Thank you Netgalley for providing me this book in exchange for honest review.

This time jumping story is really good in depiction of the history events of England. The behaviour of Dan who jumped into another time was believable, which is not always a case in this type of stories.
We meet another jumpers as well and we have a bit of trying to find who done it as well.
I have enjoyed the book, it was a quick easy and engrossing read.
What I did not like, was the beginning, however after a while it was starting to be better and better.
The ending was a bit cliche, but okay, it does not bothered me that much and I appreciate some things in the end, which I dont want to spoil :)
Overall great first book in the series, cannot wait what comes next.
4 stars

Sixteen year old Dan Renfrew is transported back in time when he accidentally lands upon a time travel device. All the way back to 1066 England. King Harold is on the throne and preparing for an imminent faceoff with the Norman Army. History tells us that King Harold lost the battle to the Normans but what if the course of history is altered by some rogue time-jumpers. Read the novel to find out.

This novel marks the first one in the Jump-in-time series and is an easy enjoyable read if you like books on historical fiction and time travel. I loved it and look forward to the future instalments. Thank you Imbrifex books, Andrew Varga and Netgalley for the ARC.

There's many time travel books available but this one really stands out in my mind. The action was so jam packed it was difficult to put the book down! Dan is a teen who is sent to England 1066 by his father's command as he is being killed in his own home. Lost in the time period, he befriends another girl time traveler and several evil ones also. The accuracy of the time period is excellent. Can't wait for the second one in the series coming out in September this year.

A very enjoyable book, fast-paced, heart-wrenching, full of mystery and intrigue.

It has a lightly humorous beginning and an interesting approach to time travel concepts. If only changes in big events can affect the future, then our character has more maneuverability.

I am not sure I understand how "all time jumpers live in what we call the present". Either I will discover this later, or it is a weird author-perceived relativity thing. I was happy to take it in stride and the story made sense.

The reality of how much harder and dangerous life can be for a woman, because of what men do is portrayed clearly. More importantly, men's ignorance is highlighted through Dan. I can see the foreshadowing of some nice and needed character development.

Very simple, "matter of fact" description of events of the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Moments of high intensity, like the arrival of reinforcements for the Vikings do make it slightly more interesting.

I like Ceowulf. I was fascinated by his talent which allowed him to always tell whether Dan's words are the truth or lies. And I like how he approaches situations. In general, the housecarls are funny and their sections are nice to read.

The twists, investigations, banter between mercenaries and fun to read and they keep the pace up. I also enjoyed the trial by ordeal and luckily managed to figure out what was happening, just before Dan did.

I am not sure Dan's and Sam's escape from the trouble in the tent in Chapter 28 was a satisfying one. It was pure luck rather than cleverness, but I still enjoyed it, then realised I had been holding my breath.

The Battle of Hastings is heart-wrenching. I loved being caught in Dan's dilemma of choosing to save history or saving his friends. It wasn't quite a "for the greater good" situation, which sometimes is exploited by evil or deranged characters. This was more something morally grey that I believe many of us can empathise with to a certain degree.

Revealing Victor's identity at the end was not something I expected. I thought it would happen in a later book, but it was a nice tool to hook me and make me want to read the next book sooner rather than later.

The Last Saxon King is the first in a series of time jump books for YA. The main character is Dan, a 16 year old who has spent his life being trained to time jump like his father, without knowing about time jumping or that his father was able to do it.

As a first in a series, the author sets the stage and introduces characters that we will likely see in future books. As such, this book might seem to be unfinished, but I’m sure that’s by design. As an adult, this was a bit simple for my tastes, but for the YA audience, this is a nice start to a series. I would have been clamoring for the next book as a teen.

This is perfect for those that are interested in history and like a little fantasy added. I think these types of books are a great way to get the younger generation interested in history.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book has several things that would normally make it a shoo-in for my affections -- time travel, inter-time traveller conflict, set in 1066 (this bloody period somehow makes it onto my 'favourite times to read about'), home-schooled protagonist (I was home-schooled), etc.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed on all of these fronts.

From about chapter five onwards, this is a great adventure novel with a time travel twist and young love abounding. It’s also full of graphic violence, although totally in keeping with the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings. If you happen to be the idiot from the future who has to fight in them, that is.

The first four chapters are where Dan works out that he’s travelled in time, that people are suspicious of a time traveller from the 21st century who lands in their midst. It takes him even longer to work out he has to work for a living, that nothing comes from the shop, that they speak differently (although his time travel gadget solves that problem).

And he must be the whiniest person to discover he’s down to be a superhero you can imagine.

I’ve been allergic to the rash of ‘boy turns x years, discovers his superpowers and goes to school to find out how to use them’ school of MG novel for some time. Dan is just another, although his dad has been training him without any explanation for years. So it turns out that once Dan starts using his head, and trusting the wonderful sidekick Sam, he’s pretty good at Anglo-Saxon warfare.

But Andrew Varga knows his stuff, expounds on the fighting that’s about to happen, and has a neat subplot in the time war. He writes well, and thrillingly. I hope the rest of the series (No 2 coming later this year) is as good. At least it won’t have too much of the whiny stuff, I hope.

I requested this book a few months ago on Net Galley, because of its concept and setting, I don’t usually find books that are based on Celtic mythology and history, which is something that truly interests me.
“The Last Saxon King” is a time travel book, meaning that we have a glimpse of the current days and the past, specifically Anglo-Saxon England. I was intrigued by the concept, because I like when authors explore past cultures and myths, but I must admit that time traveling is not one of my favourite themes. I’m always left confused at how it works and what are the rules, something that did happen in this book. Overall, I would give the concept one star.
We follow a sixteen year old boy named Dan and his life has always been normal, until one day he arrives home and finds a strange man trying to kill his father. Not knowing anything that is going on, Dan’s father throws him a strange cylinder object and tells him to pronounce a rhyme he has known since he was young. After those events, Dan finds himself in Anglo-Saxon England, in the year 1066, not knowing what happened or how to go home. I had some issues with the story, I felt like the pace was a bit too fast, I know it’s a short book, but I would’ve preferred if it was a bit longer, so the world could be explored a bit more and the cultural changes and differences to nowadays. I did, however, like the choice that the author made by putting Dan in the position that he was in, knowing that he was on the side that had to lose, in order for the future to stay the same. I give one star to the story.
The protagonist of this book is Dan, a sixteen year old boy that has had a normal life until his father is attacked. He’s the typical teenage boy that spends most of his free time at the mall, where he browses through shops. When he gets transported back in time and lands in the year 1066, in Anglo-Saxon England, he becomes quite annoying, unfortunately. He’s constantly complaining about the situation he’s in, always needing the help and comfort of Sam to navigate through the world. He had some growth at the end, having the courage to fight in the final battle, but that was about it. Having said this, I’ll give the protagonist zero stars.
The antagonist of this book was also a disappointment. We find out that the antagonist is another time traveller that has plans to change the future in order to rule it, amongst other time travellers. A war has begun between them and that’s the reason behind the attack on Dan’s father, for he was against changing the past. The motives are shallow and we barely get to know the men behind Dan, so I’ll also give zero stars to the antagonist.
Last but not least, we have a diverse set of characters, but the one that stands out the most is Sam, a teenage girl that is also a time traveller. Unlike Dan, she knew about time travelling, because she spied her father while he taught her brother everything he needed to know. Just like Dan’s father, Sam’s father and brother died by the hand of the time travellers who want to change the past. Sam begins time travelling in order to fix the past and avenge her father and brother and finds Dan on one of her travels. She starts has being a sort of cold and distant person, for she is afraid of getting attached to people, because once she does she always ends up being abandoned by them. But, just like Dan, she is a stereotypical teenager and although she isn’t as annoying as Dan, there isn’t anything that makes her stand out to me, but I’ll give her one star, because there was nothing made me dislike her.
To conclude, I give this book three stars out of ten. I think this book is a great way to start reading fantasy and it has potential to become something great.

Follow along as Dan Renfew, a teenager from the city, finds himself time jumping to historical England circa 1066 AD. Throughout his journey to save history and find a way home, Dan discovers things about himself, his father, and his fellow time jumpers that leaves him (and the reader) wondering what will happen next?

A solid story of YA historical fantasy. I would say this is perfect reading for middle school aged children. It’s a fast read and the main character, Dan, is very likable. The storyline is adventurous, unique, and I really enjoyed the incorporation of actual historical events. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books, and Andrew Varga for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the characters. The premise was interesting and I was so excited to start, but the characters felt like they lacked depth and ultimately I just didn’t invest enough in them. For example, in the first chapters we find out the main characters mom died, but there were no associated emotions to it so I could never feel like I knew him. Again, the premise is very cool, but the writing may not be enough for readers who are very character driven.

In the modern world, sixteen year old Daniel Renfrew has a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his home-schooled education has consisted primarily of history and medieval combat lessons. Despite the seemingly bizarre choices his teacher father has thrust upon him, though, Daniel has gone along with the plan without too much trouble. However, when an unexpected meeting goes suddenly awry, Daniel finds that all his training has been for more than just appeasing the interests of his father. There is more lurking beneath the surface, and it is up to Daniel to find the truth after he is unceremoniously launched into England in 1066 and must determine how to make his way safely home.

This book is the first in its series and introduces readers to Daniel and his unusual circumstances. Though he has been trained well, Daniel has never learned the critical pieces of information that would cement his knowledge into something useful. Thus, when he is transported through time, he is perpetually yet endearingly incompetent and is lucky to survive from one moment to the next. Fortunately, another character named Sam comes to Daniel’s rescue, and the two find themselves on the same side of a battle that is larger than anything they have ever known. True historical moments and beliefs anchor this narrative in reality, and readers will enjoy the overall story while history comes to life around them.

Excellent writing, detailed descriptions, and believable dialogue form the backbone of this book, and the narrative flows with haste from beginning to end. Thanks to the careful design of the story and the expert pacing, readers will have a difficult time putting the book down. Occasional strong language, descriptions of violence, and hints at romance speak to a young adult audience, but mature middle grade readers through adults will find elements of this book that will speak to them, as well. Meticulously researched and elegantly crafted, this is a series starter that will leave readers clambering for the next installment. This is a fantastic addition to historical fiction collections for young adult readers.

Sometimes it's a bit tricky to review certain books. Like this one, I really enjoyed the premise and the overall story arc, but some aspects bothered me enough that I have to weigh how much they affected my overall enjoyment of the story. An interesting note is that I read book 2 before book 1, and I think I enjoyed book 2 more, and it could even be a good starting point for all readers. Some details were fuzzy, such as how Dan had his own condo, but they didn't detract from being engrossed in the book. Not knowing the exact details of the battle from book 1, only having book 2's references to go on, in book 2 I thought that Dan was probably pretty ready to lead the army as he proposed to do. I had a pretty high expectation of his battle prowess and planning skills, based on only a partial view of book 1. However, after reading book 1, that one detail has changed my perception of Dan and Sam's confidence in him in book 2. It felt like, in book 1, he was supposed to be pretty talented at 1-on-1 combat due to his training, but he didn't really show that skill as much as I'd have expected from the talk in that book and book 2. He did win his fights, but not always by skill. When he faced warriors in battle, it was actually a pretty big leap of imagination to believe that he had what it takes to go up against them and win, and that part kind of lost me a bit because I wasn't convinced of its realism. I didn't want him being beat down, but he did not come across as someone who could take down many men by skill alone, so when he did, I just could not fully buy into it. Still, of course, it had to serve the plot. I'm not sure how else I would have wanted that to play out. It was just a bit irksome to me. He constantly thought he was about to die in the next moment, but then kept not. He wasn't even hurt much, except for one cut very early on and then one toward the end. I just found it hard to suspend belief and stay in the story for some of the fighting parts. I appreciated, though, that he was humble for the most part, instead of barging around (all the time, at least) assuming that he knew what was best. I hate arrogance in protagonists, I much prefer some self-awareness and humility, and Dan Renfrew displays those more than an unwarranted ego.

Was that all my leading paragraph? Oops. I tried really hard to make my thoughts concise, but sometimes I fail at that. By "sometimes", I mean "often".

Dan was pretty cringey when it came to Sam. That's to be expected from a teenage boy, and especially one who has spent most of his life in isolation with just his dad. So it's uncomfortable to read about, but I think it's realistic. Coming from a woman who's been pretty cringey on a number of occasions, I can give the guy some grace on that front.

The storyline of Dan's dad being attacked and in an unknown state for most of the book was pretty heavy. It was handled well, though, allowing the book to not be depressing or all about that, but to weigh it down a bit. There was good balance between lighter fare and the more emotionally-turbulent aspects of the plot.

I wanted a horse to trample over Sam's step-dad. Maybe even her mom. I really hope Sam gets out of that situation before long. Sam herself goes through a bit of a transformation between books 1 and 2. I don't think she shied away from crowds at all in book 2, after being pretty averse to them in book 1. Character growth, I guess, which I suppose can be inferred from her increasing comfort toward the end of book 1. Maybe if I'd read the books in order I'd have better seen the natural progression of her comfort level in that regard. Dan seems to have taken a pretty big confidence jump in between the books, which works well in book 2. I know this isn't a review of book 2, but it all ties together as one story, so I want to mention those thoughts here.

This series has me fascinated with the history that's accurate, and I look forward to reading more from Mr. Varga in this vein.

I have read a lot of young adult novels, especially fantasy in the last few years, but this is the first one that is really geared towards young men. It is probably most geared toward preteen, early teen boys. So it was a little gory and a little battle focused, but it was a fun read. This is the first in the Jump In Time series. It features Dan who is still recovering from the death of his father when he suddenly finds himself in England in 1066. He must figure out why is there and how he can get home. It has some interesting historical information in it and if I had a 13-16 year old boy in my life I would definitely recommend this one. I don't think it will appeal to an audience bigger than that.

I don't usually read young adult, but this novel pleasantly surprised me. It is well-written and engaging. It's cleverly written and witty. The humor is something multiple audiences can enjoy. I'm homeschooling my daughter, and this gave me a lot of laughs... I'm also giving her a classical education.

The setting with the time travel is well researched. I think this would be an amusing read for history buffs and kids asking why the need to learn history.

The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga is a time travel story about young time-jumpers. It is first in a series about Dan who finds himself transported unexpectedly into 1066AD.

The publisher’s blurb is an excellent introduction:

Life is progressing normally for sixteen-year-old Dan Renfrew when he accidentally transports himself to England in the year 1066. He soon realizes that he’s trapped there, and that’s not his only astonishing discovery. Dan learns that he’s descended from a long line of time jumpers—secret heroes who travel to the past and resolve glitches in the time stream that threaten to alter subsequent history. The only way Dan can return home is to set history back on its proper course in the Anglo-Saxon age. This is no easy task. A Viking horde is ravaging England in the north while a Norman army threatens to invade from the south. In between and desperately struggling to hold on to his throne is Harold Godwinson, the newly-crowned English king. Dan is fighting to ensure that events play out correctly when he finds himself plunged into an even more lethal conflict. To save history, Dan must battle a band of malevolent time jumpers whose lust for wealth and power threatens the entire future of the world.

This is an absolutely marvellous time travel story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It has been superbly researched so the historical aspects ring true and seeing through the eyes of a young person from this day and age is very insightful. Looking forward to heading the second book in the series.

Highly recommended read for those who love time trave.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Imbrifex Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#The Last SaxonKing #NetGalley

I surprisingly really enjoyed this.
Written at a middle school/pre-teen level, this is superficially a history novel of the Battle of Hastings

The fun twist is it is written from the perspective of 16 year old Dan, from modern times, who accidentally time travels back to the period and is clueless to the customs and context of the era except for his homeschool history lessons.

Simplistic enough, and gory enough for early teen boys to enjoy, it's an interesting adventure novel

Andrew Vargas The Last Saxon King was a quick, enticing read. I enjoyed the story and thought it flowed well. There was obviously a lot of research that went into the book, and I enjoyed the historical aspect of the novel immensely. Looking forward to future novels in the series!

This is a different kind of time travel novel, one that seems well suited for teenage boys in search of an adventure read. I am perhaps not the intended audience at all, but I’m enjoying it nevertheless.
The main character is a member of a time-traveling family, but doesn’t know it until his father is cut down by a sword right in front him. The last act of his father is to throw him a device that transports him to England in 1066. By a small miracle, he lands near another, more experienced time traveler who recognizes that this boy in modern clothes will be targeted for death immediately if he doesn’t master a few simple principles of living in the past.
Daniel Renfrew becomes Leofric, and finds himself volunteered to go off with an older man, Osmund, to fight for the king. He discovers that there is time glitch that he must fix before he can go home.
Sam is the more experienced time traveler who seems to appear (repeatedly) just in time to pull Daniel/Leofric out of his life-threatening situation when it things go awry. Sam, however, is not exactly who he seems to be, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
One thing I must say: Edwards does not dumb down the medieval period to spare our sensibilities. In fact, this work is based on the famous Battle at Stamford Bridge in 1066 which is generally considered the last of the major Viking raids on England. It ends at the Battle of Hastings, which changed the course of British history. Varga’s research was excellent.
Whether or not I am the intended audience, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual time travel novel, and will almost certainly read the next one, coming out in September.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 is one of my favorite historical events to read about, so it was the primary reason I picked this up. Time travel stories can be hit or miss, and this one does several things well: the protagonist does not spend an annoyingly long amount of time doubting that he has traveled back, the plot does not become caught up in the mechanisms of travel, and issues of translation and language are quickly addressed. The story is tight and packaged into a well-paced, easy, genuinely enjoyable light read. Both main characters are likeable and the clues to further adventures are satisfyingly sprinkled in. At times, dialogue and characters seemed overly simplified, but the action and suspense (especially towards the end) kept the read engaging. I definitely want more from Dan and Sam and will be keeping an eye out for the sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the events of 1066 who is looking for a fun, fast read.

I live for time travel books. This kind of books always fascinates me.

I've read both epub version and audiobook version. I highly recommend the audiobook.

What I like about this one is the theme. And it's fast-paced. But all the executions in this book is too simple. I was expecting a lot of action or like a deeper history plot on this one. But since this is just the first book, I wouldn't mind picking up the next book in this series. I'll still give it a shot.