The Wizard of Time (Wizard of Time, #1)

Sep 02, 2011 Elizabeth Marshall rated it 5 of 5 stars

A lot of people, me included, read to indulge their own imaginations, or to escape the realities of life! Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes escapism and that is probably why well written fantasy spans such a diverse and broad spectrum of genres and age groups. However, not all fantasy stories are actually successful in crossing ages and genres.

The reason for this is that for a fantasy to work, the story needs to hold some degree of realism. The reader needs to be able to associat...more A lot of people, me included, read to indulge their own imaginations, or to escape the realities of life! Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes escapism and that is probably why well written fantasy spans such a diverse and broad spectrum of genres and age groups. However, not all fantasy stories are actually successful in crossing ages and genres.

The reason for this is that for a fantasy to work, the story needs to hold some degree of realism. The reader needs to be able to associate with it and see themselves in it.
When it comes to fantasy I expect the impossible!

When I started this book I hoped for the impossible and what I got was pure brilliance. This story is written with incredible intelligence and crosses genres and ages groups seamlessly. It is captivating, adventurous, creative, vibrant, emotive and unpredictable. I fully believed in the fantasy, loved the plot and think the characters were just perfect.

The historical back drop to the story was excellent, and, clever word painting and research made me feel as though I was with the characters at every turn.

The technical and scientific explanations were, to my mind, plausible and brought the whole plot together in an incredibly exciting way.

This is a tale that feels real yet clearly is not. It has a story that captures enough reality to ground the tale and make it believable, yet not enough to bring me crashing back into reality. It is a tale into which I disappeared and hid from the world; where I connected with the characters yet knew their problems were not mine; where I touched their lives and felt their worlds, but still feel safe in my own.

G.L. Breedon has, in my opinion, created the perfect fantasy and I am so excited about this book and believe it has great potential.

This may be a story written for young adults but older adults who enjoy fantasy will not be disappointed.

To my mind this is a better story than any of the Harry Potter books and I have no hesitation in recommending this book to EVERYONE!

I absolutely LOVED IT! (less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Markus rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for time travel stuff. The author had an original story that was tightly woven that did keep me surprised.

I appreciated the fact that he included some great segments of world history that doesn't get the attention it should in American schools. I don't think the young adults for the most part would appreciate the interrupted plot for that. It did interfere with the plot, even to me. But I'm a history guy, and I for one did enjoy that aspect.

What was more off putting was the preachin...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Erik This Kid Reviews Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Thirteen-year old Gabriel Salvador knew if he had a dream where something happened to him, that thing would happen in real life. One night, Gabriel dreamed he was going to drown. He then knew he would die soon. Gabriel wakes up to find himself in a strange room and is told that his family and friends think he is dead because he drowned. He was saved from death by a Time Mage and the Mages made a copy of him to replace him in his other life, so he can’t go back no matter what. Mages are magicians...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

LOVED THIS BOOK and everything about it! I downloaded this for free and I'm so glad I did!

The main character is smart and of sound moral judgement - he's a young man thrust into a whole new world of magic and he deals with it amazingly well. Then again, he's not really given much of a choice. All the characters in the book are endearing, but you get to know more about some more than others. Hopefully this will be remedied in the following book(s). I really like the villains (wow - how many books...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Tahlia Newland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy

The Wizard of Time is an excellent and fascinating young adult fantasy, and is an especially great read for anyone with an enquiring mind or anyone who wants something very different. G.L. Breedon has created a unique world of time travel and alternate universes using a combination of science, history and philosophy. I urge you all to support this Indie author. I love it when I find one I can rave about.

I loved the central character, thirteen year old Gabe, because he thought about things, asked...more The Wizard of Time is an excellent and fascinating young adult fantasy, and is an especially great read for anyone with an enquiring mind or anyone who wants something very different. G.L. Breedon has created a unique world of time travel and alternate universes using a combination of science, history and philosophy. I urge you all to support this Indie author. I love it when I find one I can rave about.

I loved the central character, thirteen year old Gabe, because he thought about things, asked questions and worked things out for himself. He also grieved for his lost family, acted without hesitation when he needed to and questioned peoples’ motivations, which was extremely smart in the circumstances. Add to that humility and human vulnerability and you have a rich and inspiring character. The supporting characters were also very alive, as were their relationships with each other.

I especially liked how different the bad guys were to each other and how three dimensional they were. No cardboard cut outs here. Even though they were all on the same side, each one had their own ideas, desires and philosophy, some crude and obvious, others subtle and thought provoking.

The story moves along with never a dull moment and with unpredictable twists and turns. The detailed snippets of history that the author has chosen to incorporate give a richness and poignancy to the book, and the concept of a primary continuum of time with branches creating alternate realities has been extremely well thought out. I can’t find any flaws in this book.

The story has no romance, just the potential for some in further stories, and is suitable for all ages from about 8 years up. But don’t think of it as a young book, because the vision of time and the philosophical questions the story raises are very sophisticated. Adults will enjoy the concepts and younger children will enjoy the story, which is never dull. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all fans of young adult fantasy. If you like Harry Potter, you should love this.

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Oct 14, 2012 Merissa Sheppard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

For me, this book is Fantasy at its best. You have time travel, magic, history, good versus evil or rather Grace versus Malignancy, kidnap, fighting, betrayal. Absolutely brilliant.

I won't give out any details of the book as that has already been done but what I will say is that after seeing that this book was for Young Adults, I actually wasn't expecting what I got. I wrongly assumed that as the hero of the book is 13 that it would be quite basic. How completely wrong was I? This book has layer...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Tahlia Newland rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, fantasy

The Wizard of Time is an excellent and fascinating young adult fantasy, and is an especially great read for anyone with an enquiring mind or anyone who wants something very different. G.L. Breedon has created a unique world of time travel and alternate universes using a combination of science, history and philosophy. I urge you all to support this Indie author. I love it when I find one I can rave about.

I loved the central character, thirteen year old Gabe, because he thought about things, asked...more The Wizard of Time is an excellent and fascinating young adult fantasy, and is an especially great read for anyone with an enquiring mind or anyone who wants something very different. G.L. Breedon has created a unique world of time travel and alternate universes using a combination of science, history and philosophy. I urge you all to support this Indie author. I love it when I find one I can rave about.

I loved the central character, thirteen year old Gabe, because he thought about things, asked questions and worked things out for himself. He also grieved for his lost family, acted without hesitation when he needed to and questioned peoples’ motivations, which was extremely smart in the circumstances. Add to that humility and human vulnerability and you have a rich and inspiring character. The supporting characters were also very alive, as were their relationships with each other.

I especially liked how different the bad guys were to each other and how three dimensional they were. No cardboard cut outs here. Even though they were all on the same side, each one had their own ideas, desires and philosophy, some crude and obvious, others subtle and thought provoking.

The story moves along with never a dull moment and with unpredictable twists and turns. The detailed snippets of history that the author has chosen to incorporate give a richness and poignancy to the book, and the concept of a primary continuum of time with branches creating alternate realities has been extremely well thought out. I can’t find any flaws in this book.

The story has no romance, just the potential for some in further stories, and is suitable for all ages from about 8 years up. But don’t think of it as a young book, because the vision of time and the philosophical questions the story raises are very sophisticated. Adults will enjoy the concepts and younger children will enjoy the story, which is never dull. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all fans of young adult fantasy. If you like Harry Potter, you should love this.

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Jul 19, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since Gabriel can remember he has had dreams that eventually come true, not matter what he does to change the outcome. After dying in a school bus accident, Gabriel "awakens" to learn that he has been plucked from his earth life at the time of his death to become a Time Mage, someone who can travel through time.
While training as an apprentice time mage, Gabriel and his team will travel to the Aztec Empire, time of the Romans, Greeks, and ancient Chinese. Most importantly, is Gabriel a fulfi...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Cherie rated it 5 of 5 stars

G.L. Breedon’s The Wizard of Time swirls magical realism throughout time and space.

The day Gabriel Salvador dies is the day he finds his place within the world. Gabriel is a Time Mage, but he’s more special than any of them realize. He and his group of mages travel throughout time to stop the evil wizards who want to destroy the Primary Continuum. When he realizes he’s a part of a prophecy, he must find balance between the light and dark, or lose himself for all time.

The Wizard of Time’s greates...more

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May 08, 2012 Ignite rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book throws the reader into the deep end from the beginning. It is a faced paced fantasy adventure in which a young man discovers his gifts and his destiny and undergoes training as a Mage. Don't for a moment think 'Hogwarts' though. This is training on the job. Gabriel, the young Time Mage, find himself in a war between Good and Evil Mages and he realises that each side wants to 'use' him.

I kept finding myself thinking of Ursula Le Guin's work but this seemed to me to be faster paced and i...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, young-adult, action

This was a wonderful surprise. I just happened across The Wizard if Time by chance. From the first few pages of the novel I was hooked. I was a little concerned with how quickly Gabriel dies, and was sure that the book would lose my attention.

I was so wrong! Each and every character was well written,
Which left be very impressed with the diversity of the characters and the period in time which were covered. In one instant you're in America in the 1980's and the next you're brought back thousands...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Wizard of Time was a fantastic read. It was filled with suspense that kept you on the edge of your seat. The historical aspect of the novel wasn’t boring and was quite interesting learning about the different places that Gabriel traveled through time. I liked learning about the other mages and their background as well as their talents. I think if I had to pick a favorite character from the group I would pick Teresa she made me laughed and kind of reminded me of myself. I’m still trying to de...more

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May 03, 2012 Jud (Disney Diva) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jud (Disney Diva) by: D.M. Andrews (GoodReads Author) Andrews

I loved this story and I have to admit I was surprised to find it was an Indie author since it reads so professionally, as if the author had years of experience and others with years of experience to advise him.

I loved the whole idea of the story that different mages exist in the world but live way back in history fighting to keep the timeline safe. There are a few twists in there too and in fact one of the characters is labelled a baddy (or malignant, I should say) but having read the book now...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

A really good book. I was a little worried with the first few chapters as I couldn't get my head around some of the technical time travelling information but once you get into the flow it all becomes clear and easy to follow.
It is such a good plot and you easily get attached to the characters. There are lots of twists and turns that keep you wanting more.
I finished this books seriously wanting the next one. Hope it is released soon- just wish I was a time mage and could travel to get the next o...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Gabriel lives a pretty normal life, if you don’t count his future visions of death. In fact, he has seen his death and knows nothing can change it. That is until the day he dies he is plucked from his timeline by Grace Mages! Suddenly he finds himself among people have incredible magic that fight to defend the Primary Time Continuum from Malignancy Mages who want to alter it.

Gabriel has been saved because he is a Time Mage. He will be taught and trained of the workings of magic by a team of six...more Gabriel lives a pretty normal life, if you don’t count his future visions of death. In fact, he has seen his death and knows nothing can change it. That is until the day he dies he is plucked from his timeline by Grace Mages! Suddenly he finds himself among people have incredible magic that fight to defend the Primary Time Continuum from Malignancy Mages who want to alter it.

Gabriel has been saved because he is a Time Mage. He will be taught and trained of the workings of magic by a team of six mages (one for each magic branch). Though Gabriel is very grateful to be alive, he is also extremely sad because he has to leave everything of his old life behind. Luckily he turns out to be unbelievably proficient at Time Magic, and quickly gains the trust and respect of his team. Or maybe not so lucky when they discover he is a True Mage, and not just any True Mage, but the Seventh True Mage. Able to use all six forms of magic plus both positive and negative imprinted items. The one who prophesy also calls Breaker of Time and Destroyer of Worlds. Gabriel fears his powers; he fears that by using the negative forces he might change as well. Both Grace and Malignant sides will try to use him for their greater cause, which way will Gabriel turn? Will he be strong enough to choose his own path? What if Darkness is needed in the world for there to be Light?
I found this story to be an incredible mix of fantasy and history. It’s a bit slow going with all the explanations and descriptions of historic places, but they’re all necessary since it’s a time travel story. Me being a history fan, found the description to be quite interesting and fun, however I don’t think most young readers would appreciate all those extra thousand words and the philosophical debates. I really liked the character of Gabriel, he was really smart and acted older than his years. He made some very tough decisions, even breaking the rules to save one of his team mates. Surprisingly I also liked Vicaquirao, one of the villains. He pretty much swayed me to his ‘evil’ philosophy, while still making me cheer on for the good guys. Overall it was an awesome adventure filled with an incredible magic system, wicked cool magic fights, and a wonderful three dimensional cast of heroes and villains.

*I received this book from the author for my honest review*

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Nov 28, 2012 Todd rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a quick read. At the risk of spoiling the book... This was like reading about Dr. Who and Hermione Granger's son "the last air bender". This is neither scifi or fantasy in the pure sense, rather a cross over of the two. The science plot was ok and the fantasy plot was a little lame but strangely enough the two added together made it interesting and fun. My 12 year old daughter likes it a lot.

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Apr 17, 2013 Jenn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

DNF. I just can't do it. This story's universe is so full of holes you could fly a 747 through them. The reading level is clearing aimed at the elementary/middle school set, but the ideas involved in the story are convoluted and confusing. The characters are likable enough, but I just could care less. So this goes onto the DNF pile. Ug.

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Jun 16, 2012 Kjirstin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, young-adult, time-travel, magic

Hmmm. I just couldn't get as into this story as I wanted to... I find that unless they're very tightly controlled, time travel plots irritate me somewhat. Here we had "bifurcations" instead of "paradoxes" but I couldn't quite get the sense of urgency that I should have from the book. Sigh. I did want to like this.

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Jan 27, 2013 Ray Briggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fun book to read. The book is aimed at a slightly younger audience I believe, however it still provided hours of time warping entertainment. There is a very well thought out magic design for the book which lends to it's charm. The building and destruction of worlds takes this book into what could easily be called epic battles. There is math, history, geography and science presented in small portions throughout the book that add to the story line without being a distraction. I recommend this bo...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Jenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

The concept was really interesting, but I admit I was bored in the middle. The ending was great though - lots of action and nice resolution to the situations, but it left enough open that you want to see what happens next. I would definitely read the next in the series.

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Nov 11, 2012 Jes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this! CAN NOT WAIT for the next in the series.... I read A LOT. I think this book was very well written, and so entertaining! I def hope this becomes a very lengthy series

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Dec 07, 2012 Jules Griffiths rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when i started reading this - Another Harry Potter type book? Maybe? NOT AT ALL!! This was something totally different that kept me hooked from the start. A kids book, well, yes. I was thoroughly entertained nonetheless!!!

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Mar 28, 2013 Andi Houtsch rated it 4 of 5 stars

Intriguing concept and story line, well written aside from needing an editor's eye to semi colons and incomplete sentences! Definitely worth the read. :)

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May 22, 2012 Elizabeth Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

Harry Potter meets Will Stanton (Susan Cooper). Precocious children and wise elders travel time and space trying to thwart the coalition of black hats. Very enjoyable.

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Mar 31, 2012 D.M. Andrews (GoodReads Author) Andrews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended-reads

G.L. Breedon has written an original and clever contemporary fantasy that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It's well written and will appeal to all ages. One of the best stories I've read in a long while. A full five stars.

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Apr 23, 2012 Ashey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very good mixture of time travel, magic and adventure and good characters. Looking forward to book 2

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Mar 01, 2013 Lawrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Great story. Kept me wanting to continue throughout and was hard to put down.

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May 04, 2012 Adam Gott rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just started this one today. It's a pretty light fantasy type of novel but it did a good job of hooking me at the beginning. A fun and quick read!

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Feb 19, 2012 Jdshipengrover rated it 3 of 5 stars

YA, free Kindle edition. Story was fun, more history would be nice

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Feb 15, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

Wonderfully written. I can't wait for the next installment.

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The Wizard of Time (Wizard of Time #1)

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