Time's Orphan: A Dark, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy Adventure

Odriel's Heirs #3

by Hayley Reese Chow

Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…

Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.

So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, and Emara is thrown far into the past, she must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…

And what she cannot.

Unfortunately, Time Heirs have a history of getting killed, and with Okarria’s future on the line, Emara may have no choice but to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2023

About the author

Hayley Reese Chow is the author of the Odriel's Heirs series (a dark YA epic fantasy) and the Into the Churn series (a romantic YA sci-fi adventure from Whimsical Publishing) with more YA adventures on the way. She’s also the winner of both the 2024 YA IndieReader Discovery Awards and the 2020 YA Florida Author Project.

When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All-American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small book dragons, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.

To see what she's working on next, you can find her at hayleyreesechow.com or on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok @HayleyReeseChow. She's represented by Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary.

Reviews

[Brittanica Bold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thank you to Hayley Reese Chow for reaching out to me and providing me with a copy of this book! The opinions expressed below are voluntary and my own.

What I liked about the book:
1. In book 1, we got our feet wet in the world of Okarria. In book 2, we got to step into the Shadow Plane. In book 3, we got time travel baby!

I absolutely loved how this book brought yet another new “location” into play in the series. I loved figuring out who was who and where certain people would have been at this point in their lives. It brought that same air of mystery Hayley has woven in the other stories, with its own unique twist.

Similar to book 2 and the Shadow Plane scenes, a lot of my favorite scenes happened when Emara was 100 years in the past, so this was a big win for me!

It was especially fun to see how the areas acted before the Lost got really bad and it was still a relatively happy and functioning society; this definitely gave me hope that it could look like that again!

2. I really went into this book thinking that no one could top Aza, and DEFINITELY no one could top Makeo. I’m happy to announce that I was wrong on both fronts!

Emara at her core was a FIGHTER! No, she may not have been exceptionally talented with weapons or her fists, but she NEVER gave up. She was super resilient, was wicked smart, and was all for helping others. Even though she had been told to hide her abilities her whole life, at the first sign that she could help she brought that magic to her fingers and dug in! She also had no qualms about letting herself be captured in order to get closer to the bad guys. She was truly a team player and I loved her.

Speaking of her having to hide her abilities, I loved that she was so different from the other heirs. As someone who had never been told of her true identity and wasn’t trained properly for it, was constantly on the run from battle to battle, and was told to hide her magic growing up, she definitely wasn’t raised like the other heirs. Don’t get me wrong, they all had hard lives, but hers was just a little less cushy and it really made you want her to succeed that much more. In a series full of underdogs and badasses, she had so much to offer the entire group because of her differences! This line in reference to Emara’s thoughts on Aza really showed her difference to me:

This wasn’t just any woman in front of her, this was a legend.

It’s so strange in this world for an heir to think this of another heir; to think them as legendary and above all others. But I loved seeing this small but significant detail with Emara.

I loved her love interest so much for her, always wanting to be near her and seeking her out to take care of her when you can tell no one had really taken care of him. I also adored their back and forth. Their chemistry was so palpable from the beginning that I just kept eating it up page after page.

Jai was everything I thought Klaus was going to be in book 1 and more! He was this little street urchin, pickpocket with a quick mind, delicious smirk, and a deep loyalty for those in his circle.

Shadmundar was so much more caring in this one, really taking the Time Heir under his wing. I loved their connection and how he always had her best interest at heart. I can’t give too much away, but we finally find out why Shadmundar has been around for all these dang heirs and I loved every detail of it!

3. Speaking of Shadmundar, he had a much larger role in this story than the others. I loved how he acted as her historical guide as she came to terms with her identity. A lot of the things that I had questions about and made peace with not knowing in books 1 and 2, he explained to her in this book! We got to know all about why he was turned into a cat, we got to know all about Ivanora’s and Everard’s backstories, and we finally found out who the heck Bellaphia really was.

4. Like all the other books in the series, the action was phenomenally written. BUT, you could also fully see Hayley’s growth as a writer present in this story. From the daunting and dark first 4 novels/novellas, we finally got to see some lightness, some comedy, and some romance that was better written than all the other stories. The lightness and comedy are more than likely attributable to Emara’s personality compared to Kaia’s and Aza’s, but the chemistry between Emara and her love interest was undeniably a level-up compared to the others.

5. By now you know I’m a fan of these gorgeous covers!

6. I loved that we got to see a lot of Aza in this one! I also loved how her life had developed in the last 10 years and getting to be part of that with her ❤

7. We have finally reached the end of the series, but definitely have only scratched the surface of Hayley’s wisdom. Here were some of my favorite lines for this story:

Both sides always lost in war; one just lost more than the other.

—

She’d never let them take her alive, even if it meant making the final cut herself.

—

So many cogs had already been set in motion. And she was only one.

—

Shad: “The world was never perfect. And even if we succeed, it will never be perfect. The only thing we can do is try to make it a little better with the time that we have.”

Emara: “I should’ve-”

Shad: “Don’t second guess the past. The paths are many, but we can never know where any of them lead. Once chosen, we can only go forward. No use carrying the weight of past mistakes when you still have so many to make in the future.”

—

Emara: “There’s…too many. I’m going to lose him!”

Aza: “You are not. You are a Time Heir of legend, gifted with the strength of Odriel himself to heal the injured, strengthen the weak, and be the wall between life and death. To the tireless, he gave the hardest task. To the gentle he gave the most power. That is you, Emara Alik, Ioni Rao, survivor of the blood-soaked west.”

– I loved seeing Aza pay the speech of strength forward!

—

“Secrets weigh lighter when spoken aloud.”

—

“…in matters of the mind I feel a needle may be more helpful than a club.”

What could have been better:
1. NOTHING! It was complete and total perfection!

Final Thoughts: Bottom line, this series is a must read for any fans of YA Fantasy!

Final Rating: 5 beautiful stars

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accepted a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.

I loved this book! Even though it is labeled as the third book in the Odriel's Heirs series, it can be read as a standalone. Good luck just reading this one and being satisfied to leave off there. The day I started this book I think I read about a quarter of it and knew right away that I'd be going back and reading every other book, short short or novella that was related to this series, its characters, and/or its world.

Magic, time travel, a talking cat, found family - need I say more??

A full non spoiler video discussion regarding my experience with TIME'S ORPHAN has been posted on my BookTube Channel!

A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!

Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Amanda L., Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E. & Mel

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic ending to an epic series! I actually finished Time’s Orphan a few days ago, but I needed time to get my thoughts in order. I read this immediately after reading Night of Ash (which is fantastic by the way! OMG super exciting and suspenseful and action packed! And the love story. Ahhh – THE BEST!), and my heart was not prepared for how much I would love Emara’s story.

The story takes place about ten years after the conclusion of Night of Ash and follows a new Heir. I think it’s interesting to have a trilogy with different protagonists and time periods in each book. We read about three different generations of characters over the course of the series, which offers a unique perspective on the characters, plot, and world and makes the series more epic in breadth and scope.

Emara is different from the other Heirs in that she’s been told to hide her gift, and she doesn’t know that she’s an Heir. I love her! She’s so brave and selfless, and from the start even when she didn’t have faith in herself, she was willing to sacrifice everything to save others. I was curious about the Time Heir since they were mentioned in the first book. Emara has incomparable power, and her growth as she learns more about it and herself is fantastic. Uncertainty, fear, and lack of training turn into surety, strength, and confidence as Emara faces the most dangerous threats yet.

Characters in the previous books also have roles in this story, and it was great to see how their lives have changed and progressed. Night of Ash ends at such a climactic and intense level, and I was hoping Aza, Makeo, and others would have roles in Emara’s story. And Shadmandur! Shadmandur has been a snarky, wise, and guarded feline favorite from the first book, and I’m thrilled we get to see so much more of him in this book. His backstory is as captivating as the main plot, and the way all of the characters’ stories twine together, both in the present and in the past, is clever and intricately woven.

Of course, I have to comment on the romance since I live for a swoon-worthy love story. I don’t want to give too much away, but I adored it. They have such fantastic banter, and there are so many moments where I caught myself chuckling at their actions and conversations. It’s not the focus of the story, but it’s a lovely addition.

I feel like I could go on and on talking about the well-paced, intense plot, the unexpected twists and turns, the amazing found family, the villainous and murderous antagonists, the rich writing, and the skillful use of dialogue and imagery. Oh, my gosh, and the epilogue. So satisfying and wonderful. As sad as I am that the series is over, the conclusion was everything I hoped for and more.

Special thanks to Haylee Reese Chow for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Hayley Chow]

Free review copies available in pdf and epub format!🎉 If you'd like one, just drop me a line or snag them at the link below! 🐈‍⬛ ❤️‍🩹 ⌛️
Booksirens: https://booksirens.com/book/F20DRD2/F...

While this book does stand alone, if you want to read the whole series, the reading order is: Odriel’s Heirs, Burning Shadows, Idriel’s Children, Night of Ash, Time’s Orphan.

Update on Hardcover Art:
So I've worked with a couple artists now trying to commission a cover to match the character-art style of the hardcovers from Book 1 & Book 2 but haven't been able to capture the correct vision, so at this point, from a business aspect, I'll unfortunately have to abandon the hardcover version. So sorry to those who were asking for it! Publishing is rough sometimes.😞

[Renae | Redhair_and_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was absolutely the best of the series!! What an adventure! Review to come soon!

Official Review:
When I start writing a review I always ask myself two questions: What did I like/love about the book? And what did I not like or love about the book? Here’s exactly how that went for me:

What did I love? Is “everything” a suitable answer? Because seriously, this one rocked.
What didn’t I love? Hayley kinda played me at the end. That’s literally the only “critique” I have here. And honestly, that is tongue-in-cheek, because I even enjoyed the tears of indignation.

So, if you didn’t gather from that very brief, TL;DR version of things, I LOVED this book. It was my favorite of the series by a landslide. I’m SO glad I’ve stuck with the series, because the book is the crowning jewel in my opinion. I loved all of the protagonists (though I had moments of being annoyed with Chipo, despite her being adorable 98% of the time), adored the way this story tied together several generations of Odriel’s Heirs, and was kept on my toes wondering how things were going to work out until the very end.

True to the world she’s created, Hayley includes gore and rot like no other author I’ve seen, and manages to do so in a way that avoids making me want to vomit (with the exception of Idriel’s rotting mass, because gross). But this book in particular stands out by taking the characters to a world that so perfectly juxtaposes the dark of the Okarria readers know with light and freedom and innocence. It’s so hard to write this review without spoilers because I feel so passionately about how beautifully Hayley tied this all together. I don’t know if she intended this, but for me the story pointed to the way sin causes our souls to rot, while the power of Jesus’ Blood washes us clean and restores us to new Creations.

(Side note: The song ‘Rot’ by Lacey Sturm is a great one to listen to and look back over the series when you wrap things up.)

The characters in this one are just absolutely precious cinnamon rolls, too (even the ones who pretend not to be). I can’t go too deep here without spilling spoilers, but there was a moment toward the beginning of the book where I made a hopeful but fairly baseless prediction about one of the characters, and I was SO FREAKING EXCITED when it turned out to come true! Oh, and if you’ve already read the rest of this series, allow me to put your fears to rest (and give new life to your hopes): we FINALLY get a resolution to Shadmundar’s story!!! That might be my favorite part of the series, to be honest. Who knew a silly talking cat would become so important to me?!

Anyway, I’ll stop fangirling and get to business here. The story is awesome. The world is one of the most unique I’ve ever read. This series needs to be in more readers’ hands (that means you)! It’s definitely a 5 out of 5 for me!

Spice: None (There is, however, an implication that two very horrid characters plan to rape the FMC and her friend. It doesn’t happen, but the implication is obvious.)
Gore: 4 out of 5 (The MC is a healer and injuries are required for a healer to work. Also, there are literally man-hunting, rotting zombies everywhere. It sounds gross, but I promise it works in the context of the story!) (Oh, and they’re not ‘keep you awake at night’ scary zombies. I’m a baby about such things and I was fine.)
Cursing: 1 out of 5 (Very mild)

I received an eARC of this book for free from the author. I am writing a voluntary review.

[Becky'sBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okarria is dying, and even with the Dragon and Shadow Heirs doing all that they can, the darkness is slowly encroaching over the land. But the third Heir, the Time Heir has remained ever illusive… until now. Emara thinks herself one of Odriel’s blessed, someone with a smidgen of the Heir’s powers, powers that she has to keep a secret from everyone for fear of persecution. So when a black cat turns up and, not only starts talking to her, but tells her she is the lost Time Heir, she is understandably a little reluctant to believe it. Reluctant as she is, Emara quickly gets wrapped up in the other Heir’s plans to defeat Idriel once and for all, but when their plans go horribly wrong, Emara will have to push her power to it’s fullest extent, learning all that the Time Heir can do if she, and her friends, are to make it out alive.

Ok, I’m calling it. This was my favourite of the series, and Emara is 100% my favourite MC. She is someone who, unlike the other Heir’s, has been raised to fear and hide her power, never letting it reach it’s full potential. So when she learns who she is, she is obviously wary and a little reluctant to believe it, but she quickly decides to help, despite not having the full use of her gift. I think what I liked most about her though was how she never complained, she was willing to risk her life, even when she didn’t believe she was the Heir to protect the people of Okarria. She who has sacrificed the most out of all the Heir’s, loosing the entirety of her family, but she always has a positive outlook, determined that they can defeat Idriel and save the land. She’s feisty, not too shabby in a fight, but she completely underestimates herself, and I adored seeing her come into the true potential of her power.

Though this story is 100% Emara’s, I did love the characters from previous books making an appearance, including both the protagonists from the first two books, but my favourite character had to be Shadmandur, the man cursed to be a cat for 100 years who started the cog turning on this whole journey with Kaia in book one. He is a character I have consistently enjoyed throughout the series, but he plays a much larger part in this book ( I can’t mention too much about it because of spoilers) but suffice to say, his, as well as Emara’s & the other Heir’s stories come wondrously full circle and I enjoyed seeing them all make an appearance, no matter how small or large.

Time was definitely the one Heir I was looking forward to delving into more, because I never truly knew the extent of their power. At it’s base, Emara is able to heal those around her, but as we see her power grow we learn that there is much more to the Time Heir’s power than healing a simple wound. Letting us follow Emara on her journey to learn about her past and powers was so well done. All the information came naturally because we were learning about it right along side her, and it never felt dumpy or too much at any time. There were plenty of plot twists that were just so brilliantly done and arrived at the perfect time to propel the story and made sure it never lagged in any way. And, as always, Hayley writes some truly intense and edge of your seat fight scenes, with just the perfect amount of tension.

The romance in this story was by far my favourite of the whole series, ok… maybe on par with book one! It developed really naturally throughout the story and the snark… let me tell you, I adored the snark these two characters gave each other. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud at their antics, but what I really loved was that they allowed each other to be weak, to show their insecurities and grow through them. I wasn’t 100% sure we were going to get our HEA, but I was SO happy with how the story ended, and am just a little sad that we won’t get to see them grow up like we have the other characters.

Like I said, my favourite book of the series so far. It was the perfect, full circle, ending and the epilogue had me in sheds of tears. If you like your fantasy YA, with plenty of romance, tension, stakes and some truly fun stories I cannot recommend this series enough!

[Micheline Ryckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantasy adventure is heartwarming, and dare I say, cozy, at times? Cozy doesn't mean that this tale is without high stakes, it has very high stakes, but I really liked the more frequent downtimes and the more in depth character interactions. The MC is very loveable, as are most of the other characters in this story, and that always makes a story easier to love. Also, out of all the Heirs's fantastical powers, I most admire those of the Time Heirs. I love the way their gifts are used in this world, and I love how it felt like the most powerful magic of all was healing.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing conclusion to an already epic trilogy! Loved Emara and her character arc was just *chef’s kiss*. Her journey is so much fun, but I won’t go into detail for fear of spoilers. Jai is fantastic and rivals both Klaus and Makeo for best LI. (Emara wins best MC for sure). Great ending, highly recommend.

Also, Shadumar!!!! > <

[Kriti | Armed with A Book]

Though the third book in a series, Time’s Orphan is a standalone set in the Odriel’s Heirs universe about a young girl who has the power to heal. I have been curious about reading standalones that could be in a series and I loved that rather than feeling lost since I landed in book 3, I felt curious about what had happened in previous books. The events that had led to this moment were integrated into the storyline really well.

“Heirs, and those around them, have often shared the unfortunate fate of being killed, and I’m afraid your family has borne the brunt of it. After all, as long as a Time Heir heals them, the Shadow and Dragon are nearly unstoppable. Because of this, four generations of Time Heirs have now been murdered by the Lost or their allies.” - Shad.

Emara is the last remaining Time Heir. After her father’s death, her mother had hidden her away from her family, seeing as how dangerous it was to be one. After her mother’s death, Emara was alone in the world with little knowledge of where she came from. All she had were her powers of healing. At the beginning of the book, she meets a cat, Shad, who has been cursed to be trapped in this form for 100 years. He tells her about his history and eventually, she meets other Heirs and members of her family, learning more about her powers, how to yield them, how she can help her family and the dangers that prevail.

I loved the connection of healing magic to time. All the characters that I met were fleshed out. I liked their personal challenges as well as how they interacted with Emara. I often struggle with YA Fantasy when protagonists have too much weight on their shoulders. I felt Emara was supported well and was a relatable point of view.

Since I am writing this review 7 months after reading the book, I don’t remember a lot about the plot except that it was engaging and had me hooked. The world was immersive and I want to return to it. I enjoyed the audiobook experience.

I didn’t get around to writing this review after reading the book due to first trimester exhaustion but returning to it now makes me want to reread it. I am going to start with book 1, Odriel's Heirs, and then make my way back. :)

Many thanks to the author for connecting with me about this book and sharing a digital copy with me for an honest review. We had a great chat about writing standalone books in a series that you can read here.

- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

[Sarah (Wondermajica) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Time's Orphan is book three of the Odriel's Heirs trilogy. I have not read the other books in the series...yet. The book was described to me as a standalone, but I had every intention of reading the whole series and then reviewing each one before the release of Time's Orphan. However, life happens, and as a mood reader, that means that I went from wanting to completely disappear into a world of fantasy to one of scifi adventure. So this review got delayed, and the other books are still on my TBR. They won't be there for long, though. This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can't wait to experience the rest of the trilogy.

It reminded me of why I love to read—how the written word can transport you to different worlds and allow you to become immersed in a story. Hayley Reece Chow's writing leaves you feeling like you are not actually reading. You are part of the story right there with Emara, Jai, and Chipo. The elements of romance feel natural and are not forced. The characters grow in ways that you would expect given their circumstances. Then, of course, you have a cursed cat. If you have read any other review of mine about anything that has a cat, you know how I feel. I'm a sucker for a good feline companion.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

Wow! This series just keeps getting better and better! I can’t decide which book is my favorite so far. If you haven’t started this series, you should!

There’s a great development of so many characters here! A growth of power, a realization of others and the way all the characters have to adjust and their relationships shift. It’s such a wonder to read!

The banter here is golden! I’d love to just read these characters shooting the breeze. Each voice is unique but you want to see them together, like a lovely chorus!

Oh but don’t think your favorites are safe. You might think they are but…you’re wrong.

Absolutely a must-read!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally we get to see the Time Heir! This book follows much more closely after the second book than Idriel's Children does from Odriel's Heirs. I really enjoyed getting to see more about the Time Heir's powers and the way that all of the pieces from the series came together in this final showdown. There are some really fun aspects of this book that I loved that are spoilers, so I'll just say the journey Emara takes is unexpected and really exciting and enjoyable. I felt like the larger story ended well and I cried just like I did with the other two books. I'm glad I had all three books ready to just blitz through. A solid fantasy series that deserves more publicity!

[Millennial Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time’s Orphan is not just a great book, but also a fantastic ending to its trilogy. The author told an engaging and exciting story that also gives the series a rewarding ending. The characters were all so well-written and so much fun to follow. The writing was fantastic. This novel works as either a standalone or an installment in a series, but my recommendation is to read the whole series. This is a great book, and Odriel’s Heirs is a great series. Anyone interested in it should read it.

My full review can be found here

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say, I really loved this book. I had to rate this four stars and here is why:

The characters were amazing. Well written and all so different. Although I do wish that there had been more time spend describing some of them.

The worldbuilding was magnificent. A unique world with a great history, well explained throughout the story.

In the end it just all came together and it made so much sense. It was great to see the story unfold and figure out what was going to happen.

I do feel like the book could have been longer though. Some parts could have used more details. But overall it was a great read.

[Ariella Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.
I would give this book more stars if I could, it was soooo good!! The characters were so distinct and well written. My favorite was the MC, Emara. She was an awesome mix of mentally strong, yet still vulnerable, kind, and gentle. It’s a really rare personality to see in stories, but Chow pulled it off beautifully in Emara. The magic system and worldbuilding were really cool as well, and it made me want to read more from the series. Though the story was definitely suspenseful and intense, there was also a good balance of humor, sweetness, and just a hint of a clean, sweet slow-burn romance, all of which were extremely satisfying. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of clean fantasy.

Content rating: Low PG-13 (fantasy violence, occasional mild language)

I received a free eARC copy of this book, but am reviewing it voluntarily. A review was not required and all opinions are my own.

[Brittany Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Speak of dragons, and I’ll tell you of warriors who walked their flames. Speak of shadows, and I’ll tell you of heroes who brought the dawn. Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away.”

This is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I really enjoyed this story and plan to go back and read the other books in the series! Hayley’s writing is really compelling and beautiful.

Like this quote: “what is hate but razor shards of shattered love?”

Her world-building is great and the time travel parts connect well.

Hayley is an indie author and I had never heard of her before so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the story intrigued me and I’m glad to have discovered her!


This fantasy novel tells the tale of a girl with special healing powers who discovers she is the key to saving her people from the fear and darkness that covers their world from The Dead King.

In this world, their ‘god-like’ character is Odriel— “a spirit-guide.” He’s the good spirit.

Then we have his brother Idriel. He’s the bad spirit. He has been half-resurrected by a couple powerful magi who all stand to benefit from him taking over Odriel’s realm.

“Ten years ago, Valente Conrad, a human gifted with Idriel’s necromancy, and Ivanora, a magus blessed with Idriel’s unfathomable yanaa, raised Idriel from the dead using the body of an ancient soul-eater from Carceroc forest.”


Our main character, Emara, with the help of a talking cat, discovers her healing ability is more powerful than she thought. She is actually a Time Heir. Part of the trio of Odriel’s Heirs. The other two are the Dragon Heir and the Shadow Heir.

“‘Fire was borrowed from the dragon, invisibility from the shadow, and healing from time.’”

The Shadow and Dragon Heirs approach Emara, requesting she help them in their plan to kill The Dead King before he is fully resurrected (think Voldemort) and kills more of their people.

“All those years running. Surviving. Trying to fight back against the monsters that had taken her mother, her home, her people. Searching for a why hidden in the horror. And here it was— offered from the palm of an assassin of a half-remembered myth.”

But the plan devolves quickly and Emara finds herself a century in the past charged with finding another magus (singular form of magi) to help her hone her powers so she can come back to the present and fix what has gone terribly wrong!

“I know as long as yanaa flows through my veins, Odriel is with me, and I will be his hands to light the dark, protect the helpless, and heal the wounded.”


I really liked the variety of characters. It looks like book one tells the story of the Dragon Heir and book two is the story of the Shadow Heir.

It’s possible reading this one provides some unintentional spoilers to those books since it occurs last, but I think with the fantasy genre, it’s still worth reading, even if out of order because you it just creates a fuller picture of the world and the people in it.

I would definitely recommend this series and this author! I think this is a great series for both adults and young adults. It’s a clean book, which is another big plus!



Pronunciation Guide:
(the author provided me a list of words and how to pronounce them so I included a few of the most used words here if you’re interested!)

Austerden: aw-ster-den
Aza: ay-za
Bellaphia: bell-ah-fee-ah
Carceroc: car-sir-rock
Chipo: chee-po
Emara: em-ah-rah
Idriel: eye-dree-uhl
Ivanora: eye-vah-nora
Makeo: mah-kay-o
Odriel: oh-dree-uhl
Okarria: oh-car-ree-ah
Rastgol: rast-goal
Yanaa: yah-nah


[Content Advisory: no f- or s-words; no sexual content]

**Received a digital copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**

Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest

[W.A. Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of Time's Orphan for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

By the time a series is five books deep, one wonders if it can do anything new. That's less of a concern going into Time’s Orphan, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be as different as it is.

It's still a YA fantasy tale starring a teenaged female lead character, and it is still set in the world of Okarria. It still features familiar characters and at its core, it's still a coming of age tale. Where Odriel’s Heirs starred Dragon Heir Kaia and Idriel’s Children jumped forward to focus on her daughter, Shadow Heir Aza, thhis only jumps forward by about ten or so years to focus on seventeen-year-old Time Heir Emara. More than a coming of age tale, it's a story about self-discovery and acceptance, and also a story about found family.

Emara has been hidden away from a young age with her heritage a secret she only discovers through the book’s events, having been taught that as one of “Odriel’s Blessed,” her power is a curse, not a gift. Rather than being raised with the Heir title of the previous protagonists, Emara must not only learn who she is and her role within Okarria, but she must learn to accept it, that she spent most of her life in hiding, and also that family doesn’t always mean blood.

In many ways, Time’s Orphan represents an evolution from the previous novels. A huge part of its success rests in the writing of Emara, a character who is beautifully formed. The characters supporting her story are all wonderful, regardless of whether they’re new to the world, or ones who have been featured many times.

Each book in the series has expanded Okarria’s mythology further, building upon what started as a nuanced world. New areas are explored, with new creatures to populate it. The Time Heir adds new facets to the fantasy, with Emara’s powers ranging from healing to time travel, which is integral to the book’s plot.

Time travel adds an extra layer to the novel’s plot, bringing additional complexity, which makes the book a little trickier to follow than the previous books. While it isn’t particularly difficult to parse, it's worth noting the book is aimed at readers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. Younger readers may struggle slightly with these elements, but most everyone else will be able to enjoy the ride. The author weaves an intricate plot that continues the darkness from Idriel’s Children. It starts in the thick of the action, showing the brutality of the world. When the story slows down, it fits the story perfectl. It feels like a finale; a story of epic proportions that brings a sense of finality.

Each book featurs beautiful prose, and the author has outdone herself. Stylistically, it is closest to the first novel, but where that book’s prose risked turning away younger readers with its difficulty, this feels as though it will be perfectly accessible to them.

While the final book in the series, the other books are in no way required reading to enjoy this. If you’ve read the four preceding books, it will pay off your commitment in spades, however, this book working so well on its own is a testament to the author’s writing.

Time’s Orphan is the crowning achievement in the Odriel’s Heirs series. Each book has been fantastic, but the author saved the best for last. A personal story with an intricate plot and stellar writing.

My full review will be available on my website from 17 February 2023. To read it, my reviews for the other books in the Odriel's Heirs series, and a host of other reviews, click here.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fate of a land on the brink of ruin and besieged by war is left in the hands of a young woman whose power has yet to fully manifest but will blossom in surprising circumstances in Time’s Orphan (Odriel’s Heirs #3) by Hayley Reese Chow.

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

Having the skill to heal others, Emara bears the cost of that kindness by taking on their pain. Using the gift she was raised to keep hidden to aid those impacted by the fighting going on in the ongoing plans of the Dead King Emara encounters a talking black cat, Shad, shortly before being captured. As Shad covertly travels with her he reveals to Emara her real identity and that she’s the lost Time Heir, with the ability to steal away pain in vast quantities while the Dragon and Shadow Heirs fight whatever battles they must; accepting this, she agrees to be bait in a plan to defeat the Dead King after reuniting with the Heirs she vaguely recalls from childhood. But as the Heirs’ plan goes horribly wrong, Emara is thrust back a century by a magus’s dying spell with a directive to develop her power and find the elusive and mind-afflicted magus Bellaphia. Arriving suddenly in a more vibrant version of the city she just left, Emara is soon taken under Jai’s wing, a street performer with light fingers and a quick wit, who agrees to help Emara with her mission. After talking with the magus who sent her here and meeting the Time Heir in waiting, surprised to find more than only the Heir alive, Emara, the Heir in waiting, and Jai travel to the Dead Lands to meet Bellaphia, battling against the odds to survive, which provides Emara with opportunities to hone her skill. Briefly healing Bellaphia’s mind, a feat no other has been able to accomplish, Emara is sent back to her original time, having gained a century’s worth of power along the way that might just help the Heirs defeat the Dead King and bring about a more peaceful and hopeful future.

Engrossing and well-paced, the narrative’s world and the rules that govern the magic within it are well-devised and clearly depicted, making it effortless to be carried along for the journey. While the beginning of the narrative was a bit slow despite the fast action readers are introduced to the story with, this was where a feeling of having missed something in a previous installment appeared but was quickly removed as the story’s direction became evident; as the third book in a broader series that can be read as a standalone it stands up quite well on its own with the necessary details shared in a reasonably organic manner and the detailed world makes it enticing to go and read the first two to gain a deeper appreciation for what has taken place within this world. With the inclusion of time travel within a fantasy world, it was refreshing to have Emara ponder the implications of paradoxes and think through the impact her actions in the past might have on the future as it demonstrated an awareness of pitfalls that could befall the plot, plus it further demonstrated Emara’s careful nature having grown up plagued by uncertainty and fear. The characters of Emara and Jai are thoroughly explored, offering insights about each to explain how and why they behave in the manner they do, which while outwardly similar have rather different internal and circumstantial origins (plus, their banter is greatly entertaining); some of the other characters weren’t as thoroughly developed as might be expected, especially in comparison with Emara and Jai, but given this narrative is focused on Emara it could be assumed that the nuance of the others may be explored in greater depth in earlier stories.

Overall, I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review as requested by the author.

[Tanja Glavnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very generously sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Be prepared for sobbing!

It feels like half a lifetime ago when I first received a message about whether or not I'd be interested in reading this 'little' book titled Odriel's Heirs. Seeing as I'm a fantasy nut, that felt like a no-brainer, and here I am, at the end of a wild and emotional journey!

I have to admit, I may still be the most partial to the first book and it's protagonists, Kaia and Klaus, but it's incredibly interesting - and smart! - to change protagonists as well as generations in each of the trilogy books, moving us further through the timeline and making sure that we actually have a sense of it progressing.

I loved Mari's journey of self-discovery, and how she grew into the person she was supposed to be. I also love the HEAs and the little bit of Dorinar there at the end because, don't we ALL love that cranky magus?!? Haha!

I think, given how high-stake the story's been in each installment, novellas included, the twist in this book is rather welcome to allow the reader a bit of breathing time. You get the chance - like Emara Rao - to take a deep breath, figure out the next moves, and see some connections here and there (potentially everywhere ... keep those eyes peeled!).

And finally, when she's trong enough to embrace just who she is, what she can do, we get to see the Dragon, the Shadow, and Time work together as we never have before.

And it's GLORIOUS.

If you haven't picked up this series yet I highly, HIGHLY recommend it. Fast-paced, with likeable characters that overcome and grow from their flaws and fight for a better world, accompanied by a grumpy magus and an even grumpier black cat. What's not to like?!

I'm serious. Okarria is a land that will suck you right in with it's world-building, and keep you there for the romance stories.

After all, don't we all love a good, old-fashioned romance sprinkled in with all the action?

Many, many thanks to Hayley Reese Chow for taking me along on this journey. It's truly been something, and I honestly can't wait to see what's next. So until then, I leave you with just the tiniest, little thing ... my own personal headcanon. Oh Shadmundar, how I love you.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Time's Orphan
Author: Hayley Reese Chow

Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 3/5

Of the 15 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
9 felt it was easy to follow.
11 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
11 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“This is what I’d call a ‘good’ story. I think fantasy fans will enjoy it the most. It’s (a) exciting and (b) full of magic! I didn’t read the first two book, but I wish I had. I don’t think it’s the best standalone story, so my advice is – read book 1 and 2 first.” Girl, aged 15
“This is a sort of coming-of-age, fantasy novel for YAs. I think girls like me will like it the most as the protagonist is female. She’s strong, brave, and likeable. I liked the magic system too. The start is MEGA, the ending is MEGA, but the middle is a bit soggy and slow.” Girl, aged 16
“It gets a bit complicated here and there, so I think 14 and over will enjoy the story the most.” Girl, aged 15
“A little romance, a little adventure, a LOT of magic and suspense. Cool story. The best in the set is the first book as it felt more original and exciting. But I still enjoyed this. Emara is fun to follow. She has a lot of problems to sort out as she discovers how powerful she is.” Boy, aged 16
“An adventure with romance in it too. I liked how the story developed and how well plotted it was. There’s a twist here, a turn there, nothing predictable. The author is a good writer who knows how to keep a YA reader interested. It’s just a teeny, tiny bit slow.” Girl, aged 14

To Sum It Up:
‘A smartly plotted, fantasy adventure with a brave, likeable, female protagonist. Recommended to older YAs.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Nunuv Yurbiznes · Rating 5 out of 5]

And once again, another book I wish I could rate 6 stars. A reviewer can dream...!
Regardless, Time's Orphan is just... wow. It defies words as a certain Heir defies time itself, it is one of those books that is so damnably good, it sits right on the verge of actual perfection, no exaggeration. An astronomically well-told story riding the waves of time, it is an incredible journey from start to finish with never a dull moment in between, not one!

The last book in the realm of Okarria, it couldn't have been sent off in a better way; all of the environments were mesmerizing, each scene had me nearly off my seat with how on-edge I was with reading it, but the characters and their developments? The absolute crown jewel of this incredible accomplishment. They were everything I could've asked for; the good ones were pleasant, genuine and absolutely stole the show whenever they were in the scene (while also, of course, kicking butt everywhere they went!) and the bad ones were wonderfully hateable, yet despite the varying AMOUNTS of evil, they all got fair send-offs and... well, fitting punishments to say the least. As mentioned before, each scene was simply encapsulating, but it wasn't just the action scenes, the more tender heart-to-hearts really got me as well and never felt boring or forced, it's amazingly natural! And while, once again, I can't disclose the ending, suffice to say it subverted my expectations in the best possible way; this book is literally so good, it was *about* to use a trope I normally DISLIKE, and made it work absolutely beautifully in an amazing emotional display, just... GAH, it's so GOOD!

Legitimately, the only things I could find that could be considered wrong with it are a VERY few miniscule typos and some sparsely-spread and shorter scenes being not *as* interesting as the rest of it, but aside from those, this is once again one of those books that is as close to perfection as one can hope to write. It's not just for fantasy lovers; you'd be doing yourself one hell of a disservice to NOT read such an immaculate, beautifully written finale.

[Gordon Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classical example of Epic Fiction, using the Hero’s Journey format. In keeping with modern trends, the heroine is a more personable and lovable character than was typical in the past. This sets warfare and mayhem at a less important level and puts the onus on the characterization to create our enjoyment of the book.

And Emara is a really nice kid. At the beginning she is perhaps a little too uncertain, a little too naïve, because the character she develops into by the end is rather a stretch, considering her starting point. However, this does nothing to detract from our sympathy for her and our enjoyment of following her on her travels, both physical and emotional. It merely lowers the age of appropriate readers more towards younger teenagers rather than the more blasé older teens.

Secondary characters are likewise allowed to have their soft spots, which makes them more interesting as well.

The story has all the trappings of its genre. Trekking through destroyed landscapes, hounded by gruesome beings, both souls and bodies at risk. Manipulation by higher beings interfering with what mortals desire. In my opinion, there is a happy minimum of this. We are not talking “Game of Thrones” here.

The settings are impressive and well described, although kept appropriately in the background of the action.

When it comes to the conflict, this author has fallen into the trap of giving the magic too much power. The good guys experience a lot of danger, and there are many strong action sequences. However, each time the battle seems completely lost, Emara manages to pull an even more powerful technique from her ever-deeper back of tricks, to the point where we lose the expected level of tension, because we know she’s not really in that much danger. When it comes to magic, weakness creates suspense.

However, our empathy with the main character allows us to feel her pain and glory in her success. In general, a great modern young adult version of the classic Hero’s Journey.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews, head to my blog Chantel Speaks

"No matter what happens, you must survive. At all costs."

Time's Orphan is the thrilling conclusion to the Odriel's Heirs series. The Time Heir has been missing for years, leaving the other Heirs to fight the Lost without them. Emara, once found, must decide if she's brave enough to step into the shoes of the Time Heirs before her and save Okarria from the necromancer king, once and for all.

The world of Okarria is being plunged into darkness under the growing power of the Rastgol, the Lost, Conrad and Ivanora. There is a definite darker feeling in this book compared to earlier books. By Time's Orphan, we know what Okarria is meant to look like, and this Okarria is somewhat scarier than it has been. I immediately felt the fear and the dark turn the world has taken since we left Idriel's Children. Chow does an excellent job at contrasting this in other settings as Emara goes about being the Time Heir.

“The world was never perfect. And even if we succeed, it will never be perfect”. Shad’s tail brushed against her. “The only thing we can do is try to make it a little better with the time that we have”

Emara, aka Ioni Rao, is the missing Time Heir we've waited two whole books for, and I was so pumped to meet her finally. I have to admit after Idriel's Children, I was a mite bit curious if we were ever gonna meet the Time Heir properly. But, this is a great example of the wait being worth it. Emara is tough, she's kind and she makes for a great healer with her abilities. I'd like to note that many "healer" magical characters I've read in other series can be a bit... afraid to defend themselves, leaving that work to other characters. Not Emara though, and this was rather refreshing. She can, and will do what needs to be done to save herself and save the day.

This book had the same fast-paced action I've come to enjoy in the other books in the series. That's definitely one of the stronger parts of the book. Chow does not dwell too long on unnecessary details, giving the reader just enough detail (with a few pearls of wisdom from Shadmundar) and then getting back into the action and intrigue.

"...you must remember we only have the choices we are given. Once a path is made, it cannot be unmade."

Out of all the romances we've seen so far in this series, Emara's romantic sub-plot was my favourite. I will not give spoilers here, but it was the cutest thing. I was not expecting it, but I'm here for it. Seeing Aza and Makeo's ongoing relationship through Emara was also a highlight.

Being the final book in the series, I really appreciated getting to read a bit on the cast we've come to know in the other books. We got to hear about all the other heirs and main characters from the series Kaia, Klaus, Zephyr, Aza and Makeo. It was fitting, as a reader who appreciated all the twists and turns of the series, to get to see how everyone is doing by the end.

This was a great finale to a much-enjoyed series. Though, I'm not gonna lie, I'm secretly hoping for spin-offs and more from the series!

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to reading the conclusion of this fantasy series for what seems like forever (though it’s only a few months!) so I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC!
It’s been at least ten years since the thrilling Night of Ash, and the evil dead king (Idriel) is on the move, gaining ground every day, despite the best efforts of the Dragon and Shadow Heirs to halt the advance. Emara, blessed with some healing ability by Odriel, has to hide her gift for fear she will be turned over to the rampaging Rastgol. This doesn’t stop her from using her gift, of course, and inevitably she is betrayed. Cornered by the enemy, an old one eyed cat called Shadamur comes to her aid, but Shadamur has his own reasons for finding her…
For Emara of is course is the missing Time Heir and I loved finally getting to see this heir in action, as Time heirs have been largely absent in the previous novels (I was beginning to think they had gone over to the dark side!). The story opens with a bang, with an attack, a betrayal and a narrow escape, leading to Emara having to decide if she will join the Heirs to save Okarria or follow her mother’s advice – and run.
I really like Emara, I think she is the most level-headed of the Heirs, but she is also the softest and kindest. She also has the hardest choice to make, and faces the greatest temptation. I’m trying to avoid spoilers but I do have to mention the time travel (I LOVE time travel). A large part of the story takes place in a very different Okarria. Yes, there is danger and adventure in this Okarria but it’s not at the same frenetic pace of Night of Ash. It serves as a wonderful contrast to the Okarria we are otherwise so familiar with, plus a timely reminder of what is at stake. It wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed it all the same.
I’m not a big fan of romance in fantasy stories but those who are will love the relationship between Emara and Jai. I did appreciate that unlike Aza and Kaia, whose childhood friends turn into lovers, Emara had to travel back in time to find her true love! The romance seems to take a greater share of the story than in the other books, but there’s a reason for it (and it’s sweet!).
Time’s Heir is surprised and entertained me, and I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. I liked it had relentless advancing darkness, a hopeless battle, stark choices, and a triumphant ending. Fantasy fans, don’t miss out on this series!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Time's Orphan from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a fun read. I enjoyed Time's Orphan. I've been in a slight reading slump lately, and this book was a quick read that kept me interested. I thought that the characters were interesting, and I loved the growth that Emara showed as she worked through relearning her power. The rest of the characters were great, too. However, I did think that their motivations felt a little shallow. The biggest focus was on Emara, which is great because she's our main character, but I also need to know that the rest of the characters have wants and needs, and motivations as well. Otherwise, they feel flat. And unfortunately, that's how this cast of characters felt. I wasn't understanding why the characters were making the choices they were, beyond that it moved the plot along and got everyone where they needed to go. I needed more, I suppose.

On top of that, the pot moved very quickly. So quickly that some of the relationships didn't feel entirely genuine. I was told everyone was making connections, but I didn't see it. I want to watch their interactions and feel their joy and sadness. But most of the development happened off-screen, and the relationships ended up falling flat as well.

I did love the magic, however. If I had read the other books in the series first, I would understand more about it, but all things considered, I think that the author did an excellent job of describing how the magic system worked and what the world these characters lived in was like. I enjoyed the world-building and wish there had been more of it. I would have loved to see more of this world and how it works.

Though this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I would recommend that you read the others first, though, because there are some spoilers for characters that show up from the first two books. I will be picking up the rest of the series so that I can catch up on everything that I missed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ARC copy of Time’s Orphan in exchange for an honest review.***

I thought the writing was fantastic, and although I didn’t read the first 2 books in the series, the author did a great job with the world building and explaining the magic system.

It was a bit of a slow start for me, and I didn’t really feel pulled in and invested in the story until about the halfway point. Although Time’s Orphan can be read as a standalone, I feel like reading the first two books in the trilogy would have made a difference in my level of enjoyment from the beginning.

I loved watching Emara’s character development and her confidence in herself and her magic grow. I do wish some of the relationships with the other Heirs were fleshed out a bit more, but part of me also felt like I may have been missing something since I didn’t read the other books in the series. Chipo was such a breath of fresh air. She had such an innocence about her, and Emara needed that light and positivity after everything she had been through so far.

The moment Jai threw Emara over his shoulder, I absolutely loved him, and was rooting for something to come out of their friendship. Their relationship development felt very genuine and was one of my favorite parts of the story. Even though I don’t typically read YA, if another book came out about Jai and Emara, I would probably read it because I became slightly attached to the two of them.

All in all, once the story picked up it was a good and pretty quick read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA fantasy with a time travel adventure, a bit of character banter, and a HEA, but would suggest reading the first 2 books in the series beforehand.

☆ ☆ ☆.5

but will round up to 4 since you can’t post half stars, and I also won’t knock the rating due to me reading it as a standalone instead of part of the trilogy.

[Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that we get right into the action straightaway. I’m not someone who really likes a super slow-building plot, I like being plunged head first into the story and have it immediately grasp my attention and sweep me away. Only a few chapters in and the epic quest begins!

We enter into a world plagued by horrors and at the brink. The story world is immaculately crafted, with lore and myths and an intriguing magic system. I loved the intricacies and unique applications for healing magic. Everything about the people, society, and creatures of Okarria was so good. I was completely absorbed.

Emara’s character is well-developed. We learn a lot about her simply through her actions and interactions with other characters. I was rooting for her to step into her fierceness and shine. And I’m obsessed with Shadmundar! Definitely my favorite character in the story. The romance was nuanced and so sweet.

You’d never guess this is an indie book with how well written it is. I could absolutely see this picked up by a publisher for mass market. Hayley, don’t ever stop writing, you were clearly destined to be a writer.

I love the map at the front of the book, always an enjoyable edition to any fantasy story and really helps ground into the world. I also love that it has chapter titles. I don’t know why I love chapter titles so much; I think it’s just another fun layer to the story, giving you a sneak peak into what is about to happen, and then after reading the chapter you get to think back to how the title applied and what was the most important thing that happened.

This was a fun, fast read. I enjoyed this escapist adventure and it was just such a great experience. I finished it in two days because I just couldn’t stop; I was hooked. I was dutifully taking notes to reference when I wrote my review until about halfway through when I just stopped because I was way too invested in the story to stop reading.

The ending is also perfect. I can’t believe the series is over though. Excuse me while I immediately go read the previous books in this series. And I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Highly recommend this book to all fantasy readers!

Huge thank you to the author for blessing me with an advanced copy of this amazing book! I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Times Orphan it was the perfect conclusion to what has been a very enjoyable series to read full of so many wonderful characters and places as well as a really interesting magic system.

I found this series by chance I guess. I was browsing Netgalley at 2.30am while unable to sleep and being a mood reader I was not fancying starting any of the options of books I already own lol the cover of this book is what first got my attention and then I read the description which sounded fun. at the time I could only find 3 reviews of this book and I just glanced over them but one mentioned it being the first in a new fantasy series so I thought perfect just what I wanted although after downloading the book I went to goodreads to add the book to my currently reading list and noticed this book was the 3rd in a series. it did say you could read it as a stand alone and after reading it I can confirm it can be read as stand alone. But I decided if I read this being the last book in the series and enjoyed it I would probably be disappointed trying to read the rest of series knowing how it would end. So I picked up the first book as an e book loved it and then continued my way through the rest of series including both the novellas and I love them all they are fast paced quick reads full of action and characters I felt invested in by the end of the series and I just wanted good things for them. So I am definitely happy I decided to start the series with book 1. And if the author ever felt like revisiting this world with the next generation I would definitely pick that book up as well :)

received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[i ma read it · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Time's Orphan for all the different atmospheres it has to offer. From dark, hopeless and gut wrenching to a lighter, heart squeezing, adventurous vibe to then go to dark, courageous and determined in the end. It's a real rollercoaster ride.

I am torn between giving 4 and 5 stars depending on which of the 2 intertwined storylines I decide to focus on. The dark and dramatic 1st and the lighter and emotionally driven 2nd.

The 2nd storyline I give a hands down 5 stars. There was something familiar about it, but I didn't recognize what is was until I found myself singing One Jump Ahead from Aladdin in my head, while reading a scene. I got a very strong Aladdin vibe the entire time from the vibrance in colors and life that was described, the small motley crew of unlikely companions, to the loyalty to stand by one another no matter what. It gave back some of the hope that was taken away / lost in the beginning.

The 1st storyline I give 4 stars just because I felt that it was a bit rushed in comparison to the 2nd. In general, I found Emara's discovery of her true gift and how she got to the point, where she was at the end a bit lacking. Think this might just be the superpower fan in me that just wants more of that. The ending could have been a few pages longer to give it the emphasis I feel it deserved.

All in all, this was really fun to read and although this book is a standalone I will be reading the first 2 books as well to find out what truly lead to the situation we find in this one!.

Thank you to Booksprout for the review copy and for introducing me to such an entertaining series.

[Leah Jubilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Hayley for providing me with an ARC of her book, Time's Orphan!

Magic systems that are strictly beneficial drive me crazy, Nothing comes from nothing and this magic system reflects that. When Emara heals other people, the pain of their wounds must go somewhere so she channels it into herself. Throughout the book, consistency is shown with the magic system. Rules are in place, and restrictions apply. I loved it! It was one of the most well-thought-out magic systems I have read in a while.

This book, honestly, surprised me with the level of consistency. When writing timey wimey stuff, it can be effortless to justify bad character development, world-building, or otherwise on the fact that the time is shifting. To that, I say, bogus. This book proves that you can have consistency in your characters and world, no matter how much time jumping you choose to do.

It did take me some time to get into the read, but once we hit where Emara travels, I was sold. I got the feeling that the author felt similarly... like that was her goal and she was excited to get to it. That can be a good thing, but I felt like one world was more developed than the other because of this.

There were a few very minor weak points. When I say minor, I mean minor. It was almost like they were plot holes in the first draft, but Hayley went back in and fixed them. They just weren't as well thought out as the main plot, I thought.

That being said, I had a very fun time with this read! I binged the last 60% of it without any effort. :)

7/10