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Screwing Up Time #2
Screwing Up Babylon
Babylon, one of the most powerful and notorious empires ever, is the last place Mark wants to go. But when he discovers his girlfriend Miranda has been kidnapped and given to the king as a concubine, he travels through the colors of time to rescue her. It won’t be easy, not when the Hanging Gardens are a trap, his life is the prize in a game, and time is a prison. It will take all Mark’s cunning, the help of his friends, and a crazed chimp to free Miranda. When he does, time itself begins to unravel, and a life must be sacrificed or no one will survive.
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First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 20, 2016
I really loved the first book in the series and was looking forward to this one. Screwing up Babylon starts with a bang and moves along at a brisk clip. Keller's signature humor shines through once again. Her hero Mark is the charmingly goofy good guy swept up in history, but with a strong moral compass. Despite being constantly in personal danger, he can't stand idly by when he sees injustice and oppression.
Keller has a real gift for making adventures heart pumping and yet delightfully madcap. Several hilarious scenes still stick in my memory, over two years after I first read the book. (I meant to post a timely review but forgot. Whoops.) The chases through the Hanging Gardens especially leave you half breathless, half giggling.
There were some moments in the climax that I found a bit confusing, even after rereading. A bit of the action that occurs within her surreal time travel mechanism got a bit tricky to envision, at least for me. But perhaps I was just too slow on the uptake to quite grasp the whole picture. I tend to read a lot of women's fiction and coming-of-age YA, which are slower paced.
Overall, a fun and memorable adventure story with a likable, just-flawed-enough hero you root for.
Keller has a real gift for making adventures heart pumping and yet delightfully madcap. Several hilarious scenes still stick in my memory, over two years after I first read the book. (I meant to post a timely review but forgot. Whoops.) The chases through the Hanging Gardens especially leave you half breathless, half giggling.
There were some moments in the climax that I found a bit confusing, even after rereading. A bit of the action that occurs within her surreal time travel mechanism got a bit tricky to envision, at least for me. But perhaps I was just too slow on the uptake to quite grasp the whole picture. I tend to read a lot of women's fiction and coming-of-age YA, which are slower paced.
Overall, a fun and memorable adventure story with a likable, just-flawed-enough hero you root for.
July 1, 2013
Okay, I really liked the first book in this time travel series, and I liked this one even more. Intrigue? Yup. Adventures? Oh, yeah. The descriptions of traveling through time are even more vivid than before, only it's become much more dangerous. The characters are just as authentic as before, and their interactions and senses of humor, spot on. And oh, yeah, the story once again does an excellent job of mixing fascinating historical information in with the adventure, too. It (gasp) educates. Makes the Middle Ages come alive, right down to the scratchy clothes, filth, and bedbugs. Catapults the reader into the splendor and grandeur of Babylon, and exposes its decadent side. Makes the Hanging Gardens so real, you can practically smell the flowers, and portrays a vicious sandstorm so well, you can almost feel its sting. Can you tell? I really liked this book. I think you would, too. If you don't have a teenager to buy it for, buy it for yourself.
February 20, 2015
I came across Keller's series by accident. I am so happy that I did. I was attracted by the book cover.
Initially, I thought this sequel was just going to be a continuation of the first story, but it went even further. By mid-book I was dancing with anticipation.
"Screwing Up Babylon" was better than the first. It's a simple and easy read to get lost in.
The framework for time travel is so good that at some points I was literally convinced it was true.
Initially, I thought this sequel was just going to be a continuation of the first story, but it went even further. By mid-book I was dancing with anticipation.
"Screwing Up Babylon" was better than the first. It's a simple and easy read to get lost in.
The framework for time travel is so good that at some points I was literally convinced it was true.
November 3, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Keller's first book, Screwing Up Time, so I was excited to read Screwing Up Babylon. I was expecting another interesting story with plenty of twists and turns to keep me going. Well - I got that... and more.
I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. For starters, hanging out in ancient Babylon was awesome. Keller captured the city beautifully and it was easy to picture the characters in that setting.
I found myself liking each character just a little more - especially Miranda. She grew on me with the turn of each page and I loved the relationship between her and Mark. They were very sweet and obviously in love, but they also had no problem being honest with each other and bickering every now and then. It was very entertaining.
I liked finding out more about Mark's grandfather and a little of his history. I think the relationship between the two of them is very real and I like the way they seem to love each other yet drive each other insane at the same time.
Keller threw me for a loop when she made one decision, mid-way through the book, that I never thought would happen. This just made me want to read faster as my emotions were now fully engaged. Mark is stretched to his absolute limit throughout the story and he handles each challenge with his usual wit.
I love Keller's writing style. She is a very intelligent, humorous writer.
I would recommend Screwing Up Babylon to anyone who enjoys a fast paced time travel peppered with mystery and humor.
I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. For starters, hanging out in ancient Babylon was awesome. Keller captured the city beautifully and it was easy to picture the characters in that setting.
I found myself liking each character just a little more - especially Miranda. She grew on me with the turn of each page and I loved the relationship between her and Mark. They were very sweet and obviously in love, but they also had no problem being honest with each other and bickering every now and then. It was very entertaining.
I liked finding out more about Mark's grandfather and a little of his history. I think the relationship between the two of them is very real and I like the way they seem to love each other yet drive each other insane at the same time.
Keller threw me for a loop when she made one decision, mid-way through the book, that I never thought would happen. This just made me want to read faster as my emotions were now fully engaged. Mark is stretched to his absolute limit throughout the story and he handles each challenge with his usual wit.
I love Keller's writing style. She is a very intelligent, humorous writer.
I would recommend Screwing Up Babylon to anyone who enjoys a fast paced time travel peppered with mystery and humor.
September 16, 2014
It is refreshing to venture into a part of history that is not often discussed and Babylon is one of those that I’ve always been fascinated, so when I read that Keller’s second book was going to be set in the city with the hanging gardens, I waited patiently for it to come out. I then read it and promptly forgot to review it. So, here it is better late than never.
The method of time travel still makes me smile – as it seems to be a given that the likely method, if it’s ever found, would be accessed via technology. The uniqueness of that coupled with her writing style makes this a refreshing and entertaining read.
The characters and setting in this book were just as delightful as they were in the first book. Mark reminds me a little too much of my brother at that age. And the plot was engaging and never got bogged down as we follow Mark through the hanging gardens and survived a sand storm.
Much like the first, it is a quick and enjoyable read that left me waiting for the next book in the series.
The method of time travel still makes me smile – as it seems to be a given that the likely method, if it’s ever found, would be accessed via technology. The uniqueness of that coupled with her writing style makes this a refreshing and entertaining read.
The characters and setting in this book were just as delightful as they were in the first book. Mark reminds me a little too much of my brother at that age. And the plot was engaging and never got bogged down as we follow Mark through the hanging gardens and survived a sand storm.
Much like the first, it is a quick and enjoyable read that left me waiting for the next book in the series.
March 24, 2014
Cute YA novel
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews