This book was disappointing. After absolutely loving other works by Rysa Walker I had been extremely excited to start on this series. I got about 1/3 in and just couldn't continue. The story line didn't grab my attention, it didn't do a lot of character building, and I felt it was just lacking in detail.

Unfortunately, I was unable to really get into this book. It had a good premise, but it just didn't grab me enough to stay interested.

This was a DNF for me.

The pens was so appealing to me because I am beyond ing in time travel, but as much as I wanted to I just could not get into it. I tried several times.

Even time travel moves slowly

This carefully written book could be so much shorter and the pace could be so much faster. Things moved so slowly (even skipping, as I did, the various news articles, pages from manuals, and other non-essential inserts) that I could not maintain any interest in the story or characters.

Wasn't the biggest fan. Prefer more grounded scenarios in my time travel hypotheticals (if grounded time travel is even a thing), and felt the plot scattered along loudly but never took me anywhere truly surprising. But there were some unique concepts at play and at least one twist I didn't see coming.

I should’ve started with the original series because I’m pretty sure some references were lost on me. But apart from that I loved the story. Time traveling? Hell yes!

I can’t imagine the time and imagination needed to create something like this universe. Mind-blowing is the world that comes to mind. Fascinating and astonishing are coming right behind. This is a story that will stay with you long after you finished it. The story is complicated, complex so it needs your full attention but it sure is worth it.

And the characters? Well-rounded, interesting, so full of life. I wish I could go with them.

I need to get my hands on the original series.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for my copy.

Here's part of what I wrote about Timebound, Rysa Walker's first published novel:

'While it is set up as science fiction, the science doesn't bear close examination, particularly the genetic science. A single "genetic gift" just doesn't make you "good at computers" or predispose you to love a particular avocation, and I'm fairly sure the author misuses the genetic terms "dominant" and "recessive" as well. Nor is the logic of the time-travel devices and their limitations particularly consistent throughout the story. It's basically technology-as-magic, and genetic-gift-as-inherited-magical-gift. The idea that the time travel devices give off light that's seen in different colours by different individuals, and that those who can't use them can't see the light at all, makes no scientific sense, although it's a moderately cool idea. Basically, this is a fantasy given a superficially scientific-sounding skin.'

All of this is still applicable, minus the mention of "dominant" and "recessive" and plus a caution that intelligence, for example, is a) complex, b) almost impossible to define satisfactorily, c) much more influenced by environment than it is by genetics, and d) inasmuch as it is influenced by genetics, influenced by multiple genes, each of which is also likely to have other effects if you tweak it. For more on all of this, I recommend Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini, and the series of podcasts on "G" (general intelligence) from Radiolab.

So the genetics makes no sense whatsoever; best to just accept that and enjoy the ride. Because it is quite a ride, and (unlike some other time travel books I could mention), even if the author has little understanding of genetics, she's spent a good deal of effort on the history part. The action mostly takes place in the mid 1960s, around the civil rights movement, a Beatles tour of the US, and the KKK's response to these events. (While they used Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comment, taken out of context, as a pretext, the KKK's dislike of the Beatles apparently had much more to do with their opposition to segregation.) I make the disclaimer that I don't have expert knowledge of this time period or these events, but I had the impression that the author had done her research thoroughly and thought about it deeply, and woven it into a strong story with characters who feel human and multidimensional. They're not always self-consistent - for example, the researcher with an expertise in gender studies, who is with a toxic narcissist of a boyfriend who uses all the classic belittling, projecting, and isolating tactics on her - but this is part of what makes them feel real.

Time travel always has the potential of becoming confusing, but I didn't feel confused. Both of the protagonists were interesting, and their plot threads intersected at what felt like the right time, neither too early nor too late. The tension, suspense, and action worked well for me as well, without ever becoming a dumb action movie. It's an intelligent book, but it's not over-impressed with its own intelligence, or trying to be too clever and ending up confusing and pretentious. The heroes set out to do the right thing at potential risk to themselves, while the villains set out to do what benefited them and didn't care about others bearing the cost, which is how I like my heroes and villains. The personal impact of events was handled well; too often, characters just carry on stoically despite terrible trauma, or accept perplexing or distressing events without apparent perplexity or distress, and this book avoids those traps, without becoming overly dramatic or angsty.

I picked this up in part because it's marketed as a new series, though in the same setting as her earlier time-travel books. I only read the first of those, not just because the science was nonsense, but because it hit a few too many well-worn YA tropes for my taste. This isn't as trope-ridden, isn't YA, and although the previous series was clearly a massive part of the background, I followed the story adequately even though I'd only read one of the previous books, and that six years ago.

Something that that first book and this book have in common is that they're well edited, which is refreshing to see. Not tripping over bad copy editing every few pages makes for a much smoother and more enjoyable read.

Overall, then, if you set aside the completely whack genetic science and just put it in mental brackets as a form of magic, this is a strong, well-written and enjoyable book, well above average for characters, storytelling, and copy editing. It thoroughly deserves a spot on my Best of the Year list.

First of all, thank you to Wunderkind PR 47North for sending me an ARC of this book.

Now, Then, and Everywhen was a perfectly fine book. It felt very fine the whole time. That's the only descriptor I can really think of. Fine.

Time travel is not typically my favorite element in a book, and I have to find the time-travel system believable in order to buy into the narrative. Overall, I have no issues with the time travel system written by Rysa Walker. The concept of this book is so fun, and I could not wait to dive in.

That being said, the execution was not quite as exciting as the premise promised. I do not feel strongly about any of the characters in the book, and it made it hard to get through because I couldn't get invested in the characters and their relationships. As the book wore on, it got more convoluted and difficult to keep the characters and what was happening straight.

All in all, I would recommend this if you love time travel, Science Fiction, or the original series. If not, maybe pass on this one.

I do plan on talking about this book in my March Wrapup which is set to post on May first to my youtube channel which is linked. I have also posted my review to Goodreads.

This has many many reviews already. I don't think I can add anything helpful, so I'll just say that time travel fans will probably dig this one although it isn't as good as her other work. The author has quite the following.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

The Chronos Files is absolutely the best speculative time travel fiction that I have read, and I was sad that it was only a trilogy - until now! More Rysa Walker brilliance, this time all about the origin of Chronos.

As always, Walker weaves a fast paced, intricate story and yet never makes me confused! Great new characters in the well loved Chronos world. If you haven't read anything by Walker before, you will still understand the story, but I would read the Timebound series first!