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A review by theamyleblanc
The Time Trials by Jon McConnell, Dayna McConnell
Did not finish book.
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF: 29%
This book is deeply disappointing. The cover is pretty and the synopsis seems cool - I love stories about time travel! And the first chapter or so did have me fooled. But I felt my interest disappearing as I got further into the story.
The characters are stereotypes in a tired, overused way. Finn is the poor orphan, brooding musician who doesn't fit in. Everly is your quintessential rich popular girl, the one who 'isn't like her peers'. Edison's stereotype is the most annoying because it could be a harmful one. I love that there's an autistic character but there's a better way to handle his introduction and portrayal.
What is a time travel story if there are no consequences for going back in time? If the Butterfly Effect doesn't exist, what are the stakes? Sure if you die, you stay dead. But otherwise there didn't seem to be any issues with going back in time. Granted, I didn't read far enough to see the time travel in action here but it came across as more of a gimmicky plot device than integral to the story.
Some of the references in the narration are incredibly outdated and made the setting feel anachronistic. Also, the characters seemed both too old and too young. Like sometimes they felt more like college freshman and others I was convinced they were 15. I know that doesn't seem like a huge difference numerically but in terms of experience, it's massive.
This book might appeal to readers with a less discerning or less developed palate. Unfortunately, I'm not that person.
DNF: 29%
This book is deeply disappointing. The cover is pretty and the synopsis seems cool - I love stories about time travel! And the first chapter or so did have me fooled. But I felt my interest disappearing as I got further into the story.
The characters are stereotypes in a tired, overused way. Finn is the poor orphan, brooding musician who doesn't fit in. Everly is your quintessential rich popular girl, the one who 'isn't like her peers'. Edison's stereotype is the most annoying because it could be a harmful one. I love that there's an autistic character but there's a better way to handle his introduction and portrayal.
What is a time travel story if there are no consequences for going back in time? If the Butterfly Effect doesn't exist, what are the stakes? Sure if you die, you stay dead. But otherwise there didn't seem to be any issues with going back in time. Granted, I didn't read far enough to see the time travel in action here but it came across as more of a gimmicky plot device than integral to the story.
Some of the references in the narration are incredibly outdated and made the setting feel anachronistic. Also, the characters seemed both too old and too young. Like sometimes they felt more like college freshman and others I was convinced they were 15. I know that doesn't seem like a huge difference numerically but in terms of experience, it's massive.
This book might appeal to readers with a less discerning or less developed palate. Unfortunately, I'm not that person.