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Chronos Origins #1
Now, Then, and Everywhen
From the bestselling author of the Chronos series comes a page-turning novel of time travel, fast-paced action, and history-changing events.
When two time-traveling historians cross paths during one of the most tumultuous decades of the twentieth century, history goes helter-skelter. But which one broke the timeline?
In 2136 Madison Grace uncovers a key to the origins of CHRONOS, a time-travel agency with ties to her family’s mysterious past. Just as she is starting to jump through history, she returns to her timeline to find millions of lives erased—and only the people inside her house realize anything has changed.
In 2304 CHRONOS historian Tyson Reyes is assigned to observe the crucial events that played out in America’s civil rights movement. But a massive time shift occurs while he’s in 1965, and suddenly the history he sees isn’t the history he knows.
As Madi’s and Tyson’s journeys collide, they must prevent the past from being erased forever. But strange forces are at work. Are Madi and Tyson in control or merely pawns in someone else’s game?
When two time-traveling historians cross paths during one of the most tumultuous decades of the twentieth century, history goes helter-skelter. But which one broke the timeline?
In 2136 Madison Grace uncovers a key to the origins of CHRONOS, a time-travel agency with ties to her family’s mysterious past. Just as she is starting to jump through history, she returns to her timeline to find millions of lives erased—and only the people inside her house realize anything has changed.
In 2304 CHRONOS historian Tyson Reyes is assigned to observe the crucial events that played out in America’s civil rights movement. But a massive time shift occurs while he’s in 1965, and suddenly the history he sees isn’t the history he knows.
As Madi’s and Tyson’s journeys collide, they must prevent the past from being erased forever. But strange forces are at work. Are Madi and Tyson in control or merely pawns in someone else’s game?
531 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
About the author
Rysa Walker
65 books1,490 followersRYSA WALKER is the author of the bestselling CHRONOS Files series. Timebound, the first book in the series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The CHRONOS Files has sold nearly half a million copies since 2013 and has been translated into fourteen languages.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 26, 2020I received a finished copy of this book for review from Wunderkind PR and 47North.
I did not read the original Chronos trilogy, and that was impacting my experience of the book (which is the start of a prequel series). Though it seems that this can be read without reading the original trilogy, I constantly felt as if I was missing the significance of different people and events. I think that reviewing this book prior to reading the other series may do a disservice to this work, and that I would enjoy it more if I had read the original trilogy. For now I will DNF at 19%, and pick it back up if I go back and read the Chronos trilogy.
While I haven't read the Chronos books, I predict that fans of the series will enjoy this prequel. Unfortunately, I'm not sure (from my own perspective) that this is the best way to be introduced to this world.
I did not read the original Chronos trilogy, and that was impacting my experience of the book (which is the start of a prequel series). Though it seems that this can be read without reading the original trilogy, I constantly felt as if I was missing the significance of different people and events. I think that reviewing this book prior to reading the other series may do a disservice to this work, and that I would enjoy it more if I had read the original trilogy. For now I will DNF at 19%, and pick it back up if I go back and read the Chronos trilogy.
While I haven't read the Chronos books, I predict that fans of the series will enjoy this prequel. Unfortunately, I'm not sure (from my own perspective) that this is the best way to be introduced to this world.
January 21, 2020
If you loved the CHRONOS Files trilogy, you will LOVE the start to the sequel trilogy. I read this book every minute I could and finished it within a week. It was just full of timey wimey goodness! Many times throughout I was doing the thing where the book is so exciting and you’re reading so fast because you want to know what happens that you cover the bottom of the page because you don’t want to glance down and see a spoiler! Usually that only happens for me at the climax of a book, not before I’m halfway through! By the end of the book I was Mind. Blown. 🤯 and in a frantic search to find my own CHRONOS key so I could jump ahead and read the next book! Until I find one I’ll just be over here rereading the CHRONOS Files and all the supplemental stories to tide me over.
March 9, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and, I believe, the first time I’ve actually taken advantage of that Amazon Prime thingie wherein Amazon Prime members can get a free new book. Which is what happened here.
This is the both the first book in a series, and a prequel series to another series that was completed in, I believe, 2015. As I mentioned, this is the first book I’ve read by this author, so no, I’ve not read that other series.
Before I get into ‘this is a brief glance at what the book is about’, I must pause and note that the book description is highly misleading. It both implies things that didn’t happen, and things that did happen but much later in the book. To be fair, the ‘didn’t happen’ part was something I’d read between the lines. Wrongly. It’s about a romance tangent but isn’t important, so let us move on to the other thingie that was in the book description. It kind of implies that the book is about two time travelers who . . . rereading the description and it doesn’t imply it, it says it. Whatever. Basically I’m going on and on about how they were supposed to meet and then work together. Which they do. Just long after I thought they were supposed to meet. Why does this matter? Because I kept vaguely thinking ‘alright already, meet. Meet. MEET. So the book can start!’. Something like that. Which gradually fell away. Which is good, because they don’t actually meet until, like, of the book has passed.
Right, so. There are two point of views. One follows Tyson Reyes, who comes from a ‘present’ of 2304, but spends a good part of the book back in the 1960s. He works as an ‘historian’, who has the right ‘gene’ to time travel. And does. As it is important to the story, I’ll note that Tyson is the kind of person who can pass as black, or white. Apparently depending on whether he is wearing blue contact lenses or not. The other point of view is Madison Grace, who has a ‘present’ that is 168 years in the past of Tyson’s (2136) and, oddly enough, 171 years in the future of the most important year of events occurring in the past, 1965.
Without having read the series this book is a prequel to, I do not know if some of the things that were occurring were kind of . . . obvious to those who had read that series, and/or should have been. I say that because there were certain ‘blinking’ (not literally blinking) clues as to what was likely to unfold. Some were blatant (as in, the material mentioned exactly who was going to do something long before they did it; this is where knowing the other series helps - it might be one of those moments wherein it isn't a clue or spoiler or anything like that because the reader of that other series 'already knows'). Some of the clues were less obvious. And one of the clues might end up being something for the next book in this prequel series. Or not.
Quite interesting book. Hard to say everything I might otherwise say because of spoiler reasons and because I do not actually fully know what might or might not be a spoiler. As in, there might have been some even that occurred in the first chapter that might be a huge spoiler for the original Chronos series. And I might mention it in passing, and not realize I’m reveal something majorly huge. So, I can’t really say as much as I would normally.
As noted, interesting book. Look forward to the next. Was a little more heterosexual than I’d want, but eh, whatever (there were a lot of men obsessing over women; and possibly one woman being subservient to one of the men, etc. etc.).
Rating: 4.5
March 9 2020
This is the both the first book in a series, and a prequel series to another series that was completed in, I believe, 2015. As I mentioned, this is the first book I’ve read by this author, so no, I’ve not read that other series.
Before I get into ‘this is a brief glance at what the book is about’, I must pause and note that the book description is highly misleading. It both implies things that didn’t happen, and things that did happen but much later in the book. To be fair, the ‘didn’t happen’ part was something I’d read between the lines. Wrongly. It’s about a romance tangent but isn’t important, so let us move on to the other thingie that was in the book description. It kind of implies that the book is about two time travelers who . . . rereading the description and it doesn’t imply it, it says it. Whatever. Basically I’m going on and on about how they were supposed to meet and then work together. Which they do. Just long after I thought they were supposed to meet. Why does this matter? Because I kept vaguely thinking ‘alright already, meet. Meet. MEET. So the book can start!’. Something like that. Which gradually fell away. Which is good, because they don’t actually meet until, like, of the book has passed.
Right, so. There are two point of views. One follows Tyson Reyes, who comes from a ‘present’ of 2304, but spends a good part of the book back in the 1960s. He works as an ‘historian’, who has the right ‘gene’ to time travel. And does. As it is important to the story, I’ll note that Tyson is the kind of person who can pass as black, or white. Apparently depending on whether he is wearing blue contact lenses or not. The other point of view is Madison Grace, who has a ‘present’ that is 168 years in the past of Tyson’s (2136) and, oddly enough, 171 years in the future of the most important year of events occurring in the past, 1965.
Without having read the series this book is a prequel to, I do not know if some of the things that were occurring were kind of . . . obvious to those who had read that series, and/or should have been. I say that because there were certain ‘blinking’ (not literally blinking) clues as to what was likely to unfold. Some were blatant (as in, the material mentioned exactly who was going to do something long before they did it; this is where knowing the other series helps - it might be one of those moments wherein it isn't a clue or spoiler or anything like that because the reader of that other series 'already knows'). Some of the clues were less obvious. And one of the clues might end up being something for the next book in this prequel series. Or not.
Quite interesting book. Hard to say everything I might otherwise say because of spoiler reasons and because I do not actually fully know what might or might not be a spoiler. As in, there might have been some even that occurred in the first chapter that might be a huge spoiler for the original Chronos series. And I might mention it in passing, and not realize I’m reveal something majorly huge. So, I can’t really say as much as I would normally.
As noted, interesting book. Look forward to the next. Was a little more heterosexual than I’d want, but eh, whatever (there were a lot of men obsessing over women; and possibly one woman being subservient to one of the men, etc. etc.).
Rating: 4.5
March 9 2020
August 19, 2022
I bought this because the title intrigued me and it was on Kindle Unlimited with Whispersynch so that I could switch back and forth between audible and reading. I love this SciFi- tons of historical references (be sure to read the back on the research, that was really interesting!) Totally geeked out on this sci fi time travel- so yes, I highly recommend!
This is Book 1 of the Chronos Origins series!
This is Book 1 of the Chronos Origins series!
May 6, 2020
When I pick up a book, I expect to finish it. Therefore, when I don't finish a book, I feel as if I am being disloyal to the author as well as the characters in the book. But, as I have aged into my golden years, I realize that there are more unread treasures for me to savor and I have too little precious time to read a book that I'm dreading picking up for one more chance. Such was the case with this book after reading about a quarter of its length.
I'm a sucker for time travel books. I guess because they combine two of my favorite genres: science fiction and historical fiction. Therefore, when I downloaded a book about a time-traveling research organization employing a number of genetically-enhanced historians I was interested to begin. The book, at least the portion of what I read, was sketchy about the time travel device. Evidently, it was some hand-held fidget device that one would manipulate to travel to particular time periods. I was especially interested in one chosen, the album burning of the Beatles music after John Lennon made some statement about their popularity compared to Jesus. Much of book was a mish-mash of various time periods, which I understand might be by design but I found it very difficult to engage with the characters. Maybe I will pick this one up, if I read better reviews by other readers; however, I doubt it.
I'm a sucker for time travel books. I guess because they combine two of my favorite genres: science fiction and historical fiction. Therefore, when I downloaded a book about a time-traveling research organization employing a number of genetically-enhanced historians I was interested to begin. The book, at least the portion of what I read, was sketchy about the time travel device. Evidently, it was some hand-held fidget device that one would manipulate to travel to particular time periods. I was especially interested in one chosen, the album burning of the Beatles music after John Lennon made some statement about their popularity compared to Jesus. Much of book was a mish-mash of various time periods, which I understand might be by design but I found it very difficult to engage with the characters. Maybe I will pick this one up, if I read better reviews by other readers; however, I doubt it.
March 26, 2020
On its surface, this should be a book I love. Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff.
The basic story of the book - someone broke the timeline, and our protagonists need to fix it - sounds like it should be fantastic.
Instead, it falls flat.
From a historical perspective, we're inserting time traveling historians into Ku Klux Klan rallies and Martin Luther King Jr speeches. Situations that require some gravitas.
That gravitas seems lacking.
Partially because of the other angle, where , which could be nice and light and ... well, wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey. But it's not.
In the middle of this are our protagonists and their relationships. Which are all so dull, that I ended up not really particularly caring about them. The only character worth caring about is one of the bad guys (who might not even be one of the bad guys).
Anyways. A great concept, poorly executed.
The basic story of the book - someone broke the timeline, and our protagonists need to fix it - sounds like it should be fantastic.
Instead, it falls flat.
From a historical perspective, we're inserting time traveling historians into Ku Klux Klan rallies and Martin Luther King Jr speeches. Situations that require some gravitas.
That gravitas seems lacking.
Partially because of the other angle, where , which could be nice and light and ... well, wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey. But it's not.
In the middle of this are our protagonists and their relationships. Which are all so dull, that I ended up not really particularly caring about them. The only character worth caring about is one of the bad guys (who might not even be one of the bad guys).
Anyways. A great concept, poorly executed.
March 1, 2020
Do not miss this series.... if you're just entering the Chronos universe, this will be a great place to start... at the beginning... sort of. Since this it time travel, you could follow the published order as previous readers did. However, now that we have this amazing origin series, you could start at the beginning. Either way, just start this series. The characters are people you can get to know and love (or hate) and the story line is imaginative and interesting. I love this series and highly recommend it.
January 5, 2022
I won't say I've never thought about the differences between the periods we study and now. Back then everything about you--your entire mental, physical, and emotional makeup--was shaped by your family tree and your environment. Life spans were shorter and congenital diseases were still rampant. Genetic modifications have helped millions of people live better lives.
If your one enhancement is the CHRONOS gene, though, everything about you is fair game for alteration. Appearance. Intelligence. Language aptitude.
But I've always believed that underneath all that, my personality, the core of what makes me Tyson Everett Reyes, would have been basically the same even if my assignment and my chosen gift had been something entirely different from CHRONOS.
Now I'm wondering if that's true.
And if they tweaked that, too, then what part is really me?
~~Kid, from Chrono Cross, one of my favorite video games of all time. Like it's predecessor, Chrono Trigger, the plot centers around time travel, parallel universes, and how each big decision we make changes the future. One of Rysa Walker's main characters, Madison Grace, reminds me somewhat of Kid. And it was her face I pictured as I read this novel.
First two (ok three) sentences: Richard Vier tips back the last of his drink and looks me directly in the eye. "You need to relax, Tyson. A minor mistake like that isn't going to have a ripple effect."
My two cents: Books involving time travel are tough to pull off--mostly because time is a one way stream. When, hypothetically, time becomes a two-way street, even reading about it can cause headaches!! I can only imagine the conundrum sickness that the characters experienced during shifts. But at the same time, time-travel is an absolutely fascinating concept. So I understand why authors use it as a plot device. Walker is a very competent author, and it shows in the prose and dialogue--which flow seamlessly. She created easy protagonists for us to root for in Madison (year 2136), and Tyson (year 2304). I especially loved Madison's gumption, and problem-solving skills. And I enjoyed watching Tyson struggle to resolve the moral dilemmas he was forced into, and solidify his own personal sense of right and wrong. My only gripe was that much was left for future books--the cliff-hanger at the end is a doosy. So know going in that this is most definitely a *part 1* hook to try to get readers invested in an entire series. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Highly recommended as a library check out, or a buy if you enjoy time travel.
Other favorite quotes: "The first time I jumped here was simply to scout things out. I stood at the edge of the alley and watched for about five minutes, medallion in hand, ready to jump home if I attracted too much attention. What surprised me most--aside from the noise and the smell--was the vivid color. I know that's stupid. On a strictly rational level, I understand that life didn't play out in black and white or sepia tones in the early twentieth century. But that's how it always seemed in books and movies. The color around me made everything feel surreal, like I wasn't in the past at all, but simply watching some odd historical reenactment."
~~I nod, because I do remember the conversation, vividly. I'd spoken with people who had experienced grief, but our conversations had been fairly superficial. They'd all said it gets better with time. Which I had found to be true, for the most part, but also not true. Jack was the first person who understood that. The hole gets smaller every day , he'd said when he told me about his mother dying. But it never fully heals. And maybe you don't want it to heal completely. At least, I don't. I want that space inside of me to be the one place where she still lives.
**Final quote is from Chrono Cross, and speaks to the plot of Walker's novel**~~"It's because this is a future that was eliminated!!! History is composed of choices and divergences. Each choice you make creates a new world and brings forth a new future. But at the same time, you're eliminating a different future with the choices you didn't make. A future denied of all existence because of a change in the past... A future that was destroyed before it was even born."
If your one enhancement is the CHRONOS gene, though, everything about you is fair game for alteration. Appearance. Intelligence. Language aptitude.
But I've always believed that underneath all that, my personality, the core of what makes me Tyson Everett Reyes, would have been basically the same even if my assignment and my chosen gift had been something entirely different from CHRONOS.
Now I'm wondering if that's true.
And if they tweaked that, too, then what part is really me?
~~Kid, from Chrono Cross, one of my favorite video games of all time. Like it's predecessor, Chrono Trigger, the plot centers around time travel, parallel universes, and how each big decision we make changes the future. One of Rysa Walker's main characters, Madison Grace, reminds me somewhat of Kid. And it was her face I pictured as I read this novel.
First two (ok three) sentences: Richard Vier tips back the last of his drink and looks me directly in the eye. "You need to relax, Tyson. A minor mistake like that isn't going to have a ripple effect."
My two cents: Books involving time travel are tough to pull off--mostly because time is a one way stream. When, hypothetically, time becomes a two-way street, even reading about it can cause headaches!! I can only imagine the conundrum sickness that the characters experienced during shifts. But at the same time, time-travel is an absolutely fascinating concept. So I understand why authors use it as a plot device. Walker is a very competent author, and it shows in the prose and dialogue--which flow seamlessly. She created easy protagonists for us to root for in Madison (year 2136), and Tyson (year 2304). I especially loved Madison's gumption, and problem-solving skills. And I enjoyed watching Tyson struggle to resolve the moral dilemmas he was forced into, and solidify his own personal sense of right and wrong. My only gripe was that much was left for future books--the cliff-hanger at the end is a doosy. So know going in that this is most definitely a *part 1* hook to try to get readers invested in an entire series. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Highly recommended as a library check out, or a buy if you enjoy time travel.
Other favorite quotes: "The first time I jumped here was simply to scout things out. I stood at the edge of the alley and watched for about five minutes, medallion in hand, ready to jump home if I attracted too much attention. What surprised me most--aside from the noise and the smell--was the vivid color. I know that's stupid. On a strictly rational level, I understand that life didn't play out in black and white or sepia tones in the early twentieth century. But that's how it always seemed in books and movies. The color around me made everything feel surreal, like I wasn't in the past at all, but simply watching some odd historical reenactment."
~~I nod, because I do remember the conversation, vividly. I'd spoken with people who had experienced grief, but our conversations had been fairly superficial. They'd all said it gets better with time. Which I had found to be true, for the most part, but also not true. Jack was the first person who understood that. The hole gets smaller every day , he'd said when he told me about his mother dying. But it never fully heals. And maybe you don't want it to heal completely. At least, I don't. I want that space inside of me to be the one place where she still lives.
**Final quote is from Chrono Cross, and speaks to the plot of Walker's novel**~~"It's because this is a future that was eliminated!!! History is composed of choices and divergences. Each choice you make creates a new world and brings forth a new future. But at the same time, you're eliminating a different future with the choices you didn't make. A future denied of all existence because of a change in the past... A future that was destroyed before it was even born."
March 5, 2020
what the actual—
March 15, 2020
I got this book via the Amazon First Reads selection.
This book was okay. I love time travel and this book is time travel from the future to the 20th Century. The concept of an organisation of historians who investigate history through experiencing it was really interesting. I liked that each historian had a very specific topic they covered, such as religion, gender, or music from 1960's USA.
I didn't realise when I selected this book that it's a prequel to a whole series of books. As it was a prequel I didn't think it would matter too much that I haven't read the other books. However, I found myself feeling like I was missing the significance of people mentioned. There were a lot of name in this book - I was even struggling to keep track of Madi's family to be honest, never mind the time traveling historians or the people of historical significance!
I've put this book under "alternate history" but there wasn't a huge amount of "alternate" about it. Thanks to a plot McGuffin, we don't really get to see how things would look if various events of the 60's had been different.
Overall, this book was okay. An interesting premise, but very complicated to follow and loads of names!
This book was okay. I love time travel and this book is time travel from the future to the 20th Century. The concept of an organisation of historians who investigate history through experiencing it was really interesting. I liked that each historian had a very specific topic they covered, such as religion, gender, or music from 1960's USA.
I didn't realise when I selected this book that it's a prequel to a whole series of books. As it was a prequel I didn't think it would matter too much that I haven't read the other books. However, I found myself feeling like I was missing the significance of people mentioned. There were a lot of name in this book - I was even struggling to keep track of Madi's family to be honest, never mind the time traveling historians or the people of historical significance!
I've put this book under "alternate history" but there wasn't a huge amount of "alternate" about it. Thanks to a plot McGuffin, we don't really get to see how things would look if various events of the 60's had been different.
Overall, this book was okay. An interesting premise, but very complicated to follow and loads of names!
August 21, 2020
For most of the way through the book I anticipated giving it a three star rating--not particularly great, but entertaining enough to keep reading and find out how it ended. I even really enjoyed a few of the historical tidbits I picked up along the way. The combination of a few smallish annoyances made me drop the rating:
*Though it's indirect, the author seems to imply that Christianity is going to peter out in the future and no longer exist as a religion.
*There's a 'scrum meeting' in a 'scrum room' that seems to bear almost no resemblance to real scrum practices. Angelo is referred to as being 'in charge', which makes no sense for a scrum meeting. Best guess is he's meant to be the product owner, though if he is, he should be making final decisions about the 'product backlog' (i.e. priority of the jumps) rather than letting one person on the team push him around. There are also doesn't seem to be a scrum master present at all. Probably the failure to use scrum in this scrum meeting explains why all the characters seem to hate the meeting and think it a waste of time.
*I found the big reveal explaining the source of the time discrepancies more vaguely irritating than actually compelling.
Most of the book was a reasonably interesting time adventure, but I have no interest in continuing the series. (One good thing about the book is no big cliffhanger about the main plot! There are obviously some deeper mysteries to explore, but I'm fine with letting those go.)
There are no graphic content issues, but between the violence including some blood spatter and such and references to abuse, and the handful of passing references to sex including one (not extremely detailed) sex scene, I wouldn't recommend this one for younger readers. (There are also a number of references to racism and racial violence, as you would expect given the 1960s setting for parts of the story.)
*Though it's indirect, the author seems to imply that Christianity is going to peter out in the future and no longer exist as a religion.
*There's a 'scrum meeting' in a 'scrum room' that seems to bear almost no resemblance to real scrum practices. Angelo is referred to as being 'in charge', which makes no sense for a scrum meeting. Best guess is he's meant to be the product owner, though if he is, he should be making final decisions about the 'product backlog' (i.e. priority of the jumps) rather than letting one person on the team push him around. There are also doesn't seem to be a scrum master present at all. Probably the failure to use scrum in this scrum meeting explains why all the characters seem to hate the meeting and think it a waste of time.
*I found the big reveal explaining the source of the time discrepancies more vaguely irritating than actually compelling.
Most of the book was a reasonably interesting time adventure, but I have no interest in continuing the series. (One good thing about the book is no big cliffhanger about the main plot! There are obviously some deeper mysteries to explore, but I'm fine with letting those go.)
There are no graphic content issues, but between the violence including some blood spatter and such and references to abuse, and the handful of passing references to sex including one (not extremely detailed) sex scene, I wouldn't recommend this one for younger readers. (There are also a number of references to racism and racial violence, as you would expect given the 1960s setting for parts of the story.)
July 9, 2022
Free Prime First Reads | Fast-paced, but undifferentiated character voices | When I picked this as my free book two years ago, I didn't realise it was from the same world as a book I own but hadn't read. I started the first book in the Chronos series in 2013, but it really didn't grab me, so I set it aside and forgot about it. This I read straight through, and it did keep increasing in pace and suspense, but every character feels the same. Nobody has a distinct voice, which makes it very hard when you're dealing with multiple times and different motivations. It was good enough to probably try the other book again, but the rest will have to be library books, not pay.
February 24, 2022
Notes:
Some of the scenes towards the end of the book saved it from being two stars, but only by a slim margin.
Not my fav Chronos book. The summaries, multitudes of dialogue and internal monologues made the story inactive and didn't deep dive into the various aspects that make the series interesting. The three separate group perspectives didn't help. Odd switches of first person to limited third. Lots of detracting plot holes.
I may try the next book because it's on KU Read & Listen.
Some of the scenes towards the end of the book saved it from being two stars, but only by a slim margin.
Not my fav Chronos book. The summaries, multitudes of dialogue and internal monologues made the story inactive and didn't deep dive into the various aspects that make the series interesting. The three separate group perspectives didn't help. Odd switches of first person to limited third. Lots of detracting plot holes.
I may try the next book because it's on KU Read & Listen.
April 13, 2020
DNF 5%
didn't like: confusing, had no idea what chronos was and didn't care, wasn't hooked to the characters, the time travelers thingy was weird.
didn't like: confusing, had no idea what chronos was and didn't care, wasn't hooked to the characters, the time travelers thingy was weird.
December 10, 2020
I did not realize that there was another set of books in this same universe that were previously published until after I started reading Now, Then, and Everwhen. I don’t think I missed anything crucial in the prior series, although I was a bit confused at the beginning of this novel. Once I had a better understanding of the various timelines, I really enjoyed the ride. I think it would have helped if not every other female character was named Katherine; in actuality, there are only two, but it felt like more. Madi and Tyson were both likable, and I enjoyed the historical fiction lite aspect of the book. I could have used a bit more information on the intervening years between our present, Madi’s present, and Tyson’s present .... perhaps that is covered in the previous series. I’ll have to check it out.
June 25, 2021
Nit picker point: one of the characters mentions how annoying it is to be in a time before mosquitoes were eradicated... let's hope that never happens because getting rid of mosquitoes gets rid of their predators which then gets rid of their predators... you get the idea.
Jeebus. Who still doesn't understand that every single thing on this planet is connected and the snail darter and the black footed ferret and the bees and trees and everything is a game of dominoes waiting for us to knock it over and go extinct ourselves.
Authors putting in throwaway crap like this for their own gratification cheapens their work.
Meanwhile, see my profile for an explanation of 3* in my world.
Jeebus. Who still doesn't understand that every single thing on this planet is connected and the snail darter and the black footed ferret and the bees and trees and everything is a game of dominoes waiting for us to knock it over and go extinct ourselves.
Authors putting in throwaway crap like this for their own gratification cheapens their work.
Meanwhile, see my profile for an explanation of 3* in my world.
Want to read
November 1, 2019
July 25, 2021
After a slow start, the plot got really entertaining. Thinking about potential changes to history by time traveling people is quite an imaginative stretch. Having the plot focus on familiar events increased the interest. I found myself having to return to chapter headings to see what time I was in occasionally.
Early on there were times the descriptions of the science made me a bit glassy eyed, but as I got more into the plot they got more interesting.
A vehicle for thinking about ethical issues without being preached at.
I am interested enough to look for the second one.
Early on there were times the descriptions of the science made me a bit glassy eyed, but as I got more into the plot they got more interesting.
A vehicle for thinking about ethical issues without being preached at.
I am interested enough to look for the second one.
March 11, 2021
Excellent take on a time travel story with some great twists and turns. My hat's off to Rysa Walker for even being able to keep track of all of the intertwined threads in these types of stories. I love reading/watching a good time travel book/movie/show, but it boggles my mind how someone is able to not only keep track of all the character implications involved, but make them believable and real as characters.
Definitely a recommended read!
Definitely a recommended read!
March 17, 2020
Maybe it's just me, but I had a difficult time keeping track of who was where, in what place and what year, and why. Also, the mix of ultra modern and old styles (in both decor and human attitudes) in the same future time frame didn't seem plausible.
February 18, 2021
Fair warning: this is not a standalone series. It's been several years since I read the original chronos books and even though I thoroughly enjoyed them, I was more than a little lost with regards to the connections to the previous series. Otherwise, a very enjoyable and quick read
October 2, 2021
Another fantastic book by Ms Walker about history and the foolishness of time travelling historians! I think these books are very visual and I can see this playing out like a movie in my mind. Great writing and story telling!
July 31, 2020
Something missing...
I had a difficult time with the story in this one. For me, it was extremely tiring to attempt keeping the many strands straight. Also, it felt to me as though there were parts missing where we learned enough about any character to care about finding out more about them. I suppose it all came right in the end to the history as we all know and/or remember it now. I wanted to like this book but turns out it was only the premise and the book's title that I liked.
I had a difficult time with the story in this one. For me, it was extremely tiring to attempt keeping the many strands straight. Also, it felt to me as though there were parts missing where we learned enough about any character to care about finding out more about them. I suppose it all came right in the end to the history as we all know and/or remember it now. I wanted to like this book but turns out it was only the premise and the book's title that I liked.
Read
July 10, 2021I absolutely loved the original Chronos series so I thought I would love this just as much. I wanted to like this just as much. But I found myself mostly just confused. I don't know if I would be less confused if I had re-read the original series more recently? I kind of want to re-read those and then re-read this and see if I like it better. I think I would. We shall see.
April 30, 2020
I really want to give this one 2.5...
February 26, 2023
I suggest steering clear unless you have read the original series. Interesting concept, but way too much going on if you are new to the concept.
April 22, 2020
Here's part of what I wrote about Timebound, Rysa Walker's first published novel:
'While it is set up as science fiction, the science doesn't bear close examination, particularly the genetic science. A single "genetic gift" just doesn't make you "good at computers" or predispose you to love a particular avocation, and I'm fairly sure the author misuses the genetic terms "dominant" and "recessive" as well. Nor is the logic of the time-travel devices and their limitations particularly consistent throughout the story. It's basically technology-as-magic, and genetic-gift-as-inherited-magical-gift. The idea that the time travel devices give off light that's seen in different colours by different individuals, and that those who can't use them can't see the light at all, makes no scientific sense, although it's a moderately cool idea. Basically, this is a fantasy given a superficially scientific-sounding skin.'
All of this is still applicable, minus the mention of "dominant" and "recessive" and plus a caution that intelligence, for example, is a) complex, b) almost impossible to define satisfactorily, c) much more influenced by environment than it is by genetics, and d) inasmuch as it is influenced by genetics, influenced by multiple genes, each of which is also likely to have other effects if you tweak it. For more on all of this, I recommend Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini, and the series of podcasts on "G" (general intelligence) from Radiolab.
So the genetics makes no sense whatsoever; best to just accept that and enjoy the ride. Because it is quite a ride, and (unlike some other time travel books I could mention), even if the author has little understanding of genetics, she's spent a good deal of effort on the history part. The action mostly takes place in the mid 1960s, around the civil rights movement, a Beatles tour of the US, and the KKK's response to these events. (While they used Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comment, taken out of context, as a pretext, the KKK's dislike of the Beatles apparently had much more to do with their opposition to segregation.) I make the disclaimer that I don't have expert knowledge of this time period or these events, but I had the impression that the author had done her research thoroughly and thought about it deeply, and woven it into a strong story with characters who feel human and multidimensional. They're not always self-consistent - for example, the researcher with an expertise in gender studies, who is with a toxic narcissist of a boyfriend who uses all the classic belittling, projecting, and isolating tactics on her - but this is part of what makes them feel real.
Time travel always has the potential of becoming confusing, but I didn't feel confused. Both of the protagonists were interesting, and their plot threads intersected at what felt like the right time, neither too early nor too late. The tension, suspense, and action worked well for me as well, without ever becoming a dumb action movie. It's an intelligent book, but it's not over-impressed with its own intelligence, or trying to be too clever and ending up confusing and pretentious. The heroes set out to do the right thing at potential risk to themselves, while the villains set out to do what benefited them and didn't care about others bearing the cost, which is how I like my heroes and villains. The personal impact of events was handled well; too often, characters just carry on stoically despite terrible trauma, or accept perplexing or distressing events without apparent perplexity or distress, and this book avoids those traps, without becoming overly dramatic or angsty.
I picked this up in part because it's marketed as a new series, though in the same setting as her earlier time-travel books. I only read the first of those, not just because the science was nonsense, but because it hit a few too many well-worn YA tropes for my taste. This isn't as trope-ridden, isn't YA, and although the previous series was clearly a massive part of the background, I followed the story adequately even though I'd only read one of the previous books, and that six years ago.
Something that that first book and this book have in common is that they're well edited, which is refreshing to see. Not tripping over bad copy editing every few pages makes for a much smoother and more enjoyable read.
Overall, then, if you set aside the completely whack genetic science and just put it in mental brackets as a form of magic, this is a strong, well-written and enjoyable book, well above average for characters, storytelling, and copy editing. It thoroughly deserves a spot on my Best of the Year list.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review.
'While it is set up as science fiction, the science doesn't bear close examination, particularly the genetic science. A single "genetic gift" just doesn't make you "good at computers" or predispose you to love a particular avocation, and I'm fairly sure the author misuses the genetic terms "dominant" and "recessive" as well. Nor is the logic of the time-travel devices and their limitations particularly consistent throughout the story. It's basically technology-as-magic, and genetic-gift-as-inherited-magical-gift. The idea that the time travel devices give off light that's seen in different colours by different individuals, and that those who can't use them can't see the light at all, makes no scientific sense, although it's a moderately cool idea. Basically, this is a fantasy given a superficially scientific-sounding skin.'
All of this is still applicable, minus the mention of "dominant" and "recessive" and plus a caution that intelligence, for example, is a) complex, b) almost impossible to define satisfactorily, c) much more influenced by environment than it is by genetics, and d) inasmuch as it is influenced by genetics, influenced by multiple genes, each of which is also likely to have other effects if you tweak it. For more on all of this, I recommend Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini, and the series of podcasts on "G" (general intelligence) from Radiolab.
So the genetics makes no sense whatsoever; best to just accept that and enjoy the ride. Because it is quite a ride, and (unlike some other time travel books I could mention), even if the author has little understanding of genetics, she's spent a good deal of effort on the history part. The action mostly takes place in the mid 1960s, around the civil rights movement, a Beatles tour of the US, and the KKK's response to these events. (While they used Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comment, taken out of context, as a pretext, the KKK's dislike of the Beatles apparently had much more to do with their opposition to segregation.) I make the disclaimer that I don't have expert knowledge of this time period or these events, but I had the impression that the author had done her research thoroughly and thought about it deeply, and woven it into a strong story with characters who feel human and multidimensional. They're not always self-consistent - for example, the researcher with an expertise in gender studies, who is with a toxic narcissist of a boyfriend who uses all the classic belittling, projecting, and isolating tactics on her - but this is part of what makes them feel real.
Time travel always has the potential of becoming confusing, but I didn't feel confused. Both of the protagonists were interesting, and their plot threads intersected at what felt like the right time, neither too early nor too late. The tension, suspense, and action worked well for me as well, without ever becoming a dumb action movie. It's an intelligent book, but it's not over-impressed with its own intelligence, or trying to be too clever and ending up confusing and pretentious. The heroes set out to do the right thing at potential risk to themselves, while the villains set out to do what benefited them and didn't care about others bearing the cost, which is how I like my heroes and villains. The personal impact of events was handled well; too often, characters just carry on stoically despite terrible trauma, or accept perplexing or distressing events without apparent perplexity or distress, and this book avoids those traps, without becoming overly dramatic or angsty.
I picked this up in part because it's marketed as a new series, though in the same setting as her earlier time-travel books. I only read the first of those, not just because the science was nonsense, but because it hit a few too many well-worn YA tropes for my taste. This isn't as trope-ridden, isn't YA, and although the previous series was clearly a massive part of the background, I followed the story adequately even though I'd only read one of the previous books, and that six years ago.
Something that that first book and this book have in common is that they're well edited, which is refreshing to see. Not tripping over bad copy editing every few pages makes for a much smoother and more enjoyable read.
Overall, then, if you set aside the completely whack genetic science and just put it in mental brackets as a form of magic, this is a strong, well-written and enjoyable book, well above average for characters, storytelling, and copy editing. It thoroughly deserves a spot on my Best of the Year list.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review.
April 13, 2020
Interesting science fiction futuristic book about two time-traveling historians who cross paths as they go back to observe the civil rights era. This causes a break in the timeline. Suddenly the events and dates of the "real timeline" are changed. As Madi (from 2136) and Tyson (from 2304) journeys intersect, they must prevent the past from being erased forever. "But strange forces are at work. Are Madi and Tyson in control or merely pawns in someone else’s game?"
Other reviewers say that it'll be more enjoyable if you read the Chronos Files (book series by the same author) first because it'll give you a much better sense of the history of some of the characters and stories. This would have been helpful. It wasn't critical. But there were times that I felt I was missing parts of the story.
I gave it 3 stars for an interesting concept, vivid events, intriguing characters.
I did not like the idea of possibly being a pawn in a larger time-chess game. Especially one that dealt with deciding life and death. That was a step too far for me. I also thought the use of the F word was over-used.
Content: language and some blush factor
Other reviewers say that it'll be more enjoyable if you read the Chronos Files (book series by the same author) first because it'll give you a much better sense of the history of some of the characters and stories. This would have been helpful. It wasn't critical. But there were times that I felt I was missing parts of the story.
I gave it 3 stars for an interesting concept, vivid events, intriguing characters.
I did not like the idea of possibly being a pawn in a larger time-chess game. Especially one that dealt with deciding life and death. That was a step too far for me. I also thought the use of the F word was over-used.
Content: language and some blush factor
June 11, 2020
Historian time-travel that legit handles the "Yeah, but can't you really jack something up with that research method?" question, which I for one do not think gets addressed nearly often enough.
May 8, 2022
A new time-travel series to dive into.
Book Title: Now, Then, and EverywhenMy Average Rating: 4.5 Author: Rysa Walker
Reviewed by: author, Carryn W. Kerr on: 2022-05-03
Book Details (My rating for the book: 4.0 Stars)
* Year Published: 2020
* Publisher: 47North
* Number of Pages: 528
* ISBN-13: 9781612189192
* ISBN-10: 1612189199
* Category: Fiction,
* Review Format: Audiobook
* Series Title: Chronos Origins
* Number in Series: 1
* Other Works: The Chronos Files series, The Delphi Trilogy,
* Comparative Works: The Host by Stephenie Meyer,
* Audience: Men, Women, Boys, Girls,
* Advisory: Violence, Language,
* Genre/s: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Time Travel,
Audiobook Details (My rating: 5.0 Stars)
* Year Audiobook Published: 2020
* Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio
* Audiobook Length: 14 hours 11 minutes
* Audiobook Narrator: Kate Rudd Eric G. Dove
* Narration Rating: 5.0 Stars
Book Review
Now, Then, and Everywhen is narrated in the First-person; present tense.
Primary theme: A girl who’s had some genetic enhancements discovers she can time-travel, but in doing so, it’s possible she caused some changes that resulted in many people never having been born.
Time period: The novel is set far in the future, after the gene wars where people are no longer permitted to have genetic enhancements.
Location: The book is set in a far-distant Washington, as well as the south during the sixties.
Character Names: Maddison , Alex, Jack, ,
Character enjoyment: Rysa Walker is a master of creating realistic characters. It’s also nice to revisit the characters from the Chronos Files.
Plot summary: "In 2136 Madison Grace uncovers a key to the origins of CHRONOS, a time travel agency with ties to her family's mysterious past. Just as she is starting to jump through history, she returns to her timeline to find millions of lives erased--and only the people inside her house realize anything has changed. In 2304 CHRONOS historian Tyson Reyes is assigned to observe the crucial events that played out in America's civil rights movement. But a massive time shift occurs while he's in 1965, and suddenly the history he sees isn't the history he knows. As Madi's and Tyson's journeys collide, they must prevent the past from being erased forever"--Back cover.
Plot enjoyment: I enjoyed the way the loose ends of the plot come together and how the actions of people from different timelines affects the entire existence of mankind.
Uniqueness: I’m not sure if I’ve read anything quite like this, apart from Rysa Walker’s Timebound series from which this novel spins off.
Worldbuilding enjoyment: The world, although set far in the future has a feel of current times in Madison’s time, while the future feels futuristic and the sixties feels like the sixties.
Recommendation: While Rysa Walker’s Timebound series was more of a young adult read, this series is fixed in a new adult age-group.
CONCLUSION: I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Rysa Walker has a real talent for character growth within the story.
#ya
#newadult
#youngadult
#booknerd
Audiobook Review
Audiobook Narrator: Kate Rudd, Eric G. Dove.
Timing and Pace: Both Kate and Eric read at a good pace.
Accents and Pronunciation: Kate faces more accents than Eric, but her elegant Irish accent for Kiernan is so cool.
Vocal Characterizations: Kate and Eric both capture the characters moods and emotions fluidly.
Expression and Drama: The expression and drama that both Kate and Eric insert into the characters guided me through the story and drew me in with every scene.
Timing and Pace: Both Kate and Eric read at a good pace.
Suitability for Audiobook: The audiobook enhances the story emotionally and with the amount of tension.
Emotional Connection: Both Kate and Eric connect emotionally with the characters. and with that they immerse me in the story.
CONCLUSION: The story is enhanced by Kate and Eric’s narration. and Kate Rudd is one of my favorite narrators of all time.
This book review was created, using "The Book and Audiobook Review Compiler App."
Book Title: Now, Then, and EverywhenMy Average Rating: 4.5 Author: Rysa Walker
Reviewed by: author, Carryn W. Kerr on: 2022-05-03
Book Details (My rating for the book: 4.0 Stars)
* Year Published: 2020
* Publisher: 47North
* Number of Pages: 528
* ISBN-13: 9781612189192
* ISBN-10: 1612189199
* Category: Fiction,
* Review Format: Audiobook
* Series Title: Chronos Origins
* Number in Series: 1
* Other Works: The Chronos Files series, The Delphi Trilogy,
* Comparative Works: The Host by Stephenie Meyer,
* Audience: Men, Women, Boys, Girls,
* Advisory: Violence, Language,
* Genre/s: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Time Travel,
Audiobook Details (My rating: 5.0 Stars)
* Year Audiobook Published: 2020
* Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio
* Audiobook Length: 14 hours 11 minutes
* Audiobook Narrator: Kate Rudd Eric G. Dove
* Narration Rating: 5.0 Stars
Book Review
Now, Then, and Everywhen is narrated in the First-person; present tense.
Primary theme: A girl who’s had some genetic enhancements discovers she can time-travel, but in doing so, it’s possible she caused some changes that resulted in many people never having been born.
Time period: The novel is set far in the future, after the gene wars where people are no longer permitted to have genetic enhancements.
Location: The book is set in a far-distant Washington, as well as the south during the sixties.
Character Names: Maddison , Alex, Jack, ,
Character enjoyment: Rysa Walker is a master of creating realistic characters. It’s also nice to revisit the characters from the Chronos Files.
Plot summary: "In 2136 Madison Grace uncovers a key to the origins of CHRONOS, a time travel agency with ties to her family's mysterious past. Just as she is starting to jump through history, she returns to her timeline to find millions of lives erased--and only the people inside her house realize anything has changed. In 2304 CHRONOS historian Tyson Reyes is assigned to observe the crucial events that played out in America's civil rights movement. But a massive time shift occurs while he's in 1965, and suddenly the history he sees isn't the history he knows. As Madi's and Tyson's journeys collide, they must prevent the past from being erased forever"--Back cover.
Plot enjoyment: I enjoyed the way the loose ends of the plot come together and how the actions of people from different timelines affects the entire existence of mankind.
Uniqueness: I’m not sure if I’ve read anything quite like this, apart from Rysa Walker’s Timebound series from which this novel spins off.
Worldbuilding enjoyment: The world, although set far in the future has a feel of current times in Madison’s time, while the future feels futuristic and the sixties feels like the sixties.
Recommendation: While Rysa Walker’s Timebound series was more of a young adult read, this series is fixed in a new adult age-group.
CONCLUSION: I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Rysa Walker has a real talent for character growth within the story.
#ya
#newadult
#youngadult
#booknerd
Audiobook Review
Audiobook Narrator: Kate Rudd, Eric G. Dove.
Timing and Pace: Both Kate and Eric read at a good pace.
Accents and Pronunciation: Kate faces more accents than Eric, but her elegant Irish accent for Kiernan is so cool.
Vocal Characterizations: Kate and Eric both capture the characters moods and emotions fluidly.
Expression and Drama: The expression and drama that both Kate and Eric insert into the characters guided me through the story and drew me in with every scene.
Timing and Pace: Both Kate and Eric read at a good pace.
Suitability for Audiobook: The audiobook enhances the story emotionally and with the amount of tension.
Emotional Connection: Both Kate and Eric connect emotionally with the characters. and with that they immerse me in the story.
CONCLUSION: The story is enhanced by Kate and Eric’s narration. and Kate Rudd is one of my favorite narrators of all time.
This book review was created, using "The Book and Audiobook Review Compiler App."
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