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readingrainbeau's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The decision to replace the role of the young ingeue with a questionably sentient robot is just one of the ways that this book manages to delightfully surprise the reader.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
The concept and depiction of those unstuck by time has associated symptoms similar to chronic conditions with cognitive deteriorationallisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
2.0
This science fiction adventure borrows mystery/thriller elements, exploring a conspiracy that extends outside time. The story starts in a near future world where time travel is controlled and monitored by the US government. It's a source of tourism, but there are set rules to visiting the past so that the timeline isn't altered. Protagonist January was once a law enforcement agent that sussed out criminals trying to bend or break those rules. Her career of moving through the timestream at a high frequency resulted in a condition where she mentally slips through time and will eventually progress to a coma-like state. Benched to run security at the main hotel for time traveling tourists, January is gearing up to host a summit that will finalize the privatization of time travel, auctioned off to one of four self-satisfied trillionaires who each have their own plans for getting their hands on the past.
The elements I loved most in the book were twofold. There's a great cast of queer characters. January's a lesbian, her love interest is a trans woman, and there's a prominent side character who is non-binary. Also, January delivers some really awesome insults, especially hurled at the ultra-wealthy and powerful. I can only aspire to her creativity and wish I had the opportunity and boldness to mimic her in that regard.
Unfortunately, the story didn't grip me to the degree I hope for in the best thrillers. The tension lacked a sense of urgency despite the dinosaurs, assassination attempts, and timey-wimey dangers. Also, the science fiction elements weren't the kind to be fascinating or mind-boggling, but they somehow were still difficult for me to follow in terms of the rules and limitations of time travel for this world. I braced myself each time a new round of explanations was necessary because I didn't get far with them. Finally, there are themes in this story about grief and vulnerability that could have been very powerful. However, I didn't find the story engaged with them on a deep or personal enough level to say something profound or trigger an emotional reaction in me. I think part of the issue was that the characters fell into trope-y roles and stock personalities that prevented me from connecting with them on an empathetic level. In some ways, their actions and emotional trajectories were predictable because they were following a common path.
I don't think this is a book with a bad message or one that I would warn readers away from. It just didn't live up to either of the genres it drew from in my opinion, and I wish the characters were more fully realized. I think readers who enjoy smartass detectives and time travel will enjoy the story if they're content to engage with the tropes at surface level.
The elements I loved most in the book were twofold. There's a great cast of queer characters. January's a lesbian, her love interest is a trans woman, and there's a prominent side character who is non-binary. Also, January delivers some really awesome insults, especially hurled at the ultra-wealthy and powerful. I can only aspire to her creativity and wish I had the opportunity and boldness to mimic her in that regard.
Unfortunately, the story didn't grip me to the degree I hope for in the best thrillers. The tension lacked a sense of urgency despite the dinosaurs, assassination attempts, and timey-wimey dangers. Also, the science fiction elements weren't the kind to be fascinating or mind-boggling, but they somehow were still difficult for me to follow in terms of the rules and limitations of time travel for this world. I braced myself each time a new round of explanations was necessary because I didn't get far with them. Finally, there are themes in this story about grief and vulnerability that could have been very powerful. However, I didn't find the story engaged with them on a deep or personal enough level to say something profound or trigger an emotional reaction in me. I think part of the issue was that the characters fell into trope-y roles and stock personalities that prevented me from connecting with them on an empathetic level. In some ways, their actions and emotional trajectories were predictable because they were following a common path.
I don't think this is a book with a bad message or one that I would warn readers away from. It just didn't live up to either of the genres it drew from in my opinion, and I wish the characters were more fully realized. I think readers who enjoy smartass detectives and time travel will enjoy the story if they're content to engage with the tropes at surface level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Lesbophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
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