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e_funk44's review against another edition
4.0
*Free on Kindle*
This book really surprised me, in a good way of course.
Saira Elian is just like every other teenage girl, except she is a descendant of one of 5 Immortal families and oh yah, she can travel through time.
This book has action, romance, humor...and while it does have it's flaws (why it's 4 stars not 5) this is overall a great read.
This book really surprised me, in a good way of course.
Saira Elian is just like every other teenage girl, except she is a descendant of one of 5 Immortal families and oh yah, she can travel through time.
This book has action, romance, humor...and while it does have it's flaws (why it's 4 stars not 5) this is overall a great read.
emjay2021's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Often with free e-books, you get what you pay for. However, this one was quite entertaining! The writing is decent, the plot is interesting and mostly well paced (see my caveat), the protagonist is likeable--I enjoyed it.
Caveat: I did find it dragged a little in the middle, then wrapped up extremely quickly at the end, so there were some issues with pacing in the second half. However, it was still interesting enough for me to keep reading. Solid YA fantasy. It's part of a series, so I might read the next one too.
Often with free e-books, you get what you pay for. However, this one was quite entertaining! The writing is decent, the plot is interesting and mostly well paced (see my caveat), the protagonist is likeable--I enjoyed it.
Caveat: I did find it dragged a little in the middle, then wrapped up extremely quickly at the end, so there were some issues with pacing in the second half. However, it was still interesting enough for me to keep reading. Solid YA fantasy. It's part of a series, so I might read the next one too.
jkkb332's review against another edition
3.0
This was on my Nook when I powered it up for the first time in months (many, many months) and I have no idea where it came from. But I had finished all my library books and I'm into time travel as a creative concept, so I slogged through the bad writing and annoying character inconsistency until I was finally deep enough into the story to stop noticing them (mostly). It took about half the book to get to that point and even then there were times I got frustrated enough to stop reading or make irritated notes (one just says "Why why why!" re: Saira purposely trying to change things in the past).
Ultimately, this is a decent, if messy, book. I liked the different abilities and they were put to pretty good use throughout the story. I liked the time travel part, because I like time travel. I did not like the vampire part, because that is one annoying bandwagon I am not on. I didn't like that Saira was so wise one second and the next a trembling, blushing, inexperienced teenager. I appreciated the consistency of the rules in this fantasy world, and I really liked some of the characters (Ringo <3).
Overall I'm not sure I liked this enough to keep reading the series, but it's a solid three stars.
Ultimately, this is a decent, if messy, book. I liked the different abilities and they were put to pretty good use throughout the story. I liked the time travel part, because I like time travel. I did not like the vampire part, because that is one annoying bandwagon I am not on. I didn't like that Saira was so wise one second and the next a trembling, blushing, inexperienced teenager. I appreciated the consistency of the rules in this fantasy world, and I really liked some of the characters (Ringo <3).
Overall I'm not sure I liked this enough to keep reading the series, but it's a solid three stars.
queencleo's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine if Bella Swan was a time traveller & could travel back to meet Edward before he was turned. Imagine if during the process she bumps into Jack the Ripper in
Victorian London.
Magical Snowflake, Time Traveller, Prophesied One & World Class Free Runner Saira (Sy-rah) Elian has all of the adventures. 17 years old & descended from one of the 5 Immortals (Time, Nature, Fate, Death & War) before she finds out she's a Time Traveller, she's just a Troublemaker.
Read if you love Vampire Academy, the Shadowhunters series, Divergent or Percy Jackson.
A teen romance with all the best bits of every teen series ever, and an Oliver Twist urchin for free.
I'm indebted to my local library for finding this series, I'm hooked. Onto the next.
Victorian London.
Magical Snowflake, Time Traveller, Prophesied One & World Class Free Runner Saira (Sy-rah) Elian has all of the adventures. 17 years old & descended from one of the 5 Immortals (Time, Nature, Fate, Death & War) before she finds out she's a Time Traveller, she's just a Troublemaker.
Read if you love Vampire Academy, the Shadowhunters series, Divergent or Percy Jackson.
A teen romance with all the best bits of every teen series ever, and an Oliver Twist urchin for free.
I'm indebted to my local library for finding this series, I'm hooked. Onto the next.
tmleblanc's review
3.0
Another one of my June vacation reads, Marking Time has been taking up space on my eReader since October 2014. It was a free download from Amazon that fit several of my gotta-have-this criteria—historical fiction (Jack the Ripper!), time travel, young adult. By the time I finished my other vacation reads, I was looking for something a bit lighter to read and something that would have some familiar tropes as I settled back into my regular work routine.
Overall, I did enjoy Marking Time. Saira, the main character, fits in the strong female character world. She’s forced to face the world on her own as her mother routinely disappears. She is a talented artist and parkour; both talents serve her well throughout the book. White did an excellent job describing Saira’s ability to “leap tall buildings in a single bound” that I felt I was running, jumping and leaping right next to her.
Without spoiling the book for those that wish to read it, when the life that Saira’s mother is revealed, I was intrigued by it. A bit confused, but it was unique and not something I had encountered before. The story is tied with Jack the Ripper and Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” added a bit of mystery and linked the story to a known world. I have this weird thing for gritty Victorian England.
For me, the book fell short in a couple of areas.
There were no other strong characters that were Saira’s equals. She was on her own in almost every way. It’s not that Saira’s didn’t have friends; it’s that her friends didn’t have the strength of character or personality that she had.
Everyone in the book was a knowledge hoarder. They were unwilling to share information, history and details with each other in any time stream. As a result, not only was Saira confused and lost most of the time so was I.
While I did finish Marking Time, I’m not planning to continue with the series. Am I happy I read Marking Time? Yes, I was absorbed in a time in history I adore and an unsolved mystery (Jack the Ripper) that intrigues me every time I encounter it. I was also introduced to a new way to think about the world that I had not encountered before. However, they are longer books and without a feeling of connection to more of the characters, I don’t feel a driving to desire to find out if Saira is able to overcome the obstacles thrown in her path.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
Overall, I did enjoy Marking Time. Saira, the main character, fits in the strong female character world. She’s forced to face the world on her own as her mother routinely disappears. She is a talented artist and parkour; both talents serve her well throughout the book. White did an excellent job describing Saira’s ability to “leap tall buildings in a single bound” that I felt I was running, jumping and leaping right next to her.
Without spoiling the book for those that wish to read it, when the life that Saira’s mother is revealed, I was intrigued by it. A bit confused, but it was unique and not something I had encountered before. The story is tied with Jack the Ripper and Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” added a bit of mystery and linked the story to a known world. I have this weird thing for gritty Victorian England.
For me, the book fell short in a couple of areas.
There were no other strong characters that were Saira’s equals. She was on her own in almost every way. It’s not that Saira’s didn’t have friends; it’s that her friends didn’t have the strength of character or personality that she had.
Everyone in the book was a knowledge hoarder. They were unwilling to share information, history and details with each other in any time stream. As a result, not only was Saira confused and lost most of the time so was I.
While I did finish Marking Time, I’m not planning to continue with the series. Am I happy I read Marking Time? Yes, I was absorbed in a time in history I adore and an unsolved mystery (Jack the Ripper) that intrigues me every time I encounter it. I was also introduced to a new way to think about the world that I had not encountered before. However, they are longer books and without a feeling of connection to more of the characters, I don’t feel a driving to desire to find out if Saira is able to overcome the obstacles thrown in her path.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
evertonian_17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Apologies for the short review, but overall, I had a lot of fun with this book, and will likely continue the series!
tartbarbie's review
5.0
I received Marking Time in return for an honest review from the author. Saira is fleeing from a stranger when she’s caught but the police who have no choice to send her to London to live with her grandmother. Since her mother has disappeared this isn't the first time that Saira’s been on her own. Her grandmother isn't thrilled to see her instead she locks her away in the guest wing of the family manor. But Saira has her own agenda and sneaks out of the house to explore London on her own. When she stumbles across the stranger she was fleeing from in Venice.
While running for her life she finds an old tag that matches the ones she saw in Venice and when she traces the outline she finds herself in 1888. It’s on her first trip to 1888 that she meets a young college student, who knows about the descendants. With Archers help Saira is able to return to her time however not before being chased by Jack the Ripper as well as seeing her mom.
Suddenly so much has changed in Saira’s life from where her mother is to who she is. As if dealing with being able to time travel isn't different now her mom is missing and she’s being sent to a boarding school. At least the boarding school is for the descendant’s so she will have the chance to learn more about her abilities as well as about why they might be after her. She instantly befriends a pair of twin seer’s as well as one of the scholarship girls who isn't a descendant. Saira is intent on stopping the ripper and returning to get her mother but it won't be easy because while she may have help the bad guys do as well.
Saira is a character that I was able to connect with instantly falling in love with. She’s not your typical teen after all she grew up moving around being ready for anything plus she’s got a little extra something. I really enjoy that she grows as a character though the story. The supporting characters in the story from both times add to the intricate story the author has created. I love the romance between Saira and Archer its sweet innocent and powerful. I want my own Archer.
Marking Time is a captivating story that mixes time travel with the paranormal and tosses in a little romance. I was instantly enchanted with Saira’s story she’s spent her life hiding, not knowing her father and now her mother is missing and she’s learning on her own how to time travel. I think the author puts a unique new spin on the vampire relationship turning it into a beautiful story that left me in awe. The adventure is mixed through the story while suspense is woven in with twists and turns keeping the readers on their toes till the very end. I loved everything about Marking Time from the characters to the story. It’s beautifully written, unique story that teens as well as adults will love. I can't express how much I fell in love with Marking Time it honestly has skyrocketed to my favorite book of the year, quite possibly of all time. I can't wait to read more about Saira.
While running for her life she finds an old tag that matches the ones she saw in Venice and when she traces the outline she finds herself in 1888. It’s on her first trip to 1888 that she meets a young college student, who knows about the descendants. With Archers help Saira is able to return to her time however not before being chased by Jack the Ripper as well as seeing her mom.
Suddenly so much has changed in Saira’s life from where her mother is to who she is. As if dealing with being able to time travel isn't different now her mom is missing and she’s being sent to a boarding school. At least the boarding school is for the descendant’s so she will have the chance to learn more about her abilities as well as about why they might be after her. She instantly befriends a pair of twin seer’s as well as one of the scholarship girls who isn't a descendant. Saira is intent on stopping the ripper and returning to get her mother but it won't be easy because while she may have help the bad guys do as well.
Saira is a character that I was able to connect with instantly falling in love with. She’s not your typical teen after all she grew up moving around being ready for anything plus she’s got a little extra something. I really enjoy that she grows as a character though the story. The supporting characters in the story from both times add to the intricate story the author has created. I love the romance between Saira and Archer its sweet innocent and powerful. I want my own Archer.
Marking Time is a captivating story that mixes time travel with the paranormal and tosses in a little romance. I was instantly enchanted with Saira’s story she’s spent her life hiding, not knowing her father and now her mother is missing and she’s learning on her own how to time travel. I think the author puts a unique new spin on the vampire relationship turning it into a beautiful story that left me in awe. The adventure is mixed through the story while suspense is woven in with twists and turns keeping the readers on their toes till the very end. I loved everything about Marking Time from the characters to the story. It’s beautifully written, unique story that teens as well as adults will love. I can't express how much I fell in love with Marking Time it honestly has skyrocketed to my favorite book of the year, quite possibly of all time. I can't wait to read more about Saira.
bobbysays's review against another edition
5.0
Very entertaining read
I really enjoyed this easy and entertaining read, with two love stories that really, truly and literally stood the test of time.
I really enjoyed this easy and entertaining read, with two love stories that really, truly and literally stood the test of time.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This started with an incomplete info-dump, and it was extremely fast-paced. I still enjoyed it, though, because as I got to know Saira, the main character, I understood where she was coming from. Not only that, but time travel is one of my favorite tropes in novels, and I loved how it worked here.
I’m going to buddy read the next book in the series with my COYER friends, too :)
This started with an incomplete info-dump, and it was extremely fast-paced. I still enjoyed it, though, because as I got to know Saira, the main character, I understood where she was coming from. Not only that, but time travel is one of my favorite tropes in novels, and I loved how it worked here.
I’m going to buddy read the next book in the series with my COYER friends, too :)