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the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
In A.L. Lester’s The Gate, the free prequel to Lost in Time, Matty returns to the farm and his brother Arthur, who is ill, after a long absence. Matty sees the state his brother is in—disturbed sleep, piles of books, notes, and papers everywhere—and throws himself into working the farm and caring for Arthur. As Arthur gets worse, he makes Matty promise to keep the Gate shut and destroy the books. Matty happens to discover a book that Arthur had marked, which contained an archaic form of English, plus odd notes that his brother had written.
As days go on, Rob, a friend and farm hand, and Matty become close. Then, on a particular evening, Rob tells Matty he’s found something strange in the barn.
And now I have to stop, because if I go any further, I will give the plot away. What I will say is that The Gate is a well written, too short but tempting story. I was very interested to see where it would lead. What it leads to is the intriguing novel Lost In Time. I usually don’t go for fantasy, sci-fi and mystery rolled into one, but I have to say I’m hooked!
In 2016, the world has split. The Border is a protection against the Outlands, where creatures seeking energy lurk. The Border is power and danger; if misused, a person could find themselves in situations beyond their control. Certain humans have an ability called the Pull, and are known as Workers. Workers keep the Border repaired.
Mira is a Worker and has big dreams of being a jazz singer. She has an opportunity to get a job doing just that, and uses her Pull and a book of spells with the intent of getting the job, but the ritual goes awry.
Lew Rogers is Mira’s foster brother. He also has the Pull, and is a Worker at the Border. When he finds his sister is missing, with the intent to find her, he follows the ritual as precisely as he can. Lew finds himself in the year 1919, and knows pretty quickly that something is amiss. After a freak accident, he takes the name of Ellison “Lew” Tyler, and is offered a job as a photographer by Callum McGovern, who is starting a newspaper. Lew knows he doesn’t have the experience, but it eventually leads him to photographing for Scotland Yard, and gives him even more of an opportunity to search for Mira.
Alastair “Alec” Carter has returned from several long years of war. He took the position of uniformed constable, and was promoted to Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police. He becomes involved in a strange death at a hospital for Servicemen, and is attacked by something beyond reality. When a vicious murder occurs, Alec watches closely as Lew photographs the body, and, from Lew’s reaction, Alec gets the feeling that Lew knows something. The more Alec pursues Lew, the more he finds himself entangled in a world beyond belief. But even though Alec and Lew have some explosive moments, they also find a forbidden attraction between them.
I didn’t know if I was going to actually like this story, but A.L. Lester had me from the start. I couldn’t put this book down, and I want more. The only way I can describe it is that it’s a modern-day London in the early 1900s fantasy, sci-fi and mystery. The author gives a solid look at the backgrounds of both Lew and Alec. They are strong characters who have somewhat of a rocky beginning, and develop a gradual interest in each other. And, they both have their concerns about not revealing their attraction.
There are so many interesting secondary characters—Mira, Talley, Kelley, Archie, and Grant—who each bring an interesting aspect to the storyline. I highly suggest reading The Gate first, as it’s a short novella that introduces the mysterious Gate as well as Matty, his brother Arthur, Rob and Lin of the Frem, and opens the door for Lost in Time. A.L. Lester also provides a sneak peek at the next installment, Holding the Border, and I can’t wait to see where it will lead and who is willing to stay in the 1900s.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
As days go on, Rob, a friend and farm hand, and Matty become close. Then, on a particular evening, Rob tells Matty he’s found something strange in the barn.
And now I have to stop, because if I go any further, I will give the plot away. What I will say is that The Gate is a well written, too short but tempting story. I was very interested to see where it would lead. What it leads to is the intriguing novel Lost In Time. I usually don’t go for fantasy, sci-fi and mystery rolled into one, but I have to say I’m hooked!
In 2016, the world has split. The Border is a protection against the Outlands, where creatures seeking energy lurk. The Border is power and danger; if misused, a person could find themselves in situations beyond their control. Certain humans have an ability called the Pull, and are known as Workers. Workers keep the Border repaired.
Mira is a Worker and has big dreams of being a jazz singer. She has an opportunity to get a job doing just that, and uses her Pull and a book of spells with the intent of getting the job, but the ritual goes awry.
Lew Rogers is Mira’s foster brother. He also has the Pull, and is a Worker at the Border. When he finds his sister is missing, with the intent to find her, he follows the ritual as precisely as he can. Lew finds himself in the year 1919, and knows pretty quickly that something is amiss. After a freak accident, he takes the name of Ellison “Lew” Tyler, and is offered a job as a photographer by Callum McGovern, who is starting a newspaper. Lew knows he doesn’t have the experience, but it eventually leads him to photographing for Scotland Yard, and gives him even more of an opportunity to search for Mira.
Alastair “Alec” Carter has returned from several long years of war. He took the position of uniformed constable, and was promoted to Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police. He becomes involved in a strange death at a hospital for Servicemen, and is attacked by something beyond reality. When a vicious murder occurs, Alec watches closely as Lew photographs the body, and, from Lew’s reaction, Alec gets the feeling that Lew knows something. The more Alec pursues Lew, the more he finds himself entangled in a world beyond belief. But even though Alec and Lew have some explosive moments, they also find a forbidden attraction between them.
I didn’t know if I was going to actually like this story, but A.L. Lester had me from the start. I couldn’t put this book down, and I want more. The only way I can describe it is that it’s a modern-day London in the early 1900s fantasy, sci-fi and mystery. The author gives a solid look at the backgrounds of both Lew and Alec. They are strong characters who have somewhat of a rocky beginning, and develop a gradual interest in each other. And, they both have their concerns about not revealing their attraction.
There are so many interesting secondary characters—Mira, Talley, Kelley, Archie, and Grant—who each bring an interesting aspect to the storyline. I highly suggest reading The Gate first, as it’s a short novella that introduces the mysterious Gate as well as Matty, his brother Arthur, Rob and Lin of the Frem, and opens the door for Lost in Time. A.L. Lester also provides a sneak peek at the next installment, Holding the Border, and I can’t wait to see where it will lead and who is willing to stay in the 1900s.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
cadiva's review against another edition
3.0
2.5*
Bloody cliff hangers, I hate them with a burning rage hotter than the sun. This book finishes with two of them - the paranormal element with a deadly creature on the run and also the potential relationship between Alec and Lew.
Other than that, it's an intriguing story with its alternative reality London setting and the odd dislocation in time of one of the MCs in a post World War I setting.
I liked a lot of the narrative but there's an awful lot of setting up going on in this book and no real conclusions for anything which left me a little frustrated and sometimes the historic aspect of the story felt rushed or events just popped in to try highlight the "history".
One example being the Sidney Street Siege which oddly I know quite a bit about from my day job creating content for the new UK Police Memorial Trust's digital version.
I'm not sure why Sidney Street was picked as an event involving "creatures" given it was a straight-up anarchist revolutionary conflict between Latvian criminals and the Met Police which resulted in the deaths of three policemen, one gang member and a poor fireman who had the house collapse on him.
Hopefully book two will be out soon and we'll get some further movement on the main thrust of the otherworldly elements. There was a sneak peek at the end of this one and Fenn from The Gate makes another appearance.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Bloody cliff hangers, I hate them with a burning rage hotter than the sun. This book finishes with two of them - the paranormal element with a deadly creature on the run and also the potential relationship between Alec and Lew.
Other than that, it's an intriguing story with its alternative reality London setting and the odd dislocation in time of one of the MCs in a post World War I setting.
I liked a lot of the narrative but there's an awful lot of setting up going on in this book and no real conclusions for anything which left me a little frustrated and sometimes the historic aspect of the story felt rushed or events just popped in to try highlight the "history".
One example being the Sidney Street Siege which oddly I know quite a bit about from my day job creating content for the new UK Police Memorial Trust's digital version.
I'm not sure why Sidney Street was picked as an event involving "creatures" given it was a straight-up anarchist revolutionary conflict between Latvian criminals and the Met Police which resulted in the deaths of three policemen, one gang member and a poor fireman who had the house collapse on him.
Hopefully book two will be out soon and we'll get some further movement on the main thrust of the otherworldly elements. There was a sneak peek at the end of this one and Fenn from The Gate makes another appearance.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
janlhill's review against another edition
3.0
Concept and most of the basic characterization is good but it needed stuff shaded in to make it seem less choppy and disconnected
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I truly enjoyed this story. I loved the Universe created by the author, and I love the characters. The fact that the story is happening just after the end of the WWI is a plus :P
The relationship between Lew and Mira is lovely; and having him follow her to the past just shows how deep their feelings are. Well, okay, he wasn't aware that he was following her into the past, but still :P
The concept of the Border and the creatures following them into this dimension is fascinating, and I want to know more. And I love how people from this time kept popping up, knowing all about the whole thing *laughs*
And, of course, there is also the potential for a romance between Lew and Alec. At least, by the end of the book, we know they will be working together.
Callum Hale does a great job with the narration, but there are some issues with the editing, as chapters 14 and 22 are both twice in the audiobook.
The relationship between Lew and Mira is lovely; and having him follow her to the past just shows how deep their feelings are. Well, okay, he wasn't aware that he was following her into the past, but still :P
The concept of the Border and the creatures following them into this dimension is fascinating, and I want to know more. And I love how people from this time kept popping up, knowing all about the whole thing *laughs*
And, of course, there is also the potential for a romance between Lew and Alec. At least, by the end of the book, we know they will be working together.
Callum Hale does a great job with the narration, but there are some issues with the editing, as chapters 14 and 22 are both twice in the audiobook.
lillian_francis's review
4.0
I've rated and reviewed this and Shadows on the Border together as I believe they should be one story.
ally_lester's review
Both Lost in Time and its sequel, Shadows on the Border, are now out in audio! Callum Hale has done such a fantastic job of dramatising the characters that now as I'm writing the third in the trilogy I hear them talking in the voices he's given them.*
You can listen to him reading the blurb here on my website.
*in my imagination, not actually out loud, obvs.
You can listen to him reading the blurb here on my website.
*in my imagination, not actually out loud, obvs.
cadiva's review
3.0
2.5*
Bloody cliff hangers, I hate them with a burning rage hotter than the sun. This book finishes with two of them - the paranormal element with a deadly creature on the run and also the potential relationship between Alec and Lew.
Other than that, it's an intriguing story with its alternative reality London setting and the odd dislocation in time of one of the MCs in a post World War I setting.
I liked a lot of the narrative but there's an awful lot of setting up going on in this book and no real conclusions for anything which left me a little frustrated and sometimes the historic aspect of the story felt rushed or events just popped in to try highlight the "history".
One example being the Sidney Street Siege which oddly I know quite a bit about from my day job creating content for the new UK Police Memorial Trust's digital version.
I'm not sure why Sidney Street was picked as an event involving "creatures" given it was a straight-up anarchist revolutionary conflict between Latvian criminals and the Met Police which resulted in the deaths of three policemen, one gang member and a poor fireman who had the house collapse on him.
Hopefully book two will be out soon and we'll get some further movement on the main thrust of the otherworldly elements. There was a sneak peek at the end of this one and Fenn from The Gate makes another appearance.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Bloody cliff hangers, I hate them with a burning rage hotter than the sun. This book finishes with two of them - the paranormal element with a deadly creature on the run and also the potential relationship between Alec and Lew.
Other than that, it's an intriguing story with its alternative reality London setting and the odd dislocation in time of one of the MCs in a post World War I setting.
I liked a lot of the narrative but there's an awful lot of setting up going on in this book and no real conclusions for anything which left me a little frustrated and sometimes the historic aspect of the story felt rushed or events just popped in to try highlight the "history".
One example being the Sidney Street Siege which oddly I know quite a bit about from my day job creating content for the new UK Police Memorial Trust's digital version.
I'm not sure why Sidney Street was picked as an event involving "creatures" given it was a straight-up anarchist revolutionary conflict between Latvian criminals and the Met Police which resulted in the deaths of three policemen, one gang member and a poor fireman who had the house collapse on him.
Hopefully book two will be out soon and we'll get some further movement on the main thrust of the otherworldly elements. There was a sneak peek at the end of this one and Fenn from The Gate makes another appearance.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
ceetje's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
otterpebbles's review
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75