Strands of Time

Aeterna Chronicles #1

by Kris Ruhler

A baker’s apprentice bites off more than he can chew when he discovers the truth of who he really is.

Seventeen-year-old Kallum has life all planned out: pass his simulation test, snap up a job on the upper rung, and ask the girl of his dreams out. No more working at the bakery.

But life has a funny way of ruining plans.

Not only does he get reassigned to a hermit, but his hallucinations also make him fear that he’s turning into his worst nightmare: becoming one of the Crazies.

Worse still, the aetherium, an energy stone bestowed by the alien race called the Aeternas, is failing. And, according to the hermit, it’s all Kallum’s fault. Without the dome shield protecting Levitor, the Reavers and beasts roaming the land outside are bound to invade.

Levitor’s fate rests upon Kallum’s shoulders. He’s the only one who can seek out his father, who has the means to save the city. But the Aeternas are hunting him down, and he’s running out of time.

What will he sacrifice for the greater good?

Strands of Time is the first installment in the series. If you love young adult sci-fi, portal fantasy, time travel, and a touch of romance, don’t miss Kris Ruhler’s debut novel. Click Buy Now or Read Now and join the adventure.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction

307 pages, ebook

Published March 27, 2022

About the author

Kris grew up reading classic novels to her mother. From these moments, she became fascinated with books and words. It was always the gritty worlds and the characters’ growth that drew her in, and she often found herself engrossed in young adult science fiction, dystopian, and fantasy.

A lifelong daydreamer, she finally decided to put down her dreams onto paper. She tried to write straight science fiction and then straight fantasy, but both never clicked. So now she creates worlds just a tad bit different from ours - a blend of the futuristic with a touch of the fantastic.

Strands of Time, her debut novel and the first book in the Aeterna Chronicles, was born.

Kris holds a degree in psychology and lives in rural Ontario, Canada, with her husband and children.

Connect with her at krisruhler.com

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the intricate world building, believable characters, and plenty of action to keep my interest. ❤️❤️❤️

[cindy hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a must read. It has you booked within the first few pages. I read the first 6 chapters in one night and can hardly put the book down. There are so many twists and turns in this book it will make you want to both read the whole in one go whilst also wanting to savour it. Just when you think you have something figured out, it will toss everything on its head and make you believe it's something else.
Definitely recommend this book to any reader of any genre.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strands of Time is Book 1 in the Aeterna Chronicles by Kris Ruhler. I found this book to be interesting and I really had to think. Kallum wanted to do the FIS test, Fear-Inducing- Simulation. Everyone thinks that he is just an average guy. He has a guardian and a girl he wants to ask out. But, everything changed when Kallum takes the FIS. Strands of Time explodes in action and Kallum discovered that he has a magical talent that no one expects. I feel that Kris Ruhler has written such an entertaining fast paced story that left me wanting more. Sadly, I have to wait for Book 2! Maybe Kris will write fast. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Rukshy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strands of Time is one of the most interesting fantasy tales that I have read recently. Kallum, a simple bakers apprentice just wants to get a job at central command and marry his childhood best friend. After the entry test goes wrong, his life around him implodes - his guardian Bon is arrested, he is forced to apprentice to a crazy man, and he discovers his life is based on a number of lies. People are not who they seem, his past is not what he thought it was. The aetherium stone bestowed by the Aeternas is failing, and people believe that only Kallum can fix the mess. This story has really interesting characters and a fascinating plot. 4.5/5 stars.

[Ginger Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** Cliffhanger Warning *****
This is the first book of the Aeterna Chronicles Series.
A technologically advanced word that begins having problems that threatens their way of life. A seventeen year old bakers apprentice, Kallum, trying to better and find his lot in life. All he does is go in for his FIS testing to try to get a job in the Control Center, things are feeling off about several parts of the testing. Then suddenly he wakes up to find that his life as he knew it had changed. This sets off a whole change of events that reveals several mysteries and still leaves more questions than answers.
The past collides with the present, as Kallum tries to take his guardians advice and be true to himself.
Kris Ruhler has built a complex world full of mysteries, providing the details where she needs to for the story to flow smoothly.
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent first instalment (after the prequel….Shackles of Guilt) of the Aeterna Chronicles where time travelling, young adult, and science fiction with a little romance sprinkled throughout is blended with amazing world building and characters to draw the reader in!

There was just enough reminders, about various characters previously mentioned in the prequel, to set the reader up for learning more about what wasn’t revealed until this book. It was interesting to meet some characters seventeen years later and how they have survived since.

Still many more threads to be gathered up in the next books and I look forward to finding them…just so glad I don’t have to wait for the next book as its already published! So if you hate cliffhangers, gather all the chronicles together first so you won’t have to wait!

Received this a free copy from the author and this is my own opinion.

[Robert Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really enjoyed reading this book. I contemplated not giving it 5 stars because I felt the characters were not introduced enough and at first I had a hard time getting remembering who they were, but I finally got the knack of it. Very good story and I can't wait to get into the next book.

[Shruti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! I read this one in 2 days. I just could not put it down. Amazing world building by the author and the pace is amazing. I am the kind of reader who will skim past excessive descriptions/ turn to the last chapter or even completely abandon a book if the story drags.

Can’t wait to get my hands on books 2 and 3 !

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Aeterna Chronicles series and the first book I have read by Kris Ruhler, it will not be the last. I loved the characters and the world building and the story was gripping a definite page turner. The protagonist is Kallum a bakers apprentice who dreams of a more important job so that he can impress the girl of his dreams. Kallum realised that to get the job he would have o take the FIS test, Fear-Inducing- Simulation. The story quickly escalates from this point as Kallum learns a lot about himself and his destiny that he never knew. Not everyone appreciates Kallum's new found self and abilities - well worth reading!

[John Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the story hard to follow initially as every page or second page jumped from one character to the next. However I soon attuned to the author's style and read the rest of the book in several sittings.
There are multiple and varied characters intertwined throughout the book but none appear as they first seem.
All young citizens are able to attempt a test to enter the Council offices which is considered the best paid and most revered employment. Those who succeed attain wealth and knowledge doing the direct bidding of the ruling council and its head - the last link to the previous ruling royalty.
Our hero desires this most of all as he does not wish to spend his life working as the baker's apprentice!
All who apply take their test but our hero has his withheld without explanation but he does attain a position working within the Council offices but is summoned to appear before the head of the council. She sends out hero on tasks known only to her but at the end of one such test our hero comes.across a dead body online the murder weapon in his hand.
The story.continues with unexpected details being divulged, people who could be counted on becoming the opposite of what they seemed and leaving our hero with few trusted friends to help.
The storyline is cleverly woven between the sometimes complicated characters with twists and unexpected turns. The characters are slowly fleshed out and it quickly becomes apparent who you want to root for and those you begin to despise
I have only included basic details of the storyline for want of avoiding too many spoilers but I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book from start to finish.
I wonder whether the initial disjointed storyline comes from a characteristic of the author but she will have to let us know.
Still, an excellent read.well worthy of a 5* review

[zenwldflwr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Aeterna Chronicles, I am hooked and now have to find out what happens to Kallum.
This adventure starts with Kallum dreaming of his future, only to find himself doubting his sanity. With the aetherium failing, Kallum discovers that all the events in motion were caused by him. Will the city survive invasion?
Kallum must learn who he really is and what he is capable of. Will he be able to fix what is broken?
This YA Sci-Fi is action packed and both young and old will enjoy this story!

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kallum's life as a bakers apprentice is turned upside down the day he takes his fear inducing simulation test. Is he crazy or does he have powers that have lay dormant for years.

In 'Total Recall' style, is anything that Kallum knows actually true. Who has been protecting him and hiding his past behind a wall of fake memories.

Kallum is thrust from his quiet life into a race for his own existence and the future of the planet.

An entertaining Fantasy/Sci-Fi tale that follows Kallum on his journey of discovery with a host of mysterious friends and foes to further confuse him. Who can he trust?

This is the first installment of the Aeterna Chronicles and sets up the story nicely ready for book 2

[S.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Kallum lives in Levitor. He's an orphan. The last seven years he's been the baker's apprentice. But does he want to spend his life as a baker as he dreams for something more. It's time for him to take the FIS test—Fear-Inducing-Simulation. Its results will determine his place in society. He's both hopeful and fearful of the results.

Then his life is turned upside down. Things are changing too fast. The dome that protects Levitor is malfunctioning. If it's not fixed, the city will be under attack by a race of monsters from the outside. At the same time his guardian, the baker, is arrested as a traitor. Suddenly Kallum is thrust into an uncertain future. He not sure where he belongs, who he can trust, or what part he is to play. Worse—he's afraid he might be turning into a Crazy.
Well written, exciting, and fresh. I've already started book 2.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story picks up seventeen years later, the transition is smooth as there are some familiar characters as well as references to past situations. Power has shifted from a monarchy to a council; the “palace” intrigue still exists, but is now perpetuated by The Shadowers. The author found a good balance between not retelling the prequel and keeping the fast-forward-in-time element. People change over time and the characters from the prequel certainly did so, just as if we met them again after over fifteen years.

Ready for the next one!

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kallum lived in the MedLab until he was 10 years old after his parents died. He became the apprentice to the best baker in Levitor city. This story has plenty of action, some wannabe romance, and ends with a cliffhanger. Very highly recommended.

[Chasity Coquat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully built world and character building. Was a refreshing change of pace from my typical PNR books!

[Mary Elizabeth Hughes]

This is Kallum's story: the likeable 17 year old baker's apprentice lives in the domed and possibly doomed city of Levitor. The city is losing power and no one knows why. The dome has been breached, and bits of blue sky are showing, to everyone's consternation. It is the antithesis of a natural world.

This is Book One of the Aeterna Chronicles It would seem reasonable to suppose that you're at the beginning of the story, but there are several references to catastrophic events in the past about which we know little. As it is, there wasn't enough back story for me to make sense of a lot of the conflict.

The main arc focuses on Kallum's growing acceptance of his true nature and of his mission to save his city. As the novel unfolds he faces numerous dangers and challenges. The first one hundred pages cover just one day and are packed with adventure and strife.

As with most fantasy novels, every character and every location has an invented name, many of which resonate with meaning. Kallum's boss is Boniface, and not surpisingly, he's one of the good guys. He's put in prison, and one of Kallum's goals is to prove him innocent. The authoritarian leader of the city's council is evil Malkin. Malkin's son is the happy-go-lucky Flyx, and he's one of Kallum's best pals.

In the tradition of so many fantasy novels, Strands of Time is full of imagined high tech devices, like holoTabs and Glass tabs, but their function wasn't completely clear. Another common feature of fantasy novels is to place the story in a pseudo medieval environment. In this one the palace guards wear red velvet uniforms. The author has also thrown in a little time travel which may account for the title.

Kallum has special powers. Not quite able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, he can climb walls and jump from rooftop to rooftop when he's trying to escape his enemies. He is at his most appealing when he appears as a somewhat awkward teen, fretting about asking a girl on a date.

Overall the writing is satisfactory if not brilliant, although there's the occasional awkward image. “Mist like ice” and “silence like a gush of ice” and “a thick rug of trees” are examples.

It's clear that the author has worked hard to create this fantasy world, but I didn't really connect with Kallum and I'm sorry to say that I did not find the plot compelling.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kallum has plans. As much as he appreciates the opportunities that Bon has given him, Kallum knows he's not a baker. Instead, Kallum plans to take the FIS test, pass said FIS test, and get a job at the Control Center. Not only do the jobs there make better use of his data manipulation skills, but Yadira works there, and Kallum has convinced himself that as soon as he has a job there, he'll be able to ask Yadira out.

Things begin to go wrong during Kallum's test with the particular scenario he faces. Then, when he wakes up, he sees a worker outside of his pod with a syringe of some sort of liquid about to inject him. He tries to struggle, but Kallum is stuck fast in his pod. The next thing he knows, someone else comes in and kills the worker and then leaves. Scared for his life, Kallum is shocked when the power goes out. With the help of a friend, Kallum gets out of the pod, and the two of them leave the testing facility. As they find out, the power outage was the result of the city's power source failing - the power source that also keeps the dome around their city working and the dangerous Reavers from getting in and attacking them.

What happens next puts Kallum on a path that he couldn't have imagined. This story was interesting, if disjointed. The information provided with the world-building and just what it is that is happening, what needs to be fixed/changed, and how to do that is provided in a fractured manner that makes things somewhat confusing at first. The reader is in the same shoes as Kallum, learning things as he does, in just as disjointed a fashion, while also clearly missing important information, just as Kallum is.

Overall, the story is somewhat interesting, and it does set up the next book in the series well, but I don't know if it was compelling enough to drive me to read the next book. Or, at least, not to read it immediately. I will likely read it when I don't have much else pressing to read, but it's not something that I'm going to set aside other books to make sure I read the sequel. I think that another pass with a developmental editor to help clean up the story a bit could have helped, but I also know how expensive that can be for independently-publishing authors.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strands of Time is an incredible book written by Kris Ruhler! This book drew me in from the very first page and I admit I had a very difficult time putting it down. The plot was very well developed and had a several hidden twists hidden within that the author unraveled throughout the story. The pace of the book was perfectly written. Strands of Time is the first installment in the Aeterna Chronicles series. If you love young adult sci-fi, time travel, and a touch of romance, don’t miss Kris Ruhler’s debut novel. I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, it took me at least 20 pages to even understand what was going on here, but after that I just went along for the ride. Gripping tale, lots of planets (maybe?), a royal city under a disintegrating dome, an "outside" where lurk sentient beasts and birds, and a possibly sentient stone which provides all the power to the royal city (whose royalty are missing, by the way). I think I've got it right. Note to author: too many people's names start with "A" -- couldn't keep them all straight. That said, I ordered the rest of the series to finish the tale.

[Carol Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was intriguing, but I found it a bit confusing. Not sure if it was the wording, so that I misunderstood some of the plot. Or maybe I needed fuller explanations. But it was interesting to see Kallum come into his abilities and heritage, and gain friendships along the way. It will be interesting in the next book, to see if he can rescue his friends, or if he’ll be able to find his father and save his city. I received a free copy of this book, with no obligation.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great start to the Aeterna Chronicles series, it was a wonderfully done series with interesting characters. I really enjoyed going through this story and look forward to more in this universe and from the author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Red Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start!
I loved the fast pace of this book and the wonderful surprises in the story. Some things that happen seem to be a natural progression of the story and then things flip in a surprising way. Because of the way the story is written, things can be a bit confusing, but hang in there. It is worth the read!

[Cat Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kris Ruhler tells an exciting, exceptionally well-written story with imagination, creativity, and heart. The author brings the reader into a futuristic world and quickly engaging our emotions in seeing the hero, Kallum, try to overcome class distinction in his world, overcome the bad guys, and find the woman of his dreams.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strands of Time,book 1 of the Aeterna Chronicles, really kept me thinking as I followed Malkin from his simple life as a Baker's apprentice to much more important things. He finds unlikely friends and unimaginative truths along the way. Definitely for the more advanced YA reader due to the larger vocabulary. A good read!

[Emzy Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. The world that the author creates is breathtaking. The author gives the backstory and needed information without overwhelming you, which I as a reader really appreciate. The way the author writes is wonderful. Enough twists to keep you interested with enough hints to keep you invested. I highly recommend this book.

[Jay Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was given to me for free, but this is own opinion.*
This story pulls you in immediately. I love the characters and the dynamics. The action was nicely written. And, boy, was there a lot.
My only issue was the unrealistic dialogue. It was the placement. They'd be doing something and then chat about something unimportant and unrelated. That took me out of the story.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He had his life mapped out or at least he thought he had. He finds out he caused the rift and now he knew he needed to solve it all. How will he do it? Can he find the answers? Will he have any help? How will he get on? What will he need to do? Follow him to find out

[Jenny Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable young adult sci-fi book, with time travel to make it even more interesting.

The storyline revolves around Kallum and his adventures, with plenty of twists and turns to keep your attention. It moved at a good pace and I found it easy to read.

[Terry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent start to this fantasy series. Well written, good characters and an interesting storyline which is action-packed and has you hooked from start to finish. Looking forward to Book 2. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.