Time is a prison.
She is the key.

Jules Ember and her father used to have a home at the Everless, the Gerling estate, working as servants and earning time for a living. Because this is the currency in Sempera – time is extracted from blood and converted into the currency bloodiron.

But after being cast out they struggle to make a living, and when Jules father is down to his last hour, Jules decides to return.

Little does she know she will be thrown into a story of unknown lost truths, secrets hidden in myth, and enemies much more dangerous then she realises.

I loved this book.

Let’s start with the world-building; a medieval style backdrop, complete with a royal hierarchy, the rich and wealthy vs the poor and starving, the mythological tale of how the world of today came about. A corrupt currency system that quite literally leaves many families in life or death limbo. And how this harnessing of time slowly impacts the world of Sempera: its economy, its people, its environment, its history.

Everything in the world building is directly relevant to Jules and her story. Everything is explored. There is just so much detail in the history and mythology surrounding Sempera – I just love it so much! The variations of the myths, the telling of them to children, the grey areas that merge myth and history together. In itself the history of Sempera is magical and addicting. I could easily hole up in a medieval tower and study this on it’s own.

The actual story line has so many twists and turns and danger and friends and old new friends that fit like a glove and uggggghhhhh. Can Holland just please publish the next book already?!

Jules is young and ridiculously loyal to her father, the only family that she has left. She will stop at nothing to protect him, leading her into a world of secrets and myth. While many of her traits were not really her nor there, I did enjoy the character. And with the implied (and heavily anticipated by yours truly) sequel I’m confident further character development is to come.

And then there are all the side characters. I grew to love so many of the relationships that grow and change in this book. I WAS emotionally invested in these characters which is always a special skill for a author to achieve. From the selfless father, to the gorgeous and mildly treacherous Gerling brothers, the to various friends-but-basically-family fellow servants of Jules. I spent so long falling in cautious love with each of them.

The one downside was the lack of diversity. A lot of characters were involved in this story and yet the opportunity wasn’t grasped. There wasn’t anything saying that everyone was white BUT there was nothing to suggest otherwise. In a book that is already rich with detail and character, adding in some various culture aspects would just top this series to a whole new level IMHO. I hold out hope for the future of the series though.

The ending of this book will leave you wanting so much more. I was literally on the edge of my seat when twists were unveiled and all the potential for another explosive, immersive, and engaging story is left dangling just in front of you.

I recommend this book so so much. There aren’t dragons, but there are twists in time, a mythological tale that could sell just by itself and a seeking-yourself story like no other. This debut novel is just the beginning of a fantastic, intoxicating series.

A great YA fantasy with likeable characters, lots of twists & action. Leaves it very open for a sequel. I will definitely read the next!