Bell, Book, and Key

Chronos Origins #3

by Rysa Walker

With a madman in control of the timeline, one wrong move could be the last for time travelers intent on stopping him in this mind-bending novel by the bestselling author of the CHRONOS series.

CHRONOS historians Madi, Tyson, and Katherine and their cohorts are on the enemy’s trail, fixing the mess that sociopath Saul Rand has made of history—and of the Temporal Dilemma rules. Another time shift is on the horizon, and this time, it’s one that reflects Saul’s twisted vision.

When the shift hits, it plunges the United States into a modern dark age where superstition trumps science and seventeenth-century witch hunts are no longer a thing of the past. But Saul has added a new hurdle to this insane reality: he’s hunting the Sisters of Prudence.

Clones of Katherine’s daughter, the Sisters are pawns to be sacrificed on Saul’s time chessboard—unless the team can track him down at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and erase him first. Saul is calling the shots, so he’s ahead of them every step of the way. With the clock ticking, this could be the endgame for CHRONOS and, if they fail, for reality itself.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction, Ebooks, Alternate History

559 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2021

About the author

RYSA WALKER is the author of the bestselling CHRONOS Files series. Timebound, the first book in the series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The CHRONOS Files has sold nearly half a million copies since 2013 and has been translated into fourteen languages.

In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.

Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.

If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.

For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just as well this is the last in the series, because it's started to lose me. (Don't start here, by the way. It continues straight on from the previous book without any recap or orientation for the reader. I read the previous book about a year ago, and didn't remember it well enough to avoid being disoriented at times.)

The genetic science has always been nonsense, and the different first-person narrators still all sound identical, so I frequently have to flip back to the start of the chapter to remind myself who the current "I" is. I've mentioned both of those things in reviews of earlier books. But in this one, the always-obviously-hokey manufactured religion - neither as well-organized as Scientology nor as thoroughly constructed as Mormonism - is far more successful than either, gaining what you might call market dominance in a theocratic USA. I found it implausible on multiple levels that, even with a secret Book of Prophecy capable of enriching people via stock tips and sports betting advice from a time traveler, this jumbled mishmash of bits cribbed from existing religions, vague self-help philosophy, and Ayn Rand-style Objectivist selfishness would take over so thoroughly. Not only is the secular impulse in the US extremely strong, despite the continued strength of civil religion there, but people with an existing religious tradition - Catholics, say, or Mormons - often have that as a powerful part of their identity, so it isn't just a religion but more like an ethnicity, and they'd be unlikely to give it up for something as nonsensical as the Cyrist religion. (Nor have I ever found it plausible that Cyrism could arise in the Middle Ages without being suppressed; this is something that's only ever touched on lightly, no doubt because to write the Cyrist scripture in authentic medieval language is something beyond the ability of either the fictional founder or the actual author.)

The whole thing reads to me as the work of someone who doesn't actually understand religion, or religious people, very well at all, writing for other people who don't understand religion either and using it as a bogeyman. Even when civil religion was a lot stronger than it currently is, a truly theocratic USA was never realistically on the cards; the whole structure of the government is set up to prevent it, and as we've recently seen, is surprisingly successful at preventing dictatorship and the complete dominance of any one viewpoint.

Even setting all of that aside, the way the timeline changes worked was deeply confusing and, I suspect, not entirely consistent. For example, killing an older version of the antagonist and removing his time-travel device flipped back all the changes that he had made prior to that, which didn't seem to happen with other people and hadn't been adequately foreshadowed as a likely outcome. Earlier books have been complex, but I've followed them fairly easily; this one feels a lot more jumbled and confusing.

I'll close by mentioning the things that did work for me. As previously, the text is well edited, and even in the pre-publication version I had from Netgalley I only noticed a couple of small errors. (Probably because it's had a great many eyes over it, judging from the acknowledgements.) Also as in previous books, the history is well researched without beating the reader over the head with the research bat. It is pretty obvious which characters are real historical characters and which are fictional; the real characters are mostly seen at a distance, whereas the fictional ones get closeups and dialog. But there is an authentic sense of history, of the difference between historical periods, and that's a definite strength of this series and this author overall.

Disappointing, then, that there were a couple of things that didn't work so well for me, and (combined with the weaknesses I've been noting all along) dragged my rating down to three stars.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to 47North and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I've been reading the books in this series since I first discovered Timebound, maybe 7 years ago? I've loved them ever since. I'm not sure if Rysa Walker has plans to continue on in this universe, but I secretly hope that the answer is yes! I enjoyed the CHRONOS Files books so much, but the first CHRONOS Origins book had me HOOKED. I enjoyed the 2nd book just a little bit less than that (see my review on it for reasons why) and now, here we are, at the end of this trilogy as well.

While I again did not love it as much as the first book in the trilogy, I still enjoyed the characters so much. There was both heartbreaking and heartfelt moments, and I've been with them long enough that I felt all of those emotions. In the spirit of honesty, though, this book and the previous one made me feel like that meme of the person with all the mathematical equations flying over their head as they try to figure out what's going on. The timeline was just so CONFUSING. And I think it's supposed to be, but I honestly hit a point where I stopped trying to get events straight and I just kept reading to find out what was going to happen next. I honestly still don't think I could tell you what prompted a lot of the events of this book, just because I was so confused through a lot of it.

Time travel is confusing though, so I don't think it truly impacted my enjoyment of the story, and I loved the ending of this. Seeing characters from the CHRONOS Files books was a nice little bonus, too. I gave this a four out of five stars and I'm looking forward to more of the books that this author hopefully will write about this world.

[Tony Drummond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having enjoyed the previous books in the series, I was really looking forward to this concluding novel. When you have a narrative that covers time travel and multiverses, you have to accept that there will be moments when things get confusing and you just have to go with the flow.

The problem with this novel is that the author seems to have made this as confusing and at times impenetrable as possible. Almost all of the characters are brought back (including their multiverse versions) plus many subplots from the previous books. Reading these books back to back may help but for most of the book I had to try and remember who was who and what they did in other books. Each chapter is from different character's perspectives just to keep readers on their toes. I had a sense this was just too much and was overstuffed with different people and places.

My experience of this book was spending most of it not fully understanding what was happening and so when there were cliff hangers and moments of suspense they lost their impact. This was a book finished more by determination than enjoyment.

[Tonja Condray Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiernan Dunne will ALWAYS be my favorite…

It’s so hard to say goodbye! My Hubby Ken and I have read the books between reading others, him working as an IT tech, and me writing Fantasy, composing and recording songs, and trying to keep laundry done! One of the things I LOVE about how a time traveling ability can help you visit those long gone over and over again. I lost my first Eirinth artist in May 2021 that worked with me for 12 years on my project, and then lost my friend of 36 years in September who was my record producer, male vocalist, and musician for all of my songs. If I could use a time amulet to see them again I would! Not to change things as I know that is dangerous, but to hug them and tell them all the things we missed sharing. This series is complex and amazing! I don’t like the bad words 😝 but the characters live in my heart now just like my own characters do too. I hope they get along or a splinter universe might show up! 😉 THANKS for the great JUMPS! “May Tenrai Daystar shine down on you with blessings beyond sublime dreams!” Eirinth Blessing by Tonja Condray Klein(c)2009 at eirinth.com 🥰

[Lilifane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the Chronos Origins trilogy, but I still think the first series is much better.

That being said, I really liked that these new books featured older characters that were not teenager. It's what I'm actually looking for in books these days, characters in their 20s/30s being friends and going on adventures together. So, I'm really glad I read this trilogy.
I just wish - and I can't believe I'm writing this - there was a little less timey wimey mess and a little more character bonding and development. It was only in this last book that I finally got attached to all these characters, and I just wish I had these feelings in the earlier books already.

The plot of this last book felt more logical to me. Most of the issues I had with the previous book, were resolved early on here. I understood the game, and motivations as well as revelations the characters had, were easier to follow. Plus, the historical events appealed more to me. Unfortunately, towards the end another timeline layer was added and again, this was a little too much for me.

I'm satisfied with the ending, though.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bell, Book, and Key is the finale of the Chronos Origins series and ties up the story of Madi, Tyson, Katherine, and the rest of the team and their attempts to reverse the destruction Saul Rand has wrought on the timeline. This book is the third in the series and it is absolutely necessary to read at least the first two books in the series at minimum before reading this book. I would recommend reading all of the books in the Chronos Files series (which begins with Timebound) first, as well to have a full understanding and enjoyment of Bell, Book, and Key.

Rysa Walker is one of my favorite authors and I have loved every moment of each of the Chronos Origins and Chronos Files books. They do get to be a bit disorienting in places because of the multiverse and different timelines, but they are still excellent books. I was disappointed that this was the last in the series and I hope she'll continued to write in the Chronos universe.

[Suz Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. What a convoluted mess. It’s hard to believe anyone could follow the twisted path of these time travelers as they try to undo a huge mess made by the sociopath Saul Rand.

Too many timelines, too many characters, too much to keep track of. Too many twists too late in the book.

Maybe by reading the book quickly one can follow it. I listened to the audiobook while eating and cleaning and I lost all sense of what was going on. I skipped the last few chapters and jumped to the end to see what happened.

[Alecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the level of detail that went into this book. From a technical perspective, the author wrote about the intricacies of time travel and the multiverse with no obvious loopholes which is a hard feat! For the most part, the characters are clearly drawn and engaging (other than my least favorite, Katherine *eye roll*). However, even with all that going for it this turned into a bit of a slog. The constant boomeranging around the timeline was exhausting. Over the course of the trilogy, the Chronos team has been run ragged. I liked the first book because the bulk of the action took place in the 1960s, and we spent a lot of time in those places. They connected with the "locals" and so the stakes felt more real. In addition, they have to make a fairly big change- stopping the assassinations of historical figures who either shouldn't have died, or died too early.

Starting in book two and continuing in book three, we're dealing with minute changes to a fictional timeline. That automatically gave me a hard time, because they were no longer trying to save or influence actual historical figures. Then we're introduced a slew of new characters across multiple realities. The biggest timeline changes involve deaths of the core group (which are soon reversed, undermining their narrative weight) and the timeline changes they did make are taken back to back and so quickly, that you don't have time to soak in why they were even important. The third book felt like playing a video game made up solely of side quests, until all of a sudden you get confronted by the big boss, who you're shockingly able to defeat on the first try.

It wasn't horrible, far from it. I was more disappointed because the first book in the series was so good and I could see the potential here! There's an open ended conclusion, so undoubtedly there's another series to come. 50/50 odds on whether I pick it up or not.

[Anna Beste · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the time tourists gone, it is time for Saul to start his own game but there is a new twist. This round is an I break, you fix. The game that is usually played when drunk or high, where planning and a determined outcome doesn't exist. But it is a very different game when played with the real world instead of a computer program. While the story was entertaining and interesting, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. It felt too clean and simple, yes there were plenty of challenges but it wrapped up too quickly. Things didn't get back to the original timeline but this frog-tongue universe seemed too easily attained by one action. I'm not sure how else it should have ended, it made sense to conclude the trilogy this way, I just feel like there was so much build up for an anticlimactic ending. I do hope there is a series about Tyson and Clio's future adventures in the past and in other worlds.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rysa does it again! Only in a time travel series, can you have a book that is both a prequel and a sequel simultaneously, while focusing on the same core characters in a story that spans just a few waking days while also spanning centuries. It's almost impossible to discuss what transpires in this third volume without giving away any key plot points, but it was masterfully written and delightfully mind-bending. I have loved the Chronos universe since the first book, and this one was no exception.

Finishing this book was bittersweet, as it always is to finish the last book in one of Rysa's series. I love knowing what happened, but am always left yearning for more time with the captivating characters. I sensed some foreshadowing of future stories in the final pages and I certainly hope they come to be.

[Steve Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bell, Book, and Key, Rysa Walker has pulled out all of the stops in this- literally- race against time to try to restore what Saul Rand has set asunder.
Rysa Walker wraps up her CHRONOS Origins series with this spell-binding story in which anyone can be sacrificed for Saul’s perverted plans with strict guidelines imposed upon the opposing team (the good guys) as to how they can countermove.
With some shocking twists and unexpected help from late arriving allies, elaborate and desperate plans are made to undo the damage inflicted on this timeline that they find themselves in. Will they succeed, and at what cost?
No spoilers here. Get this book to find out the thrilling conclusion to this series.
Bell, Book, and Key will hold a highly prized place in my library.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the Chronos series since the first book Timebound was released in 2012. It is hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years and that the series is coming to an end. While the Chronos Origins trilogy stands on its own, I highly recommend starting with the Chronos Files series for a full understanding of what the crew in the Chronos Origins series are trying to fix. The characters in these books are well written and after awhile start feeling like family. The time travel concepts and time lines can sometimes make your head spin so be prepared to think a bit while traveling through our history, as well as a few alternate history, and future time lines.

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love the chronos series and this book was no exception. My only issue was keeping tracks of the timelines. By the time I read this book I had no hemorrhoid what the original timeline was or what year it was originally set in. I would have loved a bit at the beginning giving a brief synopsis of what happened in each timeline, including the original trilogy. On the other hand it mAkes me want to a re-read everything chronos related again.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rysa Walker completes her tale of Chronos Origins with complications of Bell, Book, and Key (paper from 47North). Saul Rand thinks he is playing a game of Temporal Dilemma that has messed up the time line. CHRONOS historians Madi, Tyson, and Katherine are just trying to restore the timeline that has turned dark with witch hunts in the nineteenth century and during the Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1969. I found this a bit dry and the ending a mere whimper. Fans of the series will still enjoy it.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press

[Ashley Runnels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hm. I read all three Chronos Origins books. I’m giving them all four stars. Parts of each book are really good, but some parts drag on and can be very confusing. I read a lot of sci-fi, including time travel books, but this series can be difficult to follow. I liked the characters. The ending was a bit blah. I’m glad we know where they all ended up- but the end of the game or non-game was rushed. It just felt like I did a lot of reading of less consequential things in the books to get to a pretty fast and in-descriptive ending.

[Leah Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this series. Walker is a genius!

I'll list the trigger warnings I noticed below. There may be more. In terms of content, it's on par with the rest of the series.

TW: mild blood, mild violence, implied child abuse, captivity, psychological domestic abuse, reference to domestic violence, discovery of an affair, mild body horror, racism, sexism, brief reference to animal death (off-screen, nongraphic), child death (off-screen), depiction of a cult, deaths of loved ones, depiction of serious injury including burns, gun violence

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a fan of this whole universe. The details are amazingly, intricate but never confusing. The characters are lovely and dialogue is always so good. I wonderful wrap up with nothing left hanging. I would say you minimally need to read the origin series in order, but really, best read from start to finish. All 9 books in the order written to get the best out of it.

Full disclosure- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to finish reading this to complete the series. But, it was more than a little crazy and difficult to follow. Turning Saul into a moustache-twirling villain didn't help matters any either. Still, the other characters were still of interest and the basic through-line worth following. I'm not sure Walker really wraps it up neatly enough. Perhaps, she wanted to leave room for future adventures in the Chronos universe(s).

[Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to the series. Most time-travel-stories give me a headache, but the CHRONOS books are an exception. I like the switching POVs and how each character has their own unique flaws and ideas about what the outcome should be. Though they are on a tight schedule and time flies by, it's not rushed - without losing the sense of urgency and thrill.

[Connie Valkema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah a bit of a letdown for me. This book felt extremely long, probably repetitive and just too confusing to follow. I didn’t really like the made up religion being the main focus of the book along with babies and children being duplicated and used for nefarious purposes. I’m glad I finished the series but at ready for something different.

[Sherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what a ride!

I couldn't read fast enough. Then, I read too fast and now I can't believe it's over. If you have never read any of the Chronos series, I can't explain it. All I can say is read all of Rysa's books. They are truly amazing.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

Excellent wrap up to the series. I Love the way these characters settle into their new existence. I wish the bad guys met more violent ends, but that’s my thirst for revenge.
I totally enjoyed the history included at the end of the book!

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time traveling book really had my head spinning. It was a bit tricky to follow at times, but the story was good and aligned well with the other books in the series. It's interesting to see everything come full circle.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and I’m so sad to see it end. It’s such a complex and interesting idea and the author does a great job. I just found a paperback compilation of the novellas so that will be my next read.

[Christopher J Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written Conclusion

Unlike some authors, rather than repeat sections from the previous books, Walker alludes to scenes that occurred causing the reader to have flashbacks. Thought the climax was under played, but the Epilogue seemed to right the ship. A very good read.

[Dave T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dizzying.

She even added another group of time travellers in this final book which really kept me focused on the details or else I would have gotten seriously lost. Very well written and engaging from the start to the end.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story

What I liked about this book is how the author neatly wrapped up all the books threads up so neatly. Everyone's story is complete. I highly recommend the CHRONOS stories.

[JoLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the Chronose Origins series. I loved diving back into this world this year. It made me want to reread (and rerecommend) the Chronos Files series.

I also love the audio. I'm a big fan of any book narrated by Kate Rudd.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for series fans!

Ties up loose ends and yet doesn't feel like an "ending." Satisfying conclusion yet leaves the reader wanting more. If you enjoy time travel tales and haven't read this series yet, what are you waiting for?

[Jennifer Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

I love reading her chronos series books. They are a good read, and the time travel is cool. I'm curious how the timelines travel will work