Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by riley_rogers
The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Third Rule of Time Travel is a stunning, mind-bending work of science fiction.
Our main character is Beth – a fiery woman who, with the help of her now-dead husband Colson, have successfully made a time travel machine. (Although, I’d be more apt to nickname it the “memory machine” instead.) It allows a user to send their consciousness to travel through time, to a specific point. However, with three unbreakable rules.
1) Travel can occur only at destination points during the previous lifetime of the traveler.
2) It can only last for 90 seconds.
3) They can’t interact with the world.
However, as she sends herself into her past to observe – small things happen, much akin to the butterfly effect.
Combined with a suspicious CEO, as well as her natural desire for more – humanities desire for more – to harness something not meant to be utilized.
Fracassi did exceptionally well at making such subtle nuances recognizable as it all was revealed. This is a slow burn, a slow reveal, but is oh so worth the mind-blowing wait.
“Marie Elena tuts, shakes her head. “There’s always time, Beth,” she says. “It’s what you do with it that matters.””
I’m an absolute sucker for anything time-travel esque – books like “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel, “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub, as well as “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi are all excellent examples of time travel done well.
I’m extremely happy to say I have found another amazing time travel book to add to my recommendations list. This was an excellent book, and I’m extremely happy I was given the opportunity to read it.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*
Our main character is Beth – a fiery woman who, with the help of her now-dead husband Colson, have successfully made a time travel machine. (Although, I’d be more apt to nickname it the “memory machine” instead.) It allows a user to send their consciousness to travel through time, to a specific point. However, with three unbreakable rules.
1) Travel can occur only at destination points during the previous lifetime of the traveler.
2) It can only last for 90 seconds.
3) They can’t interact with the world.
However, as she sends herself into her past to observe – small things happen, much akin to the butterfly effect.
Combined with a suspicious CEO, as well as her natural desire for more – humanities desire for more – to harness something not meant to be utilized.
Fracassi did exceptionally well at making such subtle nuances recognizable as it all was revealed. This is a slow burn, a slow reveal, but is oh so worth the mind-blowing wait.
“Marie Elena tuts, shakes her head. “There’s always time, Beth,” she says. “It’s what you do with it that matters.””
I’m an absolute sucker for anything time-travel esque – books like “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel, “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub, as well as “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi are all excellent examples of time travel done well.
I’m extremely happy to say I have found another amazing time travel book to add to my recommendations list. This was an excellent book, and I’m extremely happy I was given the opportunity to read it.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*