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The St. Claire Legacy #1
The Time Thief
NOTICE: The Time Thief will be going through a handful of edits, so at the moment, the book will be unavailable for purchase.
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When thief Sebastian Abnett lost his fiancée Amelia St. Claire nearly two years ago, he lost control and obsessed over trying to find a way to bring her back. Sorcerers, witches, no one could help.
Now, in 1878, the Consel has the audacity to summon him and request that he find the very object they accused his former fiancée and him of stealing, Arrandale’s stone, which allowed them to travel in time. He refuses because he still blames their secret society for Amelia’s death. All he wants is to bring her back, even if it means searching for the stone himself with the help of his companion Marco Watts.
But then Amelia Langley, a woman identical in all aspects to his fiancée, appears in town and causes a stir. Though people continue to confuse her with someone she is positive she isn’t, Amelia cannot deny the strange fragmented memory-like visions she keeps having about a life she does not remember. All she wants to do is return home to 2012 and be done with this nonsense of time travel, secret societies, lost memories and especially the man who is still in love with the woman she does not remember being.
Along with Sebastian, she makes a deal with the seer Alaric to locate the stone and once she hands it over, she will be sent home and left alone, for good. But there is more to finding Arrandale’s stone than it seems, and there are people who seek it in order to control time for themselves. Can they trust anyone—let alone each other?
There is a cliffhanger ending!
A Victorian time-travel mystery, and the the first book in The St. Claire Legacy.
----------------
When thief Sebastian Abnett lost his fiancée Amelia St. Claire nearly two years ago, he lost control and obsessed over trying to find a way to bring her back. Sorcerers, witches, no one could help.
Now, in 1878, the Consel has the audacity to summon him and request that he find the very object they accused his former fiancée and him of stealing, Arrandale’s stone, which allowed them to travel in time. He refuses because he still blames their secret society for Amelia’s death. All he wants is to bring her back, even if it means searching for the stone himself with the help of his companion Marco Watts.
But then Amelia Langley, a woman identical in all aspects to his fiancée, appears in town and causes a stir. Though people continue to confuse her with someone she is positive she isn’t, Amelia cannot deny the strange fragmented memory-like visions she keeps having about a life she does not remember. All she wants to do is return home to 2012 and be done with this nonsense of time travel, secret societies, lost memories and especially the man who is still in love with the woman she does not remember being.
Along with Sebastian, she makes a deal with the seer Alaric to locate the stone and once she hands it over, she will be sent home and left alone, for good. But there is more to finding Arrandale’s stone than it seems, and there are people who seek it in order to control time for themselves. Can they trust anyone—let alone each other?
There is a cliffhanger ending!
A Victorian time-travel mystery, and the the first book in The St. Claire Legacy.
382 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2016
5 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Natalia Liles
5 books89 followersA South Floridan native obsessed with cold weather, Natalia Schellhaas fell in love with books as a child because of her father, who taught her to see the movie playing in her mind while reading. Natalia has been writing stories since she was in elementary school. Natalia attended the University of South Florida St. Petersburg for her bachelor’s in History and Simmons College for her master’s degree in Library Science with a concentration in Archival Management. Currently, she works in her hometown as a Library Assistant and lives with her boyfriend and an insane cat who keep her on her toes.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 26, 2017
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinion of the book remains unbiased.
3.5
Thank you to the lovely Natalia for sending this to me! I'm so proud of her for the work she clearly put into this novel.
•The concept is so intriguing and captivating and it hooks your interest from the very moment you lay your eyes on line one. I couldn't wait to know where the story was going and the whole time, I kept wondering with trepidation what the plot had in store for me. Such a ride!
•Marco and Seb's bromance is adorable and a big asset to the story in general. A good friendship is always an extra point for me.
•I have to admit I wasn't the greatest fan of the characters'-I think their characterization can be improved. Amelia, in particular, is not really easy to sympathize with. I also felt the lack of positive female characters and I wasn't really comfortable with all the insults hurled at Lana (and other women too) because it seemed like the male characters felt justified in shaming her. Amelia is still a strong-willed and fierce female lead, though, and I see so much potential in her.
•My hope for the next book is more accuracy in the historical setting and in the characters' behaviour (their reactions sometimes weren't really realistic).
I wish to thank again the author-I feel so honoured she asked me for my honest opinion. Great job, Talia!
3.5
Thank you to the lovely Natalia for sending this to me! I'm so proud of her for the work she clearly put into this novel.
•The concept is so intriguing and captivating and it hooks your interest from the very moment you lay your eyes on line one. I couldn't wait to know where the story was going and the whole time, I kept wondering with trepidation what the plot had in store for me. Such a ride!
•Marco and Seb's bromance is adorable and a big asset to the story in general. A good friendship is always an extra point for me.
•I have to admit I wasn't the greatest fan of the characters'-I think their characterization can be improved. Amelia, in particular, is not really easy to sympathize with. I also felt the lack of positive female characters and I wasn't really comfortable with all the insults hurled at Lana (and other women too) because it seemed like the male characters felt justified in shaming her. Amelia is still a strong-willed and fierce female lead, though, and I see so much potential in her.
•My hope for the next book is more accuracy in the historical setting and in the characters' behaviour (their reactions sometimes weren't really realistic).
I wish to thank again the author-I feel so honoured she asked me for my honest opinion. Great job, Talia!
October 13, 2016
Guys. Be on the lookout for this book! It's coming very soon: and frankly I'm very grateful that I got to read it (twice) already. It's become a fast favourite :)
That's right, twice: I love this story! It has become one of the most engaging reads I've ever, well, read, and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm a tiny bit, no, a lot in love with Natalia's male protagonist, Sebastian, and I adore Amelia; they are SO adorable I just want to pinch their cheeks.
But oh my god the plot though! So riveting! And Schellhaas' is such a descriptive author that you can't help but feel that you're right there along with her characters.
You know what; I'm actually going to liken this first instalment to a trip in the TARDIS, and you know what?
I NEED BOOK 2!
(Add it to your TBR, guys!).
That's right, twice: I love this story! It has become one of the most engaging reads I've ever, well, read, and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm a tiny bit, no, a lot in love with Natalia's male protagonist, Sebastian, and I adore Amelia; they are SO adorable I just want to pinch their cheeks.
But oh my god the plot though! So riveting! And Schellhaas' is such a descriptive author that you can't help but feel that you're right there along with her characters.
You know what; I'm actually going to liken this first instalment to a trip in the TARDIS, and you know what?
I NEED BOOK 2!
(Add it to your TBR, guys!).
February 22, 2017
The storyline is refreshingly different. There is mystery, action, romance and humor - everything one could want in a book!
The only really negative thing is the ending, or more accurately, lack thereof. There is no proper ending to the novel. I can't even call it a cliffhanger, because it isn't one in a traditional sense. The story is simply cut off in the middle, without warning. I literally clicked back and forth on my kindle several times, thinking there must be a bug of some kind in the middle of my book - why else would the author's bio be inserted in the middle of a scene?
All in all the abrupt ending leaves so many unanswered questions that The Time Thief doesn't quite feel finished. Even though it is the first part of a trilogy, it should still be a story in itself, which it isn't at this point.
The only really negative thing is the ending, or more accurately, lack thereof. There is no proper ending to the novel. I can't even call it a cliffhanger, because it isn't one in a traditional sense. The story is simply cut off in the middle, without warning. I literally clicked back and forth on my kindle several times, thinking there must be a bug of some kind in the middle of my book - why else would the author's bio be inserted in the middle of a scene?
All in all the abrupt ending leaves so many unanswered questions that The Time Thief doesn't quite feel finished. Even though it is the first part of a trilogy, it should still be a story in itself, which it isn't at this point.
June 19, 2017
What a fantastic blend of multiple genres in one story! Adventure, romance, mystery - all in a lovely Victorian setting. This story caught my interest from the very beginning and didn't let go until the very end - and even then, I am ready and waiting for book two. The main character, Amelia, is as likable as she is tough and smart, and the exciting pace feels like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Can I note how much I love this cover? In this case, the wonderfulness of the cover truly reflects the quality of the content inside. Great story!
March 12, 2017
“Time Thief” the first book in the imaginative “St.Claire Legacy” combines time-travel, mystery and magic in a story that begins in 1878 two years after Sebastian (Seb) Abnett’s fiancée Amelia St. Claire is killed and the Arrandale stone stolen. Haunted by his loss and accused of complicity in the theft by the Consel, a secret organization that used the gem in its jumps in time before it was stolen, Sebastian is offered a deal to find it, but refuses blaming them for Amelia’s death. But Sebastian is in for a surprise when his fiancée suddenly appears in town without any memory of the past.
In 2012, Amelia Langley the spitting image of Seb’s fiancée is swept back in time to find herself the target of not only the Consel, but Alaric a sorcerer who will do anything to find the Arrandale stone. Bringing Sebastian and Amelia together he makes a deal with them to find the gem in return for sending one home and leaving the other alone. As the plot heats up and they face one deadly confrontation after another in their search for clues to the mysterious disappearance, Amelia has memory flashbacks even remembering Sebastian who still pines for the woman who’s still lost to him.
Set in Cheshlake during the Victorian period the story is told from Sebastian and Amelia’s perspectives as they grapple not only with a power-hungry Consel and sorcerer who want to control time, but their deadly minions who continually stalk them. Natalia Schellhass creates a toxic, corrupt and dangerous atmosphere in this plot with the violence of a Consel that maims a young servant boy, the “Den of Smoke” an opium lair and Marlene’s a brothel, both frequented by Sebastian so he could forget his loss. With a book of riddles, the magic of a watch, and a bookstore that may hold keys to the mystery, the author draws the reader in, building suspense with each link to Amelia’s past. Gripping in its intensity Amelia Langley not only struggles with her fragmented memories and to trust a man she can’t remember while searching for a stone she’s believed to have stolen and hidden. In the same respect, although Amelia seems changed and the tension between them is heated, Seb Abnett is unwilling to lose the woman he still loves, and will protect her whatever the cost.
Although the plot flowed smoothly to an explosive cliff-hanger at the end, I often felt I was missing part of the story and that I was reading a sequel as so many events had unfolded in Amelia and Sebastian’s lives before this story began. I couldn’t relate to the fiery tension developing between the two because the strength and passion of their previous relationship and romance was weak, having already evolved and then been destroyed with her death. Apparent throughout was the fact that Amelia had changed and was uncertain about her feelings for Sebastian while he doesn’t trust the new version of her yet wants to protect her out of guilt at failing to do so before.
I like the characters who added spice and excitement to the drama and action that continually follows them around Cheshlake as they fight to survive enemies who want them dead after they recover the stone. Sebastian Abnett, a thief who stole Amelia’s watch when she first met him is arrogant, restless, impulsive and has a temper while in contrast his friend Marco Watts is cheeky, sensible and continually optimistic. Although they often bicker which can be humorous, it’s apparent that Seb and Marco have a steadfast friendship that’s not easily broken. Amelia Langley once had a passionate, authoritative air as a St. Claire but has become wary and uncertain yet spirited at times in her determination to return to the future after finding the Arrandale stone.
I liked “Time Thief” and will be interested to see how Natalia Schellhass develops the mystery and romance in this time-travel fantasy.
In 2012, Amelia Langley the spitting image of Seb’s fiancée is swept back in time to find herself the target of not only the Consel, but Alaric a sorcerer who will do anything to find the Arrandale stone. Bringing Sebastian and Amelia together he makes a deal with them to find the gem in return for sending one home and leaving the other alone. As the plot heats up and they face one deadly confrontation after another in their search for clues to the mysterious disappearance, Amelia has memory flashbacks even remembering Sebastian who still pines for the woman who’s still lost to him.
Set in Cheshlake during the Victorian period the story is told from Sebastian and Amelia’s perspectives as they grapple not only with a power-hungry Consel and sorcerer who want to control time, but their deadly minions who continually stalk them. Natalia Schellhass creates a toxic, corrupt and dangerous atmosphere in this plot with the violence of a Consel that maims a young servant boy, the “Den of Smoke” an opium lair and Marlene’s a brothel, both frequented by Sebastian so he could forget his loss. With a book of riddles, the magic of a watch, and a bookstore that may hold keys to the mystery, the author draws the reader in, building suspense with each link to Amelia’s past. Gripping in its intensity Amelia Langley not only struggles with her fragmented memories and to trust a man she can’t remember while searching for a stone she’s believed to have stolen and hidden. In the same respect, although Amelia seems changed and the tension between them is heated, Seb Abnett is unwilling to lose the woman he still loves, and will protect her whatever the cost.
Although the plot flowed smoothly to an explosive cliff-hanger at the end, I often felt I was missing part of the story and that I was reading a sequel as so many events had unfolded in Amelia and Sebastian’s lives before this story began. I couldn’t relate to the fiery tension developing between the two because the strength and passion of their previous relationship and romance was weak, having already evolved and then been destroyed with her death. Apparent throughout was the fact that Amelia had changed and was uncertain about her feelings for Sebastian while he doesn’t trust the new version of her yet wants to protect her out of guilt at failing to do so before.
I like the characters who added spice and excitement to the drama and action that continually follows them around Cheshlake as they fight to survive enemies who want them dead after they recover the stone. Sebastian Abnett, a thief who stole Amelia’s watch when she first met him is arrogant, restless, impulsive and has a temper while in contrast his friend Marco Watts is cheeky, sensible and continually optimistic. Although they often bicker which can be humorous, it’s apparent that Seb and Marco have a steadfast friendship that’s not easily broken. Amelia Langley once had a passionate, authoritative air as a St. Claire but has become wary and uncertain yet spirited at times in her determination to return to the future after finding the Arrandale stone.
I liked “Time Thief” and will be interested to see how Natalia Schellhass develops the mystery and romance in this time-travel fantasy.
July 13, 2017
**Added to Favorites**
(I have to try and figure out how to write my review without being prejeduce because one of my best fiends wrote this)
Okay, so I'm going to be honest I'm not a Time Travel person, I know, So why would I think a Time Travel book would be a good choice? Well because Natalia is such an amazing person. So Naturally I went in dragging my feet, (Seriously, I've had this book for MONTHS.) But I decided to dive in FINALLY.
WELL. I don't know why I ever waited months. I LOVE THIS BOOK. GUYS. GUYS. I was sucked into this book. The only thing that could get me to stop reading was work and even then I was trying to read it and not get caught.
Natalia has created such an amazing story, this is one of those stories that you just can't help but find yourself in love with.
So so far Natalia has done two things for me,
1) Got me into a genre I normally avoid
2) Attached me to these amazing Characters.
OH? I didn't tell you about the Characters Yet?
Well.
I swooned over them. Sebastian & Amelia are just perfect characters.
I kept reading and saying "Awe" It was awful.
But at this point if Natalia Hurts my babies I'm just going to cry.
I really don't want to talk tooooo much about the plot (Because I'll just throw out spoilers like crazy)
But she did AMAZING. She worked all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey Stuff perfectly.
I really hope you choose to pick up this book! It has added up to be one of my favorite reads this year!
(I have to try and figure out how to write my review without being prejeduce because one of my best fiends wrote this)
Okay, so I'm going to be honest I'm not a Time Travel person, I know, So why would I think a Time Travel book would be a good choice? Well because Natalia is such an amazing person. So Naturally I went in dragging my feet, (Seriously, I've had this book for MONTHS.) But I decided to dive in FINALLY.
WELL. I don't know why I ever waited months. I LOVE THIS BOOK. GUYS. GUYS. I was sucked into this book. The only thing that could get me to stop reading was work and even then I was trying to read it and not get caught.
Natalia has created such an amazing story, this is one of those stories that you just can't help but find yourself in love with.
So so far Natalia has done two things for me,
1) Got me into a genre I normally avoid
2) Attached me to these amazing Characters.
OH? I didn't tell you about the Characters Yet?
Well.
I swooned over them. Sebastian & Amelia are just perfect characters.
I kept reading and saying "Awe" It was awful.
But at this point if Natalia Hurts my babies I'm just going to cry.
I really don't want to talk tooooo much about the plot (Because I'll just throw out spoilers like crazy)
But she did AMAZING. She worked all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey Stuff perfectly.
I really hope you choose to pick up this book! It has added up to be one of my favorite reads this year!
February 8, 2017
I received a free copy of The Time Thief from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not persuade my true opinion of the book.
3 stars!
Overall, this was a strong first novel. I will add though that I have a tendency to compare books to other series/novels I've read, and no matter how much I tried not to do that with this novel, I couldn’t. As I read, I kept on thinking, “Oh, well…this could have been written better like this other book or maybe…” But I think we all do that, subconsciously. And just because this wasn’t the best first book to a series I’ve read, it definitely should still be on your TBR list.
Pro’s:
-Orignial Idea: I haven’t read anything quite like this, so that was refreshing.
-Sebastian’s love for Amelia: I really felt for Sebastian as he'd look at Amelia in a pained sort of way, because he loved her so much and it was killing him that she didn’t remember him. That was heartbreaking.
-All the fabulous names: YES. Okay. It might just be me, but I’m really big on names. And if a book has weird or overused names, it really takes away from the story (at least to me). But good thing Sebastian and Amelia are two of my favorites! I really loved that.
-The ending: It was a notable ending. There are so many opportunities for a gripping second book.
Con’s:
-The characters didn’t stay true to themselves: There were many times I would be confused by what Sebastian and/or Amelia would say/do because it wouldn’t match their character from the beginning. That was frustrating.
-I liked Amelia and Sebastian, trust me I did - just not together: When they were alone, it was fine. But together? I just didn’t feel that much of an attraction.
-The way they spoke wasn’t consistent with the 1800's way of speech: This was the biggest negative for me. Since I love 1800’s books and have taken classes about Victorian Literature, I couldn’t get past the way they were speaking. It was far too modern for the time period. Now, I expected that from Amelia, but not from Sebastian and Marco.
-I felt like the writing was much stronger at the beginning of the book and slowly got a little worse towards the end.
-How Amelia just accepted time travel so quickly: Within the first day she was already swearing at people she'd just met - which was awkward to imagine. Frankly, that was kind of rude too - now, I suppose I should let this one slide because that was her “character” - but then some scenes she would act all pleasant, and it was such an opposite. It just left me feeling really confused. Is she nice? Is she strong but somewhat rude?
Overall, a solid 3 star book. It really was a good first novel. It held my attention for the majority of the time and had enjoyable characters - Sebastian being my favorite. I will definitely be on watch for the second novel - I need to know how everything ends. And YOU should be on the look-out for these books too!
Again, thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to review their novel. Keep up the great work!
3 stars!
Overall, this was a strong first novel. I will add though that I have a tendency to compare books to other series/novels I've read, and no matter how much I tried not to do that with this novel, I couldn’t. As I read, I kept on thinking, “Oh, well…this could have been written better like this other book or maybe…” But I think we all do that, subconsciously. And just because this wasn’t the best first book to a series I’ve read, it definitely should still be on your TBR list.
Pro’s:
-Orignial Idea: I haven’t read anything quite like this, so that was refreshing.
-Sebastian’s love for Amelia: I really felt for Sebastian as he'd look at Amelia in a pained sort of way, because he loved her so much and it was killing him that she didn’t remember him. That was heartbreaking.
-All the fabulous names: YES. Okay. It might just be me, but I’m really big on names. And if a book has weird or overused names, it really takes away from the story (at least to me). But good thing Sebastian and Amelia are two of my favorites! I really loved that.
-The ending: It was a notable ending. There are so many opportunities for a gripping second book.
Con’s:
-The characters didn’t stay true to themselves: There were many times I would be confused by what Sebastian and/or Amelia would say/do because it wouldn’t match their character from the beginning. That was frustrating.
-I liked Amelia and Sebastian, trust me I did - just not together: When they were alone, it was fine. But together? I just didn’t feel that much of an attraction.
-The way they spoke wasn’t consistent with the 1800's way of speech: This was the biggest negative for me. Since I love 1800’s books and have taken classes about Victorian Literature, I couldn’t get past the way they were speaking. It was far too modern for the time period. Now, I expected that from Amelia, but not from Sebastian and Marco.
-I felt like the writing was much stronger at the beginning of the book and slowly got a little worse towards the end.
-How Amelia just accepted time travel so quickly: Within the first day she was already swearing at people she'd just met - which was awkward to imagine. Frankly, that was kind of rude too - now, I suppose I should let this one slide because that was her “character” - but then some scenes she would act all pleasant, and it was such an opposite. It just left me feeling really confused. Is she nice? Is she strong but somewhat rude?
Overall, a solid 3 star book. It really was a good first novel. It held my attention for the majority of the time and had enjoyable characters - Sebastian being my favorite. I will definitely be on watch for the second novel - I need to know how everything ends. And YOU should be on the look-out for these books too!
Again, thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to review their novel. Keep up the great work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
Tbh, there were so many things I liked about this book that I'm having trouble organising my thoughts! So here's a quick list of some of the aspects of The Time Thief that I enjoyed.
- The cover art, it's absolutely beautiful!
- The Victorian setting. Parts of the book are set in 2012, but the bulk of the story takes place in the late 1800's.
- Main character, Amelia. She's clever, feisty, and tough.
- I also liked the romantic tension between her & Sebastian, I'm definitely keen to see where it goes in the next two books!
- The mystery aspect of the novel. I enjoyed seeing how the various puzzle piece like aspects of the story came together, and it definitely kept me thinking.
I wish I could explain how I felt about this book in a more articulate way... but all I really have to say is that it was a super fun read, and I'm looking forward to he sequel.
- The cover art, it's absolutely beautiful!
- The Victorian setting. Parts of the book are set in 2012, but the bulk of the story takes place in the late 1800's.
- Main character, Amelia. She's clever, feisty, and tough.
- I also liked the romantic tension between her & Sebastian, I'm definitely keen to see where it goes in the next two books!
- The mystery aspect of the novel. I enjoyed seeing how the various puzzle piece like aspects of the story came together, and it definitely kept me thinking.
I wish I could explain how I felt about this book in a more articulate way... but all I really have to say is that it was a super fun read, and I'm looking forward to he sequel.
February 10, 2017
The Time Thief is an amazing story! It starts off fast, exciting, mysterious and doesn't slow down. I hated to put it down for anything and wanted to read it through as one sitting, but impossible. It's wonderfully long for anyone who hates to come to the end. I can't wait until book 2 comes out and already wish it would't stop with number 3! An absolutely excellently written story!!
May 28, 2017
5/5 Stars
What did I just read??? And I mean that in a very good way.
Amelia St. Claire is dead, and her fiance, Sebastian Abnett, has been dealing with his grief for two years. Her secret organization, The Consel, has blamed him and Amelia with stealing Arrandale's Stone, which allows them to travel through time.
Amelia Langley was simply looking for a job before she gets thrust back in time. People recognize her, and assume she is Amelia St. Claire, returned from the dead. But she has no recollection of that life, nor of the organization after her. She must place her trust in Sebastian, who wants to bring back her memories and return to the life they once shared.
Time travel is no joke. Seriously. With the amount of overlapping characters, storylines, and intrigue, I was hooked from page one. Amelia seems to have had a plan, but it is convoluted and unknown with her memories locked away.
These characters man! Sebastian is a brash, rogueish man who is in grief. Amelia is a multifaceted woman with a complicated past (future?). And Marco? He's the best friend that tries to talk sense into those around him.
There are many parts I'm confused about, but thats because they are plot points I'm guessing at and have not been confirmed yet. (Damn you series!! I just want answers but for that I need the next book!) I might try to coerce the answers from the author ;)
Read this book if you love time travel, mystery, and a dash of romance. (Yes, just a dash). It was a fantastic read.
What did I just read??? And I mean that in a very good way.
Amelia St. Claire is dead, and her fiance, Sebastian Abnett, has been dealing with his grief for two years. Her secret organization, The Consel, has blamed him and Amelia with stealing Arrandale's Stone, which allows them to travel through time.
Amelia Langley was simply looking for a job before she gets thrust back in time. People recognize her, and assume she is Amelia St. Claire, returned from the dead. But she has no recollection of that life, nor of the organization after her. She must place her trust in Sebastian, who wants to bring back her memories and return to the life they once shared.
Time travel is no joke. Seriously. With the amount of overlapping characters, storylines, and intrigue, I was hooked from page one. Amelia seems to have had a plan, but it is convoluted and unknown with her memories locked away.
These characters man! Sebastian is a brash, rogueish man who is in grief. Amelia is a multifaceted woman with a complicated past (future?). And Marco? He's the best friend that tries to talk sense into those around him.
There are many parts I'm confused about, but thats because they are plot points I'm guessing at and have not been confirmed yet. (Damn you series!! I just want answers but for that I need the next book!) I might try to coerce the answers from the author ;)
Read this book if you love time travel, mystery, and a dash of romance. (Yes, just a dash). It was a fantastic read.
June 11, 2017
Amazing! I'm not the biggest fan of this genre but this book was highly recommended to me. Boy am I glad that I read it. What an interesting twist to time travel stories. I loved how tortured Sebastian was over his love for Amelia. Unfortunately, Amelia has zero recollection (there is a reason behind that). And Marco was a great friend to both. I can't go into too much without giving away spoilers but trust me this is a book that you will want to read. I can't wait for book 2.
September 15, 2017
For those that like a suspenseful time traveling mystery, this book delivers. Strong story line and well developed characters are brought to life with highly descriptive diction. Enjoyed the battles, the blood and gore of fight scenes satisfying the want of adventure. Chapters switch points of views between the two main characters, causing me an occasional pause to recall who is talking. (But I'm getting senile) Text is also spotted with the occasional editing errors. Being the first in a series, the ending is a cliffhanger, igniting the hunger for book 2.
Fabulous job, Natalia Schellhaas. It was my pleasure to read your work.
Fabulous job, Natalia Schellhaas. It was my pleasure to read your work.
July 15, 2017
Ok peeps listen up, Natalia Schellhaas's book, The Time Thief, was perfectly named. Time Thief in title and in real life. Your time will be stolen by this book as you will not be able to stop reading and put down for later, like many books. The characters are done so well, you feel like like they are your best friends. The plot goes a little odd as it clashes between current and past, but if you read it properly without distractions you will understand what's being conveyed. Go ahead and meet Amelia, Sebastian and Marco for yourself, I'm sure you will agree with me.
August 4, 2017
I wanted to love it.
I'm a big fan of time travel novels, but this book fell short for me. I felt there was too much repetition about how the main characters met, and not enough of how they fell in love. There was a lack of depth to the characters and the storyline. It just didn't do the trick for me.
I'm a big fan of time travel novels, but this book fell short for me. I felt there was too much repetition about how the main characters met, and not enough of how they fell in love. There was a lack of depth to the characters and the storyline. It just didn't do the trick for me.
August 6, 2017
Received a copy from Quirky Blind Date with a Book
It's an interesting book. Tons of action and drama. Love the story concept. At times there was too much going on and not enough resolution to the issues. But good start to the series.
It's an interesting book. Tons of action and drama. Love the story concept. At times there was too much going on and not enough resolution to the issues. But good start to the series.
October 13, 2017
When I received this for review, I had no idea what to expect. The author was new to me and I did not choose the book. I had no idea if I would enjoy it, but I was willing to go outside my comfort zone. I am glad I' took the chance as it proved to be a worthwhile adventure.
WHAT I LOVED
POV
The story narrated from the POV of Amelia and Sebastian made it easy for me to establish a connection with them as it relates to their fears, doubts, pain, triumphs and challenges. Although they exuded strength and bravery seeing their fears and doubts made them realistic, relatable and likeable.
The Characters
Amelia is the perfect character for a story such as this. She is a strong, feisty, intelligent and kick ass female who takes no crap from anyone. Initially, she is cautious about her approach to the searching of the stone, but as events became clearer, she assumed an authoritative approach.
Sebastian is having a hard time dealing with the loss of Amelia, so it is no surprise he accepted the offer to locate the stone. When he comes face to face with the woman who looks like his dead fiancé and shares the same first name he is determined to protect her at all costs. Not only is he protective, he is arrogant, short-tempered and impulsive.
Then there was Marco, Sebastian's best friend who works for the constabulary. How ironic. He is the polar opposite of Sebastian. He is optimistic, cautious and even-tempered. He is always making fun of his friend, insulting him in an amusing fashion.
I enjoyed their banter and loved how they had each other’s back. Their friendship appeared genuine and unshakeable.
The secondary characters helped to make things interesting and mysterious. Everyone appeared suspect making it difficult to determine the villains from the good guys.
The story moved at a solid pace. There was so much happening; I did not have time to be bored. From the moment, I began reading I was held captive. The manner in which the story was told would make it seem that there was a previous book as there were events in the protagonists' lives that took place prior to this story being told. However, the flashbacks provided helped in piecing the events together which made for a smooth and clear read.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
The ending was a big doozy of a cliffhanger, my biggest pet peeve. To make matters worse the second book is not yet available. I am so not amused.
Sexual tension existed between the protagonists, but I could not get on board with these feelings. This was due in part to me not getting a feel into the strength of the prior relationship that existed between Sebastian and Amela. All I was privy to, was how they met, but had no idea how they fell in love.
Conclusion /Recommendation
Overall, this was a great start to the trilogy. I enjoyed my journey through time, and I am eager to see what next is in store for Amelia and Sebastian.
WHAT I LOVED
POV
The story narrated from the POV of Amelia and Sebastian made it easy for me to establish a connection with them as it relates to their fears, doubts, pain, triumphs and challenges. Although they exuded strength and bravery seeing their fears and doubts made them realistic, relatable and likeable.
The Characters
Amelia is the perfect character for a story such as this. She is a strong, feisty, intelligent and kick ass female who takes no crap from anyone. Initially, she is cautious about her approach to the searching of the stone, but as events became clearer, she assumed an authoritative approach.
Sebastian is having a hard time dealing with the loss of Amelia, so it is no surprise he accepted the offer to locate the stone. When he comes face to face with the woman who looks like his dead fiancé and shares the same first name he is determined to protect her at all costs. Not only is he protective, he is arrogant, short-tempered and impulsive.
Then there was Marco, Sebastian's best friend who works for the constabulary. How ironic. He is the polar opposite of Sebastian. He is optimistic, cautious and even-tempered. He is always making fun of his friend, insulting him in an amusing fashion.
I enjoyed their banter and loved how they had each other’s back. Their friendship appeared genuine and unshakeable.
The secondary characters helped to make things interesting and mysterious. Everyone appeared suspect making it difficult to determine the villains from the good guys.
The story moved at a solid pace. There was so much happening; I did not have time to be bored. From the moment, I began reading I was held captive. The manner in which the story was told would make it seem that there was a previous book as there were events in the protagonists' lives that took place prior to this story being told. However, the flashbacks provided helped in piecing the events together which made for a smooth and clear read.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
The ending was a big doozy of a cliffhanger, my biggest pet peeve. To make matters worse the second book is not yet available. I am so not amused.
Sexual tension existed between the protagonists, but I could not get on board with these feelings. This was due in part to me not getting a feel into the strength of the prior relationship that existed between Sebastian and Amela. All I was privy to, was how they met, but had no idea how they fell in love.
Conclusion /Recommendation
Overall, this was a great start to the trilogy. I enjoyed my journey through time, and I am eager to see what next is in store for Amelia and Sebastian.
February 7, 2017
First off, Thank you so much Natalia for sending me a copy of The Time Thief! I was swept up in this story by the first page, and all I can say is WOW! What a brilliant debut novel! The character development and storyline is superb and will have the reader wanting more with every page! I love Sebastian and Marcos relationship (who doesn't love a friendship like theirs!?) and of course Amelia and Bash! Also that ending!?!?!? I NEED book two now!!!!!
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