Splintered Time

by Gary Stringer

When the Council of Mages brings charges of selfishness and incompetence, the Guardians refute them. Yet their actions have already splintered Time, creating both allies and enemies.

Now there is a magic school under siege, with a principal who should not exist, and an old adversary with a dangerous fragment he should not possess.

Gods and demons, mortals and aliens, magic and technology – the threats come from all sides, and the Guardians will need all their ingenuity to keep Time from unravelling.

When faced with the consequences of their past and future actions, they begin to wonder: Were the Council mages right?

265 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Scientist by profession, I try to give real science concepts a fantasy twist in my writing.

Update for June 2025

The first FOUR books in my Salvation of Tempestria series - Shifting Stars, Gathering Storm, Shadows Fall and Fragmented Control - are now permafree.

Tempestria series

For anyone interested in my earlier work, the Majaos Trilogy may also be found at that same site. Majaos trilogy.

While studying for my B.Sc. in Chemistry, I met a friend who introduced me to fantasy fiction, especially TSR, AD&D type books. Despite all I've read since, that remains my frame of reference for the fantasy genre.

My Salvation of Tempestria of Series, beginning with Shifting Stars is rooted in a updated version of that kind of fantasy world. But it's just 1 world within a wider sci-fi/fantasy universe and the story is told by an immortal girl from the future with a plan to save the world...or possibly end it.

Living in the seaside town of Blackpool, UK, enjoy long walks and theme parks in the summer, and theatre shows in the winter.

Sporting interests include tennis and netball.

Reviews

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The epic struggle for time and control continues in Gary Stringer’s sprawling battle across the temporal plane with Splintered Time! The Council of Mages have convened, lobbying charges against the Guardians for their actions that have splintered time itself. Now a new struggle arises in the form of a magical school, one ruled by a being that shouldn’t exist. I love Stringer’s epic series in how versatile and diverse it is as it spans numerous time periods, planets, and even genres. Sometimes it leans a little more sci fi, while other times it surges with fantasy. Stringer does this masterfully, playing to the strengths of each genre and creating a really intriguing struggle. This is highlighted in Splintered Time as we see the greater conflict play out on a smaller scale, focusing more on the magic school and the character interactions there (I personally love this view of the greater struggle through a smaller one). I also loved the deeper moral examination in this one, as the Guardians are forced to look back on their actions and question whether their choices leading up to a fracturing of time were the right ones. If you love epic fantasy, magic, sci fi, and great characters, definitely come battle through time with Splintered Time and the Tempestria series!

[Jan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read another in this series and enjoyed it, and this fifth instalment only builds on the initial premise of the first with better writing, clearer plots and familiar characters. Great action, likeable characters and intriguing, page-turning storylines show the extent to which the author has developed writing style and built a really interesting world. In Splintered Time, we catch up with characters featured in previous novels, and follow Mandalee, the White Assassin/White Guardian, as she and her trusty sidekick leopard navigate the consequences of actions in previous books. Without info-dumping (a skill in itself) relevant past actions are woven seemlessly into the main storyline so it's perfectly possible to read the book as a standalone (although I do advise you to read the others in the series as well!). The threats posed to the characters come thick and fast, making the book a page turner.
If you love magic, sci-fi, plucky heroines facing mysterious and insurmountable odds, then this is a good pick for you!