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baylady 's review for:
The Other Valley
by Scott Alexander Howard
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a book that requires attention to the intricacies of plat, but is well worth the time to explore the spectacular world-building. The focus is how people live within their unique world - where the geography is a strong influence on culture and law. Go too far one direction, evade the guards and make it across unfriendly landscape, and you are 20 year in the past - or, in the other direction, 20 years in the future.
Travel between time zones is strictly regulated, to avoid temporal rewriting. Which is, of course, why there are fences and armed guards. Some want to travel into the past, to secretly view family who've died (allowed with an approved petition), or to warn yourself or a loved one (absolutely forbidden, and punishable by death at the hands of the guards.) Some wish to travel into the future, so learn their fates - again, a threat to the present day, lest a warning today change the future.
The main character is a teen in competitive training to be a conseil, a member of the elite board that reviews time travel petitions. But she recognizes the parents of a boy she cares for, understands that this means that he will soon die. That knowledge, and the choices she faces, make for a compelling story.
Travel between time zones is strictly regulated, to avoid temporal rewriting. Which is, of course, why there are fences and armed guards. Some want to travel into the past, to secretly view family who've died (allowed with an approved petition), or to warn yourself or a loved one (absolutely forbidden, and punishable by death at the hands of the guards.) Some wish to travel into the future, so learn their fates - again, a threat to the present day, lest a warning today change the future.
The main character is a teen in competitive training to be a conseil, a member of the elite board that reviews time travel petitions. But she recognizes the parents of a boy she cares for, understands that this means that he will soon die. That knowledge, and the choices she faces, make for a compelling story.