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A Jump in Time #2
The Celtic Deception
Every second counts in the fight to save all time.
Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in. With two Roman legions intent on wiping out everyone on the island drawing closer, time is running out for Dan and Sam.
Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in. With two Roman legions intent on wiping out everyone on the island drawing closer, time is running out for Dan and Sam.
302 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2023
4 people are currently reading
3633 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Varga
7 books90 followersI am a YA historical fiction author who takes great pains to ensure historical accuracy in my books, while still ensuring that I tell a great story. Although I enjoy reading and writing about all history, I have a particular fondness for European history from Greco-Roman times until the crusades.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
September 9, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Mark Sanderlin
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
The Celtic Deception is book two in A Jump in Time series. Again, a terrific adventure with Dan and Sam. This time they are among the Celts and Druids. The jump takes them to the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE. Roman legions are near, and they are here to attack the Celts.
Another wonderful novel for young adults who are interested in history. This is a nice way to learn about Celts and Druids. You can read this novel as a standalone, but it’s much better to read The Last Saxon King first to learn about a background story.
As always, great narration by Mark Sanderlin.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
The Celtic Deception is book two in A Jump in Time series. Again, a terrific adventure with Dan and Sam. This time they are among the Celts and Druids. The jump takes them to the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE. Roman legions are near, and they are here to attack the Celts.
Another wonderful novel for young adults who are interested in history. This is a nice way to learn about Celts and Druids. You can read this novel as a standalone, but it’s much better to read The Last Saxon King first to learn about a background story.
As always, great narration by Mark Sanderlin.
Thanks to Imbrifex Books for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
November 7, 2022
5 Stars!! Loved this book just as much as the first book in this series! This is the second book in the ‘A Jump in Time’ series and can be read as a standalone, although I recommend reading book one first. The author has a way of giving tons of historical facts and making it actually interesting and entertaining. Perfect read for teens and adults. I’d say it’s a mix of historical facts & fiction, mystery, time travel, with a bit of romance thrown in, lots of adventure, fighting, action, surprises around every corner, and all in all a very entertaining read that I HIGHLY recommend!! I love that I feel smarter for having read this book too, since there were so many facts included which the author then explains a bit at the end. This book had me crying over people that were mistreated and dead over 2,000 years ago and I really can’t wait for the next book in this series! So worth reading! You won’t be sorry! (As I don’t give out 5 stars often, the fact that this authors 2 books each got 5 stars from me, you know they are gonna be good!)
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
September 16, 2023
The Celtic Deception is the second book in the A Jump In Time series, it could be read as a standalone, but for me the previous book can not be missed.
This time we meet a more mature Dan, his life changed after his first jump, he had to learn to live alone and to survive the threats coming from the time jumpers community. The young guy now understands a little better the time jumping, he isn't totally disoriented like during his first journey. He stayed in contact with Sam, another jumper, and he can count on her help.
Dan and Sam find themselves in old Wales, where they have to fight alongside the Celts against the Romans in order to fix the glitch.
I'm really enjoying Andrew Varga works, as soon as I've finished this book I asked some news on the next one already.
I felt this novel deep into my bones, it was emotional, it was touching, it was thrilling. The pace was perfect for this kind of adventurous journey, I couldn't even take a breath during the most critical and crucial times.
I highly recommend you to check it out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
July 21, 2023
Coming out on 5th September, the second book in 'A Jump in Time series' takes us through the after events of Dan coming back to the present timeline and facing Victor.
While Dan doesn't want to be the one responsible to save the world's history, he and Sam end up doing it anyway. This time, travelling into the Celtic world with Romans on the attacking front, they come across an unconventional glitch in time.
The series is definitely getting me hooked with its time-jumping strategies. Now that I am a bit more educated about Norse mythology, I was able to correlate the ruins and other symbols mentioned in the book better. The sparks between Dan and Sam are twinkling throughout the book. I was enjoying the whole adventure with them, and like most of us, was in oblivion about Celtic History. The only glory we know of is the Romans, but the book gives us visibility into what happens when your head is on the chopping block of that glory.
While I did enjoy the story in book 2, Dan's trustworthy nature lands him into a lot of trouble and there were instances I felt like punching him for a wakeup call. And for that reason, book 1 is still my favourite in the series.
Thankyou @imbrifexbooks @andrewvargaauthor for the review copy and @netgalley for the Audio ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #ya
While Dan doesn't want to be the one responsible to save the world's history, he and Sam end up doing it anyway. This time, travelling into the Celtic world with Romans on the attacking front, they come across an unconventional glitch in time.
The series is definitely getting me hooked with its time-jumping strategies. Now that I am a bit more educated about Norse mythology, I was able to correlate the ruins and other symbols mentioned in the book better. The sparks between Dan and Sam are twinkling throughout the book. I was enjoying the whole adventure with them, and like most of us, was in oblivion about Celtic History. The only glory we know of is the Romans, but the book gives us visibility into what happens when your head is on the chopping block of that glory.
While I did enjoy the story in book 2, Dan's trustworthy nature lands him into a lot of trouble and there were instances I felt like punching him for a wakeup call. And for that reason, book 1 is still my favourite in the series.
Thankyou @imbrifexbooks @andrewvargaauthor for the review copy and @netgalley for the Audio ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #ya
October 14, 2022
The second novel in the Jump in Time series, The Celtic Deception can certainly be read as a stand alone. Daniel and Sam are time jumpers who go though time to correct a glitch in the time continuum. This time they jump to Wales in 60 AD during the Roman takeover of the druids on the island of Anglesey. An exciting read this one is easily enjoyed by young and old alike. Historically informative in the most pleasurable way. An excellent read for history and adventure lovers.
#TheCelticDeception#NetGalley
#TheCelticDeception#NetGalley
October 23, 2022
It has been four months since Dan returned from his first jump in time with Sam. Although his father is still in the hospital in a coma, he has attained some sense of normalcy by going to school and studying history now with a renewed interest. After an alarming encounter with the man who attacked his dad, a time glitch sends both Dan and Sam to Wales in the year 60 AD, during the roman invasion of the territory occupied by the celts. Not a lot is known about the celts, but one thing is sure: the upcoming battle with the romans is a sure defeat. As Dan tries to survive without changing the course of history, he experiences betrayal, heartache, and true friendship, with the definite possibility that he may not be able to jump back to his life.
One of the things I highly value when I am reading a book is its capacity to pique my curiosity; to inspire me to learn more. This is exactly what the author does with the second installment of the “Jump in Time” series. The plot is agile and interesting, full of historical facts without being boring. The characters are relatable and believable in their logic and choices. I especially enjoyed both characters’ quick thinking and persistence, and the humor interlaced in the novel.
Overall, another great read by this author and a five-star book for me. I highly recommend this series.
If you love action, jump in time themes, and history, look no further; this book is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book prior to its release.
One of the things I highly value when I am reading a book is its capacity to pique my curiosity; to inspire me to learn more. This is exactly what the author does with the second installment of the “Jump in Time” series. The plot is agile and interesting, full of historical facts without being boring. The characters are relatable and believable in their logic and choices. I especially enjoyed both characters’ quick thinking and persistence, and the humor interlaced in the novel.
Overall, another great read by this author and a five-star book for me. I highly recommend this series.
If you love action, jump in time themes, and history, look no further; this book is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book prior to its release.
November 5, 2022
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Imbrifex Books, for sharing an ARC of this amazing fantasy story with me !!!
“Waiting for a new glitch to appear became a daily agony”
“But sometimes there are many paths leading to the same destination”
Wow !! I was a fan of book one which completely changed my way of seeing time travel but this one … if possible it was even better !!! I enjoyed Dan and Sam’s journey through Celts and Romans’ fights so much this time around that I actually couldn’t put the book down.
I felt completely enraptured but the plot and the mystery still connected to Victor and both their real lives.
Again I managed to create some friends in a place where, technically, you shouldn’t have them.
After all if you jump in the past … it’s not like you’re gonna be there forever … right?
I loved how the author developed the relationship between Dan and Sam and how much stronger they both are when they’re together, if compared to when they’re apart !! I love how much they find solace in their friendship and they trust each other even during the darkest and most doubtful of times !!
I had so much fun reading this second instalment and I actually both cannot wait for it to be out and the story to grow!!!
“Just two heroic time jumpers celebrating the fact that they aren’t dead”
“Here’s to you Atto, my friend. And to doing the impossible”
“Waiting for a new glitch to appear became a daily agony”
“But sometimes there are many paths leading to the same destination”
Wow !! I was a fan of book one which completely changed my way of seeing time travel but this one … if possible it was even better !!! I enjoyed Dan and Sam’s journey through Celts and Romans’ fights so much this time around that I actually couldn’t put the book down.
I felt completely enraptured but the plot and the mystery still connected to Victor and both their real lives.
Again I managed to create some friends in a place where, technically, you shouldn’t have them.
After all if you jump in the past … it’s not like you’re gonna be there forever … right?
I loved how the author developed the relationship between Dan and Sam and how much stronger they both are when they’re together, if compared to when they’re apart !! I love how much they find solace in their friendship and they trust each other even during the darkest and most doubtful of times !!
I had so much fun reading this second instalment and I actually both cannot wait for it to be out and the story to grow!!!
“Just two heroic time jumpers celebrating the fact that they aren’t dead”
“Here’s to you Atto, my friend. And to doing the impossible”
February 12, 2024
The Celtic Deception is the second book in the Jump in Time series but could be read as a stand-alone story. Once again 17 year old time jumper Dan faces the threat and evil plotting of villain Victor Stahl. Though Victor has forbidden him from time jumping, Dan and fellow jumper Sam travel back in history to 60 AD Celtic Wales where they must once more solve a time glitch in order to return home. Celts are fleeing the approaching Roman army which is intent on destroying their homes and culture. Dan and Sam encounter druids, make Celtic friends and meet a suspicious stranded fellow time jumper. In the course of the Roman attack, Dan must once again fight and faces threats to his life and his very future. Sam searches for the original glitch while Dan creates one of his own. Will he and Sam make it home?
Once again Andrew Varga has given us an exciting story full of action, suspense, raw emotion and historical detail. Dan and Sam’s relationship evolves over the course of their travels. Several hints of what will be explored in the next book are included at the end of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and eagerly await the next instalment in the series! I give this book five stars!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.
Once again Andrew Varga has given us an exciting story full of action, suspense, raw emotion and historical detail. Dan and Sam’s relationship evolves over the course of their travels. Several hints of what will be explored in the next book are included at the end of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and eagerly await the next instalment in the series! I give this book five stars!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.
March 9, 2024
Friends Romans Celts get ready for war
Loved this sequel good to see some romance between Dan and Sam
Loved this sequel good to see some romance between Dan and Sam
November 15, 2022
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
I did not read the first novel but "The Celtic Deception" makes sure that you can catch up right away. It's about time travelling teenagers who are hunted by other time travellers. In this book, the two protagonists travel to Boudiccan times Wales. They meet a time traveling druid who has been stuck there for a while and are threatened by the arrival of the Roman conquerors.
As somebody with a Celtic Studies degree rating this book, I am sorry to say that I am not happy: it was poorly researched, the othering was ridiculous, and the Celts seemed useless and were ridiculed throughout - of course an American teen needs to save them... In connection to the narrative, it was terribly predictable and the teenage protagonists feel older than they are. I was quite annoyed by this stereotypical and not really properly researched take on Wales and the oversimplification and overgeneralisation of all the Celtic content. I did like parts of the story though, such as the somewhat mad Celtic dude leaving a message. That was funny.
But overall disappointing, but I haven't found an Andrew Varga book that I actually enjoy yet, so maybe I am part of the problem as well.
I did not read the first novel but "The Celtic Deception" makes sure that you can catch up right away. It's about time travelling teenagers who are hunted by other time travellers. In this book, the two protagonists travel to Boudiccan times Wales. They meet a time traveling druid who has been stuck there for a while and are threatened by the arrival of the Roman conquerors.
As somebody with a Celtic Studies degree rating this book, I am sorry to say that I am not happy: it was poorly researched, the othering was ridiculous, and the Celts seemed useless and were ridiculed throughout - of course an American teen needs to save them... In connection to the narrative, it was terribly predictable and the teenage protagonists feel older than they are. I was quite annoyed by this stereotypical and not really properly researched take on Wales and the oversimplification and overgeneralisation of all the Celtic content. I did like parts of the story though, such as the somewhat mad Celtic dude leaving a message. That was funny.
But overall disappointing, but I haven't found an Andrew Varga book that I actually enjoy yet, so maybe I am part of the problem as well.
July 8, 2023
This was fun. I love the characters. Dan and Sam are definitely not one-dimensional. But they are young and that comes across really well. They solve problems using both cleverness and luck.
The story was great and made me want to immerse myself in more Celtic lore.
And more importantly, the plot thickens making me look forward to the next instalment of this wonderful series.
I didn't expect I'd get choked up and even shed a couple of tears around the halfway point of the book. It was beautifully done.
As a society, we tend to be very critical about how time travel is written (me included), as if we know the correct way of travelling through time. Well, I have to say that since time travel has not been achieved, this is just as realistic as any other magic system and whatever the author says, goes. And Andrew Varga has created a very nice, for now soft, system.
Will anyone else notice the Latin words passed off as Celtic by Vindiorix? This is not a mistake, the author mentioned doing this. It was a fun discovery.
The story was great and made me want to immerse myself in more Celtic lore.
And more importantly, the plot thickens making me look forward to the next instalment of this wonderful series.
I didn't expect I'd get choked up and even shed a couple of tears around the halfway point of the book. It was beautifully done.
As a society, we tend to be very critical about how time travel is written (me included), as if we know the correct way of travelling through time. Well, I have to say that since time travel has not been achieved, this is just as realistic as any other magic system and whatever the author says, goes. And Andrew Varga has created a very nice, for now soft, system.
Will anyone else notice the Latin words passed off as Celtic by Vindiorix? This is not a mistake, the author mentioned doing this. It was a fun discovery.
August 4, 2023
This is 2nd book of A Jump in Time Series.
There was fighting and death but still a good book. I knew some about the Celts so I did learn some more history.
Dan is 17 years old so a good young adult read.
Back of the book:
"Every second counts in the fight to save all time.
Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in. With 2 Roman legions intent on wiping out everyone on the island drwaing closer; time is running out for Dan and Sam."
I won a copy from Good Reads, opinions are mine.
There was fighting and death but still a good book. I knew some about the Celts so I did learn some more history.
Dan is 17 years old so a good young adult read.
Back of the book:
"Every second counts in the fight to save all time.
Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in. With 2 Roman legions intent on wiping out everyone on the island drwaing closer; time is running out for Dan and Sam."
I won a copy from Good Reads, opinions are mine.
August 16, 2023
This is such a great series, I love the historical side and the time jumping. I feel for Dan and Sam as they battle against victor through past and present. I am 1000% rooting for Dan with his crush on sam but I think he is wearing her down. The author does a great job of weaving in real life matters such as grief, loss and parental problems. Fantasy at its best.
October 11, 2022
He’s done it again! A brilliant addition to this already promising series. I was thrilled to rejoin Sam and Daniel as they jump through time to save history as well as our future. Mr. Varga continues to captivate with his talents for interweaving historical fact with adventure, humor, and romance in this thrilling tale on the shores of Wales. History enthusiasts and casual readers alike will find themselves captivated by the constant twists and turns our heroes face. Hard as I tried I was unable to put this book down and am eagerly awaiting the next in this series. I loved how historically accurate this book strived to be despite the lack of knowledge we have from that period. I can’t think of a better way of bringing the past to life for teens and adults.
March 21, 2023
Bottom line: This was a fun, informative, engaging, and easy read. I'd recommend for age 12 on up. I'm well above that age and enjoyed it very much, and I think my 13-year-old would have also if I'd shared it with him (I pre-ordered a physical copy to do just that).
Even being book 2 in a series, this was easy to jump into and navigate without having read book 1. That being said, having read it, I want to go back and read book 1!
The plot moves at a mostly steady pace, with good speed to keep the reader interested but not overwhelmed. Even during slower-paced times, there's always forward momentum and something to engage the reader.
The main character is a teenaged boy and kind of cringey at times, but in a realistic way, so it's just part of reading about teen protagonists. His female best friend is kind of the mother/ cool head of the pair. I wouldn't really say that I like either character, but I enjoy reading their story and I don't dislike them.
It was fun gaining a bit of historical knowledge while reading a fictional story. The characters from the time in history really won my heart, and the glimpse into their lives makes me want to know more about their culture. I also want to know the characters themselves, and I'm sad that not only are they fictional, even if they were real, they'd have died nearly 2,000 years ago. Atto, always in my heart.
Some readers may prefer that the history branch out into other areas of the world, but I'd be perfectly content staying solely in European history, even just that of modern-day UK. There are plenty of stories to tell, and I personally love the history of the region.
One thing I would love, to enhance the experience of the book, is an excellent audiobook narration of it, complete with accents. I can't get accents right in my head, let alone if I tried to produce them with my mouth, so I'd love if someone else would do that for me to enjoy! : -) Or maybe there already is an audiobook! I need to check.
Anyway, I really look forward to reading more in this series and I'm so glad I came across it.
***I read an advanced copy of this book for free through NetGalley. The book being free to me did not influence my review, as I strongly value genuine input from others and want to provide genuine guidance myself.***
EDIT: I went back and read book 1, and while it was nice to flesh out the events that were referenced in this book, it isn’t completely necessary. I would almost say to skip book 1, as a matter of fact, because the way that Dan is presented here in book 2, as a capable leader, was not at all supported by the story in book 1, as it was supposed to have been. Having not read book 1, it was easier to imagine that Dan had performed some amazing feats that earned the confidence that he and Sam had in his leadership abilities during book 2. It turns out that there was no reason for them to believe he could accomplish what needed to be done in book 2, based on the events from book 1. It lessened my experience of both books a bit. Still, the overall stories are compelling in both books, and I plan to continue the series.
Even being book 2 in a series, this was easy to jump into and navigate without having read book 1. That being said, having read it, I want to go back and read book 1!
The plot moves at a mostly steady pace, with good speed to keep the reader interested but not overwhelmed. Even during slower-paced times, there's always forward momentum and something to engage the reader.
The main character is a teenaged boy and kind of cringey at times, but in a realistic way, so it's just part of reading about teen protagonists. His female best friend is kind of the mother/ cool head of the pair. I wouldn't really say that I like either character, but I enjoy reading their story and I don't dislike them.
It was fun gaining a bit of historical knowledge while reading a fictional story. The characters from the time in history really won my heart, and the glimpse into their lives makes me want to know more about their culture. I also want to know the characters themselves, and I'm sad that not only are they fictional, even if they were real, they'd have died nearly 2,000 years ago. Atto, always in my heart.
Some readers may prefer that the history branch out into other areas of the world, but I'd be perfectly content staying solely in European history, even just that of modern-day UK. There are plenty of stories to tell, and I personally love the history of the region.
One thing I would love, to enhance the experience of the book, is an excellent audiobook narration of it, complete with accents. I can't get accents right in my head, let alone if I tried to produce them with my mouth, so I'd love if someone else would do that for me to enjoy! : -) Or maybe there already is an audiobook! I need to check.
Anyway, I really look forward to reading more in this series and I'm so glad I came across it.
***I read an advanced copy of this book for free through NetGalley. The book being free to me did not influence my review, as I strongly value genuine input from others and want to provide genuine guidance myself.***
EDIT: I went back and read book 1, and while it was nice to flesh out the events that were referenced in this book, it isn’t completely necessary. I would almost say to skip book 1, as a matter of fact, because the way that Dan is presented here in book 2, as a capable leader, was not at all supported by the story in book 1, as it was supposed to have been. Having not read book 1, it was easier to imagine that Dan had performed some amazing feats that earned the confidence that he and Sam had in his leadership abilities during book 2. It turns out that there was no reason for them to believe he could accomplish what needed to be done in book 2, based on the events from book 1. It lessened my experience of both books a bit. Still, the overall stories are compelling in both books, and I plan to continue the series.
January 5, 2023
4.5/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second entry in Andrew Varga’s Jump In Time series. Dan and Sam’s story continues on from the Last Saxon King. What a great mix of history and fantasy! Good character development is continued with their next jump back in time and it is a really fun, fast read.
Dan Renfrew & his time jumping partner, Sam, are teens from our time who are descended from a long line of secret heroes who correct glitches in the time continuum of the past to ensure that our present is kept safe.
This time, Dan & Sam’s adventures take them to a period that less is known about. A time when the Celts and Romans are clashing over territory in what is now known as the U.K. They easily find each other and then join a group of Celts progressing east away from their homes, running from the advance of the Roman forces. Their group has been trying to get to the Island of the Druids where they hope to be safe with other fleeing Celts.
Once on the island, Dan’s tattoo gives him away as a time jumper - one of the Druids is also a time jumper who has been stuck in this time for a while. He has risen in the ranks such that he can have underlings check all the males coming onto the island for the time jumper tattoo. As it turns out, this Druid was the cause of the time glitch. He was trying to contact other time jumpers. He is able to give Dan and Sam (and the reader) a little more information about the jump rods.
Since less is actually known about this time in history, it is difficult to know how accurate it is; but the fantasy aspect makes up for lots and the story is very entertaining. The interactions with the one Celt couple (Atto & his wife) are a little contrived, but forgivable as they help move the story along.
A very good second entry to the series. Can’t wait to read more!
This is the second entry in Andrew Varga’s Jump In Time series. Dan and Sam’s story continues on from the Last Saxon King. What a great mix of history and fantasy! Good character development is continued with their next jump back in time and it is a really fun, fast read.
Dan Renfrew & his time jumping partner, Sam, are teens from our time who are descended from a long line of secret heroes who correct glitches in the time continuum of the past to ensure that our present is kept safe.
This time, Dan & Sam’s adventures take them to a period that less is known about. A time when the Celts and Romans are clashing over territory in what is now known as the U.K. They easily find each other and then join a group of Celts progressing east away from their homes, running from the advance of the Roman forces. Their group has been trying to get to the Island of the Druids where they hope to be safe with other fleeing Celts.
Once on the island, Dan’s tattoo gives him away as a time jumper - one of the Druids is also a time jumper who has been stuck in this time for a while. He has risen in the ranks such that he can have underlings check all the males coming onto the island for the time jumper tattoo. As it turns out, this Druid was the cause of the time glitch. He was trying to contact other time jumpers. He is able to give Dan and Sam (and the reader) a little more information about the jump rods.
Since less is actually known about this time in history, it is difficult to know how accurate it is; but the fantasy aspect makes up for lots and the story is very entertaining. The interactions with the one Celt couple (Atto & his wife) are a little contrived, but forgivable as they help move the story along.
A very good second entry to the series. Can’t wait to read more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
The Celtic Deception
Jump In Time #2
Andrew Varga
This is the second book in the Jump In Time series, while I recommend reading them in order this book does stand well alone. The premise of this series focuses on Daniel the descent of time jumpers; they travel to the past to fix anomalies in time that portend to change history. Once Dan has jumped to the past he must remain there until he repairs the past and sets it on the right course.
In the first book Daniel walks in on an attack on his father. Before losing consciousness his father passes on the responsibility of time jumping to Daniel. He is transported to 1066 where the Vikings are destroying England in the north and the Norman army is making preparations to attack the south. While Dan struggles to keep the past on the correct path a band of malicious self-serving time jumpers determined to change past events impend him.
In book 2, The Celtic Deception Daniel’s father is still in a coma. Seventeen-year-old, Daniel and Sam jump to 60 AD Wales. The Celts are escaping the looming attack of the Roman army committed to destroying their way of life. As Daniel fights for his life, he accidentally creates a new glitch in time. Sam searches for the original glitch. Both young men wonder if they will ever see their time again.
Victor Stahl is the evil bad guy in this series. He demands Daniel and Sam pledge their fidelity to him or their jump sticks so they can no longer time jump. A stranded time jumper created the glitch in time in hopes of being rescued.
The characters of Daniel and Sam complement each other. The first book ended rather brusquely leaving unanswered questions. The same thread continues in book 2. This is what connects this series. I doubt we have all the answers until the series ends. The plot is a mixture of historical fact and fiction, history, and sci fiction. The target audience for this book in my opinion is 13 and higher. I highly recommend this series.
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Jump In Time #2
Andrew Varga
This is the second book in the Jump In Time series, while I recommend reading them in order this book does stand well alone. The premise of this series focuses on Daniel the descent of time jumpers; they travel to the past to fix anomalies in time that portend to change history. Once Dan has jumped to the past he must remain there until he repairs the past and sets it on the right course.
In the first book Daniel walks in on an attack on his father. Before losing consciousness his father passes on the responsibility of time jumping to Daniel. He is transported to 1066 where the Vikings are destroying England in the north and the Norman army is making preparations to attack the south. While Dan struggles to keep the past on the correct path a band of malicious self-serving time jumpers determined to change past events impend him.
In book 2, The Celtic Deception Daniel’s father is still in a coma. Seventeen-year-old, Daniel and Sam jump to 60 AD Wales. The Celts are escaping the looming attack of the Roman army committed to destroying their way of life. As Daniel fights for his life, he accidentally creates a new glitch in time. Sam searches for the original glitch. Both young men wonder if they will ever see their time again.
Victor Stahl is the evil bad guy in this series. He demands Daniel and Sam pledge their fidelity to him or their jump sticks so they can no longer time jump. A stranded time jumper created the glitch in time in hopes of being rescued.
The characters of Daniel and Sam complement each other. The first book ended rather brusquely leaving unanswered questions. The same thread continues in book 2. This is what connects this series. I doubt we have all the answers until the series ends. The plot is a mixture of historical fact and fiction, history, and sci fiction. The target audience for this book in my opinion is 13 and higher. I highly recommend this series.
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February 5, 2023
The Celtic Deception (Book 2, A Jump in Time Novel) - Andrew Varga
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Andrew Varga is an historian as well as an author. This is his second novel, the first being “The Last Saxon King”.
Dan Renfrew is once again by himself, just hoping and praying his Dad would awake from his coma and tell him everything was going to be okay. Tell him everything he hadn’t about time jumping and Victor Stahl. And hopefully he could slowly build something with Sam.
Yet once again the fragile peace he had built for himself is once again shattered by Victor Stahl. Forcing Dan to give his father’s time jump device to him, and falsely promise to never again jump or intervene in any glitches in time.
But the second Victor and his goon left his apartment the first thing he did was call Sam and tell her everything. Then the spare time jump device Dan has, warms up indicating there is another glitch in the time line. So off he and Sam go, back into the past to fix the glitch and see what trouble Victor is causing now.
Dan and Sam find themselves thrust amongst the Celts, fighting the Romans, fighting for the survival of their kind. Yet, as much as Sam and Dan would want to help the Celts win, history wrote that the Romans brutally slaughtered them all. So, as they find their way trying to discover the time glitch, getting to know these people, it becomes ever harder not to interfere.
“The Celtic Deception” although short was a very entertaining and pleasurable read. I loved how although it was a young adult adventure story it still had lots of historical facts all throughout the story. For me it just made it that much more engaging and enjoyable. There was also a nice little twist at the ending and I really hoping for a lot in the next instalment of the series.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Andrew Varga is an historian as well as an author. This is his second novel, the first being “The Last Saxon King”.
Dan Renfrew is once again by himself, just hoping and praying his Dad would awake from his coma and tell him everything was going to be okay. Tell him everything he hadn’t about time jumping and Victor Stahl. And hopefully he could slowly build something with Sam.
Yet once again the fragile peace he had built for himself is once again shattered by Victor Stahl. Forcing Dan to give his father’s time jump device to him, and falsely promise to never again jump or intervene in any glitches in time.
But the second Victor and his goon left his apartment the first thing he did was call Sam and tell her everything. Then the spare time jump device Dan has, warms up indicating there is another glitch in the time line. So off he and Sam go, back into the past to fix the glitch and see what trouble Victor is causing now.
Dan and Sam find themselves thrust amongst the Celts, fighting the Romans, fighting for the survival of their kind. Yet, as much as Sam and Dan would want to help the Celts win, history wrote that the Romans brutally slaughtered them all. So, as they find their way trying to discover the time glitch, getting to know these people, it becomes ever harder not to interfere.
“The Celtic Deception” although short was a very entertaining and pleasurable read. I loved how although it was a young adult adventure story it still had lots of historical facts all throughout the story. For me it just made it that much more engaging and enjoyable. There was also a nice little twist at the ending and I really hoping for a lot in the next instalment of the series.
November 14, 2022
I really like this series. I think this book would stand alone well, but it would probably be better to read them in order, as this is a continuation of the first story which was left with a cliffhanger.
Our teen heroes time travel to Celtic Wales 2000 years in the past. An adventure ensues similar to the first book but in a different setting. They solve the timeline glitch and return to the present and still have to deal with the cliffhanger problem from book 1. I found this part of the story somewhat abrupt. It still is not resolved by the end of this novel; therefore, this part of the story is the thread binding all of the novels in the series together. The Celtic story came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the novel.
This series is intended for YA reader. I would rate it PG-13 for language, violence, and teenage boy fantasies. It's a fun adventure story that I think the target audience would enjoy. The characters and historical setting are well-developed. The dialogue is believable and includes an entertaining dose of humor and sarcasm.
These books would make a great tv (or streaming) series. Their episodic nature combined with the ongoing plot make it an engaging series. I will definitely read the next installment.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Our teen heroes time travel to Celtic Wales 2000 years in the past. An adventure ensues similar to the first book but in a different setting. They solve the timeline glitch and return to the present and still have to deal with the cliffhanger problem from book 1. I found this part of the story somewhat abrupt. It still is not resolved by the end of this novel; therefore, this part of the story is the thread binding all of the novels in the series together. The Celtic story came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the novel.
This series is intended for YA reader. I would rate it PG-13 for language, violence, and teenage boy fantasies. It's a fun adventure story that I think the target audience would enjoy. The characters and historical setting are well-developed. The dialogue is believable and includes an entertaining dose of humor and sarcasm.
These books would make a great tv (or streaming) series. Their episodic nature combined with the ongoing plot make it an engaging series. I will definitely read the next installment.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley, Imbrifex Audio and the author, for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Celtic Deception is the second book in A jump in time series. In this book Dan is back in his time being a regular school kid waiting for another time glitch for him to jump to, so is his beat friend Sam. The book starts off a little time after the end of the last book. We have our main villain appearing and threatening Dan to stay out of his way and his wicked plans. And then voila the a glitch occurs that takes them both to 60 AD Wales, just before the Romans attack the Celts in the battle of Anglesey. They need to find the glitch, solve it and leave before the battle starts all while trying to find clues as to the real conspiracy is.
I enjoyed this one way more than book 1. The dialogues and structure was also much better. The supporting character however was kind of portrayed as, to be crass, stupid naive or stupid greedy people. I don't think all of the human society even in that era fits into just these 2 categories. I both read and listened to this book at the same time and it was fun and fast paced to do that. The narrator did the job extremely skillfully.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Dan's adventures.
The Celtic Deception is the second book in A jump in time series. In this book Dan is back in his time being a regular school kid waiting for another time glitch for him to jump to, so is his beat friend Sam. The book starts off a little time after the end of the last book. We have our main villain appearing and threatening Dan to stay out of his way and his wicked plans. And then voila the a glitch occurs that takes them both to 60 AD Wales, just before the Romans attack the Celts in the battle of Anglesey. They need to find the glitch, solve it and leave before the battle starts all while trying to find clues as to the real conspiracy is.
I enjoyed this one way more than book 1. The dialogues and structure was also much better. The supporting character however was kind of portrayed as, to be crass, stupid naive or stupid greedy people. I don't think all of the human society even in that era fits into just these 2 categories. I both read and listened to this book at the same time and it was fun and fast paced to do that. The narrator did the job extremely skillfully.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Dan's adventures.
February 17, 2023
“The Celtic Deception” is a fun YA read that blends history and fantasy. I haven’t read the first book, but I found this story easy to follow. Seventeen-year-old time jumper, Dan, comes home to an unwelcomed visitor who was responsible for his father being in a coma. I was immediately drawn into the story. Although the visitor had taken something that seemed so important, Dan was carefully trained by his father and was prepared for that. Soon, Dan and his jumping partner, Samantha, need to make a jump to fix history. I loved the time they went into 60 CE when Romans dominated, and Celts were on the run or fighting back. The relationships they developed in the Celt tribe had me rooting for them, even against all odds and history. A read meant for teens, but adults can appreciate it too. I thoroughly enjoyed this mix of the reality of a historical moment and time-traveling teens trying to survive while not changing the past that would affect the future.
November 26, 2022
Very interesting, loved the history! Dan and Sam are time jumpers, with the help of "jump sticks", and travel to locations in time where there are anomalies. They are to correct these anomalies and then they can jump back to their own time. There has to be a bad guy, and of course he's rich and powerful, enter Victor. He wants their allegiance or their jump sticks so they can't jump. Dan and Sam learn through their sticks of an anomaly and jump back to the time of the Celts fighting the Romans. They find another jumper there whose partner had taken his stick and left him back their. He created the issue to get jumpers to come and rescue him! What happens next is the whole story! It was a little disjointed, but that could be because of the time jumping. It was a good read and makes me interested in the first and the next! Hoping there is more for Dan and Sam to learn about themselves!
December 31, 2022
The Celtic Deception is Dan and Sam's second time-travelling adventure, all the way back to the island of Anglesey when the Romans conquered the last Celtic stronghold in Wales. Andrew Varga's writing has eradicated several of the weaker parts encountered in The Last Saxon King and we begin to see a larger scope in the series.
We see the Romans through their opponents' eyes, a point of view which is not common nowadays, and the book scratches the surface of the lost in time ancient Celtic culture.
The dialogue has improved and the main characters feel way less generic and bland than they did in the first book of the series - although Dan remains unpleasantly thirsty.
I am looking forward to the 3rd book which will (judging from the title) not take place in Britain!
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC!
We see the Romans through their opponents' eyes, a point of view which is not common nowadays, and the book scratches the surface of the lost in time ancient Celtic culture.
The dialogue has improved and the main characters feel way less generic and bland than they did in the first book of the series - although Dan remains unpleasantly thirsty.
I am looking forward to the 3rd book which will (judging from the title) not take place in Britain!
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC!
December 31, 2022
I actually recieved this book as a review copy. Now, I have to get the first in the series and am hoping that there are many more to follow.
This author does an excellent job of giving historical facts that make the story all the more believable! From the first page until the last I was totally invested in the story and the characters.
A pair of teenagers connected only by their time-jumping abilities who met in a previous time jump. Not only must they survive the Roman attack on the Celts but they must also fight a much worse enemy in the form of a powerful man who is also a time jumper.
With all the twists and turns in this story there is so much to love about it!
I absolutely cannot wait until another book comes out and I will be looking into purchasing the first in the series.
This author does an excellent job of giving historical facts that make the story all the more believable! From the first page until the last I was totally invested in the story and the characters.
A pair of teenagers connected only by their time-jumping abilities who met in a previous time jump. Not only must they survive the Roman attack on the Celts but they must also fight a much worse enemy in the form of a powerful man who is also a time jumper.
With all the twists and turns in this story there is so much to love about it!
I absolutely cannot wait until another book comes out and I will be looking into purchasing the first in the series.
November 19, 2022
I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I did not read the first book in this series but easily followed the story and this could be read as a stand alone with no trouble at all. However, I will be going back and reading the first because I enjoyed this so much. I requested the ARC based soley on the title due to my own English and Welsh heritage and interest in the Celtic history.
The mix of historical fictition and sci fi/fantasy was intriguing and kept the story exciting from page one.
Dan and Sam work wonderfully and compliment each other so well. Dans devotion and commitment to his friends is a theme that always keeps me interested in a story.
I can't wait to see what other adventures they find themselves on!
I did not read the first book in this series but easily followed the story and this could be read as a stand alone with no trouble at all. However, I will be going back and reading the first because I enjoyed this so much. I requested the ARC based soley on the title due to my own English and Welsh heritage and interest in the Celtic history.
The mix of historical fictition and sci fi/fantasy was intriguing and kept the story exciting from page one.
Dan and Sam work wonderfully and compliment each other so well. Dans devotion and commitment to his friends is a theme that always keeps me interested in a story.
I can't wait to see what other adventures they find themselves on!
March 23, 2023
A YA time travel adventure that takes place in 1st century Celtic Wales and today. This is a sequel, so make sure you read The Last Saxon King first for the best reading experience. The author has again researched the historical time period in depth and the battle scenes are described pretty authentically based on most readily available information. Some intense themes are incorporated, but not as detailed as you'd find in adult historical fantasy novels. Readers get to meet additional time travelers and even though most of the book is set in the far past, there's plenty going on in the MCs' current timeline too. For fans of historical fantasy, time travel adventures, and YA fiction. I'll definitely keep reading this series!
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December 29, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the first title in the Jump in Time, so I had high expectations for The Celtic Deception. Mr. Varga did not disappoint with a similar blend of mystery, history, and adventure.
Instead of the middle ages, Dan and Sam find themselves surrounded by Celts on the verge of annihilation by the Romans. They soon discover that the time glitch was made by another time jumper who had been stuck in the past without the needed rod to return to his present.
Along with deepening their relationship, Dan and Sam learn a bit more about time jumping from him.
All in all, an enjoyable read. My middle school son actually read this title before I had a chance and he gave it thumbs up.
Instead of the middle ages, Dan and Sam find themselves surrounded by Celts on the verge of annihilation by the Romans. They soon discover that the time glitch was made by another time jumper who had been stuck in the past without the needed rod to return to his present.
Along with deepening their relationship, Dan and Sam learn a bit more about time jumping from him.
All in all, an enjoyable read. My middle school son actually read this title before I had a chance and he gave it thumbs up.
March 5, 2023
This book was amazing. I lived every second of it. There are highs and lows. I went through so many emotions while reading this book. There were parts where I was devastated and just couldn't read on and also parts where I just couldn't put the book down. I love this series. The characters, the adventures, the time traveling, and the events that they go through. Everything about this book is amazing, and I can't wait for the next book.
March 9, 2023
Another good book of time travel featuring Dan and Sam. The thread involving Victor is somewhat confusing in terms of what is happening. I thoroughly enjoyed the time travel and the interactions between Dan and the Celts. The history is indeed interesting and fascinating. Looking forward to the next book hopefully in the series
February 21, 2023
The Celtic Deception
Traveling through time, battling with Romans, this novel should have been an easy slam dunk for fans of historical fiction. (It’s not) Andrew Varga’s The Celtic Deception is full of potential for its thrilling actions scenes but falls flat when it comes to the characters. This is the second book in the Jump in Time series, and one I read through Netgalley. The book follows Dan, a teenage boy who every female in the book falls head over heels for. With the use of a time rod he is able to have the ability to jump through time and travel back in history whenever there is a “glitch” that needs to be fixed. This book takes place a few months after the last one, and Dan is having a difficult time. His Father is in a coma because of Victor, an ambitious fellow time jumper who seeks to control who time jumps. (Also, he wants world domination- because bad guy!) Thankfully Dan isn’t completely alone, his plucky friend Sam is also on his side and together they form a plan to travel back in time to try to find answers and allies in order to stop Victor.
Oh did I mention Sam is a girl? And girls aren’t supposed to be able to time jump? And she keeps telling Dan she isn’t interested in him and has no desire to be with him….(I bet you can guess what happens in the end, no female no matter what they say can resist the Mary Sueness of the intrepid main character!)
The books really picks up and the parts I most enjoyed was everything I learned about history! Sam and Dan land in (what they soon figure out!) the Celtic island of Angsley in 60 CE. What should be a simple get in and get out mission soon becomes dire as they are thrust in middle of the Celtics fleeing their homes. (Strategic fleeing they say!) The Romans are on the warpath and are slaughtering, enslaving, and raping anyone who gets in their way. Dan and Sam must find the glitch and fix it before the Romans catch up to them.
When I say the writing and characters fell flat, I mean it really fell flat. There is one sentence that really stood out to me. Dan sees a pretty girl with a guy he thinks is unattractive. His inner thought: “what is a babe like that doing with a guy like him?” (You see what I mean now y’all?)
We also get some assault scenes, because what is a historical fiction by a male author without them! Don’t worry though! Heroic and noble Dan gives one of them his cloak. (Eye roll)
By the end of the story our hero Dan is incredibly rich and able to take Sam on a trip and send her lots of money. (Did I mention she comes from a broken home with a creepy step dad? Because of course she does) I have to wonder if Andrew Varga has actually ever had a female read his book. It could have hugely benefited form sensitivity readers. The plot and concept was great, but the characters and all the dialogue was so badly written. (I am not going to compare it to fan fiction, because I have read some fantastic fan fiction!) I know it seems like I hated this book, when really I enjoyed the battle scenes, and everything I learned. It is just I couldn’t get back the unrealistic nature of the characters and how they were written. I would not recommend this book.
TLDR: Great concept, poorly written females, mary sue main character, fantastic battle scenes
The Cover
This is probably one of the worst book covers I have seen in a while. If you google fantasy or Celtic font types, the cover font is one of the first to pop up. There is a ton of green on the page, and you really lose sight of the title and everything else with all the green. There is no symbolism, no hint of what the book is about. We do get a full lipped female cast in shadow on the front, which makes little sense to me. The main character is male and his is the only view point we see. The females get little attention in this book, unless they are fawning over Dan or banding together to fight for him. Instead of a bad Photoshop job, I would loved to have seen an illustrated scene of Dan and Sam in the boat on the way to the island. Budget aside, even a boat in the water with the island in the background would have been a better cover.
It should be noted that I am coming from a graphic design and art history background, and it always sucks to see books that are good have bad covers. (Though I guess in this case the cover matches the book!)
Traveling through time, battling with Romans, this novel should have been an easy slam dunk for fans of historical fiction. (It’s not) Andrew Varga’s The Celtic Deception is full of potential for its thrilling actions scenes but falls flat when it comes to the characters. This is the second book in the Jump in Time series, and one I read through Netgalley. The book follows Dan, a teenage boy who every female in the book falls head over heels for. With the use of a time rod he is able to have the ability to jump through time and travel back in history whenever there is a “glitch” that needs to be fixed. This book takes place a few months after the last one, and Dan is having a difficult time. His Father is in a coma because of Victor, an ambitious fellow time jumper who seeks to control who time jumps. (Also, he wants world domination- because bad guy!) Thankfully Dan isn’t completely alone, his plucky friend Sam is also on his side and together they form a plan to travel back in time to try to find answers and allies in order to stop Victor.
Oh did I mention Sam is a girl? And girls aren’t supposed to be able to time jump? And she keeps telling Dan she isn’t interested in him and has no desire to be with him….(I bet you can guess what happens in the end, no female no matter what they say can resist the Mary Sueness of the intrepid main character!)
The books really picks up and the parts I most enjoyed was everything I learned about history! Sam and Dan land in (what they soon figure out!) the Celtic island of Angsley in 60 CE. What should be a simple get in and get out mission soon becomes dire as they are thrust in middle of the Celtics fleeing their homes. (Strategic fleeing they say!) The Romans are on the warpath and are slaughtering, enslaving, and raping anyone who gets in their way. Dan and Sam must find the glitch and fix it before the Romans catch up to them.
When I say the writing and characters fell flat, I mean it really fell flat. There is one sentence that really stood out to me. Dan sees a pretty girl with a guy he thinks is unattractive. His inner thought: “what is a babe like that doing with a guy like him?” (You see what I mean now y’all?)
We also get some assault scenes, because what is a historical fiction by a male author without them! Don’t worry though! Heroic and noble Dan gives one of them his cloak. (Eye roll)
By the end of the story our hero Dan is incredibly rich and able to take Sam on a trip and send her lots of money. (Did I mention she comes from a broken home with a creepy step dad? Because of course she does) I have to wonder if Andrew Varga has actually ever had a female read his book. It could have hugely benefited form sensitivity readers. The plot and concept was great, but the characters and all the dialogue was so badly written. (I am not going to compare it to fan fiction, because I have read some fantastic fan fiction!) I know it seems like I hated this book, when really I enjoyed the battle scenes, and everything I learned. It is just I couldn’t get back the unrealistic nature of the characters and how they were written. I would not recommend this book.
TLDR: Great concept, poorly written females, mary sue main character, fantastic battle scenes
The Cover
This is probably one of the worst book covers I have seen in a while. If you google fantasy or Celtic font types, the cover font is one of the first to pop up. There is a ton of green on the page, and you really lose sight of the title and everything else with all the green. There is no symbolism, no hint of what the book is about. We do get a full lipped female cast in shadow on the front, which makes little sense to me. The main character is male and his is the only view point we see. The females get little attention in this book, unless they are fawning over Dan or banding together to fight for him. Instead of a bad Photoshop job, I would loved to have seen an illustrated scene of Dan and Sam in the boat on the way to the island. Budget aside, even a boat in the water with the island in the background would have been a better cover.
It should be noted that I am coming from a graphic design and art history background, and it always sucks to see books that are good have bad covers. (Though I guess in this case the cover matches the book!)
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