What do you think?
Rate this book
The Time Trials
After the deaths of his parents in a horrific car accident — one that he considers his own fault — Walkman-toting, guitar-playing Finn Mallory would do anything to turn back time…to press “rewind.” When he’s admitted on full scholarship to an elite boarding school, things get more complicated: he becomes an “Unfortunate” in a sea of rich kids whose shoes cost more than his late parents made in a week. An invitation to a boring-sounding history club changes everything, as this team does much more than research and field trips.
Well….they do take field trips. Just not the kind you’re thinking. For Finn, the present was already enough to deal with, but now he finds that he also must reckon with the past, in more ways than one.
Well….they do take field trips. Just not the kind you’re thinking. For Finn, the present was already enough to deal with, but now he finds that he also must reckon with the past, in more ways than one.
358 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2021
8 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 21, 2021
I am obsessed with this book! When I first started reading it, I kept trying to compare it to other young adult stories like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, but it didn't take me long to realize this is one very unique tale!
The characters blend so well together. I absolutely love the team that was crafted. Finn may have been chosen instead of having the freewill to be there but it all works out for the better for everyone involved.
The historic aspect of this is amazing! I'm a history buff and and when you add adventure, friendship, and love in the mix? I am definitely there for it! Please tell me there will be a sequel! You have to read this book...don't delay!
The characters blend so well together. I absolutely love the team that was crafted. Finn may have been chosen instead of having the freewill to be there but it all works out for the better for everyone involved.
The historic aspect of this is amazing! I'm a history buff and and when you add adventure, friendship, and love in the mix? I am definitely there for it! Please tell me there will be a sequel! You have to read this book...don't delay!
March 31, 2023
The Time Trials is based at a prestigious American boarding school, Wharton Academy. Each year a scholarship is awarded to one student who can little afford to be a student there. This year it is the turn of orphan Finn Mallory, whose parents have died in a car crash. These charity cases are really nothing more than a PR stunt for the school and the recipients are known colloquially as ‘Unfortunates’. ‘90s grunge music-loving Finn has to put up with sneering remarks from his classmates and becomes insular, blaming himself for his parents’ death and closing himself off from Everly, the one person who extends a hand of friendship. Finn is the main character of this novel but there are other PoV characters. The other characters’ perspectives mainly revolve around their relationships with Finn.
Finn and three other students are invited by their history professor to join a mysterious and secretive club called the Young Historians Club. The headmaster has warned Finn that he needs to become a member of some sort of club or sports team to make it visible to the outside world that he is making the most of his scholarship. Since he is not particularly sporty this club seems to fit the bill.
Everly, the granddaughter of the professor is a breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent rich girl, who proves herself to be warm-hearted and to have a conscience despite her ridiculously expensive shoes and accessories. Her mother died when she was young and her father left her with her grandfather, so she has empathy for Finn’s family situation. She and Finn hit it off and are gradually falling for each other, but there is a lot of teenage angst, and Finn’s feelings of unworthiness lead him to keep pushing her away. Their friendship endures despite her uncharacteristic decision to date the team captain of the Lacrosse team who she had openly dismissed earlier in the book. Presumably, she only dates him to make Finn jealous – but it felt a little unlikely.
Edison is Finn’s autistic roommate and fellow Young Historian. The amount of knowledge, care and attention given to issues surrounding Edison’s autism lead me to believe that the writers probably have first-hand experience with an autistic child and their coping mechanisms. He was a really great, believable character and Finn and Edison’s developing friendship is a lovely aspect of the story. His other teammates make an assumption that he will be viewed by their adversaries as their weakest link, but in fact Finn’s lack of feelings of self-worth and his inability to rid himself of the many chips on his shoulders lead the other teams to see him as the weakest:
“The quiet voice that whispered that he didn’t belong had become a scream.”
The final member of the club is sporty Valerie. She was my favourite supporting character in the story. A born leader, who is trying to live up to her rich parents’ very high expectations. She is the captain of sporting teams and other clubs and is extremely caring and protective towards Edison – we find out later that she has an autistic brother who her parents have sent away and whose existence they barely acknowledge. She is full of blunt forcefulness, positivity, and constantly tries to encourage her teammates, no matter the challenges they face. I kind of wanted her and Finn to end up together!
The Young Historians club exists in order to take part in a highly mysterious competition between four schools known as the Time Trials. Each school has a time machine and will undertake four challenges – much like the TriWizard tournament in the Harry Potter series – but with time travel instead of magic. Each team is told that whatever they do in the past cannot affect the future, but that if they die in the past they will also be dead in the future, but their parents will be told they are ’missing’. They are subsequently thrown into incredibly dangerous situations in recognisable time periods, which they must survive. I loved the amount of historical detail that the authors managed to get into these short adventures. The four teens share some truly harrowing experiences and their true natures and motivations are exposed. They also become closer and more like a family as the competition continues. The final trial is their own choice of destination and Wharton Academy’s choice was quite the tear-jerker!
The Time Trials was a really exciting YA adventure story and I found it hard to put down. Due to its likeable characters and exciting time challenges, I read it fairly quickly. There were a number of questions left unanswered so I hope there will be a sequel. Highly recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, time travel stories and history.
Finn and three other students are invited by their history professor to join a mysterious and secretive club called the Young Historians Club. The headmaster has warned Finn that he needs to become a member of some sort of club or sports team to make it visible to the outside world that he is making the most of his scholarship. Since he is not particularly sporty this club seems to fit the bill.
Everly, the granddaughter of the professor is a breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent rich girl, who proves herself to be warm-hearted and to have a conscience despite her ridiculously expensive shoes and accessories. Her mother died when she was young and her father left her with her grandfather, so she has empathy for Finn’s family situation. She and Finn hit it off and are gradually falling for each other, but there is a lot of teenage angst, and Finn’s feelings of unworthiness lead him to keep pushing her away. Their friendship endures despite her uncharacteristic decision to date the team captain of the Lacrosse team who she had openly dismissed earlier in the book. Presumably, she only dates him to make Finn jealous – but it felt a little unlikely.
Edison is Finn’s autistic roommate and fellow Young Historian. The amount of knowledge, care and attention given to issues surrounding Edison’s autism lead me to believe that the writers probably have first-hand experience with an autistic child and their coping mechanisms. He was a really great, believable character and Finn and Edison’s developing friendship is a lovely aspect of the story. His other teammates make an assumption that he will be viewed by their adversaries as their weakest link, but in fact Finn’s lack of feelings of self-worth and his inability to rid himself of the many chips on his shoulders lead the other teams to see him as the weakest:
“The quiet voice that whispered that he didn’t belong had become a scream.”
The final member of the club is sporty Valerie. She was my favourite supporting character in the story. A born leader, who is trying to live up to her rich parents’ very high expectations. She is the captain of sporting teams and other clubs and is extremely caring and protective towards Edison – we find out later that she has an autistic brother who her parents have sent away and whose existence they barely acknowledge. She is full of blunt forcefulness, positivity, and constantly tries to encourage her teammates, no matter the challenges they face. I kind of wanted her and Finn to end up together!
The Young Historians club exists in order to take part in a highly mysterious competition between four schools known as the Time Trials. Each school has a time machine and will undertake four challenges – much like the TriWizard tournament in the Harry Potter series – but with time travel instead of magic. Each team is told that whatever they do in the past cannot affect the future, but that if they die in the past they will also be dead in the future, but their parents will be told they are ’missing’. They are subsequently thrown into incredibly dangerous situations in recognisable time periods, which they must survive. I loved the amount of historical detail that the authors managed to get into these short adventures. The four teens share some truly harrowing experiences and their true natures and motivations are exposed. They also become closer and more like a family as the competition continues. The final trial is their own choice of destination and Wharton Academy’s choice was quite the tear-jerker!
The Time Trials was a really exciting YA adventure story and I found it hard to put down. Due to its likeable characters and exciting time challenges, I read it fairly quickly. There were a number of questions left unanswered so I hope there will be a sequel. Highly recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, time travel stories and history.
September 19, 2021
Simultaneously comforting and adventurous, danger-laden and heartwarming, grieving and joyous, this academic-setting YA Contemporary Science Fiction time-traveling novel deserves to expand into a series. Educational as well as character-driven, THE TIME TRIALS demonstrates both a love of history and compassion for the characters. It rings true to life and suspension of disbelief comes fairly easily in the context of realistic characters embarking on some seriously strange adventures.
September 10, 2021
This was my first sci-fi book, and also my first book written by two authors, and it has proven to be an absolute joy.
The time trials is an intriguing, well paced story about -you guessed it- time, while we follow Finn getting settled in his new school we get an amazing plot woven around finding a place somewhere even if you feel like you don’t belong, finding yourself and finding what you need. The story has a lovely pace to it, it is detailed in all the right places, and it’s just an overall super enjoyable read. I really didn’t want to put it down and was very invested.
There’s also a wonderful balance between character development and plot about the time trials development wich for some reason made me very happy haha. The characters are relatable and easy to like and the plot around the time trials feels very well planned through and sparks your curiosity.
I can not wait to read more. I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. My opinion however is entirely my own.
The time trials is an intriguing, well paced story about -you guessed it- time, while we follow Finn getting settled in his new school we get an amazing plot woven around finding a place somewhere even if you feel like you don’t belong, finding yourself and finding what you need. The story has a lovely pace to it, it is detailed in all the right places, and it’s just an overall super enjoyable read. I really didn’t want to put it down and was very invested.
There’s also a wonderful balance between character development and plot about the time trials development wich for some reason made me very happy haha. The characters are relatable and easy to like and the plot around the time trials feels very well planned through and sparks your curiosity.
I can not wait to read more. I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. My opinion however is entirely my own.
Read
December 23, 2022Congratulations for placing 8th in the 2022 BBNYA Competition!
April 10, 2023
Find this review and more on my blog at
Worlds Unlike Our Own
.
Recently orphaned Finn Mallory gains a scholarship to study at an elite boarding school and is recruited into a mysterious club known only as Young Historians. What it turns out to be is really a team that will participate in a top secret series of time travel games against teams from other schools. The games however are no child’s play – they take place in moments in the past where the danger is often very real, and that’s not even considering the cutthroat competition between the teams and the trials themselves being rigged by the timekeepers who oversee it all. As the games commence and each is more deadly than the previous one, Finn must decide who he can trust and find a way to work with his team because it isn’t just a question of winning now, it’s also about surviving these trials.
Time travel is a premise I love in books, and coincidentally, sci-fi is one of the genres I’ve been meaning to read more of this year, so I knew I had to sign up for this blog tour as soon as I saw it. The synopsis was quite intriguing certainly, but it has been a long time since I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by a book!
The concept of this story was so much fun and it approached time travel in a somewhat different fashion than I’ve seen in other books that use it as a basis, most significantly in that changing the past doesn’t affect future events at all. I wasn’t completely convinced by the explanations but I did appreciate that the book went into a lot of detail about the in-world scientific basis of the whole thing.
This book did a fine job of building up the tension and maintaining it throughout, and as a reader, I was on tenterhooks, eagerly waiting to see what the next trial would be and what time period it might take the characters to. I was kind of disappointed that the authors didn’t get more creative with the time periods they chose though, almost all were relatively close to present day and the characters didn’t stay long enough for the mood to really set in.
However, the focus of almost the entire story was solely around the Wharton team, and outside of a few things, there was very little description or page time given to the other teams. Personally, I would have atleast liked to see what challenges they were given for the four trials.
The Time Trials wastes absolutely no time and dives right into the thick of things from the very first chapter. While there was information about the characters’ backstories and plot explanations filled in during the quieter moments, there honestly weren’t all that many of them – this was an extremely fast paced read to the point that I wished it would slow down a little at times and linger on some plot points, particularly the preparation time in between the challenges that the teams got and the challenges themselves which went by far too quickly for my taste. This was an incredibly engaging read and I had a hard time putting it down when I needed to take a break.
Most of this book was narrated from Finn’s perspective, and there were several chapters from other characters thoughts as well, including Finn’s teammates Everly, Valerie and Edison, the team mentor Professor Moscovitz and more. The transition between the chapters wasn’t the best in my opinion though – it wasn’t immediately obvious whose POV we were switching to and there were often time skips between the chapters with no warning.
In terms of character development, I’m kind of impressed at how much the authors managed to squeeze into the comparatively short span of this story. It all happened extremely naturally, right alongside the plot itself and with each trial, I felt like I learned a little more about each of the team, and it was wonderful to see how they came to trust and rely on each other. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance subplot, mainly because there simply wasn’t enough time for it to be developed properly and every page spent on it was that much less information there was about the trials themselves.
Apart from the four team members, I am a little disappointed that the other teams barely got any page time. Given the nature of the trials, I thought they would play more central roles and we’d get to see some more rivalry and sabotage between the teams, but the timekeepers ended up playing the part of the villain. I am quite interested to see how that is going to pan out in the sequel though, since the Wharton team definitely made some enemies during their challenges.
The way this book wrapped up was a bit too abrupt for my taste. It more or less rushed through the last trial and the winners were declared, at which point, the book closes, leaving far too many unanswered questions. Yes, there is a sequel, but even so, I feel there should have been a little more elaboration in the final chapters for a smoother conclusion.
Thank you again to BBNYA and The Write Reads for the chance to read this book, I’m certain I would have never come across it had it not been for the blog tour. This book was an entertaining read and I’m definitely going to be picking up the sequel, I need to know what happens next! I would highly recommend this book for fans of sci-fi novels or time travel, this is worth the read!
Recently orphaned Finn Mallory gains a scholarship to study at an elite boarding school and is recruited into a mysterious club known only as Young Historians. What it turns out to be is really a team that will participate in a top secret series of time travel games against teams from other schools. The games however are no child’s play – they take place in moments in the past where the danger is often very real, and that’s not even considering the cutthroat competition between the teams and the trials themselves being rigged by the timekeepers who oversee it all. As the games commence and each is more deadly than the previous one, Finn must decide who he can trust and find a way to work with his team because it isn’t just a question of winning now, it’s also about surviving these trials.
Time travel is a premise I love in books, and coincidentally, sci-fi is one of the genres I’ve been meaning to read more of this year, so I knew I had to sign up for this blog tour as soon as I saw it. The synopsis was quite intriguing certainly, but it has been a long time since I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by a book!
The concept of this story was so much fun and it approached time travel in a somewhat different fashion than I’ve seen in other books that use it as a basis, most significantly in that changing the past doesn’t affect future events at all. I wasn’t completely convinced by the explanations but I did appreciate that the book went into a lot of detail about the in-world scientific basis of the whole thing.
This book did a fine job of building up the tension and maintaining it throughout, and as a reader, I was on tenterhooks, eagerly waiting to see what the next trial would be and what time period it might take the characters to. I was kind of disappointed that the authors didn’t get more creative with the time periods they chose though, almost all were relatively close to present day and the characters didn’t stay long enough for the mood to really set in.
However, the focus of almost the entire story was solely around the Wharton team, and outside of a few things, there was very little description or page time given to the other teams. Personally, I would have atleast liked to see what challenges they were given for the four trials.
The Time Trials wastes absolutely no time and dives right into the thick of things from the very first chapter. While there was information about the characters’ backstories and plot explanations filled in during the quieter moments, there honestly weren’t all that many of them – this was an extremely fast paced read to the point that I wished it would slow down a little at times and linger on some plot points, particularly the preparation time in between the challenges that the teams got and the challenges themselves which went by far too quickly for my taste. This was an incredibly engaging read and I had a hard time putting it down when I needed to take a break.
Most of this book was narrated from Finn’s perspective, and there were several chapters from other characters thoughts as well, including Finn’s teammates Everly, Valerie and Edison, the team mentor Professor Moscovitz and more. The transition between the chapters wasn’t the best in my opinion though – it wasn’t immediately obvious whose POV we were switching to and there were often time skips between the chapters with no warning.
In terms of character development, I’m kind of impressed at how much the authors managed to squeeze into the comparatively short span of this story. It all happened extremely naturally, right alongside the plot itself and with each trial, I felt like I learned a little more about each of the team, and it was wonderful to see how they came to trust and rely on each other. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance subplot, mainly because there simply wasn’t enough time for it to be developed properly and every page spent on it was that much less information there was about the trials themselves.
Apart from the four team members, I am a little disappointed that the other teams barely got any page time. Given the nature of the trials, I thought they would play more central roles and we’d get to see some more rivalry and sabotage between the teams, but the timekeepers ended up playing the part of the villain. I am quite interested to see how that is going to pan out in the sequel though, since the Wharton team definitely made some enemies during their challenges.
The way this book wrapped up was a bit too abrupt for my taste. It more or less rushed through the last trial and the winners were declared, at which point, the book closes, leaving far too many unanswered questions. Yes, there is a sequel, but even so, I feel there should have been a little more elaboration in the final chapters for a smoother conclusion.
Thank you again to BBNYA and The Write Reads for the chance to read this book, I’m certain I would have never come across it had it not been for the blog tour. This book was an entertaining read and I’m definitely going to be picking up the sequel, I need to know what happens next! I would highly recommend this book for fans of sci-fi novels or time travel, this is worth the read!
June 19, 2022
Read as a ready-to-read ARC on NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for making this copy available to read to NetGalley users
Jon and Dayna McConnell have created a deadly, YA novel, centred around a brutal competition which fits alongside the likes of The Hunger Games and the Inheritance Games, while being unique and having its own charms.
The idea of travelling back to areas of history to compete draws readers in, especially when revealed that events from the past cannot be changed, and the butterfly effect therefore irrelevant. It manages to have the deadliness of a killing competition, without travelling to a dystopian setting.
Each of our 4 main characters have wonderful unique personalities. We have our dark horse outcast in Finn, the popular, graceful one courtesy of Everly, bold and fiery Valerie, and the wonderful Edison.
I appreciated that a considerable chunk of a chapter was dedicated to letting the reader get to know Edison and his high functioning autism. The mention of the purpose of occupational therapy within this chapter showed an understanding of how professionals can work with neurodivergent individuals, but I would be intrigued to know how much research or knowledge of experiences was put into the character (If anybody knows I’d love to hear as I'm always trying to educate myself on areas like these!)
While I enjoyed the plot, and thought it was unique and well written, I felt there were a few downfalls.
The first half of the book was paced wonderfully, with the build up to each of the events and the strategy behind the team’s thinking. However towards the second half, it got a bit messy, particularly in the 3rd event, where I found myself re-reading sections to get a good understanding of what was happening.
The ending also felt very abrupt. With the book finishing at the announcement of the winners. I thought that we would hear more about the aftermath of the games (and Mordecai’s decision) at this point, which would then have led into the sequel of the book, as it reads as more of a standalone. However my judgement may change after reading the sequel.
All in all, the book is an excellent story within the YA subgenre of “deadly games” that stands out amongst others. While the book had some issues with pacing and the ending, it made for a pleasant and gripping read that would translate well to the silver screen.
4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for making this copy available to read to NetGalley users
Jon and Dayna McConnell have created a deadly, YA novel, centred around a brutal competition which fits alongside the likes of The Hunger Games and the Inheritance Games, while being unique and having its own charms.
The idea of travelling back to areas of history to compete draws readers in, especially when revealed that events from the past cannot be changed, and the butterfly effect therefore irrelevant. It manages to have the deadliness of a killing competition, without travelling to a dystopian setting.
Each of our 4 main characters have wonderful unique personalities. We have our dark horse outcast in Finn, the popular, graceful one courtesy of Everly, bold and fiery Valerie, and the wonderful Edison.
I appreciated that a considerable chunk of a chapter was dedicated to letting the reader get to know Edison and his high functioning autism. The mention of the purpose of occupational therapy within this chapter showed an understanding of how professionals can work with neurodivergent individuals, but I would be intrigued to know how much research or knowledge of experiences was put into the character (If anybody knows I’d love to hear as I'm always trying to educate myself on areas like these!)
While I enjoyed the plot, and thought it was unique and well written, I felt there were a few downfalls.
The first half of the book was paced wonderfully, with the build up to each of the events and the strategy behind the team’s thinking. However towards the second half, it got a bit messy, particularly in the 3rd event, where I found myself re-reading sections to get a good understanding of what was happening.
The ending also felt very abrupt. With the book finishing at the announcement of the winners. I thought that we would hear more about the aftermath of the games (and Mordecai’s decision) at this point, which would then have led into the sequel of the book, as it reads as more of a standalone. However my judgement may change after reading the sequel.
All in all, the book is an excellent story within the YA subgenre of “deadly games” that stands out amongst others. While the book had some issues with pacing and the ending, it made for a pleasant and gripping read that would translate well to the silver screen.
4 stars
July 7, 2022
Finn feels responsible for the deaths of his parents in a car accident - they wouldn't have been on the road if it hadn't been for him. & he can't forgive himself. After receiving a scholarship to a private boarding school (where he becomes known as an 'Unfortunate' by the rich kids due to the scholarship), Finn doesn't expect to make friends. He especially doesn't expect 'Queen Bee' Everly to try to make friends & he rebuffs her, certain that it is all a giant prank. He is surprised, therefore, to see her at the first meeting for the Young Historians' Club, a select group of four members & one of their teachers as their mentor. This is no ordinary club as the four soon find out that they would get to take part in the Time Trials, travelling through time, battling it out with three other schools, over four rounds in a contest to decide the winning team.
Finn (misfit), Everly (Queen Bee), Valerie (athlete), & Edison (a loner with autism) have to find a way to work together & during the Trials find themselves becoming friends despite their differences with Finn & Everly perhaps more than friends. The teams are sent to different historical events with a specific goal, such as retrieving an artifact or momentarily altering history for example. As time travel is possible by bending time, the rules state that nothing they do affects future events which takes off the pressure slightly, but some aspects of the Trials can be deadly - if you die in a Trial you stay dead!
I requested this one pretty swiftly after reading the synopsis. It's a great concept & I just wish that the authors had spent more time on the actual Trials rather than Finn & Everly's on/off relationship. The trials were over so swiftly I felt a bit shortchanged, there's such a lot of scope with this storyline yet the romance aspect seemed to overshadow the far more interesting Trials plot & sidelined Valerie & Edison (who were also much more interesting than Finn & Everly). Other readers more in the targeted demographic for YA may feel differently about this aspect so don't be put off by my review, in fact, I enjoyed it enough that I plan on reading the sequel, I just hope the romance element has been toned down a little. 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 for sites which don't allow half star ratings).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Tiny Fox Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Finn (misfit), Everly (Queen Bee), Valerie (athlete), & Edison (a loner with autism) have to find a way to work together & during the Trials find themselves becoming friends despite their differences with Finn & Everly perhaps more than friends. The teams are sent to different historical events with a specific goal, such as retrieving an artifact or momentarily altering history for example. As time travel is possible by bending time, the rules state that nothing they do affects future events which takes off the pressure slightly, but some aspects of the Trials can be deadly - if you die in a Trial you stay dead!
I requested this one pretty swiftly after reading the synopsis. It's a great concept & I just wish that the authors had spent more time on the actual Trials rather than Finn & Everly's on/off relationship. The trials were over so swiftly I felt a bit shortchanged, there's such a lot of scope with this storyline yet the romance aspect seemed to overshadow the far more interesting Trials plot & sidelined Valerie & Edison (who were also much more interesting than Finn & Everly). Other readers more in the targeted demographic for YA may feel differently about this aspect so don't be put off by my review, in fact, I enjoyed it enough that I plan on reading the sequel, I just hope the romance element has been toned down a little. 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 for sites which don't allow half star ratings).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Tiny Fox Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
June 26, 2022
REVIEW: It had me hooked from the start. I'm not used to sci-fi, but I truly liked it. I enjoyed how the stories incorporated historical moments; you can always learn something new, even if it's just a little.
Although all of the characters are likeable, I particularly loved Edison's.
I have to admit that I wasn't expecting the results of the games; they were fine, but I needed more action or for them to be more exciting; they were too fast for me.
I'm going to read the second book since I'm curious about what happens next!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering an advance reading copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
----------------
RESEÑA: Me atrapó desde el principio. No estoy acostumbrada a la ciencia ficción y lo he disfrutado. Me gusta cuando las historias introducen momentos históricos, siempre se puede aprender nuevas cosas, aunque sea un poquito.
Me gustó el personaje de Edison, pero a todos los personajes se les coge cariño.
Tengo que decir que no esperaba los resultados de los juegos, estaban bien, pero necesitaba más acción o que fueran más intrigantes, fueron demasiado rápido para mí.
Voy a leer el segundo libro, quiero saber ¡qué pasa después!
Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por dejarme leerlo a cambio de una honesta reseña.
Although all of the characters are likeable, I particularly loved Edison's.
I have to admit that I wasn't expecting the results of the games; they were fine, but I needed more action or for them to be more exciting; they were too fast for me.
I'm going to read the second book since I'm curious about what happens next!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering an advance reading copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
----------------
RESEÑA: Me atrapó desde el principio. No estoy acostumbrada a la ciencia ficción y lo he disfrutado. Me gusta cuando las historias introducen momentos históricos, siempre se puede aprender nuevas cosas, aunque sea un poquito.
Me gustó el personaje de Edison, pero a todos los personajes se les coge cariño.
Tengo que decir que no esperaba los resultados de los juegos, estaban bien, pero necesitaba más acción o que fueran más intrigantes, fueron demasiado rápido para mí.
Voy a leer el segundo libro, quiero saber ¡qué pasa después!
Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por dejarme leerlo a cambio de una honesta reseña.
January 16, 2022
Fun read! I’m not usually a Sci-Fi fan but I’m glad I decided to give this one chance, it was well worth it! The main character, Finn, is a relatable kid everyone wants to root for, and the rest of the characters are so colorfully developed and fun to follow. The story is well written and grabs you right from the start, there is not a dull moment in the whole book. The story is entertaining and suspenseful as well as emotional and heartwarming. I was looking for something light and fun to read over winter break and was happy I chose this. It was a definite page turner!
March 31, 2023
In The Time Trials, by Jon McConnell and Dayna McConnell, we follow recently-orphaned teenager Finn Mallory as he takes up his scholarship place at the prestigious Wharton Academy and, at the headmaster’s urging, joins its extra-curricular Young Historians Club.
However, he soon discovers the group isn’t as dry as it sounds. Guided by their wizened teacher, Professor Mordecai Moskowitz, Finn and his team-mates Everly Caldwell, Edison Pellegrin, and Valerie Konrad enter the Time Trials: an exclusive competition run by the secretive Historians’ Society, where delegates from four schools travel to different times and locations in the past to complete fiendish challenges.
The stakes are high; as well as having to beat the other teams and face gruelling debriefings from the tough Time Trials adjudicators, the students risk injury and death on their missions. On top of that, Finn is still processing his parents’ deaths, as well as the interpersonal dramas that characterise adolescence.
I really enjoyed The Time Trials. With its fast pace and immediacy, there’s no space for filler. Every page moves the story forward, whether we’re watching the characters undertake a nerve-wracking trial or interact with one another between challenges, or we’re learning important background information about them.
The time travel aspect is well thought-through, with the authors giving consideration to whether the characters’ actions when visiting the past will change subsequent events, and therefore the present (it won’t); the technology they’ll use to look and sound appropriate for the time and place they’re sent to; and what happens if their Time Bender needs repairs (they’ll receive help from their adorable robot assistant, SCRAP).
Not only do the characters interact directly with historical events and settings - including their socio-economic and gender dimensions - but they engage with history in other ways as well.
Right from the off, Prof Moskowitz is keen to impress upon his students that the practice of history is less about memorising what happened and when, and more about making connections between, and judgements about, causes and effects.
The professor marks Finn out as a potential team member because, as a student from a poor family who’s experienced tragedy, he’s likely to look at the trials from a different angle and think up fresh approaches to them, which could give him an edge over his privileged competitors.
As an erstwhile social historian, this made my heart sing: an important aspect of my definition of history is that it’s very much a living subject that evolves as we re-evaluate past events, situations, and actions from new perspectives, and consider the experiences of groups of people who haven’t traditionally been included in historical research.
Ironically, though, the main lesson Finn picks up over the course of the book is not to live in the past. He desperately misses his parents, wants to go back to how things were, and blames himself for their deaths because they were killed driving to a gig he begged to go to. He comes to realise, though, that he can only go forward.
A couple of other things I appreciated about this book were the way Finn, Everly, and Valerie made the effort to read up on, and accommodate Edison’s autism; and the cyberpunk, H. G. Wells vibe of the time-travelling equipment and the Historians’ Society Headquarters.
The Time Trials is a fast-paced, high-stakes time travel novel that really engages with history.
However, he soon discovers the group isn’t as dry as it sounds. Guided by their wizened teacher, Professor Mordecai Moskowitz, Finn and his team-mates Everly Caldwell, Edison Pellegrin, and Valerie Konrad enter the Time Trials: an exclusive competition run by the secretive Historians’ Society, where delegates from four schools travel to different times and locations in the past to complete fiendish challenges.
The stakes are high; as well as having to beat the other teams and face gruelling debriefings from the tough Time Trials adjudicators, the students risk injury and death on their missions. On top of that, Finn is still processing his parents’ deaths, as well as the interpersonal dramas that characterise adolescence.
I really enjoyed The Time Trials. With its fast pace and immediacy, there’s no space for filler. Every page moves the story forward, whether we’re watching the characters undertake a nerve-wracking trial or interact with one another between challenges, or we’re learning important background information about them.
The time travel aspect is well thought-through, with the authors giving consideration to whether the characters’ actions when visiting the past will change subsequent events, and therefore the present (it won’t); the technology they’ll use to look and sound appropriate for the time and place they’re sent to; and what happens if their Time Bender needs repairs (they’ll receive help from their adorable robot assistant, SCRAP).
Not only do the characters interact directly with historical events and settings - including their socio-economic and gender dimensions - but they engage with history in other ways as well.
Right from the off, Prof Moskowitz is keen to impress upon his students that the practice of history is less about memorising what happened and when, and more about making connections between, and judgements about, causes and effects.
The professor marks Finn out as a potential team member because, as a student from a poor family who’s experienced tragedy, he’s likely to look at the trials from a different angle and think up fresh approaches to them, which could give him an edge over his privileged competitors.
As an erstwhile social historian, this made my heart sing: an important aspect of my definition of history is that it’s very much a living subject that evolves as we re-evaluate past events, situations, and actions from new perspectives, and consider the experiences of groups of people who haven’t traditionally been included in historical research.
Ironically, though, the main lesson Finn picks up over the course of the book is not to live in the past. He desperately misses his parents, wants to go back to how things were, and blames himself for their deaths because they were killed driving to a gig he begged to go to. He comes to realise, though, that he can only go forward.
A couple of other things I appreciated about this book were the way Finn, Everly, and Valerie made the effort to read up on, and accommodate Edison’s autism; and the cyberpunk, H. G. Wells vibe of the time-travelling equipment and the Historians’ Society Headquarters.
The Time Trials is a fast-paced, high-stakes time travel novel that really engages with history.
June 22, 2022
I use paw marks rather then stars due to my reading buddy being Perry the lil pug 📖🐾🐶
The time trials by Jon McConnell and Dayna McConnell
Paw marks- 3
keywords- YA, competitions, friendships, mental health, boarding school, death and social standings
In short- A fun, quick read that takes an interesting look at history all mixed in with young love and the power of friendships
full review
read the book thanks to Netgallery
The time trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell is the first book I have read by these two authors and I wasn’t disappointed. The time trails feature a main young adult called Finn who have gone through something horrific before being offered a place in a fancy boarding school that could give him that chance at a better future, if he can be seen as something more then just the charity case.
We follow Finn while he tries to fit in before being offered to be part of a history team at one of the school clubs, what at first seems just another extra credit club suddenly become something that no-one could dream could be true.
As we learn along with Finn and his new team mates that time travel is a reality we watch as this team of unusual characters start to form fragile friendships and in some cases maybe something more.
Jon and Dayna takes us on a fast pace history adventure that give us tons of emotional depth as the characters deal with difficult families, mental health conditions, death and the awkwardness of boarding school and the school social ladder. The characters were fully 3D and their responses were realistic and relevant to their age and their situations.
I loved the history side of the story although I would have liked just to learn a tad more about the history points while they were preparing for the challenges or just after the challenges, as I found the second challenge was a bit bland as I didn’t learn much about the place which made it feel a tad less real, I would have also liked if the authors had given a little more time to giving us more information about the character that died as it felt like the person was a very throw away character and didn’t feel as impactful as I think the authors intended it to be.
Despite these small flaws it is a fun plot with an interesting twist on time travel and great for readers that love history and magical based competitions and shows in a sweet way the power of friendship and creating your own family. Plenty of potential for development and I look forward to more fun adventures with this history team.
The time trials by Jon McConnell and Dayna McConnell
Paw marks- 3
keywords- YA, competitions, friendships, mental health, boarding school, death and social standings
In short- A fun, quick read that takes an interesting look at history all mixed in with young love and the power of friendships
full review
read the book thanks to Netgallery
The time trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell is the first book I have read by these two authors and I wasn’t disappointed. The time trails feature a main young adult called Finn who have gone through something horrific before being offered a place in a fancy boarding school that could give him that chance at a better future, if he can be seen as something more then just the charity case.
We follow Finn while he tries to fit in before being offered to be part of a history team at one of the school clubs, what at first seems just another extra credit club suddenly become something that no-one could dream could be true.
As we learn along with Finn and his new team mates that time travel is a reality we watch as this team of unusual characters start to form fragile friendships and in some cases maybe something more.
Jon and Dayna takes us on a fast pace history adventure that give us tons of emotional depth as the characters deal with difficult families, mental health conditions, death and the awkwardness of boarding school and the school social ladder. The characters were fully 3D and their responses were realistic and relevant to their age and their situations.
I loved the history side of the story although I would have liked just to learn a tad more about the history points while they were preparing for the challenges or just after the challenges, as I found the second challenge was a bit bland as I didn’t learn much about the place which made it feel a tad less real, I would have also liked if the authors had given a little more time to giving us more information about the character that died as it felt like the person was a very throw away character and didn’t feel as impactful as I think the authors intended it to be.
Despite these small flaws it is a fun plot with an interesting twist on time travel and great for readers that love history and magical based competitions and shows in a sweet way the power of friendship and creating your own family. Plenty of potential for development and I look forward to more fun adventures with this history team.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2022
This book should be significantly more popular than it is - I was shocked to see it didn't even have 50 ratings on Goodreads. I stumbled upon this hidden gem on Netgalley - thank you for providing me with a e-copy of this novel to read in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is almost reminds me of the concept of of Hunger Games but set against the backdrop of modern day private rich-kid highschool and Time Travel. And gosh, the concept of time traveling in this book, and how it is explained, along with the trials that arise from time traveling is so good. Aside from the time-traveling aspect, this book really tackles the premise of not belonging and the struggles that the main four young adults in the novel experience. The way the team has such a diverse ray of individuals is so interesting, and the characters all feel fleshed out. My only complaint is that it somewhat bothered me that Everly was constantly called the Queen and the metaphors around that, and how everyone just followed her like worker bees. I feel like there's much more backstabbing in real life highschool and not just "one" leader per-say. Also, while the writing was engaging and had some beautiful lines, I found I was personally not the biggest fan of it. I think if the writing could have made the dramatic or intense scenes to another level. It didn't "fall short" but being a reader, you know how certain authors have a knack for really writing up the pressure and tension and delivering on it. I think this would've been a five star read if that intensity in the writing and building that climax was more prominent. Admittedly, I was able to guess all the 'twists' and turns, but I think that may partially also be because I love guessing and being right about that.
Unrelated side note: As a recently graduated Occupational Therapist, I was so incredibly happy to read about the mention of it in the book. I feel like my profession is often unrecognized and unacknowledged, so this truly made me so happy.
Unrelated side note: As a recently graduated Occupational Therapist, I was so incredibly happy to read about the mention of it in the book. I feel like my profession is often unrecognized and unacknowledged, so this truly made me so happy.
September 13, 2022
Wow!! What a whirlwind of a book. I was so well and truly immersed, this book eclipsed my life for a bit. It was the most perfect book to loose yourself into and it was the best companion of an evening, to cosy up with a cup of coffee and ride the waves of the pages. I seriously both loved and adored this book from start to finish and I am so so glad there’s another one to read.
The concept of the story was so clever and entertaining and I loved the game element to it. I was all there for the entire book and not once did it lose my attention. I hated putting it down and looked forward to picking it up again.
The characters were all incredibly strong and brilliant, from Finn the ‘unfortunate’, who finds himself at an incredibly prestigious school on scholarship, to headstrong and sporty Valerie, to the beautiful Everly and finally the factual Edison. All four are flung together into the historical society to compete in a series of trials set throughout history. I mean, what a brilliant idea! The story was so immersive and I honestly couldn’t stop reading.
Greatly written too, it was effortless to read and I’m majorly hyped to go into the next story. So glad I have it lined up so I can launch straight into it, back into the Time Bender for another round. Yes please! I don’t think there’s a single person I wouldn’t recommend this book to. All need to read it and you’ll thank me later!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
The concept of the story was so clever and entertaining and I loved the game element to it. I was all there for the entire book and not once did it lose my attention. I hated putting it down and looked forward to picking it up again.
The characters were all incredibly strong and brilliant, from Finn the ‘unfortunate’, who finds himself at an incredibly prestigious school on scholarship, to headstrong and sporty Valerie, to the beautiful Everly and finally the factual Edison. All four are flung together into the historical society to compete in a series of trials set throughout history. I mean, what a brilliant idea! The story was so immersive and I honestly couldn’t stop reading.
Greatly written too, it was effortless to read and I’m majorly hyped to go into the next story. So glad I have it lined up so I can launch straight into it, back into the Time Bender for another round. Yes please! I don’t think there’s a single person I wouldn’t recommend this book to. All need to read it and you’ll thank me later!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
September 4, 2022
Grief, danger, adventure, budding romance, this book has it all. I can’t begin to explain the depths this book brought out in its characters, and the tears I shed following this journey with them. I have fallen in love with this book and will be going nuts waiting to see what happens in the next. The only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 was due to the portrayal of autism in the book. As an autistic individual, high functioning autism doesn’t exist and is simply an inaccurate description. That is not meant as a dig at either author, just to say that autism is indeed a spectrum and some of us excel at things that others struggle with and vice versa.That being said, the book itself was extremely well written and both authors are incredibly talented. I knew within the first couple of chapters that I was hooked and wouldn’t be able to put this book down. The emotional turmoil in this book was palpable in every single chapter. My only other critique would be that (at least in the copy I read) it didn’t exactly explain HOW the first trials results came to be what they were. Overall this was incredibly well thought out and even more well written, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what comes next for these beloved characters.
** I received this book from NetGalley for review. That being said all opinions are my own, and reflect purely how I feel about the book **
** I received this book from NetGalley for review. That being said all opinions are my own, and reflect purely how I feel about the book **
June 14, 2022
This YA sci-fi/time travel was the perfect escape. Who wouldn’t want to be invited to join a time travel school club, even if there’s a bit in the fine print about the dangers involved? The main characters (the outcast, the queen bee, the jock and the nerd) make a believable and likeable team who’s strengths and weaknesses balance each other. I enjoyed the buildup to the time trials as I got to learn a bit more about the characters. The actual trials were a little disappointing in their brevity. I think I would have preferred one trial per book so that I was able to feel immersed in each historical event. Autism seems to be the new default disability but here it’s treated with sensitivity and how the other characters react to it is revealing. This husband and wife writing team has a crisp effortless style. Its great to read a book who’s characters can speak rather than just swear! I can’t wait for the next one! Highly recommend
June 26, 2022
This was an entertaining tale that follows a teen boy displaced by the loss of his family, yet newly accepted into an upper level prep school on a scholarship. He struggles with the sorrow of loss and the struggle to find his place and fit in to this new life. His placement in the Historians Club changes his life even further, and that is where the adventure really begins. He finds friends, rivals and challenges the likes of which he has never before seen. This is a little bit Hunger Games but in a present world that includes high-tech gadgets and time travel. Through the challenges thrown at the club members, he finds his place and learns to face his fears - all while continuing to be true to himself despite the outcome. The character development and the interaction among the group is great, and the adventure will keep you on the edge of your seat! I loved the book and am so glad that it is a series, because I can't wait to see what happens next for this crew!
September 4, 2021
I’m going to try not to give any spoilers away with my this review. This book was quite enjoyable overall. It’s very well written, with well developed characters and interesting situations. As the title implies, time travel is involved, and the book features an interesting and original approach to that concept. At times, I did feel that the authors were trying to tap into some of the whimsy and wonder of Harry Potter, which I thought was unnecessary. The characters and plot they’ve created is compelling enough to stand on its own without any that. I’m very interested to see where the story will to go next and what secrets will be revealed.
I highly recommend it!
I highly recommend it!
August 19, 2022
"The Time Trials" is the first book in a series.
I love time travel books, so I was very excited to be able to read a new one.
The idea is wonderful and the concept of time travel is tied to a new and elaborate system.
Add to that the fact that the whole thing is organized by a secret club that makes time travel a competition that takes teams through different eras.
We follow the main protagonist, Finn, as he arrives at a new school and finds himself in the middle of this adventure.
I liked the concept of time travel, that the past can't be changed. It was something different from most other concepts.
I love time travel books, so I was very excited to be able to read a new one.
The idea is wonderful and the concept of time travel is tied to a new and elaborate system.
Add to that the fact that the whole thing is organized by a secret club that makes time travel a competition that takes teams through different eras.
We follow the main protagonist, Finn, as he arrives at a new school and finds himself in the middle of this adventure.
I liked the concept of time travel, that the past can't be changed. It was something different from most other concepts.
September 22, 2021
A secret club for a time travel competition would have been perfect in my high school days!
The Time Trials is an adventure in time and history, but also in dealing with family trauma, teenage romance and neurodiverse friendship, and I enjoyed every page! What I loved most is how history is shown in all its gritty and sometimes cruel reality and not through nostalgic rosy glasses. There are 4 main characters who are relatable and grow throughout the book as they learn from each other and from their challenges, and an absolutely adorable robot (hi SCRAP!). I can't wait for the sequel :)
The Time Trials is an adventure in time and history, but also in dealing with family trauma, teenage romance and neurodiverse friendship, and I enjoyed every page! What I loved most is how history is shown in all its gritty and sometimes cruel reality and not through nostalgic rosy glasses. There are 4 main characters who are relatable and grow throughout the book as they learn from each other and from their challenges, and an absolutely adorable robot (hi SCRAP!). I can't wait for the sequel :)
September 24, 2021
I am writing this with out spoilers. I was read this book in advance reader copy, my first ARC. WOW. Although I haven't read a lot of YA novels, or sci-fi, but this one blew me away. Young adults are a shoo in, as well as adults and even 12 above years range. If you are a fan of Rowling, Collins, Roth, Lewis, and Handler this is not that...but the writing, characters, story, and theme are 5 star quality. As a person who writes film, I could see this becoming the next big family franchise hit on screen.
July 24, 2022
The author was very clear about making responsible and honorable decisions. They delivered lessons on learning about another person verses following the iconic theme of sport star, popular leader, misfit and autistic ‘weirdo’. It is a great book for middle school students and students of all ages to question what it means to be loyal, kind, and forgiving. The book is an exciting adventure into history and time travel. The technology of the Time Keepers is a question left to learn so the follow up book(s) will have students continuing to read.
September 3, 2022
The Hunger Games meets Doctor Who.
I really enjoyed this book, the concept itself was amazing. I love that the teams were able to travel through time without permanently disrupting the events of the past. All of the technology was so cool as well, I especially like SCRAP.
The concept of found family was strong in this book and I really loved how the dynamic and bond between Finn, Everly, Valerie, and Edison developed. They make a lovely group.
I'm very excited to see how this world develops in the second book.
I really enjoyed this book, the concept itself was amazing. I love that the teams were able to travel through time without permanently disrupting the events of the past. All of the technology was so cool as well, I especially like SCRAP.
The concept of found family was strong in this book and I really loved how the dynamic and bond between Finn, Everly, Valerie, and Edison developed. They make a lovely group.
I'm very excited to see how this world develops in the second book.
July 15, 2022
This was a very unique story. I didn’t know what to expect when I began to read this book. But it ended up being a very unique adventurous story. As soon as I started it, I was hooked. Now I can’t wait to start book two. I fell in love with all the main characters and can’t wait to see what happens next. I very highly recommend reading this book. It was different and refreshing. Absolutely loved it.
August 23, 2022
This for both The Time Trials and The Fifth Timekeeper:
This is a solid set of sci-fi books that tell a compelling story with lots of great element, including time-travel, some danger, action, friendships, good pacing, and some love. It's clearly a YA novel, but may appeal to an older crowd. Hopefully this will find a large audience.
I really appreciate the free ARCs for review!!
This is a solid set of sci-fi books that tell a compelling story with lots of great element, including time-travel, some danger, action, friendships, good pacing, and some love. It's clearly a YA novel, but may appeal to an older crowd. Hopefully this will find a large audience.
I really appreciate the free ARCs for review!!
July 4, 2022
A promising start. Time travel for four teens. Great character development. Lots of action. Ready to read the next one! Thanks #netgalley and #TinyFoxPress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
July 23, 2022
Interesting concept well written and exciting to read. So says my teenage Grandaughter. We both read this book and although it was squarely marketed to a teenage YA market , there was still much of interest for the older reader.
June 26, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this work for an honest evaluation of its merits. I liked this title more than I thought I would. Think Hunger Games for history lovers. I also enjoyed the conflict between the gamemakers and the participants. I am eager to read the next book.
July 2, 2022
Thank you to Tiny Fox Press, and NetGalley for the free book in return for my honest review.
The Time Trials was a super strong first book! The characters were well thought out, and likeable. There are 4 main characters that you meet and an adorable robot named Scrap. I loved the premise because, time travel? Yes please!
As we jump through time with the characters they encounter the history of the time as well. The history aspect was very well done, and not just brushed over.
The trials were so immersive and I could not put the book down!
As someone who has worked with the nuerodivergent community, representation is so important. To read about someone like you and feel like you might not be alone in the world is really awesome. Thank you to the authors for not just writing about able bodied/non neurodivergent people.
I can't wait to dive into the 2nd book!
The Time Trials was a super strong first book! The characters were well thought out, and likeable. There are 4 main characters that you meet and an adorable robot named Scrap. I loved the premise because, time travel? Yes please!
As we jump through time with the characters they encounter the history of the time as well. The history aspect was very well done, and not just brushed over.
The trials were so immersive and I could not put the book down!
As someone who has worked with the nuerodivergent community, representation is so important. To read about someone like you and feel like you might not be alone in the world is really awesome. Thank you to the authors for not just writing about able bodied/non neurodivergent people.
I can't wait to dive into the 2nd book!
July 20, 2021
“The past is stealing your present, and if you’re not careful it’ll steal your future, too.”
I’ve always been fascinated by books about time travel and intrigued by books about boarding schools, so I was excited for the opportunity to read this YA sci fi novel that combines the two. The story centers on Finn, a high school student who finds himself ostracized as a charity case at a swanky boarding school. When he joins the Young Historians club it’s not the academic exercise he expected, but rather a cut-throat competition involving time travel and serious risk. Finn and his teammates work together to survive the challenges, learning about history but also, and perhaps more importantly, about themselves.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing is crisp and effortless. The characters are likable with believable motivation for their actions. There is a nice balance between strong male and female characters who have mutual respect for each other. One of the main characters has autism and while this is integral to the plot, the character is written compassionately and not caricatured. This book has a hint of The Hunger Games vibes, but overall is a story all its own.
This is the first in the Time Trials series by the husband/wife pair and I am already waiting impatiently to read the next installment.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the authors in exchange for a honest review.
I’ve always been fascinated by books about time travel and intrigued by books about boarding schools, so I was excited for the opportunity to read this YA sci fi novel that combines the two. The story centers on Finn, a high school student who finds himself ostracized as a charity case at a swanky boarding school. When he joins the Young Historians club it’s not the academic exercise he expected, but rather a cut-throat competition involving time travel and serious risk. Finn and his teammates work together to survive the challenges, learning about history but also, and perhaps more importantly, about themselves.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing is crisp and effortless. The characters are likable with believable motivation for their actions. There is a nice balance between strong male and female characters who have mutual respect for each other. One of the main characters has autism and while this is integral to the plot, the character is written compassionately and not caricatured. This book has a hint of The Hunger Games vibes, but overall is a story all its own.
This is the first in the Time Trials series by the husband/wife pair and I am already waiting impatiently to read the next installment.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the authors in exchange for a honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews