Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a highly recommended time traveling tale. If you are someone who thinks about ancient Rome at least once a day, this will be an excellent choice for you.

Robert "Rabbit" Ward is a chrono-archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Considered one of the best now, he still regrets a failure from twenty years ago when he lost his mentee, Aaron, and a precious menorah of the Temple of Jerusalem hidden in ancient Rome in 455 CE. Now new evidence reveals the menorah reappearance in 535 CE Constantinople and Rabbit is ready to find it this time. Problems surface in Constantinople when, among other things, an unlicensed “stringer” named Helen, is also hunting the menorah.

At the beginning the Splinter Effect as it relates to time travel is explained to set the rules into place how it works, but not a lot of time is spent on detailed science fiction elements of the plot. The pace at the beginning is even, but it does pick up quickly later in the novel. Rabbit is an interesting, fully realized individual. There are action scenes and plenty of danger mixed into the narrative.

This is an imaginative action story, but is mostly a historical fiction novel set in Constantinople in 535 CE. I liked the novel, but all the historical details bogged me down at times. Those who love the history of ancient Rome and can enjoy a time traveling tale will likely also appreciate this novel. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Splinter Effect
By Andrew Ludington

Robert "Rabbit" Ward is a chrono-archeologist – in layman's terms, a time traveler. He works for the Smithsonian. He is sort of the "rock star" of his field until things started going wrong with his jumps. He was being shadowed by operatives from more than one competitor and when he returned to his time, the item he had brought forward in time was already pillaged from his hiding spot.

But by far his worst failure was his jump to the sacking of Rome by the Vandals, where he failed to bring back the Menorah – AND Aaron Kahan, his sponsors' son who he left behind in Rome thinking he was dead.
Rabbit is now struggling to save his career and also to deal with his guilt over Aaron.

This is an interesting book on many levels: where and when in time can jumps be made; how long can they last; and just what can the chrono-archeologist accomplish without triggering the splinter effect disrupting history. But also there are the moral issues – what must the jumper allow to happen back in time and what can he try to prevent. Obviously, the boundaries of time travel are not fully understood.

This is a very good debut novel. I hope that Mr. Ludington will choose to write a sequel or sequels about Rabbit Ward and company.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

1/5 stars: This is Ludington's stand-alone which is a Science Fiction Time Travel Historical Adventure that features an archaeologist who travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Determined to redeem himself from past failures, he travels to 6th century Constantinople to recover a long-lost, precious menorah. But he'll have to deal with an annoyingly appealing "stinger”, conflicts of the time and someone who's willing to kill for the menorah. Ludington's writing and character work are well done. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 21%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Could not finish. To much depedence on history not enough story for me. This time travel book does not give me thrill of other books who put you into the experience

I love time travel stories, and this one was a super interesting one. A time traveler historian goes back in time to try to retrieve an artifact. But if they alter history so much they can cause the reality to splinter into two. So he has to be very careful on what he does, and make sure to return on time to see if they were able to retrieve it in the present time. I like how clever the plot is, and so much action takes place back then and now.

3.5-4 stars
Historical fiction about a time-traveling archeologist who goes back in time to retrieve ancient artifacts. Sounds fantastic but fell just a bit short. I didn't really connect with any of the characters and found the plot to be a bit convoluted. But I thought the author did a good job bringing 6th century Constantinople to life and making the time travel seem plausible.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Rabbit is a successful and respected chrono-archeologist, someone who travels to the past to retrieve lost historical artifacts. However, when an illegal time traveler steals an artifact from him before it can be recovered, his backers pull their funding from his missions, and he has to do something drastic to prevent the end of his career. He must try once again to retrieve the menorah from the second Jewish temple, a mission that ended in failure and tragedy the first time. This time he'll be searching in ancient Constantinople, the then Capitol of the Roman Empire, as he dodges political unrest and threats to his very life in an attempt to find the priceless piece of history.

While this book isn't expertly written, it is very entertaining, and I highly recommend it. Exploring ancient Constantinople, learning about the beautiful architecture and foreign culture is fun. The story is also packed with action – fights, escapes, a chariot race at the Hippodrome, and much more that I can’t mention without providing spoilers. The plot, especially the last third or so, is also full of twists and turns that surprised the heck out of me. It left me legitimately unsure what to expect out of the next book in the series, but in the best possible way. I can’t wait to find out what is next for the main character, as well as the supporting characters.

That being said, from a technical standpoint, this book has some serious weaknesses. The plot relies on coincidence way too much, in my opinion. The story structure is odd enough that I thought I had hit the end at least three times before the book actually ended. I sometimes struggled to know who was saying what during conversations because there weren’t enough dialogue tags and other indications to provide clarity. Also, something about the prose felt, for lack of a better word, immature. That might have been a stylist choice on the part of the writer, but if it was, it was a choice that didn’t work for me.

That being said, this is the writer’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what type of a novelist they mature into with experience. This book demonstrates that they have a great deal of creativity and many interesting, and I look forward to seeing where they take the rest of this series and any other books the writer may write.

Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

TW: death, murder, gun violence, physical violence, imprisonment, somewhat graphic medical situation

I originally thought I was going to DNF this book. The first half was extremely slow and too detailed for me to understand what was happening. However, the second half made up for it, it was fast paced and lots of thrill.

This is a very fun, fast-paced and entertaining time-travel adventure. Rabbit goes back in time to recover lost artifacts. He has wins and a devastating loss but, when he’s almost finished as a time-traveler, he gets a chance to finally catch his Moby Dick. There isn’t too much exposition with regards to the mechanics of the time dilator that allows people to go back, but there is a lot of historical research. Everything that Rabbit sees and learns is a fun history lesson. The implications of his actions also loom and provide a ticking clock to increase the suspense. There is also a mysterious woman who has been appearing at crucial moments to compete with Rabbit. I had fun reading this, even if I had some issues with the plot. The story advances a little sloppily. Some parts go by very quickly and other lag. Apparently insurmountable problems get solved very easily and there are too many coincidences. I didn’t mind this too much, since I love time travel stories and these always by nature require a huge suspension of disbelief. Entertaining.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.

Time travel stories can be mixed bags - the mechanics of doing the traveling can be so confusing. I liked the way that was handled in this story. Ludington didn’t over explain the mechanisms (which can give me a headache), but he didn’t underexplain either. The story itself was very exciting, with lots (LOTS!) of entertaining twists and turns. I’d be happy to read a sequel.

Splinter Effect
by Andrew Ludington
Science Fiction Historical
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 16+

Rabbit Ward is an archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian to retrieve lost treasures the moment they disappear from history, funded by the government and private collectors. But the Smithsonian and its sponsors aren't the only people who have the time travel technology, and there is one woman, Helen, who seems to pop up during Rabbit's expeditions, stealing what he retrieved.

On an expedition to Constantinople, hunting for the menorah, the same one that in a previous expedition had cost the life of the young man accompanying Rabbit, once again Helen is there, shadowing his search. When it starts to look as if there is someone else who also wants the menorah, willing to kill to achieve their goal, the two of them make a truce. But there is something about the whole thing that feels out of place to Rabbit.


I was hoping for more time travel adventures, but this story pretty much stayed at Constantinople. I am not a history buff, so I do not know how much of the detail descriptions, which sometimes dragged on to irritable, were correct, or the time frame and events that were talked about, and while I hope there is truth to it and the author did their research, I took it, as I do with all history/scientific fiction, with a grain of salt. The author is human, so mistakes can happen and embellishments are a part of fiction.

This story moved along at a good and steady pace, had action here and there, and the characters and setting were really developed, though I kind of wish a little more was spent on the science of the time travel. The how it worked and was discovered, I don't feel was described, but the 'splinter effect' (different timelines) was really thought out.

If it hadn't been for the over descriptions that I started to skim so I didn't get bored, I would've given this one more star. Because I can see how this could become a series, I would be interested in reading more.

3 Stars

I am rounding up. I think my biggest issue with the book is that it seems to be marketed as some kind of time-traveling Indiana Jones (just look at the cover!). And there are definitely elements of that. But the VAST majority of the book takes place in 6th century Constantinople. That makes this a historical fiction book. And that it not what I was expecting, nor what I wanted to read.

The beginning of the book was intriguing, and the set-up of time travel and how it worked was well-done (there was just enough information to make it believable, but not so much that it got bogged down in science or technical/logistical issues). It did start to get a little weird for me when ti was revealed that rich people were paying others to travel in time to get priceless artifacts just so they could add to their collection, and everyone was "fine" with that. I mean, I suppose the black market for archaeological items has always been like that, but in the book the government was well aware and just did not seem to care at all. I would have liked it better I think, if there was more focus on the academic value of acquiring these artifacts, and then maybe others stealing them, instead of the incredibly wealthy just out-right funding these "expeditions" to the past.

There was also a big emphasis on keeping a low-profile and not affecting history in any way, but our MC Rabbit (not a fan of that nickname, by the way. I guess we were going for some kind of "Indiana" tie-in, but it didn't work for me), has no qualms with manufacturing an introduction to the emperor of Constantinople, and then sharing diplomatic/political insider information with him? His justification is that "he'll find out about this time in the historical record, anyways, so it's fine." That directly goes against what he's been told not to do. Once I reached this point in the book I started skimming. I did not want to read a sword and sandal novel. But that's what I got. There were massive amounts of detail that really had no bearing on the story--unless this is a straight historical fiction novel--and characters that felt superfluous. And towards the end things got even more convoluted, with more trips back and forth in time, and no real explanation of any kind of "splintering."

I wanted to rate it lower, because although the premise sounding very interesting, it was just not well-executed. At all. But, it was obviously well-researched, and as I mentioned, the way the time-travel aspect was introduced/explained "made sense" (I've read a couple similar books lately where the time-travel elements didn't feel organic or logical, even with a suspension of belief). I think this book needs to be marketed differently. It's not an action/adventure with a time-traveling archaeologist saving history from evil foes, breaking hearts and defying danger all along the way. It's historical fiction, with a novel and unique way to get a modern-day protagonist back in the past.

From the moment I started reading, I was thrown into a fast-paced, action-packed story that kept me on my toes. I followed the main character, Rabbit, as he zipped through the past to 535 CE Constantinople, hunting down the menorah of the Second Temple he had lost twenty years earlier.

I know time travel stories can be confusing, but not this one. I was impressed by Ludington's amazing knack for making the time jumps feel smooth and natural. I never found myself scratching my head trying to figure out how the time travel works in this story.

What really hooked me was Rabbit's character arc. I could see this guy had some serious baggage, and I was rooting for him as he got a second chance to fix a past mistake that had been eating at him. I loved seeing how he developed throughout the story especially when faced to make a choice.

And then there's Helen. Oh boy, Helen! I found her to be this fascinating character who's part ally, part rival. I kept wanting to know more about her backstory. For me, she added this extra layer of intrigue to the whole plot.

The best part? I felt "Splinter Effect" was fresh and unique. It had all these different elements - history, sci-fi, a bit of romance - all mixed together into what I'd call a perfect cocktail of a story. And just when I thought I had it figured out, bam! Another plot twist came along to shake things up.

I've got to say, I've never read anything quite like this before. It's one of those books I found hard to put down once I started. If you're looking for an exciting reading adventure that'll keep you guessing, I definitely recommend checking out "Splinter Effect".

Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for my free books.

This well paced novel is kind of Indiana Jones with time travel. With engaging characters, there was a lot of fascinating history to keep the reader turning the pages. This debut novel is apparently the start of a series. I'll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

While this is an interesting idea, I ended up having to DNF around 20%. The characters did not do much to stand out for me, and the much of the plot felt too much like other stuff I’ve read featuring time travel. For readers who haven’t read as much of this type of book it could be perfectly fine and enjoyable.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rabbit, a time-traveling archaeologist, travels to Constantinople to find the Second Temple's menorah. The last time he traveled to this world to secure the artifacts before they were lost to history, he lost the menorah. When he learns of the menorah's reappearance, he seizes the opportunity and travels to Constantinople in the sixth century.

This book is a mix of science fiction, history, and time travel. I enjoyed reading about the history.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC through Net Galley.
Release date March 18, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Splitter Effect by Andrew Ludington. In this inventive novel, Ludington explores the complexities of identity and the unforeseen consequences of a mysterious phenomenon that splits more than just the physical self. His writing is clever and thought-provoking, blending psychological suspense with speculative twists that kept me engaged. I particularly appreciated how he delved into the emotional turmoil of the protagonist, even if some of the technical explanations felt a bit dense and slowed the momentum at times. Overall, Splitter Effect is a unique and engaging read that will appeal to fans of smart, character-driven stories who don't mind a few meandering passages along the way.

A fast-paced tale with a believable protagonist and well-done setting
In The Splinter Effect, mankind has accomplished time travel. This gives archaeologists wonderful opportunities to explore old eras and even to retrieve precious artifacts, but time travelers must be VERY CAREFUL not to disturb anything that could change history. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is determined to find and bring back a precious gold menorah, especially since his previous attempt to obtain the menorah had resulted in the loss of his young mentee Aaron. Rabbit travels to 6th-century Constantinople but finds more obstacles when he arrives than he had anticipated, including a would-be collaborator/competitor named Helen. Where did she come from, and how did she find out about this expedition?
I am a science fiction fan, but you do not have to like SF to enjoy this book. There is a lot to like in The Splinter Effect. First of all, there is a gripping plot with lots of unpredictable but credible twists and turns. Rabbit is a believable nicely drawn character that I could sympathize with and root for. The historical time travel gives an opportunity for some well-done exploration of the eras Rabbit visits, and I enjoyed the information about times that were not covered in my survey history classes. It was interesting and thought-provoking to read Rabbit’s musings as he tries to fit into the eras he visits, such as the etiquette of being a good guest in Constantinople in 535 CE. A feature I always enjoy in a book is humorous commentary, like Rabbit trying to fit into the protocols of the era and coming to understand why the word “byzantine” had come to be synonymous with complexity.
Back to the plot. Finally, The Splinter Effect has a satisfying ending with a surprise that makes room for more adventures in a follow-up book! I look forward to it.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

Clever, thrilling and imaginative story! Great multi-faceted, realistic characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.