Book Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Posted 07/07/2012 by alicemarvels in Science Fiction

Overview

Genre: Science Fiction

Author: Myra McEntire

Year: 2012

Publisher: Egmont USA

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Page Count: 336

Synopsis: A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking... Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong? Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

PROS:

toe-curling romance, thrilling plot twists, even better than book one

CONS:

hard to remember the rules of the world going in (but, hello? that's my fault for not doing my re-read HW)

BOTTOM LINE

So many little storytelling triumphs that add up to a truckload of awesome.

When I began to read Timepiece, the sequel to Myra McEntire’s fabulous sci-fi romance Hourglass, I was suffering from serious whosawhatsit?! sequel syndrome. It had been almost a year since I read Hourglass, and I had hundreds of other book’s stories muddying my head. I remembered broad character strokes and the general struggles, but a lot of the details were fuzzy.

I did remember with perfect clarity main character Em being a sassy-pants tough chick without an “edit button” who is loyal to the point of self-sacrifice to her friends. I remember falling in friend-love with her, and absolutely adoring her voice.

So when I realized Timepiece was from Kaleb’s POV (a character I remember as being a classic sexy bad boy—sort of a walking set of abs that mouths off a lot), I was thrown for a loop, and a teensy bit disappointed……for about two pages. I very quickly realized that Kaleb isn’t just a smartass walking set of abs (though he IS that too, and YUM). He is actually as interesting and complicated a character as Em. While I certainly missed being all up Em’s business, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience the new time-twisty-turny shenanigans through Kaleb’s eyes.

By the end of the book, I was surprised to realize that I actually liked Timepiece MORE than Hourglass. A lot more. Mostly because Timepiece makes the series stronger in both character richness and overarching plot/conflict, but also because there are so many little storytelling triumphs that add up to a truckload of awesome.

The romance is sweet and satisfying.

We had the makings of an Em-Michael-Kaleb love triangle in Hourglass when Kaleb showed his more vulnerable, tender side to Em as they bonded over their life tragedies. This softer side was basically the only thing that could give Em pause when it comes to romantic decisions (and with all the varying timelines she’s privy to, romantic choices are WAY complicated).

While I have nothing against LT’s, and frequently go batting for Team Brooding Hot One whenever possible, I thought the way this dynamic was handled was realistic and refreshing. I can’t stand when a self-centered MC is wishy-washy, stringing both guys along for attention and acting like the universe revolves around her decision to make out with one or the other. Michael and Kaleb are best friends, practically brothers, and Em is a class act. I LOVE where this storyline ends up, and the romantic sparring in this book is perhaps even hotter and more satisfying that in book one (I won’t say WHO spars, but I will say it’s highly entertaining).

The danger is ramped up. WAY up.

Jack is still a creepy lurker with a selfish, sociopathic time-shredding agenda. As if he wasn’t enough to deal with, now Chronos, aka the higher powers, are threatening to do their own timeline blender if they don’t get what they want—and it could mean the death and/or crazifying of beloved characters.

Supporting characters become much more important.

Lily, Em’s best friend, is no longer just a distraction from Em’s adventures in Rip-land, she’s smack in the middle of them. (And I’m so glad! I love her.) Liam, Kaleb’s father, is back and and working with the gang on stopping Jack and appeasing Chronos, and he brings family resentment drama back with him.

Overall, I’m incredibly happy with where this series is headed at the close of book two, and on the edge of my seat for the next installment, Infinityglass. If you haven’t read this series, do yourself a favor and move it up your TBR pile before Infinityglass comes out.