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Restarter series: stories about life, death, tequila…and time travel. #2
The Dark Restarter: Book Two in the Restarter Series
The sequel to Fir Lodge is here! And it's about time.
Six weeks have passed since Hal and Kara’s long weekend retreat at Fir Lodge, and they now find themselves residing in a brand-new timeline, with no memory of the temporal prison from which they fought so hard to escape, nor the threat they left behind.
But when one of their friends is erased from existence, echoes of forgotten memories begin to trickle back into their consciousness.
As the world around them begins to unravel, Hal and Kara discover they have empowered a killer with the abilities of a Restarter; one not bound by the confines of a conscience, operating on a plane of existence they have no way of accessing.
With the past corrupted, present erased, and their future in flux, the former Restarters must forge an unlikely alliance with another time traveller.
A man claiming to be from the very future they are trying to save, who believes he possesses the key to defeating this Dark Restarter.
A man who calls himself…Malcolm.
Only one thing is certain…Everything is about to change.
Join Hal and Kara on their next adventure through time, as the secret origins and mysteries surrounding Fir Lodge lead them to hidden truths, and answers that will change everything they thought they knew about Restarting.
Six weeks have passed since Hal and Kara’s long weekend retreat at Fir Lodge, and they now find themselves residing in a brand-new timeline, with no memory of the temporal prison from which they fought so hard to escape, nor the threat they left behind.
But when one of their friends is erased from existence, echoes of forgotten memories begin to trickle back into their consciousness.
As the world around them begins to unravel, Hal and Kara discover they have empowered a killer with the abilities of a Restarter; one not bound by the confines of a conscience, operating on a plane of existence they have no way of accessing.
With the past corrupted, present erased, and their future in flux, the former Restarters must forge an unlikely alliance with another time traveller.
A man claiming to be from the very future they are trying to save, who believes he possesses the key to defeating this Dark Restarter.
A man who calls himself…Malcolm.
Only one thing is certain…Everything is about to change.
Join Hal and Kara on their next adventure through time, as the secret origins and mysteries surrounding Fir Lodge lead them to hidden truths, and answers that will change everything they thought they knew about Restarting.
830 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2019
4 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Sean McMahon
5 books39 followersSean McMahon has saved the world countless times.
From the comfort of his sofa.
Utilising a controller, as a conduit for his actions.
He also believes he invented the concept of the digital photo-frame, but has no way to prove it.
Sean lives in Essex with his family. In his spare time, he loves watching movies, reading, is an avid gamer, and enjoys walking his ridiculously-energetic Staffordshire bull terrier, Mindy. He also enjoys making contingency plans for surviving in the event of a potential zombie-apocalypse.
Sean also once took a leak standing next to Simon Pegg at a press event. To this day, nobody cares.
From the comfort of his sofa.
Utilising a controller, as a conduit for his actions.
He also believes he invented the concept of the digital photo-frame, but has no way to prove it.
Sean lives in Essex with his family. In his spare time, he loves watching movies, reading, is an avid gamer, and enjoys walking his ridiculously-energetic Staffordshire bull terrier, Mindy. He also enjoys making contingency plans for surviving in the event of a potential zombie-apocalypse.
Sean also once took a leak standing next to Simon Pegg at a press event. To this day, nobody cares.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 22, 2019
Fun, Fresh, and Brilliantly Clever.
This series blows my mind. I don’t know how else to say it. The Dark Restarter is so fresh! It’s a true art how the author writes how he does—I just can’t wrap my mind around his mastery of time travel. The balance and pacing is perfect! One minute, I’m literally, LITERALLY on the edge of my seat, and the next I’m laughing off of it. I love the mystery—the challenge of trying to guess the what, how, who, and most importantly, WHEN! And the way it comes together….eek! Seriously, the brain behind this book just floors me! And because of that, the rereadabilty (it’s a word…now) is off the chain. I don’t read anything twice, I just don’t. But this, I honestly and truly will be. I haven’t been invested in a series like this in a long time. Restarter for life.
This series blows my mind. I don’t know how else to say it. The Dark Restarter is so fresh! It’s a true art how the author writes how he does—I just can’t wrap my mind around his mastery of time travel. The balance and pacing is perfect! One minute, I’m literally, LITERALLY on the edge of my seat, and the next I’m laughing off of it. I love the mystery—the challenge of trying to guess the what, how, who, and most importantly, WHEN! And the way it comes together….eek! Seriously, the brain behind this book just floors me! And because of that, the rereadabilty (it’s a word…now) is off the chain. I don’t read anything twice, I just don’t. But this, I honestly and truly will be. I haven’t been invested in a series like this in a long time. Restarter for life.
April 8, 2019
O....M....G!!! I just barely finished "TDR", and I'm beyond impressed! Hal and Kara are two phenomenal characters. And the ending? (*I'm not spoiling any of it. Fat chance, Susan*)!
With wit, sarcasm, intellectual insight, and a pop-culture reference guide hidden within these glorious pages; Sean McMahon has quite literally GRABBED my attention, KEPT it there, and DIDN'T let go for one fraction of a second. Zipping through time and space, with a literal RED TARDIS in my hands the entire time. THE DARK RESTARTER has entertained me from start to bombastic finish. Sean, I tip my hat to you, sir. You've Isaac Azimoved your way into history, as one of the BEST Sci-fi authors, that I've come to enjoy reading, and loved getting to know.
This is Corry (*Fellow Restarter*), signing off.
P.S. Forever a.....wait.... do you hear that....
With wit, sarcasm, intellectual insight, and a pop-culture reference guide hidden within these glorious pages; Sean McMahon has quite literally GRABBED my attention, KEPT it there, and DIDN'T let go for one fraction of a second. Zipping through time and space, with a literal RED TARDIS in my hands the entire time. THE DARK RESTARTER has entertained me from start to bombastic finish. Sean, I tip my hat to you, sir. You've Isaac Azimoved your way into history, as one of the BEST Sci-fi authors, that I've come to enjoy reading, and loved getting to know.
This is Corry (*Fellow Restarter*), signing off.
P.S. Forever a.....wait.... do you hear that....
April 10, 2019
An incredible masterpiece of a novel. McMahon has taken all the good bits from the first in the series, Fir Lodge, and there was a hell of a lot of them, plugged them into the CRM-114 amplifier in Doc Brown's garage and turned the volume and overdrive knobs all the way to max. There is time travel, time travel within time travel, multiple time loops, eerie dimensional portals, and an out of phase serial killer forced to binge watch Grey's Anatomy. This is all written with such skill that the reader is never lost or confused with what is going on. There are epic thrills and great set-pieces that propel the story to majestic heights. To say I'm a huge fan is an understatement. One of the best books I have ever read.
August 14, 2019
Well, what can I say about book 2?... Brilliant? Awesome? Cool? Badass?
All of those things actually. I do not want to give spoilers (as always) but I will say that I got a few shocks! The story is just as good as the first (I enjoyed this even more than the first, although they are both brilliant in different ways) This one had some heartstopping moments that had me gripped. The classic sci-fi references returned! just like the first! Which I loved and made me feel like a big giddy kid. Safe to say this is a must-read series and I can not possibly wait for book 3!... but have no choice (damn it!)
Anyway, 5*****stars! to this kickass book!
All of those things actually. I do not want to give spoilers (as always) but I will say that I got a few shocks! The story is just as good as the first (I enjoyed this even more than the first, although they are both brilliant in different ways) This one had some heartstopping moments that had me gripped. The classic sci-fi references returned! just like the first! Which I loved and made me feel like a big giddy kid. Safe to say this is a must-read series and I can not possibly wait for book 3!... but have no choice (damn it!)
Anyway, 5*****stars! to this kickass book!
May 14, 2020
I devoured this book in two days.
In two days, I haven’t been here. I’ve been at Fir Lodge. Again. With Kara and Hal. And Restarters I had no idea even existed.
It’s so, so hard for me to try and put into words how I feel about this book without spoilers (ALL GOOD THINGS I might add by the way) but I’ll try my hardest (I don’t even know where to start!).
I feel like someone strapped me onto a rollercoaster that lasted for two whole days without a break and had a multitude of heights and terrifying descents, I’ve had enough heart attacks (around fifteen to twenty), palpitations, jump scares, bursts of laughter, frantic muttering and “WTF” moments to condemn me to a mental institution for the criminally insane.
It’s been a really LONG time since I’ve had a book literally blow my mind.
Just like with Fir Lodge, it is utterly impossible to skip a thing in this book or skim over it. Every single page is pivotal to understanding something later on in the story. Because that’s the sheer beauty and genius of Sean McMahon’s mind palace. He drops easter eggs EVERYWHERE, in places you don’t even realise until you find yourself working backwards and going over a chapter five times to find the blaringly obvious (but at the time obscure) detail.
There is such joy in having two characters like Hal and Kara team up again to tackle the big bad…but it gets even better when they have to team up with the big bad from book 1 in order to defeat…this new big bad. I can’t say too much because SPOILERS.
TDR is jam packed with brilliance, from start to finish. It’s a devilishly daunting book in size but once the rollercoaster takes off, it takes OFF. I can’t even remember eating whilst reading this book (literally I can’t remember anything outside of this book to be fair).
I absolutely lived for the references. And yes, I’m very much Kara with some of them, but I bloody LOVED them. Hal, Kara and Malcolm’s interactions were fantastic, we’re talking if Ron, Hermione and Malfoy teamed up. It was that level of amazingness and hilarity. I never thought I’d find myself loving Future Malcolm but stranger things have happened.
To be honest, I don’t feel like I read a book. I feel like I’ve solved a case. I worked with the best time detectives in history (sorry, time POLICE), engaged in a bit of fisticuffs, played chicken with a fast approaching vehicle, had my heart broke a little bit, stopped the bad guy, cracked the case, then discovered a WHOLE NEW WORLD afterwards. That’s literally how I feel. Hal and Kara are the greatest dynamic duo I’ve seen in a book in, well, ever. I don’t think anyone knows the love I have for them. The HOPE I have for them.
It was hard for me to not think about every single time travel movie I’ve seen whilst reading TDR and grinning from ear to ear, like Predestination, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Back to The Future, Terminator, HP & The Prisoner of Azkaban. I always find time travel fascinating and I ALWAYS bloody miss something or don’t think about the implications until I see the consequences unfold. This is the first time I’ve ever read a time travel book series and, very much like how I felt after Fir Lodge, my mind has been blown. And it will only shatter again when I get my hands on book 3.
There were many moments in this book where I had to pause solely to appreciate how brilliant Sean is to have thought of everything possible when writing about time travel. He challenged timelines, thought of consequences for every action, dropped more clues and mysteries than Hansel did breadcrumbs in the forest AND managed to nail Hal’s perfectly timed quotes for almost every occasion. That takes talent. (And the fantastically named chapter headings were gold).
There really isn’t much more I can say without giving away spoilers other than how brilliantly structured this book was. The pacing was great (especially as every chapter is a page turner). The drama and action were intense, the scary parts were bloody terrifying (hence the jump stares – and yeah don’t ask me how you can get jump scares from a book, it just HAPPENED okay). I was well and truly kept on my toes wondering what the hell is going, why, when, where and how (in the best way possible).
And the cliffy? The fantastic, palpitation inducing, jaw dropping cliffy that had me screaming? Let’s not even go there. I’m dying for book 3 and I’m so glad I don’t have to wait long to get my hands on it. I’m both terrified but absolutely excited!!
Sean is the Original Generation Restarter. He’s a time wizard genius.
In two days, I haven’t been here. I’ve been at Fir Lodge. Again. With Kara and Hal. And Restarters I had no idea even existed.
It’s so, so hard for me to try and put into words how I feel about this book without spoilers (ALL GOOD THINGS I might add by the way) but I’ll try my hardest (I don’t even know where to start!).
I feel like someone strapped me onto a rollercoaster that lasted for two whole days without a break and had a multitude of heights and terrifying descents, I’ve had enough heart attacks (around fifteen to twenty), palpitations, jump scares, bursts of laughter, frantic muttering and “WTF” moments to condemn me to a mental institution for the criminally insane.
It’s been a really LONG time since I’ve had a book literally blow my mind.
Just like with Fir Lodge, it is utterly impossible to skip a thing in this book or skim over it. Every single page is pivotal to understanding something later on in the story. Because that’s the sheer beauty and genius of Sean McMahon’s mind palace. He drops easter eggs EVERYWHERE, in places you don’t even realise until you find yourself working backwards and going over a chapter five times to find the blaringly obvious (but at the time obscure) detail.
There is such joy in having two characters like Hal and Kara team up again to tackle the big bad…but it gets even better when they have to team up with the big bad from book 1 in order to defeat…this new big bad. I can’t say too much because SPOILERS.
TDR is jam packed with brilliance, from start to finish. It’s a devilishly daunting book in size but once the rollercoaster takes off, it takes OFF. I can’t even remember eating whilst reading this book (literally I can’t remember anything outside of this book to be fair).
I absolutely lived for the references. And yes, I’m very much Kara with some of them, but I bloody LOVED them. Hal, Kara and Malcolm’s interactions were fantastic, we’re talking if Ron, Hermione and Malfoy teamed up. It was that level of amazingness and hilarity. I never thought I’d find myself loving Future Malcolm but stranger things have happened.
To be honest, I don’t feel like I read a book. I feel like I’ve solved a case. I worked with the best time detectives in history (sorry, time POLICE), engaged in a bit of fisticuffs, played chicken with a fast approaching vehicle, had my heart broke a little bit, stopped the bad guy, cracked the case, then discovered a WHOLE NEW WORLD afterwards. That’s literally how I feel. Hal and Kara are the greatest dynamic duo I’ve seen in a book in, well, ever. I don’t think anyone knows the love I have for them. The HOPE I have for them.
It was hard for me to not think about every single time travel movie I’ve seen whilst reading TDR and grinning from ear to ear, like Predestination, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Back to The Future, Terminator, HP & The Prisoner of Azkaban. I always find time travel fascinating and I ALWAYS bloody miss something or don’t think about the implications until I see the consequences unfold. This is the first time I’ve ever read a time travel book series and, very much like how I felt after Fir Lodge, my mind has been blown. And it will only shatter again when I get my hands on book 3.
There were many moments in this book where I had to pause solely to appreciate how brilliant Sean is to have thought of everything possible when writing about time travel. He challenged timelines, thought of consequences for every action, dropped more clues and mysteries than Hansel did breadcrumbs in the forest AND managed to nail Hal’s perfectly timed quotes for almost every occasion. That takes talent. (And the fantastically named chapter headings were gold).
There really isn’t much more I can say without giving away spoilers other than how brilliantly structured this book was. The pacing was great (especially as every chapter is a page turner). The drama and action were intense, the scary parts were bloody terrifying (hence the jump stares – and yeah don’t ask me how you can get jump scares from a book, it just HAPPENED okay). I was well and truly kept on my toes wondering what the hell is going, why, when, where and how (in the best way possible).
And the cliffy? The fantastic, palpitation inducing, jaw dropping cliffy that had me screaming? Let’s not even go there. I’m dying for book 3 and I’m so glad I don’t have to wait long to get my hands on it. I’m both terrified but absolutely excited!!
Sean is the Original Generation Restarter. He’s a time wizard genius.
Read
July 12, 2021Firstly, my thoughts go to Sean McMahon’s family, who probably feel like they’re entering Shelob’s lair every time they walk into their home; strings everywhere, connecting events and times scribbled on sticky notes, with the note to buy milk getting lost in the network.
Secondly, I hope they’ve learnt to live with it, as it’s totally worth it… at least, for me it is, because 1) I’m enjoying the living [“insert personally preferred bad word here if you think the one I’m thinking of isn’t strong enough”] out of these books; and 2) I don’t have to put up with the strings.
As the second book in the Restarter Series, The Dark Restarter picks up where Fir Lodge left off, which, because of temporal and quantum… stuff, can be just about anywhere… or any time, for that matter. McMahon, however, took the story in a direction I didn’t expect – exactly what I’d expect from this author, who likes to keep things interesting on so many levels.
For those who have read Fir Lodge, The Dark Restarter won’t disappoint. Yes, Hal and Kara are still there. Yes, they’re still silly in a really cool way. Yes, there are still plenty of temporal anomalies that play havoc with their lives. And, yes, this book also has a fantastic cover. But one major thing has changed, and that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself.
As mentioned a while ago in my review of Fir Lodge, McMahon’s writing style is completely in my comfort zone, but his ideas take you out of your comfort zone and dump you smack dab in the centre of the Twilight Zone.
Is McMahon becoming one of my favourite authors? I dare say, yes.
Secondly, I hope they’ve learnt to live with it, as it’s totally worth it… at least, for me it is, because 1) I’m enjoying the living [“insert personally preferred bad word here if you think the one I’m thinking of isn’t strong enough”] out of these books; and 2) I don’t have to put up with the strings.
As the second book in the Restarter Series, The Dark Restarter picks up where Fir Lodge left off, which, because of temporal and quantum… stuff, can be just about anywhere… or any time, for that matter. McMahon, however, took the story in a direction I didn’t expect – exactly what I’d expect from this author, who likes to keep things interesting on so many levels.
For those who have read Fir Lodge, The Dark Restarter won’t disappoint. Yes, Hal and Kara are still there. Yes, they’re still silly in a really cool way. Yes, there are still plenty of temporal anomalies that play havoc with their lives. And, yes, this book also has a fantastic cover. But one major thing has changed, and that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself.
As mentioned a while ago in my review of Fir Lodge, McMahon’s writing style is completely in my comfort zone, but his ideas take you out of your comfort zone and dump you smack dab in the centre of the Twilight Zone.
Is McMahon becoming one of my favourite authors? I dare say, yes.
February 19, 2020
Amaze-balls.
I'm going to say a thing. Here goes...Sean is my new favorite indie author. Whew, that was hard. Not really. He deserves it.
This author definitely brought his game with this sequel. I can see why so many are invested in this series. It's awesome! The Dark Restarter is so complicated and surprising and funny and sooooo creepy. You know what this book is that a lot aren't? COOL. This whole book has swagger, right down to the style of each character. Look I know the story is long, but you forget quickly about basically toting around a book baby that weighs about 8lbs. (LOL) I didn't mind carrying it around as an extra weapon because I became that pulled into the story! And the characters, oh the characters! I love them!! This series is original and unique and has the author written into its very fabric. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it. I absolutely loved it! I've seen people call this author a time wizard and I can see why! His mind must be like The Matrix or something...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sean taught me all the words, phrases, references and puns. I feel like I've been properly schooled in Time Travel 101. I will be happily continuing the series.
Because I have a lot of questions....
I feel like Sean was blowing the smoke off of his time-traveling gun after he wrote this. While wearing some really cool shades.
Five stars. Glowing blue.
Speaking of...what does blue TASTE like? ;)
I'm going to say a thing. Here goes...Sean is my new favorite indie author. Whew, that was hard. Not really. He deserves it.
This author definitely brought his game with this sequel. I can see why so many are invested in this series. It's awesome! The Dark Restarter is so complicated and surprising and funny and sooooo creepy. You know what this book is that a lot aren't? COOL. This whole book has swagger, right down to the style of each character. Look I know the story is long, but you forget quickly about basically toting around a book baby that weighs about 8lbs. (LOL) I didn't mind carrying it around as an extra weapon because I became that pulled into the story! And the characters, oh the characters! I love them!! This series is original and unique and has the author written into its very fabric. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it. I absolutely loved it! I've seen people call this author a time wizard and I can see why! His mind must be like The Matrix or something...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sean taught me all the words, phrases, references and puns. I feel like I've been properly schooled in Time Travel 101. I will be happily continuing the series.
Because I have a lot of questions....
I feel like Sean was blowing the smoke off of his time-traveling gun after he wrote this. While wearing some really cool shades.
Five stars. Glowing blue.
Speaking of...what does blue TASTE like? ;)
November 9, 2023
Time Wizardry
If you haven't read this book yet, then just go and get it. No wait, read Fir Lodge first and THEN read this.
My mind has been blown in so many ways I don't know what's up or down any more. I wasn't sure what to expect when diving into the second one, but boy, did this blow me away. So many questions from the first book were answered only to be given a hundred more. I was on tenterhooks, especially in the last pages and I just have to applaud Sean. His mind works in mysterious ways. Pulling you into this world of the Restarters, making you care so much about them and then ripping the rug from underneath you at every turn.
I'm all in. ALL IN! I cannot wait for the third book.
If you haven't read this book yet, then just go and get it. No wait, read Fir Lodge first and THEN read this.
My mind has been blown in so many ways I don't know what's up or down any more. I wasn't sure what to expect when diving into the second one, but boy, did this blow me away. So many questions from the first book were answered only to be given a hundred more. I was on tenterhooks, especially in the last pages and I just have to applaud Sean. His mind works in mysterious ways. Pulling you into this world of the Restarters, making you care so much about them and then ripping the rug from underneath you at every turn.
I'm all in. ALL IN! I cannot wait for the third book.
January 12, 2020
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the lake, Pentney Lakes!
Hal and Kara are back, this time with an unlikely sidekick and boy do they mean business. Funny, entertaining and down right chaotic at times. If you loved, Fir Lodge then, The Dark Restarter won't disappoint. "This sounds so made up that it's just crazy enough to be real." (McMahon: The Dark Restarter)
You'll love the down to earth writing style, contemporary references and the author's attention to detail which is second to none. A must read for sci fi fans!
Hal and Kara are back, this time with an unlikely sidekick and boy do they mean business. Funny, entertaining and down right chaotic at times. If you loved, Fir Lodge then, The Dark Restarter won't disappoint. "This sounds so made up that it's just crazy enough to be real." (McMahon: The Dark Restarter)
You'll love the down to earth writing style, contemporary references and the author's attention to detail which is second to none. A must read for sci fi fans!
October 6, 2020
What I Did Like:
-You already know I love when science stays in science fiction. I assumed that would be hard for this one, which deals with time travel. But I appreciated the attempt that was made to explain what was happening and give it logical consequences and rules.
-Ending. Again, as with the first, the ending of this one gives you satisfaction and sets up the next on beautifully. Enough of the endings are tied up to make me happy that I spent the time to finish this one and yet I can see this ending forcing me to add the third book to my TBR. Great ending.
-Kara. She’s a solid character who holds a little mystery that I think will add depth to the third installment of the series. She’s creative and smart. Basically, I love her.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of the first one, obviously.
-Anyone who loves time travel stories, specifically ones with complicated loops and small details that can make big changes in futures.
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone will love this book, but time travel fans may love it!
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/rPGu4bc6hAg
-You already know I love when science stays in science fiction. I assumed that would be hard for this one, which deals with time travel. But I appreciated the attempt that was made to explain what was happening and give it logical consequences and rules.
-Ending. Again, as with the first, the ending of this one gives you satisfaction and sets up the next on beautifully. Enough of the endings are tied up to make me happy that I spent the time to finish this one and yet I can see this ending forcing me to add the third book to my TBR. Great ending.
-Kara. She’s a solid character who holds a little mystery that I think will add depth to the third installment of the series. She’s creative and smart. Basically, I love her.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of the first one, obviously.
-Anyone who loves time travel stories, specifically ones with complicated loops and small details that can make big changes in futures.
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone will love this book, but time travel fans may love it!
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/rPGu4bc6hAg
November 1, 2019
There are many times I shouted ‘WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!!!!’ But in a good way. So many twists and turns without becoming completely bamboozling. How the writer Sean is able to think up all these ideas and coherently write them into a story is pretty skilful. Still besotted with #Hara (Hal and Kara) - will I ever love a duo more? Unlikely. When’s the next one coming out?!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews