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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
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.
Really couldn’t finish this book. Terrible, terrible writing. The time period the book is based in doesn’t match the awful dialogue which seems to come from the 1950s, and I don’t get why this wasn’t looked over by an editor. None of the characters appear to have any depth to them at all other than yelling at each other. I rarely stop books but this made me!
I'm not sure how I feel about this book yet, I need to read the next one to find out....
2.5
I thought at least three times that the book had ended.
I thought at least three times that the book had ended.
Loved it, loved it, loved it. I whizzed through this book. I even read it whilst walking to work just lifting my head every now and again to check I wasn't heading into traffic. Very rarely do I hit a page turner, even other 5* books I have read do not keep me solidly hooked through the entire book. I've already gone out and bought the next four books to read on holiday.
The book follows Madeleine Maxwell (Max) as she joins St Mary's and becomes a historian. Not just any historian but one that studies historical events in contemporary time. Want to find out about a moment in history? Why not revisit it and see what actually happens. In this book we see them do several small jumps to different periods but the main area in this book is the Cretaceous Period because who wouldn't want to go see dinosaurs?? Such a good premise for a series, its just so fun it doesn't get bogged down in the minutiae of time travel. The characters are great especially Max who is such a disaster magnet, if something could go wrong around her it will. It is written in such a refreshing and funny way. I really can't recommend this enough!
Also, the new covers are so much nicer!!
The book follows Madeleine Maxwell (Max) as she joins St Mary's and becomes a historian. Not just any historian but one that studies historical events in contemporary time. Want to find out about a moment in history? Why not revisit it and see what actually happens. In this book we see them do several small jumps to different periods but the main area in this book is the Cretaceous Period because who wouldn't want to go see dinosaurs?? Such a good premise for a series, its just so fun it doesn't get bogged down in the minutiae of time travel. The characters are great especially Max who is such a disaster magnet, if something could go wrong around her it will. It is written in such a refreshing and funny way. I really can't recommend this enough!
Also, the new covers are so much nicer!!
Finally started this series after eyeing it forever, I loved it! Can't wait to read the others!
3.5 stars.
Ended up listening to the proper audiobook.
I started reading the book years ago and the mention of history turned me off. On audible there is a audio play which I started but left like it was missing key parts so finally tried the audiobook as it is one of my friends favourite series.
On the whole I did enjoy it. I'm not sure if it is a series that has gripped me but it is a pretty cool concept.
Ended up listening to the proper audiobook.
I started reading the book years ago and the mention of history turned me off. On audible there is a audio play which I started but left like it was missing key parts so finally tried the audiobook as it is one of my friends favourite series.
On the whole I did enjoy it. I'm not sure if it is a series that has gripped me but it is a pretty cool concept.
This was an excellent story with a compelling narrative from a spikey first person point of view.
The historical content was well interwoven into the mix, but the characterisation held it together.
It rattled along at a fast pace, and brought along surprises at key moments in the story to push the reader, and characters, along.
Looking forward to reading more of these books.
The historical content was well interwoven into the mix, but the characterisation held it together.
It rattled along at a fast pace, and brought along surprises at key moments in the story to push the reader, and characters, along.
Looking forward to reading more of these books.