Third

by Q. Kelly

Tudor historian Helen Franklin is horrified when her dying scientist father leaves her a most unusual inheritance: Anne Boleyn. Yep, Anne Boleyn as in Henry VIII's beheaded queen. She is a time traveler and is having trouble adjusting to the modern world. Helen tells herself she does not have time for Anne. Yalia, Helen's wife, has been distancing herself from Helen for three years, and Helen needs to decide if she wants to save their marriage.

Then the unexpected happens. A romantic relationship develops among Yalia, Anne and Helen. Can the three of them figure out their lives together, especially when time might be running out for Anne?

Genres: Lesbian, Time Travel, Polyamory, Romance, Fantasy, LGBT, Historical

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2012

About the author

I live in Virginia, where I am a writer and an editor. I also have a master's degree in deaf education. In my free time, I hike and savor frappuccinos.

Reviews

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such and interesting premise. Helen and her wife, Yalia, are on the verge of separating when Helen's father requests to see her. Her father's surprise is Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's beheaded wife, snatched from her own time and brought to the present. Helen and Yalia are distracted from their marital strife by figuring out the ramifications of Anne's presence.

While I loved the concept and all the threads of story line, I didn't feel very tied to the characters. There's a great mix of history, time-travel, family dynamics, complicated relationships and some residual PTSD. I wish I had connected with the characters more because it would have been a fantastic read.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea what entirely to make of this book. I generally don't like time travel books, but I did find this one compelling.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel stories are fun. This was no exception. I liked the history lesson, learned things about henry VIII's wives, and got to like all the characters in this story. Anne's character was wonderfully developed. You got her history, her feelings, her personal torment and desire for independence and freedom. I didn't connect so much with the rest of the characters, but it was a light pleasant read none the less. I find Q Kelly's writing style refreshing and easy to follow. The editing was flawless. The relationship was the main plot i suppose, but i didn't really get/feel a deep personal interest there. I found the story of Anne and the time travel, far more interesting. Overall, it was a quick, easy "OK" for me personally, but gets an extra star for creativity and being pleasant to read. If i were more into polyamory, it probably would have gotten another star.

[Scoobyfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Q. Kelly took a risk with this book, but that's nothing new. Q doesn't shy away from things taboo or deep in texture. "Third" takes you on an adventure to the past and brings it to the present. Q certainly has a way with words that makes the otherwise taboo practice of polyamory perfectly natural for these three characters. In fact, it seems the only way to save an otherwise failing relationship and the perfect match for an "out of place" woman.

Some people may shy away from this book because of the polyamory content, but I'm telling you...it's worth the risk. Really, give it a try. I did and I loved it. Polyamory may not be for me personally, but for these characters it is definitely the right way.

Great read, Q!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel always brings up 'what if' questions and Third addresses many of them. Q. Kelly pulls out all stops to create a story full of controversial topics. Here are the tags I gave the book: adult, erotic, feminism, ghosts, herstorical-fiction, history, kindle, lesbian, polyamory, read, sci-fi, time-travel, womyn.

Ms. Kelly was courageous attacking polyamory among other issues rarely taken on in fiction. It takes courage to read and appreciate this book.

I loved the characters, except Benjamin. I may never look at him the same.

Give the book a try, if you dare.

[Cynthia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciated the general sexual and gender identity fluidity in this story, as well as the lack of unnecessary drama and unbelievable resolutions. But it was all very lust and love at first sight without any realistic development of a relationship. They spend the book fighting their attraction because a polyamorous triangle is a challenge, but there's no actual significant development in their feelings and interactions.
The other reason I found this book less than okay is the fact that, in a way, it idealizes the historical characters, despite trying to show them as complex and flawed.

[Journey · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was really fun to read, but i think it couldn't decide whether it should be serious or campy. i would've gone for campy! but despite little tastes of that (ANNE BOLEYN DISCOVERING PACKING, OMG) it doesn't really go all out, but it also doesn't do more than scratch the surface of seriousness, either. but still, i enjoyed it!

[Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. The plot was complicated, but very interesting. It was very repetitive at times. The characters were believable and I enjoyed the love story.

[Brooke Wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed about this book. A lesbian time travel polyam story with ANNE BOLEYN? I couldn’t say yes to this fast enough! With a premise like that, how could it be bad?

Well, dear reader, I have some news for you.

For starters, Helen and Yalia are just not great characters. The story opens up with Helen actively cheating on Yalia, who then tries to excuse it with because they had a threesome before? Helen is frustrated with their marriage because Yalia is an ex-cop who accidentally killed a kid a few years ago, and used to want kids, but because of this traumatic event, doesn’t want to now. Understandably. But instead of supporting Yalia, Helen is so mad that Yalia doesn’t want kids anymore that she cheats on her.

Along comes some wibbly wobbly timey-wimey-ness—THAT ISNT REALLY EVER EXPLAINED, MIND YOU—and Helen and Yalia inherit (yes, inherit) none other than Anne herself as she is in modern times, being saved moments before “heads will roll” by the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs plays. And, WOW! Within the span of about a day, they’re ALL IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.

AND THEN!!!! Because of this new found love that saves their marriage—WHICH ISNT HOW POLYAM WORKS—Yalia decides she wants a kid now and is no longer traumatized!

I’m so mad about this book.

OH AND DID I MENTION BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS IT TOO? And is (SURPRISE!!!) a bad guy?

Honestly, this book had some truly endearing moments. Like Anne getting a job at Starbucks??? Could you IMAGINE? If it would have stayed in the comedic/campy lane, I truly would have enjoyed this so much more.

Don’t read this. I started this review at a 2* BUT IM SO MAD IM TAKING THAT SECOND STAR AWAY. 😤

[Hadleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many things mixed into one story. Captivating in places and a bit meh in others, and the ending was a bit weak. I'm not that into history but I found the historical/time travel parts interesting. It alternated between that and a story of a failing marriage, the latter I found a bit slow/dull to get through.

Why they needed to introduce Benjamin Franklin I really don't know either, and Yalia's back-story was an unnecessary addition that rolled along with the story. Splitting this into two or three separate stories would be a lot more effective than the odd mashup this turned out to be.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poly time travel

This book was very sweet and earnest. The characters discuss many of the ethical complexities of time travel, and nearly all have trauma of some kind that they work through together. It was a very enjoyable read and the poly romance feels very earnest and believable. My only major gripe is with the very very end that feels a bit rushed and sudden. Otherwise had a great time reading!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My, there’s a lot going on in this relatively short book. The fff polyamory plot is beautiful, angsty, and complex. There’s lots other steam and desire; lots of tenderness, caring and negotiation, too.

The time travel plot is fascinating, angsty and complex also as it deals with both temporal paradoxes and ethics.

[Taz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great story, I liked it a lot. I am not really well informed about Henry VIII and all his wives whom he had executed. But not only the historical part was interesting, as well as the elaboration of the characters, the development of their relationship to each other and the dangers of a time machine or the possibility to travel through time. Wonderfully entertaining written.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who would have thought a novel about Anne Boleyn time travelling to the future and having a lesbian threesome would be bad?

[Nin · Rating 3 out of 5]

the story was beautiful, it’s just not my cup of tea.

[Jaylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a compelling premise, but by the time I bailed on it (the % mark), I had no interest in continuing. I had already figured out every twist (the slight hints were just.... really, painfully obvious). And the romance happened incredibly abruptly and in the most awkward way possible (the protagonist's wife just learns time travel is real and has an intense life-changing experience going back in time, and her first thought afterward is "oh yeah my wife should totally kiss this woman-out-of-time who has been systematically denied her rights for the last like, what, 10 years." Euuughh???)

And can I ask why it is that every f/f romance novel I find is about women who hate their lives and who are miserable with their partners?? What is that? m/m romance is exciting. There's romance and passion and sex! f/f romance is DEPRESSING for endless pages and then?? i guess?? romance happens eventually?? I never make it that far because the beginnings are so DREARY. I'd love to read sexy funny passionate swoon-inducing books about pretty ladies falling in love. But yet... this is the only kind of thing I ever find. :/

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book. At first, I wasn't sure how this could possibly work. I was drawn in by Anne and wondering if she could POSSIBLY be who I thought she might be, but was concerned that, even if she was, the story couldn't do her justice. Then, I was sucked in by her character instead of just the idea of her. I was then pulled into her relationship with Helen, with Yalia, then with Helen and Yalia. Finally, I was ready for more when I realized I wanted to know more about all of these characters and their various relationships (and smack Ben Franklin a couple of times).

Any time you can combine the Tudors, intrigue, romance, and time travel, you have a winner (in my opinion). Certainly not a "conventional" romance (nothing Kelly does is conventional, from what I've read of hers), but very worth your time.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character, Helen, is in the process of splitting up with her wife Yalia, when her semi-estranged father reconnects right as he's about to die, to pass on responsibility for a woman connected with his research. That woman turns out to be Anne Boylen, whisked away from the past right before her execution. All three of them start falling in love with each other while dealing with Anne's fades (mini-returns to the past) and her insecurity about living in the modern world, plus the exploits of the semi-evil corporation that brought Anne back in the first place, run by an evil(ish) time-traveled Benjamin Franklin. I would have preferred more campy and/or more smut in the book, since the plot kinda half-assed both and didn't quite hit the mark on either, but it was certainly quite ridiculous and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Neen Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I found this book hard to get through. But the premise was intriguing.

Pros: Some lovely writing, and the overall story is an interesting premise in to the idea of time travel, while exploring human nature and sexuality.

Cons: I felt a little like I was being beat over the head with 'look how cool and how much I know about history'. At times it read more like a thesis or academic research piece, with half hearted sex scenes thrown in. I feel like the characters weren't as flesh out, I kept wanting to know more about them. But he information we were given from the start felt stuck in time and the exact same by the end. The 'attraction' between the three seemed to be set at one volume from the start and it never changed, shifted or helped the characters develop.

It might be more interesting to those who know very little about Henry VIII, his reign, and his wives.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times I found this quite confusing as it was repetitive and I couldn't always work out who's point of view a section was from as this seemed to change almost every paragraph. I thought the time travel aspect was good, with a twist in the middle, and scope for a prequel about Helen's parents and their honeymoon. I thought the lesbian aspect was a bit cringe worthy and predictable. I wasn't comfortable with the relationship between Anne, Helen and Yahlia, and thought it was even more odd how accepting Yahlia's mother was about it.
But overall not a bad read.

[8bits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked it. With Q. Kelly's work you can always expect 3 things, complex plots, complicated (imperfect) characters, and the unexpected. Third hit all three expectations. Some sections of the book were absolutely awesome, others merely good. I've come to expect perfect editing from Kelly, and maybe it was just the version of the ePUB I bought (smashwords), but I noticed typos and things that I don't recall ever seeing in one of her books before.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Eve Marzuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it!

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2012 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to wrap my head around polygamy again every time I read about it. Great read though!