The Time Trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Finn Mallory's tie felt like a fancy, expensive noose. As he climbed the steps of Wharton Academy, an exclusive school that serviced the elite who could afford its hefty tuition, he lossened it with one hand and pushed open the doors to the school secretary's office with the other. His battered sneakers squeaked on the pristine marble floor almost in protest as he made his way to a chair that was more decorative than functional. A gramophone in the corner played light, classical music that bounced delicately off the dark, wooden paneling of the room.

Finn's eyes swept the room, falling on the secretary's trash can of all things. It looked like some kind of priceless artifact...

***

Walkman-toting, guitar-playing Finn Mallory blames himself for his parents' deaths and would do anything to turn back time and set things right. So, when he's recruited into a secret club at his new school that specializes in competitive time travel games, Finn sees a world of opportunity open before him.

The games, however, are far from benign.

Competition is cutthroat.

Scenarios are rigged.

And the mysterious timekeepers who organize it all have no qualms about using - or disposing of - players to suit their own sinister plans.

Now Finn must decide who he can trust while making peace with his past if he's to have any hope of leading his team to victory and surviving his junior year.

As the games commence, it's time to press rewind.

***

I read this book whilst part of the judging panel for The Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award 2022. It placed eighth and was fully deserved.

It is the first part of a two book series and I am looking forward to reading the second book, The Fifth Timekeeper, at some point soon.

Since H. G. Wells first published The Time Machine in 1895 there have been several novels written with a time travel machine premise. This one was interesting as it was set in a school environment and presented as an extra-curricular history project activity.

Finn was a great character who I enjoyed reading about. He was flawed, sensitive and easy to identidy with. He is well portrayed as a young person who doesn't feel that he fits in anywhere. I particularly enjoyed watching his relationship with his team develop. Four very different characters who grew into a strong team and formed close relationships.

It was suitably paced and kept me turning the pages. This book is aimed at a young adult audience, but speaking as a not so young adult, I thoroughly enjoyed it too. Readers who enjoy science fiction, books about friendships and adventure will like this book.

ISBN:  978 1946501349

Publisher:  Tiny Fox Press

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 392 (paperback)

About the Authors:

Dayna teaches fourth grade. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading historical fiction, gardening, or stewarding their family’s Little Free Library. Born and raised in Los Osos, California, Dayna graduated from San Francisco State University. Her favorite part of writing is developing character arcs and relationships. When writing, Dayna is the “plotter” of the pair – she likes detailed outlines and playing with permeating themes and symbols.

Jon is a high school English teacher, Magic the Gathering enthusiast, and Buccaneers fan. A native of Atascadero, California, Jon graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He enjoys thrillers and horrors, and world-building is his favorite part of writing. Jon is a the “pantser” of the duo – he likes to jump into stories and see where they go!

(author photos and bio info courtesy of their website https://mcconnellwriting.com/ )