I do like a time-travel tale and Dan Uselton has created one in this book which manages to deliver tension in spades. Characters try and combat their present without altering their futures irreparably and survive while doing it. It’s a tricky thing all in all but I think that Uselton has carried it off.
It starts with an explosive event which tells us much about what is the ongoing threat in the book. Celia and Dan are a happily married couple but their contented lifestyle is going to be torn apart. Dan then gets transported back to Celia’s past when she was 12 (although the synopsis says 14 which is more credible with the way that Uselton depicts her and sits more comfortably with me) and has the means potentially to stop what happens in his present from occurring at all – he can save his wife.
But just warning Celia is not enough as the same threat is present in her past. Trying to convince Celia that older Dan is there to help her is a key part of the story.
I didn’t focus too much on the machinery of the book in terms of the time travel and how it all meshes. I think, generally, in order for time travel books to work, a suspension of the scrutiny of the mechanics means that you can concentrate on the action and the story rather than how it’s all been put together. I can tell you that there were anchors and a blurring of the membrane which separates “baddy through time” from being able to access his potential victim and a fear of future characters meeting themselves in the past.
The action of the book is a game of cat and mouse and concentrates on preparing Celia for what she may face, a fight for her life, which becomes increasingly important every day. There is a smidge of teenage relationship tension too which is a small sub-plot to the main action.
There was much to like: there were lines that I thought were incredibly well-crafted and evocative like “He felt how small a person is when the night has more edges than exits.” I mean, that is a wonderful description. Another strength is Uselton draws his characters really well especially Celia and her sister who exchange dialogue which reads truly. You’re invested in them.
Worth giving a go.
Rachel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
Scuffed Granny 