the nanotechs that give him immunity are keyed to his DNA - they don't work on anyone else. As an added kicker, Diego met Lani on the night the asteroid hit earth, a few months ago in his past but 20 years ago in hers. At the end of the last book Diego, Shannon and Madders are flying to meet Dave so that he and his scientists can study Diego's blood/ DNA and try to design a cure for all. Diego also wants to find the Magic Mountain, a subterranean city populated by the army/ scientists who sent him forward in time, he hopes that in this reality they may have attempted something similar. Unfortunately, they can't refuel at one of the other biodomes due to bad weather and have to land at a biodome run by a group of misogynist religious devotees who kidnap Shannon but let Diego and Madders free, they then marry poor Shannon off to the head honcho's spotty son. Oh, and Shannon is Dave's daughter.
Whew! Just to make life more confusing, Isabel has actually been sent 20 years back in time and has met the other Diego on that timeline. Also, people often go by different names both because their names are literally slightly different but also because they use nicknames or refer to people by their surnames in the different realities, added to which Diego often uses different aliases!
Also, I might have got some of the above wrong.
The trouble is, when I try to tell you about what happens in this book it's all spoilers. There's Dave's wife (which I guessed), but then there's also what happens with Shannon and her new husband, and then what happened to Diego (or James as he was called in this reality). There's what Lani does and what Diego does ... and I can't tell you any of it!
Suffice it to say, Diego discovers more similarities between his reality and the alternate reality 20 years in the future than he might have realised, questions are answered and more are raised. Leopards don't change their spots ...
Loved it, can't wait for the next one. I wonder what has happened to Isabel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
February 6, 2018
My original Dead Time audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
The third book in the “Between Two Evils” series starts off right where Lost Time ended and continues the story from the perspectives of Diego, Shannon, and Lani. Diego is still in an alternate universe 20 years in the future trying to get back to his own time and his Isabel (hopefully). Shannon is held at the biodome occupied by a herd of misogynistic zealots. In the meantime, Lani wants to go rescue her daughter, Shannon, but also has to find a way of saving the inhabitants of her biodome, which is failing.
Summarizing the plot briefly is virtually impossible. There is seriously a lot going on and I don’t want to put in spoilers. To say the story line is complex would be an understatement, and to have any chance of following the plot and all the clever little nuances, these books should definitely be read in order starting with Crossing in Time.
It’s pretty impressive how D.L. Orton keeps things straight and manages to create such exciting, different worlds. I think the most amazing thing though is how real the characters feel and what they are going through. Yes, this is science fiction, time travel, apocalyptic worlds, adventure, but all the emotion involved and the way the relationships between various characters is depicted is incredible. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy stories with well-developed characters, like some romance and are not averse to exploring alternate realities.
In contrast to the second book, this one contains non-stop action. It is really fast paced and although it is twice as long as the previous book, the end came far too soon. I was enjoying it so much. Out of the three books, this one is definitely my favorite so far. The story arc regarding Shannon was absolutely terrifying and gripping. But then Ms. Orton inserts little breathers and some humor. I loved the scenes between Diego and Isabel and how the banter between them, reminiscent to book 1, came back to life here.
But I would also like to add a trigger warning: some scenes depict violence against women, which sensitive readers/listeners may find disturbing.
I was happy that this one didn’t end in a mighty cliff-hanger. The ending was very satisfactory and left you with a promise of more excitement and adventure. I am very curious to find out what’s next in store for Diego (and Isabel). I’m hoping the fourth book will be out soon!
Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard continue to narrate the series. I have praised their teamwork, their timing, their accents, their consistently fantastic voices often enough, I don’t know what else I could possibly add. Their narration makes this story come to life in a very special way. Full stars.
There were no problems with the production of the audio.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
The third book in the “Between Two Evils” series starts off right where Lost Time ended and continues the story from the perspectives of Diego, Shannon, and Lani. Diego is still in an alternate universe 20 years in the future trying to get back to his own time and his Isabel (hopefully). Shannon is held at the biodome occupied by a herd of misogynistic zealots. In the meantime, Lani wants to go rescue her daughter, Shannon, but also has to find a way of saving the inhabitants of her biodome, which is failing.
Summarizing the plot briefly is virtually impossible. There is seriously a lot going on and I don’t want to put in spoilers. To say the story line is complex would be an understatement, and to have any chance of following the plot and all the clever little nuances, these books should definitely be read in order starting with Crossing in Time.
It’s pretty impressive how D.L. Orton keeps things straight and manages to create such exciting, different worlds. I think the most amazing thing though is how real the characters feel and what they are going through. Yes, this is science fiction, time travel, apocalyptic worlds, adventure, but all the emotion involved and the way the relationships between various characters is depicted is incredible. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy stories with well-developed characters, like some romance and are not averse to exploring alternate realities.
In contrast to the second book, this one contains non-stop action. It is really fast paced and although it is twice as long as the previous book, the end came far too soon. I was enjoying it so much. Out of the three books, this one is definitely my favorite so far. The story arc regarding Shannon was absolutely terrifying and gripping. But then Ms. Orton inserts little breathers and some humor. I loved the scenes between Diego and Isabel and how the banter between them, reminiscent to book 1, came back to life here.
But I would also like to add a trigger warning: some scenes depict violence against women, which sensitive readers/listeners may find disturbing.
I was happy that this one didn’t end in a mighty cliff-hanger. The ending was very satisfactory and left you with a promise of more excitement and adventure. I am very curious to find out what’s next in store for Diego (and Isabel). I’m hoping the fourth book will be out soon!
Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard continue to narrate the series. I have praised their teamwork, their timing, their accents, their consistently fantastic voices often enough, I don’t know what else I could possibly add. Their narration makes this story come to life in a very special way. Full stars.
There were no problems with the production of the audio.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
May 22, 2017
I loved this book. It was very exciting and I enjoyed the continuting saga of all the characters in books 1 and 2. The characters were very real and vital. This virus that contaminated their world is something that could happen to us in the real world. Let's hope that there are some savy scientists that will help us out. Come out with the fourth book soon Ms. Orton. Thank you for my free adventure in reading.
June 2, 2018
The books in this series go from strength to strength, they just keep on pulling you deeper into this saga. This is such a feast for the imagination with so much going on. We are introduced to a lot more people from different domes. Not always pleasant ones
Shannon was abducted by some religious fanatics, but the one good thing was she met and married Peter. Unfortunately the path to true love is never easy, neither is trying to escape.
We met the Isabel in this dimension, who now married to David who is just as despicable.
Through the whole of this book, all Diego wants to do is go back to his own timeline and rescue his own Isabel. This series goes from strength to strength ensnaring me even more, leaving me impatiently waiting for book 4.
The narrators’ talent amazes me, in the adventure it feels like a large cast of characters. When you get to the end you realise it is only Erin and Noah. After listening to this addictive series my regard has grown so much for the work they do.
Shannon was abducted by some religious fanatics, but the one good thing was she met and married Peter. Unfortunately the path to true love is never easy, neither is trying to escape.
We met the Isabel in this dimension, who now married to David who is just as despicable.
Through the whole of this book, all Diego wants to do is go back to his own timeline and rescue his own Isabel. This series goes from strength to strength ensnaring me even more, leaving me impatiently waiting for book 4.
The narrators’ talent amazes me, in the adventure it feels like a large cast of characters. When you get to the end you realise it is only Erin and Noah. After listening to this addictive series my regard has grown so much for the work they do.
November 13, 2017
Coming off of books one and two, I was familiar with the characters and the story as a whole so I was all too eager to get into this to see what would happen next in this gripping, time-travel based suspenseful mystery.
Personally, it helped to become familiar with these two works first because Orton pulls you in right into those works. This one was no different as it continues the story from book two, Lost in Time.
Dead Time surrounds favorites Diego, Shannon, Isabella, and Lani—among others in the aftermath of the previous apocalyptic destruction and the aftermath as first discussed in Crossing Time—concerning where they left off.
At first, it felt as if there was an overhaul of characters and I’ll admit there were many which cause a little difficulty in remembering who was whom and how they were connected.
But, the further I got, it got easier to pinpoint the vital connections between characters as well as where they'd left off.
Speaking of which, one of the characters that I followed consistently was Shannon, who was kidnapped by a bunch of religious zealots (because “fear of dying makes you do some crazy shit”) and subsequently forced to marry with this disgusting den of predators.
Her story terrified me. Even as Orton tuned the reader into each of the other characters of the story, I couldn’t wait to get back to hers to find out what happened and if she would get freed.
I was also drawn to her because of the personality illustrated in the passages. It seems that she experiences what we all would go through emotionally in such a situation or any other hopeless case that might take place in our lives; despair, denial, hopelessness, desperation, determination, fight, and the like.
Orton gets props from me for making just this character alone with such a real embodiment of the human condition. This is one of the aspects that I loved in the writing: the emotion. There was more showing than telling. Even with a subject matter so seemingly far-fetched as time-travel, the details of emotion and other aspects is woven together with just the right amount of realism to broaden the suspense and mystery.
So, if you like mysteries with an edge of time-travel, thrills, and romance, I suggest you pick this up.
I give it four out of five stars.
Personally, it helped to become familiar with these two works first because Orton pulls you in right into those works. This one was no different as it continues the story from book two, Lost in Time.
Dead Time surrounds favorites Diego, Shannon, Isabella, and Lani—among others in the aftermath of the previous apocalyptic destruction and the aftermath as first discussed in Crossing Time—concerning where they left off.
At first, it felt as if there was an overhaul of characters and I’ll admit there were many which cause a little difficulty in remembering who was whom and how they were connected.
But, the further I got, it got easier to pinpoint the vital connections between characters as well as where they'd left off.
Speaking of which, one of the characters that I followed consistently was Shannon, who was kidnapped by a bunch of religious zealots (because “fear of dying makes you do some crazy shit”) and subsequently forced to marry with this disgusting den of predators.
Her story terrified me. Even as Orton tuned the reader into each of the other characters of the story, I couldn’t wait to get back to hers to find out what happened and if she would get freed.
I was also drawn to her because of the personality illustrated in the passages. It seems that she experiences what we all would go through emotionally in such a situation or any other hopeless case that might take place in our lives; despair, denial, hopelessness, desperation, determination, fight, and the like.
Orton gets props from me for making just this character alone with such a real embodiment of the human condition. This is one of the aspects that I loved in the writing: the emotion. There was more showing than telling. Even with a subject matter so seemingly far-fetched as time-travel, the details of emotion and other aspects is woven together with just the right amount of realism to broaden the suspense and mystery.
So, if you like mysteries with an edge of time-travel, thrills, and romance, I suggest you pick this up.
I give it four out of five stars.
November 23, 2024
So…this is book #3 (and the last) in the series…and I feel like I had to say goodbye to my friends now. 😢
In this particular one we seem to have multiple timelines/universes and they are somehow intersecting?!?!
Diego is back!! Woohoo!! 😁
So is Lani and her daughter Shannon!
And Isabel… Oh Iz…what happened?? 😮. I so missed you in book #2…and now… I. Just. Can’t…
So Diego is STILL trying to get back to Isabel…and he’s still in the FUTURE…
BUT…he gets another meteor/football/message urging him to get back to her…right away.
And…Shannon is trying to spread her wings a little bit! And she is granted just a little freedom…but Lani is so afraid… and it seems she has every right to be!
And Matters…he’s still in the picture too! With his big heart…always trying to help EVERYONE!
And Dave. Well now. What do we have here? Hiding some things along the way…are we??
So as Shannon is spreading her wings, she finds herself now also…fighting for her life…and her rights! In another strange bio dome. But, we do meet Peter…so there’s that!
I know, I’m throwing a lot out there. But it’s all tantalizing, and exciting, and threatening, and horrifying too!! 😮
If you are into time travel, dual timelines, friendships, love, and a whole lot of other stuff…please give this series a shot!
So happy I was given access to books 1&2 via #NetGalley, and was then able to get this one via my local library and Hoopla!!
#DeadTime (Between Two Evils, Book #3) by #DLOrton and narrated nicely by #NoahMichaelLevine and #ErindeWard.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! And I’m sorry the series had to come to an end! I’ll miss these guys…
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
Insta @ #BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
In this particular one we seem to have multiple timelines/universes and they are somehow intersecting?!?!
Diego is back!! Woohoo!! 😁
So is Lani and her daughter Shannon!
And Isabel… Oh Iz…what happened?? 😮. I so missed you in book #2…and now… I. Just. Can’t…
So Diego is STILL trying to get back to Isabel…and he’s still in the FUTURE…
BUT…he gets another meteor/football/message urging him to get back to her…right away.
And…Shannon is trying to spread her wings a little bit! And she is granted just a little freedom…but Lani is so afraid… and it seems she has every right to be!
And Matters…he’s still in the picture too! With his big heart…always trying to help EVERYONE!
And Dave. Well now. What do we have here? Hiding some things along the way…are we??
So as Shannon is spreading her wings, she finds herself now also…fighting for her life…and her rights! In another strange bio dome. But, we do meet Peter…so there’s that!
I know, I’m throwing a lot out there. But it’s all tantalizing, and exciting, and threatening, and horrifying too!! 😮
If you are into time travel, dual timelines, friendships, love, and a whole lot of other stuff…please give this series a shot!
So happy I was given access to books 1&2 via #NetGalley, and was then able to get this one via my local library and Hoopla!!
#DeadTime (Between Two Evils, Book #3) by #DLOrton and narrated nicely by #NoahMichaelLevine and #ErindeWard.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! And I’m sorry the series had to come to an end! I’ll miss these guys…
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
Insta @ #BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
July 8, 2021
More of our favourite characters! Yet the author makes it difficult for us, as we have the original Diego and Iz that we love and are rooting for, and then there are the variations on Diego and Iz from the other universes - whom we also want to be ok! Other characters have been introduced that we care about - Shannon is the focus for a lot of this story and her part of the story fits well into the main story yet could almost be a short story in its own right - quite interesting, but very different.
The ending of this novel I found much more satisfactory than the previous book, and the author is certainly not afraid of introducing more characters. There was an Epilogue that was a teaser for the next book in the series, reeling me in, and then the first chapter of it - back to Tego! I am so glad the author has varied the names slightly, to make it easier for us, but one thing that does delight me is the ease I am having of keeping all the different characters in their different universes sorted in my mind - very well written.
Again, this book could be read as a standalone novel but much more benefit would come from reading the previous books in the series. Am I hooked on this series? Of course, who could read this series and not want to know where those seashells, socks and spheres have come from?
The ending of this novel I found much more satisfactory than the previous book, and the author is certainly not afraid of introducing more characters. There was an Epilogue that was a teaser for the next book in the series, reeling me in, and then the first chapter of it - back to Tego! I am so glad the author has varied the names slightly, to make it easier for us, but one thing that does delight me is the ease I am having of keeping all the different characters in their different universes sorted in my mind - very well written.
Again, this book could be read as a standalone novel but much more benefit would come from reading the previous books in the series. Am I hooked on this series? Of course, who could read this series and not want to know where those seashells, socks and spheres have come from?
May 1, 2017
After reading the first two books in the series I was on tenterhooks to find out what happened to Shannon. Her story arc was terrifying, suspenseful, exciting and surprisingly it had a little sweet romance.
I loved that the story unfolded from the P.O.V. of the different main characters. Diego's quest to travel back in time and save his world also made riveting reading. The story of the alternate Isabelle and James was quite sad but I loved how their story concluded.
Dead Time is incredibly fast paced and exciting read.
Any fans of sci-fi, romance or adventure would be sure to enjoy this series.
I loved that the story unfolded from the P.O.V. of the different main characters. Diego's quest to travel back in time and save his world also made riveting reading. The story of the alternate Isabelle and James was quite sad but I loved how their story concluded.
Dead Time is incredibly fast paced and exciting read.
Any fans of sci-fi, romance or adventure would be sure to enjoy this series.
August 16, 2017
After reading the first two books in the series I was on tenterhooks to find out what happened to Shannon. Her story arc was terrifying, suspenseful, exciting and surprisingly it had a little sweet romance.
I loved that the story unfolded from the P.O.V. of the different main characters. Diego's quest to travel back in time and save his world also made riveting reading. The story of the alternate Isabelle and James was quite sad but I loved how their story concluded.
Dead Time is incredibly fast paced and exciting read.
Any fans of sci-fi, romance or adventure would be sure to enjoy this series.
I loved that the story unfolded from the P.O.V. of the different main characters. Diego's quest to travel back in time and save his world also made riveting reading. The story of the alternate Isabelle and James was quite sad but I loved how their story concluded.
Dead Time is incredibly fast paced and exciting read.
Any fans of sci-fi, romance or adventure would be sure to enjoy this series.
March 12, 2018
This was a well written,futuristic story.There are time machines ,people knowing people in every reality.A girl is kidnapped and married to a 'prince' in a bio dome that belongs to a cult.We meet all the people from different realities while they attempt a rescue.I enjoyed it a lot.Erin Deward and Noah Michael Levine were terrific narrators.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
May 17, 2025
This was an okay series. I think the concept was interesting but there were definitely some logistical issues.
July 30, 2017
Holy shit my head is going to explode.
*What is going on...?*
I received a free copy for an honest review
First off, don't try to skip a book in this series and pretend that you can just pick off right where's it left off.
(lesson learned)
So let's start off with the first book (because if I don't summarize this entire series you'll have no idea what I'm talking about too in my review anyway). Basically first there's Deigo and Isabel who were in love but then separated because of a misunderstanding, and then they met again and got back together as second-chance lovers right (literally right at the actual moment) the world went downhill to shit. Then at the same time, an asteroid came in with a pink-fluffy-unicorn sock, a formula, and a note with Deigo's name. And then it took them about 5 pages to realize that Deigo and Isabel are star-crossed lovers (literally) whose first failed relationship was the cause of universal destruction. At this point things were so complicated I found myself could care less for the romance (sorry no offense). Also shockingly this idea is not cheesy at all (the whole star-crossed lover thing). In fact, it's pretty original and terrific. So they decided to send Deigo back twenty years to prevent them from breaking up basically to save the entire universe but a fricking idiot accidentally send him back to 20 years in the future instead of in the past, while Isabel will later be sent back 20 years in the past.
Yeah you think it's already done being complicated.
So Deigo landed a longgggg way down (literally), resulting in a broken leg (this is already at book 2). There he met a young girl Shannon and her dearest mommy Lani. And if things still aren't complicated enough, he landed at perfect timing the night the asteroid hit earth. Timeline update: to her it's 20 years ago, to him it's a few months back.
Oh and did I mention that Deigo is immune to the plague that wiped out like 99.99 percent of humanity too? And that he started to have a little complicating 'thingie' with our dearest Lani here, which (thank god) didn't last long.
Now by this point my head has been banging on the table for 5 minutes.
Basically the end of book 2 equals to 'let's try to find the cure from honey Deigo's golden blood'. Also Deigo was trying to find this place called Magic Mountain, because he wants to go back to his original time and wants them to try and find the cure with his blood then. But then there's some sort of fuel problem due to weather issues (what, it's an airplane now?) and of course that's not possible. Then a group of really annoying misogynist religious pieces of shits came in just because the author feels like there are not enough things going down to shit, and kidnapped Shannon but let Madders and Deigo free (for some, god forsaken reason). Then poor Shannon was married off like the the ancient medieval times to the clan gang's son, and Shannon is dick face Dave's daughter. Yes the same Dave who originally married Isabel and then divorced and then Isabel got back together with Deigo, that Dave. And ends up he was married before too to Lani, and now there's the possibility of her and Deigo...
My head is officially bleeding now on the table while I continue banging on it.
Back to Isabel. She time traveled back 20 years in the past successfully, so now the whole saving-relationship-and-universe thing officially rested on her shoulders.
Wait, did Deigo and her meet again in that timeline?
My brain is leaking out of my cracked skull right now. Still banging.
Yeah, I think I missed something though.
Oh then there's Shannon who met another guy named Peter, and a dirty sock with a note that said: "The window between universes is closing".
Yeah, the book is totally not stressful enough.
Oh. My. God.
What could possibly go wrong?
I am never reading a time traveling book again.
Overall this is a really good book that I swear D.L Orton must be some sort of secret-government genius in order to pull off (I'm totally serious. That woman needs to make her IQ public).
Also I think I made my brain gain 10 IQ points so I can write this review and understand this book in general.
My summary reaction to the book, it's amazing, but seriously, if I have heart problems I'll seriously die of cardiac arrest while reading a book in this series.
I will still be looking forward to the next installment though (I feel like I will regret saying that).
*What is going on...?*
I received a free copy for an honest review
First off, don't try to skip a book in this series and pretend that you can just pick off right where's it left off.
(lesson learned)
So let's start off with the first book (because if I don't summarize this entire series you'll have no idea what I'm talking about too in my review anyway). Basically first there's Deigo and Isabel who were in love but then separated because of a misunderstanding, and then they met again and got back together as second-chance lovers right (literally right at the actual moment) the world went downhill to shit. Then at the same time, an asteroid came in with a pink-fluffy-unicorn sock, a formula, and a note with Deigo's name. And then it took them about 5 pages to realize that Deigo and Isabel are star-crossed lovers (literally) whose first failed relationship was the cause of universal destruction. At this point things were so complicated I found myself could care less for the romance (sorry no offense). Also shockingly this idea is not cheesy at all (the whole star-crossed lover thing). In fact, it's pretty original and terrific. So they decided to send Deigo back twenty years to prevent them from breaking up basically to save the entire universe but a fricking idiot accidentally send him back to 20 years in the future instead of in the past, while Isabel will later be sent back 20 years in the past.
Yeah you think it's already done being complicated.
So Deigo landed a longgggg way down (literally), resulting in a broken leg (this is already at book 2). There he met a young girl Shannon and her dearest mommy Lani. And if things still aren't complicated enough, he landed at perfect timing the night the asteroid hit earth. Timeline update: to her it's 20 years ago, to him it's a few months back.
Oh and did I mention that Deigo is immune to the plague that wiped out like 99.99 percent of humanity too? And that he started to have a little complicating 'thingie' with our dearest Lani here, which (thank god) didn't last long.
Now by this point my head has been banging on the table for 5 minutes.
Basically the end of book 2 equals to 'let's try to find the cure from honey Deigo's golden blood'. Also Deigo was trying to find this place called Magic Mountain, because he wants to go back to his original time and wants them to try and find the cure with his blood then. But then there's some sort of fuel problem due to weather issues (what, it's an airplane now?) and of course that's not possible. Then a group of really annoying misogynist religious pieces of shits came in just because the author feels like there are not enough things going down to shit, and kidnapped Shannon but let Madders and Deigo free (for some, god forsaken reason). Then poor Shannon was married off like the the ancient medieval times to the clan gang's son, and Shannon is dick face Dave's daughter. Yes the same Dave who originally married Isabel and then divorced and then Isabel got back together with Deigo, that Dave. And ends up he was married before too to Lani, and now there's the possibility of her and Deigo...
My head is officially bleeding now on the table while I continue banging on it.
Back to Isabel. She time traveled back 20 years in the past successfully, so now the whole saving-relationship-and-universe thing officially rested on her shoulders.
Wait, did Deigo and her meet again in that timeline?
My brain is leaking out of my cracked skull right now. Still banging.
Yeah, I think I missed something though.
Oh then there's Shannon who met another guy named Peter, and a dirty sock with a note that said: "The window between universes is closing".
Yeah, the book is totally not stressful enough.
Oh. My. God.
What could possibly go wrong?
I am never reading a time traveling book again.
Overall this is a really good book that I swear D.L Orton must be some sort of secret-government genius in order to pull off (I'm totally serious. That woman needs to make her IQ public).
Also I think I made my brain gain 10 IQ points so I can write this review and understand this book in general.
My summary reaction to the book, it's amazing, but seriously, if I have heart problems I'll seriously die of cardiac arrest while reading a book in this series.
I will still be looking forward to the next installment though (I feel like I will regret saying that).
April 21, 2017
[Full disclosure: I received a pre-publication copy of the manuscript to proofread but my review is unsolicited. I just need to review every book I read because #OCD]
I really enjoyed the world & characters that DL Orton created in her first two books—Crossing in Time & Lost Time—and I was looking forward to reading more of the series and finding out how our heroes save the world!
Dead Time picks up right where Lost Time left off—Shannon has been kidnapped by a bunch of backwoods religious nutballs while Diego is stuck in C-Bay where this universe's version of his true love Iz can't stand to look at him.
We find out Shannon was taken to be put into an arranged marriage, Bella (this universe's Iz) believes Diego is her universe's James who supposedly died twenty years earlier, oh and yeah, some of the biodomes might be in danger of collapsing...
I'm really interested in the outline/plan Orton has for our characters. Crossing in Time set up an amazing idea—a multiverse-ending apocalypse that can only be prevented by some time-travelling, star-crossed lovers. Lost Time explored one alternate universe as one lover got sent off course to fix everything. Dead Time stays in that same "wrong" universe, is the longest book of the series so far, and doesn't really focus on the apocalypse much at all!
There is a lot of drama within this one universe, but I'm still left wondering what is happening with Matt back in Earth Prime, what's happening with Tego in his universe, and where was Iz taken as she was nearly dying at the end of book 1?
I love the ideas and characters and story lines—but there are just so many balls in the air, it's hard to remember all the details from previous books (like a note from Book 2 that appears in Book 3 or even the fact that Lani, one of the three main characters, was the street-smart girl in the first few chapters of Book 1 all grown up!). I can't help but imagine this story as a movie, but it's hard to figure out what pieces of the puzzle would make a quality film. The first two books each end on huge cliffhangers, but since I'm not a screenwriter, I guess it doesn't matter much...
Orton does more of what she's done previously—alternate chapters with different narrators (once again Diego, Shannon, and her mother Lani). The differentiation seems to be getting slightly better from chapter to chapter—there were a few Shannon chapters that really felt like they were the thoughts of an 18-year-old girl. There's fewer R-rated scenes (none really that I remember) but still some nice romance between different sets of characters. One relationship feels very much like Diego-Iz relationship with the way the two fight (but perhaps that's done on purpose?)
My only main complaint is the ease with which everything wrapped up in the end. It felt a little too convenient (perhaps a deus ex machina situation) how everything that needed to happen was able to happen as time ticked down. Looking back, I wonder if there could have been a different split point between Books 2 & 3 that may have balanced the lengths a little more and given the final few chapters here time to grow and events happen in a more realistic manner.
Still, we're learning a few more details about how the time travel machine works (it feels a little like a McGuffin) like how it targets the universe it's traveling to. But we still have more to learn (like why the sock, where are the notes coming from, and how are the targeting "beacons" gathered and sent between worlds?) so I'm sure I'll be back for Book 4. Even if I don't get to proofread it!
I really enjoyed the world & characters that DL Orton created in her first two books—Crossing in Time & Lost Time—and I was looking forward to reading more of the series and finding out how our heroes save the world!
Dead Time picks up right where Lost Time left off—Shannon has been kidnapped by a bunch of backwoods religious nutballs while Diego is stuck in C-Bay where this universe's version of his true love Iz can't stand to look at him.
We find out Shannon was taken to be put into an arranged marriage, Bella (this universe's Iz) believes Diego is her universe's James who supposedly died twenty years earlier, oh and yeah, some of the biodomes might be in danger of collapsing...
I'm really interested in the outline/plan Orton has for our characters. Crossing in Time set up an amazing idea—a multiverse-ending apocalypse that can only be prevented by some time-travelling, star-crossed lovers. Lost Time explored one alternate universe as one lover got sent off course to fix everything. Dead Time stays in that same "wrong" universe, is the longest book of the series so far, and doesn't really focus on the apocalypse much at all!
There is a lot of drama within this one universe, but I'm still left wondering what is happening with Matt back in Earth Prime, what's happening with Tego in his universe, and where was Iz taken as she was nearly dying at the end of book 1?
I love the ideas and characters and story lines—but there are just so many balls in the air, it's hard to remember all the details from previous books (like a note from Book 2 that appears in Book 3 or even the fact that Lani, one of the three main characters, was the street-smart girl in the first few chapters of Book 1 all grown up!). I can't help but imagine this story as a movie, but it's hard to figure out what pieces of the puzzle would make a quality film. The first two books each end on huge cliffhangers, but since I'm not a screenwriter, I guess it doesn't matter much...
Orton does more of what she's done previously—alternate chapters with different narrators (once again Diego, Shannon, and her mother Lani). The differentiation seems to be getting slightly better from chapter to chapter—there were a few Shannon chapters that really felt like they were the thoughts of an 18-year-old girl. There's fewer R-rated scenes (none really that I remember) but still some nice romance between different sets of characters. One relationship feels very much like Diego-Iz relationship with the way the two fight (but perhaps that's done on purpose?)
My only main complaint is the ease with which everything wrapped up in the end. It felt a little too convenient (perhaps a deus ex machina situation) how everything that needed to happen was able to happen as time ticked down. Looking back, I wonder if there could have been a different split point between Books 2 & 3 that may have balanced the lengths a little more and given the final few chapters here time to grow and events happen in a more realistic manner.
Still, we're learning a few more details about how the time travel machine works (it feels a little like a McGuffin) like how it targets the universe it's traveling to. But we still have more to learn (like why the sock, where are the notes coming from, and how are the targeting "beacons" gathered and sent between worlds?) so I'm sure I'll be back for Book 4. Even if I don't get to proofread it!
February 6, 2018
My original Dead Time audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
The third book in the "Between Two Evils" series starts off right where "Lost Time" ended and continues the story from the perspectives of Diego, Shannon, and Lani. Diego is still in an alternate universe 20 years in the future trying to get back to his own time and his Isabel (hopefully). Shannon is held at the biodome occupied by a herd of misogynistic zealots. In the meantime, Lani wants to go rescue her daughter, Shannon, but also has to find a way of saving the inhabitants of her biodome, which is failing. Summarizing the plot briefly is virtually impossible. There is seriously a lot going on and I don't want to put in spoilers. To say the storyline is complex would be an understatement, and to have any chance of following the plot and all the clever little nuances, these books should definitely be read in order starting with "Crossing Time". It's pretty impressive how D.L. Orton keeps things straight and manages to create such exciting, different worlds. I think the most amazing thing though is how real the characters feel and what they are going through. Yes, this is science fiction, time travel, apocalyptic worlds, adventure, but all the emotion involved and the way the relationships between various characters is depicted is incredible. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy stories with well-developed characters, like some romance and are not averse to exploring alternate realities.
In contrast to the second book, this one contains non-stop action. It is really fast paced and although it is twice as long as the previous book, the end came far too soon. I was enjoying it so much. Out of the three books, this one is definitely my favorite so far. The story arc regarding Shannon was absolutely terrifying and gripping. But then Ms. Orton inserts little breathers and some humor. I loved the scenes between Diego and Isabel and how the banter between them, reminiscent to book 1, came back to life here.
But I would also like to add a trigger warning: some scenes depict violence against women, which sensitive readers/listeners may find disturbing.
I was happy that this one didn't end in a mighty cliff-hanger. The ending was very satisfactory and left you with a promise of more excitement and adventure. I am very curious to find out what's next in store for Diego (and Isabel). I'm hoping the fourth book will be out soon!
Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard continue to narrate the series. I have praised their teamwork, their timing, their accents, their consistently fantastic voices often enough, I don't know what else I could possibly add. Their narration makes this story come to life in a very special way. Full stars.
There were no problems with the production of the audio.
Audiobook was provided for review the author.
The third book in the "Between Two Evils" series starts off right where "Lost Time" ended and continues the story from the perspectives of Diego, Shannon, and Lani. Diego is still in an alternate universe 20 years in the future trying to get back to his own time and his Isabel (hopefully). Shannon is held at the biodome occupied by a herd of misogynistic zealots. In the meantime, Lani wants to go rescue her daughter, Shannon, but also has to find a way of saving the inhabitants of her biodome, which is failing. Summarizing the plot briefly is virtually impossible. There is seriously a lot going on and I don't want to put in spoilers. To say the storyline is complex would be an understatement, and to have any chance of following the plot and all the clever little nuances, these books should definitely be read in order starting with "Crossing Time". It's pretty impressive how D.L. Orton keeps things straight and manages to create such exciting, different worlds. I think the most amazing thing though is how real the characters feel and what they are going through. Yes, this is science fiction, time travel, apocalyptic worlds, adventure, but all the emotion involved and the way the relationships between various characters is depicted is incredible. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy stories with well-developed characters, like some romance and are not averse to exploring alternate realities.
In contrast to the second book, this one contains non-stop action. It is really fast paced and although it is twice as long as the previous book, the end came far too soon. I was enjoying it so much. Out of the three books, this one is definitely my favorite so far. The story arc regarding Shannon was absolutely terrifying and gripping. But then Ms. Orton inserts little breathers and some humor. I loved the scenes between Diego and Isabel and how the banter between them, reminiscent to book 1, came back to life here.
But I would also like to add a trigger warning: some scenes depict violence against women, which sensitive readers/listeners may find disturbing.
I was happy that this one didn't end in a mighty cliff-hanger. The ending was very satisfactory and left you with a promise of more excitement and adventure. I am very curious to find out what's next in store for Diego (and Isabel). I'm hoping the fourth book will be out soon!
Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard continue to narrate the series. I have praised their teamwork, their timing, their accents, their consistently fantastic voices often enough, I don't know what else I could possibly add. Their narration makes this story come to life in a very special way. Full stars.
There were no problems with the production of the audio.
Audiobook was provided for review the author.
June 13, 2018
Dead Time
D L Orton
Review by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Somewhere in time, a girl named Shannon is kidnapped by rough-cut religious fanatics who inhabit a rogue biodome. A man who calls himself Diego isn’t able to stop them, even though he has fatherly feelings for Shannon. Shannon’s mother once had a sort of crush on Diego but now she’s out for his head. Dave Kirk, Shannon’s possible real father, is married to a woman called Bella, who might be Diego’s ex-lover Isabel, the woman he loved and lost – in a different time, not just years ago but in a past that may no longer exist.
Diego may be a man named James Nadales whom Dave and his slave-like wife Bella knew years before and almost recognize. But Dave, the man who invented the biodomes that all humans must live in now in order to survive, has a different agenda in mind. And there’s the matter of the two babies that Diego believes were lost to miscarriage. But when, in this world, at this time, he meets a young woman with his dead daughter’s name, about the age she would have been if she’d lived, he has even more incentive to re-take his Isabel, go back in time and renew their passion. And there’s another, overriding reason for Diego and Bella to stick together: both are able to live outside the domes without falling dead from the unknown human-killing virus that swept over the globe. That’s why Dave and his think-tank are trying to pin down and study the man who may be James Nadales: he may hold the secret salvation of the human race somewhere inside his skin.
Part Three of the Between Two Evils series is time travel sci fi at its zinging best. Author Orton has drawn together some important threads to form a tighter tapestry and a clearer picture – while purposely leaving some loose ends that will provide the substance of another installment. In this piece of the panorama (which can easily be read as a stand-alone novel) love is in bloom -- Diego, aka James, aka Tego, may reunite with Isabel, aka Bella, aka Iz. Shannon has been chosen to mate with a boy-man named Peter who’s too kind to conquer her, piquing her romantic feelings towards him.
Dead Time is told in vignettes from varying viewpoints and constantly shifting times and places. There are certain motifs that repeat among the different volumes of the collection, each one producing an alluring mystery within any single story – a seashell, a dirty sock, a bright metallic sphere. Once you get thoroughly hooked on Orton’s intelligent, cinematic depiction of the trials and triumphs of time travel and the loves and losses of its central characters, you’ll definitely want to take on the whole series.
D L Orton
Review by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Somewhere in time, a girl named Shannon is kidnapped by rough-cut religious fanatics who inhabit a rogue biodome. A man who calls himself Diego isn’t able to stop them, even though he has fatherly feelings for Shannon. Shannon’s mother once had a sort of crush on Diego but now she’s out for his head. Dave Kirk, Shannon’s possible real father, is married to a woman called Bella, who might be Diego’s ex-lover Isabel, the woman he loved and lost – in a different time, not just years ago but in a past that may no longer exist.
Diego may be a man named James Nadales whom Dave and his slave-like wife Bella knew years before and almost recognize. But Dave, the man who invented the biodomes that all humans must live in now in order to survive, has a different agenda in mind. And there’s the matter of the two babies that Diego believes were lost to miscarriage. But when, in this world, at this time, he meets a young woman with his dead daughter’s name, about the age she would have been if she’d lived, he has even more incentive to re-take his Isabel, go back in time and renew their passion. And there’s another, overriding reason for Diego and Bella to stick together: both are able to live outside the domes without falling dead from the unknown human-killing virus that swept over the globe. That’s why Dave and his think-tank are trying to pin down and study the man who may be James Nadales: he may hold the secret salvation of the human race somewhere inside his skin.
Part Three of the Between Two Evils series is time travel sci fi at its zinging best. Author Orton has drawn together some important threads to form a tighter tapestry and a clearer picture – while purposely leaving some loose ends that will provide the substance of another installment. In this piece of the panorama (which can easily be read as a stand-alone novel) love is in bloom -- Diego, aka James, aka Tego, may reunite with Isabel, aka Bella, aka Iz. Shannon has been chosen to mate with a boy-man named Peter who’s too kind to conquer her, piquing her romantic feelings towards him.
Dead Time is told in vignettes from varying viewpoints and constantly shifting times and places. There are certain motifs that repeat among the different volumes of the collection, each one producing an alluring mystery within any single story – a seashell, a dirty sock, a bright metallic sphere. Once you get thoroughly hooked on Orton’s intelligent, cinematic depiction of the trials and triumphs of time travel and the loves and losses of its central characters, you’ll definitely want to take on the whole series.
May 6, 2017
Dead Time is the third book in the Between Two Evil series by D.L. Orton. This novel continues the theme of syfy and time travel that fans have come to enjoy in D. L. Orton's work. Dead Time picks up exactly where book two ended and provides first person POV from Shannon, Lani, and Diego. All three characters are dealing with the consequences of their choices in past books and are desperately trying to find a way to survive. I truly enjoy having multiple POVs in novels, especially when an author can make you feel like you know what is going on and still surprise you, with Dead Time does. This novel is an incredible book to read! While the first two books focused on the science and story creation, Dead Time is based more in the emotions and thoughts of the characters. Each character feels real and struggles in their own ways with how the world is dying and what their place in the world should be.
D. L. Orton does a fantastic job at creating a detailed rich environment, without giving the reader too much science or background. I enjoy the research she has done in providing scenes that transition quickly and help the flow of the story. I have read books in the past that can often get confused with the tone of voice for multiple POV, but it was very clear who each character is and the reasoning behind their actions. Dead Time does have mature content and readers should be aware of this (i.e. aggressive language, abuse, and threats of rape). D. L. Orton manages to tackle very sensitive subjects in a way that enhances the storyline instead of making it feel like a plot-filler. As with the previous books, I think to explain the premise of this book would do more of a disservice then a favor. The secrecy and surprise of finding out how everyone relates and interacts is an important part of the story and one which can only truly be appreciated by reading the series.
I would recommend Dead Time and the entire Between Two Evil series to fans who love to take a journey while reading. Dead Time is a quick read but is full of emotion and details that you will not want to put it down until you finish.
D. L. Orton does a fantastic job at creating a detailed rich environment, without giving the reader too much science or background. I enjoy the research she has done in providing scenes that transition quickly and help the flow of the story. I have read books in the past that can often get confused with the tone of voice for multiple POV, but it was very clear who each character is and the reasoning behind their actions. Dead Time does have mature content and readers should be aware of this (i.e. aggressive language, abuse, and threats of rape). D. L. Orton manages to tackle very sensitive subjects in a way that enhances the storyline instead of making it feel like a plot-filler. As with the previous books, I think to explain the premise of this book would do more of a disservice then a favor. The secrecy and surprise of finding out how everyone relates and interacts is an important part of the story and one which can only truly be appreciated by reading the series.
I would recommend Dead Time and the entire Between Two Evil series to fans who love to take a journey while reading. Dead Time is a quick read but is full of emotion and details that you will not want to put it down until you finish.
April 24, 2017
This is the best book in the series so far. There are a few small niggles which I'll get to in a minute. But overall its great and I agree with the other reviewers who say Shannon's story in particular stands out.
What impresses most about DL Orton is not the prose itself(don't get me wrong it does the job) and rather her ability to conceptualize complex story lines that interweave between now three different universes. I think that ability stood out more in this book than the other two. I don't know if her brain is just that big, if she has some inspiring muse whispering in her ear, or if she just has a team of of consultants helping out with complex converging and diverging plots, but whatever her secret is it works. Short of much more famous novels I've rarely seen such complex interweaving plots handled so well.
I found the part where another sphere crash landed with a new message particularly intriguing. Where did it come from who sent it? Future Diego? Tego? Some other version of Diego we haven't met yet? We are led to believe it was future Diego but I'm not sure it was. I don't know and I'm glad I don't.
I think the book merits a tiny bit of criticism though. Lani's story was a bit lacklustre compared to the other two and the main characters definitely have too much plot armor. Lani just happens to be immune, Diego just happens to arrive at the Bub at the end and just happens to meet the right people first despite thousands of others being there and so on. But most notably 3 books into the series and Doomsday which has killed almost everybody on the planet seems completely inept at killing anybody in the series who has more than two lines of dialogue. It's hard to be truly afraid for a character when you just know the author has made all the main characters unkillable.
But don't get me wrong those are fairly minor quibbles. This is definitely the best book in the series so far. I was a little on the fence about continuing with the series after the last book but now I'm very interested in seeing what happens next.
4.5 stars - almost 5 but not quite mainly due to the plot armor and minor quibbles.
What impresses most about DL Orton is not the prose itself(don't get me wrong it does the job) and rather her ability to conceptualize complex story lines that interweave between now three different universes. I think that ability stood out more in this book than the other two. I don't know if her brain is just that big, if she has some inspiring muse whispering in her ear, or if she just has a team of of consultants helping out with complex converging and diverging plots, but whatever her secret is it works. Short of much more famous novels I've rarely seen such complex interweaving plots handled so well.
I found the part where another sphere crash landed with a new message particularly intriguing. Where did it come from who sent it? Future Diego? Tego? Some other version of Diego we haven't met yet? We are led to believe it was future Diego but I'm not sure it was. I don't know and I'm glad I don't.
I think the book merits a tiny bit of criticism though. Lani's story was a bit lacklustre compared to the other two and the main characters definitely have too much plot armor. Lani just happens to be immune, Diego just happens to arrive at the Bub at the end and just happens to meet the right people first despite thousands of others being there and so on. But most notably 3 books into the series and Doomsday which has killed almost everybody on the planet seems completely inept at killing anybody in the series who has more than two lines of dialogue. It's hard to be truly afraid for a character when you just know the author has made all the main characters unkillable.
But don't get me wrong those are fairly minor quibbles. This is definitely the best book in the series so far. I was a little on the fence about continuing with the series after the last book but now I'm very interested in seeing what happens next.
4.5 stars - almost 5 but not quite mainly due to the plot armor and minor quibbles.
December 15, 2017
I have to start out by again being absolutely stunned by Noah Michael Levine's narration. I really missed out by reading book 2 instead of listening to it. My only complaint was that Lonnie's little brother sounded too much like Shannon's beau. Erin DeWard's narration was also pretty fantastic and definitely more impressive this time.
I listened to Dead Time nearly a year and a half after having read Lost Time, and I'm certain I would have gotten more out of this installment had I read the books back to back. It was a little tough for me to get into the groove in the beginning - I think it would have been easier for me had we started with Diego instead of Shannon.
Overall I have fewer complaints. The biggest thing that irked me was . There were a few other things that I felt should have been dealt with more thoroughly, but honestly, that would be nit-picking and, at this stage of publication, are not worth making a stink about.
This is a beautiful series, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to experience it. However, I am fearful that there are big pieces missing from my memory of the overall story and that I might not get enough refreshers to ever actually understand how all these pieces fit as I'm not usually one to re-read books. I feel lucky I didn't need to remember where Tego or Iz or anyone from Diego's universe's mountain left off this time around... because I'm drawing a big huge blank regarding nearly anything from book 1 that wasn't linked directly into book 2 somehow.
I listened to Dead Time nearly a year and a half after having read Lost Time, and I'm certain I would have gotten more out of this installment had I read the books back to back. It was a little tough for me to get into the groove in the beginning - I think it would have been easier for me had we started with Diego instead of Shannon.
Overall I have fewer complaints. The biggest thing that irked me was . There were a few other things that I felt should have been dealt with more thoroughly, but honestly, that would be nit-picking and, at this stage of publication, are not worth making a stink about.
This is a beautiful series, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to experience it. However, I am fearful that there are big pieces missing from my memory of the overall story and that I might not get enough refreshers to ever actually understand how all these pieces fit as I'm not usually one to re-read books. I feel lucky I didn't need to remember where Tego or Iz or anyone from Diego's universe's mountain left off this time around... because I'm drawing a big huge blank regarding nearly anything from book 1 that wasn't linked directly into book 2 somehow.
April 15, 2017
Bravo, Bravo! This is the 3rd book of the series and it ranks up there with my review of the first book! I loved the constant but not overwhelming action. You really have to pay close attention when dealing with more than one universe where there are the same characters (with different names) playing out a similar situation: trying to reverse the devastation of the world from a horrible virus. Keeps your mind in constant alertness.
After reading the first two books I was a little more relaxed (ha) and able to assimilate the time/space references easier. I have an old brain {!} so most readers will probably take it all in stride but I would caution all...."Read the books in order!" Science fiction is not for the black/white, no grey readers and this throws in more twists than normal.
Continuing the story of Isabel and Diego was the highlight but I really enjoyed the adventure of Shannon when she was left at a "rogue" biodome during a normal excursion gone bad. The only "hanging participle" I have is information on Tego....where and when does he resurface? Haven't quite figured out his significance in this story. Or maybe I missed it....Bahaha....like I said, these stories are not for the overly organized mind. I have enough trouble assimilating the material so I must give Kudos to D.L. Orton for having the amazing brain to write these stories and interweave these tales!
Jeanie G
Getting 5 "brain freeze!" Sheep
After reading the first two books I was a little more relaxed (ha) and able to assimilate the time/space references easier. I have an old brain {!} so most readers will probably take it all in stride but I would caution all...."Read the books in order!" Science fiction is not for the black/white, no grey readers and this throws in more twists than normal.
Continuing the story of Isabel and Diego was the highlight but I really enjoyed the adventure of Shannon when she was left at a "rogue" biodome during a normal excursion gone bad. The only "hanging participle" I have is information on Tego....where and when does he resurface? Haven't quite figured out his significance in this story. Or maybe I missed it....Bahaha....like I said, these stories are not for the overly organized mind. I have enough trouble assimilating the material so I must give Kudos to D.L. Orton for having the amazing brain to write these stories and interweave these tales!
Jeanie G
Getting 5 "brain freeze!" Sheep
April 16, 2017
With her daughter, Shannon, being held captive in a dilapidated biodome inhabited by religious zealots, Lani decides to rescue Shannon, by herself. However, an accident in the Bub causes her to reconsider her plans and leave her daughter’s fate in the hands of someone else. Shannon, realizing how right her mother is, finds herself in a world where men greatly outnumber women and the very few women left treat her with contempt. In the midst of them is Peter, a beacon that shines brightly in Shannon’s life.
Meanwhile, Diego is faced with the greatest surprise of his life so far, and what more, he receives another note reminding him that his time is running out and instructing him to find the Magic Kingdom.
The mystery and excitement continue in this third book. Consistently told in conversational tone with a fairly steady pacing, the story is just as exciting as the first two books, Crossing in Time and LostTime. DL Orton keeps the readers in suspense by alternating three subplots: Shannon in Catersville, Diego in C-Bay and Lani in the Bub. I find all subplots quite engaging, though with a teenage romance in the mix, Shannon’s story appears to be the most exciting. The other two, however, offer unexpected turns of events and surprising revelations that held me captivated until the end of the book. I find the ending very satisfying with one loose end tied up pretty neatly with a promise of more exciting events to come in the next book in the series.
Meanwhile, Diego is faced with the greatest surprise of his life so far, and what more, he receives another note reminding him that his time is running out and instructing him to find the Magic Kingdom.
The mystery and excitement continue in this third book. Consistently told in conversational tone with a fairly steady pacing, the story is just as exciting as the first two books, Crossing in Time and LostTime. DL Orton keeps the readers in suspense by alternating three subplots: Shannon in Catersville, Diego in C-Bay and Lani in the Bub. I find all subplots quite engaging, though with a teenage romance in the mix, Shannon’s story appears to be the most exciting. The other two, however, offer unexpected turns of events and surprising revelations that held me captivated until the end of the book. I find the ending very satisfying with one loose end tied up pretty neatly with a promise of more exciting events to come in the next book in the series.
April 16, 2017
D.L. Orton's Dead Time (Between Two Evil's #3) continues where Lost Time left off, with the kidnapping of Shannon by the crazies at the biodome where Mathers and Diego had stopped to gas the airplane. The books in this series are both character and plot driven, and throughout all three novels they remain true to form. Diego makes some astounding discoveries in Dead Time, which allows him to understand and continue with his mission--to find his true love, Isabel, the love that crosses all time, space, and even alternate universes. Diego remains the stranger in the strange land, searching for answers in this current alternate universe. Shannon's story adds intrigue and interest in her attempt to escape her kidnapping, while Lani has to work her own doctoring magic at her biodome despite her desire to rescue her daughter. There is so much going on to grab and keep my interest, and additional information is given on certain characters that make it almost impossible to put the book down, yet Orton leaves a bit of mystery again in the end.
D.L Orton continues to end her book on a cliffhanger, but in this case it works by keeping the anticipation built up for the fourth book. I have fallen in love with the unique love story of Diego and Isabel, and I want to know what happens next! Only an author with superior talent can bring characters to the forefront of my mind on a continual basis, and D.L. Orton goes beyond delivering time and time, and time again.
D.L Orton continues to end her book on a cliffhanger, but in this case it works by keeping the anticipation built up for the fourth book. I have fallen in love with the unique love story of Diego and Isabel, and I want to know what happens next! Only an author with superior talent can bring characters to the forefront of my mind on a continual basis, and D.L. Orton goes beyond delivering time and time, and time again.
April 25, 2017
Dead Time is book three of the Between Two Evils series and picks up where book three left off. D.L. Orton has once again shown her readers just how gifted an author she is. Dead Time is even more intriguing and full of action as the first two books.There were so many edge of the seat moments!
I'm also always impressed by the authors ability to write in alternating persons so seamlessly, especially in this book where there is so much to the plot and she manages to tell the story without it being rushed and without it being so cumbersome that it drags out. The author very neatly and competently ties up loose ends left over from the first two books.
The fact that D.L. Orton's is writing not just about time travel, but about alternate Universes where all her characters exist in similar yet different lives with different outcomes at the same time shows us exactly how talented she is.
I loved that we get to see Diego and his alternate James aware of each other and actually interacting. The Shannon story was beautifully crafted and developed and I really enjoyed it. Such rich diverse characters, evoking love, disgust, hatred and pity from the reader.
I could go on singing D.L.Orton's praises, but I won't. I'll just say that Dead Time is a fascinating enjoyable must read for all.
This reader is looking forward to reading book four on bated breath.
October 6, 2020
Well I jumped into this as soon as I finished the second book, Lost Time so figured I could bring it to you at the same time as well since I technically forgot to set up Lost Time for you last week. Whoops!
We get another book where we don’t see Isabel at all. So I feel like my theory is holding true, don’t worry, I won’t ruin it for you! And some things are consistent with the previous books which really intrigues me!
Since you’ve figured out by now from the blurbs that we’re time travelling, we’re also universe travelling! Making the similarities and differences a really interesting point to consider and track. Which points are so key to the whole problem that they’re the same regardless, and which are the points that change whether they survive or not?
D.L. Orton suggested I’d be unhappy with the ending because of a cliffhanger, and yet this felt like it had a really smooth ending. The last book felt like it ended mid-paragraph. Whereas this had a natural ending and I can picture in my mind how the next book will pick up.
Am I going to be right? Who knows!
Am I looking forward to the next book? You bet cha! Can’t wait for her to finish writing it so I can bring you a review for it!
We get another book where we don’t see Isabel at all. So I feel like my theory is holding true, don’t worry, I won’t ruin it for you! And some things are consistent with the previous books which really intrigues me!
Since you’ve figured out by now from the blurbs that we’re time travelling, we’re also universe travelling! Making the similarities and differences a really interesting point to consider and track. Which points are so key to the whole problem that they’re the same regardless, and which are the points that change whether they survive or not?
D.L. Orton suggested I’d be unhappy with the ending because of a cliffhanger, and yet this felt like it had a really smooth ending. The last book felt like it ended mid-paragraph. Whereas this had a natural ending and I can picture in my mind how the next book will pick up.
Am I going to be right? Who knows!
Am I looking forward to the next book? You bet cha! Can’t wait for her to finish writing it so I can bring you a review for it!
December 15, 2017
I've really been enjoying this series, the time travel and alternate reality concepts are really well done and create some very interesting situations.
I'm impressed with the skill it must take to keep track of what your characters are doing in multiple realities and how that affects their personalities and their actions.
The subtle differences between the realities are well done and the story line s complex since it crossed between realities.
Diego has been my favorite character in the series, his way of handling everything that life throws at his s very impressive.
If you liked the first two books you'll like this one as well (the series needs to be read in order). This book crossed back a forth between Diego, Lani and Shannon showing all of their stories. A great book in a great series.
The narration is well done, the dual narration worked well. The character voices work well and the delivery is consistent and natural.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm impressed with the skill it must take to keep track of what your characters are doing in multiple realities and how that affects their personalities and their actions.
The subtle differences between the realities are well done and the story line s complex since it crossed between realities.
Diego has been my favorite character in the series, his way of handling everything that life throws at his s very impressive.
If you liked the first two books you'll like this one as well (the series needs to be read in order). This book crossed back a forth between Diego, Lani and Shannon showing all of their stories. A great book in a great series.
The narration is well done, the dual narration worked well. The character voices work well and the delivery is consistent and natural.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2017
Ok, so first of all you don't need me to tell you to buy this book - it's installment three, it's Diego & Isabel!!!
I won't give anything away but I will tell you it doesn't disappoint. There's the continued romance we're all hanging on, the action, the juxtaposition of multiple worlds, new characters and subplots to explore.
I love how DL Orton writes. She is gritty and gripping. Her romances are real and raw and a bit magical at the same time. And the worlds in which she constructs her epic is cleverly, accurately and believably put together.
Your head may spin a lot, as you juggle the multiple layers and plot directions (or are the misdirections??? We don't know yet!) but DL Orton is adept at keeping those multiple plates spinning.
The only thing I don't like about this book is that I now have to wait again for Book 4!
Enjoy x
I won't give anything away but I will tell you it doesn't disappoint. There's the continued romance we're all hanging on, the action, the juxtaposition of multiple worlds, new characters and subplots to explore.
I love how DL Orton writes. She is gritty and gripping. Her romances are real and raw and a bit magical at the same time. And the worlds in which she constructs her epic is cleverly, accurately and believably put together.
Your head may spin a lot, as you juggle the multiple layers and plot directions (or are the misdirections??? We don't know yet!) but DL Orton is adept at keeping those multiple plates spinning.
The only thing I don't like about this book is that I now have to wait again for Book 4!
Enjoy x
May 26, 2017
Dead Time by DL Orton is book three to an entertaining series. Cleverly written by the award-winning writer. I can see why...her talent shines forth on each page. The plot grabs my attention. Leaving alert for what may come next. Fast-paced, edgy, and thrilling to read. Dead Time takes readers from their seats and sends them forth into the book. I was hooked. DL Orton has once more captured my interest. Her latest novel is a fantasy time-travel adventure that snatches readers up....overall, I recommend this novel to all.
June 5, 2017
This book literally picked up right where book ended leaving me with the feeling that it was more of a book 2.5. It really should have just been one big book, but I digress. As for the content...wow. It had all of the twists you want and the talented storyline you have come to expect from Orton. It seems like a conclusion of the Diego saga and feels like it's about to get bigger somehow. Orton had me worried with the Shannon storyline and I was on the edge of my proverbial seat the entire time. If you like romance and futuristic technologies then this is the series to read.
December 10, 2017
This is one of the best series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading or listening to. It would make an excellent tv series or mini series. Rarely do I consume a series straight through like I did this one. There is room for so many stories from this world/s. I hope we get more.
Thanks for writing such an entertaining and brilliant series and for picking such amazing narrators. I can’t wait to read &/or listen to more by DL Orton.
This series has it all, time travel, science fiction, doomsday & romance. It also has humor and heart. Do yourself a favor and check these out!
Thanks for writing such an entertaining and brilliant series and for picking such amazing narrators. I can’t wait to read &/or listen to more by DL Orton.
This series has it all, time travel, science fiction, doomsday & romance. It also has humor and heart. Do yourself a favor and check these out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews