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Time Shift: A Historical Novel of Survival

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A time travel historical adventure. Jackson Lee is a well-known adventure vlog influencer. He and a small support crew have been cashing in on the video craze with phenomenal, hair-raising exploits for years. Their latest undertaking is way beyond anything they've ever done. It's extremely dangerous and, worse, highly illegal. Never would Jackson have imagined those risks to be the least of his worries. After stumbling over the archaeological find of the century, Jackson and a local anthropologist suddenly find themselves transported to a different time and place. It's a world of unbelievable sights, unimaginable marvels, and barbaric practices that violate all that is human. Despite treading lightly as they deal with this new reality, their intrusion results in unintended consequences for the world they left. Making it right is their top priority, along with surviving the ordeal. It may not be possible to do both. Can they clean up the mess they've made? Or will the attempt just make it worse?

8 pages, Audio CD

First published April 15, 2021

207 people are currently reading
90 people want to read

About the author

Victor Zugg

12 books66 followers
Victor Zugg is a former US Air Force officer and OSI special agent who served and lived all over the world. Writing has always been a big part of his life, no matter what the job. While serving in the military most of his writing was job related. But he also found time to publish a number of nonfiction magazine articles, all historical in nature. He traveled great distances to research the material first hand. More recently he’s turned his writing skills to fiction, to the type he enjoys reading—largely dystopian and survival adventures. Given his extensive travels and opportunities to settle anywhere, it is ironic that he now resides in Florida, only a few miles from his hometown of Orlando. He credits the warm temperatures for that decision.

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5 stars
401 (51%)
4 stars
271 (34%)
3 stars
88 (11%)
2 stars
21 (2%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Fred  Barnes.
88 reviews15 followers
September 24, 2025
A TIME TRAVEL WORK OF GENIUS

☆☆☆☆☆

Time Shift: A Historical Novel Of Survival by Victor Zugg is definitely a great book with detailed characters that will draw you into the storyline from the first page. The storyline is well-written and will hold you in suspense with unbelievably turn of events with just the right action to please the action junkies out the, including myself.

Jackson is an ex-air force special forces turned adventure seeker who with his team of friends, plans, films, and posts Jackson is daredevil stunts on the internet. While filming his latest stunt, his glider crashes into the side of the Grand Canyon. He stumbles upon a massive cave structure which is which in no way would ever have been naturally made.

His team then activates a time portal sending Jackson and Zihna not only back five hundred years into the past but into a whole new part of the continent where human sacrifice is just about part of the daily events and a community that evolves around the whims of an emperor and their gods. In a totally different world than 2019 in Arizona they find themselves struggling to find a way home.

This historical fiction will give you a little insight into the Anasazi, Hopi, Aztec, Maya, Mexica, and the Navajo history all the while entertaining you with the intriguing situations Jackson and Zihna find themselves in.

You won't be disappointed reading this very well-written and enjoyable story. I know I truly savored every minute reading this book and hope you will also.
Profile Image for Lisa .
836 reviews49 followers
October 13, 2021
I don't understand all of the 5-star reviews for this one. The first 100 pages were SLOW and added little to the actual time travel plot. After two characters went through the time portal, the book was interesting until it ended rather abruptly with no closure. I guess this will be the first of a new series. If so, the author should have given some indication of more books to come as other authors do.
Profile Image for Don Dunham.
335 reviews25 followers
October 1, 2024
Love some Victor Zugg! Temporal disruptions are Zugg's thing and his stories are good!
28 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2025
Definitely one of the best stories I have ever read

I’m an avid reader but I don’t often write reviews but I had to for this one because it was so good! This book was one of those stories I couldn’t put down and read in less than 24 hours. I love time travel and I really enjoyed Victor Zugg’s time travel series so when I saw he wrote another time travel novel I had to read! Definitely recommend this book!
Profile Image for Bob.
425 reviews9 followers
September 28, 2021
DNF

I now understand the term “ad nauseam”. It’s one thing for an author to research the details of a story. It’s another to bore the reader with an over abundance of technical terminology and historical data so much that it overwhelms and obscures the story line.
Profile Image for Lee Young.
129 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2024
This book started out slow, then got slower. They don't tell you in the book’s blurb, but they end up in the Aztec world. Xena, the New Mexico professor proceeds to bore us for several chapters with all the background on the Aztecs. I hope I took good notes because I think we're gonna have a test on it next week. This is how exciting this book was. Very disappointed.

The narrator, Matt Godfrey was excellent, so I bumped it up one star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Daniel Lewis.
480 reviews3 followers
December 3, 2021
I had read the other time travel series from Victor Zugg and really enjoyed them so I was anxious to get this book and I was not disappointed. If anything I think he has become a better writer because this book was even better than A Ripple in Time. I do think the end was a bit rushed and I am not sure why it was. Its not like readers hate it when books we enjoy keep going. If you like time travel books this one explores some interesting ideas and I really enjoyed that.
Profile Image for Virginia Night.
552 reviews9 followers
November 25, 2021
Different and good

Good and interesting storyline. Fast moving and will keep you interested. Good historical bits scattered throughout. Ending is a bit abrupt but good
109 reviews4 followers
February 1, 2022
I loved this time travel book. It has just the right amount of adventure, historical data, and tourist sites. Altogether exciting. I only wish the story had continued longer. It is nice to read a book with accurate detail of real life places: Grand Canyon and the pyramids of Mexico City.
4 reviews1 follower
November 30, 2024
An excellent time travel novel.

This is the second novel from Victor Zugg that I've read. I liked the one I read first. This one is much better. I find time travel stories very entertaining and thought-provoking when well written. This certainly fits the bill. Likable characters that I can empathize with and believe. The storyline is unique with unseen twists and very well researched, making it a real world in mind. I thought it would wind up spanning several books, but it had a very satisfying ending, leaving a possibility of a future storyline if the author ever feels the actors calling out to him. This book is well worth your time reading it. Most especially if you enjoy the genre.
22 reviews
May 1, 2021
Great Time Travel Story!

Great characters, great plot and an exciting adventure through time! Well thought out and a fun read right to the end. Looking forward to more volumes in the future if the author is so inclined.
10 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2021
Loved the trip each time!

Once again I loved your work ! You get every detail right .all the twist and turns lead us on a dangerous and roller coaster ride . really!y enjoyed it thanks again!
3 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2021
Good year…disappointing ending

Neat premise, though we’ve seen it before, and well developed.
I’m only giving it three stars because the ending seemed more than a little facile. It’s not like anyone clicked their heels three times, but it still left me somewhat disappointed.
56 reviews3 followers
July 4, 2021
Not just another time book

Good read and well written, plausible and logical. Nice time for dedicated reader. Enjoy a pleasant afternoon and learn about the past
209 reviews20 followers
June 12, 2024
Like the idea but the beginning is a bit slow
Profile Image for Wynne Linden.
85 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2021
Loved the complications

It was a unique time travel novel. The details were very "real" feeling. I really like this author. The only problem I have is that he writes the "romantic" parts like a man. I suppose that could be construed as "sexist". I don't mean for it to sound that way. The author is good at creating likeable characters. His dialog feels "live". In this book, the main character, Jackson Lee, did something I thought was a bit cavalier. It's barely part of the plot. I tried to convince myself that under the circumstances it was okay. I guess maybe it was - I honestly thought that it would somehow be rectified in the end. In my opinion only, it didn't feel like he had level the playing field so to speak. However, many may disagree with me. I'd have given this book a 5 star if I didn't feel a little disappointed about how all the romantic parts resolved. If you read or have already read the book and felt it was a solid 5 - then consider this a difference of acceptable character behavior. I hate being so vague but I hate spoilers - so I'm leaving it here. I recommend this book highly.
Profile Image for BriAnn Denoyer.
6 reviews
November 17, 2024
My 12 year old son chose this book for us to listen to together on a road trip. Thank god he was uninterested by the fifth chapter (“it’s sooooo many details, mom”) that he chose to listen to music instead. The graphic sexual and sexual assault parts of this book were 100% unnecessary and contributed very little to the four fractured very strange story lines (before time travel, first destination, second destination, ending before first time travel). The fact that the female lead was an academic reduced to such stereotypical demure femininity and physicality is disappointing. Why did I finish this book? Road trip entertainment, but I would have otherwise given up at the transport back to New Spain. That whole story line threw me for a loop. We went from adventure-seeking influencer to Bonnie and Clyde. Time travel fiction is my jam, but this book is not for me. Was totally unsurprised that the author was a white male Boomer from Florida when I came to rate and review and saw the author’s profile. 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for M$fortune.
263 reviews6 followers
September 17, 2022
What a read 👏🏽👏🏽
I love books like this. Not just time travel, but those captivating stories that grab you and blast off.

Let me explain:

I'm kinda... idk, A.D.D. or some undiagnosed problem that prevents me from focusing my full attention. I read a lot. But I also have an enormous pile of half read books. Not necessarily bad books, but books I find myself reading and missing entire paragraphs because I was thinking about a million other things. I hate that I can't focus on just one thing. I read for pleasure-entertainment-escapism. I don't want to think about bills, dishes, or appointments in the middle of a story.

With that said, I found myself hyperfocused and completely unaware of time or my surroundings until I finished this book— in the wee hours.

THAT is a good story. One that can actually draw MY full attention.

Anyway, I do indeed recommend this book and now im going to check out this authors other books😌
59 reviews
March 27, 2025
It was okay. Not nearly as good as his Ripple in Time series. This one had a similar plot, but instead of going back to pre Colonial America, our protagonists accidentally go back in time to 16th century Mayan Mexico. However, after supposedly making it back to their correct time, they found the future had been altered significantly ostensibly due to something they did in the past. At that point I would have told you it was a pretty good story and it was keeping me very interested. But he didn't stick the ending, in fact it ended somewhat abruptly with questionable resolution. I want Zugg to write a sequel novel that has flashbacks to events that occurred towards the end of this book that will explain some things and tie up some loose ends and bring everything together. I'll wait.
2 reviews
June 7, 2025
No logic whatsoever. The author doesn't understand the magnitude of the ripple effect and uses coincidences to add intrigue.

tags
Profile Image for ReneE.
429 reviews6 followers
May 7, 2022
Really liked this book. It's not easy to find an 'unputdownable' book, but for me, this one was one of those. It combined two of my favorite genres -- time travel and history. I even pulled my laptop out to look up some things brought up in the book (historical). I previously read his two "Ripple in Time" books, which were great reads (and historical ;-). I have put Mr. Zugg on my list of must-read writers.
Profile Image for Linda.
499 reviews
October 12, 2023
Time Shift



Zihna saved the day throughout this fantastic story of time travel. Jackson and Zihna traveled back 500 years and her knowledge of history was what keep them alive. I wasn't sure how it could end without a sequel, but was surprised at the ending. Jackson prior military knowledge was invaluable in keeping them alive throughout their adventure. Good story that I couldn't put down!
19 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2021
Wonderful take on time travel

Great story, quite different from many of the other time travel books I have enjoyed. This one dealt with the time-paradox - two people in one time... I sure hope there is a follow-up, I'd love to hear/see/believe what happens when the prof goes back to Moctezuma....
Profile Image for Paul Madsen.
501 reviews4 followers
July 2, 2021
A nice clean time travel tale

A group of adventure junkies accidentally find a cave resulting in part of the group being translated from Arizona to old Mexico to meet the then king along the way learning g that time travel is real, dangerous with challenges effecting the world and history as we know it.c
17 reviews
September 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book

It was a fun, interesting, and exciting story. I really enjoyed the part in the past, as I have studied about that era for years. It brought it to life for me. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys time travel stories. The writing was clear, and I liked the characters. 5/5
4 reviews
November 3, 2021
Really enjoyable read!

I love seeing what authors do with a time travel plot. A creative look at a place and era you wouldn't ordinarily think about. Plenty of drama and action and love with a great ending. If you like this genre give it a read. I don't think you'd be disappointed.
Profile Image for Andy.
138 reviews4 followers
December 15, 2021
Zugg hasn't lost his mojo.

A great story. Quite different fro his other books. Originally thought I had been mistaken in getting it. But the more I read the more intrigued I got. As a bonus the treatment of messing with the timelines provides much food for thought. I look forward to reading more books by Mr. Zugg.
1 review1 follower
February 17, 2022
Excellent Reading

While I am not a writer, I am a reader. I’ve started many books lately and actually closed them up without finishing because they could not hold my attention. This story finally did it for me. The story line made me excited to keep coming back to find out what happening. It is now 2:40 in the morning and I am going to start another book from Zugg.
20 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2022
What a fun read!

I love time travel books, and this one was so much fun to read. The story was mostly different from others I've read, and almost believable. I did think it ended rather abruptly, but I'm not sure what more I felt should be there. All of the details were wrapped up, leaving no loose ends. Maybe I just wanted to keep reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

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