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The Anchor of Time
“The Dark Star. She is the Forgotten Queen, the Aeor, the Origin. According to the Elders the only remaining parts of the Queen exist as time.” —Vincent Lemair Renata Stone thought she was having a regular end to her work day at the salon, when a thunderstorm and a broken mirror open a Gateway in time. Traveling through the mirror, Renata emerges in an Amaranthine Loop—another dimension comprised of a time paradox that erases eons of memory. Unknowingly reunited with figures from her past—and future—Renata attempts to understand her true self and why she feels drawn to the mysterious and brooding Vincent, a being more than human with unexplainable abilities, who grasps the workings of the Universe in ways she never even thought to imagine. While Renata and Vincent unlock the secrets of their intertwined pasts, they must be careful not to catch the attention of the Trackers, a predatory species dedicated to maintaining the energy balance in the Amaranthine Loop by any means necessary. Meanwhile, on board the spaceship Lupus Obsidian, a vessel able to pierce the dimensional veil and travel through time, Aldric and his daughter Peaches search for signs of their matriarch Renata, who has been lost in time for centuries. Aldric and Peaches attempt to breach the Loop from the future to save their bloodline and the genesis of a powerful species known as the Aeorians. But the family crew of the Obsidian have truths that must come to light before the Amaranthine can fall… The Anchor of Time is Book 1 of the Forgotten Queen Series in the Shadowglass Universe.
438 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2020
About the author
Tina Capricorn
6 books22 followersTina Capricorn is a writer, artist and avid gardener in Western North Carolina.
When she is not writing she is snuggling her emotional support cats or talking to her plants. To check out her books, works in progress and other curiosities visit her website tinacapricorn.com
When she is not writing she is snuggling her emotional support cats or talking to her plants. To check out her books, works in progress and other curiosities visit her website tinacapricorn.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 18, 2022
The cover for The Anchor of Time may have hooked my attention, but it was the story that reeled me in!
This book is a call to all fans of time travel, one that you need to answer. Every page oozes with Capricorn's love for the sci-fi/romance genres, and you can tell she has poured her soul into this story. I was intrigued in the beginning by Renata, a time-traveling gal who is clueless about what she really is, and also Vincent, a mythological-type being known as an Elder who thirsts for Renata in many ways. Their pairing was heart-gripping from the start, leaving you with so many questions that, thankfully, the author answered.
Not only is the romance on point, but the world Capricorn has created with space travel, time manipulations, and strange paradoxes/parallels keeps you turning the pages. What or WHO is The Anchor of Time? What will it mean if certain things are revealed? Will universes be destroyed? You'll only find out if you read the book 😉
The story ends nicely, tying up most of the main plot, but leaving questions that leave you wanting to learn more about the characters you come to care for. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
This book is a call to all fans of time travel, one that you need to answer. Every page oozes with Capricorn's love for the sci-fi/romance genres, and you can tell she has poured her soul into this story. I was intrigued in the beginning by Renata, a time-traveling gal who is clueless about what she really is, and also Vincent, a mythological-type being known as an Elder who thirsts for Renata in many ways. Their pairing was heart-gripping from the start, leaving you with so many questions that, thankfully, the author answered.
Not only is the romance on point, but the world Capricorn has created with space travel, time manipulations, and strange paradoxes/parallels keeps you turning the pages. What or WHO is The Anchor of Time? What will it mean if certain things are revealed? Will universes be destroyed? You'll only find out if you read the book 😉
The story ends nicely, tying up most of the main plot, but leaving questions that leave you wanting to learn more about the characters you come to care for. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
March 29, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable read, especially if you like sci-fi and time travel!
The Anchor of Time is a complex, fun time travel adventure with a mass of wonderful twists and turns. The prose is just a delight to read. Everything from the foliage to the characters feels so very real as you read about them. With such complex sci-fi concepts like time travel, it would be easy to veer into alienating territory. Yet, Capricorn makes it simple to walk alongside her characters. Part of this could be due to one of our protagonists Renata, who also doesn’t know what’s going on, balancing the seemingly all knowing Vincent (at least at the beginning). The adventure parts are fantastic, my fave bits for sure, and I found myself inspired to go and write my own sci-fi adventure.
Star Trek and Doctor Who fans, get amongst it!!!
The Anchor of Time is a complex, fun time travel adventure with a mass of wonderful twists and turns. The prose is just a delight to read. Everything from the foliage to the characters feels so very real as you read about them. With such complex sci-fi concepts like time travel, it would be easy to veer into alienating territory. Yet, Capricorn makes it simple to walk alongside her characters. Part of this could be due to one of our protagonists Renata, who also doesn’t know what’s going on, balancing the seemingly all knowing Vincent (at least at the beginning). The adventure parts are fantastic, my fave bits for sure, and I found myself inspired to go and write my own sci-fi adventure.
Star Trek and Doctor Who fans, get amongst it!!!
July 16, 2022
Magic and time travel!
The Anchor of Time is a story that neatly blends sci-fi and romance tropes while building an intricate world during an adventure with many twists and turns!
Anchor of Time follows Renata Stone, who has cosmic capabilities she cannot control, Vincent, a mysterious Elder who struggles with his nature in regards to his desire for Renata (in more ways than one), and several other interesting characters that help to build this world and establish a lot of lore. Renata and Vincent’s relationship throughout the story is the highlight character wise, as they both grow individually as characters and closer in a steamy romance that I didn’t expect going into it! Romance isn’t a genre I delve into in terms of interest, but this narrative strays away from some of the more annoying tropes when it comes to romance, if you’re worried about that. Their connection and interactions are great, and Renata is just the right amount of sassy that I adore in my protagonists!
Capricorn pulls you right in to her cosmic, multi-layered world with beautiful description and natural woven world-building exposition, with each little nugget of info leaving you wanting to know more. If you’re a fan of time-travel fiction, this story is a really fun take on the genre.
I would say, speaking of exposition, there are some parts that feel a bit heavy, and that slows things down just a bit, but that’s only here and there. Most of what we get does have a payoff in the end.
Oddly enough, Anchor of Time is really unpredictable, but in a good way! With each major story beat, I’m used to having a general guess as to what will happen next, but each time, Capricorn pulled the rug right from under me! That nature makes it impossible to put down, especially in the final act!
This fun, romantic, multiversal adventure is a great introduction to the series and sets up a highly anticipated book 2 that answers the major plot threads left open in book 1. Excited to see what Capricorn delivers next in The Forgotten Queen series!
The Anchor of Time is a story that neatly blends sci-fi and romance tropes while building an intricate world during an adventure with many twists and turns!
Anchor of Time follows Renata Stone, who has cosmic capabilities she cannot control, Vincent, a mysterious Elder who struggles with his nature in regards to his desire for Renata (in more ways than one), and several other interesting characters that help to build this world and establish a lot of lore. Renata and Vincent’s relationship throughout the story is the highlight character wise, as they both grow individually as characters and closer in a steamy romance that I didn’t expect going into it! Romance isn’t a genre I delve into in terms of interest, but this narrative strays away from some of the more annoying tropes when it comes to romance, if you’re worried about that. Their connection and interactions are great, and Renata is just the right amount of sassy that I adore in my protagonists!
Capricorn pulls you right in to her cosmic, multi-layered world with beautiful description and natural woven world-building exposition, with each little nugget of info leaving you wanting to know more. If you’re a fan of time-travel fiction, this story is a really fun take on the genre.
I would say, speaking of exposition, there are some parts that feel a bit heavy, and that slows things down just a bit, but that’s only here and there. Most of what we get does have a payoff in the end.
Oddly enough, Anchor of Time is really unpredictable, but in a good way! With each major story beat, I’m used to having a general guess as to what will happen next, but each time, Capricorn pulled the rug right from under me! That nature makes it impossible to put down, especially in the final act!
This fun, romantic, multiversal adventure is a great introduction to the series and sets up a highly anticipated book 2 that answers the major plot threads left open in book 1. Excited to see what Capricorn delivers next in The Forgotten Queen series!
November 24, 2020
Metal, scary, sexy, biting, funny, captivating, with parts reminiscent of Star Trek, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Narnia, and everything post-apocalyptic.
I LOVE this book. It’s clear that Capricorn’s first work is part of a reality she’s created that is much, much bigger, and I can’t wait to dive into more.
Capricorn has weaved a world that is so involved and intricate, it leaves the reader dying to know more about how it works and how it came to be. The Anchor of Time, however, drops the reader into the story with enough information to immediately relate to the experiences of its beautifully written characters. I love how delicately she introduces complicated scientific and fantastical concepts alongside truly funny, relatable and sharp dialogue and character development. It was totally enthralling for someone who doesn’t do much sci-fi, and I imagine it has that much more material for the science- or fantasy-minded reader who really wants to dive in and explore this world that expertly bends our reality.
I’m so in love with Renata as a lead! She’s sassy, badass, funny and powerful from the very beginning of her arc. One of my favorite things about The Anchor of Time is its inclusion of different cultures and languages; to have a Latina hairstylist heroine is pretty great. Another thing that really got me going was seeing important concepts from our current world touched on in Capricorn’s universe: gentrification, gender fluidity, and corporate greed, to name a few. I look forward to more of these parallels in future writing.
And! Damn, this book gets sexy. It’s pretty metal, too.
I’m so impressed and intrigued with Capricorn’s work—really exceptional story coming from a first-time novelist. I’m definitely hooked in anticipation of the next book, and I’d recommend this for fantasy/sci-fi junkies and newbies alike. It’s a wonderful read no matter where you’re coming from. Capricorn is truly a talented indie author worth digging into.
I LOVE this book. It’s clear that Capricorn’s first work is part of a reality she’s created that is much, much bigger, and I can’t wait to dive into more.
Capricorn has weaved a world that is so involved and intricate, it leaves the reader dying to know more about how it works and how it came to be. The Anchor of Time, however, drops the reader into the story with enough information to immediately relate to the experiences of its beautifully written characters. I love how delicately she introduces complicated scientific and fantastical concepts alongside truly funny, relatable and sharp dialogue and character development. It was totally enthralling for someone who doesn’t do much sci-fi, and I imagine it has that much more material for the science- or fantasy-minded reader who really wants to dive in and explore this world that expertly bends our reality.
I’m so in love with Renata as a lead! She’s sassy, badass, funny and powerful from the very beginning of her arc. One of my favorite things about The Anchor of Time is its inclusion of different cultures and languages; to have a Latina hairstylist heroine is pretty great. Another thing that really got me going was seeing important concepts from our current world touched on in Capricorn’s universe: gentrification, gender fluidity, and corporate greed, to name a few. I look forward to more of these parallels in future writing.
And! Damn, this book gets sexy. It’s pretty metal, too.
I’m so impressed and intrigued with Capricorn’s work—really exceptional story coming from a first-time novelist. I’m definitely hooked in anticipation of the next book, and I’d recommend this for fantasy/sci-fi junkies and newbies alike. It’s a wonderful read no matter where you’re coming from. Capricorn is truly a talented indie author worth digging into.
November 21, 2020
Renata Stone is abruptly and violently swept away from an ordinary night at her hair salon in an imaginative adventure across dimensions and centuries in a journey that challenges her understanding of love, family and even her own identity in Tina Capricorn’s debut novel, “The Anchor of Time.”
The relationship between Renata and the mysterious Victor is at the center of the story, and while it is an electric pairing, I found myself wanting to know more about some of the other characters and their motivations. How does Peaches spend her days aboard the Lupus Obsidian? How did Renata’s friends and family react to her disappearance? What compelled Sid the Tardigrade to join forces with Victor? When, where and how did Renata and Aldric build the Time Lab?
Good news for me: The next book in Capricorn’s “The Forgotten Queen” series will likely answer some of those questions!
“The Anchor of Time” is a wildly imaginative story that defies categorization -- a paranormal romance in the vein of “A Discovery of Witches,” a dash of “Who”-vian humor and a pinch of Clive Barker-esque horror.
Disclosure: I was provided an advance readers copy of “The Anchor of Time” for review.
The relationship between Renata and the mysterious Victor is at the center of the story, and while it is an electric pairing, I found myself wanting to know more about some of the other characters and their motivations. How does Peaches spend her days aboard the Lupus Obsidian? How did Renata’s friends and family react to her disappearance? What compelled Sid the Tardigrade to join forces with Victor? When, where and how did Renata and Aldric build the Time Lab?
Good news for me: The next book in Capricorn’s “The Forgotten Queen” series will likely answer some of those questions!
“The Anchor of Time” is a wildly imaginative story that defies categorization -- a paranormal romance in the vein of “A Discovery of Witches,” a dash of “Who”-vian humor and a pinch of Clive Barker-esque horror.
Disclosure: I was provided an advance readers copy of “The Anchor of Time” for review.
November 20, 2020
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still in awe with the way Tina pulled me in right from the beginning of her debut novel; and better yet - kept me deeply engaged in the story and character development throughout the rest of the book and beyond. I'm thinking about these characters and concepts weeks past finishing TAOT and eagerly awaiting the next installments in the series.
The way she is able to weave complex astro/quantum/temporal physics, cosmology, paranormal phenomenon, and nuanced (then just bold enough) romance is simply beautiful. Her phrasing is rich and clear, allowing deep immersion into the story line and this incredibly wonderous world she created for us. Aeor-Eterna is absolutely a place I want to keep returning to and will continue to day dream about.
Tina Capricorn is the L' Engle for grown people, providing an elaborate and alternately heart-breaking and captivating world with just the right amount of grounding sarcasm and spiciness.
I'm still in awe with the way Tina pulled me in right from the beginning of her debut novel; and better yet - kept me deeply engaged in the story and character development throughout the rest of the book and beyond. I'm thinking about these characters and concepts weeks past finishing TAOT and eagerly awaiting the next installments in the series.
The way she is able to weave complex astro/quantum/temporal physics, cosmology, paranormal phenomenon, and nuanced (then just bold enough) romance is simply beautiful. Her phrasing is rich and clear, allowing deep immersion into the story line and this incredibly wonderous world she created for us. Aeor-Eterna is absolutely a place I want to keep returning to and will continue to day dream about.
Tina Capricorn is the L' Engle for grown people, providing an elaborate and alternately heart-breaking and captivating world with just the right amount of grounding sarcasm and spiciness.
November 20, 2020
I am not usually a sci-reader but this book was suggested to me from a friend and I have to say I loved this book. The characters are original and have individual faceted personalities alone and then together the way they interact was charming, electric, engaging and totally gripping. The magic of quantum time travel and parallel universes make for a page turning time. Enchanted forests, mind reading avatar characters, manifesting magic out of thin air, secret portals and the seductive relationship that ensues between two of the main characters through the whole story is captivating! I loved this book and had trouble putting it down while I reading it - always a sign of a great story! Can't wait for the next one from Tina Capricorn!
November 28, 2020
A gripping intergalactic adventure story filled with imagination, humor, and passion.
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The Anchor of Time follows the delightful Renata Stone, full of spunk and courage, on an interdimensional, time- and mind-bending adventure to discover who she is, who she loves, and her true place in the Universe. Artfully blending elements of astrophysics, futuristic fantasy, and romance, this novel absorbs the reader in a world all its own and compels them to read "just one chapter more...", until they find themselves at the last page, wishing for the next one.
Tina Capricorn is an emerging author to watch. Her unique imagination, wit, and spark come together rapturously in this first novel of the Forgotten Queen series. It is a brilliant setup for this tale, and many more to come. A highly recommended read!
---
The Anchor of Time follows the delightful Renata Stone, full of spunk and courage, on an interdimensional, time- and mind-bending adventure to discover who she is, who she loves, and her true place in the Universe. Artfully blending elements of astrophysics, futuristic fantasy, and romance, this novel absorbs the reader in a world all its own and compels them to read "just one chapter more...", until they find themselves at the last page, wishing for the next one.
Tina Capricorn is an emerging author to watch. Her unique imagination, wit, and spark come together rapturously in this first novel of the Forgotten Queen series. It is a brilliant setup for this tale, and many more to come. A highly recommended read!
November 19, 2020
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tina Capricorn weaves together threads of romance, mystery, fantasy, and time travel and creates a tapestry that will have you turning page after page waiting to see what lies ahead.
Renata is a force unto herself from start to finish, you'll find yourself rooting for her as she faces a multitude of challenges and finds her way through them - growing stronger from within with a little help on the journey from an intriguing support cast.
The other characters come together in unexpected ways to keep you eager to read and see what happens next. I don't want to spoil them or their connections, but I am already excited to see how several of them develop in the next installments!
Tina Capricorn weaves together threads of romance, mystery, fantasy, and time travel and creates a tapestry that will have you turning page after page waiting to see what lies ahead.
Renata is a force unto herself from start to finish, you'll find yourself rooting for her as she faces a multitude of challenges and finds her way through them - growing stronger from within with a little help on the journey from an intriguing support cast.
The other characters come together in unexpected ways to keep you eager to read and see what happens next. I don't want to spoil them or their connections, but I am already excited to see how several of them develop in the next installments!
November 19, 2020
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tina Capricorn takes you on a wild adventure through time, space and different dimensions in her debut novel “The Anchor of Time.” Beautifully written and incredibly imaginative, “The Anchor of Time” has a little bit of everything: a slow burning romance, terrifying suspense, time travel, ancient prophesy, and intriguing mystery. Capricorn is an incredibly skilled writer and her descriptions are breathtaking, allowing the reader to feel fully transported to many new and unusual worlds. I can’t wait to see what worlds she imagines for us next!
Tina Capricorn takes you on a wild adventure through time, space and different dimensions in her debut novel “The Anchor of Time.” Beautifully written and incredibly imaginative, “The Anchor of Time” has a little bit of everything: a slow burning romance, terrifying suspense, time travel, ancient prophesy, and intriguing mystery. Capricorn is an incredibly skilled writer and her descriptions are breathtaking, allowing the reader to feel fully transported to many new and unusual worlds. I can’t wait to see what worlds she imagines for us next!
November 20, 2020
I wrote this book over six long years. I've read it more times than I can count. I hope you enjoy reading it as well. See you in Aeor-Eterna!
January 27, 2022
Okay, so I really loved this book! I'm not really much of a sci-fi reader, but I couldn't put it down! The Anchor of Time by Tina Capricorn is incredibly imaginative, exciting, and has really interesting, well-developed (main) characters and a well-paced romance! It's a book that really swept me up.
Renata is who I consider the main character - sharp, stubborn, humorous, sentimental, and reluctant. She was a hairdresser who fell through an interdimensional mirror (that's bound to her) by accident (which is something unheard of, especially since she's assumed to be mortal) and was brought to Vincent's pillar, an isolated place between dimensions, by Sid. I really love her character, Vincent, and Sid, and despite there being a cliche chosen/lost destiny aspect that comes up, it never feels cliche or predictable, much like the rest of the story. There's also a romance that absolutely sweeps you up and goes at a slow, believable pace.
There's a lot of time travel and inter-dimensional travel. I'm not used to that in books, but it always feels exciting and unpredictable, while still grounded in the world (well, I suppose worlds/dimensions/times). I would definitely categorize this under mystery too, alongside sci-fi, thriller, and romance (maybe a bit of tragedy too). What holds this book together by far though is its romance plot and the ever-present desire between the two romantic leads.
At times, this book is a bit confusing, but both the plot and character relationships/character building are slow. You figure out everything at your own pace, as the characters do.
It's both a plot-heavy book with a lot of interesting ideas that feel real to the world and a slow book that paces with the characters.
One of the only things is that the book's summary is a bit misleading. Peaches and Aldric feel more like side characters and Renata, Vincent, and Sid get the most time for their scenes and development. I'm not complaining, because I love them, and I was more invested in them anyways. These characters have a lot of scenes to slowly build up their relationship and I love it! Though I do wish Peaches had more time, because her scenes feel more like short interludes between Renata's. I wish we could have explored how she felt being mostly alone all her life, because she could have been a much more engaging and relatable character if she had more page time. We're told that it's a lonely existence, but I don't feel like I was shown enough. At times these side characters feel forgotten or underdeveloped, especially in relation to the main cast. I like more time with characters (but I got plenty with the main three).
Lachlan seems like a bit of an afterthought and a sequel-hook and I wished he was set up better. Likewise, while the last chapter had a small emotional setup, it feels a bit too out-of-nowhere for the last chapter, with not enough emotional buildup for a character only lightly introduced, though it still works.
I was a bit worried on where Vincent's character was going, but for the most part, he was a good and likeable person.
I'm also a little worried about where a certain plot point and character/relationship will go in the second book and the implications for that character and her agency. I don't like the predestiny of some things and the idea of multiple dimensions brings up some moral issues with expectations for those related (in pre-established, but technically non-existent relationships), which I hope is questioned in the sequel.
Also, I just really love this cover!
Note that there's a sex scene.
Reference Rating: 87/100
- Review by Caroline Sophia Hamel (she/her)
Renata is who I consider the main character - sharp, stubborn, humorous, sentimental, and reluctant. She was a hairdresser who fell through an interdimensional mirror (that's bound to her) by accident (which is something unheard of, especially since she's assumed to be mortal) and was brought to Vincent's pillar, an isolated place between dimensions, by Sid. I really love her character, Vincent, and Sid, and despite there being a cliche chosen/lost destiny aspect that comes up, it never feels cliche or predictable, much like the rest of the story. There's also a romance that absolutely sweeps you up and goes at a slow, believable pace.
There's a lot of time travel and inter-dimensional travel. I'm not used to that in books, but it always feels exciting and unpredictable, while still grounded in the world (well, I suppose worlds/dimensions/times). I would definitely categorize this under mystery too, alongside sci-fi, thriller, and romance (maybe a bit of tragedy too). What holds this book together by far though is its romance plot and the ever-present desire between the two romantic leads.
At times, this book is a bit confusing, but both the plot and character relationships/character building are slow. You figure out everything at your own pace, as the characters do.
It's both a plot-heavy book with a lot of interesting ideas that feel real to the world and a slow book that paces with the characters.
One of the only things is that the book's summary is a bit misleading. Peaches and Aldric feel more like side characters and Renata, Vincent, and Sid get the most time for their scenes and development. I'm not complaining, because I love them, and I was more invested in them anyways. These characters have a lot of scenes to slowly build up their relationship and I love it! Though I do wish Peaches had more time, because her scenes feel more like short interludes between Renata's. I wish we could have explored how she felt being mostly alone all her life, because she could have been a much more engaging and relatable character if she had more page time. We're told that it's a lonely existence, but I don't feel like I was shown enough. At times these side characters feel forgotten or underdeveloped, especially in relation to the main cast. I like more time with characters (but I got plenty with the main three).
Lachlan seems like a bit of an afterthought and a sequel-hook and I wished he was set up better. Likewise, while the last chapter had a small emotional setup, it feels a bit too out-of-nowhere for the last chapter, with not enough emotional buildup for a character only lightly introduced, though it still works.
I was a bit worried on where Vincent's character was going, but for the most part, he was a good and likeable person.
I'm also a little worried about where a certain plot point and character/relationship will go in the second book and the implications for that character and her agency. I don't like the predestiny of some things and the idea of multiple dimensions brings up some moral issues with expectations for those related (in pre-established, but technically non-existent relationships), which I hope is questioned in the sequel.
Also, I just really love this cover!
Note that there's a sex scene.
Reference Rating: 87/100
- Review by Caroline Sophia Hamel (she/her)
July 21, 2023
A big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff… with space vampires and tardigrades!
Time is an illusion.
When ordinary hairstylist Renata Stone is thrust into the extraordinary, she must quickly learn a new world of time travel, elders beings, and mind powers, all while realizing she might not be as ordinary as she thought.
I loved this story! I’ll be completely honest when I say I was confused for the majority of it, but I kept reading and I’m SO glad I did because it all makes sense at the end. There was literally a part I could not put the book down due to the back-to-back chair-gripping, nail-biting, toe-curling scenes. The POV-switching chapters kept me intrigued to learn how all these different characters are connected, and I was not disappointed.
The time travel is the main highlight in this book and cannot be thought of as past, present, and future, but rather “is.” Setting is often time, and getting past the linear understanding definitely helps a better experience with reading this book. Instead of trying to analyze and comprehend everything, I adopted a “just go with it” mentality that really helped me enjoy the ride. The author writes with such poetry that the novel itself reads like an existence. It also helps that the main character Renata doesn’t know what’s happening either, but we learn with her.
I will put in a disclaimer that there is a very steamy scene near the end. I personally don’t read that kind of thing, but it was built up so well and written so beautifully that it didn’t bother me. If you are uncomfortable with those scenes, I still recommend reading this book and skipping those pages.
Overall, this was a great sci-fi story that answers your questions and explains the confusion but leaves you wanting more. Good thing there’s a second book!
Time is an illusion.
When ordinary hairstylist Renata Stone is thrust into the extraordinary, she must quickly learn a new world of time travel, elders beings, and mind powers, all while realizing she might not be as ordinary as she thought.
I loved this story! I’ll be completely honest when I say I was confused for the majority of it, but I kept reading and I’m SO glad I did because it all makes sense at the end. There was literally a part I could not put the book down due to the back-to-back chair-gripping, nail-biting, toe-curling scenes. The POV-switching chapters kept me intrigued to learn how all these different characters are connected, and I was not disappointed.
The time travel is the main highlight in this book and cannot be thought of as past, present, and future, but rather “is.” Setting is often time, and getting past the linear understanding definitely helps a better experience with reading this book. Instead of trying to analyze and comprehend everything, I adopted a “just go with it” mentality that really helped me enjoy the ride. The author writes with such poetry that the novel itself reads like an existence. It also helps that the main character Renata doesn’t know what’s happening either, but we learn with her.
I will put in a disclaimer that there is a very steamy scene near the end. I personally don’t read that kind of thing, but it was built up so well and written so beautifully that it didn’t bother me. If you are uncomfortable with those scenes, I still recommend reading this book and skipping those pages.
Overall, this was a great sci-fi story that answers your questions and explains the confusion but leaves you wanting more. Good thing there’s a second book!
May 19, 2023
This was such an awesome read! I listened to it on Audiobook and really enjoyed the voice acting. The story itself was captivating, and though it had a lot of science and lore to process, I thought the author did a wonderful job of introducing the reader to the concepts and workings of the time travel/blood magic aspects of the story via the main character's experience. Beautiful imagery, conceptually exciting, and it also had a fascinating take on tardigrades! I'm looking forward to reading other books by Tina Capricorn.
May 25, 2023
When I first opened this book, I expected some sort of quirky time travel story focusing on conflicts of past and future. This book is so very much not that.
The Anchor of Time is a strange story. The first half discusses all sorts of calculations and theory on how quantum travel works and how time flows. It doesn't show the math, but the math feels everywhere. Much closer to typical science fiction. But then... in delicate and subtle strokes, the author brings out the grandiose strands of high fantasy already present and transforms the story into an epic equal in tone to any classical fantasy saga. Science fiction with the narrative flair of fantasy, indeed. If it is possible for a story to contain futuristic technology, blood rites, vampires, astronomical phenomenon, time loops, alternate dimensions, sacrifices, portals, immortal goddesses, magic, romance, and spaceships in a cohesive manner, then it is this one.
Furthermore, the description is breathtaking -- and this is true of both the actual text and the audiobook narrator. I never thought to read in a book an attempt to describe how time tastes and feels, and yet Capricorn dares and even succeeds in a spectacular way. The detail is incredible, the thought given to the sci-fi and fantastic elements beautiful, the characters vividly personified, and the narrator's use of different voices for each is just the perfect capstone.
Finally, this book should have felt like a standalone, being both long and satisfying. Yet, somehow, Capricorn manages to make it truly feel like the beginning of something grander, thereby capturing the cyclical feel that marks the characters' experiences.
Needless to say, I will be reading the next book as soon as Capricorn releases it.
The Anchor of Time is a strange story. The first half discusses all sorts of calculations and theory on how quantum travel works and how time flows. It doesn't show the math, but the math feels everywhere. Much closer to typical science fiction. But then... in delicate and subtle strokes, the author brings out the grandiose strands of high fantasy already present and transforms the story into an epic equal in tone to any classical fantasy saga. Science fiction with the narrative flair of fantasy, indeed. If it is possible for a story to contain futuristic technology, blood rites, vampires, astronomical phenomenon, time loops, alternate dimensions, sacrifices, portals, immortal goddesses, magic, romance, and spaceships in a cohesive manner, then it is this one.
Furthermore, the description is breathtaking -- and this is true of both the actual text and the audiobook narrator. I never thought to read in a book an attempt to describe how time tastes and feels, and yet Capricorn dares and even succeeds in a spectacular way. The detail is incredible, the thought given to the sci-fi and fantastic elements beautiful, the characters vividly personified, and the narrator's use of different voices for each is just the perfect capstone.
Finally, this book should have felt like a standalone, being both long and satisfying. Yet, somehow, Capricorn manages to make it truly feel like the beginning of something grander, thereby capturing the cyclical feel that marks the characters' experiences.
Needless to say, I will be reading the next book as soon as Capricorn releases it.
February 24, 2023
I recently finished this audible. AMAZING! I'm not a big sci-fi time traveling reader but this book kept my attention from the beginning to the very end! Tina Capricorn did a Great job! I have definitely referred others to the book as well! Can't wait to start the next book - hope it goes audible as well! Then the third! Then...
March 16, 2021
The author’s masterful use of descriptive language and fantastic layers of character development held me gripped. I hate that another book hasn’t been released yet. I can’t wait to see where the author takes me next. I highly recommend this book!
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January 31, 2021Unexpected. That's how I would sum up this book.
No, not unexpected that it IS a great read. Because it is. No, unexpected in that I didn't see how things were going to go. Most books I can at least guess generally where they are going. Not so with this book. It kept me guessing. Well worth the read. I'll wait rather impatiently for the next installment. Keep up the great work.
No, not unexpected that it IS a great read. Because it is. No, unexpected in that I didn't see how things were going to go. Most books I can at least guess generally where they are going. Not so with this book. It kept me guessing. Well worth the read. I'll wait rather impatiently for the next installment. Keep up the great work.
July 19, 2021
What a delight
This book is a brilliant piece of originality. l found it thoroughly satisfying. The quantum references tickled my imagination as infinity beckoned and allowed my imagination to soar. I can't imagine what comes next but I am quite pleased that the adventure will continue.
This book is a brilliant piece of originality. l found it thoroughly satisfying. The quantum references tickled my imagination as infinity beckoned and allowed my imagination to soar. I can't imagine what comes next but I am quite pleased that the adventure will continue.
December 15, 2022
The Anchor of Time by has unique world building with really cool sci-fi concepts like “quantum glass,” “breaking of the light,” time travel, multiple dimensions with very fantasy-ish and romancy vibes. And tardigrades, can’t forget the tardigrades! I liked the interweaving of Renata’s and Peaches’ timeline and how it all came together.
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