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The Timeless Trials
Time-poor and struggling, Rae lives in constant fear of the moment her Time Pacer will run out and release a poison to kill her. Given the opportunity to participate in the deadly Time Trials, Rae fights to win immortality and the crown prince's hand. When Rae catches the attention of the prince's brother, the fallen heir, forbidden love puts her chances of winning the Trials - and her life - on the line. Torn between love, life, and justice, Rae must rise up and fight with everything she has.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2022
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3756 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
February 3, 2024
First off, I feel extremely lucky to have been chosen as an ARC reader for this book. It is PHENOMENAL. It’s like The Hunger Games, Fourth Wing, and In Time had a love child, and that love child is this epic fantasy world.
I am giving this a 5/5 star review. I’m also putting it in my top 5 books read in the past six months. It had my attention from the beginning and I devoured it in around 6 hours… there was no putting it down for me I physically couldn’t stop myself from reading.
Time is currency, time is life. When your time runs out you get retired(die). If your town doesn’t donate enough time once a year to the greedy government, they have the Timeless Trials. Where you can either sign your or they pick you at random to compete for an endless amount of time. Pretty much immortality. Not exactly like The Hunger Games! It’s not like an arena, these are pre set up trials. It’s more like Fourth Wing with those kinds of trials.
Forbidden love
Fated mates/soul bound
Dragons
Trials to the death
Touch her and die
Oath bonds
And brothers who DO NOT get along (I’m looking at you Joffrey Jr.🙄)
There is spice! It’s not much, but it’s there so I give the spice like a 1.5/5 I actually loved the plot, world, and character development so much that I wouldn’t have minded if there was no spice. Don’t get me wrong I love me some smut heavy books, but this was perfect in my opinion.
Rae is an extremely strong written female character. I loved her character development. She doesn’t allow herself to get bullied around by anyone, she doesn’t hold herself back when it comes to defending herself and those she cares about. She is literally exactly as I hoped she’d be. The friends she makes during this book, I really loved their character development as well.
Rydar… Mr. Tall, dark, mysterious, and handsome. Super protective, will die for those he loves. He is oath bound to protect. He has a dark past that he’s ashamed of. He’s perfect though, I love him. His connection with Rae is *chefs kiss*
The enemies were so well written in this book that I hated them, they are my enemies now. Especially the end. The end of this book had my jaw on the floor.
I’m so excited for this series to continue, I honestly can’t wait for the next book already.
The Timeless Trials is set to release Feb. 26th, 2024. This is a debut novel, and honestly A.C. Guess blew it out of the water with this one. This is the best debut I’ve ever read.
I am giving this a 5/5 star review. I’m also putting it in my top 5 books read in the past six months. It had my attention from the beginning and I devoured it in around 6 hours… there was no putting it down for me I physically couldn’t stop myself from reading.
Time is currency, time is life. When your time runs out you get retired(die). If your town doesn’t donate enough time once a year to the greedy government, they have the Timeless Trials. Where you can either sign your or they pick you at random to compete for an endless amount of time. Pretty much immortality. Not exactly like The Hunger Games! It’s not like an arena, these are pre set up trials. It’s more like Fourth Wing with those kinds of trials.
Forbidden love
Fated mates/soul bound
Dragons
Trials to the death
Touch her and die
Oath bonds
And brothers who DO NOT get along (I’m looking at you Joffrey Jr.🙄)
There is spice! It’s not much, but it’s there so I give the spice like a 1.5/5 I actually loved the plot, world, and character development so much that I wouldn’t have minded if there was no spice. Don’t get me wrong I love me some smut heavy books, but this was perfect in my opinion.
Rae is an extremely strong written female character. I loved her character development. She doesn’t allow herself to get bullied around by anyone, she doesn’t hold herself back when it comes to defending herself and those she cares about. She is literally exactly as I hoped she’d be. The friends she makes during this book, I really loved their character development as well.
Rydar… Mr. Tall, dark, mysterious, and handsome. Super protective, will die for those he loves. He is oath bound to protect. He has a dark past that he’s ashamed of. He’s perfect though, I love him. His connection with Rae is *chefs kiss*
The enemies were so well written in this book that I hated them, they are my enemies now. Especially the end. The end of this book had my jaw on the floor.
I’m so excited for this series to continue, I honestly can’t wait for the next book already.
The Timeless Trials is set to release Feb. 26th, 2024. This is a debut novel, and honestly A.C. Guess blew it out of the water with this one. This is the best debut I’ve ever read.
March 12, 2025
I am not the biggest fan of fantasy style books, but this was phenomenal!
I loved the Hunger Games series and enjoyed ACOTAR and this was a mix between the two.
I can’t wait to read the next book!
I loved the Hunger Games series and enjoyed ACOTAR and this was a mix between the two.
I can’t wait to read the next book!
February 9, 2024
I was fortunate enough to be chosen as an ARC reader and this is an unbiased review.
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The concept for this novel was super interesting and I was looking forward to what the author was going to do with the premise of time being the currency. While I understood that in this world not enough time is the difference between life and death I felt like I didn’t know why it was important to the kingdom. Was it just a sign of power? That those with a higher title could take time as they saw fit? I’m not sure because it was never explained. I’m not a fan of insta love and I think if there were more chapters from Rydar’s perspective at the beginning it would have help the overall development of his and Rae’s relationship. I did love the high prince Flint, he was the prefect antagonist but I wished we could have gotten insight into why he’s so horrible. Overall I wished there was more world building and more time to build a relationship with all the characters to make me care for them more.
-
The concept for this novel was super interesting and I was looking forward to what the author was going to do with the premise of time being the currency. While I understood that in this world not enough time is the difference between life and death I felt like I didn’t know why it was important to the kingdom. Was it just a sign of power? That those with a higher title could take time as they saw fit? I’m not sure because it was never explained. I’m not a fan of insta love and I think if there were more chapters from Rydar’s perspective at the beginning it would have help the overall development of his and Rae’s relationship. I did love the high prince Flint, he was the prefect antagonist but I wished we could have gotten insight into why he’s so horrible. Overall I wished there was more world building and more time to build a relationship with all the characters to make me care for them more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
I don't want to be mean, but it seems like the only reason people completed this book was because they received an ARC...
The quality of the writing was really poor sadly and I just couldn't get through it to get invested in the story.
The quality of the writing was really poor sadly and I just couldn't get through it to get invested in the story.
February 3, 2024
So, let me just state that I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book. This was my first time being an ARC reader, and boy, am I glad I started with this book as my first!
I am going to refrain from writing about any spoilers, I am going to allow you to ride the rollercoaster the same way I did. If that makes me evil, well, so be it!
All I will say is that this book is going to be the next craze that everyone will be discussing this year!
This book is full of action from the very first page until the very last. I was hooked from the start!
Forbidden Love, Fued between brothers, Deadly Trials!
But that ending.... 🤯🤯🤯🤯
The book releases Feb 26th, 2024! Go and get it! Run do not walk!
I am going to refrain from writing about any spoilers, I am going to allow you to ride the rollercoaster the same way I did. If that makes me evil, well, so be it!
All I will say is that this book is going to be the next craze that everyone will be discussing this year!
This book is full of action from the very first page until the very last. I was hooked from the start!
Forbidden Love, Fued between brothers, Deadly Trials!
But that ending.... 🤯🤯🤯🤯
The book releases Feb 26th, 2024! Go and get it! Run do not walk!
February 2, 2024
I'm an ARC reader for this novel . Books being released 26th February. Can I just say Woah, A.C. Guess' debut The Timeless Trials is one heck of a wild ride! I gotta admit, it starts out a lil' slow. But around chapter seven the pace shifts into warp speed and never lets up. Once the action kicks in, good luck putting this baby down!
For a first timer, Guess has got some serious skills when it comes to crafting a truly addictive page-turner. Now the i know dystopian plot ain't exactly original - think The Hunger Games meets In Time . The characters are lovable well except the high Prince.
You gotta be patient through those first few chapters, but trust me, the payoff is so worth the wait.
That plot twist at the end? It had me literally jumping out of my seat, mouth wide open, yelling "No freakin' way! How could it end like that?" I cannot wait for the sequel to see where Rae and Rhaydar's journey goes next.
In short, The Timeless Trials is a must-read page turner, with vivid characters and a twist that'll keep you hooked. A stellar debut from an author to watch! Four out of five stars - would definitely recommend, y'all.
For a first timer, Guess has got some serious skills when it comes to crafting a truly addictive page-turner. Now the i know dystopian plot ain't exactly original - think The Hunger Games meets In Time . The characters are lovable well except the high Prince.
You gotta be patient through those first few chapters, but trust me, the payoff is so worth the wait.
That plot twist at the end? It had me literally jumping out of my seat, mouth wide open, yelling "No freakin' way! How could it end like that?" I cannot wait for the sequel to see where Rae and Rhaydar's journey goes next.
In short, The Timeless Trials is a must-read page turner, with vivid characters and a twist that'll keep you hooked. A stellar debut from an author to watch! Four out of five stars - would definitely recommend, y'all.
November 1, 2024
3.5⭐️ reminded me of the movie In Time if it had a Hunger Games trials to it. The romance progressed a little too quick and awkwardly for me. But the concept of life time being used as a currency was crazy to me! Working to earn more hours, days or years and having to use that to secure everyday necessities. The action of the trials was definitely up my alley. And the ending😲 didn't see it coming.
February 5, 2024
What if… Cinderella was just minding her own business one day, paying tax to the high king in the form of literal time on her life expectancy, when her “prince charming” forced her to compete in a trial to the death for his hand in marriage?
I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for The Timeless Trials. This book is a great addition to the romantasy genre, and I was blown away to learn this is A.C. Guess’ debut novel. Her writing and storytelling is masterful.
For readers who enjoy books like The Hunger Games, Serpent and the Wings of Night, and A Kingdom of Shadows and Stars, The Timeless Trials is sure to become a new favorite to add to one’s fantasy shelf.
Tropes and themes include:
-Forbidden/star-crossed lovers
-Fated romance/fate in general
-Trials
-Forbidden magic
-Dragons
-Brothers at war
-Dystopian government
Some fantasy novels spend so long world building that, as a reader, it becomes a chore to understand the world before any of the action begins. The Timeless Trials immediately jumps into action, and the world building is masterfully woven into the novel.
Rae, the main character, is relatable, despite the larger-than-life circumstances she finds herself in. Her struggles to contain her sarcasm, even in the presence of those who can end her life on a whim, resonated with me.
The male love interest will appeal to readers who like characters like Evren and Hunt Athalar. Despite being stuck under the thumb of his tyrannical father and tied to protect his cruel brother, he never stops fighting for the woman he loves.
If you enjoy surprise plot twists, the ending definitely shocked me and left me wanting more. I cannot wait to continue reading this series.
I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for The Timeless Trials. This book is a great addition to the romantasy genre, and I was blown away to learn this is A.C. Guess’ debut novel. Her writing and storytelling is masterful.
For readers who enjoy books like The Hunger Games, Serpent and the Wings of Night, and A Kingdom of Shadows and Stars, The Timeless Trials is sure to become a new favorite to add to one’s fantasy shelf.
Tropes and themes include:
-Forbidden/star-crossed lovers
-Fated romance/fate in general
-Trials
-Forbidden magic
-Dragons
-Brothers at war
-Dystopian government
Some fantasy novels spend so long world building that, as a reader, it becomes a chore to understand the world before any of the action begins. The Timeless Trials immediately jumps into action, and the world building is masterfully woven into the novel.
Rae, the main character, is relatable, despite the larger-than-life circumstances she finds herself in. Her struggles to contain her sarcasm, even in the presence of those who can end her life on a whim, resonated with me.
The male love interest will appeal to readers who like characters like Evren and Hunt Athalar. Despite being stuck under the thumb of his tyrannical father and tied to protect his cruel brother, he never stops fighting for the woman he loves.
If you enjoy surprise plot twists, the ending definitely shocked me and left me wanting more. I cannot wait to continue reading this series.
April 30, 2024
This book was three parts Hunger Games and one part ACOMAF with a side of raging instalove and a glass of inadequate worldbuilding to wash it all down.
Simply put, the concept has merit, but the execution was lacking. See below for a list of examples in no particular order:
-Lack of worldbuilding. We get a map of the world (one of the better ones I've seen, to be honest), but not enough detail to anchor us in that world. Rae lives in poverty in a poor town in a "district" but I have no idea how that district relates to the rest of the world. She wakes up in an icy cave and meets with the high prince in some kind of underground space but heck if I know where that was. Rydar spends some time in what I presume is his father's castle, but again, I have no idea where that is in relation to just about anything. Rae wakes up (again) on some island that's used for the games but, again, how does that island fit in with the rest of the kingdom?
-Where does the time come from? This is probably the most frustrating part of the story. We're told that time is currency. Everyone needs it to live. People are "retired" (read: murdered) if they aren't a good use of time, but what happens if they simply run out of time? Do they drop dead where they stand? The poor people are made to tithe time to the king every year (who, along with the upper class, is functionally immortal) but does that mean they live less than normal life spans in exchange since currency is always finite? I don't know for sure, and that's a problem.
-Is dystopian fantasy a thing? This seems to be a pretty dystopian world. There are cars and other forms of technology along with an evil king who oppresses everyone while making them feign obedience through regular repetition of stupid mantras. But there's also magic and dragons and soulbonds that snap into place when two people have sex (hello Sarah J. Maas) and all of a sudden I'm not sure exactly what I'm reading.
-Holy short timeline batman. This whole book takes place in three - maybe four? - days. It's not enough time to find a reason to root for (or even particularly like) Rae and Rydar, much less for a believable romantic connection to build.
-People as plot devices. Can we have a moment of silence for poor Jarom, who had the unenviable role of being Rae's "first love?" He's lost in the first three or four chapters and not spared a single thought after that. Not surprising, I guess, since he was a plot device used only to establish why Rae could fight and to give the authorities a reason to detain her.
-Why win the timeless trials on your merit when you can cheat your way through? I mean, seriously. .
-What exactly is Rydar's power? Inquiring minds would like to know, but it's never explicitly stated what he can do. He can put people to sleep and use "shadows" a la Xaden Riors0n but the heck if I know what that means.
And because I feel bad being such a Debbie Downer about an Indie book AND a debut, here's a list of things I did like:
-The shadowvein oath (hands down the coolest concept in the book even if there was no explanation as to how or why said oath leaves a dragon zooming around your veins)
-The dragon
-Rae's healing powers
-The cliffhanger, which was good but still not good enough to entice me to read book two.
Simply put, the concept has merit, but the execution was lacking. See below for a list of examples in no particular order:
-Lack of worldbuilding. We get a map of the world (one of the better ones I've seen, to be honest), but not enough detail to anchor us in that world. Rae lives in poverty in a poor town in a "district" but I have no idea how that district relates to the rest of the world. She wakes up in an icy cave and meets with the high prince in some kind of underground space but heck if I know where that was. Rydar spends some time in what I presume is his father's castle, but again, I have no idea where that is in relation to just about anything. Rae wakes up (again) on some island that's used for the games but, again, how does that island fit in with the rest of the kingdom?
-Where does the time come from? This is probably the most frustrating part of the story. We're told that time is currency. Everyone needs it to live. People are "retired" (read: murdered) if they aren't a good use of time, but what happens if they simply run out of time? Do they drop dead where they stand? The poor people are made to tithe time to the king every year (who, along with the upper class, is functionally immortal) but does that mean they live less than normal life spans in exchange since currency is always finite? I don't know for sure, and that's a problem.
-Is dystopian fantasy a thing? This seems to be a pretty dystopian world. There are cars and other forms of technology along with an evil king who oppresses everyone while making them feign obedience through regular repetition of stupid mantras. But there's also magic and dragons and soulbonds that snap into place when two people have sex (hello Sarah J. Maas) and all of a sudden I'm not sure exactly what I'm reading.
-Holy short timeline batman. This whole book takes place in three - maybe four? - days. It's not enough time to find a reason to root for (or even particularly like) Rae and Rydar, much less for a believable romantic connection to build.
-People as plot devices. Can we have a moment of silence for poor Jarom, who had the unenviable role of being Rae's "first love?" He's lost in the first three or four chapters and not spared a single thought after that. Not surprising, I guess, since he was a plot device used only to establish why Rae could fight and to give the authorities a reason to detain her.
-Why win the timeless trials on your merit when you can cheat your way through? I mean, seriously. .
-What exactly is Rydar's power? Inquiring minds would like to know, but it's never explicitly stated what he can do. He can put people to sleep and use "shadows" a la Xaden Riors0n but the heck if I know what that means.
And because I feel bad being such a Debbie Downer about an Indie book AND a debut, here's a list of things I did like:
-The shadowvein oath (hands down the coolest concept in the book even if there was no explanation as to how or why said oath leaves a dragon zooming around your veins)
-The dragon
-Rae's healing powers
-The cliffhanger, which was good but still not good enough to entice me to read book two.
January 16, 2025
I might say this can be bumped up to *3.5 stars. The plot was like a fantasy fan fic of the Hunger Games, where dragons, magic and guns blend together in a kingdom where time is currency. All borrowed concepts, especially a lot of direct parallels with the Hunger Games - Rae, the FMC, originating from the country’s most impoverished district; having a single parent and a lovable sweet little sister that both rely on her for their family’s survival; a male best friend that taught her much of what she knows; rich and privileged people baying for the blood of the youths competing for their lives in brutal public trials as entertainment; etc. I still chose this book for the concept despite that, and I liked it, but I could not get into the romance at all; in a word, it was melodramatic for me and a little heavy on the poetic professions of love and adoration. The ending actually saved this a bit for me, though. It was a cliffhanger and I’m genuinely interested to see where it will go next.
All in all, while I definitely had my gripes with this story (I get into that below), I would also be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time with it anyway - in a guilty pleasure kind of way. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it didn’t have to be because I was entertained, and I will be buying the next books when they are released!
⚠️ Minor spoilers past this point! ⚠️
Some of the main things that knocked stars off the rating for me:
- The fact that Rydar, the MMC, killed Rae’s best friend and she spent all of 3 seconds being mad about it before she couldn’t stop talking about the way this man smelled.
- Again, the repetitive mentions of the smells of sandalwood and rain every time Rydar entered the scene, his eyes always swirling with storms and secrets.
- Oh yeah, those secrets hidden behind his supposedly impenetrable walls? She just had to ask him and he would spill some cryptic details about his motivations, so in my opinion, not all that guarded after all - but again, it was brought up every time they interacted. It all just got repetitive, especially because very similar verbiage was used each time.
- The bad guys - Rydar’s younger brother Flint, the high prince, and his father the high king, I don’t even think he had a name? - were really flat characters. They were just bad people, and everything they did was bad. That’s all, no special motivations and hardly a backstory that made them this way (at least not yet). I guess they just like to be assholes and get a special kick out of making Rydar miserable. 🤷🏼♀️
All in all, while I definitely had my gripes with this story (I get into that below), I would also be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time with it anyway - in a guilty pleasure kind of way. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it didn’t have to be because I was entertained, and I will be buying the next books when they are released!
⚠️ Minor spoilers past this point! ⚠️
Some of the main things that knocked stars off the rating for me:
- The fact that Rydar, the MMC, killed Rae’s best friend and she spent all of 3 seconds being mad about it before she couldn’t stop talking about the way this man smelled.
- Again, the repetitive mentions of the smells of sandalwood and rain every time Rydar entered the scene, his eyes always swirling with storms and secrets.
- Oh yeah, those secrets hidden behind his supposedly impenetrable walls? She just had to ask him and he would spill some cryptic details about his motivations, so in my opinion, not all that guarded after all - but again, it was brought up every time they interacted. It all just got repetitive, especially because very similar verbiage was used each time.
- The bad guys - Rydar’s younger brother Flint, the high prince, and his father the high king, I don’t even think he had a name? - were really flat characters. They were just bad people, and everything they did was bad. That’s all, no special motivations and hardly a backstory that made them this way (at least not yet). I guess they just like to be assholes and get a special kick out of making Rydar miserable. 🤷🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
So so good!!! Twists and turns and so much action. Rae is the first woman to compete for immortality in a world where time is earned and not guaranteed. But the competition is rigged against her. Can Ryder conquer his evil younger brother the Prince, will the King follow through on his promise? Can Rae actually win? Read along and find out!!! This was epic!!!
February 22, 2024
First off let me say that I feel extremely lucky for this to be my first ever chance to be a ARC reader. Thank you so so much A.C.Guess!!
3.5✨ rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
This is an unbiased and completely honest review.
If you love The Hunger Games, and the film In Time then you’ll hopefully love this! I absolutely love both so knew this would be right up my street. To mix the two different aspects together created a really interesting concept for the book, and it was very well written. The rich not worrying and having ‘immortality’ and the poor living day to day, with what little time they have, worrying about the ever nearing ‘retirement’.
This book starts off basically throwing you into to plot and a bit of action which is nice to see. When we get towards the trials they’re downright brutal, I can definitely see some hunger games style thrown in there with the clock, which I absolutely loved!
Rae is a strong willed and very sassy FMC, who will do whatever she can to protect those she loves. Rydar is an angsty, moody yet protective MMC that we love to hate, and his brother Flint the ‘High Prince’ is a brilliantly written villain who I’m excited to see in the second book. I also love the friendships she creates with Lio, he’s such a sweet little bean, and Alia, I’m definitely hoping to see if Alia gets brought into the second book more as she’s a fab character I’d love to see developed more.
There are a couple things that in my opinion were lacking slightly which would have brought it up to a 5 stars for me, this was the world building and length of the book, or some of the chapters/scenes at least. I can usually picture the scenes and characters clearly whilst reading, but throughout this book I really struggled picturing how the scenes and people looked. I don’t know whether I’ve been spoilt from reading SJM books which are crammed with world building, but it definitely felt like it was lacking slightly in that area. The other thing I thought was it felt a bit too rushed in parts of the book, some scenes went far too quick for my liking and I think a bit more time could have been used to flesh out the trials/scenes a bit longer, and to build the relationships up a touch more.
Overall though this was a really good book, I really enjoyed reading as my first ever ARC book, it definitely gripped me and the cliffhanger/twist at the end will definitely make me want to read the second book whenever it’s due to land!
3.5✨ rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
This is an unbiased and completely honest review.
If you love The Hunger Games, and the film In Time then you’ll hopefully love this! I absolutely love both so knew this would be right up my street. To mix the two different aspects together created a really interesting concept for the book, and it was very well written. The rich not worrying and having ‘immortality’ and the poor living day to day, with what little time they have, worrying about the ever nearing ‘retirement’.
This book starts off basically throwing you into to plot and a bit of action which is nice to see. When we get towards the trials they’re downright brutal, I can definitely see some hunger games style thrown in there with the clock, which I absolutely loved!
Rae is a strong willed and very sassy FMC, who will do whatever she can to protect those she loves. Rydar is an angsty, moody yet protective MMC that we love to hate, and his brother Flint the ‘High Prince’ is a brilliantly written villain who I’m excited to see in the second book. I also love the friendships she creates with Lio, he’s such a sweet little bean, and Alia, I’m definitely hoping to see if Alia gets brought into the second book more as she’s a fab character I’d love to see developed more.
There are a couple things that in my opinion were lacking slightly which would have brought it up to a 5 stars for me, this was the world building and length of the book, or some of the chapters/scenes at least. I can usually picture the scenes and characters clearly whilst reading, but throughout this book I really struggled picturing how the scenes and people looked. I don’t know whether I’ve been spoilt from reading SJM books which are crammed with world building, but it definitely felt like it was lacking slightly in that area. The other thing I thought was it felt a bit too rushed in parts of the book, some scenes went far too quick for my liking and I think a bit more time could have been used to flesh out the trials/scenes a bit longer, and to build the relationships up a touch more.
Overall though this was a really good book, I really enjoyed reading as my first ever ARC book, it definitely gripped me and the cliffhanger/twist at the end will definitely make me want to read the second book whenever it’s due to land!
February 26, 2024
I received an ARC from A. C. Guess for this story and I’ve been obsessed with it.
From the start of this book, our main character “Rae” is shown to be a tough cookie. She stands up for herself from the very beginning and doesn’t back down from a fight, even when she probably should. She’s especially protective of her family and tried her hardest to keep them together and safe, even to the detriment of her own safety. She keeps that fighting spirit until the very end!
Our MMC, Ryder, has a difficult past to reconcile with and being able to read his POV for a few chapters really let me connect with him and learn new things we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
This story is packed with action and romance, with so many quotable lines that I am absolutely obsessed with. It also has a villain (or three!) that are very easy to hate and a protagonist that is very easy to root for. It’s a different take on the typical dystopian trials that makes it fresh and new.
There’s also an amazing plot twist and cliffhanger at the end, so I’m impatiently waiting for news on book #2!
Tropes: feuding brothers, forbidden love, deadly trials, time as currency, family drama
The Timeless Trials will be released Feb 26, 2024!
From the start of this book, our main character “Rae” is shown to be a tough cookie. She stands up for herself from the very beginning and doesn’t back down from a fight, even when she probably should. She’s especially protective of her family and tried her hardest to keep them together and safe, even to the detriment of her own safety. She keeps that fighting spirit until the very end!
Our MMC, Ryder, has a difficult past to reconcile with and being able to read his POV for a few chapters really let me connect with him and learn new things we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
This story is packed with action and romance, with so many quotable lines that I am absolutely obsessed with. It also has a villain (or three!) that are very easy to hate and a protagonist that is very easy to root for. It’s a different take on the typical dystopian trials that makes it fresh and new.
There’s also an amazing plot twist and cliffhanger at the end, so I’m impatiently waiting for news on book #2!
Tropes: feuding brothers, forbidden love, deadly trials, time as currency, family drama
The Timeless Trials will be released Feb 26, 2024!
February 17, 2024
Oh wow. What an amazing book this was. When I first started reading I thought that it was going to take me a minute to actually get into the book but I have to say I was proven wrong pretty quickly! The story kept me on the edge of my seat and was thoroughly entertaining! I absolutely loved the friendship between Oraelia and Lio and was absolutely heartbroken with what happened. And the building relationship between her and Rydar was beautiful.
Another book that reiterated the hatred I have for cliffhangers but what a way to end the book…the suspense and intrigue that those last pages left readers with was nothing short of genius. I cannot wait for the next book!
Another book that reiterated the hatred I have for cliffhangers but what a way to end the book…the suspense and intrigue that those last pages left readers with was nothing short of genius. I cannot wait for the next book!
February 13, 2024
I was honored to be selected as one of the ARC readers for this book, especially when it is such a good one and when it is a debut author who knows how to write a perfect dark fantasy. I mean, how is this a debut author? If I could have, I would have read The Timeless Trials in one sitting. This was such an interesting and intriguing dark romance fantasy.
Whenever I see trials or competitions of a sort, I always get nervous it can possibly be too much of a Hunger Games vibe (looking at you, Powerless). But this wasn't the case here. The Trials exist and are brutal, but they aren't what everything revolves about, the story is so much bigger than that.
Time is currency, and you never know when your time is up. Rae, the FMC, knows it better than everyone. We follow her story as she tries to fight the system while keeping those who she loves safe, and finding love amidst all the chaos.
If you enjoy tropes such as enemies to lovers, he falls first, fated mates, forbidden love, deadly trials, brother rivalry, dragons, this is your book.
And then ending, oh my god, that ending... How am I supposed to wait to see what happens next?
Whenever I see trials or competitions of a sort, I always get nervous it can possibly be too much of a Hunger Games vibe (looking at you, Powerless). But this wasn't the case here. The Trials exist and are brutal, but they aren't what everything revolves about, the story is so much bigger than that.
Time is currency, and you never know when your time is up. Rae, the FMC, knows it better than everyone. We follow her story as she tries to fight the system while keeping those who she loves safe, and finding love amidst all the chaos.
If you enjoy tropes such as enemies to lovers, he falls first, fated mates, forbidden love, deadly trials, brother rivalry, dragons, this is your book.
And then ending, oh my god, that ending... How am I supposed to wait to see what happens next?
February 19, 2024
3.5 stars! The Timeless Trials is a dystopian, fantasy romance with a medieval feel and major Hunger Games vibes. It has soulmates and insta-love mixed with action, magic, curses, royal politics, and some serious brotherly conflict.
In the kingdom of Orogi, time is not only valuable but life itself, and the high king controls it all. The royals and elite have time in abundance, while those in the poorer sections of the kingdom struggle to earn enough time to get by, to keep from running out and being killed by the poison residing in their time pacers, and, of course, to pay the tithes required by the high king. Those without enough to offer the king are deemed time wasters and are “retired” early. And when the tithes as a whole are insufficient, the high king invokes the Timeless Trials, a brutal and deadly competition where only one survives to be showered with wealth and gifted with immortality. Through a series of unfortunate events, Oraelia “Rae” Fenix becomes the first woman forced to compete in the trials and catches the attention of the cruel and dangerous high prince, Flint. If Rae can win, not only will she be granted the prize of immortality, but she will also be awarded a marriage to the high prince (whether she wants it or not). However, in the lead up to and during the trials, Rae continually finds herself drawn to the prince’s mysterious brother, Rydar, and she begrudgingly accepts that she must trust him to help her survive the trials and protect her family from the high prince.
There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book, but there were also some things that I felt needed stronger development. The plot was interesting and entertaining, and the concept of time as the basis for everything was intriguing. The time element was set up in a way and fleshed out enough that it was easily understood, but there was still enough mystery behind it and the high king's "Good Work" that the author has more she can do with it later in the series.
I adored Rae and her warrior spirit. She is strong, protective, and loves fiercely. She is a force all her own; in her own words, "Stay small, stay alive. If I had ever truly understood that life lesson, I would not be here in the first place." She also has no filter and is constantly putting her foot in her mouth in the best way. I loved it! I also loved Rydar. He is a broody, mysterious, and tormented soul. A fallen heir forced to protect his younger brother at all costs, he allows himself no friends, no one to care about, and no one that can be used against him. That is until his finds his almatae, the one thing he never wanted and the one thing he can't resist. The tension and push and pull between him and Rae was palpable; I could feel Rydar's struggle and inner turmoil, which made the glimpses of his true feelings all the sweeter.
Flint, the high prince, on the other hand was wonderfully easy to dislike and root against. He is a villain through and through - dangerous, calculating, and cruel. There was some insight into why he is the way he is, but I'm hoping to see more to him than just being evil for evil's sake. I'm also hoping to see more development of some the side characters (particularly Alia, Nell, and Trystan), which really did not happen in this book.
This book is action packed and fast paced, and while I enjoyed that, it was bit too much at times. The jump from one big moment/trial straight to another made for a quick, exciting read but more depth and explanation would've allowed for a greater emotional impact. A little more world building also would have gone a long way. And as I mentioned before, The Timeless Trials has heavy Hunger Games vibes, which is both good and not so good. I don't want to give too much away, but there are definite, clear parallels between the trials and the games. At times, the similarities between this book and the Hunger Games series was edging on too close, but there were enough differences in the plot that it didn't feel like a rip-off.
Overall, I thought The Timeless Trials was a fun and enjoyable read. It was engaging and ended with a twist that made me want to throw my Kindle while also making me impatient for book 2. I am very impressed that this was A.C. Guess's first novel. It was a solid debut, and I think she has tremendous potential. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
I received a free, advanced copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
In the kingdom of Orogi, time is not only valuable but life itself, and the high king controls it all. The royals and elite have time in abundance, while those in the poorer sections of the kingdom struggle to earn enough time to get by, to keep from running out and being killed by the poison residing in their time pacers, and, of course, to pay the tithes required by the high king. Those without enough to offer the king are deemed time wasters and are “retired” early. And when the tithes as a whole are insufficient, the high king invokes the Timeless Trials, a brutal and deadly competition where only one survives to be showered with wealth and gifted with immortality. Through a series of unfortunate events, Oraelia “Rae” Fenix becomes the first woman forced to compete in the trials and catches the attention of the cruel and dangerous high prince, Flint. If Rae can win, not only will she be granted the prize of immortality, but she will also be awarded a marriage to the high prince (whether she wants it or not). However, in the lead up to and during the trials, Rae continually finds herself drawn to the prince’s mysterious brother, Rydar, and she begrudgingly accepts that she must trust him to help her survive the trials and protect her family from the high prince.
There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book, but there were also some things that I felt needed stronger development. The plot was interesting and entertaining, and the concept of time as the basis for everything was intriguing. The time element was set up in a way and fleshed out enough that it was easily understood, but there was still enough mystery behind it and the high king's "Good Work" that the author has more she can do with it later in the series.
I adored Rae and her warrior spirit. She is strong, protective, and loves fiercely. She is a force all her own; in her own words, "Stay small, stay alive. If I had ever truly understood that life lesson, I would not be here in the first place." She also has no filter and is constantly putting her foot in her mouth in the best way. I loved it! I also loved Rydar. He is a broody, mysterious, and tormented soul. A fallen heir forced to protect his younger brother at all costs, he allows himself no friends, no one to care about, and no one that can be used against him. That is until his finds his almatae, the one thing he never wanted and the one thing he can't resist. The tension and push and pull between him and Rae was palpable; I could feel Rydar's struggle and inner turmoil, which made the glimpses of his true feelings all the sweeter.
Flint, the high prince, on the other hand was wonderfully easy to dislike and root against. He is a villain through and through - dangerous, calculating, and cruel. There was some insight into why he is the way he is, but I'm hoping to see more to him than just being evil for evil's sake. I'm also hoping to see more development of some the side characters (particularly Alia, Nell, and Trystan), which really did not happen in this book.
This book is action packed and fast paced, and while I enjoyed that, it was bit too much at times. The jump from one big moment/trial straight to another made for a quick, exciting read but more depth and explanation would've allowed for a greater emotional impact. A little more world building also would have gone a long way. And as I mentioned before, The Timeless Trials has heavy Hunger Games vibes, which is both good and not so good. I don't want to give too much away, but there are definite, clear parallels between the trials and the games. At times, the similarities between this book and the Hunger Games series was edging on too close, but there were enough differences in the plot that it didn't feel like a rip-off.
Overall, I thought The Timeless Trials was a fun and enjoyable read. It was engaging and ended with a twist that made me want to throw my Kindle while also making me impatient for book 2. I am very impressed that this was A.C. Guess's first novel. It was a solid debut, and I think she has tremendous potential. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
I received a free, advanced copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
February 5, 2024
I devoured this ARC! This was a fun read right from chapter one. There was action and excitement throughout the entire story so it never felt like you hit a lull. The FMC has such a warrior spirit that made me fall in love with her immediately. The trials themselves had me on the edge of my seat and made it hard to put the book down.
The author's writing style was really enjoyable. It made the whole story so easy to digest and she was able to paint descriptive pictures of every scene without being over the top. The cliffhanger at the end had me yelling. I NEED to know what happens next. If this was the author's debut novel, I can't wait to see what magic she comes up with next!
There are only two small things that would have made this a 5 star for me. The first being some more detail about the world itself. There is some detail but I feel like I could have used a little bit more to really see the whole picture. The second is that I would have liked a little more tension between the love interests. There's a forbidden love aspect, but it felt very obvious that it wasn't going to stay forbidden for long. That one is definitely a personal preference though. Overall I loved it and am now devastated I have to wait to see what happens next.
The author's writing style was really enjoyable. It made the whole story so easy to digest and she was able to paint descriptive pictures of every scene without being over the top. The cliffhanger at the end had me yelling. I NEED to know what happens next. If this was the author's debut novel, I can't wait to see what magic she comes up with next!
There are only two small things that would have made this a 5 star for me. The first being some more detail about the world itself. There is some detail but I feel like I could have used a little bit more to really see the whole picture. The second is that I would have liked a little more tension between the love interests. There's a forbidden love aspect, but it felt very obvious that it wasn't going to stay forbidden for long. That one is definitely a personal preference though. Overall I loved it and am now devastated I have to wait to see what happens next.
July 25, 2025
4 ⭐️ This book definitely gave me The Huger Games Vibes! I really enjoyed the concept of the story and plot line. I was intrigued from the very start of the book. There were a couple slow spots here and there throughout the story, but that didn't affect my reading experience. I enjoyed the found family aspect with the characters and the banter. The connection between the FMC and MMC was intriguing and I'm hoping to get more in book 2. The world building and back story to the magic and dragons could have used a little more work, but I'm sure we will get more of that throughout the series. Overall, this was a good read! I will definitely pick up book 2 and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a Dystopian Fantasy Romance with hunger games vibes!
Tropes / Themes:
Games/Trials
Dystopian World
Forbidden Love
Fated Mates
Dragons
Magic
Banter
Found Family
Brothers are Rivals
Tropes / Themes:
Games/Trials
Dystopian World
Forbidden Love
Fated Mates
Dragons
Magic
Banter
Found Family
Brothers are Rivals
February 16, 2024
First off, I want to say how thankful I am to be chosen for this ARC read, considering this was my first time, and I absolutely loved it!
This book was a page-turner! I didn't wait long from the beginning of reading this book until the action poured in. I was never bored with this book and always wanted to keep reading more. The author is a brilliant writer, and I was beyond impressed with her skill, especially since this is her debut. I cannot wait to read more work from her.
Now to the story. The story is a unique world built on the idea that time is life. If you run out of time, you are retired, which essentially means you die. Rae is a strong-willed female who is chosen to unwillingly take part in the trials after her town does not meet the quota of time donation to the greedy government. The trials are deadly tasks that participants partake in and are considered an effort of the government to gain more time from the time-wealthy spectators of the kingdom. During the trials, she gets acquainted with the mysterious Rydar, who she continues to grow more interested in as time goes by. She also is introduced to Rydar's brother, the prince, and this story's antagonist. And I can't forget the amazing Lio she befriends during the trials. The trials start off with 36 contestants, with the goal of one remaining the victor.
When I tell you, this story had ACTION and constantly kept me on my toes, curious about the world and the characters in it. Let me tell you, the antagonist was perfect and still bewildering in his own way. I loved seeing the development in the book and hope to learn more about why the world is the way it is and more about what makes the characters themself in the future book or books. That cliffhanger tho!!
This book includes tropes such as:
Death trials
Fated mates
Forbidden love
Insta-love
Magic bonds
Dragons
Evil brother
The only reason for me rating it four stars (more like 4.5) is that I personally don't really like insta-love tropes. I like more slow burn loves or enemies-to-lovers and wish this book had more scenes with the lovers in it so that I could get a better feel for how their connection developed. I also wished there was a little more world-building so that I could understand things a little more, but that may be a next-book thing. Regardless of my personal views, this book REALLY had incredible writing, and I couldn't pick out any real slow points. There was always something going on, which made this book really interesting, and I was never bored.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend reading this book!
I can't wait for more...
This book was a page-turner! I didn't wait long from the beginning of reading this book until the action poured in. I was never bored with this book and always wanted to keep reading more. The author is a brilliant writer, and I was beyond impressed with her skill, especially since this is her debut. I cannot wait to read more work from her.
Now to the story. The story is a unique world built on the idea that time is life. If you run out of time, you are retired, which essentially means you die. Rae is a strong-willed female who is chosen to unwillingly take part in the trials after her town does not meet the quota of time donation to the greedy government. The trials are deadly tasks that participants partake in and are considered an effort of the government to gain more time from the time-wealthy spectators of the kingdom. During the trials, she gets acquainted with the mysterious Rydar, who she continues to grow more interested in as time goes by. She also is introduced to Rydar's brother, the prince, and this story's antagonist. And I can't forget the amazing Lio she befriends during the trials. The trials start off with 36 contestants, with the goal of one remaining the victor.
When I tell you, this story had ACTION and constantly kept me on my toes, curious about the world and the characters in it. Let me tell you, the antagonist was perfect and still bewildering in his own way. I loved seeing the development in the book and hope to learn more about why the world is the way it is and more about what makes the characters themself in the future book or books. That cliffhanger tho!!
This book includes tropes such as:
Death trials
Fated mates
Forbidden love
Insta-love
Magic bonds
Dragons
Evil brother
The only reason for me rating it four stars (more like 4.5) is that I personally don't really like insta-love tropes. I like more slow burn loves or enemies-to-lovers and wish this book had more scenes with the lovers in it so that I could get a better feel for how their connection developed. I also wished there was a little more world-building so that I could understand things a little more, but that may be a next-book thing. Regardless of my personal views, this book REALLY had incredible writing, and I couldn't pick out any real slow points. There was always something going on, which made this book really interesting, and I was never bored.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend reading this book!
I can't wait for more...
March 15, 2024
First of all, let me start off my review by saying how grateful I am that I got the opportunity to ARC read this book! I loved it! A perfect mix of The Hunger Games, Divergent and Matched. I loved the slow burn between Radar and Rae, the suspense, the sister bond, etc! Not to mention it gave me Fourth Wing vibes as well! The ending had my jaw on the floor I can’t wait for book 2 to see where this all goes.
April 21, 2025
pretty damn average goddammit. Salt of the earth, punch the clock, even good/bad chapter ratio. We have a couple bad chapters, guess what? We have a couple good ones, too. But don't get too excited or let it go to your head. No long good chapter streaks here, no sir. That's hubris, which this blue collar, hard working book doesn't have. A few good chapters in a row, this book, true to form, will balance it out with a couple a bad ones. Yes sir, that's my timeless trials. A good, honest average book
February 26, 2024
I was lucky to be a part of the ARC team for this debut novel.
A little Hunger Games meets In Time (film).
Time used as currency as a way to control people is wild. Once you run out of time, no matter your age, you die (retire). If you're convicted as a time waster or can't tithe enough time, you're retired. The rich and powerful are basically immortal. The king and the high prince are unnecessarily cruel. And if there was ever a contest for the worst villain, Prince Flint Barragan would be towards the top of that list.
Oraelia (Rae) is our fiesty, do what it takes to survive FMC. She doesn't take crap from anyone, and not holding her tongue gets her into some tough situations. This poor girl could not catch a break.....literally the whole book.
There were a few clunky parts or parts that were contradicting that took away from the enjoyment of the story. However, I did still enjoy the ride even if I do wish some things were fleshed out a bit more. But perhaps in the next book.
Overall, this was a good debut novel! With that ending, I'm looking forward to the next book.
***Mind the cliff***
●Morally grey MMC
●Enemies to lovers
●Soulmates
●Forbidden Love
●Deadly trials
●Touch her & Die
●Oath Bonds
●Magic
●Feuding brothers
●Sisterly love
●There is a dragon!
●Time as currency
Possible Triggers:
-A good deal of blood/gore/injury detail
-Death
-Physical/emotional abuse
-Misogyny
-Confinement
-Animal cruelty
-Non consensual kissing/touching
🌶/☆☆☆.75
A little Hunger Games meets In Time (film).
Time used as currency as a way to control people is wild. Once you run out of time, no matter your age, you die (retire). If you're convicted as a time waster or can't tithe enough time, you're retired. The rich and powerful are basically immortal. The king and the high prince are unnecessarily cruel. And if there was ever a contest for the worst villain, Prince Flint Barragan would be towards the top of that list.
Oraelia (Rae) is our fiesty, do what it takes to survive FMC. She doesn't take crap from anyone, and not holding her tongue gets her into some tough situations. This poor girl could not catch a break.....literally the whole book.
There were a few clunky parts or parts that were contradicting that took away from the enjoyment of the story. However, I did still enjoy the ride even if I do wish some things were fleshed out a bit more. But perhaps in the next book.
Overall, this was a good debut novel! With that ending, I'm looking forward to the next book.
***Mind the cliff***
●Morally grey MMC
●Enemies to lovers
●Soulmates
●Forbidden Love
●Deadly trials
●Touch her & Die
●Oath Bonds
●Magic
●Feuding brothers
●Sisterly love
●There is a dragon!
●Time as currency
Possible Triggers:
-A good deal of blood/gore/injury detail
-Death
-Physical/emotional abuse
-Misogyny
-Confinement
-Animal cruelty
-Non consensual kissing/touching
🌶/☆☆☆.75
February 3, 2024
I got the awesome chance to be an ARC, and let me tell you this was an awesome experience! This book will have you at the end of your seat, and you will be questioning everything by the end! Action packed from beginning to end! This should be on everyone’s next read list!
February 6, 2024
I was kindly given an ARC of this book to read early.
I loved this book. The writing makes it really easy to root for the protagonist, Rae, you want to see her succeed. She's empathetic and strong-willed.
The story was fast-paced and immersive, especially after the first few chapters. The stakes were high, keeping you hooked.
The trials themselves were interesting, and getting to see Rae's reactions to them was even better.
I love a good fated mates situation, so that was enjoyable, I do wish there were more scenes between Rae and the love interest, but I understand why there wasn't more at this point in the series.
I'm excited to see what A.C. Guess writes in the future, and I eagerly await the sequel to this book.
I loved this book. The writing makes it really easy to root for the protagonist, Rae, you want to see her succeed. She's empathetic and strong-willed.
The story was fast-paced and immersive, especially after the first few chapters. The stakes were high, keeping you hooked.
The trials themselves were interesting, and getting to see Rae's reactions to them was even better.
I love a good fated mates situation, so that was enjoyable, I do wish there were more scenes between Rae and the love interest, but I understand why there wasn't more at this point in the series.
I'm excited to see what A.C. Guess writes in the future, and I eagerly await the sequel to this book.
February 14, 2024
I had the wonderful opportunity of being an ARC reader for The Timeless Trials, by A.C. Guess. This is her debut novel as well as my debut as an ARC reader, which I am so grateful for. Thank you so much!
This novel starts off strong punching you right in the face. There are so many layers to the main character, Rae Fenix, that we see unfold throughout the story - Her innate independence, unwavering strength no matter the obstacle, empathy for others even though very few in this world have shown her the same in return, and her determination to protect the ones she loves from the evils that are lurking close by. Rae is fiery and sassy as all heck, and I for one, fell in love with her instantly.
The world this story takes place in feels both old and new at the same time and oh, so interesting. There are tyrannical rulers, blood oaths, deadly trials, dragons, forbidden love, family feuds, soul bound mates, magic, and also in this world, time = currency. It can be given or taken away from you at any point for any reason. If you are not deemed a productive or useable member of society you are "retired to the next realm". The vast majority of citizens are living in terrible conditions - poverty, oppression, and at the whim and mercy of the High King and High Prince. It's just mad!
The characters and this universe are fleshed out in such an extraordinary way, it's magical. You will LOVE the good guys and HATE the villains. Shoutout to Rydar who is mister tall dark and handsome. I just adore everything about you. To Flint - may your time be everlasting - NOT. You are the worst and very much Joffrey Jr. (If you watched Game of Thrones ... you KNOW.)
You know a book is fantastic when you get that reading hangover once finished. Oh helfyre, did I experience this. Five out of five stars! If you love fantasy, romance, and dystopian stories I cannot recommend The Timeless Trials to you enough. It's fast paced, action packed, with such a twist at the end that you will be shooketh and thinking about it for a while after. I am SO eagerly looking forward to the next installment of the series!
May time be on your side.
The Timeless Trials
A.C. Guess
This novel starts off strong punching you right in the face. There are so many layers to the main character, Rae Fenix, that we see unfold throughout the story - Her innate independence, unwavering strength no matter the obstacle, empathy for others even though very few in this world have shown her the same in return, and her determination to protect the ones she loves from the evils that are lurking close by. Rae is fiery and sassy as all heck, and I for one, fell in love with her instantly.
The world this story takes place in feels both old and new at the same time and oh, so interesting. There are tyrannical rulers, blood oaths, deadly trials, dragons, forbidden love, family feuds, soul bound mates, magic, and also in this world, time = currency. It can be given or taken away from you at any point for any reason. If you are not deemed a productive or useable member of society you are "retired to the next realm". The vast majority of citizens are living in terrible conditions - poverty, oppression, and at the whim and mercy of the High King and High Prince. It's just mad!
The characters and this universe are fleshed out in such an extraordinary way, it's magical. You will LOVE the good guys and HATE the villains. Shoutout to Rydar who is mister tall dark and handsome. I just adore everything about you. To Flint - may your time be everlasting - NOT. You are the worst and very much Joffrey Jr. (If you watched Game of Thrones ... you KNOW.)
You know a book is fantastic when you get that reading hangover once finished. Oh helfyre, did I experience this. Five out of five stars! If you love fantasy, romance, and dystopian stories I cannot recommend The Timeless Trials to you enough. It's fast paced, action packed, with such a twist at the end that you will be shooketh and thinking about it for a while after. I am SO eagerly looking forward to the next installment of the series!
May time be on your side.
The Timeless Trials
A.C. Guess
February 21, 2024
First things first, I have had the honour to read this as my first ARC read, and I was NOT disappointed. I really did not know what to expect when I dived into this, but this book was a masterpiece, and I have, without a single doubt, rated it 5 stars.
This book follows Rae, the main female protagonist in a world where time is currency and the only way to avoid untimely 'retirement' (death) is to earn more time. Rae then must take part in what is known as the timeless trials, a game created soley for the entertainment of the royalty and elite, as a way for the country to donate more time to the king. It smoothly mixes fantasy with an almost dystopian element, including magic, dragons, action, and romance. The character development was extremely well done, and I was engaged from the beginning.
A.C. Guess has an amazing writing style, which was really engaging, and even though
It does change POV, this was extremely well done, it never got confusing, and I felt the world building was expertly introduced. I never felt bombarded with information, and I was so intrigued by the world she has created. I loved Rae and especially her interactions with the prince's brother, Rydar. The romance element is wonderful, the whole book is fast-paced, and I couldn't put it down. The ending has broken me, I need more!
If you want to get your fantasy fix, then this is absolutely for you. I will recommend this for the rest of my life. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this, and I hope it makes people as happy as it did myself
This is her debut novel, and it releases February the 26th!
This book follows Rae, the main female protagonist in a world where time is currency and the only way to avoid untimely 'retirement' (death) is to earn more time. Rae then must take part in what is known as the timeless trials, a game created soley for the entertainment of the royalty and elite, as a way for the country to donate more time to the king. It smoothly mixes fantasy with an almost dystopian element, including magic, dragons, action, and romance. The character development was extremely well done, and I was engaged from the beginning.
A.C. Guess has an amazing writing style, which was really engaging, and even though
It does change POV, this was extremely well done, it never got confusing, and I felt the world building was expertly introduced. I never felt bombarded with information, and I was so intrigued by the world she has created. I loved Rae and especially her interactions with the prince's brother, Rydar. The romance element is wonderful, the whole book is fast-paced, and I couldn't put it down. The ending has broken me, I need more!
If you want to get your fantasy fix, then this is absolutely for you. I will recommend this for the rest of my life. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this, and I hope it makes people as happy as it did myself
This is her debut novel, and it releases February the 26th!
September 14, 2024
I wanted to like this book. It started out pretty good but got worse and worse as it went. The romance felt rushed, the main characters in love after a few quick conversations? No tension, no build up, it was surface level, and got so cheesy. This book and this world could have been SO good and I just think more time should’ve been spent on the characters relationships and maybe get rid of some of the cliche dialogue at the end.
February 3, 2024
Wow!
There are hardly words for the ending to this book! The author has knocked it clear out of the park!
I can not believe this is her debut novel. The writing is great!
I found the 1st few chapters slower and harder to follow, as the reader is thrust into a new world. But it doesn't take long for the story to pick up and take off. Afterwards, it is non stop, I was unable to put it down! I am sooooooooo sad about the cliffhanger! I can not wait to read the next book! Bravo author!
I have received an ARC from the author and I am leaving an unbiased review.
There are hardly words for the ending to this book! The author has knocked it clear out of the park!
I can not believe this is her debut novel. The writing is great!
I found the 1st few chapters slower and harder to follow, as the reader is thrust into a new world. But it doesn't take long for the story to pick up and take off. Afterwards, it is non stop, I was unable to put it down! I am sooooooooo sad about the cliffhanger! I can not wait to read the next book! Bravo author!
I have received an ARC from the author and I am leaving an unbiased review.
February 23, 2024
ARC Review: This book makes me think if the universe of the movie “In Time” (Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried) and the universe of “The Hunger Games” collided, this would be their love child. A.C. Guess has written some deeply complex characters who elicit some extremely frustrating feelings from the reader. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time, and of course she lined us up with a cliffhanger that primes for book 2. I held back on a star because it felt like certain elements of the story had been rushed, making it difficult to kind of keep track of the flow of what was happening. I do think there could be a little bit more world building there is a lot of potential for it and just some extra details. Other than that this was a great read, a nice slow burn romance element, and I’m very interested to see what she does with Book 2.
February 20, 2024
I'm an ARC reader for this novel which is being released February 26th! I truly enjoyed this read and am definitely looking forward to seeing what else comes from A.C. Guess. As others have mentioned, it's quite "Hunger Games-eque" but with it's own creative flair. The story was fast paced and intriguing, keeping me hooked on what happens next. My only suggestion is I would love to have more - more world building and description to some of the scenes, more tension and build up between our main characters' love interest, and more emotional development. Can't wait to see how the story continues to unfold!
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