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The Time Zero Trilogy #3
Time's Up
Could you commit murder to save the people you love?
Foreword Indies 2019 Book of the Year Award Winner
Full of heart-stopping suspense and jaw-dropping twists, the conclusion to the Time Zero trilogy is finally here. Mina’s fears are realized when she and Juda are forced to return to Manhattan. Worse, they have orders to assassinate their Divine Leader, Uncle Ruho. Can they go through with the murder? If they don’t, their nemesis Ram has sworn to bomb the island into oblivion. In this riveting finale to the Time Zero saga, Mina has to decide how far she's willing to go to save her friends, her people, and her true self.
"Worth the wait. These books created a terrifying world where the strength of one girl makes a difference." - July on Goodreads
Foreword Indies 2019 Book of the Year Award Winner
Full of heart-stopping suspense and jaw-dropping twists, the conclusion to the Time Zero trilogy is finally here. Mina’s fears are realized when she and Juda are forced to return to Manhattan. Worse, they have orders to assassinate their Divine Leader, Uncle Ruho. Can they go through with the murder? If they don’t, their nemesis Ram has sworn to bomb the island into oblivion. In this riveting finale to the Time Zero saga, Mina has to decide how far she's willing to go to save her friends, her people, and her true self.
"Worth the wait. These books created a terrifying world where the strength of one girl makes a difference." - July on Goodreads
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2019
111 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Cohagan
17 books117 followersCarolyn Cohagan began her writing career on the stage. She has performed stand-up and one-woman shows at festivals around the world from Adelaide to Edinburgh. Her first novel, The Lost Children (Simon & Schuster, 2010) is a middle grade fantasy which became part of the Scholastic Bookclub and was nominated for a Massachusetts Children’s Book Award. The first book in her YA trilogy, Time Zero (She Writes Press, 2016), won eight literary honors, including the 2017 Readers Favorite Award and the 2017 International Book Award. In 2020, she and her mother, painter Lynn Cohagan, collaborated on the Creative Writing Journal: Clever Prompts for Clever Children. Carolyn is the founder of Girls With Pens, a creative writing organization in Austin dedicated to fostering the individual voices and offbeat imaginations of kids ages 8-15.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 1, 2020
**3.5 stars. I usually do not do reviews that contain spoilers, but I feel like I can’t express how I feel about this book without doing so... So, I loved this series. This book was the most action packed book in the trilogy. So why did I rate it 3.5 stars?
To begin, Mina and her friends are put on a task to murder the divine leader of Manhattan. Ram, leader of the Unbound, forces them to do so.
Mina, Juda, Grace, and Dekker are the only ones of the group that know they have to kill Uncle Ruho. Tabby is Ruho’s designated bride. Mary and Silas go along because Ram also forces them to.
Tabby commits the crime, she wasn’t suppose to since she was a member of the Unbound. I saw this coming honestly but I was okay with it. I liked the twists and turns in this book.
Also, I expected members to die in the group. It happens in (almost) every book even if we hope it doesn’t. We know Tabby and Mary die. The two girls show up on a bus to take them back to the Laurel Society. Remember, they were suppose to be at the Laurel Society to help with the starving women, etc. the Laurel Society is very strict especially under the rule of Ayan. How did they just escape? Where did they get the bus? And why would they get it if they knew they were releasing so many girl prisoners(they didn’t know they released men women and all children from the tunnel)? How would they think that would work? Not everyone would fit. Imagine releasing a federal prison and putting them on a NYC public transit bus. No. How did they know where the tunnel was located if they weren’t apart of the plan? Also,one sentence they were talking the next they are bombed. One issue I have, Mina was literally speaking to them. So, imagine having a convo with someone. You guys would be close to each other, correct? Tabby and Mary are in the bus, Mina would be beside it talking to them from the sidewalk. So, how is Mina alive with only cuts, no broken bones, no excessive bleeding, and Tabby and Mary disappear with the bus out of thin air, only a crater is left?? How did the others survive that if they were all on the same block or area?
Toward the end of the book Silas and Mina see a drone land in the middle of Manhattan. Mina thought maybe Ram landed and Silas said no why would he after he just bombed the whole city. Silas suggested It was Jeremiah (Mary’s brother). Did he randomly come back for Mary even tho she was dead? At first I was like maybe Tabby and Mary survived since Mary had Grace’s Tact. She could have contacted Jeremiah. But we will never know because after we saw the drone nothing else was mentioned about it. Mina made a shrine with all the people she lost and they were apart of it, so I guess they were dead?
At the end of the book, before Mina, Silas, and Mina’s nana leave with the prisoners, Mina and Juda get in an argument. Remember, they have been lovers or dating the entire series, they did everything for each other and sacrificed their lives for each other. Juda rescued Mina from getting raped by her fiancé, Mina broke into the Forgiveness home to rescue Juda, Mina watched Juda’s dad die, Mina went to the hospital with Juda to visit his sick mother, Juda took her in even tho Mina was on the run and wanted by the Govt., etc. Anyway, Mina felt betrayed by Juda because he gave the leader of the Convenes Mina’s Tact to communicate with Ram. So Mina literally gets mad (I picture a kid having a temper tantrum) and she’s like “okay I’m leaving. I’m getting the hell out. Silas, Nana, lets leave there is nothing here for us.) basically she is “like f Juda even tho I risked my life for him and I almost died and likewise for Juda”. LIKE EXCUSE ME. It’s extreme to pick up and move across the country literally thirty mins after a bombing and one argument with the love of your life.
The ending was rushed. Everything else was great. It was almost 5 stars. But the last 50 pages I was like wtf. I hated the ending. Okay I’m done.
To begin, Mina and her friends are put on a task to murder the divine leader of Manhattan. Ram, leader of the Unbound, forces them to do so.
Mina, Juda, Grace, and Dekker are the only ones of the group that know they have to kill Uncle Ruho. Tabby is Ruho’s designated bride. Mary and Silas go along because Ram also forces them to.
Tabby commits the crime, she wasn’t suppose to since she was a member of the Unbound. I saw this coming honestly but I was okay with it. I liked the twists and turns in this book.
Also, I expected members to die in the group. It happens in (almost) every book even if we hope it doesn’t. We know Tabby and Mary die. The two girls show up on a bus to take them back to the Laurel Society. Remember, they were suppose to be at the Laurel Society to help with the starving women, etc. the Laurel Society is very strict especially under the rule of Ayan. How did they just escape? Where did they get the bus? And why would they get it if they knew they were releasing so many girl prisoners(they didn’t know they released men women and all children from the tunnel)? How would they think that would work? Not everyone would fit. Imagine releasing a federal prison and putting them on a NYC public transit bus. No. How did they know where the tunnel was located if they weren’t apart of the plan? Also,one sentence they were talking the next they are bombed. One issue I have, Mina was literally speaking to them. So, imagine having a convo with someone. You guys would be close to each other, correct? Tabby and Mary are in the bus, Mina would be beside it talking to them from the sidewalk. So, how is Mina alive with only cuts, no broken bones, no excessive bleeding, and Tabby and Mary disappear with the bus out of thin air, only a crater is left?? How did the others survive that if they were all on the same block or area?
Toward the end of the book Silas and Mina see a drone land in the middle of Manhattan. Mina thought maybe Ram landed and Silas said no why would he after he just bombed the whole city. Silas suggested It was Jeremiah (Mary’s brother). Did he randomly come back for Mary even tho she was dead? At first I was like maybe Tabby and Mary survived since Mary had Grace’s Tact. She could have contacted Jeremiah. But we will never know because after we saw the drone nothing else was mentioned about it. Mina made a shrine with all the people she lost and they were apart of it, so I guess they were dead?
At the end of the book, before Mina, Silas, and Mina’s nana leave with the prisoners, Mina and Juda get in an argument. Remember, they have been lovers or dating the entire series, they did everything for each other and sacrificed their lives for each other. Juda rescued Mina from getting raped by her fiancé, Mina broke into the Forgiveness home to rescue Juda, Mina watched Juda’s dad die, Mina went to the hospital with Juda to visit his sick mother, Juda took her in even tho Mina was on the run and wanted by the Govt., etc. Anyway, Mina felt betrayed by Juda because he gave the leader of the Convenes Mina’s Tact to communicate with Ram. So Mina literally gets mad (I picture a kid having a temper tantrum) and she’s like “okay I’m leaving. I’m getting the hell out. Silas, Nana, lets leave there is nothing here for us.) basically she is “like f Juda even tho I risked my life for him and I almost died and likewise for Juda”. LIKE EXCUSE ME. It’s extreme to pick up and move across the country literally thirty mins after a bombing and one argument with the love of your life.
The ending was rushed. Everything else was great. It was almost 5 stars. But the last 50 pages I was like wtf. I hated the ending. Okay I’m done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2020
* Spoiler Alert!!! I loved these books. Couldn’t put them down, and found myself reading late into the night. I am not always a fan of dystopian novels, but a 15 year old protagonist in a cult that refuses to let women learn to read? I was hooked on the premise before I opened the first book. The balance between action and detail was well balanced. Admittedly, having lived in Manhattan, I thoroughly enjoyed imagining what that city Would look, feel and smell like in that situation. I only have one small problem with the story. Anyone who has lived in Manhattan knows that there is no way anyone, not an experienced athlete, could row across the Hudson. This offhand description of crossing that wide, current laden, river was disappointing. But that aside, I would love to see these books become movies!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2020
I read these books cause the NYT told me that Amy Poehler had the first one on her shelves and I thought, dystopian trilogy about girls defying laws to read? Count me in!
They were that, and they were a lot more too. I really enjoyed the trilogy, esp in the second book when I had to keep asking myself if this was going to end terribly as propaganda for religious extremism. Having read all three, I really enjoyed the purchase, and would def recommend.
They were that, and they were a lot more too. I really enjoyed the trilogy, esp in the second book when I had to keep asking myself if this was going to end terribly as propaganda for religious extremism. Having read all three, I really enjoyed the purchase, and would def recommend.
February 6, 2020
I have been a fan of Carolyn Cohagan's writing since her first book, "The Lost Children." So when she started a dystopian trilogy about a young, female protagonist living in Manhattan behind a giant wall, I was all in. The first two books were fabulous, and I remember being at the end of book one thinking, I can't believe I have to wait til the next one comes out because I NEED to know what happens. Book two did not disappoint, taking our heroine outside Manhattan's walls to yet another world with more oppression, adventure, and high stakes. As I waiting on book three, I wondered how the story was going to wrap and if all the stories would feel complete because I think that tying up a trilogy is no easy task. Well, I got book 3, "Time's Up" and immediately started reading it. I don't want to give away any plot points, so I will just say that the author does an incredible job of weaving all the stories together to a realistic and totally satisfying ending. And the book itself was fast-paced, exciting, and at moments caused some nailbiting. I could absolutely see this as a movie. I absolutely loved this book. It was an extra bonus that this is one of the few YA books I've seen with a diverse set of characters and representation for LGBTQ folks.
April 1, 2021
Summary
Ram, the cruel head sent Mina along with some other girls and boys to be with Tammy to be married to Uncle Ruho, the Divine Leader. After running away from Mrs. Asher in Book One, now she was to return to Manhattan, where she and her brother, Dekker were wanted fugitives. Their task was to murder Uncle Ruho. If they failed, Ram was going to bomb the city.
Will they succeed? Will Mina and her brother get caught?
Conclusion
This was the conclusion to the Time Zero trilogy. For a dystopian story that I assume to happen in the future, I am absolutely revolted by the fact that an over 60 years old man was to wed a 16 year old girl! Sadly, this is the reality for child brides in the world.
Both sides of Uncle Ruho and Ram abused the theology of religion to eliminate their opposition. Throughout history, human beings have been killing each other in the name of religion and beliefs. This is reality.
The ending was much better than I anticipated for a young adult novel.
Ram, the cruel head sent Mina along with some other girls and boys to be with Tammy to be married to Uncle Ruho, the Divine Leader. After running away from Mrs. Asher in Book One, now she was to return to Manhattan, where she and her brother, Dekker were wanted fugitives. Their task was to murder Uncle Ruho. If they failed, Ram was going to bomb the city.
Will they succeed? Will Mina and her brother get caught?
Conclusion
This was the conclusion to the Time Zero trilogy. For a dystopian story that I assume to happen in the future, I am absolutely revolted by the fact that an over 60 years old man was to wed a 16 year old girl! Sadly, this is the reality for child brides in the world.
Both sides of Uncle Ruho and Ram abused the theology of religion to eliminate their opposition. Throughout history, human beings have been killing each other in the name of religion and beliefs. This is reality.
The ending was much better than I anticipated for a young adult novel.
March 3, 2020
The final book in the Time Zero trilogy did not disappoint!!!! It was so exciting that I couldn't read this before I went to bed because it kept me so anxious with everything that was happening! And to know that the story is based on true stories from different religions in this world makes it so much more horrific knowing that so many women and girls have to live through what Mina goes through and so much worse. I love that Carolyn based the story on true life, which actually made me root for Mina more knowing that girls go through the same things on a daily basis around the world. I won't spoil the ending but I am so happy that Mina saved herself and did not rely on a man to help her and that she saved so many others at the same time. She needed to be a strong individual at the end and I was completely satisfied with what happened to her.
August 14, 2022
* Spoiler Alert!!! I loved these books. Couldn’t put them down, and found myself reading late into the night. I am not always a fan of dystopian novels, but a 15 year old protagonist in a cult that refuses to let women learn to read? I was hooked on the premise before I opened the first book. The balance between action and detail was well balanced. Admittedly, having lived in Manhattan, I thoroughly enjoyed imagining what that city Would look, feel and smell like in that situation. I only have one small problem with the story. Anyone who has lived in Manhattan knows that there is no way anyone, not an experienced athlete, could row across the Hudson. This offhand description of crossing that wide, current laden, river was disappointing. But that aside, I would love to see these books become movies!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2023
If I could give this 10 stars I would. I absolutely LOVED this trilogy and the last of the 3 didn’t disappoint. It is filled with strong female characters, questioning of religion and religious and social practices, has gay and a trans main characters (just woven into the book and not a big deal, which is how it should be-normal), and has more than enough suspense to keep you turning pages. I love that the author includes real life examples of religious and social practices that inspired the events of the book, so that we never forget that, though this is fiction, it is or has been someone’s real experience. If you liked Divergent, you’ll love this series. Definitely wish I could experience it again for the first time!
October 25, 2023
Totally different
Time's Up is a really good book. This series was totally different than I was experiencing. There are elements I did not enjoy but they were well done. My favorite aspect is the way Mina never stops believing.
This is not a standalone. It is the third book of three in the Time Zero Trilogy. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only related series.
I absolutely loved this book! I will absolutely continue the series. Some mild cursing and kissing, this book is mostly clean. Due to sensitive subject matter and mature content, I would highly recommend it for anyone 16ish or older.
Time's Up is a really good book. This series was totally different than I was experiencing. There are elements I did not enjoy but they were well done. My favorite aspect is the way Mina never stops believing.
This is not a standalone. It is the third book of three in the Time Zero Trilogy. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only related series.
I absolutely loved this book! I will absolutely continue the series. Some mild cursing and kissing, this book is mostly clean. Due to sensitive subject matter and mature content, I would highly recommend it for anyone 16ish or older.
June 24, 2020
The true measure of how good a sequel is could probably be summed up by saying that if you pick up the second or third book in a series and reading it makes you want to go back and read the previous title(s), it's a winner! Cohagan's final in the Time Zero trilogy meets and exceeds this goal. Even though I have not yet read the first two books, this one kept me engaged throughout and it was, for the most part, easy to pick up on what I might have missed from the previous books. I can see why readers were eagerly awaiting this final book in the series.
May 12, 2021
Ah, the ending of the Time Zero trilogy. I seem to be on a kick this month of reading series books however this one was one I enjoyed (unlike Wealth of Time, which never made it past book one for me). I like the fact that while it did conclude satisfactorily, it didn’t end with everyone living happily ever after. I guess it’s the cynic in me but those stories tend to get on my nerves and are usually so implausible they stretch the limits of imagination. So all three books in this series are four stars for me. Once again, a young adult series this “mature” lady greatly enjoyed.
March 8, 2021
This series kept getting better and better! I had mixed feelings about Book 1, which felt too close to Divergent/Handmaid's Tale and not coherent enough with some plot details, but felt hooked by the characters and wanted to find out what happened next. Really enjoyed Book 2, and then Book 3 was excellent! The contrasting societies that Mina travelled through were really interesting and thought-provoking, and I liked how the ending was handled (but will say no more on that!).
February 10, 2022
Wow I absolutely loved this series until the last book. I had posted it on several Facebook pages on how much I loved and was mad no one never mentioned it when people ask about great dystopian books. Now, I may have to correct myself. I thought the last book was a huge let down for me. I felt like everything was thrown together just to end the book. The first 2 books were amazing (5 stars) but about half way through the 3 book I was bored of it…not sure what happen?!?!
September 6, 2025
great ending to a great trilogy
As someone who grew up in a family similar to Mina’s, it meant a lot to see her journey from the first book to now. I enjoyed hearing about the intricacies of both of the worlds. Memorable cast of characters. I did not particularly care for the ending as I feel like it wrapped up a lot of stuff in a neat bow, but I recognize that as more of a genre trapping than a specific flaw in the plot. Overall, would recommend!
As someone who grew up in a family similar to Mina’s, it meant a lot to see her journey from the first book to now. I enjoyed hearing about the intricacies of both of the worlds. Memorable cast of characters. I did not particularly care for the ending as I feel like it wrapped up a lot of stuff in a neat bow, but I recognize that as more of a genre trapping than a specific flaw in the plot. Overall, would recommend!
January 26, 2020
A grand adventure
These books are really well written. I love a dystopian tale when you can really believe it might happen, and the way this relies on the things happening in the world today, you really can see this being something that might happen in the future. Well done. Very well done.
These books are really well written. I love a dystopian tale when you can really believe it might happen, and the way this relies on the things happening in the world today, you really can see this being something that might happen in the future. Well done. Very well done.
August 11, 2022
Nanstake.
I loved the story concrpt, characters and descriptions. It was fast paced and exciting and well written. However I hated the way it worked out in the end. I like to feel good when so finish a book. I did not feel good at the end of this story. I actually felt very depressed.
I loved the story concrpt, characters and descriptions. It was fast paced and exciting and well written. However I hated the way it worked out in the end. I like to feel good when so finish a book. I did not feel good at the end of this story. I actually felt very depressed.
September 8, 2020
Epic
The author did a great job writing and telling of this story. I lost a lot of sleep because I just couldn't put them down. I wish for more. To see what happens to Juda, Grace and Derrek. Ty so much
The author did a great job writing and telling of this story. I lost a lot of sleep because I just couldn't put them down. I wish for more. To see what happens to Juda, Grace and Derrek. Ty so much
October 2, 2020
I wasn’t that impressed with this third installment. It was somewhat confusing at times, felt rushed, and I didn’t feel comfortable with the way ended it with a feeling of, for the most part, defeat, barring some characters had a semi-happy ending.
July 7, 2022
This could be our roadmap for the future.
Reviewing this and The Handmaiden's Tale, prompts me to remind us all of the supreme backwardness of the world in 2022, right now!! Fight for our rights now or we could be the next ones under veil.
Reviewing this and The Handmaiden's Tale, prompts me to remind us all of the supreme backwardness of the world in 2022, right now!! Fight for our rights now or we could be the next ones under veil.
August 16, 2022
Although the ending felt a bit rushed and lackluster compared to the rest of the series, this is an incredibly well-written, fast-paced, and captivating YA trilogy. I haven't been this enthralled with a series in a very long time!
October 29, 2023
Great trilogy
This series did have a little Hunger Games meets The Handmaid's Tale vibe. The way the author used the politics of today's world and entertwined them into the story makes you really think "What If". I enjoyed the characters and the 3 books a lot.
This series did have a little Hunger Games meets The Handmaid's Tale vibe. The way the author used the politics of today's world and entertwined them into the story makes you really think "What If". I enjoyed the characters and the 3 books a lot.
December 15, 2024
This trilogy was so well written it had me cheering for the female main character. Book 3 was the best detailed story end. I wish them all well, all the woman in this world that live under such horrific situations.
December 27, 2019
Amazing amazing ending to a fantastic series. I could not put it down. She managed to both tie up all the loose endings and keep the pace moving in such a way that I was totally gripped.
January 26, 2020
Was expecting this series to go downhill like Divergent, but all three books were gripping.
April 8, 2020
The ending wasn't what I expected.
June 4, 2020
The End
I waited and waited for this final chapter. It was worth the wait. These books created a terrifying world where the strength of one girl makes a difference.
I waited and waited for this final chapter. It was worth the wait. These books created a terrifying world where the strength of one girl makes a difference.
July 16, 2020
Slightly redeemed by the ending, but, man, I hate Mina.
August 14, 2020
So good but so sad. Perfect Ending to an amazing trilogy. Would recommend this to anyone who likes a good dystopian book.
October 17, 2020
Great book. This trilogy did not disappoint. This book is probably my favorite of the three.
January 17, 2021
Good conclusion for the series. I couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews