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palindromereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
solene0910's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
There's definitely a loss of momentum with this one. Since Taylor has gone on to #9, maybe she got it back. But when I see all the point-five novellas etc., I just see a cash cow being milked.
We start with a long bit of tiresome fleeing. Go to the past, get in trouble, oh noes we can't get to the pod, oh there it is, ahh just in time! Can they not just once go to the past, decide they should leave, and just leave uneventfully?
The good humour is still here, even if it takes the form near the end of old jokes. I allow it because they are old jokes the St. Mary's staff could plausibly have known.
There's a character named Van Owen. An unusual name that also appears in Warren Zevon's "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." If that was intentional, well played Ms. Taylor.
THere's also a character named Polly Perkins. That is quite a bit more interesting, because it is also the name of the lead character in Terry Pratchett's "Monstrous Regiment." in which the major crisis is resolved by ....
OK, so we come to the Battle of St. Mary's.
WTF. This is like having Hamlet's body carried off stage by Claudius and Polonius, and then when they complain that he's heavy, Hamlet gets up and takes one end of the stretcher.
Next issue: It's been made clear that
Now the battle is over.
Mrs. Partridge can do anything but chooses not to. Series should never have gone there.
And in the end, Barclay slips away again, despite being very badly battered. Unless the author was telling porky pies AGAIN. Not the first time she's had a villain slip away to be rescued in the next book.
I may not make it to book 9, in which the Earth is blown to smithereens by aliens (who were lied to by still-not-dead-Barclay), but Alternate Maxwell #3 (who was safe in a pod at the time of the explosion) gets Alternate Leon #4 (who we thought was dead, and indeeed he was, but he isn't) to bring a previous backup of Earth made by Mrs. Partridge as one of the inevitable plans made by Dr. Bairstow #2. (There is, of course, only one Mrs. Partridge).
We start with a long bit of tiresome fleeing. Go to the past, get in trouble, oh noes we can't get to the pod, oh there it is, ahh just in time! Can they not just once go to the past, decide they should leave, and just leave uneventfully?
The good humour is still here, even if it takes the form near the end of old jokes. I allow it because they are old jokes the St. Mary's staff could plausibly have known.
There's a character named Van Owen. An unusual name that also appears in Warren Zevon's "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." If that was intentional, well played Ms. Taylor.
THere's also a character named Polly Perkins. That is quite a bit more interesting, because it is also the name of the lead character in Terry Pratchett's "Monstrous Regiment." in which the major crisis is resolved by ....
Spoiler
a flour explosion!OK, so we come to the Battle of St. Mary's.
Spoiler
If they come then Leon's dead. They came. Leon isn't dead.Next issue: It's been made clear that
Spoiler
all the other St. Mary's instances will have their hands full with their own Time Police and will not be able to help this one. Then Leon brings a powerful force anyway.Now the battle is over.
Spoiler
It's been made clear that nearly everyone we know is dead. Then the tide turns and most of them aren't.Mrs. Partridge can do anything but chooses not to. Series should never have gone there.
And in the end, Barclay slips away again, despite being very badly battered. Unless the author was telling porky pies AGAIN. Not the first time she's had a villain slip away to be rescued in the next book.
I may not make it to book 9, in which the Earth is blown to smithereens by aliens (who were lied to by still-not-dead-Barclay), but Alternate Maxwell #3 (who was safe in a pod at the time of the explosion) gets Alternate Leon #4 (who we thought was dead, and indeeed he was, but he isn't) to bring a previous backup of Earth made by Mrs. Partridge as one of the inevitable plans made by Dr. Bairstow #2. (There is, of course, only one Mrs. Partridge).
dennasus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
That was a wild ride. For a long time I wasn't sure if I want to get on board with the different timeline plot. But in the end I did and in a way it is neat to bring in / back certain people from the previous timeline. It made my head spin quite a bit though. I still think I would prefer it if there were a few more trips through history in each book. I feel some are just for show or filler and don't move the plot along all that much and that can be fine, but shouldn't happen too much. But that's just me. (26 May 2024)
[I've stopped rating books in May 2024]
[I've stopped rating books in May 2024]
jswolf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mssunnyskies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mbenzz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I had a tough time with this story. I, much like Max, had a really hard time adjusting to this new life. This ‘St. Mary’s-but-not-St. Mary’s’ world. Everyone is the same, yet different.
This book is much darker than the previous books in not only the events that happen, but also in Max’s own head. She’s going through a million changes all at once, and she has no idea why she’s been dropped into this world.
And the Time Police? They suck. Like, they suck SO HARD. I don’t really understand how they’re supposed to uphold the timeline of history, yet rampage around in full-on SWAT gear shooting at anything that moves no matter what time period they’re in.
And as for the Battle of St. Mary’s...are there no local police? Does MI5 not exists in this world? I find it shocking that this renegade group can come in and start shooting and killing civilians and blowing up buildings without ANYONE in the local town calling the authorities. I get that they’re a private organization and they keep what they do there very secret, but c’mon now....
Overall, this was probably my least favorite of the series so far. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I do hope things lighten up a bit. Just finished Book 4.5 and about to start in on 5. Fingers crossed!
I had a tough time with this story. I, much like Max, had a really hard time adjusting to this new life. This ‘St. Mary’s-but-not-St. Mary’s’ world. Everyone is the same, yet different.
This book is much darker than the previous books in not only the events that happen, but also in Max’s own head. She’s going through a million changes all at once, and she has no idea why she’s been dropped into this world.
And the Time Police? They suck. Like, they suck SO HARD. I don’t really understand how they’re supposed to uphold the timeline of history, yet rampage around in full-on SWAT gear shooting at anything that moves no matter what time period they’re in.
And as for the Battle of St. Mary’s...are there no local police? Does MI5 not exists in this world? I find it shocking that this renegade group can come in and start shooting and killing civilians and blowing up buildings without ANYONE in the local town calling the authorities. I get that they’re a private organization and they keep what they do there very secret, but c’mon now....
Overall, this was probably my least favorite of the series so far. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I do hope things lighten up a bit. Just finished Book 4.5 and about to start in on 5. Fingers crossed!
staceyjl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0