Izzy and the Tumble Thunder

by Stuart Rowson

Izzy and the Tumble Thunder is a fast paced, fantastical time travelling adventure for young adult readers. Izzy is a misfit who lives in an old London clock shop and has been expelled from every school due to her violent temper and the mysterious happenings when she loses it. It's because of this temper that she isolates herself from making friends, yet she ends up making friends with Porter. A large for his age boy, who looks after Izzy when crazy things happen.

Izzy's dad has gone missing and she is determined to find him, even though everyone is telling her that he's dead. She has strange visions of him in danger and before she can find out from what, the vision ends. 

Izzy's adventure truly begins on her 13th birthday. Starting when she finds the Tumble Thunder, a magical time travelling pocket watch, and a letter from her dad asking her to find him in a secret drawer of a writing desk. The Tumble Thunder whisks her away through time so that she can help others fulfil their destinies and complete the Tumble Thunder. All the while, Izzy is looking for her dad, who seems to be lost in time. However, as Izzy discovers more about her special time travelling powers, the mystery of the Tumble Thunder only deepens. She must learn to harness her abilities through the Tumble Thunder so that she can understand her destiny as a Time Child. She has help from the visions of her dad and from the secretive Temporatii, who want to help her finish the Tumble Thunder and save all time.

Izzy must beware the Time Shadow, a dangerous individual who hunts after Izzy and her Tumble Thunder so that he can use it for his own nefarious ends. From the streets of London, to the highlands of Scotland he pursues Izzy and will stop at nothing to claim the Tumble Thunder and prevent Izzy from fulfilling her destiny to stop the Eschaton.

Will Izzy figure out the mystery of the Tumble Thunder and why she is able to time travel? Or will the Time Shadow thwart the Temporatii and catch her?

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Ellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzy and the Tumble Thunder is about a teenage girl trying to find her father. Her initial hope is to travel back in time using the tumble thunder to eventually be reunited with her dad. However, as the story progresses, she realises the quest is bigger than finding her father. It's about the fate of the world and defeating a villain with sinister intentions.

I thought the book was really good. I do enjoy a good YA fantasy. Overall, the book moves at a good pace. It never feels like the author lingers on a scene for too long, or, alternatively, flips from one scene to the next too quickly. I found Izzy herself to be a highly relatable protagonist - especially as someone who, much like her character, never felt like she fit in at school and struggled to make decent friends.

The descriptions are very vivid - especially when they describe the places in London. I also loved the references to history: the Knights Templar, Queen Victoria, Alexander Graham Bell, Winston Churchill, World War Two, etc. Furthermore, my favourite scene was when Izzy managed to work the tumble thunder and we are shown instead of told it worked. It showed a nice, smooth slip into another time. If you're an avid YA fantasy reader, I would definitely recommend reading Izzy and the Tumble Thunder.

[Cynthia Rowson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s really clever how it fits little pieces of history into Izzy’s adventures. You really feel you are with Izzy as she struggles to understand what the tumble thunder is and what it can do. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!
Couldn’t put it down, read in one day and i was HOOKED.
Amazing for Harry Potted fans too!
Really recommend, cant wait for the next one!!!
Proper good.