The Tempered Turns of Time

The King's Swordsman #4

by Becky James

Time cannot be turned back. Choices made cannot be undone.

With Aubin missing, Thorrn and Evyn must draw heavily on each other as Gavain returns to Oberrot City and is put on trial for his actions in Dinahe.

Meanwhile, the country of Skien stirs with unrest, preparing to force citizens who can use magic out to the surrounding countries. The Rangers are needed to help as many refugees as possible but, even though they are apart, they seem to be working together.

Worlds collide once more when the alts come for their help - Evie is missing, and Liara is suspected to be at the heart of it. But suspicions against the alts are mounting up; is someone shaping the turns of time for their own ends?

“You cannot change the flow of time. But I can.”


“This author has a gift of making her readers live her tales alongside her characters!” - The Magic Book Corner, The Bind of Blood and Bonds

“An action-packed adventure… The storyline is ambitious in its scope and really is one for fans of fantasy and science fiction.” - LoveBooks, The Tenets in the Tattoos 'Indie Books We Love.'

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2022

About the author

Becky has been writing stories since she first learned to put pen to paper. Creating and exploring new worlds is fun, and having them read by others is the best experience ever. Loves coffee, cross-stitch and finding new creative ways to use and abuse words. Constantly cold hands - must have a warm heart!

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

'People are capable of great good or great evil, depending on what drives them. They are also capable of change.'

And this is exactly what this instalment of The King's Swordsman is about. Change. Changes in the characters' mindset, changes in their behaviour, changes in relationships, changes in time...
Change on the heels of previous events when characters were broken and reforged, some for the better, others for the... not so good?

I loved the first book in this series and practically fell in love with it's characters by book 2. Book 3 raised the bar even higher and had me set it among my all-time favourites. So this book 4 had quite the pace to keep. Did it uphold all my expectations? You betcha!



The characters are, once again, fabulous. And I have to give it to this author. She sure as hell knows how to write them in such a way that they get under your skin. From strengths and weaknesses to feelings and everything else, they are all wonderfully made up.

The most annoying swordsman ever is not quite so annoying anymore. In fact, he's become quite the caring, kind and forgiving big klutz you can't help but wanna hug. You can't shoulder the blame for everyone else boy! That's what I felt like shouting at him more than once in a while.

Aubin had me understand and feel his sorrow, though I swear I still wanted to smack him upside his head while muttering a heartfelt 'idjit'.



And then there were Evyn and Tuniel!

'It is the quiet ones that bear watching.'

These two quiet ladies were the highlight of the tale for me. They both changed so much and come such a long way! Especially the Master Mage under whose frosty appearance hides so much feeling waiting to be shared.

As far as side cast goes, I thoroughly enjoyed the new additions and their dynamic with the old gang had me cracking up at times. They are downright fabulous!

As far as the plot is concerned, the story picks up straight on the heels of the previous book. The pace is a little slow in the first 40%, but picks up with a vengeance in the second half and shit hits the fan yet again, in the most unexpected manner. And then that twist at the end... Well I'll be!! Can I get book 5 like RIGHT NOW please!!

The wordbuilding is nicely expanded, including time travel and portals. And whatever confusion readers might have had due to the alternate versions is fully cleared by now.

And the tale itself... it was, as expected from this writer, simply chef's kiss! I teared up and smiled and even laughed out loud. And I did bite my nails too, while frantically turning page after page because I NEEDED to know what's next.

I said it before and will say it again! The King's Swordsman is a series no fantasy fan should miss. And each book is better than the other.
From plot to character development, setting and narrative, everything is somehow upped a notch with every single book.
Then we have that great combination between a solid plot and a downright fabulous character development, as well as an absolutely beautiful narrative - excellently done.
And don't even let me get started on the feeling seeping from the pages. First class all the way!



It's rare to find a tale that gets you so invested in the fate of a character that you sigh and practically want to give them hug, get irritated and want to smack someone, or cheer them up at times, generally hanging onto every word and keeping your fingers crossed all will go down well.
This here is one of them.

The King's Swordsman Series is an epic wonderful tale of bravery and self-discovery, with rich worldbuilding and an enchanting prose, a solid plot full of twists you don’t see coming, starring great three-dimensional characters that leap from the page, and complete with all the feels.
A tale to fall in love with. One that will make you want to be a better person yourself.

It's smart and deeply layered fantasy for readers who enjoy a deep dive into the human psyche with the whole bundle of feelings that entails.
A unique sword and sorcery, portal and multiverse fantasy written by a new distinctive voice in the genre.
Ingenious. Imaginative. Insightful.

I sure as hell hope you'll decide to give it a try because it is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

Find this review and more over on my fantasy and romance blog The Magic Book Corner

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love can be like that. It is giving power over someone else to say, here, you have the potential to hurt or lift me."

Once again thank you Becky for allowing me to read and review your book.
Short review with no spoilers because some of you still are sleeping on this series and it shows 😌
I think tempered is one of the books that hurt me the most in this series. And why? Because it made me realize how many times I wanted to change events so I could eliminate people from my life because that way it would be easier to live. I'm always thinking about why I didn't do things differently back in the day and that doesn't bring me anything positive. So yes, this book is powerful.
More new characters on this one! And I love them so much. The new dynamic they bring to the gang is so cool.
I hated Aubin a lot but then my heart understood everything.

Anyway, this one is coming soon, you still have time to start this series before the release 😊

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book really focuses on self realisation! Each of the many characters unravelled, just like an onion, even making me tear up in places. This book picks up pretty much after the last one. Thorrn has still not earned the respect of the Special Forces, his insecurities are churning around his head, but he dogidly keeps at it, knowing they barely listen to him, although he is a Ranger. Thorrn's feelings towards Aleric and Garvain are full of doubt, he feels betrayed by both, yet keeps musing on their prior relationship. It felt very real to me, nothing is black and white, motives are complex in real life too. I love Evyn, she's come a long way from the timid little girl she was, I love how sensible she is, how she embraces the soul bond. She's super supportive of Thorrn, who feels that he is to blame for everything that goes wrong! Geez Thorrn, you can't take the blame for other's!!! Thorrn has, for want of a better word, evolved, from almost coming across as a spoilt, egotistical person, he's actually kind, caring, fiercely loyal and even though his friends have wronged him big time, he still harbours them no ill. I found the scenes with Garvain quite poignant. Tuniel, now there's a complex character! Her love for Thorrn is obvious, yet constrained, she is Master Mage after all, can't wear ones emotions on ones sleeve, no siree! The relationship between them is really beautiful. If only the entire world had a leader like Gouch, we'd have balance, fairness and wisdom. He's a terrific character! So many challenges face our heros, there's a new surge to purge magic (hehehe, see what I did there??) Aubin is still on a sabbatical, they need to find him urgently, not only because Evyn is pining for him but the Alta-ego Evyn is missing....I love how different the alts are, just goes to show, a different upbringing, a different time, a different Realm and voila, different characters! But when their realty or timeline is changed, the ensuing drama is fabulous! Don't know if I would change timelines though, you know the saying, "rather the devil you know...." Aubin was irritating me a bit with his woe is me attitude, but Becky spun it around so masterfully, I forgave him when it came out why he behaves as he did. But the twist at the very end, well blow me over with a feather!!! So unexpected, so tantalising I now am impatiently waiting for the next book!

[Shia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this one is again focusing on self-reflection and recognizing yourself for all you’re worth - the good, the bad, and especially using that *time* (another big reason I loved this one too) to change for the better. Time cannot be returned, so what will you do with the little time we have here??

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tempered Turns of Time seamlessly picks up where the previous book ended: Aubin is gone and the bonds between our main characters are tested once again. Every one of them is wondering if they are the reason for his departure and what to do about it. Even though the story is still told from Thorrn’s point of view, Aubin is the actual main character in this book.

And while Aubin is gone, Gavain is back. And that brings quite another emotional rollercoaster ride for our characters. Throughout the book you can see the changes Thorrn has gone through: From self-centered and cocky swordsman to caring and thoughtful friend, soulmate, lover, ranger/soldier, retainer, comrade,… who is now able to scrutinize his actions and reasoning and realize possible mistakes. The development, the growth of him, Evyn, Aubin and Tuniel and their relationship is what makes this series so special for me. Found family indeed.

But there is so much more: The alts (alternative versions) are back again and need help from Thorrn, Evyn and Aubin to rescue their Evyn/Evie. So there is another incentive for the remaining trio to find Aubin. He was last seen in Skien, yet another travel Becky James takes us on. It’s a Norse-inspired, matriarchal country, that is my favorite so far. The group travels in company and we get two wonderful new side characters that were a very welcome addition.

The book starts off a little slow, but picks up the pace a little later. The writing is smooth and seems to get even better with each book, just like the plot and setting. But like I mentioned above: It’s the character development and the feelings that makes this series so special for me. And four books in we seem to come to the core of the story. Maybe…

Once again: Tip to the ht to Becky James! And please keep’em coming!

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent conclusion to this story arc! I absolutely loved every moment of this fascinatingly twisty novel where the author manages to perfectly integrate a pre-industrial fantasy world as a parallel to the Earth of our time, where portals between the two are possible, and spread that into a multiverse of alternate histories with different outcomes in each timeline that added a level of fascinating complexity that totally delighted me.

I'm so pleased at how far Thorrn has come. While he started out as a total ass, the unfolding series of events has truly forced him to grow and he definitely grew on me. The version of this character he became through this book is a wonderful and supportive friend, whose openness and honest desire to do better was a beautiful heartwarming reminder. His "fated-friends" interactions with Evyn were wonderful, really bringing in those kindred spirit vibes that made me all happy and fuzzy inside.

Aubin was really struggling by the end of the previous volume in the series, and not having him around for the first half of this book was hard, since I always appreciated his character. And then, once the gang was back together again, I couldn't believe where things went and what Aubin wanted! Thankfully, experience is the best teacher, so with all the insane things happening in this book, Aubin makes better choices. Phew! I'll definitely admit the author had me very, very worried for a time.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how beautifully James brings in the problem with emotional burn-out in the medical profession. It's definitely a problem we all see and often complain about because of bad experiences without having the empathy to see that it is a sign of overstretching that our medical caretakers are pretty much forced into with how our health care systems function. The way the question was handled in this book brings in a broader perspective I found insightful, and I appreciate that.

I'm glad I finally got to finish the series (although there is a hint at more I'd be deligthed to read), since I've been meaning to get to this book for months! I was also pleasantly surprised at how quickly everything came back to me despite the long break I took between books. That's always a great sign it's a fabulous story because when I'm absolutely invested, everything about it lingers in my mind, and even though this story arc is now completed, I know Thorrn, Evyn, and Aubin will be with me wherever I go because they have become dear friends over the course of this fabulous series.

If you enjoy stories with high stakes, unexpected twists, and that put all the tropes on their heads, then you'll find a band of book-friends to root for and love (and possibly shout obscenities at for stupid choices). I certainly did.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series feels like home to me; I may move around exploring different places but every time I come back, it's the same sense of belonging. I've returned after more than a year, but I still connect with the world and the characters. Before I started reading it, the author asked me if I'd like a recap on whatever has happened so far, but I refused because there's no way I'd forget anything about it.

Coming to the story, it's the 4th book in the series and while it has comparatively less action than the previous books, it was a very important one due to its focus on mental health, difficult conversations, understanding and helping your loved ones just by being there for them; but the one I liked the most was forgiving others and ourselves. It dissected each and every relationship, exposed its flaws and forced the characters to work on their shortcomings to improve themselves.

The plot was complex with time travel and world hopping. It could have easily been confusing, but the author did a wonderful job in explaining every detail. The occasional banter was entertaining as well.

Now my favourite part of the book - the characters; they were well developed and easy to relate to because they're so much like us. My favourite has always been Aubin but as God and Becky are my witnesses, I really wanted to hit him while reading this book. But then again, Becky spins magic through her words and by the end of the book, I was back to loving him.

I'm so glad I picked this book up during my short vacation as I didn't have to take too many pauses and suffer due to the suspense.

Overall, it's a fantastic read with many twists and turns and it's adventurous. Readers who enjoy portal fantasy, a little bit of time travel, found-family tropes should pick this up.

[Cristen Cagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this next installment in Thorrn and Evyn's journey. There's a lot of work on understanding themselves and each other, added to by the looming threat of portals into new universes. The addition of time travel potential was handled quite well and I liked that the alt versions of our mains received nick-names of their own to assist with identifying who is who throughout the story.

The main reason this is a 4 rather than 5 star read is because the pacing felt slower to me than the other books. After books 2 and 3, I was ready for lots of action again. Tempered still includes a hefty dose of action but with the focus on self reflection and communication, the pace did slow for me. That and there were a few paces where some dialogue felt a tad off for the characters but this is also me being nit picky because I still read the book pretty quick (around 2 weeks right at the beginning of returning to teaching for the school year!)

Thanks Becky for allowing me to read early copies of your books and I'm excited to see where Thorrn, Evyn, and Aubin's journeys take them in the next installment!

[Trisha Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying and much-needed continuation of Thorrn and Evyn's journey. The book's strength lies in its deep focus on the characters' self-reflection and their communication with each other. I also really enjoyed the addition of new universes and time travel, which was handled quite well, and the clever use of nicknames for the alternate versions of the mains helped keep the story clear.
While I enjoyed the deeper character work, the pacing felt slower to me than in the previous books. After the high action of the last two installments, I was ready for more of a fast-paced ride. Despite this, the book still delivered a hefty dose of action, and it was a great read overall!

[Marena · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Aubin still missing and Gavain coming back Thorrn and Evyn are going through a stressful time.

There is trouble in Skien with the magic users being rounded up and pushed out of their homes to become refugees.

The alts show up missing Evie and need Thorrn, Evyn, and Aubin to find her. That's if they can find Aubin who is in Skien helping the refugees and convince him to help.

A story of love, friendship, acceptance, and mostly self-forgiveness. Love all of these characters and their flaws.

Now forward onto The Mettle of The Master Mage.

[Nicole Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we are again with my favorite group that works together in the oddest ways. Action, Matriarchs, Battlemistresses, Magic, Time Travelers, Timeline issues, Love, Endurance, and so much more. I definitely resonate with the Lonely Man and I love every minute of how this story played out. I am not prepared to wait for the next installment. I absolutely thought this was an ending book as I read the omnibus….But wait there will be more!! Impatiently waiting over here!!

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again, Becky has taken my favorite characters and put them through some of the worst things. While this book wasn't the darkest or goriest, it still had my emotions all over the place. I think this may be my favorite book so far in this series! My heard bled for Aubin, but as always, Becky made the ending totally perfect and absolutely worth everything they went through. I cannot wait for the next book!!

[Jennifer Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

This series is a wonderful work of literature. I love how easily the characters flow and work so well together. The explanation of each version of themselves is amazing.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to plot-twist finish.

The characters have become friends, their world is fascinating, the plot is solid, the writing is smooth … all of that makes me smile. I kept looking down at my page count as I neared the end, wishing it would somehow reverse. I really didn’t want to leave these people.

I will have to wait for the other 4 books in the series. The silver lining with no sadness to that is I’ll have read these again.

To Becky: you’ve got magic ink in your pen, dear lady. May it always flow smoothly. Thank you for this book and these characters. I hope they’re keeping you in tea and biscuits well into in your dotage.