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After Cilmeri #15

Unbroken in Time

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In 1282, David and his sister Anna crashed through time to save the life of their father, the last Prince of Wales. Thirteen years later, David is a grown man—husband, father, and High King of Britain. He is also the Duke of Aquitaine, a fact which King Philip of France appears to resent.

So when Philip summons David to Paris to bend the knee for the right to remain Aquitaine’s duke, David is the first to suspect treachery. And when he learns Philip is taking advice from Guillaume de Nogaret, mastermind behind the annihilation of the Templars, the expulsion of the Jewish community from France, and the assassination of the pope, he’s sure of it.

With not only Aquitaine on the line but all of Europe as well, David must call upon eight hundred years of history only he knows to ensure Avalon’s past doesn’t become Earth Two’s future …

Unbroken in Time is a novel from the After Cilmeri series.

363 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2020

172 people are currently reading
177 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Woodbury

165 books751 followers
With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

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5 stars
373 (65%)
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149 (26%)
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41 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Cherylbestlife.
476 reviews8 followers
March 30, 2020
Where is the time travel

Where is the time travel in this book?! I am left feeling unsatisfied for several reasons...
This is a time travel series, but there was no time travel in this book. Instead the book ended with a cliffhanger to be continued in the next book.
Also, the books are starting to feel like a history book reading instead of historical fiction/romance. Like in previous books the book focuses more on the battles and politics instead of the connection and interaction of the main characters. The bond and interactions between Meh and her kids and extended family is what made me love the series in the first place. But, the last few books feel like there is a disconnect.
Whenever any of the characters do travel to the future there is no real storyline or any significant time spent in the future. It has started to feel like more of a revolving door with most of the story taking place in the past. To me there are missed opportunities where the characters traveling from the past to the future really don't get to experience the conveniences and advancement of the modern world in any substantial way. They get there (to the future) and spend most of the time running and hiding then immediately finding a way to return to the past, where they go right into a battle. There is no meaningful dialogue or interaction between the characters anymore. I'm feeling really frustrated with this book and the way the series ha gone lately. In one recent book David and the other main characters were barely in the book. Instead two lesser known characters were given the majority of the storyline.
In the author's other series. The Gwen & Gareth series in a previous book Gwen & Gareth were never in the book. So, it really wasn't a Gwen & Gareth book. And, that's how I have been feeling with the recent books in the After Cilmeri series that we are getting less and less any significant interaction or storyline built around the main characters that made us fall in love with the series. I hope that the author goes back to the way she wrote the earlier books. There was more of a balance then there is now IMO.
7 reviews
March 29, 2020
Worth the wait...

Sarah Woodbury"s "After Climeri " series doesn't disappoint! The latest installment "Unbroken In Time" is no exception. If you are a fan of the series, and love historical fiction with a twist...this is going to be another delightful venture into the alternative universe Sarah created. If you haven't discovered this special world yet, do yourself the pleasure of going back to read the whole series, beginning with Daughter of Time; however the very clever Ms. Sarah gives a pretty cool synopsis of the series before the first chapter. So you could read it before you make the time and monetary investment and start this latest adventure right away. It has everything I want to see in historical fiction with a twist: palace intrigue, betrayal, prospect of new love, characters you can care about old friends, new acquaintances, twists and turns galore...with a little time travel that keeps me coming back for more...along with the promise of a new book to continue the adventure with, I already pre-ordered it! So grab a cup of tea and a scone and step back in time with Unbroken In Time.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,626 reviews33 followers
June 25, 2020
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the plot with King Phillippe. David and his friends are quite the planners. They really turn the tables in any situation. My only disappointment was that they didn't really spend any time in "Avalon" in this book. The rest seem to be spent in both time periods and I really enjoy that aspect of the series. I missed it this time. I am definitely looking forward to the next book and can't wait until it comes out.
647 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2020
Another wonderful chapter

I love this series and read every book as soon as it is released. Somehow righting the wrongs of history within such a readable story is compellingly satisfying
897 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2020
I purchased the ebook and audible version , I’m almost $20 into the story. Whisper sync isn’t hooked up so I’m spending way to much time going back forth. There’s a new narrator after 17 books, I spent so much time trying to figure which character was speaking I couldn’t enjoy the story. My fun time travel historical jaunt has become a discourse about current political intrigue . Way to much about CIA and MI5 in my time travel romance. I don’t think I’m going to purchase anymore. The last three books have headed in a direction that I’m not interested in reading. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed the first 15.
Profile Image for Michelle Louise.
441 reviews20 followers
March 2, 2021
An improvement over the last book

The year is 1295, and time traveling high king, David, has managed to achieve one of his overarching goals — A parliamentary democratically elected government with him as the high king because the world isn’t fully ready for democracy yet. That said David’s ambitions and actions have not gone unnoticed. And it’s making people nervous. And now he has been summoned to France as the Duke of Aquitaine in order to swear his fealty to Philip the fair. It’s fairly obvious to those who come from the future that this is a trap, after all something similar has happened with Edward the first in their timeline. While at the same time Philip is laying a trap for David, he is also enacting laws to subjugate France’s Jewish population leading up to the expulsion of the French Jews in the future.

Whoever said may you live in interesting times is a curse really knew what they were talking about...



This book is a return to the medieval machinations that so peppered some of the earlier books and made them exciting and fun to read. Like in those books this book uses the knowledge that the characters have of the timeline that they came from our timeline to make predictions and plans based off of how they know their opponents wouldn’t of acted in our timeline. I like the fact that when Edward the first want to give his fealty to Phillip the fair as the duke of Aquitaine he was required to relinquish Aquitaine to Phillip but Phillip is then supposed to Give Aquitaine back but historically Philip did not. That’s just something that happens in the first couple of pages so it’s not like I’m spoiling anything here you can read it in the preview, But it is an example of how the novel does it uses the information that they have from prior timelines to make plans on how they’re going to react when people inevitably act like they did historically.

The book does end on a cliffhanger. The over arcing plot is not going to be resolved in this book. While there is a solid ending for the book it is not a completely satisfying one like some of the previous books. And I don’t really love that that the author is only releasing one book a year and the books are not having satisfying conclusion. It’s why I checked this book out from the library rather than spend my own money on it.

Additionally this book Suffers by carrying such a large cast of characters. Characters that we don’t really need to have their POV’s of. And characters that could very easily have been eliminated entirely from the series and substituted with other characters in the story would lose nothing. It also suffers from the lack of foreshadowing that one of the characters that we’ve seen in previous books turns on the heroes and betrays them. Foreshadowing is important.

That said, I did enjoy this book substantially more than the previous book. I do plan on checking the book out from the library when it is available. But I am very concerned about the direction Aliti of this story and like I said in my previous review I am still concerned the series has jumped the shark I really hope that the next book assuages my fears.

Four stars
Profile Image for Melissa.
56 reviews4 followers
April 11, 2021
It would probably be impossible for Sarah Woodbury to write a book I didn't like. I've thoroughly enjoyed the Gareth and Gwen Mystery Series and was sorry to see her stop it. I've also become hooked on the Welsh Guard mysteries, but the After Cilmeri series is still my first love. Reading another book in this series is like visiting beloved friends.

I actually reread Unbroken in Time because I recently purchased the newer book, Outcasts in Time. Like several books in this series, these two are related stories and I wanted a refresher before going on to the new one. In the vein of "truth is stranger than fiction" this book deals with King Phillippe's pogroms against the Jews in the late 1200's, which included being required to wear yellow badges on their clothing and, ultimately, expulsion and mass slaughter. BUT, since this is the alternate world of King David of the Confederate States of Britain, his goal is to stop another negative historical timeline and provide another enlightened alternative to the saga of the Jews in Europe.

Meanwhile, Callum and Cassie must wrestle with the moral ambiguities inherent in using modern weapons in the attempted invasion and overthrow of Aquitaine. The ends justifying the means takes on a starkly visceral meaning in this scenario.

And, of course, David must also deal with the 21st century CIA agent who has been commissioned to abduct his son. Naturally, David sacrifices himself instead, setting up the scenario for the next book.

If you like the idea of time travel (though this series shifted from time travel to alternate universe/world shifting partway through), you might enjoy this series. If you also enjoy the sort of speculative fiction that considers how history might have been changed if certain events did or did not happen, you will definitely enjoy this series. I've enjoyed this sort of writing for a long time (see Guy Gavriel Kaye and John M. Ford for more in this vein). So, Woodbury as a writer never disappoints. And her King David is changing his world hopefully for the better.
Profile Image for Emily.
355 reviews
April 14, 2020
Sarah gave us a real cliffhanger this time, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Beyond that, I was very happy with this latest installment in the series.

In the early books of this series, there was time travel, but then there would be a book without it, while we got to know how the characters were adjusting to life in the Middle Ages. Very quickly, the format shifted and there was time travel in every book. It was starting to feel like a revolving door, and a bit formulaic. Sarah has definitely forgone the formula this time, which I am quite happy about.

Nearly everyone we’ve met before is in this book, the exceptions being David’s parents and Anna and a Math. Someone had to stay behind in England. But that made for a large cast of characters with lots of moving parts in this book. You are assumed to know the relationships and the roles each person plays. Thankfully, I did a full series reread prior to starting Unbroken, which I think helped me not get lost or confused. I can see how this one might be hard to follow if I hadn’t done that.

But in the end, this book is more plot driven then some of the other After Cilmeri books. It’s really a heist novel at its core, which is a fun change. There was plenty going on that a secondary plot in “Avalon” would have been too distracting.

I complained in my review of Refuge, that it spent too much time in the modern world. Clearly, I prefer historical fiction to the modern spy novel that Refuge felt like to me. Based on how Unbroken ended, I’m a little nervous the next book will be like that again, but we shall see. That nervousness certainly won’t keep me from reading David’s next adventure.
Profile Image for Henry Northcott.
176 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2021
Outstanding

Ive binge read the whole series up to here and not left any reviews but I have to say that I'm well impressed with the quality of the research and historical context. Do read in order that's essential. I'm so glad I happened upon this book series and that it appeared when I needed it,and when it needed to be here for me. I think if I'd had to wait ten years to read them all I'd have not appreciated them the same. Anyone struggling with the current situation in the world should try and read them in a week or a fortnight and will understand why I appreciate them so much. In fact I'd say they are required reading. I can't wait until they eventually come out on some streaming site as a series
Profile Image for Liz Hatcher.
189 reviews2 followers
December 8, 2020
Another great book in this series. I can hardly wait for the next book in March 2021! Ms. Woodbury has drawn me into reading about the actual, true history found in this book. I love how she combines the historical and the time travel in this series of books. My only drawback with Unbroken In Time, as other reviewers have mentioned, is there is no time travel in it. However, the action and historical story kept me reading enthusiastically to the very end and then wanting more! Please keep writing many more books in this series Ms. Woodbury!
131 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2022
review of “Unbroken in Time” the After Cilmeri Series book 18

Again a wonderfully written book especially for those of us that have been following the series from the beginning. This book focus more on our Hero David and all of his family members and then some. I am blown away by the author’s imagination and weaving of characters both good and bad. It never takes more the 2 days to finish one of these novels. I’m really looking forward to the next installments. A very good read JJ
Profile Image for Amber Gabriel.
Author 20 books79 followers
April 3, 2020
Another exciting installment of the After Cilmeri series!

David and his loyal followers travel to France to subvert the evil machinations of the French court. Will his bold and daring plans survive the unexpected, or will unforseen complications stop them short of their goals? You won't rest until you find out!
21 reviews
April 5, 2020
Another great chapter for King David

I’m happy to report that this book is another great chapter in the After Cilmeri story. I really like the way Sarah Woodbury ties real history into her fiction. I’ve been excited about this since the very first book, but I really hate waiting for the next book. Long live King David
Profile Image for Melissa Garner.
24 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2020
Perfect mix of reality and fantasy

A favorite series gets another great installment. Happy to see how David (Sarah) put together another beautiful plot, this time to stop the French king from killing Jews.
Profile Image for Sandra Self.
160 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2020
A winner

Sarah Woodbury has done it again! Rich in history, multi-level intrigue, and suspense at every turn Unbroken in Time is a cannot put down page turner. That is the problem, because reading it in one session leaves it way to long until the next installment!
16 reviews
April 2, 2020
WOW! This story just gets better and better

Could not put this book down, it would have to be one of the best in this series.......but now we have to wait for the next one to find out the whys and wherefores .......... cannot day more as I don’t want to put in any spoilers.
2 reviews
April 26, 2020
Always a page turner.

Another stellar adventure for David and his companions! Adventure and intrigue with enough complexity and originality to be unpredictable in its journey to a satisfying conclusion!
637 reviews5 followers
May 21, 2020
This book was a little less good than previous ones in terms of keeping my attention. I found this one a little confusing at times difficult to remember who was who. Overall the series is keeping its momentum, one off book, is not a big deal.
Profile Image for Sheila Coffey.
67 reviews
April 9, 2021
Love love love these books!

I’ve read all the books in the series and haven’t been disappointed with any of them. The storyline is fantastic, mixed with real history, while taking fictional liberties. I highly recommend this series.
5 reviews
July 31, 2021
After Cilmeri Series

Great series, kept me coming back, book after book. A little repetitious with the war scenarios at times but not enough to stop me from reading all 18 books which is incredible in and of itself. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Christine.
148 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2020
So much awesomeness!! This is one of my favorite series. Many authors can’t pull off going between different POVs like Sarah Woodbury does. She keeps me interested and invested in the story without driving me so mad with frustration that I want to skip ahead to where a particular POV picks up. Hopefully it won’t be a full year before the next book, Outcasts in Time, because that cliffhanger had me channeling William’s favorite saying, “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” 😏 Pre-order done.

Can you read this as a standalone? Yes, but I HIGHLY recommend you do yourself a favor by reading from the beginning. Enjoy!!
Profile Image for Rachel Bonner.
Author 4 books23 followers
March 29, 2020
Fantastic series

I've enjoyed this series from the very first book. Sarah blends actual history into fantasy so well. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Highly recommended.
12 reviews
April 8, 2020
Another great chapter for King David

I’m happy to report that this book is another great chapter in the After Cilmeri story. I really like the way Sarah Woodbury ties real history into her fiction. I’ve been excited about this since the very first book, but I really hate waiting for the next book. Long live King David
Profile Image for Ann.
35 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2020
Couldn't Put It Down!

As always after reading the next fantastic installment of the After Cilmeri series, I need to go back and read them all again!
Profile Image for Cristal.
49 reviews4 followers
May 22, 2020
I love this series. With every book it just keeps getting better. Read this series if you like time travel, alternative history, intrigue and a dash of romance... start with the first book and enjoy!
3 reviews
July 23, 2020
Can't wait for the next book

I have enjoyed the series and can't wait to read the next book. David's character keeps evolving and fun to watch.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,227 reviews48 followers
August 10, 2020
I am still enjoying this intriguing series. This instalment had me thinking a lot about our current world situation in 2020 in view of historical events. I especially liked Callum's part of the story this time.
Profile Image for Beverly.
95 reviews
May 6, 2020
Beautiful as usual!

Miss Sarah gave us another great story, truth be told I was ready to climb into the book
and hit Phillip on his noggens, why the guy is sooo power hungry I'll never know but I'm
guessing we will find out next time! Totally recommend to all readers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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