What do you think?
Rate this book
The Meq #2
Time Dancers
Steve Cash created “an absorbing [and] intriguing saga” ( The San Diego Union-Tribune ) in his debut novel, The Meq . Outwardly indistinguishable from human beings, but with abilities no human can claim, the Meq search for their lost history and face a mysterious prophesied reckoning. . . .
It has been thirty-eight years since Zianno—known as Z—turned twelve. In appearance, he has not aged a day. Like all Meq, Z has become accustomed to a near immortal existence, possessing an uncanny ability to recuperate from injury and resist disease. Like only four others of his kind, he holds one of the fabled Stones, the Stone of Dreams. These bearers believe it is their destiny to guide the Meq toward and through the Remembering, where it is said that they will recall their long-forgotten origins and purpose.
But the rogue Meq assassin called the Fleur-du-Mal threatens their efforts and their lives. Pursuing rumors of a lost Sixth Stone, he is intent on finding the legendary talisman and eliminating anyone, Meq or human, who stands in the way.
Z and his allies—Opari, Sailor, Geaxi, Nova, Ray, Mowsel, Carolina, Jack, and others—embark on a desperate quest spanning decades and continents to track down the stone before their lethal adversary gets to it first. Along the way, every belief they have about themselves will be challenged and shaken—and a new, even deadlier enemy will arise.
It has been thirty-eight years since Zianno—known as Z—turned twelve. In appearance, he has not aged a day. Like all Meq, Z has become accustomed to a near immortal existence, possessing an uncanny ability to recuperate from injury and resist disease. Like only four others of his kind, he holds one of the fabled Stones, the Stone of Dreams. These bearers believe it is their destiny to guide the Meq toward and through the Remembering, where it is said that they will recall their long-forgotten origins and purpose.
But the rogue Meq assassin called the Fleur-du-Mal threatens their efforts and their lives. Pursuing rumors of a lost Sixth Stone, he is intent on finding the legendary talisman and eliminating anyone, Meq or human, who stands in the way.
Z and his allies—Opari, Sailor, Geaxi, Nova, Ray, Mowsel, Carolina, Jack, and others—embark on a desperate quest spanning decades and continents to track down the stone before their lethal adversary gets to it first. Along the way, every belief they have about themselves will be challenged and shaken—and a new, even deadlier enemy will arise.
399 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
9 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Steve Cash
8 books16 followersSteve Cash is a singer-songwriter and a founding member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. He was born in 1946.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 2, 2018
"Time Dancers" is the second book in Steve Cash's sweeping fantasy trilogy called "The Meq" (also the title of the first book in the trilogy). When forced to explain the plot of "The Meq" in one sentence, my reply is this: the story is like the Highlander TV series/movies but the immortals here are twelve years old. To get more specific, the Meq stop aging when they turn twelve until they find their ameq (their soul mate). Once they are united, the two enter what is called "The Wait" until they decide to cross over, as it were, becoming mortal and able to have a child.
The telling of this story falls on the shoulders of Zianno Zezen, one of the youngest members of the Meq. In the first book, Zianno searches for others like him after the death of his parents. Along the way he learns the significance of the stone he carries--the stone of dreams--and that there are others like it. He finds friends, both Giza (human) and Meq alike, his ameq, and a mortal (or perhaps it would be more apt to say immortal?) foe in the form of a corrupt Meq assassin known as the Fleur-du-mal. In the midst of all that, Z and his friends try to prepare for a Meq event known as the remembering which will reveal their origins and their purpose, a scant hundred years away.
Okay, so if you didn't read the first book that was all probably a bit confusing. The reason for that is simple: this trilogy isn't comprised of what can be called stand-alone novels. The sad truth is that I read "The Meq" about six months before I had the chance to pick up "Time Dancers." It took about fifty pages for me to find my stride and maybe a bit longer to really get into the book. I suspect those difficulties would have lessened if I had read the books closer together. Slow start aside, the first book had me invested enough in the characters and plot and (warning!) ended on enough of a cliffhanger-esque note that I was willing to plod along until things picked up even if it did leave me with the impression that, perhaps, the first book was better (I later revised my opinion but perhaps others won't).
Anyway, the Meq's preparations for the remembering (AKA "the Gogorati") begin in earnest in "Time Dancers." Both Sailor and the Fleur-du-Mal embark on a search for the elusive sixth stone that may be vital to the Remembering and, much worse, to the Fleur-du-Mal's continuous quest for dominance over the other Meq. Along the way, Z and his allies (which happily include all of the wonderful characters from "The Meq") cross oceans and hop continents in their quest. Though the stone proves elusive, Z forges new alliances and finds several new mysteries along the way--including a Meq whose age is without precedent and another dangerous enemy.
"Time Dancers" is a good book. But not one that readers can follow without reading it's predecessor, thereby firmly grounding this novel as part of a trilogy. What I particularly like about this book is the way Cash incorporates history into the novel. Beginning in 1919 after the end of World War I and ending as World War II approaches its conclusion, this book looks at major events of the twentieth century from up close but also from an anonymous perspective. Anyone interested in history would do well to give this book a glance to see how Cash artfully incorporates contemporary history as a plot vehicle for his fantastical story.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
The telling of this story falls on the shoulders of Zianno Zezen, one of the youngest members of the Meq. In the first book, Zianno searches for others like him after the death of his parents. Along the way he learns the significance of the stone he carries--the stone of dreams--and that there are others like it. He finds friends, both Giza (human) and Meq alike, his ameq, and a mortal (or perhaps it would be more apt to say immortal?) foe in the form of a corrupt Meq assassin known as the Fleur-du-mal. In the midst of all that, Z and his friends try to prepare for a Meq event known as the remembering which will reveal their origins and their purpose, a scant hundred years away.
Okay, so if you didn't read the first book that was all probably a bit confusing. The reason for that is simple: this trilogy isn't comprised of what can be called stand-alone novels. The sad truth is that I read "The Meq" about six months before I had the chance to pick up "Time Dancers." It took about fifty pages for me to find my stride and maybe a bit longer to really get into the book. I suspect those difficulties would have lessened if I had read the books closer together. Slow start aside, the first book had me invested enough in the characters and plot and (warning!) ended on enough of a cliffhanger-esque note that I was willing to plod along until things picked up even if it did leave me with the impression that, perhaps, the first book was better (I later revised my opinion but perhaps others won't).
Anyway, the Meq's preparations for the remembering (AKA "the Gogorati") begin in earnest in "Time Dancers." Both Sailor and the Fleur-du-Mal embark on a search for the elusive sixth stone that may be vital to the Remembering and, much worse, to the Fleur-du-Mal's continuous quest for dominance over the other Meq. Along the way, Z and his allies (which happily include all of the wonderful characters from "The Meq") cross oceans and hop continents in their quest. Though the stone proves elusive, Z forges new alliances and finds several new mysteries along the way--including a Meq whose age is without precedent and another dangerous enemy.
"Time Dancers" is a good book. But not one that readers can follow without reading it's predecessor, thereby firmly grounding this novel as part of a trilogy. What I particularly like about this book is the way Cash incorporates history into the novel. Beginning in 1919 after the end of World War I and ending as World War II approaches its conclusion, this book looks at major events of the twentieth century from up close but also from an anonymous perspective. Anyone interested in history would do well to give this book a glance to see how Cash artfully incorporates contemporary history as a plot vehicle for his fantastical story.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
October 27, 2018
One of the best series I have ever read!
May 3, 2020
A fellow from a Terry Pratchett FB fan page suggested these books by Steve Cash. Fabulous! Wild story set in a panoply of world events from early train era to WW2. Loved it.
May 16, 2021
The second in a trilogy about immortal 12 year olds. Beautifully written.
June 5, 2021
A great book 2
The author does a great job of continuing the story while giving even more depth to his characters. I can't wait for the final installment of this series.
The author does a great job of continuing the story while giving even more depth to his characters. I can't wait for the final installment of this series.
March 10, 2024
I love the premise, but it all fell flat for me.
November 14, 2010
Time Dancers
by Steve Cash
ISBN: 0345470931
Publisher: Del Rey 416 Pgs
The sequel to The Meq is another page turner. The story of Zianno and the Meq continues with even more action. Him, Opari and the others who hold one of four stones. These stones provide them with extra powers that other Meq don't have and it becomes their job to find the fifth stone that will help them through the Remembering. One in a trilogy, Time Dancers picks up where The Meq left off. The Meq are a race who stop aging when they turn twelve and don't start aging again until they find their ameq and decide to move on. After losing his parents, Zianno, or Z has to learn about who he really is with only help from the advice of other Meq. In the first book we are left with Z's search for the fleur du mal who has stopped at nothing in his search for the. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story and the same characters return. Unlike with the first book, Carolina, Jack and the other normal characters return. But there lives have continued to changed and progress unlike the Meq who have to learn to be Time Dancers.
The Meq don't really have a sense of time anymore and there's no telling the difference between a day, a month, a year, several months, several years. When they have an immense amount of time time starts to become insignificant. Ans as the Meq continue on their quest for the fifth stone and the fleur du mal they learn not only about themselves but about who they want to be. They go through so many different phases in life and there's only so many times they can change before they realize that no matter what, no matter how many centuries pass, they are still the same person. Although there are many reasons these Meq could change who they are, they aren't as prone to letting it get to the better of them. They learn to live everyday as if it were their first as if the future and the past doesn't matter. There's no telling what to expect the very next day and so they have to deal with everyday. For those who are new to it like Z is, it gets really tough and he has to learn how deal with "Time Dancing" and balancing days, months, years, and centuries.
After reading the first one, it left me wanting more. I usually don't like reading series that aren't completely out because waiting for the next book is always annoying and it leads to forgetting what the story is. This of course leads to reading the next book in the series pointless. This book is a page turner for me because there are so many different levels to it. The most intriguing part of the book is how easily Steve Cash makes time seem irrelevant. How twenty years go by with one line of the book.
by Steve Cash
ISBN: 0345470931
Publisher: Del Rey 416 Pgs
The sequel to The Meq is another page turner. The story of Zianno and the Meq continues with even more action. Him, Opari and the others who hold one of four stones. These stones provide them with extra powers that other Meq don't have and it becomes their job to find the fifth stone that will help them through the Remembering. One in a trilogy, Time Dancers picks up where The Meq left off. The Meq are a race who stop aging when they turn twelve and don't start aging again until they find their ameq and decide to move on. After losing his parents, Zianno, or Z has to learn about who he really is with only help from the advice of other Meq. In the first book we are left with Z's search for the fleur du mal who has stopped at nothing in his search for the. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story and the same characters return. Unlike with the first book, Carolina, Jack and the other normal characters return. But there lives have continued to changed and progress unlike the Meq who have to learn to be Time Dancers.
The Meq don't really have a sense of time anymore and there's no telling the difference between a day, a month, a year, several months, several years. When they have an immense amount of time time starts to become insignificant. Ans as the Meq continue on their quest for the fifth stone and the fleur du mal they learn not only about themselves but about who they want to be. They go through so many different phases in life and there's only so many times they can change before they realize that no matter what, no matter how many centuries pass, they are still the same person. Although there are many reasons these Meq could change who they are, they aren't as prone to letting it get to the better of them. They learn to live everyday as if it were their first as if the future and the past doesn't matter. There's no telling what to expect the very next day and so they have to deal with everyday. For those who are new to it like Z is, it gets really tough and he has to learn how deal with "Time Dancing" and balancing days, months, years, and centuries.
After reading the first one, it left me wanting more. I usually don't like reading series that aren't completely out because waiting for the next book is always annoying and it leads to forgetting what the story is. This of course leads to reading the next book in the series pointless. This book is a page turner for me because there are so many different levels to it. The most intriguing part of the book is how easily Steve Cash makes time seem irrelevant. How twenty years go by with one line of the book.
December 3, 2007
second book in the meq trilogy. the first book leaves you dying to know what happens next. the second book does not disappoint and it leaves you aching for the third. it is truelly a dance of time between the meq and humans. although the meq are immortal you see their humanity filled with their strengths and weaknesses. you are hurtled into the world of mystery/magic and whirled through history, through time.
August 20, 2009
The second installment in the Meq series...amazing still. Cash is one of those truly imaginative writers that make you wonder how they come up with the things they do.
The characters are so real and they work their way through world events we all know about. Cash doesn't dwell on the world stage, but lets history infuse his story with richness.
Can't wait for the third one.
The characters are so real and they work their way through world events we all know about. Cash doesn't dwell on the world stage, but lets history infuse his story with richness.
Can't wait for the third one.
December 29, 2010
I hate middle books. This one ended with . . . nope, I'm not going to tell. Now I have to wait for the final one. It was scheduled for release in 2007, but was delayed by the publisher. It's now due in February 2011. That's a five year wait. (I guess I can't complain. Just think of all those people waiting for the last Jane Auel book.)
March 6, 2011
Like all second books in a series it seems, this was weaker than book one, but with a huge cliffhanger ending. The search for the sixth stone and Fleur-de-Mal seems to cloud the judgement of the characters and I was disappointed with the way the story moved away from the tribe of Basque herdsman/protectors.
September 16, 2012
The continuing story of Z, who has recently celebrated his 12th birthday for the 38th time. I love the historical guest stars in this trilogy. I like a well-written book that forces me to refer to wikipedia every hour or so to figure out who someone is likely to be (ie "Tumpy" Josephine = Josephine Baker).
Very enjoyable, very well-written. I'll be a little sad when I finish the next book.
Very enjoyable, very well-written. I'll be a little sad when I finish the next book.
July 2, 2008
This is the second Meq book, and it was just as good as the first, if not better. The only thing I have to complain about is that it ends in such a great cliffhanger and yet the third book has yet to come out.
October 27, 2009
This story interested me enough, despite the stilted writing style, that I'll keep a look out for the third in the series. I wish I'd taken notes when the characters were introduced, so I could keep their multiple names straight.
November 11, 2010
This is a well-realised and unique world, parallel to ours, and the characters are fascinating! I couldn't finish book 1 in the series (this is book 2) and it's past the boring stuff! Excellent.. One historical fluff but that's not important...
August 21, 2009
Awesome. I can't wait for book three.
April 15, 2011
Not nearly as good as the first book. Too many historical events of significance to be swallowable, even in a fantasy novel. I'm still hooked enough I'm going to finish the series though.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews