reviewsfromabookworm's review
3.0
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| I requested this because of the cover. |
I must admit that the main reason I ended up requesting Timebomb was the cover. I couldn't help myself, despite my issues with it, I really like the cover. With the skyscraper skyline at the top and the country village at the bottom, I could tell a lot about the book by just looking at the cover. I'd never heard of the author before and I hadn't heard anything about the book, but I was excited nonetheless to receive my copy and read it.
Time travel books can be hit and miss because it's so hard to get them right. You have the problem of paradoxes and parts of the story not adding up or making sense. It can jump back and forth so much that you start to be confused about where and when you are. I quite enjoyed Timebomb but I felt the time travel aspect did cause a lot of those issues.
The story jumps straight into the action, we immediately find ourselves on a rooftop with Jana as she flings herself from the building. She's been chased by a group of men who are set on killing her and she has no idea why. Jana has died before and it wasn't so bad, she knows that even when she dies here her mother will find a way to bring her back. But Jana never hits the floor, instead she finds herself thrown back in time from 2141 to 2014. There she's joined by Kaz, a boy from 2014 and Dora, a scullery maid who found herself transported forward in time from 1640.
That all happens very quickly, within the first few pages and the action never lets up after that. We learn very early on that a woman named Quil is after them, determined to stop them now to prevent an event from happening in the future. The pace really never slows down, it feels like a lot to take in because you never get a minute to think over everything. I struggled with that aspect of it, too much happens too quickly and I was left feeling quite confused. It got hard to keep up with what the characters had actually done and in what time frame. I lost track of who'd travelled where and what each character remembered about everything. I was lost.This is definitely more of a plot driven book than a character driven one. I never felt like I got to know Kaz, Jana or Dora and I really struggled to connect to them. I have a feeling Jana has the potential to become a character that I would really love in the next book. She did show at times that she has a great sense of humour, something I would have liked to see more of. Kaz was okay but had the habit of making really stupid decisions, like smashing up their only weapon when they could really use it. Dora was hard for me to get used to, she's from 1640 and spends most of the book just questioning everything around her. It's necessary because she jumps to 2014 and has no idea about anything she encounters. It's realistic but it gets a little old.
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| Quil is certifiably insane and I LOVE IT! |
My favourite character turned out to be Quil, who's absolutely mental. She's mentally unstable and requires a large amount of help, but I came to love her. She was the most interesting character and the insane things she did actually made me laugh. They were totally sadistic but she just did not see it and I loved that. Sometimes it's quite refreshing to feel myself rooting for the bad guy at times. I don't want to win but I don't want them to destroy her because I want more of her character.
I did enjoy this book overall but I had my issues with it. It was hard for me to get lost in the story, the pace was very fast and it was all action. Sometimes all action is a good thing. here it felt like a bit too much and I ended up lost. If I am completely honest, half the time I didn't have a clue what was going on. Characters went back and forth in time so much that I started to lose track of what had happened and when.
3/5 Butterflies
Time travel books are so hard to get right and, although I had some issues with it, I think Scott K. Andrews did a good job with Timebomb. There is quite a lot going on in this book but you can tell that there is so much more to come. Trips to the future and interractions with the people they meet there and in the past hint at big events that are still to come. We still have no idea what event has made Quil so determined to track the three of them down in their respective presents and kill them. I have to admit that my fascination with the character of Quil, and the fact I see Jana becoming a character I really love in the next book, makes me want to continue this series and see where it goes. If you're a fan of action-packed books where the action never stops then this is the book for you.
*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.
taniplea's review
4.0
It was a bit confusing, but I feel like all good time travel books are like that that in the beginning. I definitely want to know what will happen next.
cindyc's review
4.0
The first time I heard about TimeBomb was when Hodder revealed the cover. I thought it looked amazing and the synopsis sounded really good. It took me another year to actually get my hands on it though, but when I finally had it, I couldn’t wait and started it right away.
The book definitely doesn’t miss its start. The first few pages are fast-paced, not wasting any time on fluff but throwing the reader right in the middle of all the action.
The protagonists in this book are three very distinct characters that are just as clueless about what is going on as the reader is. Not only do they all have very different personalities, they are also from different time periods. Kaz is from the present (2014), Dora from the past (1640) and Jana is from the future (2141). They have to overcome all their differences and figure out how to work together to survive. Even though they don’t really know what is happening to them, or what they are supposed to do. I really enjoyed reading about all three of them, they all brought something different to the story. Dora, the sweet girl who has a tough side that comes to the forefront more and more as the story progresses. Kaz, the oldest, but also the most gentle. And then there’s Jana, smart and bossy, equipped with advanced technology, but loyal and deep down also quite lonely. They form an amazing dynamic trio that made this book an absolute joy to read.
The ‘villains’ in the book, Sweetclover and Quil, pop up in different time periods in the book trying to capture the three teenagers. Their motives aren’t always that clear, but they sure make an interesting pair and a force to be reckoned with.
Of all three, the shock is the biggest for Dora who seems the most confused about the whole situation. Being born in the 17th Century doesn’t give her a lot to work with where technology and time travel are concerned.
Every other page there’s always some unexpected twist that turns the whole story upside down again. As a reader you go through a rollercoaster of emotions as horrible violence seem to follow the characters everywhere they go. It’s very hard to make out why all of this was set in motion in the first place, something that remains a bit of mystery at the end.
Because of the many jumps in time by different characters, things that have happened for one of them might not have happened for anyone else. You’re thrown back and forth wondering what the hell is going on and if everyone will make it or not. I definitely experienced this as a good thing, it kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping pages to find out more. Because of the time travel and the many paradoxes, the story might get complicated, but it wasn’t confusing. Everything is explained in such a way that the whole situation somehow still makes sense. This not by overloading the reader with dry information, but woven through the story to not slow the pace.
TimeBomb was a real treat for me. It’s a fluent read with lots of action from the very beginning. The pace doesn’t slow down even once and drags you along in a whirlwind of time travel, paradoxes and different time periods. Everything is very vague in the beginning which really had me glued to the pages: I wanted to know what was happening just as much as the characters did. I’d definitely recommend this book, it’s different, it’s fun, it’s fast-paced and it has all the action to keep you flipping the pages all the way to the end.
The book definitely doesn’t miss its start. The first few pages are fast-paced, not wasting any time on fluff but throwing the reader right in the middle of all the action.
The protagonists in this book are three very distinct characters that are just as clueless about what is going on as the reader is. Not only do they all have very different personalities, they are also from different time periods. Kaz is from the present (2014), Dora from the past (1640) and Jana is from the future (2141). They have to overcome all their differences and figure out how to work together to survive. Even though they don’t really know what is happening to them, or what they are supposed to do. I really enjoyed reading about all three of them, they all brought something different to the story. Dora, the sweet girl who has a tough side that comes to the forefront more and more as the story progresses. Kaz, the oldest, but also the most gentle. And then there’s Jana, smart and bossy, equipped with advanced technology, but loyal and deep down also quite lonely. They form an amazing dynamic trio that made this book an absolute joy to read.
The ‘villains’ in the book, Sweetclover and Quil, pop up in different time periods in the book trying to capture the three teenagers. Their motives aren’t always that clear, but they sure make an interesting pair and a force to be reckoned with.
Of all three, the shock is the biggest for Dora who seems the most confused about the whole situation. Being born in the 17th Century doesn’t give her a lot to work with where technology and time travel are concerned.
Every other page there’s always some unexpected twist that turns the whole story upside down again. As a reader you go through a rollercoaster of emotions as horrible violence seem to follow the characters everywhere they go. It’s very hard to make out why all of this was set in motion in the first place, something that remains a bit of mystery at the end.
Because of the many jumps in time by different characters, things that have happened for one of them might not have happened for anyone else. You’re thrown back and forth wondering what the hell is going on and if everyone will make it or not. I definitely experienced this as a good thing, it kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping pages to find out more. Because of the time travel and the many paradoxes, the story might get complicated, but it wasn’t confusing. Everything is explained in such a way that the whole situation somehow still makes sense. This not by overloading the reader with dry information, but woven through the story to not slow the pace.
TimeBomb was a real treat for me. It’s a fluent read with lots of action from the very beginning. The pace doesn’t slow down even once and drags you along in a whirlwind of time travel, paradoxes and different time periods. Everything is very vague in the beginning which really had me glued to the pages: I wanted to know what was happening just as much as the characters did. I’d definitely recommend this book, it’s different, it’s fun, it’s fast-paced and it has all the action to keep you flipping the pages all the way to the end.
katieb94's review against another edition
4.0
Timebomb is a great science fiction read. I love a bit of time travel but this book took three people, Dora, Kaz and Jana out of their own times and into a battle for the future.
Dora, being from the 17th century, struggled the most on understanding what has happened to her.
I actually liked Kaz the most out of the three, Dora was frightened and confused, Jana could be a little bitchy, but Kaz was surprisingly level headed considering he's not a native or that he understands. It was good to see a non - English character other than an American in a story. Kaz is Polish.
It's a great book, even the villains of the story- Lord Sweetclover and Quil, we're well padded out. They weren't just coherently evil and it worked well.
I mean, they had to earn the three time travellers trust, right?
I've been in a bit of a slump this month so it was nice to finish May with an action packed sci-fi novel. :D
For a more detailed review, please go to my blog: https:// sherlockianbooklover.wordpress.com
Dora, being from the 17th century, struggled the most on understanding what has happened to her.
I actually liked Kaz the most out of the three, Dora was frightened and confused, Jana could be a little bitchy, but Kaz was surprisingly level headed considering he's not a native or that he understands. It was good to see a non - English character other than an American in a story. Kaz is Polish.
It's a great book, even the villains of the story- Lord Sweetclover and Quil, we're well padded out. They weren't just coherently evil and it worked well.
I mean, they had to earn the three time travellers trust, right?
I've been in a bit of a slump this month so it was nice to finish May with an action packed sci-fi novel. :D
For a more detailed review, please go to my blog: https:// sherlockianbooklover.wordpress.com
uqd's review against another edition
5.0
As an avid reader of all genres of books I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic novel. I finished this fast-paced, action-packed book in three days, from the time it was bought. The characters were so believable that I could almost see them coming to life in front of my very eyes. This gripping and eye-catching book has me excited and hungry for more, it is number one on my list of books this year. 10/10. 5 stars.
elizabethmae's review against another edition
4.0
It was an interesting story with an unusual structure that didn't interfere with the plot and the writing was strong. However, I found at the end that the climax wasn't shocking for me because I didn't identify with or care about any of the characters particularly. It didn't matter who lived or died or got hurt because I wasn't emotionally invested in any of them.
rinn's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, Hodder, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.
TimeBomb was certainly a fun read. Throwing the reader into this crazy revelation of time travel along with the characters meant it got straight into the action, no holds barred. And despite its super speedy pace, I was given a strong impression of each of the three protagonists almost right away.
Dora is naive and sweet, but stubborn. As a girl from the sixteenth century who is suddenly thrown into the twenty-first, she obviously has a lot of questions, but she learns fast. She’s sharp and witty, and was definitely my favourite of the three. Kaz is kind-hearted despite his difficult past, and although he lacks confidence he seems to grow throughout the book. Finally, Jana, the girl from the future, oozes confidence but was quite frankly a little annoying and blunt.
For a fairly short book, the story seems to cram in several genres: science fiction, historical fiction, adventure and thriller. It was pretty exciting how the three protagonists occasionally encountered their future selves in a variety of situations, allowing the reader to take a guess at what might come next. I also really appreciated one of the characters pointing out that they shouldn’t leave future objects in the past, to avoid confusing archaeologists!
However, the concept behind the time travel seemed like a really lazy explanation, and the way the three actually travelled through time just struck me as… odd. At times, the fact that they could time travel was a very overused deus ex machina. And despite the fact that you’d imagine a world in which you can time travel would feel huge, it actually felt strangely small.
Whilst I enjoyed the book, the conclusion was frustrating and I didn’t much care for the time travel explanation. Regardless, I think I would pick up the second book in the series when it comes out, just to see how Dora copes, although it won’t be my highest priority!
TimeBomb was certainly a fun read. Throwing the reader into this crazy revelation of time travel along with the characters meant it got straight into the action, no holds barred. And despite its super speedy pace, I was given a strong impression of each of the three protagonists almost right away.
Dora is naive and sweet, but stubborn. As a girl from the sixteenth century who is suddenly thrown into the twenty-first, she obviously has a lot of questions, but she learns fast. She’s sharp and witty, and was definitely my favourite of the three. Kaz is kind-hearted despite his difficult past, and although he lacks confidence he seems to grow throughout the book. Finally, Jana, the girl from the future, oozes confidence but was quite frankly a little annoying and blunt.
For a fairly short book, the story seems to cram in several genres: science fiction, historical fiction, adventure and thriller. It was pretty exciting how the three protagonists occasionally encountered their future selves in a variety of situations, allowing the reader to take a guess at what might come next. I also really appreciated one of the characters pointing out that they shouldn’t leave future objects in the past, to avoid confusing archaeologists!
However, the concept behind the time travel seemed like a really lazy explanation, and the way the three actually travelled through time just struck me as… odd. At times, the fact that they could time travel was a very overused deus ex machina. And despite the fact that you’d imagine a world in which you can time travel would feel huge, it actually felt strangely small.
Whilst I enjoyed the book, the conclusion was frustrating and I didn’t much care for the time travel explanation. Regardless, I think I would pick up the second book in the series when it comes out, just to see how Dora copes, although it won’t be my highest priority!
becca's review against another edition
4.0
** may contain spoiler-ish things **
Time travel novels are becoming something brand new on my shelf, not to mention already taking over so much space over the other genres. Scott K. Andrews novel is heavy on the time-travel - in an amazing way - and the time spaces that the book covers are propelled into the past and future at the strike of a match. So I was definitely eager to get started on a new thrilling adventure.
There's Jana, a girl from New York in 2141 who gets pulled to the present day after she jumps off the top of a skyscraper, Dora; a young servant who finds herself pulled forward in time when she tries to help a dying woman who is severely hurt at the place she works, and then there's Kaz; a young boy that finds both of them where Dora works. They all have different outlooks on what the world is at their current "times" they existed, like who was king and what the future and past is. They wonder why they were drawn together, but soon find themselves delving deep into a complex and mysterious world. Knowing they can only do this together, they band together to uncover the truth of what brought them to the same time and why.
read full review here: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/book-review-timebomb-by-scott-k-andrews.html
Time travel novels are becoming something brand new on my shelf, not to mention already taking over so much space over the other genres. Scott K. Andrews novel is heavy on the time-travel - in an amazing way - and the time spaces that the book covers are propelled into the past and future at the strike of a match. So I was definitely eager to get started on a new thrilling adventure.
There's Jana, a girl from New York in 2141 who gets pulled to the present day after she jumps off the top of a skyscraper, Dora; a young servant who finds herself pulled forward in time when she tries to help a dying woman who is severely hurt at the place she works, and then there's Kaz; a young boy that finds both of them where Dora works. They all have different outlooks on what the world is at their current "times" they existed, like who was king and what the future and past is. They wonder why they were drawn together, but soon find themselves delving deep into a complex and mysterious world. Knowing they can only do this together, they band together to uncover the truth of what brought them to the same time and why.
read full review here: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/book-review-timebomb-by-scott-k-andrews.html
jackielaw's review against another edition
4.0
Timebomb, by Scott K. Andrews, is the first book in a planned, new, time travel trilogy for young adults. It follows the adventures of three teenagers plucked unexpectedly from lives that seem ordinary in the 17th, 21st and 22nd centuries to face a foe they are told little about. They are flung into an unknown world where they are constantly threatened and do not know who to trust. As may be expected if time travel became a possibility there are those who wish to control the few who can master it and thereby use it for their own nefarious means. In this first book in the series it is unclear who the enemy they must face is or what they want, only that the three teenagers are seen as instrumental in a deadly game that is being played out across many centuries.
Keeping track of the various timelines is confusing as the travellers can meet their future selves who, in various instances, step in to perform rescues from life threatening situations. These glimpses suggest adventures to come with an increase in knowledge and skills. In this book however there is much confusion and each of the protagonists folds under pressure at various times. Despite their unusual abilities they are not presented as superheroes.
I enjoyed the descriptions of present day advances as seen through the eyes of a traveller from the past. What was made less clear were the limitations of technologies that could be carried back in time. Toasters and fridges it seems were transportable but not the helpful computer chip that future person carried in her head and which her enemies wished to acquire. I wondered why all those capable of time travel did not possess the best the future could offer.
The plot lines are complex but move along at a rollicking pace making this book a compelling read. It offers but one adventure and the reader is left with many questions and a desire to have them answered. With two more books planned this bodes well for the author, although I would have liked to have seen a little more coherence here. Throughout the excitement it was hard to find reason for much of what was going on.
Having said that I enjoyed the book and will look out for the next instalment. Many of the characters are intriguing with several who played bit parts in this book perhaps being set up for future roles. This is an unfolding story filled with action and conspiracy that presents time travel as an ability that the world is probably better off without.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton.
Keeping track of the various timelines is confusing as the travellers can meet their future selves who, in various instances, step in to perform rescues from life threatening situations. These glimpses suggest adventures to come with an increase in knowledge and skills. In this book however there is much confusion and each of the protagonists folds under pressure at various times. Despite their unusual abilities they are not presented as superheroes.
I enjoyed the descriptions of present day advances as seen through the eyes of a traveller from the past. What was made less clear were the limitations of technologies that could be carried back in time. Toasters and fridges it seems were transportable but not the helpful computer chip that future person carried in her head and which her enemies wished to acquire. I wondered why all those capable of time travel did not possess the best the future could offer.
The plot lines are complex but move along at a rollicking pace making this book a compelling read. It offers but one adventure and the reader is left with many questions and a desire to have them answered. With two more books planned this bodes well for the author, although I would have liked to have seen a little more coherence here. Throughout the excitement it was hard to find reason for much of what was going on.
Having said that I enjoyed the book and will look out for the next instalment. Many of the characters are intriguing with several who played bit parts in this book perhaps being set up for future roles. This is an unfolding story filled with action and conspiracy that presents time travel as an ability that the world is probably better off without.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton.
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