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colindalaska's review against another edition
3.0
Far, far too much reliance on being able to follow multiple versions of characters from multiple timelines and previous books.
rachel2727's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ryanpfw's review against another edition
3.0
This was a tough review for me. It’s at 3 stars as I start it. It feels like a 3.5 star. We’ll see how charitable I’m feeling by the end.
I’ve stuck with Chronos for a long time and I believe I’ve read nearly everything published by Rysa Walker and by those who played in her universe. It’s a prime example of an author who clearly has notebook upon notebook of background material, where everything works, and you can trust the author that if you’re confused, she is not.
I’ll fully admit there’s other factors at play here. I’m listening to the Audible, and Kate Rudd is Kate to me. Here she divides herself between Katherine and Madi and I found myself losing track of who I was listening to over the course of a scene. I should read a book this size in three or four days. It took me more than ten. There was some combination of “this is taking too long” and “this is dragging” that zapped my enthusiasm.
Lastly, a good story has to be about character. First and foremost. This one, possibly from the time and place I read it, or because it hit critical mass, or maybe the writing itself, was too heavy on exposition. I trust Rysa Walker. I felt like I was reading the manual. We were knee deep into a fictional game in a fictional universe where time was being rewritten after I’d taken a break between novels with a female co-lead who wasn’t highly sympathetic for large swaths of the writing (here’s looking at you Katherine.)
I think 3 stars is fair.
I’ve stuck with Chronos for a long time and I believe I’ve read nearly everything published by Rysa Walker and by those who played in her universe. It’s a prime example of an author who clearly has notebook upon notebook of background material, where everything works, and you can trust the author that if you’re confused, she is not.
I’ll fully admit there’s other factors at play here. I’m listening to the Audible, and Kate Rudd is Kate to me. Here she divides herself between Katherine and Madi and I found myself losing track of who I was listening to over the course of a scene. I should read a book this size in three or four days. It took me more than ten. There was some combination of “this is taking too long” and “this is dragging” that zapped my enthusiasm.
Lastly, a good story has to be about character. First and foremost. This one, possibly from the time and place I read it, or because it hit critical mass, or maybe the writing itself, was too heavy on exposition. I trust Rysa Walker. I felt like I was reading the manual. We were knee deep into a fictional game in a fictional universe where time was being rewritten after I’d taken a break between novels with a female co-lead who wasn’t highly sympathetic for large swaths of the writing (here’s looking at you Katherine.)
I think 3 stars is fair.
dreadfulsorry's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nukie19's review against another edition
3.0
I originally fell in love with Walker and her first CHRONOS trilogy. I got very excited when this new prequel trilogy got started and I enjoyed the first in this new series a great deal. This book, however, got a little too complicated to me. Maybe I don’t remember enough details about this first trilogy (don’t even TRY to get into this without having read those) but the was this book started spinning off in a different direction left e a bit dissatisfied. The concept here is still unique and interesting but it just got a bit too complex with the addition of elements other than strictly time travel. Recommend for the most devoted followers but probably a tough read for others. It is the middle of a new trilogy, so perhaps it’s suffering a bit in that regard and the completion of this series will improve.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked it a little more than the last book because I cared for the characters a little more. But it still wasn't as good as the first trilogy. I love complicated plots, but this one went a little too far (unnecessarily), maybe because the payoff wasn't there for me in the end.
Also, the historical events we're focusing on here were the least interesting for me from all the books so far. But I have to admit that I learned new things about the time leading up to the USA joining in WWII, how people were opposing the involvement.
I think I like the general idea of the game, and I get that it's not a game for both side... but I still wished to follow the rules a little better. When I don't get the game and all its rules and points while comfortably reading in my bed, I don't believe team Hyena could have reacted to it in such a short time. Also, to know the rules beforehand would have helped me to appreciate what both sides accomplished. And the whole Saul story line was unnecessary, in my opinion. Well, maybe not for the entire trilogy, since we still have one last book, but it bothered me in this one and added to the overall confusion.
I like, however, to work my brain to its limits while trying to keep up with all the timelines. I mean, this is the prequel to the last series... but it's also the sequel... aaah! And I can't wait to see how this whole story actually ends. And I hope the ending doesn't ruin anything important for me...
Also, the historical events we're focusing on here were the least interesting for me from all the books so far. But I have to admit that I learned new things about the time leading up to the USA joining in WWII, how people were opposing the involvement.
I think I like the general idea of the game, and I get that it's not a game for both side... but I still wished to follow the rules a little better. When I don't get the game and all its rules and points while comfortably reading in my bed, I don't believe team Hyena could have reacted to it in such a short time. Also, to know the rules beforehand would have helped me to appreciate what both sides accomplished. And the whole Saul story line was unnecessary, in my opinion. Well, maybe not for the entire trilogy, since we still have one last book, but it bothered me in this one and added to the overall confusion.
I like, however, to work my brain to its limits while trying to keep up with all the timelines. I mean, this is the prequel to the last series... but it's also the sequel... aaah! And I can't wait to see how this whole story actually ends. And I hope the ending doesn't ruin anything important for me...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: War
whiteink13's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been reading CHRONOS series since the beginning of 2018. When I discovered the series, I just saw it as an interesting idea and an entertaining story. Now that I’ve lived through 2020, the series feels heavier and more thought provoking. This final book brings a lot of closure for the characters but also makes me question our current timeline. Overall an impressive ending to a wonderful series.
catsbookcorner's review against another edition
3.0
I need to preface this with the statement that:
1) I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,
2) The entire CHRONOS Files saga is fairly nostalgic for me. I binged the first trilogy and I have very fond memories of the entire experience,
And 3) I also need to say that this series would probably be fairly confusing to people who haven't read the first series.
I loved the characters and the concept and the world so incredibly much. Even still, when I reread the first book earlier this year to remind myself of some things that happened in the original trilogy, it wasn't QUITE as good as I remembered. But this isnt a review of the first trilogy.
All of that was to say, the first book in this spin-off series, Now, Then, and Every When, hit me with the same feelings as the first time I read that trilogy. Though I had a slower time getting into that book, it quickly picked up and I sped through the remaining 75%. I was into the time period and new characters and the aspects of history that were being explored.
That wasn't exactly the case in this second book. While I still enjoyed it, I feel as though the entire plot of this one centered too strongly on a game that doesn't exist in our world and so was conceptually difficult (for me, anyway) to understand. I found myself wanting the rule book the characters were given so I could maybe follow along a bit easier. Time Chess, aka The Game, aka Temporal Dilemma, was so complex that I kept struggling to understand why the characters were doing what they were doing while also trying to keep up with a period of American history I'm not well versed in.
While I did enjoy reading this and getting to see some returning old faces again, I definitely enjoyed the 1st book better. For one, I feel as though the events of the second book drastically change the timeline with regards to the events of the first trilogy, and I kept getting distracted going down a "timeline" hole of attempting to figure out how the actions of these characters would affect the timeline of the previous books. This might not have bothered me so much if the entire plot of this series, and this book in particular, didn't revolve specifically around changing the timeline and reversing said changes to the timeline in order to return to the "original", ie the timeline from the previous trilogy.
*****SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TRILOGY, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET*****
I also dislike how certain characters are portrayed in this series. Katherine was such a strong individual in the first trilogy, and while I can understand that the events of her life led her to be that way and it was not necessarily how she was in her youth, Katherine is portrayed as annoyingly naive and ignorant in this series.
Saul obviously walks all over her, insults her to her face, demeans her constantly, and all is constantly forgiven, in my opinion, in an unrealistic manner. The author attempts to explain this in the plot in a couple of different ways, and I can't tell if the reason was more that she was genetically tampered with to be more submissive as a side effect of the time period she chose to research, or if we were supposed to believe that she reasoned it all away as "relationship compromise" in which he got everything he wanted and she didn't. She reasons away the awful things he does constantly, to the point where I actually disliked her character.
All of this is to say that, while I clearly had issues with this story, I still love the concept and the characters (Madi and Tyson and Jack in particular!) and will definitely be continuing with the third book. I just had to give this 3 stars because of my issues outline above, but its entirely possible that the confusion I experienced was entirely my fault regarding the timeline issues and the game being played. Also, the politics-heavy time period of history that was chosen was just not my thing, while I know for a fact that others will be more interested in it than I was.
All in all, I do love the CHRONOS Files and CHRONOS Origins, and I'm interested to see where the third book will take all of these characters. This book was not my favorite, but I still enjoyed myself reading it for the most part!
1) I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,
2) The entire CHRONOS Files saga is fairly nostalgic for me. I binged the first trilogy and I have very fond memories of the entire experience,
And 3) I also need to say that this series would probably be fairly confusing to people who haven't read the first series.
I loved the characters and the concept and the world so incredibly much. Even still, when I reread the first book earlier this year to remind myself of some things that happened in the original trilogy, it wasn't QUITE as good as I remembered. But this isnt a review of the first trilogy.
All of that was to say, the first book in this spin-off series, Now, Then, and Every When, hit me with the same feelings as the first time I read that trilogy. Though I had a slower time getting into that book, it quickly picked up and I sped through the remaining 75%. I was into the time period and new characters and the aspects of history that were being explored.
That wasn't exactly the case in this second book. While I still enjoyed it, I feel as though the entire plot of this one centered too strongly on a game that doesn't exist in our world and so was conceptually difficult (for me, anyway) to understand. I found myself wanting the rule book the characters were given so I could maybe follow along a bit easier. Time Chess, aka The Game, aka Temporal Dilemma, was so complex that I kept struggling to understand why the characters were doing what they were doing while also trying to keep up with a period of American history I'm not well versed in.
While I did enjoy reading this and getting to see some returning old faces again, I definitely enjoyed the 1st book better. For one, I feel as though the events of the second book drastically change the timeline with regards to the events of the first trilogy, and I kept getting distracted going down a "timeline" hole of attempting to figure out how the actions of these characters would affect the timeline of the previous books. This might not have bothered me so much if the entire plot of this series, and this book in particular, didn't revolve specifically around changing the timeline and reversing said changes to the timeline in order to return to the "original", ie the timeline from the previous trilogy.
*****SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TRILOGY, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET*****
I also dislike how certain characters are portrayed in this series. Katherine was such a strong individual in the first trilogy, and while I can understand that the events of her life led her to be that way and it was not necessarily how she was in her youth, Katherine is portrayed as annoyingly naive and ignorant in this series.
Saul obviously walks all over her, insults her to her face, demeans her constantly, and all is constantly forgiven, in my opinion, in an unrealistic manner. The author attempts to explain this in the plot in a couple of different ways, and I can't tell if the reason was more that she was genetically tampered with to be more submissive as a side effect of the time period she chose to research, or if we were supposed to believe that she reasoned it all away as "relationship compromise" in which he got everything he wanted and she didn't. She reasons away the awful things he does constantly, to the point where I actually disliked her character.
All of this is to say that, while I clearly had issues with this story, I still love the concept and the characters (Madi and Tyson and Jack in particular!) and will definitely be continuing with the third book. I just had to give this 3 stars because of my issues outline above, but its entirely possible that the confusion I experienced was entirely my fault regarding the timeline issues and the game being played. Also, the politics-heavy time period of history that was chosen was just not my thing, while I know for a fact that others will be more interested in it than I was.
All in all, I do love the CHRONOS Files and CHRONOS Origins, and I'm interested to see where the third book will take all of these characters. This book was not my favorite, but I still enjoyed myself reading it for the most part!
jayden_s27's review against another edition
4.0
They may have prevented the timeline from changing once but can they do it again? Madi, Tyson, Katherine, and Richard are now playing a game of Temporal Dilemma (AKA Time Chess) against a team of time travelers from another dimension. The game is even more daunting when they recognize the names on the other team. Even if the other team is made up of people from another dimension, it isn’t a comfort knowing they are up against Saul Rand, Alyssa Campbell, Morgan Campbell, and Ester Sowa, some of the best time chess players. In this book Madi and the team are playing by the time chess rules to keep their timeline from flipping and to keep the other version of Saul and Morgan Campbell from playing games in their dimension ever again. However, the game won’t be easy, lives are at stake, and there are no guarantees.
This installment was exciting as the first even more so for people who were eager for all the characters to start working together. I found this novel easier to understand than the first. We now know about multiple dimensions and timeline diversions so readers aren't trying to orientate themselves according to the original three “Timebound” books. The more difficult aspect is wrapping your mind around the game of time chess. I felt that Walker did a good job communicating the necessities of the game as well as the strategy that was taken.
The historical parts of this book weren't the most interesting moments in history for me but I enjoyed the way that the time chess moves emphasized the way that single events and characters shape the future of a country. Such as the moves made to prevent America from entering WWII. The what ifs created by altering the timeline were creative and logical to me. The game of time chess game readers a new way to enjoy the time travel aspect of the book, instead of repeating old ideas from previous books.
I loved the drama as well as the answers we received to the questions created by the last novel. The moments between the characters were my favorite part of the book. This book is about teamwork but that also contains the issues of who is to trust and what secrets need to be kept hidden for the timeline's sake. For me that was what pushed the plot forward. As this novel answered questions about timeline, Madi's family tree, and multiple dimensions it opened new questions and new problems for the team to solve before its over. Walker doesn't leave the reader waiting. Instead of dragging the mystery along she has the characters find the answers ... and even more questions.
Although, this is the second book and a reader should know if they like these novels or not I would say that this book is best enjoyed by readers who have read Walker's "Timebound" books and readers who enjoy information heavy books that require some thinking. First there is a lot of info dumping (thanks Alex) and mind boggling time travel questions brought up in this book. Half of the problem would be solved by reading the first set of novels because it eases the reader into the world and is less complicated. Second, many events and characters are significant because of the last series and would be boring to readers who started with "Now, Then, and Everywhen". Lastly, Walker leaves clues throughout the book about what is going on and what is to come. She doesn't always clearly state in until later. So this may require some re-reading or some confusion if the reader isn't as interested in piecing together the clues.
* Please forgive spelling differences from the book. I read this as an audiobook and it is very hard to google the spellings since there isn't much online for these books.
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This paragraph is for all the readers who started with the “Timebound” trilogy. I think a lot of the excitement in the book for me was the appearance of characters from the previous books such as Saul and Cleo. As well as the mystery that lies behind Thea Randall's resemblance to Kate. Even more so the way that Walker is using the time travel. In the "Timebound' books Kate never completely fixes the timeline and this would only make sense that this would affect the future that Katherine and Saul live in. One of these differences is the Cyrists. So in the future that would change what Saul is trying to do with the Cyrists or how he does it. I think Walker created some freedom from her pre-existing characters because the Katherine and Saul we know in this book are different from the ones that Kate new because the timeline never got back onto the original tracks. Giving Walker the freedom to change and adjust things for this story. For example, the way that Saul gets his burn mark on his arm when he jumps back from 1911 Georgia.
This installment was exciting as the first even more so for people who were eager for all the characters to start working together. I found this novel easier to understand than the first. We now know about multiple dimensions and timeline diversions so readers aren't trying to orientate themselves according to the original three “Timebound” books. The more difficult aspect is wrapping your mind around the game of time chess. I felt that Walker did a good job communicating the necessities of the game as well as the strategy that was taken.
The historical parts of this book weren't the most interesting moments in history for me but I enjoyed the way that the time chess moves emphasized the way that single events and characters shape the future of a country. Such as the moves made to prevent America from entering WWII. The what ifs created by altering the timeline were creative and logical to me. The game of time chess game readers a new way to enjoy the time travel aspect of the book, instead of repeating old ideas from previous books.
I loved the drama as well as the answers we received to the questions created by the last novel. The moments between the characters were my favorite part of the book. This book is about teamwork but that also contains the issues of who is to trust and what secrets need to be kept hidden for the timeline's sake. For me that was what pushed the plot forward. As this novel answered questions about timeline, Madi's family tree, and multiple dimensions it opened new questions and new problems for the team to solve before its over. Walker doesn't leave the reader waiting. Instead of dragging the mystery along she has the characters find the answers ... and even more questions.
Although, this is the second book and a reader should know if they like these novels or not I would say that this book is best enjoyed by readers who have read Walker's "Timebound" books and readers who enjoy information heavy books that require some thinking. First there is a lot of info dumping (thanks Alex) and mind boggling time travel questions brought up in this book. Half of the problem would be solved by reading the first set of novels because it eases the reader into the world and is less complicated. Second, many events and characters are significant because of the last series and would be boring to readers who started with "Now, Then, and Everywhen". Lastly, Walker leaves clues throughout the book about what is going on and what is to come. She doesn't always clearly state in until later. So this may require some re-reading or some confusion if the reader isn't as interested in piecing together the clues.
* Please forgive spelling differences from the book. I read this as an audiobook and it is very hard to google the spellings since there isn't much online for these books.
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This paragraph is for all the readers who started with the “Timebound” trilogy. I think a lot of the excitement in the book for me was the appearance of characters from the previous books such as Saul and Cleo. As well as the mystery that lies behind Thea Randall's resemblance to Kate. Even more so the way that Walker is using the time travel. In the "Timebound' books Kate never completely fixes the timeline and this would only make sense that this would affect the future that Katherine and Saul live in. One of these differences is the Cyrists. So in the future that would change what Saul is trying to do with the Cyrists or how he does it. I think Walker created some freedom from her pre-existing characters because the Katherine and Saul we know in this book are different from the ones that Kate new because the timeline never got back onto the original tracks. Giving Walker the freedom to change and adjust things for this story. For example, the way that Saul gets his burn mark on his arm when he jumps back from 1911 Georgia.
pariahhaven's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25