Untimed (Rules of the Regulator, #1) by Andy Gavin

Jul 06, 2013 Angela rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, ya, time-travel, net-galley, kindle, 2014-read

Look at that cover! How could I resist requesting this to review? Time and time again I've been burned by a pretty cover, but - fortunately - that wasn't the case here. Untimed is both better than expected, and a bit disappointing. I'll try to get into both reasons here.

I read, first and foremost, for characters. Interesting characters will make me beg for more, for the story to never end. And that's where we run into my main issue with Untimed. Every character in this story felt like a ... plac ...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Mike rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: indie, kindle, well-edited

The next time some snob who hasn't been paying attention for the past couple of years tells you that all self-published books are crap, point them to this one.

As I'm reading on my Kindle, I routinely highlight passages or words where the author, and their editor, if any, has screwed up - left a word out of a sentence, used the wrong word for what they mean, mispunctuated or misspelled something. I have no highlights in this book. Zero. The author thanks a large number of people in his acknowledg The next time some snob who hasn't been paying attention for the past couple of years tells you that all self-published books are crap, point them to this one.

As I'm reading on my Kindle, I routinely highlight passages or words where the author, and their editor, if any, has screwed up - left a word out of a sentence, used the wrong word for what they mean, mispunctuated or misspelled something. I have no highlights in this book. Zero. The author thanks a large number of people in his acknowledgements, and I think it's a case of "with many eyes, all bugs are shallow". He's put in the work to produce a professional book.

I enjoy a well-written time-travel story, one in which the plot is carefully crafted and the threads all weave together, and that is what this is. It's also thrilling. There's always something happening, the stakes are both high in global significance and also personal for the main character, and the action is well-described.

The characters, especially the main character, are believable. It's in first person, and I totally believe Charlie as a teenager. He does things that he's not completely proud of, but they're the things a teenager would do. He's not ridiculously superpowered or over-competent, either. He has the knowledge a bright teenager who's been well-prepared by a time-travelling father would have.

I found the other characters a touch one-dimensional, I have to say, including the love interest. Then again, that's not incompatible with the viewpoint of a bright teenager, to whom everyone else is not quite as real as he is.

The setting I found a little over-convenient. The universal translator and the way in which clothing changes to match the era that the traveller ends up in, for example. I can see why the author made those choices (it removes some fairly tedious practical issues and leaves more space for the exciting ones), but I hope it's well-justified in a sequel. That's really my main criticism. As far as other aspects of the setting go, the past is convincingly smelly and violent, and the whole world has an authentic feel. It's not a cinema sound-stage, it's shot on location.

The five stars is rounded up from about 4.7 or so, and is based on 5 stars being the best conceivable YA time-travel story. I've read better books, but not very many of them. ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Kara-karina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Guys, gals, this book was wonderful! Somewhere between middle grade and YA, sci-fi, steampunk and just pure delightful time travel, it's a must read for all your teen adventurers with vivid imagination. And just look at these illustrations! This book is full of them:

description

I don't know why I'm so surprised if I loved Andy Gavin's first book just as much. Also, everything he does is meticulous - the text, the covers by fab Cliff Nielsen, the sheer research for each book.

Untimed is not a silly, fluffy li ...more

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May 29, 2016 Winter Sophia Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Twists, Turns, Engaging, Addictive, Intriguing, Action Packed, Inspiring, Edge Of My Seat, Exceptional Read! I Loved It!

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Jan 01, 2013 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

History, fact, fiction, fun, excitement and suspense all mash up together in what I will call one of the best time-traveling books I have read.

The protagonist... I can't seem to recall his name... (read the book, you'll get the joke. LOL), seems never to do as well as anyone else in school. It's not that he's not gifted - just no one ever seems to notice what he's doing. He's got one of those forgettable, well... lives. Post-Its clutter his home. Even his own mother can't remember his name. What History, fact, fiction, fun, excitement and suspense all mash up together in what I will call one of the best time-traveling books I have read.

The protagonist... I can't seem to recall his name... (read the book, you'll get the joke. LOL), seems never to do as well as anyone else in school. It's not that he's not gifted - just no one ever seems to notice what he's doing. He's got one of those forgettable, well... lives. Post-Its clutter his home. Even his own mother can't remember his name. What a way to kill your childhood, right? Slap that together with a dad who only visits twice a year, and poor Charlie (our protagonist) has things pretty rough.

The cover and the interior illustrations are brilliant - I want to start off with that. High fives all around for those. Everything is stunning and eye-catching. I loved every one of them.

NEXT - on to more of what I liked. Andy Gavin took his time to look up his stuff, unless he's a total history buff and decided to write some fiction with what he knew. But he had costuming, speech, dates, and customs from a plethora of periods down. It was great to see how he wrote everything in and how well it flowed (and made sense). Which leads me to my next point.

This is a time-traveling book that made sense. People couldn't just jump time, do whatever they wanted, and suffer no repercussions. The actions made sense and we could actually understand the logic in the way the world worked with this time travel. The antagonist(s) have been flushed out - well partially. I still have my doubts. I think Andy has thrown in a few red herrings. BUT, that could just be me.

There were only a few times in here where the pacing slowed down and I was eager to get to the next jump, but those were few and far between. I know scenes must be set up, but I was so anxious to see what happened next, that I almost wanted to skip a few pages to see what Andy would come up with next. I'm glad I didn't though. I would have missed out on a lot of what made this book a rich experience all around.

I will be back for book two in this series AND I will be hitting up his first book, The Darkening Dream!! I like Andy's writing style in this, and can't wait to see what he has done with his debut novel. ...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Elspeth rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

This book started off with a bang, with the main character jumping into a worm hole and traveling back in time. The year 1725 to be exact, and the author was true to detail, London is a dirty place, filled with poverty and filth.
This is where Charlie meets Ben Franklin, and Yvaine the mother of Franklins son William. Yvaine is also a time traveler, and in talking to her he finds out that only men can travel back in time and women can travel into the future.
So a lot of stuff happen, and it ends ...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Michael Araujo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have always enjoyed the subject of History in school. I loved reading about the wars and the people and how different the times were. I couldn’t wait until I was about to write a paper or an essay on an interesting topic. It was one of the easiest subjects in High School and a breeze in College. Reading a History book, though? Now that’s something I’ve never done. I was able to read passages but I couldn’t exactly go to bed with a novel about History. It was than exciting news when I found out I have always enjoyed the subject of History in school. I loved reading about the wars and the people and how different the times were. I couldn’t wait until I was about to write a paper or an essay on an interesting topic. It was one of the easiest subjects in High School and a breeze in College. Reading a History book, though? Now that’s something I’ve never done. I was able to read passages but I couldn’t exactly go to bed with a novel about History. It was than exciting news when I found out that Andy Gavin was writing a book about time-traveling because not only could I read and go back in History, I could do it with out of this world elements like clockwork humanoids.

Yes, you read that right. Clockwork. Humanoids. Untimed by Andy Gavin revolves around a boy named Charlie who is able to travel through time. The problem is, because he is a male, he can only travel back in time. It is pure luck that, when he finally travels to 1725 London, he meets Yvaine, a fellow time-traveler, a girl who can only travel forward. Now to make sure you understand this, males can only travel to the past while females can only travel to the future. Together though, they can move back and forth however they want. By the end of the novel, Untimed shows us the perils of changing history and how it could affect our future, making it one hell of a novel.

I enjoyed Andy Gavin’s first novel so I was really excited for this one. I have never read about time-traveling and thought that it would be an amazing experience to be introduced to it by this author. Andy Gavin did things that made me jump with joy and squeal like a fan boy. One of those things was how he brought our very own historical people into his world and made them have a this secret life that ties in with his story. An example of this is Benjamin Franklin and his son William Franklin. We’re introduced to these characters and see how William is part of the novels world and how he‘s connected to our main characters. I don’t want to ruin it but it’s pretty amazing and genius.

Another amazing thing is not only the way they travel and what they need to travel but the connection that they have between the past and the present. In one instance, when Charlie and Yvaine are in trouble in 1725 in London, fellow time-travelers who are even more in the past, do stuff that affects their future and help our main characters. It sounds a bit confusing but once you read the book you’ll just be jumping with amazement.

It was interesting meeting characters we know in our world and seeing them interact in this novel. I enjoyed the way the characters were written and how they had such life to them. Each character matched perfectly to their time period and some even had this theatrical air about them. It’s all thanks to Andy Gavin’s writing style of course. While it differed from his other novel, it had that quality and that signature touch that let us know it was his. I loved the world it was set in, loved seeing the different time periods and how Charlie and Yvaine were dressed to fit with the times and how even the dialogue was corresponding with the year. I especially loved how the writing reflected off of these time periods and if you left the book off in one part, you’d know where they were right away when picking it up. The writing style in general was different and I found it interesting. It didn’t linger with many details but it gave us enough to give us satisfaction. Andy Gavin’s writing flows with the consistency of action the novel presents us with.

Now the novel is geared towards the younger crowd and considered a Young Adult novel. In my opinion I think it’s a bit over the YA genre but not yet close to Adult, and if this is what YA is becoming I’m all for it. Gavin didn’t belittle us or try to minimize the general writing style. He presented the writing and emotions of these characters as if we were able to handle it and made sure to incorporate explicit scenes in an appropriate manner. He didn’t take it over to the adult side but then again, he wrote it knowing that many teenagers and young adult know damn well what’s going on. The feelings between the two main characters were real and not lovey-dovey. Not only was love being involved but there were hints of teenage lust which is something that is fresh and hardly tackled and admitted in YA.

In general, I think that the novel was brilliantly played out and allowed us to see the effects of how a simple change in the past can make such a big difference in the future. It was interesting seeing the what-ifs of the modern time and made me think a lot of what-ifs as well. It’s a bit scary knowing how everything that’s happened and everything that is happening is shaping up to go down a certain path and that there are many, many paths that differ from what is now. Untimed made me think a lot and with that ending, I can not wait for the sequel.
...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Charles rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy, young-adult, stat_3, reviewed

First Reads Review - Untimed by Andy Gavin

I had rather high hopes for this book when I won it through the Goodreads First Read program. It appeared to be a young adult novel with time travel and some steam elements, which really would have been something I would have enjoyed quite a lot. Instead what I got was something that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be, that was written in a more juvenile style but which cannot be considered young adult because of how it treats sex and language. A First Reads Review - Untimed by Andy Gavin

I had rather high hopes for this book when I won it through the Goodreads First Read program. It appeared to be a young adult novel with time travel and some steam elements, which really would have been something I would have enjoyed quite a lot. Instead what I got was something that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be, that was written in a more juvenile style but which cannot be considered young adult because of how it treats sex and language. And despite a few interesting ideas, this book just turned out to be rather disappointing, rather lacking in something to hold on to.

Not that it's all bad. The book has a slightly interesting premise and the mechanics of the time travel are interesting and consistent enough. The main character is a fifteen year old boy and that definitely comes across in some of his actions, in his immaturity and that kind of thing, but the story as it is written makes him seem more like a jerk of a thirty-year-old than a young man. He is incredibly distracted by sex, and while that might in other circumstances be forgiven by the fact that he's going through puberty, his views on sex and women are not those of a boy or young man, but of a rather immature adult. It's something that tripped me up a number of times, because it's more than just unbelievable that he would act the way he does, it's offensive.

Which brings me to the other aspect of the story that bothered me, which was how inconsistent historical accuracy was treated. Like that the water in the past was filthy but apparently the main female character doesn't have any STIs or STDs despite basically working as a prostitute and sleeping with a number of unsavory characters (like Ben Franklin, who definitely had a bevy of diseases). It just seemed rich that the main character would worry about the filthy conditions and yet they never really had an impact on his life. Like it was all one "the past is dirty" joke that never goes anywhere. Especially because it treats things like that as purely artifacts of the past without realizing that many people still live in terrible conditions now, it comes off as rather condescending and arrogant and I just didn't care for it.

And in the end the book just can't make up its mind on what it wants to be. It might be a comedy or not, because most of the time it doesn't treat anything seriously, but then sometimes it wants things to be very serious. It might be for young adults or not, because while it has illustrations and fifteen year old main characters, it also has sex and constant alcohol consumption and terrible relationships. The problem really is that the book seems to say that the main character, the young white guy getting all the sex, is basically right about everything. He's always right and always wins, and that is, again, more than just unbelievable, it is wrong. With more care this book could have been something better, because there are glimmers of a good idea in there, but as it is it's a bit of a mess, and as such I'm giving it two stars out of five. ...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Kitty Austin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I wonder if Andy Gavin knows that he has unwittingly created a time machine in the form of a book? I was given them book by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review and to be quite 'honest' this story left me breathless. There is never a moment where it lacks the ability to entertain, and you barely get a chance to to take a breath with all the action!

Poor Charlie has lived the majority of his life without being noticed, even his own mother can't seem to remember his name. It's I wonder if Andy Gavin knows that he has unwittingly created a time machine in the form of a book? I was given them book by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review and to be quite 'honest' this story left me breathless. There is never a moment where it lacks the ability to entertain, and you barely get a chance to to take a breath with all the action!

Poor Charlie has lived the majority of his life without being noticed, even his own mother can't seem to remember his name. It's not that she doesn't love him, as the author states in the novel, but there is simply something about Charlie that does not allow people to remember him for long... if at all.. Little does he realize he takes after his father's side of the family much more than he could ever have believed

Charlie accidentally jumps into a hole created by a 'Tick Tock' which is explained in the story as wind up clockwork type beings that for some reason feel the need to kill any time travelers they find; and is transported to England in the year Ben Franklin has yet to make his mark in the world. Here he meets a colorful group of characters two of which stand out largely apart from the rest. Yvaine is bright, young, and a mother of a sweet little infant named Billy. She has unwittingly fallen into the hands of a rowdy gang of thieves and has resorted to ill means to feed herself and her little one.

Donny is the leader of the gang and quite the snake. Though he seems to be alright enough at first there is much more to him than meets the eye. Donny is the type of character you definitely love to hate. And as you can see by the picture he's none too pretty to look at with his powdered wig and pointy features. This is just the first of the amazing adventures that befall Charlie as he meets many more interesting people and finds himself tossed through time like a ping pong ball out of control.

Charlie gets into quite a bit of trouble, actually ends up altering a few things and causing quite a mess that he and Yvaine have to clean up.... but how?

This story employs a very mature style of writing and though it may seem like the kind of book you could let your young ones read, make no mistake this book is more for the older generation. I highly recommend for ages at least 16 and up.

I found myself enjoying the story, the characters and every zany setting that Andy Gavin came up with. "Untimed" is definitely a book well worth reading and one I intend to keep on my shelf for years to come. I am waiting patiently for Mr. Gavin to bring out the next installment. I don't think I could ever get enough of Charlie and Yvaine! Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book today! ...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Jesse Kimmel-Freeman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Utterly and completely amazing! I love this book! When is the next one coming out because I want it NOW, NOW, NOW! Andy weaves a tale that is original, unique and well-written! The man holds up to his amazing contributions to the Gaming world and now adds gems to the literary one!

The book is full of action and adventure. Andy's characters have well developed arcs, you can see them grow and change as the story goes one on. I absolutely LOVE Yvaine! I can see how her ma told her she was full of pi ...more

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Mar 31, 2018 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways, favourite

A Goodreads Win

I really enjoyed this. Once I started reading I didn't want want to stop.

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Jun 29, 2013 Jessica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy

Untimed by Andy Gavin is a book I've had for some time. Andy very kindly sent it to me all the way in Australia, much appreciated. I had read and reviewed Andy's first book The Darkening Dream which is an excellent novel. Untimed is Andy's second and check out that cover. Great stuff huh.

The inside is and isn't as great as that cover. I feel quite mixed on this one. The Darkening Dream was a mature YA novel, historical and religious details that Andy clearly put a great deal of time and research Untimed by Andy Gavin is a book I've had for some time. Andy very kindly sent it to me all the way in Australia, much appreciated. I had read and reviewed Andy's first book The Darkening Dream which is an excellent novel. Untimed is Andy's second and check out that cover. Great stuff huh.

The inside is and isn't as great as that cover. I feel quite mixed on this one. The Darkening Dream was a mature YA novel, historical and religious details that Andy clearly put a great deal of time and research into. Untimed you could say is historical it is time travel after all but it's a mixed bag.

Andy is a very talented author who's books will always be on my TBR list just because he wrote them. Untimed when I started it sucked me in. So fascinating a story about a kid who's mother doesn't even remember his name. Most people over look him, Charlie just blends like wallpaper you know its there but you don't care or remember it. When Charlie meets a Tick-Tock a time traveling steampunk cogs and wheels robot man thing and they go hurtling back in time I was all omg this story is so cool. Then Charlie is back in time with no clue what the hell is going on, where he is or how this craziness happened. Good stuff right but then he meets Yvaine. Charlies discovers that he can travel through time. One direction only, downtime for boys and uptime for girls like his fellow time traveler Yvaine.

Up to that point I was all eager to read the book but once Charlie meets Yvaine I put the book aside and it sat there for quite some time. I wanted action adventure hell time travel not a love sick boy and a girl from idk the dark ages with views that were ones I couldn't relate to which was the big problem. I thought Charlie was a stupid little boy who could only think with his puberty raging hormones and Yvaine a teen mother who lived such a different life that I simply couldn't relate to either one and quite frankly disliked them both. Then for some reason I picked the book back up. I still didn't like them and never really got to like them but once I read past a point in the story and they finally went time traveling I got into the story and breezed right through it wanting to know what would happen.

Charlies dad is as stupid as he is, being a time traveler as well and doesn't tell his son what to expect or prepares him in any way other than telling him to read history books. Being frustrated with characters is not fun. Loving a story though and the premise the author has created makes for an interesting time. I got to warm up to Charlie and Yvaine but thought the sex between the two of them was just weird. I'm no prude but teen sex just makes me go yuck kids especially when the pictures in the book which are great by the way make them look like they are 10 or 12, 14 if you push it. Yvaine is a teen mother no less but then she is from 1500 something so probably the norm then but you'd think Charlie would have some sense and not pork some chick he met not to mention get drunk endlessly what the hell is that. Stop making me feel like a scolding old lady.

These issues prevented me from loving the story. The tocks I wanted to know more about, the history of them and the time travellers that had my attention. The book lays way for a sequel and again I'm happy to read anything Andy writes but I hope there will be more of what I enjoyed to read and less of the ridiculous teen porking. ...more

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Dec 06, 2012 M.M. Hudson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: YA and up

Recommended to M.M. by: IOBT

Untimed is a Young Adult fantasy book written by Andy Gavin.

This book follows Charlie, a 14 year old, history buff, Philadelphia raised boy, whom everyone seems not to notice. His own mother cannot remember his name and his father seems to be more absent than home.

This all changes a few days before his birthday when the police knock on his front door, just as a visit from his Dad is going to reveal something important. However, this is just not any old police! This is a clockworks man known late Untimed is a Young Adult fantasy book written by Andy Gavin.

This book follows Charlie, a 14 year old, history buff, Philadelphia raised boy, whom everyone seems not to notice. His own mother cannot remember his name and his father seems to be more absent than home.

This all changes a few days before his birthday when the police knock on his front door, just as a visit from his Dad is going to reveal something important. However, this is just not any old police! This is a clockworks man known later as Tick-Tocks or Tocks for short who is out to kill Charlie.

Charlie manages to escape the first attempt of assassination when he follows the Tock down a hole that seems to appear from nowhere. They both land in London 1725 where the rules of time seem to change. Charlie meets Yvaine, a girl of the streets, who is a master pickpocket and a young mother. Her son's father is a well know historical figure. She takes a liking to Charlie.

Charlie soon learns from Yvaine that they are both time travelers and that she has been on her own since she was 7 years old learning how to survive. He also learns that boys can only travel to the past or downtime and girls can only travel to the future or uptime.

Their adventures together take them through history with hostility along the way as the Tocks seem to be just ahead of them changing history as Charlie knows it. Charlie will even meet up with his Dad and Aunt and find out they too are time travelers. The young couple will learn that messing with history and time is not an easy thing to change back. Will Charlie and Yvaine set history straight or will life as it was once know be forever changed?

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If you want to read the fantastic book Untimed and find out more about Charlie, Yvaine and those darned trouble some Tick-Tocks, you can buy the book on Amazon.com HERE or you can try and win your own signed copy HERE. I give this book a thumbs up! A must read!

Disclosure:I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

~Naila Moon ...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Autumn Is Azathoth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Autumn Is Azathoth by: Innovative Online Blog Tours

Shelves: december-2012-reads, armchair-london, armchair-scotland, armchair-england

Review of Untimed by Andy Gavin
An IOBT Blog Tour
5 stars
Readers who enjoyed Andy Gavin’s novel “Darkening Dream,” be sure to pick up “Untimed,” a time travel romance-mystery-steampunkish-science fiction-coming of age story with an endearing set of characters, including the self-effacing (and easily effaced) Charlie, a fifteen-year-old whose father and aunt are-well-time travelers extraordinaire. Charlie only sees them for two weeks in October and for two weeks near his birthday in January. Charli ...more

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Feb 02, 2013 J.P. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If there was any justice in the literary world, this novel would be at the top of the bestsellers lists while those authors who need a wheelbarrow to take their money to the bank and write like hacks would wallow in obscurity.

This novel started out a bit slowly but by the end I was thoroughly convinced I had enjoyed it. Adventure, time travel, close escapes, alternate worlds and steampunk goodies all add up to a rollicking grand time. The author is a true raconteur and writes convincingly of dif ...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-for-review-from-author, january-2013

Untimed is a great read. I have to say that when I first saw the book I said man this book cover reminds me of the movie The Pirates Of The Caribbean and I was very excited to start reading it.

Untimed is a story about a boy Charlie who appears invisible to everyone. No one seems to realize he exists. His own mother does not remember his name.Which is crazy because what mother would not remember their own child's name. Then something weird happens and someone attacks him and tries to kill him.

Cha ...more

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Apr 11, 2013 iamjenai rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Charlie's wondering why people seem to always forget his name, even his mother. It's like people don't "see" him. So if he went away, no one would really notice his absence. When he started his time travel, that's when he realized that time travelers are all forgettable.

I really enjoyed this book and I love the pictures! In every chapter or so, there would be a picture to guide the readers of Charlie's travel. I love how the author wrote the story incorporating history in Charlie's time travel. ...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Brandon Schmidt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(Originally posted on TheIndieMine.com)

The science fiction genre has arguably been around for millenia, so it’s only natural to assume that it’s all been done before. While there’s still room for true innovation, many authors instead make their mark by either putting their own unique twist on an idea or concept, or by introducing characters and places that capture the imagination. Untimed, the 2nd novel from author Andy Gavin, is all about time travel as experienced by a teenage boy trying to fi (Originally posted on TheIndieMine.com)

The science fiction genre has arguably been around for millenia, so it’s only natural to assume that it’s all been done before. While there’s still room for true innovation, many authors instead make their mark by either putting their own unique twist on an idea or concept, or by introducing characters and places that capture the imagination. Untimed, the 2nd novel from author Andy Gavin, is all about time travel as experienced by a teenage boy trying to find his place in the world. What’s most appealing about Untimed is the way it manages to cover every aspect of a time travel story that a sci-fi fan can think of.

When imagining traveling through time, it’s not just about ending up in a different era, it’s often about experiencing a different place and way of life. Untimed takes the reader from modern day Philadelphia to early 18th-century London, 19th-century France, and 20th-century China. The bulk of the story takes place in that London setting and presents the city from the view of young street thieves. Although the characters Charlie meets veer a bit on the outlandish side, the setting itself is vividly painted as dirty and seedy. War-torn Europe in the early 1800′s is brought to life through Gavin’s depiction of the anticipation of battle and the carnage inflicted upon its participants. Without giving too much away, our hero even gets a look at a skewed version of the present when a few historical choices go awry. Gavin certainly paints a picture of the past that makes the reader share Charlie’s desire to get back home.

As a science fiction fan, one of the best parts about time travel is seeing how each storyteller presents his or her incarnation. In other words, finding out what the rules are and what the consequences are of bending or breaking those rules. Untimed immediately draws readers in with how the protagonist details his bizarre non-existence in the eyes of everyone around him. Going unnoticed is something a lot of teenagers can probably identify with, but it goes a step further in that not even his own mother can remember his name. In fact, everyone who possesses the time travel ability experiences this with the “normals”, and the characters often either suffer because of it or use it to their advantage. Another unique twist is that males can only travel backward in time and females forward, though a pair can travel together in the direction of choice. This presents some interesting dilemmas for the characters in terms of how they’re going to travel in the direction they want or need to be going. Charlie is determined not to lose his time-traveling love interest Yvaine by jumping without her. A necessary “cooldown” period between jumps infuses plenty of tension in the more dramatic, frenzied moments of the story. Untimed deals with the consequences of characters running into other versions of themselves, and it also covers cause-effect relationships in terms of the historical timeline. While some of these concepts draw from Untimed‘s sci-fi predecessors, there’s definitely enough of a unique spin to keep this story feeling new.

Author Gavin doesn’t ignore that sci-fi history. Untimed does pay homage to time traveling adventures that have become iconic in the entertainment industry. The story includes numerous references, both direct and indirect, to pop culture series like Back to the Future and Sliders. I also got a strong Dr. Who feel thanks to the existence of seasoned time travelers and the steampunk, robotic villains that repeatedly show up to thwart them. I think Time Lord fans will enjoy Untimed, though Charlie plays more the role of the companion rather than possessing the charm and wisdom of the good Doctor.

Because the story is surprisingly adult in its content for a young adult novel, I think it broadens the range of readers the story will appeal to. The recent success of the Twilight and Hunger Games series have proven that the true audience for a young adult adventure can extend much wider than perhaps it was originally intended. While I did grow tired of Charlie’s lusting after Yvaine in the midst of the far more important time traveling and near-death experiences, it’s hard to argue that it doesn’t capture some of the essence of a 16-year-old boy’s mind.

Untimed is a quick read with action consistently moving the story forward, and the separation of scenes within each chapter keeps the story from ever getting bogged down. While our hero is regrettably the least interesting character in the story, he serves his purpose as the vehicle for the events that play out and the other characters involved. Untimed is a fun read for all of the young science fiction fans out there, and may even appeal to older readers. As the start of a new series, it’ll be interesting to see how young Charlie grows and the fantastical people and places he’ll encounter in his future (and past) travels. ...more

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May 25, 2013 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Charlie is an odd boy who moves through life unnoticed. Literally. People don’t see him, people look away and even his own mother forgets his name. He is utterly forgettable.

Until he runs into and battles a clockwork man and finds himself falling through a portal to 18th century London – and meets a girl who can see him, a girl who can remember him, a girl who is out of time like himself.

But Yvaine has her own problems, a child, and a cruel gang she’s had to join to survive the streets of Londo ...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Caleb Blake rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads

Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2013/03/17/untimed-by-andy-gavin/)

What do you do when you discover you have a hidden talent for time travel and you encounter a conspiracy to remove the importance of Benjamin Franklin from history? You probably get set for an adventure across time.

Charlie is an atypical teen who has trouble being noticed; his mother does not even remember his name. His father and aunt are historians who are absent more than pres Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2013/03/17/untimed-by-andy-gavin/)

What do you do when you discover you have a hidden talent for time travel and you encounter a conspiracy to remove the importance of Benjamin Franklin from history? You probably get set for an adventure across time.

Charlie is an atypical teen who has trouble being noticed; his mother does not even remember his name. His father and aunt are historians who are absent more than present and he’s not able to get a girl to remember him long enough to get a date. It’s a strange existence until a chance encounter with a malevolent clockwork man sends him to the past where Oliver Twist antics and lusty thoughts for a damsel not quite in distress lead to history being irreparably harmed.

Untimed is a young adult time travel fantasy novel that interweaves a small amount of historical fact with a large amount of whimsy. It’s veritably littered with pop culture leavings and bears a small similarity to the oft-referenced Back to the Future movie franchise. The novel is fun and, in my opinion, firmly targeted at a young adult male audience.

Time travellers are a rare breed – the male traveller can jump backwards and the female traveller forwards. In an attempt to protect history from such potentially interfering characters, “Father Time” (or some other temporal deity) renders these travellers partially inconsequential. The notion is rather preposterous but makes for entertaining storytelling. When Charlie meets “the girl of his dreams” in the 18th century, he is actually acquainting himself with a fellow time traveller. Together they can travel across time and space in all directions. Unfortunately, due to a clever conspiracy hatched by our mysterious clockwork men, Benjamin Franklin is removed as a pivotal character in history and the future becomes one of clockwork dominance.
These strange clockwork antagonists thwart our heroes at every turn and give the story a relentless pace with Charlie’s father and aunt joining the adventure and creating a sidebar of familial tension.

There are sexual references and some fairly crass observations, which no doubt will appeal to teenagers. Take the following for example:

I’m not sure what surprises me more – that she’s a teen mother or that I just saw my first glimpse of tit.

The observation and attitude smacks of boyhood adolescence. The author has worked hard in giving our narrator a genuine voice and it’s done quite well throughout the novel. Additionally, the fledgling romance between Charlie and Yvaine ripens with teenage lust in a pretty genuine way, especially considering Yvaine is “experienced” by the time naive Charlie’s hormones get the better of him. The encounters aren’t specifically depicted, but are quite obvious – nothing I would expect should be denied to a teenage reader however.

This novel is the first in a series. The ending is left unceremoniously hung, quite similarly to the Michael J. Fox equivalent, but the book could be enjoyed in standalone fashion despite this.

Overall, this story was fun, fun, fun. The writing was clean and simple with neither the history nor the time travel becoming overbearing, the mechanics of the latter never taking itself too seriously. There was adventure, danger, humour, romance, sass and a bit of sex all punctuated with rather cute illustrations (well, maybe not the sex bit). If you have the opportunity to recommend a book to a teenage boy, take the risk in recommending this one. Of course, this should not be seen as a barrier to the older “teenager-in-spirit". ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Margaret Fisk rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Originally shared on Tales to Tide You Over

Untimed is a delightful, steampunkish, take on the consequences of time travel. Charlie has been kept in the dark about his nature too long, and his natural curiosity is all it takes to start him on a crazy adventure through time where his smallest decision can change the future as he knows it. Growing up with a largely absentee dad, though not for the usual reasons, and a strangely absentminded mother leads him to develop a strong independent outlook t Originally shared on Tales to Tide You Over

Untimed is a delightful, steampunkish, take on the consequences of time travel. Charlie has been kept in the dark about his nature too long, and his natural curiosity is all it takes to start him on a crazy adventure through time where his smallest decision can change the future as he knows it. Growing up with a largely absentee dad, though not for the usual reasons, and a strangely absentminded mother leads him to develop a strong independent outlook that helps him see what others miss. This gets him both into, and out of, trouble throughout the novel.

Combine his path with Yvaine, a guttersnipe time traveler with a bastard child, a dislike for shoes, and a down-to-earth perspective, and you find yourself shocked on occasion but more often delighted.

The time travel premise is this: boys go backwards and girls go forward. They can carry with them one person each time, never more. This leads them to male-female pairings and means Yvaine is from the far past while Charlie is from our time. Untimed gives more than a nod to the world view differences this produces, offering a glimpse at earlier morals and expectations compared to current ones.

Don’t get the impression this is a simple romp through the past and future, though, because the untimed, like Charlie and Yvaine, are actively being pursued and murdered when they’re not “pushed” to manipulate time in the direction preferred by the clockwork men. They have a lot of questions, and no one to provide answers beyond Yvaine’s memories of her parents. Learning as they go, surviving in the nick of time, and discovering as much about themselves as their abilities is what makes this story so compelling.

Also, while not inappropriate to the book, there is more sex a sexual content than I’d expected. It’s part teenage hormones and part the time Yvaine is from so don’t let that dissuade you from reading.

I loved the way the characters were true to themselves and their period regardless of the modern reader. For me Untimed really worked. Enough of the story was spent with the normal folks to make connections while also showing a wonderful glimpse into the time period. The concept of fulcrum people in history is nothing new, but the way Untimed runs through the logical outcomes, and how it is possible to influence time even when trying not to, is what made me find even more spaces in my busy life to devote to this book. How it shows things that looked obvious might not be so clear is another aspect I enjoyed as a firm believer in the dangers of assumptions. The to-be-continued message at the end both distressed me because I’d reached it and was delightful because I’ll have the chance to spend more time with Charlie, Yvaine, and the rest of them. It ends at a good point, mind you, but there’s more to the world to explore…both in the future and the past.

While I read the book a little while ago, my opinion was further strengthened when my son asked me if I knew a small footnote of history, and I realized I did…because it comes up in Untimed. This is the sign of a good book: when it makes enough of an impression to become part of the collective knowledge in my brain.

Note: This is a NetGalley title but the opinions and enjoyment was all mine. ...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Sharon Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I know that your not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but how could you not, it's absolutely gorgeous and draws you in instantly to want to read on. I couldn't wait to start reading the book as soon as it arrived and with the added addition of twenty-one black and white illustrations throughout the book, I think this would be a great book for any young adult or older reader to enjoy.

The author has wrote a highly creative, fast paced and at times humorous time travel fantasy that has so ma I know that your not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but how could you not, it's absolutely gorgeous and draws you in instantly to want to read on. I couldn't wait to start reading the book as soon as it arrived and with the added addition of twenty-one black and white illustrations throughout the book, I think this would be a great book for any young adult or older reader to enjoy.

The author has wrote a highly creative, fast paced and at times humorous time travel fantasy that has so many twists and turns it literally keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to read on and on. I even found myself going back a few pages a couple of times just to catch up. As you follow the main characters of Charlie and Yvaine traveling through time on their many close to the edge adventures with their time war enemies, the clockwork tocks, the story cleverly wraps itself around history such as Ben Franklin, clockmaker/inventor Bréguet, Napoleonic war as well as 18th - 21st century living. The story comes alive and you are simply hooked, especially the second half of the book.

Charlie is an overlooked teenage boy who has absolutely no idea that he is a time traveller and is on the brink of learning why his dad and aunt disappear for months on. On a school trip Charlie spots the policeman who was searching for his dad and decides to follow him. Even when he realises that the policeman is a ivory faced clockwork man that disappears into the ground, Charlie can't stop himself and jumps into the ground after him. This is when 2011 Philadelphia becomes 1725 London Dickens times and Charlie meets the love of his life, fellow time traveller Yvaine.

Yvaine is a independant, very blunt and sassy pickpocketer who has her own unique use of the english language. She is owned, used and abused by a Fagan like character called Donnie. Not only that, Yvaine has a son by Ben Franklin but Donnie takes him away from her as blackmail until she helps in destroying the future.

Being a time traveller isn't easy, girls from the past go into the future and boys from the future go into the past, changing history can have repercussions and timequakes happen when history is changed, downtime is needed after every trip and not only all that tocks don't like time travellers and kill on sight so listen out for the CHIME! Luckily the original time traveller, the regulator, engraved brass pages that can't be deleted by time to help future travellers but will they find what they need and just when you think everything is back to how it originally was, think again !!

My favourite part of the book was when they traveled uptime into the ticktock future, everything had changed with a familiar large metal clock tower shadowing over the town, horse and carts, pedalled clockwork bikes, clockwork bugs and more, I really enjoyed it and wanted to read more.

I would recommend this to any time travel fan from the age of 15/16 and above due to some 'romantic' (let's say) and other small parts of the storyline. ...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Charlotte Jones rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Time travel? Romance? Action-packed adventure? Andy Gavin delivers it all in his new release by Mascherato Publishing, ‘Untimed’. This action-packed novel follows Charlie, a character who no-one really seems to even notice, on his adventures through time to find his father, and surprisingly a whole lot more along the way.

I found the writing style of this book unique, in that it was written from the point of view from a fifteen year-old time traveller, which makes for some interesting insights an Time travel? Romance? Action-packed adventure? Andy Gavin delivers it all in his new release by Mascherato Publishing, ‘Untimed’. This action-packed novel follows Charlie, a character who no-one really seems to even notice, on his adventures through time to find his father, and surprisingly a whole lot more along the way.

I found the writing style of this book unique, in that it was written from the point of view from a fifteen year-old time traveller, which makes for some interesting insights and thoughts about the characters and environments around him, building a clearer picture in the mind of the reader. On the whole, the plot was fast-paced and exciting; it had everything you could ask for in this kind of novel. Usually I’m not a big fan of romance in novels that revolve around teenagers, but I found that the relationship that blossomed in this one really did feel quite natural; there was no “inst-love” and the relationship definitely developed progressively over time. Also, with regards to the writing and plot, I found it magical how the author transported the reader to the different times seamlessly, building a world that was full of depth and believable characters and events.

The characters in this were amongst the strongest I have read about although I did dislike a few of them, but this was because they were portrayed as the antagonists and, especially Donnie, made me quite angry, making me sympathize greatly with Yvain and Charlie. The Tocks were an interesting concept that I hope will be explained more in the sequel and the idea that there is a mystery surrounding them, as well as other aspects of the time travel in this novel, really kept me intrigued; so much so, that I finished this 325 page book in one day!

Although we book-lovers are told to ‘not judge a book by it’s cover’, it is definitely difficult not to with this one as the illustrations on the cover and throughout are just beautiful! They draw you into the story even further, giving a clear image in your mind as you read. Just the level of detail and the talent (of acclaimed artists Cliff Nielsen and Dave Phillips) that has been put into these images gives the reader yet more reason to read on.

‘Untimed’ by Andy Gavin was released in December 2012 and is a definite must-read to anyone who enjoys science-fiction, steampunk, romance, history or just a good-old fashioned sword fight! I would say that with regards to age-range, this novel is suitable for teenagers and older. Although at first, the story seems quite innocent and naïve, but steadily there is more graphic sexual references and violent scenes that I think anyone younger than teenagers should not really be reading about. ...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Kelli Guilbeau rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love young adult novels, especially fantasy and science fiction, thanks to my son. So, I was pretty excited that I got to do a book review for Untimed. It did not disappoint. I absolutely loved Untimed. It grabbed my attention from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down.

I loved that it had quite a bit of history in the book. I didn't check it for accuracy but I assume that it is pretty accurate. This one involved Ben Franklin. With all of the time traveling, there are endless possibilities I love young adult novels, especially fantasy and science fiction, thanks to my son. So, I was pretty excited that I got to do a book review for Untimed. It did not disappoint. I absolutely loved Untimed. It grabbed my attention from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down.

I loved that it had quite a bit of history in the book. I didn't check it for accuracy but I assume that it is pretty accurate. This one involved Ben Franklin. With all of the time traveling, there are endless possibilities for future books. I can't wait to read any sequels in the works.

I also love the premise that if you change one thing in the past, that it can have huge implications. People always ask others if they could change anything in their past, would they. My response has always been, "NO!" There are plenty of things that happened in my life that were hard to go through, but if I changed anything I might not be married to my husband or have my children.

When Charlie and Yvaine inadvertently change things in history, they don't understand the huge implications of their actions. They eventually realize that trying to correct history is harder that they think, also.

The book is great for getting you to learn and think. It is perfect for young adults. It will teach them history, while exploring the what ifs. It is has a little bit of everything, including romance.

With that being said, this is not a book for children due to some adult situations. I know kids think it isn't a big deal and are exposed to many situations pretty early, and maybe I am a prude but I probably wouldn't let anyone younger than 16 read this book.

I would say that this might be the perfect book for reluctant readers. I know that many of the kids (high school) that I used to teach would have loved this book. It has someone their own age that they can identify with. It is so easy to imagine everything in this book. Andy Gavin gives vivid details. It is one of those books where you can see the movie in your head. It made me dream about everything that happened in the book.

I love when I become so involved in a book that I live and breathe it. I dream about it, and it consumes me. One where I can't wait to see what happens next. Untimed did all of this for me. It will leave you waiting for the next book, like some of those other great book series.

I can't wait to see what my son thinks of this book. If you love young adult fiction, you will love this one. Go get your own copy of Untimed. This is one you will definitely want to add to your must read list.
...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Lissette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Charlie has lived his entire life in the shadows. No one takes much notice of him, not even his parents. While he's been content with this fact, for the most part, he yearns for the small recognition that comes with being noticed. Most of all, he wishes that his parents would acknowledge him in more ways than one.

While walking home one afternoon, he encounters a man intent on killing him. Fighting for his life, Charlie does everything in his power to make sure the man doesn't succeed in achievin Charlie has lived his entire life in the shadows. No one takes much notice of him, not even his parents. While he's been content with this fact, for the most part, he yearns for the small recognition that comes with being noticed. Most of all, he wishes that his parents would acknowledge him in more ways than one.

While walking home one afternoon, he encounters a man intent on killing him. Fighting for his life, Charlie does everything in his power to make sure the man doesn't succeed in achieving his goal. Upon closer inspection, the man isn't a man at all. He's a clockwork invention that can manipulate time, a certainty he soon becomes privy to when he dives into the unknown.

His quick decision lands him smack-dab in the middle of 18th century London. Charlie has no idea how he's arrived in such a place. He's scared, hungry, and he has no place to stay. A chance meeting delivers him into the hands of Yvaine, another time traveler who knows what he's going through. She's quite learned in the ways of traveling through time, something he wants to take advantage of. Unfortunately, there's one little hitch. Yvaine has a child to take care of, and she refuses to leave the little tyke behind.

Never-the-less, Charlie is intent on getting back home somehow. Yvaine is the very ticket for him to do just that, but she refuses to play his game. Her only thought is to take care of her beloved Billy. When the Tick Tocks come calling, the two soon realize there's more at stake than they'd ever thought possible. In order to stay alive, they'll need to manipulate time to suit their purposes. Sadly, that's easier said than done.

The Tick Tocks need to eliminate everything that goes against time. Charlie knows they'll need to remain one step ahead of them if they're to succeed in getting back to present time. The rules of the game are sketchy at best, but he's willing to make them work to their advantage. He soon finds out that traveling through time is as easy as baking a cake. The changes in history that come from jumping from place to place, however, are more than he and Yvaine bargained for.

This was honestly another great story written by an awesome storyteller. Andy has a way of drawing the reader in, and keeping their interest glued to every page. I'm a fan of all things Steampunk, and this story certainly doesn't disappoint. The fantasy elements found within it makes the story an extremely entertaining read. The world is beautifully crafted around real life history, adding a deeper meaning to the science-fiction aspect of the story itself. I truly recommend this book for reading. ...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, fantasy, steampunk

Charlie has never been like the other boys. For one thing, it seems that no one (not even his own mother) can remember his name. His father and Aunt Sophie are historians, stopping at home to visit him only for a month every year. So it's not an enormous surprise when it's revealed that he comes from a long line of time travelers. What is a surprise? The fact that he (and his father) are suddenly on the run from a series of strange clockwork men, who seem determined to change the timeline.

Transp Charlie has never been like the other boys. For one thing, it seems that no one (not even his own mother) can remember his name. His father and Aunt Sophie are historians, stopping at home to visit him only for a month every year. So it's not an enormous surprise when it's revealed that he comes from a long line of time travelers. What is a surprise? The fact that he (and his father) are suddenly on the run from a series of strange clockwork men, who seem determined to change the timeline.

Transported back to the 1700s, Charlie meets a lady fellow traveler (Yvaine) and sets on an adventure to rescue his father and right the timeline.

I received Untimed to review from the publisher. Thank goodness - otherwise, I sincerely doubt I would have picked it up. I like the idea of time travel and steampunk, but both are so frequently done poorly. Gavin has constructed a very interesting system of travel. Men can only travel downstream, and women can only go upstream. Therefore, most time travelers travel in pairs (such are Charlie's father and aunt). Time travelers can't kill anyone, but situations can be manipulated to change the past (this is what the tick tock creatures are trying to do!)

I hesitate to categorize this novel as steampunk, as it is set in our own world. But there are clockwork creatures, and eventually we are taken to a world full of clockwork and steam powered machines, so I think it counts. Generally, my problem with steampunk is that it makes no sense - why are these inefficient machines in use instead of electricity? But in the case of Untimed, the manipulations make sense with the plotline.

Characterization is strong. Charlie is a sympathetic character, who shows an admirable ability to make hard choices for the greater good. Yvaine is perhaps not quite as well conceived, but she's certainly more than just another love interest. We meet famous figures such as Ben Franklin, who have their own personalities, and even minor characters shine.

The plot moves quickly. I felt as though the world were very well described, down to the way things smell (in fact, smell is very important - the author makes a point of telling us how different time periods smell.) I was never bored, and read the entire book in one sitting. I am looking forward to the next in the series - the book ends on a cliffhanger, and I really want to know the conclusion! Highly recommended to readers looking for well plotted YA steampunk with a male protagonist. ...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Tahlia Newland rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, fantasy, historical

This excellent young adult historical fantasy is a great little action story and one that would appeal to teenage boys.

Charlie's father has something important to tell him, but before he can, Charlie finds himself falling into a kind of wormhole after a mechanical man. He ends up travelling backwards in time to London in the 1700s, meets a girl and the adventures begin. They cause a timequake when they inadvertently get Ben Franklin killed before he goes to Philadelphia. This alters the course o This excellent young adult historical fantasy is a great little action story and one that would appeal to teenage boys.

Charlie's father has something important to tell him, but before he can, Charlie finds himself falling into a kind of wormhole after a mechanical man. He ends up travelling backwards in time to London in the 1700s, meets a girl and the adventures begin. They cause a timequake when they inadvertently get Ben Franklin killed before he goes to Philadelphia. This alters the course of history, so when Charlie tries to go back to his own time, 2011, he discovers a very different world. Slavery wasn't abolished, the French Revolution never happened, the British Crown rules the USA and his mother doesn't know him because she didn't meet his father. There was no World War Two either, and clockwork has a much bigger place in the world.

The clock work is the problem. The tic tocs as Charlie calls the clockwork men, are trying to kill the time travellers and to manipulate time to swing in the clockwork direction. He's not quite sure why, but his father is trying to work it out. We don't know by the end of the book, but that gives us a reason to read the next one. In this book, Charlie has to work out how, or if, he can set history back on course again, but that means travelling back in time to save Ben's life, and with those murderous tic tocs after them, it's not a simple matter.

The rules Gavin builds around time traveling are complex. Women can only travel uptime and men can only travel downtime, so travellers tend to travel in pairs. Sometimes I wonder how Charlie's father manages to get around time as well as he does given the further restrictions the author places on their activity. Some of the meetings seemed rather too much a matter of chance for me.

'Unarmed' is well written with immediate prose, a streamlined plot, and a fast pace. It is also flawlessly edited and proofed. The descriptions of the different periods in history in America, China, France and London are very evocative, and the mix of a modern boy with a streetwise lass from old London is an interesting combination.

I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review.
...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Christine Steendam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Where to start... Untimed by Andy Gavin is the story of a boy who is invisible. No, not literally, but no one remembers him, his name, or who he is. He passes through life insignificant and forgotten. Until the day he follows a strange, clockwork man, down a hole . . .
and finds himself very far from 2011 and from the U.S.

Untimed is a time traveling story with some romance and lots of action. I could probably gush on and on about this book, I loved it so much.

The characters of Yvainne and Charlie ...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Diayll rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-by-aimeekay

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay

I just finished Untimed by Andy Gavin. For some reason the pictures in between the chapters and the cover gave it a mid-grade feel, but I have to say it is definitely YA. I’ve seen the premise behind the story before, but Gavin was able to present it in a very unique and exciting way.

I really adored the characters Gavin has created. I wasn’t too sure about either Charlie or Yvaine t ...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Charlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, review-request, autographed

What a super-engaging and exciting time travel romp! There's fast-paced adventure, romance, clockwork villains, and Benjamin Franklin! The novel's lead character - poor, unmemorable Charlie Horologe - is thrust into adventure when he makes the split decision to jump after a clockwork man who has just disappeared into a time whirlpool. From then on the story is tightly packed with adventure, humor, and distinctive, lively characters. There are also vivid, historical descriptions that capture the ...more

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