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books_and_tea_with_v's Reviews (189)
The more i read about this alternate earth the curiouser and curiouser it gets. Gonna read more
Full Disclosure, this is an ARC read.
The book started slow for me and only seemed to speed up when I reached about 30% into the book. Randy Anderson is a good writer, I was able to picture every scene described and the pacing didn't feel too fast or slow once it got started.
Now, there has to be a reason I stopped at 52% and awarded this scifi thriller 2 stars. It's not enough to have a way with words or have an interesting idea, you need good characters you can cheer (and boo), this story didn't have any for me. Dane, our beautiful protagonist (we're reminded several times of his modeling career) is just a ball getting kicked around by the plot. Not once did I feel he had a goal or need or want besides the desire to stay alive, without a great impending danger, this made for a poor driving force to keep me reading.
(Before I continue, just a warning of spoiler ahead)
I know, I know, there is a huge impending danger of The Great Extinction, but we don't learn this till halfway through the book and STILL Dane doesn't choose to help or not, he is again guided to a decision made for him by other characters, like a ball being kicked around, he too was full of air with no free will or direction, things just happen.
Lastly, I honestly did not mind the allegory of how humanity suffered because of Global Warming and rising sea levels, what bothered me was the info dump and chapters upon chapters TELLING us what the future is and how time travel works.
(Aaaaaand spoilers over)
To conclude, Time Phantom could have been a fun read with corporate intrigue, a thriller to recommend and a message (or warning) of the consequences of Global Warming. But it wasn't.
Stories that grab me are ones with characters who move the plot, who have goals and desires, fears and hates. Writing that shows me the world, how it works and what is what. I don't want a protagonist that spends the whole book reacting or infodumps telling at our face why, what and where.
Hope the review is useful, it's not a terrible book, but it didn't meet my expectations.
The book started slow for me and only seemed to speed up when I reached about 30% into the book. Randy Anderson is a good writer, I was able to picture every scene described and the pacing didn't feel too fast or slow once it got started.
Now, there has to be a reason I stopped at 52% and awarded this scifi thriller 2 stars. It's not enough to have a way with words or have an interesting idea, you need good characters you can cheer (and boo), this story didn't have any for me. Dane, our beautiful protagonist (we're reminded several times of his modeling career) is just a ball getting kicked around by the plot. Not once did I feel he had a goal or need or want besides the desire to stay alive, without a great impending danger, this made for a poor driving force to keep me reading.
(Before I continue, just a warning of spoiler ahead)
I know, I know, there is a huge impending danger of The Great Extinction, but we don't learn this till halfway through the book and STILL Dane doesn't choose to help or not, he is again guided to a decision made for him by other characters, like a ball being kicked around, he too was full of air with no free will or direction, things just happen.
Lastly, I honestly did not mind the allegory of how humanity suffered because of Global Warming and rising sea levels, what bothered me was the info dump and chapters upon chapters TELLING us what the future is and how time travel works.
(Aaaaaand spoilers over)
To conclude, Time Phantom could have been a fun read with corporate intrigue, a thriller to recommend and a message (or warning) of the consequences of Global Warming. But it wasn't.
Stories that grab me are ones with characters who move the plot, who have goals and desires, fears and hates. Writing that shows me the world, how it works and what is what. I don't want a protagonist that spends the whole book reacting or infodumps telling at our face why, what and where.
Hope the review is useful, it's not a terrible book, but it didn't meet my expectations.
DNF, made it almost halfway and it just wasn't grabbing me. Totally not my style or type of story, so nothing against the writing which was good... Just not for me.
The lore and worldbuilding is expanded on with each chapter bringing me deeper into the history and character backstory. Events are really picking up and can't wait to read the next volume.
Wow, that ending, am I right?
Things are really picking up now.
Things are really picking up now.