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Espionage: A Companion to Time Captives
“Sir Roland has invited us to visit for the Autumn Feast.”
“Do we have to go, Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.”
As the daughter of a Briznomian vassal lord, Vannie Cumberland has spent her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Relations between Briznom and the neighboring country of Calhortz are strained due to the tyrannical rule of the strytes. A proposed alliance could calm relations between the two countries, but would come at the cost of Briznom’s freedom.
When her father’s political archenemy invites them to the Autumn Feast, Vannie uncovers an evil scheme endangering the life of someone close to her. Personal enmity comes to a dangerous head as Vannie struggles to expose the corruption and stop the alliance. Time is running out.
Events are becoming too big for her to handle. Will Sir Roland’s son help or will things finally spiral out of control?
A tale of treachery and political intrigue in a turbulent time, Espionage is a companion novel that sets the stage for Crannig Castle, the final installment of the Time Captives trilogy.
“Do we have to go, Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.”
As the daughter of a Briznomian vassal lord, Vannie Cumberland has spent her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Relations between Briznom and the neighboring country of Calhortz are strained due to the tyrannical rule of the strytes. A proposed alliance could calm relations between the two countries, but would come at the cost of Briznom’s freedom.
When her father’s political archenemy invites them to the Autumn Feast, Vannie uncovers an evil scheme endangering the life of someone close to her. Personal enmity comes to a dangerous head as Vannie struggles to expose the corruption and stop the alliance. Time is running out.
Events are becoming too big for her to handle. Will Sir Roland’s son help or will things finally spiral out of control?
A tale of treachery and political intrigue in a turbulent time, Espionage is a companion novel that sets the stage for Crannig Castle, the final installment of the Time Captives trilogy.
184 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2019
29 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Elizabeth Huneke
15 books100 followersMorgan Elizabeth Huneke fell in love with sci-fi and fantasy at age seven when she first read A Wrinkle in Time and The Chronicles of Narnia. In the time since, she's spent an inordinate amount of time exploring new realms and bygone eras through countless books, movies, and TV shows. She also spends a great deal of time talking to her imaginary friends and writing down their stories in books such as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy and Twisted Dreams, a sci-fi/fantasy Sleeping Beauty novella. On the occasion she remembers she lives in Georgia in the 21st century, she can be found playing and teaching violin and piano, singing along to Disney and Broadway soundtracks, turning pirouettes in the kitchen, and studying for her degree in elementary education. You can find her online at www.morganhuneke.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 16, 2016
Espionage is an exciting novella that takes place pretty much concurrently with the events of the Time Captives series. It gives you a deeper look into the world that Ms. Huneke has constructed and gets a chance to delve into the politics.
The story centers around 9 year old Vannie and her family as they travel to another lord's castle for the Autumn Feast. Vannie doesn't trust this noble and takes it upon herself to try and figure out what he's up to.
While the book isn't long, it's full of suspense and some action. I kept flipping pages to figure out how everything would finally resolve. The characters were all great and I especially like the friendship that developed between Vannie and Kyle. Vannie is precocious and opinionated but is willing to admit that she's afraid or doesn't know something. I also really loved her relationship with her family, especially her father. Kyle was an interesting character, coming in with some sad backstory. I just wanted to give the kid a hug. It was definitely different and fun to see a plot carried by two very young children, but I think they performed admirably.
It's been some time since I read the first Time Captives book and there were a few gaps in my memory concerning the story and the world, it either wasn't enough to detract from the story or was addressed in the book, bringing me back up to speed. If you've read the Time Captives series, then you will probably enjoy this book and its hopeful successors. Because honestly, I want to know more about Kyle and Vannie. :)
This book and the series that inspired it are great Middle Grade reads and perfect for anyone who loves adventure and stories of faith and family.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review*
The story centers around 9 year old Vannie and her family as they travel to another lord's castle for the Autumn Feast. Vannie doesn't trust this noble and takes it upon herself to try and figure out what he's up to.
While the book isn't long, it's full of suspense and some action. I kept flipping pages to figure out how everything would finally resolve. The characters were all great and I especially like the friendship that developed between Vannie and Kyle. Vannie is precocious and opinionated but is willing to admit that she's afraid or doesn't know something. I also really loved her relationship with her family, especially her father. Kyle was an interesting character, coming in with some sad backstory. I just wanted to give the kid a hug. It was definitely different and fun to see a plot carried by two very young children, but I think they performed admirably.
It's been some time since I read the first Time Captives book and there were a few gaps in my memory concerning the story and the world, it either wasn't enough to detract from the story or was addressed in the book, bringing me back up to speed. If you've read the Time Captives series, then you will probably enjoy this book and its hopeful successors. Because honestly, I want to know more about Kyle and Vannie. :)
This book and the series that inspired it are great Middle Grade reads and perfect for anyone who loves adventure and stories of faith and family.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review*
May 18, 2016
3.5 Stars
What I thought:
Admittingly, I’ve been in a book slump for the past week or two, so, yes. And then just before this, I had just finished reading Samara’s Peril, and that makes it hard to read a book after, so just keep that in mind.
I’m not usually one for political stuff (yes, all you people laughing at me. And since it’s approaching election time here in the US, I’m getting a little exhausted with it all.) so I was unsure to how I would like this book. Well, I did! Since it’s a MG (I think…), politics were toned down a bit, and made it quite bearable!
And as the author, Morgan, likes politics, that really shined through. Everything about the system was so well thought out, that it was just amazing to read! Even though I don’t enjoy politics, I found myself trying to figure it all out!
Writing/Plot:
Morgan is a very talented young author, and her writing is great! (Actually, it’s kinda weird calling her “young” since she’s older then me, but she’s definitely younger then a lot of other authors… I’m just gonna get back to the review now.) The first time I read one of her books, I was quite impressed, and it has only improved since then!
While this plot had times where it was a little rushed or a little slow, for the most part, it was pretty well paced. This is a political fantasy, and I think that the pace fit for it (though I would’ve enjoyed a longer book).
Characters:
Um, well, it took me a long while to like Vannie. I’m not sure what it was, but it just did. And the same for Kyle. I felt that Kyle’s personality could’ve been expanded a bit, but it was just overshadowed by Vannie, but I guess that she is the POV character… And those two are basically all of the characters
Problems:
Something that bothered me was Vannie. Not necessarily that it took me a bit to like her, but I felt that she acted older then her nine years of age. Now, I know that she’s a very smart young lady, but she seemed as if she were twelve or older to me. I also felt this way with Kate (Vannie’s younger sister) and a small bit from Kyle. *shrugs* Maybe it’s just me.
The characters all seemed to have just been thrown to the wayside, all except Vannie and Kyle. Like, it just seems that the other characters should’ve had more book-time.
That’s basically the only thing that I noticed. Though some more dialogue would’ve be nice.
Summary/Other:
So, while this book wasn’t my favorite out of the series, it was still pretty good!
Since this book is MG, there’s not language, and violence only goes as far as kidnapping. And there was a hint towards romance (even though they’re, like, nine).
But, I’d actually definitely recommend this series and book to basically anyone who likes MG Christian fantasy!
What I thought:
Admittingly, I’ve been in a book slump for the past week or two, so, yes. And then just before this, I had just finished reading Samara’s Peril, and that makes it hard to read a book after, so just keep that in mind.
I’m not usually one for political stuff (yes, all you people laughing at me. And since it’s approaching election time here in the US, I’m getting a little exhausted with it all.) so I was unsure to how I would like this book. Well, I did! Since it’s a MG (I think…), politics were toned down a bit, and made it quite bearable!
And as the author, Morgan, likes politics, that really shined through. Everything about the system was so well thought out, that it was just amazing to read! Even though I don’t enjoy politics, I found myself trying to figure it all out!
Writing/Plot:
Morgan is a very talented young author, and her writing is great! (Actually, it’s kinda weird calling her “young” since she’s older then me, but she’s definitely younger then a lot of other authors… I’m just gonna get back to the review now.) The first time I read one of her books, I was quite impressed, and it has only improved since then!
While this plot had times where it was a little rushed or a little slow, for the most part, it was pretty well paced. This is a political fantasy, and I think that the pace fit for it (though I would’ve enjoyed a longer book).
Characters:
Um, well, it took me a long while to like Vannie. I’m not sure what it was, but it just did. And the same for Kyle. I felt that Kyle’s personality could’ve been expanded a bit, but it was just overshadowed by Vannie, but I guess that she is the POV character… And those two are basically all of the characters
Problems:
Something that bothered me was Vannie. Not necessarily that it took me a bit to like her, but I felt that she acted older then her nine years of age. Now, I know that she’s a very smart young lady, but she seemed as if she were twelve or older to me. I also felt this way with Kate (Vannie’s younger sister) and a small bit from Kyle. *shrugs* Maybe it’s just me.
The characters all seemed to have just been thrown to the wayside, all except Vannie and Kyle. Like, it just seems that the other characters should’ve had more book-time.
That’s basically the only thing that I noticed. Though some more dialogue would’ve be nice.
Summary/Other:
So, while this book wasn’t my favorite out of the series, it was still pretty good!
Since this book is MG, there’s not language, and violence only goes as far as kidnapping. And there was a hint towards romance (even though they’re, like, nine).
But, I’d actually definitely recommend this series and book to basically anyone who likes MG Christian fantasy!
May 20, 2016
Having read and loved the first two books in the Time Captives Trilogy, I eagerly awaited the final volume ... but then the author went and announced that first she had to publish a companion story set in the same world, but in the neighboring country.
Of course, I read it.
Espionage is a sweet little story, with a healthy dose of tension, centered around a very young heroine. Vannie has grown up surrounded by politics, as her father is one of her country's vassal lords (Their ruling system is something of an Oligarchy), and one of the few said lords who bothers to bring his children with him to court. When her father's arch-rival, Sir Roland, invites them for a friendly meeting at his castle, she smells a rat, but since she's only nine, and her father agrees to it, there's really nothing she can do to protest.
Once she reaches Sir Roland's estate, she meets Kyle, Sir Roland's son, who seems to be nothing like his father. Together they uncover a devious plot that involves a Stryte - which readers of the main Time Captives series would recognize as the invasive tyrannical ruling class Calhortz.
It was a good story, it really was, but I wasn't captivated by it like I was the main series. It was a nice addition to the world, but I didn't feel wowed by any high-concept ideas or great world-building. You meet a stryte and a few Merfolk, and that's it for the other races in the world, and there were only two or three mentions of the Time Captives. So while it was a good story, making it part of the Time Captives world almost felt forced.
It also had a very different feel from the rest of Morgan's work that I've read - instead of grand, sweeping tales with lots of characters and interspersed flashbacks, it's a very focused story, entirely from Vannie's point of view, since it's first person.
(It didn't help that I read this while reading another book which I found to be far more high-concept and kept me closer to the edge of my seat.)
This doesn't mean it wasn't a great book, it just wasn't quite the story I'd wanted.
Espionage is a story of faith, family, trust, forgiveness and resourcefulness. Vannie and Kyle are both great characters, as are their surrounding family and friends. The plot is tight and cohesive, and since there are fewer characters, they all seem far better developed. Things do get tense enough to keep you on the edge of your seat for a bit. It is a good addition to the world, even if it isn't as spectacular as the main series, and I'm pretty sure you could read and love it even if you had no plans at all to read the main books.
Of course, I read it.
Espionage is a sweet little story, with a healthy dose of tension, centered around a very young heroine. Vannie has grown up surrounded by politics, as her father is one of her country's vassal lords (Their ruling system is something of an Oligarchy), and one of the few said lords who bothers to bring his children with him to court. When her father's arch-rival, Sir Roland, invites them for a friendly meeting at his castle, she smells a rat, but since she's only nine, and her father agrees to it, there's really nothing she can do to protest.
Once she reaches Sir Roland's estate, she meets Kyle, Sir Roland's son, who seems to be nothing like his father. Together they uncover a devious plot that involves a Stryte - which readers of the main Time Captives series would recognize as the invasive tyrannical ruling class Calhortz.
It was a good story, it really was, but I wasn't captivated by it like I was the main series. It was a nice addition to the world, but I didn't feel wowed by any high-concept ideas or great world-building. You meet a stryte and a few Merfolk, and that's it for the other races in the world, and there were only two or three mentions of the Time Captives. So while it was a good story, making it part of the Time Captives world almost felt forced.
It also had a very different feel from the rest of Morgan's work that I've read - instead of grand, sweeping tales with lots of characters and interspersed flashbacks, it's a very focused story, entirely from Vannie's point of view, since it's first person.
(It didn't help that I read this while reading another book which I found to be far more high-concept and kept me closer to the edge of my seat.)
This doesn't mean it wasn't a great book, it just wasn't quite the story I'd wanted.
Espionage is a story of faith, family, trust, forgiveness and resourcefulness. Vannie and Kyle are both great characters, as are their surrounding family and friends. The plot is tight and cohesive, and since there are fewer characters, they all seem far better developed. Things do get tense enough to keep you on the edge of your seat for a bit. It is a good addition to the world, even if it isn't as spectacular as the main series, and I'm pretty sure you could read and love it even if you had no plans at all to read the main books.
May 16, 2016
Meh, it wasn't my favorite. Full review to come.
September 15, 2020
I loved this book! The beginning was a little hard for me to get into, but once I got a few chapters in I could not put it down. Vannie and Kyle are perfect for each other, even though right now they're both still kids. I desperately want to read another book about them!
I also loved the message of mercy Morgan wove throughout the story, how mercy is where you are not punished for something when you deserved it. The Christian themes were well-written in such a way that I never felt preached at, and the ending was beautiful.
I also loved the message of mercy Morgan wove throughout the story, how mercy is where you are not punished for something when you deserved it. The Christian themes were well-written in such a way that I never felt preached at, and the ending was beautiful.
August 12, 2017
Espionage is a sweet novella companion to the Time Captives series by the same author, Morgan Elizabeth Huneke.
Miss Savanna Grace Cumberland is the 9 yr. old daughter of a vassal lord of a small, inland vassalage. Vannie, as she is called, is a bright intelligent girl although a bit outspoken at times, most times actually. Her mother and Nanny despair of her ever becoming ladylike. However she is well loved by all of them. Her father even allows and encourages Vannie in her interest of archery and hunting along with her desire to understand polices and attended the lords’ council meetings. None of that however keeps her from disliking the visits of her second cousin Kermit, who she was betrothed to as an infant.
When her family receives an invitation from Lord Roland to visit him at his Castle during the Autumn Feast, Vannie loudly protests. “Do we have to go Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.” Sir Roland has never seen eye to eye with her father and is heatedly on the opposite sides of the Calhortan Controversy.
Sir Roland believes that Briznom should become allies with the strytes in Calhortz to get protection from the privateers that keep ravaging the costal vassalages like his own. Vannie’s father, Lord Cumberland believes that allying Briznom with the strytes would be a disaster. The strytes are a race not to be trusted. They had invaded Calhortz and all but wiped out the other races that had been living there. No, the strytes were not to be trusted, but the lords were equally divided on the issue.
Vannie has a bad feeling about going to Roland Castle. So, when she thinks she sees a stryte one night at the castle, her imagination runs wild. Are her fears justified or just the products of her own imagination?
I must say that Vannie’s character really grew on my throughout the progression of the novella. Although I’m a few years above the intended reader’s age group, I did find myself cheering Vannie on. I loved the astonishment of Vannie when she discovered that Kyle, Lord Roland’s son, was a gentleman! The two go through a lot together and I enjoyed seeing their friendship grow. Overall, Espionage was a fun, quick read that introduced me to a new author that I look forward to reading more by.
Miss Savanna Grace Cumberland is the 9 yr. old daughter of a vassal lord of a small, inland vassalage. Vannie, as she is called, is a bright intelligent girl although a bit outspoken at times, most times actually. Her mother and Nanny despair of her ever becoming ladylike. However she is well loved by all of them. Her father even allows and encourages Vannie in her interest of archery and hunting along with her desire to understand polices and attended the lords’ council meetings. None of that however keeps her from disliking the visits of her second cousin Kermit, who she was betrothed to as an infant.
When her family receives an invitation from Lord Roland to visit him at his Castle during the Autumn Feast, Vannie loudly protests. “Do we have to go Papa? I couldn’t feast with the most crooked politician in all of Briznom.” Sir Roland has never seen eye to eye with her father and is heatedly on the opposite sides of the Calhortan Controversy.
Sir Roland believes that Briznom should become allies with the strytes in Calhortz to get protection from the privateers that keep ravaging the costal vassalages like his own. Vannie’s father, Lord Cumberland believes that allying Briznom with the strytes would be a disaster. The strytes are a race not to be trusted. They had invaded Calhortz and all but wiped out the other races that had been living there. No, the strytes were not to be trusted, but the lords were equally divided on the issue.
Vannie has a bad feeling about going to Roland Castle. So, when she thinks she sees a stryte one night at the castle, her imagination runs wild. Are her fears justified or just the products of her own imagination?
I must say that Vannie’s character really grew on my throughout the progression of the novella. Although I’m a few years above the intended reader’s age group, I did find myself cheering Vannie on. I loved the astonishment of Vannie when she discovered that Kyle, Lord Roland’s son, was a gentleman! The two go through a lot together and I enjoyed seeing their friendship grow. Overall, Espionage was a fun, quick read that introduced me to a new author that I look forward to reading more by.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews