Can I hope for a sequel? I'd love to know what happens next in Rabbit's career. Rabbit has a sterling reputation as a chrono archeologist but has been haunted for twenty years about the job where he lost a team member. His reputation is now sinking as a mysterious rival keeps beating him to the punch and stealing the relics he was sent for. He has one last chance to make it all good again. This story has so many twists, turns, and surprises! And the history "lessons" are a real bonus!

This was such a good read! The author seamlessly melded time travel and history to create an intricate plot that grabbed me on the first page and never let up. The main character was extremely likeable and I rooted for him on every page. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

This book takes a unique approach to time travel, but it unfolds at an incredibly slow pace. The main reason for that is the author's deep focus on details—especially Rabbit’s every movement. While I appreciate thorough storytelling, this level of detail sometimes felt excessive and slowed down the plot.

The historical aspects were fascinating, but at times, the sheer amount of history overshadowed the story itself. I often found myself pausing just to look up certain events or items, which was interesting but also pulled me out of the narrative. As for the characters, there wasn’t much development. It’s not that they were stagnant—the story simply revolved around Rabbit’s actions rather than his personality or inner growth. Helen was initially positioned as an adversary, but that didn’t really hold up in the end.

What I truly enjoyed was the historical depth. If you love diving into history, this book has plenty to offer. But if you're looking for a strong character-driven time travel story, the plot might not hold your interest. I’d recommend it mainly for history enthusiasts who enjoy detailed accounts of the era.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about time travel and going back in time. It tells you all about very interesting ancient times, and the treasures they had.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 18, 2025
Rabbit Ward is a Smithsonian chrono-archaeologist, traveling through time in order to unearth precious treasures from days past. Twenty years ago, Rabbit lost his partner and his prize when a search went very, very wrong. Now, Rabbit has the oppourtunity to get back what he lost but it doesn’t come without risk. Once he makes the jump and ends up in 6th century Constantinople not only does he have to outrun his competitor, a young woman named Helen, but he also has to do the best he can to ensure he doesn’t change the path of history, while the country itself is on the verge of a revolution.
Andrew Ludington’s “Splinter Effect” is his first novel, and, no doubt, it will be the first novel in a series. Sharp and creative, “Effect” is a historical fiction novel with some nifty sci-fi elements and it is definitely a unique and engaging read.
If, during time travel, Rabbit or his comrades act in such a way that the future as they know it, the universe experiences what Rabbit calls a “splinter effect” and the time traveler is stuck in that era forever, unable to return to their time. Not just a crafty name for the novel, the “splinter effect” provides readers with a solid and sensible time travel theory that answers all the obvious questions. Ludington manages to explain a highly complex and detailed scientific process with generalizable words and language, and he deserves high praise.
Rabbit travels back to a time much farther back than most alternate-time frame novels I’ve read, and it is this factor that helps “Splinter” rise above the rest. Chariot racing, gladiator battles and lost relics add more drama to the already entertaining plot, as Rabbit races to unearth a valuable artifact before his time runs out and he can’t return home.
High-octane, informative, well-written and imaginative, “Splinter Effect” is a stellar debut that will appeal to a wide variety of readers and I hope to hear more from Ludington (and hopefully Rabbit)!

What an absolutely brilliant premise for a book! Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a combination of adventure tale, Indian Jones type archaeological mystery, romance, fantasy, and intriguing thriller. It is a non-stop page-turner with twists and turns and an absolutely satisfying ending that makes you want to read more.
Ludington is a skilled story-teller, and that this is his first novel is surprising. The book is well-written, and the academic sections only support the sweeping epic feel of the story. The characters are intriguing and fun, adding to the escapism provided to the reader.
I sincerely hope that there will be more adventures of Rabbit Ward to enjoy in the future. Thank you to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for the ARC of #SplinterEffect

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Kudos to the author for pulling off the time travel element of the story. I love time travel books if they're done well - unfortunately, lots of them are not. I would definitely read more Rabbit Ward books if this turns into a series. And I really wanted to give this higher rating but I found myself skimming too much of the second half. The book started off so strong then got bogged down in the history of Constantinople, which got too boring for me. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and that didn't help keep my attention. The twist, if you want to call it that, didn't have the "oh my gosh - gasp" aspect that it should have, because by that time, I just wanted it to be over. At 320 pages, it felt way longer. The ending was good, though, which makes me think there might be a sequel. If you can get through that middle part, it's worth it.

Rabbit Ward is a time-traveling archaeologist (though modern archaeologists would have a mild stroke at his activities), more of an Indiana Jones type looking for specific items to bring back without doing anything to change the course of known history, or the timeline will splinter into a new timeline - the splinter effect. Easier said than done apparently. Rabbit has been having trouble the last few years after a debacle with the 2nd Temple menorah, and someone stealing his finds before he can retrieve them. But another opportunity for the menorah reveals itself, and we're off on a madcap caper into Byzantium Constantinople. Very exciting and wild, lots of action and interesting characters, as I said, very Indiana Jones with a touch of Jodi Taylor and Connie Willis (but not their depth). Great fun. Recommended.

Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington is a solid, action-packed read that will keep you entertained, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark in every area. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars—it's a decent book, but it leaves a bit to be desired.

The premise of the book is intriguing, with a unique sci-fi twist and a plot that has plenty of potential. Ludington does a great job creating a high-stakes world where the tension is palpable, and there are moments of real excitement. The pacing is fast enough to keep you turning the pages, and there are some cool twists that will definitely surprise you.

However, the characters didn’t quite grab me the way I’d hoped. They’re not badly written, but they feel a little flat at times. I didn’t find myself particularly invested in their journeys or struggles, and some of their motivations felt a bit underdeveloped. Also, the dialogue can be a bit stiff and forced in places, which made it hard for me to fully connect with the characters.

The plot itself is solid, but there are a few moments where it gets bogged down in details or repetitive scenes that slow things down. Some of the action sequences, while fun, feel a little over-the-top and lose a bit of their impact because of how frequently they occur. It’s like the book is trying to throw in as much excitement as possible, but it doesn’t always give the quieter, more emotional moments the time they deserve.

That being said, Splinter Effect is still a fun, quick read for fans of sci-fi thrillers. If you’re into fast-paced, plot-driven stories with a lot of action, you’ll probably enjoy it. It’s just not the most memorable book I’ve read this year, and it left me wishing for a bit more depth. Still, it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for something entertaining and not too heavy.

I really loved the concept of this and the 'sci-fi' light feel it had to it. It was such an interesting premise that time travel tech has been developed but that it requires private funding within the U.S., which seems to be exactly how it would play out here in the states.

I can see those who are passionate about history really being engaged in all of the descriptions and slice-of-life elements from the distant past. While I did find that very interesting, I was left wanting a bit when it came to character development and themes. I just couldn't fully connect to the main character, and I was hoping to essentially 'feel' more while reading this. The story felt very heavy on detail and action, but too light when it came to the needs, feelings and motivations of the characters. I really loved the backstory of the young boy Rabbit had to leave behind on one of his past jumps, and I was hoping he was going to risk everything (ie, jump back to a same time period despite knowing the ramifications of that) to try to save the boy he left behind. I feel like something more personally and emotionally high stakes was needed for Rabbit.

Having said that, neither sci-fi nor historical fiction is my go-to genre, so this is just one person's opinion. The time travel premise is what drew me to reading this story, and I did think the elements around that were incredibly well-thought out and intriguing. Ludington did an excellent job making it seem very believable without too much backstory around it or over-explanation, which isn't easy for any writer.

Again, there was a lot to like here, and I'm sure people who enjoy this genre AND history will REALLY love this book.

Please, please do not put this book down in the first third. It is slow. It is detailed, but if you can hold out, you will be rewarded with a great adventure tale set in the 6th century.

Rabbit Ward is a time traveler. Chrono Archaeologist to be more precise, but he does travel through time to retrieve relics that may have been lost to history otherwise. There is a time jump in his past that has forever haunted him, and people are starting to whisper that maybe it’s time for him to hang up his jumping shoes. Dr. Ward thinks otherwise.

He keeps encountering this mysterious modern day woman on his jumps. Rabbit wants to determine who she is. Then there is the rumor that someone is selling out secrets so that she can keep finding him on his travels. Someone within his own ranks. The Smithsonian. Whoever she is, she has an uncanny ability to cross paths with him.

On a trip to 535 CE they cross paths again. This time, though, it might take both of them to get out of this trip safely. Can Rabbit trust her?

As I said, the beginning of this novel tends to be fairly methodical with a lot of backstory. A lot of research went into getting the historical details correct. It’s crazy! Do not fret! Keep along and you’ll find an amazing trip through history, with a lot of hijinks and mayhem. I flew through the second half of this book.

For a person who is not enamored of historical novels, I did enjoy this one. It has enough intrigue to keep anyone entertained.

First-time author Andrew Luddington tackles time travel in his debut novel. In this future, science has created a machine that allows visits to the past. Unlike in many similar stories, the scientists are from the Smithsonian. The machine's use is strictly limited to archaeological research. Luddington hooked me with his hero's name: Rabbit. What a wonderful handle for a human who runs through time, and who is both predator and prey. This is Book 1 in a proposed series, so a lot of focus is placed on those who might become future (as well as present) leads. Luddington uses both dialogue and quick descriptions to introduce the reader to his characters. I already want to know more about the thief who seems to be three steps ahead of Rabbit, or PJ, his savvy manager who knows the ways of funding.

Rabbit is at a crisis point. An event from 20 years back has haunted him. He is/was responsible for the loss of the artifact, though not for the death of his mentee. The guilt has followed him, resulting in behavior that, in the present, spells the end of his time-traveling career. Can returning from the present to the past "fix" him? Or will time splinter reality? Luddington has created an exciting world that I hope to visit again soon.

Recommended for lovers of speculative fiction. A good choice for book clubs. Some violence, but suitable for mature young adults.

I received the ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

I love Indiana Jones, so that grabbed my attention in the description. Overall, this book had a great premise, but it failed in the execution. Overdetailing slowed the pace in numerous places. There are editing issues, but perhaps those will be fixed in the final copy. There was also a lot of repetition. It is apparent that the author did his research in regards to the history angle. Some things were left unanswered, but this does appear to be the first in a series, so perhaps that will be addressed in upcoming books. I'm not sure if I will check out future books or not. This felt more like a historical book than a science-fiction one.

Splinter Effect is a riveting historical adventure mystery that follows the exploits of Rabbit Ward, a time-traveling archeologist. The "white whale" that he has been chasing for the past twenty years is a Menorah from the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is the only artifact that he failed to retrieve and that failure has been haunting him for years now. With a plethora of fleshed-out characters, each of whom has a significant role to play, Splinter Effect is filled with lots of unexpected twists and plenty of action. At times the narrative felt disjointed and didn't always flow smoothly. It took me longer to read than normal. The second half held my interest better than the first half. Ultimately, the novel hints at a bit of a romantic interest for Rabbit, but it seems that we'll have to wait for the second novel in this series to see if anything develops.

A very clever work of historical fiction delving into a time period I knew little about - the premise sounds great but the execution fell a little short for me.
What I liked - the uniqueness of the era where the time travel occurred, the inclusion of possible science behind the whole idea of time travel and the dialogues with historical figures.
However the story felt disjointed and confusing and the characters did feel at all believable to me ( not that they have to) . The pacing was very uneven and included more violence than I was ready for. No flesh and blood human would survive what Rabbit went through.

I think this would make a great graphic novel - Rabbit struck me as an ideal cartoon character. Hard to take him too seriously.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this new science fiction novel about time travel, morals in archeology, life in the past, and dealing with making mistakes and having to let them go, even with all of time at one's command.

As a person who loves history I have always found the idea of time travel fascinating. There is so much to see, to do, to view and to hear. One can hear Miles Davis at the Blue Note, the Grateful Dead during the acid trips, be in Vienna to hear the premiere os Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, and finally end up seeing your own mother's Catholic school musical revue, one she always talked about, and be home for lunch. Even tell yourself, hey buy two of those Star Wars figures, keep your comics in bags and boards, and put a few bucks in Apple stock. There is much that can be done with time travel, and this novel hits all the notes, with different ideas, different motives, and a lot of history to boot. Splinter Effect, the first book by Andrew Ludington, and hopefully the start of a series, features a time traveling archeologist, haunted by failure traveling to save the treasures of the past, but dealing with many of the same problems we have today.

Dr. Robert "Rabbit" Ward is an archeologist who works for the Smithsonian, in sort of a speciality role. Rabbit, as he is called,is a specialist in time travel. Rabbit goes back in time, for a set period, finds lost treasures important relics from the past, and arranges for them to be found in the present day. The rules of time travel are many, but the most important thing is that items from the past, clothing, food, relics can not travel forward in time. So Rabbit hides them in sites that can be discovered, by modern dig teams. This has worked well, paying for the time travel with many lost treasures. However recently these dig sites have been empty. Someone is following Rabbit and stealing from him, a woman by the name of Helen. At the same time a chance is made for Rabbit to fix a past mistake, in Constantinople. Rabbit travels to the year 535 a time of strife between the Jewish population and the Roman Christians. As Rabbit finds himself embroiled in the situation, his mistakes are starting to catch up with him, and future problems are close behind.

The book mixes pulp adventures with a bit of hard science, and historical fiction. Say George Lucas and Michael Crichton made an Indian Jones movie with a Timeline feel. The pulp is fun and makes for a speedy start to get into the novel, before slowing down once Rabbit gets to Constantinople, and the story really starts. I can see where some readers might be a little confused at all the history, but the story works well, and I enjoyed the historical information. The rules are different, and make for some nice visuals, though as usual the person who likes to talk about the rules, is usually the first to break them. The characters are set up well, and one wants to know more about them, and how things will work out. I can see this being a series, easily.

Fans of science fiction who love history, especially early history will quite enjoy this. The book mostly takes place in Constantinople, so fans of historical fiction will probably enjoy this also. A nice mix of genres, that work well to create an exciting story.

“Splinter Effect” is by Andrew Ludington. From the premise, this book sounded like a mash-up of Indiana Jones (archeology) meets Back to the Future (time travel), which sounds really cool! I found the book a bit heavy on the historical context (normally something I rather enjoy in books), but the action scenes were interesting. The pace was a bit uneven (slower during the historical descriptions, faster during the action scenes), though I understood the choices the author made. I found myself skimming some parts when it was historical description heavy, though I found the information about time traveling and the artifacts themselves rather interesting.

I'm pretty sure all historians and archeologists have, at some point in their careers, wished they could time travel. Here's a novel about a time-traveling archeologist whose job it is to smuggle sacred treasures out of the past right as they're about to be lost/destroyed. Or rather, he does the losing and then knows exactly where to dig them back up again in the future.

Unfortunately for Rabbit, on one of his early missions he took his patrons' son with him and returned without him - or the treasure. Haunted by this loss, Rabbit seizes the chance to go after the treasure again in a twisty, turn-y adventure story. Just because something was lost in the past doesn't mean it will stay lost when time travel gets involved.

Splinter Effect is a quick and entertaining novel focused on time travel. Rabbit Ward is a chrono-archeologist with the Smithsonian Institution who works to retrieve artifacts lost to time, often funded by private investors. While his career has largely been successful, a mysterious adversary has recently began appearing in his jumps, and she managed to steal half of his recently recovered artifacts. Haunted by this cryptic woman, Rabbit gets a chance to redeem himself by attempting to retrieve the menorah of the Second Temple. This artifact has religious significance but also a significance to Rabbit himself, as it represents his only previous failure on a mission near the beginning of his career, where he both failed to retrieve the menorah and also failed to protect his partner in the process.

The book has a strong start which hooked me, and during a panel discussion near the beginning we also learn the laws of time travel in this universe. Essentially, time travel is governed by the fact that nobody can change anything about history that we know to be a fact, as this creates a splintered universe in which history was always that way. This is known as the splinter effect. This idea is interesting and kind of makes sense. Essentially, small changes that don’t affect history are alright (because they’re not really changes, we just didn’t know those things happened… I think) but larger changes that go against history don’t work. Time travelers can also never return to the same time and place twice, which is why Rabbit never previously re-attempted to retrieve the menorah (although other people could have tried?).

But now he has his chance. Most of this book takes place on a time travel jump to Constantinople in 535 CE. Time jumps are limited to 20 days to give the plot a sense of urgency (seriously there’s no other reason given haha, Rabbit can’t remember why this limit is imposed) so Rabbit quickly has to establish himself in Constantinople and figure out where the menorah is. Of course, his mysterious woman also seems to have made the jump, so it’s a race to who can retrieve it first. I personally enjoyed this section of the novel. There were a lot of aspects of historical fiction, with some great descriptions of the time period, and I felt like there was the right amount of action and plot progression to keep it moving.

After the jump, the last quarter of the book was a bit downhill honestly. I thought it was rushed and confusing, and the book could have been five stars if these last events were more flushed out. Not to give too much away, but the CIA and FBI launch an extremely confusing investigation. What and why are they investigating? Couldn’t really tell you, because I got lost. If it didn’t make sense to me, I’m sure other people will also be confused. So I didn’t really understand everything in this section... but at least it didn’t last long.

Then we get to the ending which is only satisfying if you don’t think about it at all. Remember when Rabbit explained about the Splinter Effect in the beginning of the book? Yeah, he really didn’t explain it well enough for this ending to make sense. When exactly does a splinter happen? Because… yeah if I think about this too hard it just makes my brain hurt and I don’t like it. Please. Explain things. The characters pretty much say “how is this possible?” “Oh, I have no clue (it’s just nice for the plot and it’s too hard to think of an actual explanation).” I get it, the book was relatively short and didn’t want to spend that much time explaining things, but in that case, write another ending that makes more sense with the science we’re given.

So basically the first three quarters of this book are really entertaining, and it’s time travel and historical fiction with some awesome action scenes too. The ending just needs a bit more love, then I could definitely see this being a five star book. Given that this is a debut novel, I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future. I liked the characters and I liked the writing. I read through this pretty fast because it had me hooked. I’m sorry I didn’t like the ending, but otherwise I really recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I LOVED this book! The perfect mix of history, adventure and TIME TRAVEL! I have to admit that I just adore books involving time travel--don't we all? I was not surprised to find that the author has written screenplays as it was very visual without being overly descriptive. I don't like when setting details over-burden the story, and this one hit it just right.

I loved visiting ancient Carthage and Rome with "Rabbit" Ward adventurer and archeologist and his nemesis, Helen. I hope to see her in future adventures. It's hard not to think of Indiana Jones when you think of adventure and ancient relics, which is not a bad thing. But Ludington takes it further and with the cool spin of a time traveler hiding them to rediscover them in his lifeline.

I was thrilled to see that this is the first of a series, and with the whole past history of the world at his fingertips, there's a lot of adventures ahead! The author seems to have done his research and paints a believable picture of these ancient people and places. I can't wait to see where he takes us next!