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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Real score 3.89. Sometimes I think what was meant to be comedic in this was just annoying. I’m really torn about the 3/4 star here. It took me a long time to read this and I don’t think it should have. I can’t quite put a finger on it. I’ll read another and see if I can work it out. In the mean time I will leave you with completely unhelpful review.
I chose to read (listen to) this book for 3 reasons: 1) The title, 2) The premise and 3) The cover (yes I did judge this book by its cover - and I'm glad I did). This book was fascinating with many twists and turns. The main character had flaws, which I appreciated - no one is perfect. There was a nice touch of humor, which was nicely reflected by the Audible Audiobook narrator in her timing. Many emotions are exploited in this book - I laughed, I cried, I simmered, I blushed. I can't wait to read the second installment of the Chronicles of St. Mary's.
Very reminiscent of Jasper Ffjord's Thursday Next series, and many of Connie Willis's time travel novels. Time travel, rules, and mayhem. What could possibly go wrong?
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
not my cup of tea. skipped large swathes to get to the end.
I'd give this one an easy 4* rating as I don't think I've ever read a book where quite so much happens in such a short space of time, but yet it's also truly amusing and works. I honestly think that this story is wacky, odd, funny and bizarre, and pretty much everything I hoped it would be and more!
We follow a young lady, Miss Maxwell (a.k.a. Max) who is just graduating and applies for a job at a The University of Thirsk as a historian. Little does Max realise quite what she's walked into. She ends up working at St. Mary's, the local time travel branch, and she realises that there's a lot more action and field-work involved in being a historian than she ever anticipated.
What I loved about this book is that it's so truly British the whole way through, both from setting to phrasing and humour. I really appreciated the crazy fun that these people ended up having, and seeing the various comments about Tea and life-threatening situations alongside one another made me chuckle a lot.
This is, as I said, a seriously chock-full book with a lot of action happening. We follow Max through various missions and as she settles in, and we actually end the book a fair few years after the start, so packing all of that in is a feat. I do think Taylor manages everything very well, creating a light-hearted but highly amusing first book. I for one cannot wait to see more adventures in the future becuase it's just plain enjoyable.
I will note that I listened to this on audio and the narrater did a fabulous job which always makes me enjoy books. I will be picking up the next few on audio too I imagine! 4*s overall - definitely recommended :)
We follow a young lady, Miss Maxwell (a.k.a. Max) who is just graduating and applies for a job at a The University of Thirsk as a historian. Little does Max realise quite what she's walked into. She ends up working at St. Mary's, the local time travel branch, and she realises that there's a lot more action and field-work involved in being a historian than she ever anticipated.
What I loved about this book is that it's so truly British the whole way through, both from setting to phrasing and humour. I really appreciated the crazy fun that these people ended up having, and seeing the various comments about Tea and life-threatening situations alongside one another made me chuckle a lot.
This is, as I said, a seriously chock-full book with a lot of action happening. We follow Max through various missions and as she settles in, and we actually end the book a fair few years after the start, so packing all of that in is a feat. I do think Taylor manages everything very well, creating a light-hearted but highly amusing first book. I for one cannot wait to see more adventures in the future becuase it's just plain enjoyable.
I will note that I listened to this on audio and the narrater did a fabulous job which always makes me enjoy books. I will be picking up the next few on audio too I imagine! 4*s overall - definitely recommended :)
Of all the books I've read, that was certainly one of them
Re-read, and I might have overreacted to the Farrell thing in the first read-through.
*3.5 stars*
History Research Center has time-travel capabilities. History Research Center also has questionably sane employees. Shenanigans ensue.
I loved most of the cast of this book. They are suicidal and quirky to almost-unbelievable points, and they routinely and cheerfully disregard life and limb and sanity in favor of the pursuit of History. It's very academician and very hilarious, and I am slowly growing attached. Also, I fully realize that my requirements are minimal here, but I love every single trip to the past and Max is for the most part a wonderful narrator.
That said, and while continuing to admit that it was a very enjoyable book, there were problems. The most significant of which was Chief Leon Farrell, a Love Interest who is at best bland and at worst strangleworthy. While I'm generally of the opinion that gender-flipping stereotypical roles can never go wrong (this book does it very successfully with both the eccentric reckless academic and the patient-hating doctor/medical officer), I may have to admit that the unobjectionable, sudden and existing-mostly-for-the-purpose-of-providing-emotional-drama male love interest is exactly as annoying as the female counterpart. Dump him. By the gods, dump him. I am in book two and my temple is starting to throb every time I see Farrell on screen.
And Izzy Barclay, whose prime motivation in life seems to be the desire to get with Leon Farrell. I mean, quite apart from the fact that YOU WORK IN A TIME TRAVEL INSTITUTE WOMAN AND YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR TIME, you want to obsess over Farrell? Really? OF ALL PEOPLE? Betraying people for the possible love of Peterson or Markham would be counterproductive but at least it would make SENSE. Sigh.
The conflict was somewhat confusing, and I am not sure I understand the way this whole thing works, but all the missions are excellent. Eccentric Academics are so entertaining I don't even. The body count is pretty damned high too, but it's hard to feel much more than dread and "oh god is the one i'm attached to going to die next." It really was one damned thing after another.
Verdict: Entertaining book, but Flawed.
*3.5 stars*
History Research Center has time-travel capabilities. History Research Center also has questionably sane employees. Shenanigans ensue.
I loved most of the cast of this book. They are suicidal and quirky to almost-unbelievable points, and they routinely and cheerfully disregard life and limb and sanity in favor of the pursuit of History. It's very academician and very hilarious, and I am slowly growing attached. Also, I fully realize that my requirements are minimal here, but I love every single trip to the past and Max is for the most part a wonderful narrator.
That said, and while continuing to admit that it was a very enjoyable book, there were problems. The most significant of which was Chief Leon Farrell, a Love Interest who is at best bland and at worst strangleworthy. While I'm generally of the opinion that gender-flipping stereotypical roles can never go wrong (this book does it very successfully with both the eccentric reckless academic and the patient-hating doctor/medical officer), I may have to admit that the unobjectionable, sudden and existing-mostly-for-the-purpose-of-providing-emotional-drama male love interest is exactly as annoying as the female counterpart. Dump him. By the gods, dump him. I am in book two and my temple is starting to throb every time I see Farrell on screen.
And Izzy Barclay, whose prime motivation in life seems to be the desire to get with Leon Farrell. I mean, quite apart from the fact that YOU WORK IN A TIME TRAVEL INSTITUTE WOMAN AND YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR TIME, you want to obsess over Farrell? Really? OF ALL PEOPLE? Betraying people for the possible love of Peterson or Markham would be counterproductive but at least it would make SENSE. Sigh.
The conflict was somewhat confusing, and I am not sure I understand the way this whole thing works, but all the missions are excellent. Eccentric Academics are so entertaining I don't even. The body count is pretty damned high too, but it's hard to feel much more than dread and "oh god is the one i'm attached to going to die next." It really was one damned thing after another.
Verdict: Entertaining book, but Flawed.
The old saying goes: 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. I'm glad I didn't. The cover is awful and in no way gives any clue to what lies within.
What does lie within is a really compelling time-travelling, romantic thriller. There is plenty of action, plenty of sharp dialogue, some great punch-ups and a page-turning storyline.
As with all time-travel novels there are loopholes that remain unexplained (the author wisely has one of the characters dissuade another character from asking too many questions on the subject) which might bother the pedantic but I was happy enough to ignore them.
For the first third of the book I was reading at my usual leisurely pace but then a couple of events turned the book from an enjoyable find to an unputdownable, must-finish-this joy. I finished the remainder in next to no time.
I have already downloaded the second and third instalments in order to keep up with Max and the St Mary's team, my hope is that the author keeps the series going. Maybe not as long as Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series but certainly, if the quality level is maintained, we could enjoy another dozen of these.
Kudos Ms Taylor, keep up the good work.
What does lie within is a really compelling time-travelling, romantic thriller. There is plenty of action, plenty of sharp dialogue, some great punch-ups and a page-turning storyline.
As with all time-travel novels there are loopholes that remain unexplained (the author wisely has one of the characters dissuade another character from asking too many questions on the subject) which might bother the pedantic but I was happy enough to ignore them.
For the first third of the book I was reading at my usual leisurely pace but then a couple of events turned the book from an enjoyable find to an unputdownable, must-finish-this joy. I finished the remainder in next to no time.
I have already downloaded the second and third instalments in order to keep up with Max and the St Mary's team, my hope is that the author keeps the series going. Maybe not as long as Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series but certainly, if the quality level is maintained, we could enjoy another dozen of these.
Kudos Ms Taylor, keep up the good work.