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_inge_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I gobbled this book up in no time at all and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a frantic romp through time and there is no time to catch your breath - or really be bothered by the technical issues.
The pacing and structure of the story is all over the place. For example, the surprise that five years have passed which you only know because it is stated. On the one hand, it is logical that all the events in the story cannot happen in less time. On the the other hand, the personal and relational developments seem to be simultaneously much slower and out of the blue. This book in itself could probably have been a couple of volumes if the story, historical references and characters had been fleshed out a bit. The world building could be stronger - I'd be interested to know more about the characters running out of sync with 'real time' or each other, because the assignment time is not equal to the amount of time they are gone from 'real time'.
All these things didn't stop me from enjoying the story, however. Definitely going to continue reading the series and hopefully the story structure will improve as we go along.
The pacing and structure of the story is all over the place. For example, the surprise that five years have passed which you only know because it is stated. On the one hand, it is logical that all the events in the story cannot happen in less time. On the the other hand, the personal and relational developments seem to be simultaneously much slower and out of the blue. This book in itself could probably have been a couple of volumes if the story, historical references and characters had been fleshed out a bit. The world building could be stronger - I'd be interested to know more about the characters running out of sync with 'real time' or each other, because the assignment time is not equal to the amount of time they are gone from 'real time'.
All these things didn't stop me from enjoying the story, however. Definitely going to continue reading the series and hopefully the story structure will improve as we go along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
meganmagicmusings's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage
drakonreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the style of writing, it was whimsical and funny at times but there is a lot of gruesome moments (but you tend to get that will battles). It was relatively fast paced.
Still on the other hand, there were minor things that really annoyed me:
1) "History" seemed to be discussed like an entity for some reason like a few times. It's not. It's the best reconstruction of the past we got but it's not "fate" or something, it's just the culmination of humankind's goals waring with each other. Also "prehistory" is it's own thing (stuff before the pre-invention of writing). Eventually she did use the phrase "time continuum" (p. 272) but like the 3 (?) times she addressed "History" as some kind of entity grated on me. It may be because the Kleio thing that might be expanded in later books but still what average historian talks about history that way?
2) sources. It gets better, but initial stuff just wouldn't fly with historians. Where you getting you're sources? Who would pay for that? They might as well believe they made it up on the spot or paid a fiction writer. It does get elaborated later on but for the majority of the book I didn't really see how their work was applicable since it's basically unusable to historians because who is going to buy the 'time traveler' as a valid way that the information was acquired? Beyond the person who hires them, the information is useless. At best they could try using it for further experimental archeology but otherwise no historian would be able to cite this stuff.
Beyond that the book was great. I liked it. Definitely a lot of adventures, a little something for everyone.
Still on the other hand, there were minor things that really annoyed me:
1) "History" seemed to be discussed like an entity for some reason like a few times. It's not. It's the best reconstruction of the past we got but it's not "fate" or something, it's just the culmination of humankind's goals waring with each other. Also "prehistory" is it's own thing (stuff before the pre-invention of writing). Eventually she did use the phrase "time continuum" (p. 272) but like the 3 (?) times she addressed "History" as some kind of entity grated on me. It may be because
2) sources. It gets better, but initial stuff just wouldn't fly with historians. Where you getting you're sources? Who would pay for that? They might as well believe they made it up on the spot or paid a fiction writer. It does get elaborated later on but for the majority of the book I didn't really see how their work was applicable since it's basically unusable to historians because who is going to buy the 'time traveler' as a valid way that the information was acquired? Beyond the person who hires them, the information is useless. At best they could try using it for further experimental archeology but otherwise no historian would be able to cite this stuff.
Beyond that the book was great. I liked it. Definitely a lot of adventures, a little something for everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Cursing, and Miscarriage
Minor: Animal cruelty and Vomit
lefeer01's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I really, really enjoyed this read. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is that any sense of time is ironically lost. At one point, it's announced that Max has been at St Mary's for five years, but it's incredibly confusing how/when that happened. I can understand this book being the lowest rated from the series, which only makes me excited to read more in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Violence, Gun violence, and Sexual content
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is no less enjoyable upon reading it for a second time... though I really, really must move forward in the series. The first time I read this, it made me laugh out loud, which was exceedingly awkward on a cruise ship full of refined patrons. The second time, it still made me laugh out loud, because I'd legit sit just long enough that I'd forgotten some of the funny bits.
It's a quick-paced book, but I think that is to its benefit. There are some high highs and some low lows and it makes you run the entire gamut of emotions for Max. I maintain that St. Mary's is exactly the sort of career I would like. And that this book is just fun enough to be an absolute joy and a comfort read for me. I still wholeheartedly recommend it, and honestly, I may just go order A Symphony of Echoes because zany time travel is exactly my cup of tea.
__________
Original Review: 5 Stars (April 26th, 2018)
St. Mary’s is a historical research facility attached to Thurst college. It’s a small institution, remaining under the radar. The application process is quite rigorous. The training doubly so. These historians aren’t studying archaeological evidence. At least, not in the traditional way. St. Mary’s is in possession of six time machines, and it is the job of the historians to go back in time and observe history, then report their findings back to Thurst in the form of extraordinary presentations supported with technical evidence.
History occasionally disapproves of this process, of course, and there is the odd casualty.
Erm. Okay, the very common fatality. But the historians know what they’re getting into from day one.
This novel absolutely captured my imagination. There’s not many people captivated by history, but those of us who are, are very passionate. Max is a new trainee with St. Mary’s, but she is by no means a green student. She has a doctorate in history with a focus in Ancient Cultures (have I mentioned I love Max? I love Max.) She is a bit of a loner, but not a Rebel Without A Cause. She gets in so many scrapes and tumbles throughout the novel that I spent a lot of time in high angst, scratching my head and wondering how the bloody hell she was going to get out of this one. She’s smart, but horribly unlucky. She trusts too easily and acts a bit rashly.
Have I mentioned the dinosaurs? There are dinosaurs in this book. I won’t discuss that more, because I was *delighted* when I discovered there would be dinosaurs and I don’t want to give too much away. Think all the best of Michael Crichton’s imagination with the charm and spark of a witty British heroine.
One of Jodi Taylor’s strengths is that she follows through on her choices. As a writer, I appreciate the fine line between dictating the direction of your story letting the pieces fall in place. As I listened to this audiobook (small aside, excellent narration on this one), I felt like Max kept leading the story herself and I would imagine Miss Taylor in front of her computer downing glass after glass of robust red wine and violently cursing her headstrong characters as she struggled to make them follow her outline. I *adore* books like that. You feel an internal struggle, and since this book has comedic elements, it was perfect.
Along with that, the writing was shocking and funny. There were moments of great stress, but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud. Which wasn’t awkward at *all* on a bus filled with edgy Americans en route to Paris.... I loved it, even if I felt a bit foolish.
Just One Damned Thing After Another falls within the range of New Adult. Max is just post-doctorate, but the tone is light (a la Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams) and doesn’t feel properly like an adult book. It has a few mature themes - there’s a brief, tasteful sex scene - but nothing too gruesome or graphic for the YA audience.
For what it’s worth, I loved this book. I’m so glad there’s 8 more in the series so far (not including short stories). Also, I’d like to be Max when I grow up. That is all.
It's a quick-paced book, but I think that is to its benefit. There are some high highs and some low lows and it makes you run the entire gamut of emotions for Max. I maintain that St. Mary's is exactly the sort of career I would like. And that this book is just fun enough to be an absolute joy and a comfort read for me. I still wholeheartedly recommend it, and honestly, I may just go order A Symphony of Echoes because zany time travel is exactly my cup of tea.
__________
Original Review: 5 Stars (April 26th, 2018)
St. Mary’s is a historical research facility attached to Thurst college. It’s a small institution, remaining under the radar. The application process is quite rigorous. The training doubly so. These historians aren’t studying archaeological evidence. At least, not in the traditional way. St. Mary’s is in possession of six time machines, and it is the job of the historians to go back in time and observe history, then report their findings back to Thurst in the form of extraordinary presentations supported with technical evidence.
History occasionally disapproves of this process, of course, and there is the odd casualty.
Erm. Okay, the very common fatality. But the historians know what they’re getting into from day one.
This novel absolutely captured my imagination. There’s not many people captivated by history, but those of us who are, are very passionate. Max is a new trainee with St. Mary’s, but she is by no means a green student. She has a doctorate in history with a focus in Ancient Cultures (have I mentioned I love Max? I love Max.) She is a bit of a loner, but not a Rebel Without A Cause. She gets in so many scrapes and tumbles throughout the novel that I spent a lot of time in high angst, scratching my head and wondering how the bloody hell she was going to get out of this one. She’s smart, but horribly unlucky. She trusts too easily and acts a bit rashly.
Have I mentioned the dinosaurs? There are dinosaurs in this book. I won’t discuss that more, because I was *delighted* when I discovered there would be dinosaurs and I don’t want to give too much away. Think all the best of Michael Crichton’s imagination with the charm and spark of a witty British heroine.
One of Jodi Taylor’s strengths is that she follows through on her choices. As a writer, I appreciate the fine line between dictating the direction of your story letting the pieces fall in place. As I listened to this audiobook (small aside, excellent narration on this one), I felt like Max kept leading the story herself and I would imagine Miss Taylor in front of her computer downing glass after glass of robust red wine and violently cursing her headstrong characters as she struggled to make them follow her outline. I *adore* books like that. You feel an internal struggle, and since this book has comedic elements, it was perfect.
Along with that, the writing was shocking and funny. There were moments of great stress, but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud. Which wasn’t awkward at *all* on a bus filled with edgy Americans en route to Paris.... I loved it, even if I felt a bit foolish.
Just One Damned Thing After Another falls within the range of New Adult. Max is just post-doctorate, but the tone is light (a la Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams) and doesn’t feel properly like an adult book. It has a few mature themes - there’s a brief, tasteful sex scene - but nothing too gruesome or graphic for the YA audience.
For what it’s worth, I loved this book. I’m so glad there’s 8 more in the series so far (not including short stories). Also, I’d like to be Max when I grow up. That is all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
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