Timebound

The Chronos Files, Book 1

By: Rysa Walker

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

2013 Winner—Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award—Grand Prize and Young Adult Fiction Winner.

When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes the old woman is delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when a murder in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from blinking out of existence.

Kate learns that the 1893 killing is part of something much more sinister, and her genetic ability to time travel makes Kate the only one who can fix the future. Risking everything, she travels back in time to the Chicago World’s Fair to try to prevent the murder and the chain of events that follows.

Changing the timeline comes with a personal cost—if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And regardless of her motives, does Kate have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?

©2013 Rysa Walker (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Completely Enjoyed It

Any additional comments?

I'll admit, I didn't really have high expectations for this one. I hoped for a reasonably enjoyable read and not really much more. I was in for a very pleasant surprise. This story hooked me almost right from the start.

I think time-travel stories typically have elements that if thought about too hard, or considered too closely, logic problems can be found. In my opinion the trick for the author is to tell the story in such a way so that there are not only as few of these as possible, but so that those that remain don't stick out like sore thumbs. In this regard I think this story delivers admirably. If there were any logic issues I didn't want to look for them, I enjoyed being caught up in a very good story that was very well told. I quickly became a very willing and pleased participant in the suspension of disbelief.

The writing is masterful. Enough detail and description so that I felt immersed in the story, but not so much that it slowed the plot. Provided naturally and seamlessly within the telling of the story.

I found Kate to be a believable and likable teenager. Some of her choices are questionable as far as being sensible, but I thought were still genuine for her age.

I enjoyed how the story developed and how the time-travel elements were handled. I found the story unique and imaginative.

There is a bit of a not-really-but-sort-of love triangle, but it fit nicely within the plot.

There's action, danger, and enough playing with time to keep me guessing and twist my brain a bit, but not so much as to become hopelessly lost and confused. It's not easy to write a time-travel story this well, and I am highly impressed.

I listened to the audio version, and the narrator was excellent.

I'll definitely read the next in the series when it comes out.

Other reviewers have commented in more detail regarding the story, and I hate to give much away. So I will end here.

My advice to a reader: if this looks at all like your kind of story don't delay, read it!

Nicely handled time travel book

Timebound is about a 16 year old girl that discovers that her grandmother (whom her Mother does not get along with and whom Kate barely knows) is dying of cancer. Her Grandmother (Katherine) has moved to DC to be near Kate and wants Kate to move into her home part time so they can get to know one another. Kate will inherit the house and the entire estate when Katherine dies.

What Kate soon learns is that Katherine is a time traveling researcher from the future and was stranded here when her Grandfather rebelled from the time traveling project to try and take over history. Kate’s mother’s twin sister was believed to be killed in a car accident, but actually went over to her father’s side.

The complexity of variable timelines and how the loss of one time line means the loss of a set of relationships and people is handled very well. Time travel books always introduce the problem of changes to the timeline, but for a young adult book, this one is almost maddeningly comprehensive in how changes work and what is the result of those changes. (Not that it is drawn out in its descriptions, but that everything has a consequence.)

A significant part of the book deals with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Rysa Walker has clearly read The Devil in the White City and leans on that book to help give background. I used to live in the neighborhood of where the Chicago World’s Fair was located, and I loved The Devil in the White City, so I enjoyed that part of the book particularly.

The book is clearly set up for a future series (which doesn’t seem to to be scheduled yet). If you are the type of person that does not like cliff-hangers, you may want to wait until another book or two in the series is out. But this is a well done young adult time travel novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

(originally posted on my blog, Bookwi.se)

Diana Gabaldon Starter Kit

CUTE GUY WITH PONYTAIL
Female transports back in time and falls in love with a Scotsman, sound familiar. This female is a girl and it is a big deal when she gets her first kiss. I am not saying this is chick lit. It can be enjoyed by all, but it does lean heavily toward the female reader or teen female reader. It wasn't for macho me, but it has got great reviews. I also found it a bit confusing in parts with all the back and forth in time and who is whose parent or child.

HER PERSONAL ROMANTIC POTENTIAL
Kate Rudd does a great job.

Great debut novel! Minor probs w/ scifi & drag.

What did you love best about Timebound?

Complex interwining of emotional as well as sci fi issues. Obviously, I love time travel, and this was done to the hilt.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Interesting aspect was everything. The bit I didn't like was the characters repeated stupid mistakes, and the complicated sci fi. Hats off to Rysa Walker for attempting it, but explaining time travel paradoxes and how they can get resolved was never going to be easy.

What about Kate Rudd’s performance did you like?

Kate Rudd is brilliant and has done some brilliant books. Check out her other work.Obviously, she does old and young characters (particularly female) quite well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Death of a particular character.

Any additional comments?

Good book, although Rysa would do well to cut down on circular scenarios. Clearly, this book could have been shorter, crisper and be even more wonderful.

I was spellbound by Timebound

(Couldn't resist that headline. Sorry.)

First, I enjoyed the book very much and was deeply invested in the characters.

I really don't like it when people try to pigeonhole a book for a certain age. I'm far past 13 and I liked every bit of it! Don't let age ranges for a book deter from reading a great story like this one.

The book handles time travel really well. It can be a very tricky proposition with all of its paradoxes. There is, incidentally, a paradoxes (pair of docs[es]) in the book. Nyuk, nyuk.

The reader has such a high-pitched voice that every man sounds like a 13 year old boy. It's my only beef with this otherwise great reader. She is really good at expressing the emotions of the characters, particularly a crying woman/girl.

Looking forward to a sequel.

Did not expect to like it this much!!

Where does Timebound rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Surprisingly, among one of my favorites. I got it, thinking it would just be a decent book, but wow, I was impressed.

What other book might you compare Timebound to and why?

This is my first time travel story book so I don't have anything to compare it with.

Which scene was your favorite?

The ending.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love has no timeline

Couldn't Handle Juvenile Narration...

I cannot comment on the story because I cannot listen to the entire book. It does sound interesting, but like Twilight, the narration is much too juvenile. I understand it is probably a YA novel and therefore the narration of that type making sense, but its just not bearable for me. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO SAMPLE FIRST. My wife did listen to the complete book and loved it. If this helped you, please click YES below. Later.

Great first novel!

Really fun read from a new author. I received the book for free as a Kindle First promotion which is part of the Prime membership benefits. I wasn't sure what to expect but was glad to see that there was also an Audible version available. I'm a huge fan of Whispersync and constantly go back and forth between the Audible and Kindle versions. Using the two formats, I started and finished the book in a single weekend and can't wait to read more from this author.

The history in the story is well researched, the time travel paradoxes are thoroughly thought out, and the characters are well developed. And who can go wrong with a book with Princess Bride references. ;)

Kate Rudd is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. Check out her performances in the Muirwood series and The Summer Man for more good listens.

Time Travel Love Triangle Save The World. Awesome!

If you could sum up Timebound in three words, what would they be?

Great new fantasy with a twist! (Sorry that's more than 3 words...)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Timebound?

When Kate is interacting with an 8 year old Kiernan. Really sweet, charming, and not creepy at all. Great set up for their relationship. Very different.

Have you listened to any of Kate Rudd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't. But she did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Again, I have to say, when Kate is interacting with an 8 year old Kiernan. Just so endearing.

Any additional comments?

I usually don't like "sci-fi" I'm more of a paranormal fantasy girl. However I'm a sucker for time travel stories as long as there is romance and don't overwhelm me with futuristic robot over-kill. This is the perfect blend. Yeah, there is a lot of futuristic technology, but it is more fun. If this is Rysa Walker's first book, excellent job!

Great beginning, then it goes down hill

Would you listen to Timebound again? Why?

No! The beginning is really great, it was promising. But then the development of the story goes too fast - I had to rewind to make sure I did not miss any details - and it reminded of an underlying tone of "sects", different versions of characters in different realms, it got confusing and was not fun to listen to. Basically it was rather chaotic - good ideas - but not well developed. I would not read this book or its sequels.

Have you listened to any of Kate Rudd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ms. Rudd does a great job, her irish accent is not very good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No - not enough depths and no character development.

Meh

They story was okay-ish. There was nothing about it that really grabbed me though. I wasn't that fussed about any of the characters, and while I did finish the book, I did often find myself looking to see how long it was until the end and wishing it would just hurry up and finish.

The narrator wasn't great. I've had books narrated by her before and she's not the best narrator. Her foreign accents are dreadful, but thankfully there weren't many foreign characters in this book.

Will I bother with the second book? No, I really don't think I will. This book didn't inspire me to care enough about the characters or the story to care about what happens in the next book.

Accent challenges!

Got this as a free addition to the kindle purchase so thought I'd listen instead.
I really enjoyed the story and liked the way the author described the changes and shifts in the time line. I can see how this world building will develop and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series. One thing that let the book down though was the romantic story lines. I know teenagers feel things more strongly, but all consuming love after knowing someone for less than a week? Unlikely. And how easily everyone embraced the concept of time travel felt fairly rushed.
I'll probably be reading rather than listening to the next book though, on the basis of the narration of this one. The narrator has a very strange inflection and almost over-pronounces some words, which makes it a tough listen. The worst part though was the truly horrendous attempt at an Irish accent. It seemed to veer from Irish to Indian to who knows all the time and every single sentence sounded like a question. I'd like to know which director allowed the narrator to put it on tape and would recommend the narrator take accent classes or stick to books with only American characters if she's going to make a career out of doing audiobooks!

Looking forward to the next installment

I was impressed with the this book which I presume is a series of YA books about time travel. I found the main protagonist easy to relate to and a good role model for young women in terms of not only being able to take care of herself but also thoughtful and considerate of the consequences of her actions. There is of course the inevitable 'torn between two hot guys' scenario and a element of danger - but the time travel aspect and the idea of how different timelines are be real to different people is enough to make it special. The narrator is excellent even the Irish accent which, although not very Irish, is at least soft and consistent - often Irish accents by Americans are like nails down a chalk board to those who know what it is supposed to sound like.

fun time travelling teen adventure.

it's a time travel story with a teenagers first love woven in. it should be nonsense but it's a strong sci-fi with quality voice performance.

at times it can be a little hard to follow but it's well worth the effort. I look forward to starting the next book.

Slightly strange voice

The story was great. It might just be me but the narrator's voice was quite distracting at first as it sounds a bit robotic in the way her speech patterns go. As a Brit I found it odd. You get used to it though and she is good at doing different voices for the different characters (although some Irish may be a little offended by her attempt at an Irish accent!!)

Interesting Storyline

Interesting storyline, reasonabky well-paced but the narrative was a little behind at times and the narrator quite stilted which affected the story for me.

Saving the world from a evil time traveller

A new twist in time travel. Kate Struggles with different time lines trying save her existence along with her grans & mums. while she struggles with the fact if she does her first love will not remember her