The Celtic Deception by Andrew Varga
Publish date: September 2023

This second “Jump in Time Novel” is another hit out of the park. Varga has succeeded in combining history with adventure, imagination, tension, and a bit of humor to create another journey for Dan Renfrew. This book, though a second in the series, can easily stand on its own with an exciting story that creates conflict at every turn. Just when you think Dan and Sam, his partner in jumping, have solved one problem, another unexpected dilemma rises.

The Celtic Deception opens with an encounter between Dan and the villain, Victor Stahl, a very powerful and scary man. Though promising Victor that he won’t jump again, when the opportunity arises, Dan and Sam make another jump, this time into Celtic Wales. They meet another time jumper who has created a glitch in time to get home. Dan and Sam become entrenched in the Celtic culture, interacting with a host of colorful characters, both good and bad.

Once again, Varga has created an interesting and well-developed plot with twists and turns that keep the reader turning the pages. The ending is satisfying, and leaves the reader hungry for more Dan Renfrew adventures.

As in the first book, The Celtic Deception will appeal to a variety of readers with its historical accuracy, adventure, and time travel elements. Readers will not be disappointed with Dan Renfrew’s latest adventure!

He’s done it again! A brilliant addition to this already promising series. I was thrilled to rejoin Sam and Daniel as they jump through time to save history as well as our future. Mr. Varga continues to captivate with his talents for interweaving historical fact with adventure, humor, and romance in this thrilling tale on the shores of Wales. History enthusiasts and casual readers alike will find themselves captivated by the constant twists and turns our heroes face. Hard as I tried I was unable to put this book down and am eagerly awaiting the next in this series. I loved how historically accurate this book strived to be despite the lack of knowledge we have from that period. I can’t think of a better way of bringing the past to life for teens and adults.

The second novel in the Jump in Time series, The Celtic Deception can certainly be read as a stand alone. Daniel and Sam are time jumpers who go though time to correct a glitch in the time continuum. This time they jump to Wales in 60 AD during the Roman takeover of the druids on the island of Anglesey. An exciting read this one is easily enjoyed by young and old alike. Historically informative in the most pleasurable way. An excellent read for history and adventure lovers.
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Nach dem furiosen ersten Teil der „Jump In Time“-Abenteuerserie war ich gespannt auf den nächsten, und ich sag es gleich vorab, es war erneut klasse!
Die Time-Jumper, also auf deutsch die Zeitenspringer, sind eine kleine Truppe Leute, die seit Generationen auserwählt sind, Pannen und Störimpulse in den Zeitläuften zu beheben, um so den korrekten Ablauf der Geschichte wiederherzustellen und zu gewährleisten. Eigentlich wird dieses Wissen und diese Verpflichtung von Vater zu Sohn weitergegeben – der 17jährige Dan allerdings wird völligst unvorbereitet ins Time-Jumping geworfen. In seinem ersten Abenteuer hat er sich perfekt den Wagnissen gestellt und Sam getroffen, ebenfalls eine mehr oder weniger unfreiwillige Time-Jumperin, die mittlerweile zu seiner besten Freundin geworden ist. Im zweiten Band nun geht es nahtlos weiter: Sam und Dan landen in Wales im ersten nachchristlichen Jahrhundert bei den Kelten und sehen sich den römischen erobernden Legionen gegengestellt. Faszinierend wird es, als sich einer der keltischen Druiden als moderner Amerikaner herausstellt, der seit fast 2 Jahrzehnten bei den Kelten festsitzt und der alles daran setzt, wieder nach Hause zu kommen – und Sam und Dan sich fragen müssen, wer hier welches Spiel mit ihnen treibt.
Mein Leseeindruck: das waren erneut über 500 Seiten, die ich durchgesuchtet habe. Es ist spannend, abenteuerlich, flüssig geschrieben, sehr lebendig und bildhaft, und ich bin durch die Seiten geflogen.
Prinzipiell teilt der Verlag diese Serie ob der beiden jungen Hauptdarsteller ins Genre „Teens und YA“ ein, aber diese Romane sind universell klasse. Der Autor ist Historiker, und die Bücher sind richtig gut recherchiert, das ist eine lebendige Geschichtsstunde. Und richtig gut erzählt, ich wiederhole mich. Die Kelten und ihre Kultur sind mir hier nahegebracht worden, eingebettet in eine mitreißende Abenteuergeschichte.
Gut gemacht ist hier auch die Storyline um die jeweiligen Time-Jumps herum. Die Zeitreisenden müssen sicherstellen, dass die Geschichte genau so abläuft, wie wir sie aus den Geschichtsbüchern her kennen. Das ist mal eine neue Idee – normalerweise kenne ich diese Geschichten so, dass jemand in eine fremde Zeit reist und aufpassen muss, nicht gemäß des Schmetterling Effektes alles zu verändern und dann in eine Gegenwart zurückzukommen, in der alles anders ist, sondern nein, hier muss Dan beispielsweise dafür sorgen, dass eben sehr wohl die römische Eroberung genau so abläuft, wie wir sie kennen…..aber ein klein wenig tricksen geht natürlich schon, wenn man zumindest einen Teil seiner neuen keltischen Freunde retten möchte 😉.
Und es gibt noch eine andere größere Storyline, nämlich die der Verschwörung in der Gegenwart: Victor Stahl, der Oberbösewicht und Time-Jumper, der die Weltherrschaft anstrebt und gestoppt werden muss, und auch das ist dann die Story, die sich durch die ganze Reihe zieht (zumindest bislang tut sie das). Also, man kann die Bände natürlich einzeln lesen, die Abenteuer in der jeweiligen Zeit (hier bei den Kelten) sind in sich abgeschlossen, aber die übergelagerte Story ist es eben nicht. Von daher macht es hier Sinn, mit Band 1 zu starten.
Also: das Buch ist brillant, bitte lesen, und vielen Dank erneut an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar!!

It has been four months since Dan returned from his first jump in time with Sam. Although his father is still in the hospital in a coma, he has attained some sense of normalcy by going to school and studying history now with a renewed interest. After an alarming encounter with the man who attacked his dad, a time glitch sends both Dan and Sam to Wales in the year 60 AD, during the roman invasion of the territory occupied by the celts. Not a lot is known about the celts, but one thing is sure: the upcoming battle with the romans is a sure defeat. As Dan tries to survive without changing the course of history, he experiences betrayal, heartache, and true friendship, with the definite possibility that he may not be able to jump back to his life.

One of the things I highly value when I am reading a book is its capacity to pique my curiosity; to inspire me to learn more. This is exactly what the author does with the second installment of the “Jump in Time” series. The plot is agile and interesting, full of historical facts without being boring. The characters are relatable and believable in their logic and choices. I especially enjoyed both characters’ quick thinking and persistence, and the humor interlaced in the novel.

Overall, another great read by this author and a five-star book for me. I highly recommend this series.

If you love action, jump in time themes, and history, look no further; this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book prior to its release.

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This is a young adults SF Historical Fiction and succeeds in forming that sense of wonder about the past
How the past has led to the present and how things may of been different if any changes were made
Within the story the characters actions were believable always difficult to see how people from another timeline would fit into being parachuted into a time and place in the past
A very good read and will give young people more a sense of some Historical Facts
I recommend this to any young or old interested in SF Time Travel and History

5 Stars!! Loved this book just as much as the first book in this series! This is the second book in the ‘A Jump in Time’ series and can be read as a standalone, although I recommend reading book one first. The author has a way of giving tons of historical facts and making it actually interesting and entertaining. Perfect read for teens and adults. I’d say it’s a mix of historical facts & fiction, mystery, with a bit of romance thrown in, lots of adventure, fighting, action, surprises around every corner, and all in all a very entertaining read that I HIGHLY recommend!! I love that I feel smarter for having read this book too, since there were so many facts included which the author then explains a bit at the end. This book had me crying over people that were mistreated and dead over 2,000 years ago and I really can’t wait for the next book in this series! So worth reading! You won’t be sorry!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

“Waiting for a new glitch to appear became a daily agony”
“But sometimes there are many paths leading to the same destination”
Wow !! I was a fan of book one which completely changed my way of seeing time travel but this one … if possible it was even better !!! I enjoyed Dan and Sam’s journey through Celts and Romans’ fights so much this time around that I actually couldn’t put the book down.
I felt completely enraptured but the plot and the mystery still connected to Victor and both their real lives.
Again I managed to create some friends in a place where, technically, you shouldn’t have them.
After all if you jump in the past … it’s not like you’re gonna be there forever … right?
I loved how the author developed the relationship between Dan and Sam and how much stronger they both are when they’re together, if compared to when they’re apart !! I love how much they find solace in their friendship and they trust each other even during the darkest and most doubtful of times !!
I had so much fun reading this second instalment and I actually both cannot wait for it to be out and the story to grow!!!
“Just two heroic time jumpers celebrating the fact that they aren’t dead”
“Here’s to you Atto, my friend. And to doing the impossible”

Not the typical time travel book.

Was not expecting much, just another time travel book, but was really surprised. I actually enjoyed nthis book!

The story was fast moving and exciting.

The time period was perfect (the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE). I am not a huge history buff, but I loved this setting and the author's descriptions give the sense of being there.

Dan and Sam on my favorite characters, which is as it should be. And I absolutely hate Victor. Author had me from chapter one

Recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opiniond.

The Celtic Deception is the second book in the Jump in Time series but could be read as a stand-alone story. Once again 17 year old time jumper Dan faces the threat and evil plotting of villain Victor Stahl. Though Victor has forbidden him from time jumping, Dan and fellow jumper Sam travel back in history to 60 AD Celtic Wales where they must once more solve a time glitch in order to return home. Celts are fleeing the approaching Roman army which is intent on destroying their homes and culture. Dan and Sam encounter druids, make Celtic friends and meet a suspicious stranded fellow time jumper. In the course of the Roman attack, Dan must once again fight and faces threats to his life and his very future. Sam searches for the original glitch while Dan creates one of his own. Will he and Sam make it home?

Once again Andrew Varga has given us an exciting story full of action, suspense, raw emotion and historical detail. Dan and Sam’s relationship evolves over the course of their travels. Several hints of what will be explored in the next book are included at the end of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and eagerly await the next instalment in the series! I give this book five stars!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I did not read the first book in this series but easily followed the story and this could be read as a stand alone with no trouble at all. However, I will be going back and reading the first because I enjoyed this so much. I requested the ARC based soley on the title due to my own English and Welsh heritage and interest in the Celtic history.

The mix of historical fictition and sci fi/fantasy was intriguing and kept the story exciting from page one.

Dan and Sam work wonderfully and compliment each other so well. Dans devotion and commitment to his friends is a theme that always keeps me interested in a story.

I can't wait to see what other adventures they find themselves on!

Andrew Varga has another winner here. The Celtic Deception is smart and a great escape. Thank you for these clever books. I love the way the last and present are woven together.

I really like this series. I think this book would stand alone well, but it would probably be better to read them in order, as this is a continuation of the first story which was left with a cliffhanger.
Our teen heroes time travel to Celtic Wales 2000 years in the past. An adventure ensues similar to the first book but in a different setting. They solve the timeline glitch and return to the present and still have to deal with the cliffhanger problem from book 1. I found this part of the story somewhat abrupt. It still is not resolved by the end of this novel; therefore, this part of the story is the thread binding all of the novels in the series together. The Celtic story came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the novel.
This series is intended for YA reader. I would rate it PG-13 for language, violence, and teenage boy fantasies. It's a fun adventure story that I think the target audience would enjoy. The characters and historical setting are well-developed. The dialogue is believable and includes an entertaining dose of humor and sarcasm.
These books would make a great tv (or streaming) series. Their episodic nature combined with the ongoing plot make it an engaging series. I will definitely read the next installment.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An awesome second installment to Varga’s time jumper series. This book will find Dan and Sam landing around the year 60 during a time when the Roman’s were destroying the Celts. I enjoyed this second book a lot. I do wish it was slightly longer but hopefully the following books will be published to continue the journey. During this trip Dan and Sam will meet another time jumper who finds himself stranded in time and creating his own way back home. This will cause many difficulties for the pair of travelers. Dan seems to have grown up quite a bit since the first novel, but I suppose having traveled back in time and nearly killed in history will do that to a person. I highly recommend this series.

The Celtic Deception has second book syndrome, but it’s still enjoyable. This book is written with tweens and teens in mind, so the target audience may be less critical than me, but if the author wants to hold the attentions of adult audiences, I recommend revising before the book is published,

First off, the title is a spoiler. I didn’t even question whether the sketchy Druid’s sketchy plan was on the level, and the main characters definitely had other options besides obeying this stranger. That made for less suspense and more being annoyed whilst waiting for things to go wrong.

Speaking of other options for the protagonists, you could march two Roman legions through the plot holes the new functions of the time travel device introduced. (The new function of locating other devices was not even utilized in this book, despite having multiple good reasons to do so, so I’m confused about why they were added at all.) If Dan and Sam only had to dig up the one item and destroy it to ‘fix the glitch’, and they could now use their device to locate other devices, why did they not send a pair of locals and Sam on fast horses to fix the glitch and have Dan and the Druid try to hide themselves, or follow behind Sam in a cart? They didn’t have to get involved in a battle they knew would be a slaughter, as that was the non-glitched historical outcome.

They get involved in the battle though. So when they were betrayed, why did Sam and Dan not use the locator function to find the thieving Druid? When they got back to the future, why didn’t they use the locator function to check for the nearest time travelers instead of blindly walking into a suspected trap? There are a ton of extra time traveling devices laying around now? The details about the time devices and conflict were spare in the first book and didn’t raise a ton of questions, but if I expounded upon all of the questions I have now that inspire doubts about internal consistency, this review would go on too long.

The best part of the story after the descriptions of life in Celtic Wales was Dan’s friendship with Atto. It gave the book a nice ending.

I hope that Dan and Sam don’t have a falling out between every book and have to repeatedly regrow their relationship. It seems like Sam escaping her abusive home, growing emotionally, and a larger entanglement with the time traveling megalomaniac cult will be part of the story in the future. I’m looking forward to it.

Overall, I would say the writing style is consistent with the first book, but the pacing, plot and character building need some work. The author’s knowledge of history and ability to use it as fiction is great. I would love to read some straight historical fiction aimed toward adult audience by this author.

Very interesting, loved the history! Dan and Sam are time jumpers, with the help of "jump sticks", and travel to locations in time where there are anomalies. They are to correct these anomalies and then they can jump back to their own time. There has to be a bad guy, and of course he's rich and powerful, enter Victor. He wants their allegiance or their jump sticks so they can't jump. Dan and Sam learn through their sticks of an anomaly and jump back to the time of the Celts fighting the Romans. They find another jumper there whose partner had taken his stick and left him back their. He created the issue to get jumpers to come and rescue him! What happens next is the whole story! It was a little disjointed, but that could be because of the time jumping. It was a good read and makes me interested in the first and the next! Hoping there is more for Dan and Sam to learn about themselves!

The Celtic Deception is Dan and Sam's second time-travelling adventure, all the way back to the island of Anglesey when the Romans conquered the last Celtic stronghold in Wales. Andrew Varga's writing has eradicated several of the weaker parts encountered in The Last Saxon King and we begin to see a larger scope in the series.

We see the Romans through their opponents' eyes, a point of view which is not common nowadays, and the book scratches the surface of the lost in time ancient Celtic culture.

The dialogue has improved and the main characters feel way less generic and bland than they did in the first book of the series - although Dan remains unpleasantly thirsty.

I am looking forward to the 3rd book which will (judging from the title) not take place in Britain!

Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC!

I had trouble putting this book down. Excellent world building with a fascinating explanation of time travel. The author executes this page turner science fiction/adventure/time travel with amazing brilliance. The surprising conclusion ties it all together in a way that for this reader is satisfying and complete.

it is so rare to read book two of a series and enjoy it even more than the first book, but here we are. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed the introductory book, I enjoyed this one even more. The author does an amazing job of pulling you into every scene and every battle, and making you care about the characters - feeling all their emotions. This book is an immersive experience and look into a world of which little is known - but now I feel I have a better understanding of the culture that was lost so long ago. And now I am anxious for book three!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first title in the Jump in Time, so I had high expectations for The Celtic Deception. Mr. Varga did not disappoint with a similar blend of mystery, history, and adventure.

Instead of the middle ages, Dan and Sam find themselves surrounded by Celts on the verge of annihilation by the Romans. They soon discover that the time glitch was made by another time jumper who had been stuck in the past without the needed rod to return to his present.

Along with deepening their relationship, Dan and Sam learn a bit more about time jumping from him.

All in all, an enjoyable read. My middle school son actually read this title before I had a chance and he gave it thumbs up.

I actually recieved this book as a review copy. Now, I have to get the first in the series and am hoping that there are many more to follow.

This author does an excellent job of giving historical facts that make the story all the more believable! From the first page until the last I was totally invested in the story and the characters.

A pair of teenagers connected only by their time-jumping abilities who met in a previous time jump. Not only must they survive the Roman attack on the Celts but they must also fight a much worse enemy in the form of a powerful man who is also a time jumper.

With all the twists and turns in this story there is so much to love about it!

I absolutely cannot wait until another book comes out and I will be looking into purchasing the first in the series.

I reviewed this on Goodreads and went immediately to Amazon to pre-purchase both books. Please tell me that the third in the series and the continuing story of Sam and Dan will be out before the end of next year! This is such a fun and enjoyable book - I can't wait to introduce my kids to it.

Andrew Varga is a master story-teller!! And this book show-cases that story-telling ability.

The Celtic Deception
Jump In Time #2
Andrew Varga
This is the second book in the Jump In Time series, while I recommend reading them in order this book does stand well alone. The premise of this series focuses on Daniel the descent of time jumpers; they travel to the past to fix anomalies in time that portend to change history. Once Dan has jumped to the past he must remain there until he repairs the past and sets it on the right course.
In the first book Daniel walks in on an attack on his father. Before losing consciousness his father passes on the responsibility of time jumping to Daniel. He is transported to 1066 where the Vikings are destroying England in the north and the Norman army is making preparations to attack the south. While Dan struggles to keep the past on the correct path a band of malicious self-serving time jumpers determined to change past events impend him.
In book 2, The Celtic Deception Daniel’s father is still in a coma. Seventeen-year-old, Daniel and Sam jump to 60 AD Wales. The Celts are escaping the looming attack of the Roman army committed to destroying their way of life. As Daniel fights for his life, he accidentally creates a new glitch in time. Sam searches for the original glitch. Both young men wonder if they will ever see their time again.
Victor Stahl is the evil bad guy in this series. He demands Daniel and Sam pledge their fidelity to him or their jump sticks so they can no longer time jump. A stranded time jumper created the glitch in time in hopes of being rescued.
The characters of Daniel and Sam complement each other. The first book ended rather brusquely leaving unanswered questions. The same thread continues in book 2. This is what connects this series. I doubt we have all the answers until the series ends. The plot is a mixture of historical fact and fiction, history, and sci fiction. The target audience for this book in my opinion is 13 and higher. I highly recommend this series.
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4.5/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second entry in Andrew Varga’s Jump In Time series. Dan and Sam’s story continues on from the Last Saxon King. What a great mix of history and fantasy! Good character development is continued with their next jump back in time and it is a really fun, fast read.

Dan Renfrew & his time jumping partner, Sam, are teens from our time who are descended from a long line of secret heroes who correct glitches in the time continuum of the past to ensure that our present is kept safe.
This time, Dan & Sam’s adventures take them to a period that less is known about. A time when the Celts and Romans are clashing over territory in what is now known as the U.K. They easily find each other and then join a group of Celts progressing east away from their homes, running from the advance of the Roman forces. Their group has been trying to get to the Island of the Druids where they hope to be safe with other fleeing Celts.

Once on the island, Dan’s tattoo gives him away as a time jumper - one of the Druids is also a time jumper who has been stuck in this time for a while. He has risen in the ranks such that he can have underlings check all the males coming onto the island for the time jumper tattoo. As it turns out, this Druid was the cause of the time glitch. He was trying to contact other time jumpers. He is able to give Dan and Sam (and the reader) a little more information about the jump rods.

Since less is actually known about this time in history, it is difficult to know how accurate it is; but the fantasy aspect makes up for lots and the story is very entertaining. The interactions with the one Celt couple (Atto & his wife) are a little contrived, but forgivable as they help move the story along.

A very good second entry to the series. Can’t wait to read more!

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book, however it was a pretty high bar set by the original in the series. this one is set in Celtic Britain, around the year 60AD, when the Romans destroyed the College of the Druids. The protagonist has to fix the glitch that has altered history, and we follow his journey with his friend, Sam, as they face dangers both from the modern and ancient world. One of my favorite parts of the book was when they built the trebuchets and tried to sink the Roman boats trying to cross the English Channel. I look forward to seeing what comes next in this series and hope to not have to wait a whole other year to read it! This is an excellent series for kids who like action-adventure and history.

The Celtic Deception was a bit confusing for me. Though I liked the story and the plot, I found myself having to go back and reread to understand what was happening. I think it's because I haven't read the first book. I'm going to get that one and then see how I feel. I did enjoy the book itself, however, and the characters were likable.

Bottom line: This was a fun, informative, engaging, and easy read. I'd recommend for age 12 on up. I'm ... well above that age and enjoyed it very much, and I think my 13-year-old would have also if I'd shared it with him.

Even being book 2 in a series, this was easy to jump into and navigate without having read book 1. That being said, having read it, I want to go back and read book 1! I may do that with my son.

The main character is a teenaged boy and kind of cringy at times, but in a realistic way, so it's just part of reading about teen protagonists. His female best friend is kind of the mother/ cool head of the pair. I wouldn't really say that I like either character, but I enjoy reading their story and I don't dislike them.

The plot moves at a mostly steady pace, with good speed to keep the reader interested but not overwhelmed. Even during slower-paced times, there's always forward momentum and something to engage the reader.

It was fun gaining a bit of historical knowledge while reading a fictional story. The characters from the time in history really won my heart, and the glimpse into their lives makes me want to know more about their culture. I also want to know the characters themselves, and I'm sad that no only are they fiction, even if they were real, they'd have died nearly 2,000 years ago. Atto, always in my heart.

The most disappointing thing is that there aren't yet more books in this series for me to read. I finished this one and now have to go backward, read the first one, and then again I won't have more in this series. I hope there are many more to come.

Some readers may prefer that the history branch out into other areas of the world, but I'd be perfectly content staying solely in European history, even just that of modern-day UK. There are plenty of stories to tell, and I personally love the history of the region.

One thing I would love, to enhance the experience of the book, is an excellent audiobook narration of it, complete with accents. I can't get accents right in my head, let alone if I tried to produce them with my mouth, so I'd love if someone else would do that for me to enjoy! : -) Or maybe there already is an audiobook! I need to check.

Anyway, I really look forward to reading more in this series and I'm so glad I came across it.

The Celtic Deception is the exciting sequel to the Last Saxon King. Time jumpers Dan and Sam head back to the time of the Druids, as they try again to right history. The stakes are even higher this time as Victor's plan for world domination threatens to wipe out billions of people. The Celtic Deception does not leave any room for a deep breath throughout the entire story. As the Romans invade Wales and try to wipe out the Celts, Dan and Sam try to fix another glitch created by a stranded time jumper while also protecting the Celts who are fleeing to Druid Island. In their own/modern time, the fight continues against Victor's machinations and dealing with the repercussions of the injury he caused in the first book. Good news- there's a third book planned!! I can hardly wait to read it and see where these two time jumpers end up!

If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Intrigue, romance, mystery, history. This has it all! Looking forward to the next one!

Varga sends his teen protagonist on another dangerous and immersive adventure in history, this time during the conflict between Romans and Celts. Full of historical detail and thrilling escapades, The Celtic Deception is a great time. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

The Celtic Deception (Book 2, A Jump in Time Novel) - Andrew Varga

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.

Andrew Varga is an historian as well as an author. This is his second novel, the first being “The Last Saxon King”.



Dan Renfrew is once again by himself, just hoping and praying his Dad would awake from his coma and tell him everything was going to be okay. Tell him everything he hadn’t about time jumping and Victor Stahl. And hopefully he could slowly build something with Sam.

Yet once again the fragile peace he had built for himself is once again shattered by Victor Stahl. Forcing Dan to give his father’s time jump device to him, and falsely promise to never again jump or intervene in any glitches in time.

But the second Victor and his goon left his apartment the first thing he did was call Sam and tell her everything. Then the spare time jump device Dan has, warms up indicating there is another glitch in the time line. So off he and Sam go, back into the past to fix the glitch and see what trouble Victor is causing now.

Dan and Sam find themselves thrust amongst the Celts, fighting the Romans, fighting for the survival of their kind. Yet, as much as Sam and Dan would want to help the Celts win, history wrote that the Romans brutally slaughtered them all. So, as they find their way trying to discover the time glitch, getting to know these people, it becomes ever harder not to interfere.



“The Celtic Deception” although short was a very entertaining and pleasurable read. I loved how although it was a young adult adventure story it still had lots of historical facts all throughout the story. For me it just made it that much more engaging and enjoyable. There was also a nice little twist at the ending and I really hoping for a lot in the next instalment of the series.

3¾ stars
This was an interesting and captive book. While Dan and Sam are trying to fix history's glitches, they have a greater worry at home! But being in the past has its own predicaments.
The history involved in the book itself is an interesting read.
The editing errors in the book are the only think that dropped this below 4 stars.

This was another great book in the A Jump in Time series by Andrew Varga. My 14 year old son and I listened to the first book together on audiobook, and he eagerly devoured this second book in the series, where our main characters, time traveling teens, were sent back about a thousand years earlier than the first book, to the time of the Roman occupation of Britain. He thoroughly enjoyed this one, though his favorite so far was the first in the series. This book is best when read after the first one in the series. I love the combination of history and time travel - everything to catch and keep a teenager's attention. We are looking forward to seeing what Dan and Sam get up to next!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t realize this was the second in a series when I requested it. The story line was easy enough to pick up, but the dialogue felt forced and awkward. It’s an interesting concept and the main characters are likable, but something is just a bit off. I didn’t love it, it didn’t hate it, it was just okay.

If you like adventure and time travel then this book is for you. I had such a good time reading this book that I want to go And read more books with the same premise.

The Celtic Deception by Andrew Varga is the second book in the time-jumbo series. I absolutely loved the first and the second was also a terrific read.

Once again the publisher’s blurb was excellent:

Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history.  But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in.  With two Roman legions intent on wiping out everyone on the island drawing closer, time is running out for Dan and Sam.
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 people from this day and age is very insightful. Just love the characters, particularly Dan and Sam. The pace of the story is excellent and the reader’s interest is continually captivated.


Highly recommended read for those who love time travel.


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.

#TheCelticDeception #NetGalley

Beware some spoilers …
Time travel stories are my favorite and this one did not disappoint! I haven’t read book 1 of this series; that did not matter. I was sucked in from page one and on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Enjoyed all the characters, especially Atto. The pub going up where Atto built the monument was perfect.
Really like that the travel rod aids in speaking and understanding the language of where/when travelers land. I assume it also translates modern phrases like “What’s up?” into verbiage appropriate for the era.
Sad that Dan’s dad died. I hope it’s fake and he comes back in a future book (I mean Dan didn’t id the body, it could happen) to help get revenge on Victor.

“The Celtic Deception” is a fun YA read that blends history and fantasy. I haven’t read the first book, but I found this story easy to follow. Seventeen-year-old time jumper, Dan, comes home to an unwelcomed visitor who was responsible for his father being in a coma. I was immediately drawn into the story. Although the visitor had taken something that seemed so important, Dan was carefully trained by his father and was prepared for that. Soon, Dan and his jumping partner, Samantha, need to make a jump to fix history. I loved the time they went into 60 CE when Romans dominated, and Celts were on the run or fighting back. The relationships they developed in the Celt tribe had me rooting for them, even against all odds and history. A read meant for teens, but adults can appreciate it too. I thoroughly enjoyed this mix of the reality of a historical moment and time-traveling teens trying to survive while not changing the past that would affect the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The Celtic Deception is a thrilling trip back in time! Although there is a book prior to this one; the reader is not lost. Andrew Varga has written enough background so the reader knows the history of the characters. In addition, Varga has interwoven historical facts with fiction to create a very interesting story. I would definitely recommend this book to adult and young adult readers.

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to review “The Celtic Deception“ prior to publication. I am appreciative and leave my sincerity review voluntarily.

Ein toller Zeitreise Fantasy/Historischer Roman für Jugendliche. Leider habe ich übersehen, dass "The Celtic Deception" schon der zweite Teil einer Reihe ist.
Nach ein paar Seiten ist man aber schnell in der Story.

The Celtic Deception
Traveling through time, battling with Romans, this novel should have been an easy slam dunk for fans of historical fiction. (It’s not) Andrew Varga’s The Celtic Deception is full of potential for its thrilling actions scenes but falls flat when it comes to the characters. This is the second book in the Jump in Time series, and one I read through Netgalley. The book follows Dan, a teenage boy who every female in the book falls head over heels for. With the use of a time rod he is able to have the ability to jump through time and travel back in history whenever there is a “glitch” that needs to be fixed. This book takes place a few months after the last one, and Dan is having a difficult time. His Father is in a coma because of Victor, an ambitious fellow time jumper who seeks to control who time jumps. (Also, he wants world domination- because bad guy!) Thankfully Dan isn’t completely alone, his plucky friend Sam is also on his side and together they form a plan to travel back in time to try to find answers and allies in order to stop Victor.
Oh did I mention Sam is a girl? And girls aren’t supposed to be able to time jump? And she keeps telling Dan she isn’t interested in him and has no desire to be with him….(I bet you can guess what happens in the end, no female no matter what they say can resist the Mary Sueness of the intrepid main character!)
The books really picks up and the parts I most enjoyed was everything I learned about history! Sam and Dan land in (what they soon figure out!) the Celtic island of Angsley in 60 CE. What should be a simple get in and get out mission soon becomes dire as they are thrust in middle of the Celtics fleeing their homes. (Strategic fleeing they say!) The Romans are on the warpath and are slaughtering, enslaving, and raping anyone who gets in their way. Dan and Sam must find the glitch and fix it before the Romans catch up to them.
When I say the writing and characters fell flat, I mean it really fell flat. There is one sentence that really stood out to me. Dan sees a pretty girl with a guy he thinks is unattractive. His inner thought: “what is a babe like that doing with a guy like him?” (You see what I mean now y’all?)
We also get some assault scenes, because what is a historical fiction by a male author without them! Don’t worry though! Heroic and noble Dan gives one of them his cloak. (Eye roll)
By the end of the story our hero Dan is incredibly rich and able to take Sam on a trip and send her lots of money. (Did I mention she comes from a broken home with a creepy step dad? Because of course she does) I have to wonder if Andrew Varga has actually ever had a female read his book. It could have hugely benefited form sensitivity readers. The plot and concept was great, but the characters and all the dialogue was so badly written. (I am not going to compare it to fan fiction, because I have read some fantastic fan fiction!) I know it seems like I hated this book, when really I enjoyed the battle scenes, and everything I learned. It is just I couldn’t get back the unrealistic nature of the characters and how they were written. I would not recommend this book.
TLDR: Great concept, poorly written females, mary sue main character, fantastic battle scenes
The Cover
This is probably one of the worst book covers I have seen in a while. If you google fantasy or Celtic font types, the cover font is one of the first to pop up. There is a ton of green on the page, and you really lose sight of the title and everything else with all the green. There is no symbolism, no hint of what the book is about. We do get a full lipped female cast in shadow on the front, which makes little sense to me. The main character is male and his is the only view point we see. The females get little attention in this book, unless they are fawning over Dan or banding together to fight for him. Instead of a bad Photoshop job, I would loved to have seen an illustrated scene of Dan and Sam in the boat on the way to the island. Budget aside, even a boat in the water with the island in the background would have been a better cover.
It should be noted that I am coming from a graphic design and art history background, and it always sucks to see books that are good have bad covers. (Though I guess in this case the cover matches the book!)

The Celtic Deception by Andrew Vargas is a book about two teens who time jump. Daniel and Sam are assigned to save history. They land on Celtic Island of Anglesey in 60 CE. The Celts take the time jumpers in. Two Roman legions were intent on wiping out everyone off the Island.

Before Dan time jumped, Victor Stahl, a powerful Congressman, stabbed Dan:s father in the chest over a time jumping rod. He was hospitalized.

To protect their identity Dan said his name was Asterix because they called him a Roman. Also, Sam dId her name was Genovefa. The Celts referred to Sam as " Queen Bodicca" due to her similar red, fiery hair. Sam wrote an essay on Queen Bodicca in school as an inspiration to her. Queen Bodicca burned London and a few more cities before facing defeat. She died near year 60 or 61. She ruled a Celtic tribe called Ireni and led them in a huge rebellion against the Romans.

This book was hard to put down and full of excitement!
I recommend it for Sci-fi and Fantasy readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this easy read.

This book was amazing. I lived every second of it. There are highs and lows. I went through so many emotions while reading this book. There were parts where I was devastated and just couldn't read on and also parts where I just couldn't put the book down. I love this series. The characters, the adventures, the time traveling, and the events that they go through. Everything about this book is amazing, and I can't wait for the next book.

The Celtic Deception: A Jump in Time – Book 2 by Andrew Varga

320 Pages
Publisher: Imbrifex Books
Release Date: September 5, 2023

Fiction, Time Travel, Coming of Age, Teens, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy

Daniel has taken the next step in his life. He is seventeen, is a senior in high school, and lives in a condo. One day he comes home to find his security tape broken, and Victor in his condo. To save his life he gives Victor a time travel baton and swears he doesn’t have any more. Hopefully Victor will believe him. When the baton gets cold, Daniel contacts his time traveling friend, Sam, and off they go. They are in Wales around 60-61 CE with the Roman attack against the Druid island. A time traveler summons them with a fake artifact. Sam does not trust him but Daniel does and it will cost him.

The story has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the first person point of view. I enjoyed this book more than the first, The Last Saxon King. This series mixes historical nonfiction with fictional characters which is brilliant. Although it is a young adult book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like Celtic history with a time travel twist, you may enjoy this book.

In this second book of Andrew Varga’s series, Daniel has learned quite a bit about time-jumping and the international conspiracy that threatens his family. But although he and Sam consciously leap into the past, they don’t know where they will end up or what they will find. Neither of them received specific training on how to use the time-jumping device, only in certain skills they will need to survive.

They find themselves in late Roman Britain, ca. 60 AD. The provincial governor has decided to make a stand against the Celts, especially the Druids—perceived as powerful sources of popular rebellion by the Roman army. The island now called Anglesey, off the coast of modern-day Wales, has become a sanctuary for Celts fleeing the invaders, so that becomes the governor’s target. But the exact nature of the time glitch that brought Daniel and Sam to this place is difficult to discover and even harder to fix. And, desperate to protect the local people who have taken him in, Daniel may just have created another time glitch himself.

It's not easy to summarize later books in a series without giving too much away. Suffice it to say that this second adventure advances in satisfying ways Daniel’s own story, his relationship with Sam, and his ability to uncover the world-threatening plans of the man who attacked his family in “The Last Saxon King.”

I plan to interview this author for the New Books Network (link below) when this book comes out in September 2023.

A YA time travel adventure that takes place in 1st century Celtic Wales and today. This is a sequel, so make sure you read The Last Saxon King first for the best reading experience. The author has again researched the historical time period in depth and the battle scenes are described pretty authentically based on most readily available information. Some intense themes are incorporated, but not as detailed as you'd find in adult historical fantasy novels. Readers get to meet additional time travelers and even though most of the book is set in the far past, there's plenty going on in the MCs' current timeline too. For fans of historical fantasy, time travel adventures, and YA fiction. I'll definitely keep reading this series!

Net Galley Feedback

I just reviewed The Celtic Deception by Andrew Varga. Anything time travel and rifts in time and secret societies catch my attention. No full spoilers but the story kept my attention. Especially knowing one of the main character was a teen. Would they be able to handle what would come at them? I recommend reading it to find out. #TheCelticDeception #NetGalley

Whats not to like about time travel? This book blends history and fantasy seamlessly, sam and dan go back to celtic times just before the second Roman conquest of wales. The characters are fun,I enjoyed atto and senna's part of the story. The cenacus plot was... eh a little predictable but highly probably its because the title gives it away. I enjoyed the balance of modern era and past it was a good combination. Seemed yo flow better then the first book. I enjoyed the last couole chapters. It was fun side to see of dan and sam I enjoyed it. Made me care about the characters more.

I rate this 4, but keep in mind that it is YA and I am not a fan of YA. Since I am being asked to give a fair and honest review, I recognize that I have to set the bar a little lower than I normally would because I recognize that YA isn't intended to live up to the quality standards of real fiction.

OK, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's get into the real review. This is the second in a series? Trilogy? of "Jump in Time" novels. I did not read the first one, but AV did a decent job of dropping hints, clues, and other information. So although reading them in order is probably a better experience, I wasn't completely lost and clueless as to what was going on.

The story is told through the perspective of Dan who has become an unwilling time jumper after a confrontation with the villain, Victor, which ended with Dan's father in a coma and Dan being thrust into ancient England just in time for the Battle of Hastings (all book 1). Here in book 2, Dan and his love interest Sam jump back in time again to join up with the Celts in Wales just as they are about to be slaughtered by the Romans around 60AD. Together they encounter another time jumper who had been stranded with the last druids for seventeen years. Now the three have to "fix the glitch" (glitches are anomalies in time that all time jumpers are tasked with correcting so that the flow of history continues as it should... or something like that) so that they can return to their own time. But they have to do this in the middle of one of the greatest Celtic-Roman conflicts in British history.

In all, the book was paced and written well. The plot was fairly simple and straightforward, but that should be expected from YA. I felt the portrayal of Celts as "good guys" and Romans as "villains" to be a bit off-putting. Granted, the Romans were no angels, but AV never goes close to bringing up the fact that druids regularly practiced human sacrifice. Ever heard of the Wicker Man? That was the druids. In our modern attempt to get at the stories and cultures of "forgotten" peoples, we tend to paint history's victors with a darker-than-necessary brush. The Pax Romana was a real thing. Yes, peace and justice through brutality might not be the best way to go about it. But the world the Romans built was a huge step up from the anarchy and brutality that existed before them. And the time after the Roman decline isn't called "the dark ages" because peace and love prevailed now that the "evil" Romans were gone. Roman society was far from perfect, but I would take it over Celtic society any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Another good book of time travel featuring Dan and Sam. I found it hard to follow at times but really enjoyed otherwise.

Andrew Varga’s, The Celtic Connection keeps the YA reader blushing, reflecting, and jumping through time. The characters are strong while the plot jumps around at times. It’s all part of an intriguing concept of being able to move through time and affect change. What would you do if you had the chance to change events? Being able to “talk” with people who spoke different languages all because of something you possess. There is action, history, romance, and twists at every turn. Delve into The Celtic Connection.

This book was even more delightful than the first in the series. It was a bit more graphically violent in my opinion than the first, which to me puts it in the upper YA reader range. The historical setting is incredibly detailed, and while I'm not anywhere close to an expert on any historical time period, it's clear that the author put a lot of research into portraying the time period as accurately as possible. I hope to see this series go on for many many books as the opportunities for time jumps are essentially endless. I appreciated, once again, a lesser known time period and a part of history that isn't emphasized as often. I highly recommend this for YA and adult readers alike, especially anyone who grew up in the Magic Tree House era and has wished for a grown up version.

4.5 (rounded up)

Four months ago, seventeen year old Daniel Renfrew returned from 1066 England only to watch as his father was savagely attacked by a trusted congressman. Now, Daniel understands more of his expectations as a time jumper, and the stakes are higher than they have ever been before. When a glitch appears in the global timeline, Daniel and his friend and fellow jumper Sam find themselves on the coast of Wales in the year 60 of the Common Era. With two days before the Romans will lay siege to the small island of Anglesey, Daniel and Sam must find and destroy the glitch before it is too late. But there is more than meets the eye in this small community, and the line between friend and foe is dangerously thin.

This second in the A Jump in Time series begins shortly after the first book ends and focuses on Daniel as he struggles to hold his life together while his father is trapped in a coma in the hospital. Luckily, his friend Sam has more knowledge of time jumping than Daniel does, so he relies heavily on her as each challenge arises. It is best for readers to be familiar with book one before attempting this second story, though sufficient context is provided to remind readers what took place previously. Like in the first book, this second installment is fast-paced, well-written, and it incorporates history in an engaging and memorable way. Fans of history and time travel will absorb this book quickly, and they will eagerly await future installments.

Interwoven with historical moments are the very real sensations of life as a teenager in modern times. Themes of love, increasing independence, and the responsibility of living on one’s own are frequently addressed throughout the novel, and young adult readers will recognize these experiences from their own lives even without the time travel component. Since the historical element of this book is from such a long time ago, the book does an excellent job of noting when events may be contested by historians, which lends a believable element to the storytelling. A note at the end of the book goes into even greater detail for those wishing to learn more. And even as circumstances become more and more dire, Daniel and Sam improve their teamwork and friendship while working toward a stronger future together. This is a fantastic addition to library collections for young adult readers.

This was fun. I love the characters. Dan and Sam are definitely not one-dimensional. But they are young and that comes across really well. They solve problems using both cleverness and luck.

The story was great and made me want to immerse myself in more Celtic lore.

And more importantly, the plot thickens making me look forward to the next instalment of this wonderful series.

I didn't expect I'd get choked up and even shed a couple of tears around the halfway point of the book. It was beautifully done.

As a society, we tend to be very critical about how time travel is written (me included), as if we know the correct way of travelling through time. Well, I have to say that since time travel has not been achieved, this is just as realistic as any other magic system and whatever the author says, goes. And Andrew Varga has created a very nice, for now soft, system.

Will anyone else notice the Latin words passed off as Celtic by Vindiorix? This is not a mistake, the author mentioned doing this. It was a fun discovery.

Another good book of time travel featuring Dan and Sam. The thread involving VIctor is somewhat confusing in terms of what is happening. I thoroughly enjoyed the time travel and the interactions between Dan and the Celts. The history is indeed interesting and fascinating. Looking forward to the next book hopefully in the series

Andrew Varga was new to me with his YA fantasy The Last Saxon King. While written for a young adult audience (which I am not) it drew me into the story quickly and kept me reading. The Celtic Deception, his new entry in an engaging series, has done so also.

Varga is a stickler for accuracy. His books are thoroughly researched and historically insightful. But it’s the characters that will keep you reading. Nevertheless, you should know that the battle between the Romans and the Celts is quite bloody and the aftermath disconcerting to say the least. Trust Varga.

The story moves right along. You will meet lots of Celts on the way and learn about their fascinating history (at least as much as can be known—-they weren’t great about writing things down). But there’s a scary villain, an extremely likable older teenage boy, and a girl who is just as brave and scared as he is.

This author understands the value and draw of historical fiction. Though I am not his intended audience, I can’t wait for the next adventure in this to come out. And btw, if you didn’t read The Last Saxon King, do so now! Different era, equally engaging story.

Time travel, Vikings, and nonstop excitement put this book on the top of my list to sell to quite a few teenagers. It's a perfect go-along book for those studying ancient/medieval history with teens too.

“The Celtic Deception” by Andrew Varga is a thrilling and captivating adventure that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. In this second book of the “A Jump in Time” series, Varga once again delivers a fast-paced and suspenseful story that seamlessly blends historical fiction, action, and time travel. The author’s skillful incorporation of historical facts into the narrative is commendable. The vibrant setting of the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE comes to life, immersing readers in the tumultuous era of the Roman invasion and the struggles of the Celts. Varga’s attention to historical detail adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it not only an entertaining read but also an educational one.

The characters in the book are well-developed and relatable, and their emotional journeys resonate with readers. Dan Renfrew, the seventeen-year-old time jumper, faces incredible challenges and finds himself thrust into a battle against the nefarious Victor Stahl. Alongside his partner Sam, Dan navigates a world filled with danger, betrayal, heartache, and unexpected friendships. Their courage, quick thinking, and persistence make them compelling protagonists, and their evolving relationship adds depth to the story. “The Celtic Deception” is a book that seamlessly combines adventure, history, and emotion. It engages readers of all ages, from young adults to adults, and offers a unique blend of entertainment and knowledge. Varga’s ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats while weaving in important historical lessons is truly impressive.

Overall, “The Celtic Deception” is a must-read for fans of action-packed adventures, historical fiction, and time-travel narratives. It is a five-star book that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Andrew Varga’s talent for storytelling shines through in this thrilling tale, making it a worthwhile addition to any reader’s bookshelf.

A stirring, exciting, well paced, well written historical sci fi adventure! I've only just recently started reading sci fi type books, as in the last few years I have watched so many sci fi movies and series and I was simply afraid that in reading sci fi, the word pictures created would fall well short in stature of the many magnificent visual scenes of so many sci fi movies. This book did not disappoint as such and indeed had me deeply trapped and thoroughly locked into the story.

Admittedly the familiarity to me of the particular British area used for the main location of the story, plus having been taught well about the Romans and their military way of things, in my Latin school lessons of yore, made the story all the more convincing and the more compelling to me.

Now I will have to do my own time jump and find and read the first book (The Last Saxon King) of this particular series, having jumped in on the second story.

Thank you Andrew Varga as the author and Imbrifex Books the publisher, as well as NetGalley for the ARC (advance review copy).

Just like the first book, this one is a lot of fun. Daniel and Sam are continuing their time jumping shenanigans while navigating the dangers of the present. I enjoyed the expansion of the time-jumping world and definitely hope to learn more about it in future books. I also liked the historical setting and the addition of the historical notes at the end. This book has a compelling quality that makes history feel so vivid. Dan and Sam's friendship is also portrayed well, and I cannot wait to see where they go next (both socially and historically).

Loved the atmosphere set up in this story. The Celtic history and lore used in conjunction with humor was great. Dan and Sam's developments as the protagonists was done well with their navigation of the roman invasion as the backdrop. I especially enjoyed the twists and turns Dan's experiences of betrayal, and friendship. The characters quick thinking and humor throughout the story were both highlights of this book.

I loved the first book and this one might be even better! This story is full of adventure, history, time travel, mystery and so much more. Such a fun read! Hard to put down! Ready for the next book please!!

The history in this book is so fun to read, it is so ancient that I knew very little about it until now.

The way the story and characters are developed in this book help you experience so many emotions - sadness, humor, suspense, regret, fear, celebration and hope. The main characters are young adults that are easy to relate to. I love the way the characters share what they are thinking and then say something totally different, because what they are feeling is an unacceptable response. You learn so much about them thru their thoughts. They think things that all of us have thought, whether young or old.

The action in the book is a fast paced and unpredictable. There is an epilogue that gently ends the book and sets you up for the next book.

Adventure lovers, get this book!

After a new successful time jump, the main character finds himself from unnoticed, to warrior to slave to warrior to….. all while there is a conspiracy in the time traveler world. And a dangerous man on his trail.
Andrew Varga knows how to draw you into the story, never to let you go.
Please find the first book (The last Saxon King) in this series in progress to get the full experience. You won’t regret it.
This may be in the young adult category, but I am 55 and am thoroughly enjoying this series!

Looking forward the the next book!

This was a lovely steady book that plodded along and kept me reading.
I liked the main characters Dan and Sam, who time jumped when there was a change in history that needed to be destroyed. There was, as there always is, a baddy and his gang who were trying to get rid of all the time jumpers to take control of the world. They had a fight trying to get rid of the two teenagers!.
We follow them on a time jump and find out how it works and how sometimes it can go wrong.
A good read, I enjoyed it
I received this free arc book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #imbrifexbooks, #andrewvargaauthor.

This is a YA historical fiction novel about the Roman invasion of the Celtic settlement in Wales. I enjoyed this novel and learned a lot about early British history. This was the second book in a series, and the author did a marvelous job of helping the reader "catch up" on what transpired in the first book in the series. I felt invited into the series and wanted to read more. The author also did an excellent job of slipping in lots of Celtic social history for young readers. Celtic warriors fought nude? Who knew!

Highly recommended for young readers! A great and painless way to learn more about history!

Dan, now 17, knows Victor Stahl is trying to change the past to influence the future. It's up to him and Sam to fix the past. When the time rod activates Dan and Sam find themselves in 60 CE on the Celtic island of Anglesey, just days before a Roman legion is set to attack and wipe out the last of the Druids. After the Battle of Hastings, Dan is eager to just fix things and leave as quickly as possible whilst praying none of Victor's men show up.

Again one of my favorite things in this book was the historical realism. I mean aside from the time jumping it came across as authentic historical fiction. I actually had to google if Celts fought naked cause I'd never heard that before, so that's in my search history now lol. I'm enjoying watching Dan and Sam’s relationship develop. It seems kinda obvious it is heading toward romance but they are still teenagers and this is set to be a 7(i think) book series. While I was a little frustrated by Dan’s easy trusting nature I’m hoping he learned to be more like Sam going forward. I did enjoy the story and got a smile over Atto’s sign to Dan at the end. Cant wait to see where the story goes next.

Rating 3.5 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

This is the second book in the Jump In Time series. It is recommended to read the series in order to fully understand the storyline. The series revolves around Daniel, a descendant of time jumpers. Their purpose is to travel back in time to fix anomalies that could alter history. Once Dan has successfully traveled to the past, he must remain there until he repairs the past.

In the first book, Daniel's father passed on the responsibility of time jumping to him before he was attacked. He was then transported to 1066 when the Vikings were attacking England and the Norman army was preparing to attack the south. Dan struggles to keep the past on the correct path, while a group of malicious time jumpers determined to change past events impede him.

In book 2, The Celtic Deception, Daniel and Sam jump to 60 AD Wales to fix things. The Celts were in the midst of escaping the Roman army committed to destroying their way of life. As Daniel fights for his life, he accidentally creates a new glitch in time. Sam searches for the original glitch in hopes of fixing the unintended consequences. Both young men wonder if they will ever see their own time again.

Victor Stahl is the bad guy in this series. He demands that Daniel and Sam pledge their fidelity to him or surrender their jump sticks. A stranded time jumper created the initial glitch in time.

Daniel and Sam have great chemistry that is entertaining and engaging. The first book ended abruptly, leaving readers with unanswered questions. The same thread continues in book 2, creating continuity throughout the series. The plot is a mixture of historical fact and fiction, making it a perfect blend of history and sci-fi. With each book, the stakes get higher, and readers are left wondering what will happen next.

The Celtic Deception is the second book in the A Jump In Time series, it could be read as a standalone, but for me the previous book can not be missed.

This time we meet a more mature Dan, his life changed after his first jump, he had to learn to live alone and to survive the threats coming from the time jumpers community. The young guy now understands a little better the time jumping, he isn't totally disoriented like during his first journey. He stayed in contact with Sam, another jumper, and he can count on her help.

Dan and Sam find themselves in old Wales, where they have to fight alongside the Celts against the Romans in order to fix the glitch.

I'm really enjoying Andrew Varga works, as soon as I've finished this book I asked some news on the next one already.
I felt this novel deep into my bones, it was emotional, it was touching, it was thrilling. The pace was perfect for this kind of adventurous journey, I couldn't even take a breath during the most critical and crucial times.

I highly recommend you to check it out.

Every once in a while you pick up a book and it is written so well, the story flows, the characters feel like your friends and you wish you could live inside that book, it is truly a magical experience. Books 1 and 2 of this series have that magic for me.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book as words are not enough, you definitely have to read this for yourself to truly appreciate the gem that this book is.

This book starts off where book 1 ended, Dan and his time jumping partner have no choice but to jump back into history, there ultimate goal is to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world but when you are 17 and only learnt of time jumping recently and have a vague idea of how it all works, it is proving impossible to stop Victor.

This time they time jump to the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, just as the Romans are intent on wiping everyone out. Dan and Sam are soon embroiled into helping the Celts while trying to uncover more about Victor’s plot.

Just like book one this is really a well written historical fiction book, you can tell that the Author researched the time period. As I learnt new things about the Celts, Druids and it even shed a different light on the Romans.

The characters were like friends, I felt connected to them and their plight, I cheered them on when things were going well and shed a tear when they were not.
The story is fast paced with a few surprises and even though you know the outcome I still hoped it would be different. A very entertaining read that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone.

- The Summary -
The Celtic Deception is the second book in the A Jump in Time series. We pick up shortly after the first book where Dan is visited and threatened by Victor Stahl; either get on board or get out of the way. Victor Stahl is trying to take over the world by altering and retrieving relics from the past to get there. Dan and Sam seem to be on the short list of people willing to risk everything to stop him.
This book follows Dan and Sam through their jump back to 60 AD Wales, just before the Romans attack the Celts on the island of Anglesey.
Will they fix the time glitch in time for them to leave before the battle begins? Will they find clues to stop Victor Stahl and his quest for world domination, you have to read to find out.

- The Review -
Another big win for Andrew Varga, I really enjoyed The Last Saxon King, but the Celtic Deception was truly fantastic. The pacing was really well done and I honestly couldn't put it down. I can't speak to the historical accuracy, but it was a truly riveting tale full of highs and lows.
I really appreciate that Dan is a bit of a walking disaster and Sam usually has to dive in and save the day; Sam is a badass. Excited to see where they will go next and how their relationship will develop.
No spoilers, but the ending is fantastic! Super fun, absolutely loved it.
I said it before and I'll say it again, I wish these books had been around when I was a kid; I would have loved these. I can't wait until my niece and nephew are older because they will be getting a copy of this series.

Thank you to GoodReads, Andrew Varga, and Imbrifex Books for a copy of this ARC. I recieved an advanced copy for free, but my opinions are my own.

I wasn't aware this was a sequel so read as a stand alone. Think it may have helped to read the previous book. It was a fast paced read, not entirely sure how historically accurate it was but still a good read.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

You need to be comfortable with the concept of time jumping in order to enjoy this YA novel that is the second volume in a series. A couple of teenagers travel back in time to the early first century in Wales to stop a maniacal villain who wants to take over the world. A romance develops between the teens as they work together to save this civilization. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

The Celtic Deception was fantastic! I am shocked and appalled at how little traction this series is getting on the internet. It’s written well with likable characters, it’s historically accurate so far as I can tell, and it’s just a great read all together. I will do a much more in depth review on TikTok, which is my media of choice, but I just read that the author, Andrew Varga is working on the 7th entry into this Jump in Time series. So far 2 of these books have been released. I really hope that by the time that 7th book is published that this series is world renowned and beloved with movies, or a tv show to go along side it. These books are that special.

I can’t wait to see what Varga has next!