That was such a good time read. I could not have enjoyed that book more. Maybe it was just my multiverse loving self, but it had me hooked right from the beginning. If I could give over 5 stars I absolutely would.

This book was a wild ride that was difficult to put down. As soon as I was done, I realized I was going to have to wait a year for the sequel. The microdrones are supposed to save the earth, but the best-laid plans of scientists and entrepreneurs go very wrong. The final act of the survivors leads to an unexpected consequence with a timeline shift. I am anxious to see the direction the author takes the characters in the next book. One thing is very clear, this book should be adapted for television.

Hive is a thrilling time-traveling/doomsday/romantic adventure and I am so glad I went along for the ride. I’ve never read DL Orton's work before so I went into this not knowing what to expect. What I found is a solid and well crafted sci-fi story revolving around three compelling characters that I genuinely became invested in. The science fiction is great — complex enough to make one think but not so dense that it can’t be understood. The romance is well written and while it is a big part of the story, it’s far from the whole story. DL Orton does a beautiful job telling her unique tale and really took me through the whole range of human emotions from start to finish. I look forward to reading book two to see where the story takes these characters next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rocky Mountain Press and DL Orton for the e-ARC!

I love this book! I am glad to hear it is going to be followed up with a series. I really love a good multiverse story and this one was great, I recommend it!!! I am excited for the rest of the books to come out!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I discovered the Between Two Evils books back in 2019, and have since listened to or read them all many times.

The possibilities for these stories and these characters are endless, passionate, and tragic in so many ways. Time travel is always tricky, but fun, to use in a story, and not only do these stories have fun with it, it’s engaging, too.

Coming into reading Hive, I could see the skeleton structure of the BTE story, and the ways it’s changed and evolved with her writing experience. There are deeper connections, more details filling in the moments we ride along with each character’s new experience of the timeline. The pacing is well done, not too slow that you lose interest, but not so fast I’m left with questions and my shoes still in the middle of the road. Honestly, it's like coming into a better telling of the original story, but with my whole heart, I also think it’s not meant to *only* be a better version of the original. No, it’s a whole new timeline, whole new telling of their lives and how it could change for the better or worse, in this possibly endless multiverse of domino-effect actions to undo the ending of the world as they know it.

The relationships feel genuine and meaningful, their actions and feelings guided by forces humanity barely understands, through love and the need to protect and provide happiness to the people they love. The tone of this book has a stronger beat of hope through the endless darkness of dystopian times, the weight of tragedy as it strikes is still impactful, but held back by the determination to make things right, like Diego saving the woman he loves, no matter what. (And Matt, that sweet, sweet man, he’s my favorite character, and his love and care for his niece got my heart in a chokehold!)

I get the best of both worlds, seeing the new story, and recalling back to the first series, seeing the differences and wondering how it could possibly all link together in the future, if it does. It’s as gripping to me as all the other books, and I’m already impatiently waiting for the official release, and then the 2nd book, too, of course!!

I’ll be thinking through all the little hints and mysteries, and speculating on the next book’s direction for months to come. I’ve cried and laughed over these characters and their lives, and I can’t wait to do so again.

We have time travel, the multiverse, a romance that spans decades, and an evil billionaire who is trying to conquer the world with his technology. There is something in this sci-fi novel for everyone, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The couple at the center of the plot finds themselves in dire circumstances, trapped in an biosphere-like structure with a snappy AI companion that is part HAL, part Hitchhiker's Marvin, only in much better moods. There are cameo references to that and other seminal sci-fi works to further delight readers. I won't tell you how it ends, but the couple's journey through multiple universes and space time is interesting, and delightful Highly recommended.

Hive blends dystopian survival with time travel, delivering emotional depth through its central characters, Isabel and Diego. While the pacing starts slow, the complex relationships and intriguing sci-fi concepts pick up momentum, making it a solid read for fans of character-driven, high-stakes fiction.

WOW - this book was incredible. From literally the first page, I was sucked in and couldn’t put the book down. DL Orton is an incredibly talented author and I’m definitely going to be reading some of her other books while I wait for the sequel to Hive. The writing style is engaging and evocative and the subtle worldbuilding that permeates the book is some of the best I’ve read recently. The pacing of the book keeps you engaged and the steady building of the stakes - both personal and global - makes every choice the characters make feel like it has weight and importance. Orton also does a great job of giving the reader the necessary scientific background while still maintaining realism - almost every info-dump in the book feels immersive and a part of the natural conversation. The characters feel authentic, and their relationships add emotional weight to a high-stakes story about saving the world.
The one critique I do have is that every single chapter changes the POV between the three main protagonists, which felt a bit jarring and pulled me out of the story a bit. That said, it's a minor critique and this book was certainly a 5/5 read.
If done wrong, alternate timeline stories can get really confusing and messy. This book is a perfect example of how to do it right. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

this was a strong start to the Madders of Time series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters had that element that I expected and was invested in what was going on. DL Orton wrote this well and was glad I was able to go through this story. I'm excited to read more in this series and from DL Orton.

4.5 / 5

Had such a fun time reading this book, and was rooting for / invested in each of the characters POV’s. There were plenty of times that I was laughing out loud, and stressed out for Madders, Diego and Isabel. I’m curious to see how big of an impact the bees will have in the next book especially the way this one ended. There are still a few questions left unanswered but I guess I will have to pick up the next book when it comes out. The book itself started out slow, but picked up pretty quickly and each chapter kept the plot progressing forward and ramped up nicely at the end. Any level of sci-fi reader could enjoy this, I just wish some of the plans that the scientists were working on were explained a little more at the end, but that didn’t hinder my reading enjoyment.
Has elements of time travel, government secrets, black holes / wormholes and different timelines.
Trigger warnings: miscarriages

Thank you to NetGally and Rocky Mountain Press for this ARC.

Wow. Just wow. I'm honestly not sure what to say. It had comedy, romance and it almost made me shed tears. It made me feel all kinds of emotions.

I'm quite the fan of time-travel and have enjoyed TV series with it as a topic (Timeless and Loki). Hive is the first book I've read that has it as a topic and it definitely won't be the last.

I'm super excited for the next part in this series, Jump, and I have already added the Between Two Evils series to my TBR! I'm curious to read more about Matthew, Isabel and Diego.

I definitely recommend it for people curious about the multiverse, time-travel and changing fate for the good... or bad.

P.S. Could I lend the machine to go to another universe where the second book is already out?

Going into “Hive”, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read a couple of D.L. Orton’s books before and remember enjoying them, so I was excited to leap in, and I was not disappointed!

One of the main reasons I absolutely loved “Hive” was the sweet, pure love story that is set in the realistic world Orton has created. Sometimes it’s hard to find a couple like Diego and Isabel in books. These two have made mistakes, but that doesn’t change how they feel about one another and it never had even after so many years of not seeing one another. Even when Isabel becomes hurt and Diego volunteers to help her, he never takes advantage of the situation, and he makes her feel cared for. I also love how pure and honest they are with each other. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated; just honesty and love. Reading from both perspectives gives the reader reassurance that their love is true and wholesome.

Within the other chapters, the reader follows Professor Matthew Hudson and I simply adore his character. He’s scientific, knowledgeable, cares for his niece like his own daughter, and has a lovable sense of dry humor. I loved these chapters where we meet other characters (like Sam and Cassie, Matt’s niece) who add not only a level intelligence to the text (so does Isabel!), but also a balance of lightness and severity of the situation they are in. Time travel and wormholes are not a joking matter, but they personalities were so fun and entertaining to read.

The pacing of the plot was excellent. I never found myself bored. I actually was sad to finish reading because I didn’t want to leave Orton’s world. The time travel and the set up to a dystopian world was perfect! The beginning chapter lured me in to what the future would look like and the time travel back to the past was captivating to find out where it all begin.

I simply cannot wait for the next installment of the “Madders of Time” series!

Orton is a talented author with the ability to create characters you care about, a world where every single aspect is well-thought-out and captivating, and themes that are so relatable to our world today that I found it all easy to connect with and wanted more. I will obviously rate “Hive” a 5 out of 5 stars!

My opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Rocky Mountain Press) for giving me the opportunity to read “Hive”.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rocky Mountain Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Full disclosure: I had never heard of D.L. Orton nor any of her other books prior to stumbling upon this ARC and being completely intrigued by the summary and cover. After reading it... well, frankly, I think that EVERYONE should have heard of D.L. Orton! This author is a phenomenal writer.

First of all, the premise of this book (and presumably the series) is just really cool. I found it to be a believable future, which I can't often say for time travel books. There are three character POVs that we jump between, and while this is occasionally confusing, I was able to reorient myself within the first few sentences of each new POV. For the first time in a long time, I connected with all three of these main characters, and found myself internally and enthusiastically rooting for some characters and booing others.

Second of all, the writing itself is beautifully done. Descriptions are eloquent and not overly flowery. Dialogue is easy to follow. While I would prefer less cursing (personal taste), I did not feel that the cursing was out of place considering the environment and situations in which these characters found themselves.

I'll admit that I was disappointed to "lose" Madders, a very intriguing character, near the beginning, but the inclusion of log entries connecting the timelines gives me hope that Madders might again become a player later in the series.

Overall I really enjoyed this, and I eagerly await Madders of Time #2!

Content Warnings:
- Terminal illness
- Violence
- Miscarriage
- Cursing
- Alcohol

Let me say right off, I loved this book, and had a hard time putting it down. Shall we look at why?

First off, I’m always intrigued by dystopian time travel stories. But this is a difficult topic to do well, so I always have a certain amount of trepidation in starting these types of books. I needn’t have worried.

So how did the author handle it? She did not bog down the story with made up physics. Instead, it’s told through the experiences of the characters. And she has some really great characters - three very likable viewpoint characters - all scientists - a narcissistic billionaire, a reasonable military man who wants to save the world, and a paranoid government agent.

The chapters switch between the three viewpoint characters, Diego Nadales, Matt Hudson, and Isabel Sanborn. Each chapter is written in first person - my preferred viewpoint to read.

The book begins near end of human time on Earth. There are only two humans - Diego Nadales and Isabel Sanborn - and a AI called Madders, who holds the consciousness of Matt Hudson, left. They decide to send Diego Nadales back in time to see if he can change the timeline. And it is Madders who will watch events unfold to determine if Diego was successful.

Pros

- The viewpoint characters are very likable. It’s easy to become invested in their well being.

- A profound setting: the end of humanity on Earth.

- “May you live in interesting times,” purported to be a curse whose provenance has never been established, is a great description for the events in this book. Terrible for the characters, but a great plot.

- DL Orton is an excellent writer.

Cons

- Maybe I'm quibbling, because this is the first book in a series, but rather than drawing this book to a close, it just seems to stop. I was left feeling rather frustrated. It is why I gave the book a 4.5 rather than a 5.0. (However since you can only provide whole numbers on NetGalley, I will round up to 5.0.)

That said, I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series and plan to add her earlier series to my TBR list. So obviously, I’m not too put off.

Trigger warning: miscarriage

Will I read more of this author? Yes!

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Oh my goodness. This book was incredible and I had so much trouble putting it down for real life. Loved the storyline and can’t wait to find out more!

The first book of the Madders of Time series, and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next. Hive follows the connections woven between Isabelle Sanborn, Diego Nadales, and Matt Husdon through the multiverse. I fell in love with the characters and their stories. I felt a little confused trying to keep the names and timelines in order in the beginning, but overall such a good read. Thank you Rocky Mountain Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

(Note: I received an advance copy of this book free for review.)
Ordinarily I give a quick "No Go" on books that seem designed only to coerce you to buy the next book. Far too often they don't give you a book that stands on its own, so it feels like just a marketing scam to get you to buy another book. I will say Hive felt that way, but... after several days consideration, I think the character development and plot led to a reasonable satisfaction at the end of the first book so I am definitely inclined to go the next--without feeling like I have to get a sense of resolution.

I found Hive to be extremely. engaging, and despite all the time switches forward and back, rather than being confusing it really added to the story well. I congratulate Orton on an excellent first book, and a writing technique that drew me in well. The story and the interactions of the characters involved is excellent, and I recommend this book to everyone, If you feel drawn to the next book, great! But if you don't, this book leaves you feeling like there is a sense that things may progress well.

A well written story with the elements of a love story, with the multiverse, alternate timelines, dystopia and bionics all tossed together and somehow it works! I enjoyed it more than I thought.

A page-turning sci-fi & dystopian time travel adventure. The three main characters find themselves in an apocalypse and must travel through time to save the future. But can the future even be saved? A very thought-provoking read about time, world lines, and society, told from the perspective of three characters the reader grows to love.

Highly reccomend. If you like the show Steins Gate, this book is for you, or vice versa. I will be eagerly anticipating the next book in this series.

This was my first book by Orton, but I have already downloaded the first book in the previous series (which, as I understand it, has all the same characters). I know I'm missing great amounts of backstory, but loved this anyway. Our two main characters are pretty much all that's left of humanity and attempt to use time travel in combination with the multiverse, to stop the apocalypse from happening in other universes. Orton makes this all make perfect sense. Highly recommended.

In January of this year author DL Orton posted to Threads: “I write pages and pages of character background before I ever start writing a book. I think characters are more interesting and dynamic when I know who they are before I start building their stories on the page.”

Character building is something this independent author is known for - read reviews of this latest book, or any of the previous books in the “Between Two Evils” series and you’ll see that the depth of the characters is something reviewers often comment on. The characters in this latest book allow the author’s sense of humor to shine through - the main characters exchange bad puns and engage in comedic wordplay, while some of the side characters seem to be there mostly to provide comic relief.

That humor helps to ground the intricately laid out plot that plays around with the concepts of time travel and a multiverse. I’ll run through the main characters and give you some of the highlights of the plot in what follows but will necessarily be leaving out a lot of the texture and detail.

A wheelchair-bound Isabel Sanborn sets the storyline in motion, along with her dead-but-uploaded-to-an-AI friend Matthew Hudson (the AI goes by the name “Madders”). She sends Diego Nadeles back in time on a mission to change the past in order to prevent the bleak future they currently inhabit. When Diego leaves, she will be alone - the last human in the biodome that is the last home of humanity on a dystopian world. And, since it will take all the power they have left to send Diego to the past she’s consigning herself to a quick death as the biodome will fail around her.

In the past future-Diego makes a brief appearance before the story continues with present-Diego and present-Isabel charting their way into a relationship as the events leading to dystopia begin to unfold.

Dave, whom Isabel has recently divorced as the book begins, is an evil genius billionaire in an Elon Musk meets Lex Luther mold. Isabel works for Dave, and her project is the creation of robot bees designed to pollinate crops, as nature’s bees falter on the road to extinction. As the plot unfolds it becomes apparent that Dave has other designs on the robot swarm, hoping to manufacture and sell them as carriers of biological weapons, equipped with stingers to deliver death to their targets. Isabel’s plot to thwart Dave is a highlight of the book.

Meanwhile present-day Matt Hudson gets sucked into a secret government research project to determine who or what is behind a small spherical object that crashes in Denver. He’s assisted by his PhD student Sam and eventually his daughter Cassandra.

How much of what happens is consistent with the timeline that leads to dystopia? That is being monitored throughout by Madders, the future-AI stuck in a computer in the biodome on a failed world. Madders has woken up after solar power has refilled the batteries in the biodome. He has access to “peeper” technology that allows him to peer into the past. Madders gives a status of how the timeline is varying at the start of each new chapter.

So where is all this leading? Well, to a cliffhanger. It is Book 1 after all.

Now I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers in books. It can be a long time between books, especially for a newly published book like this one, so cliffhangers can be pretty frustrating. But I have to say that I agree with all those other reviewers who comment on the strong characters Orton writes. As a reader you really do become involved in their stories and want them to succeed. And I also enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. The end result is that, despite my dislike for cliffhangers, I liked this book a lot and can’t wait for the next one. Which is slated to come out in November of this year. I’ll have to wait…

This is the first book by DL Orton that I’ve read. Since finishing the book and doing a bit of research on the author I’ve learned that the characters in this book also feature in the “Between Two Evils” series. So, I may need to go back and dive into those books while waiting for the next “Madders of Time” book to arrive.

If you enjoy time travel, a dystopian world, love, 2nd chances, a fast pace, and bee bots this book is for you! The engaging characters have depth and personality. I'm eager for the next book in this series to find out what transpires!

Unlike most books, I went into Hive almost blind. I'd read the short synopsis, seen that a lot of people had been reading it, and that was enough to intrigue me. I had no real idea of what I was getting into. Despite the fact that I'm now impatient for the next book (I've got a bit of a cliffhanger-hangover, which should be a thing if it isn't), I am so delighted to have read Hive.

The world is ending. The man who was humanity's last hope has just died, and the only two other humans living in the biosphere that shields them from a cruel, overheated world have very few options. Isabel is dying of cancer, and has a fleeting idea: perhaps she can send her partner Diego back in time... and save the world from the Doomsday in which they and their colleagues were key players.

DL Orton's writing is so fluid, and I found myself flying through the book. It was so easy to engage and accept the world as she wrote it because there is so much truth in it. While the book itself is dystopian, it's so close to our current world. The characters feel real, and at times, some of the villains feel so pointedly reminiscent of our current world climate, I found it a bit frightening. (Let's at least hope that our timeline can and will do better). It's got romance, familial love, adorable pets, and quirky colleagues sprinkled intertwined with the horrendously soulless billionaires and government. It helps lighten the load of the world's inevitable collapse, but will also keep you invested--and at times, devastated--right along with the characters. The ones we follow--Diego, Isabel, and "Madders"--are these intricate, flawed portraits demonstrating how, beyond everything else, love, curiosity and the belief that the world can be better will triumph over the darkness. You know, provided we don't reach Doomsday.

One thing I will say that did bug me a little-- what I assume to be AI usage to create the portraits of the characters before their respective chapters. It did help me visualize who was narrating the various chapters, but it threw me off a bit.

Thank you so much to Rocky Mountain Press and Netgalley for the ARC!

Rating: 4.75 stars
Review posted to StoryGraph: May 2, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ae36c565-b4f5-4e5e-81db-d84d20107e6a?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: May 3, 2025 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJNiH3oRR4z/)

Back in the mid-80’s Marty McFly traveled to 30 years into the past thanks to Doc Brown’s souped-up Delorian and science fiction was never the same. Frankly, I’ve always been fascinated by time travel and when I saw the opportunity to read Hive by D.L. Orton, I was thrilled to dive in.

Time travel, of course, is purely theoretical at this time. But, in recent years the arguments have been ongoing about how time travel would work IF it actually was a possibility. Would it work like in Back to the Future where Marty could potentially erase his own future by bumbling around in the past? Or would it create branches and new timelines like what we saw in Avengers: Endgame?

In Hive, Orton seems to indicate that for her, time travel involves different timelines. At the beginning of Hive, we see a world that is about to end. Humanity is on the verge of extinction and only a few people are left. Isabelle decides there is one hope to change the past -- to use the A.I. named Madders to send Diego to before the world was too far gone.
I enjoyed Hive, partly because it didn’t go perfectly. In every time travel story, the shenanigans are some of my favorite parts. So when Diego goes back into his past, the well-laid plans they had don’t quite go off without a hitch. Not to say it happens with comedic effect, but seeing how the past changes or doesn’t with certain decisions is a key part of Hive.

I will say that Orton uses characters from previous books of hers. I would say that reading her previous books would probably really help understand what is happening, especially as the book starts basically in media res, seemingly with the understanding that the audience knows the characters already. However, I was able to enjoy the book without all the background context. Perhaps I would have rated it slightly higher, but as a time travel novel and the first in a new trilogy, Hive works all on its own.

I’m glad I read Hive and am looking forward to the second book in the trilogy, Jump, which is slated to release on November 4 later this year.

If you love a story that plays with quantum physics, alternate realities, and the looming threat of global catastrophe—plus throws in some AI bees and biodomes for good measure—then this wild ride from D.L. Orton might just be your next obsession.

I was immediately drawn in by the unique mix of science and survival. This apocalyptic world is richly imagined, layered with techy intrigue (robotic bees! artificial ecosystems!) that made my inner sci-fi nerd very happy. Do I know how accurate the science is? Not really. Did I care? Also no. I was too busy enjoying the ride to get hung up on the formulas.

But beyond the gadgets and global stakes, this is also a love story. Isabel and Diego’s romance is the kind of slow burn I live for—tender, emotional, and gradually unfolding as they fight to reconnect across timelines and disasters. My only gripe? The last quarter of the book felt like it hit fast-forward. Emotional beats and plot points that should have landed with a bang got a bit rushed, making the ending feel slightly less earned than the rest.

Still, this book had heart, brains, and imagination—and I’ll absolutely be picking up the next in the series.

There were some original and really good ideas in this book, which I was really pleased to see.
A seemingly post-apocalyptic book segues into a time travel book, with a good tough of multiverse science fiction, and some credible world events were also in there. So this clever book should please rather a lot of readers!
The gripping writing gave a great deal of tension to the story, which kept my nose fairly glued to the pages. It didn't take me long to read, but that was only because it was so very hard to put down!
I certainly cannot wait to see what becomes of the characters in this compelling world, and am really looking forward to the next book in the series!

This book is easy to read and keeps us turning the page. I like that I understand all the pop culture references, some are subtle. This book has interesting characters, I love that she runs to save the pets and that he runs for her. Time traveling (starts in the future with her death), and it's a second chance for them and for humanity as well. Great awareness that advances in technology for good can always be weaponized to do evil. The Hardcover is a great, high-quality print. The only thing that hit my nerves was the overuse of the word Sh** in Spanish in some specific scenes, but it didn't ruin my reading experience.

HIVE is a wonderfully captivating time-traveling romantic adventure and the first book in the Madders of Time series! After enjoying the Between Two Evils series, I couldn't wait to dive back into the exciting world of time travel.

From the very first page, this engaging and thought-provoking dystopian story had me hooked! I absolutely loved the Entry Log format at the start of each chapter—it’s such a clever way to keep track of where we are in the story. While I wasn’t totally sold on the romance, I thought it added an interesting layer to the plot.

The characters are delightful and really well-developed, making them feel alive and relatable. It was such a treat to reconnect with Isabel and Diego; their presence added a wonderful touch of familiarity.

Overall, HIVE is an amazing start to the series, and I’m super excited to see where it goes next! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and fast-paced time-travel adventure. And don’t worry if you haven’t read the previous series—you’ll jump right in without missing a beat!

I really enjoyed this time travel, sci fi, dystopian book. It was quite original, the writing was engaging, the characters likable, and the plot was definitely engrossing.

I’m just not sure I understood the ending. Or maybe that was the point? There was no ending, and the subsequent books will explain more? Either way, I found Hive to be a thoroughly entertaining book. The love story between two of the main characters was sweet and relatable. The storyline about what caused the collapse of modern society was thrilling to read. And there was one character whose actions were enough to get your blood boiling, I just wanted to reach through the pages and throttle him. But anyway…

I definitely am looking forward to continuing this series, and will definitely look into the authors other books.

Thank you to Rocky Mountain Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

I’ll start by saying that I am a fan of DL Orton, and more, I really like Tego, he is like the perfect man, and since in Crossing in Time and Lost time I was able to enjoy the audiobook, I felt hard with Diego’s voice haha, I’ve disagreed with some actions, but that’s ok, thats who the character is.

But let me go back to Hive, at first I thought this would be a different kind of story, but somehow it takes place in a different dimension than the one in crossing in time, but at the same time, brings light to things that happened there as well in here, but I wont give spoilers, I really enjoyed the story, and I also loved a great deal having Matt point of view.

I was only missing listening the voices of this book, to tell you the truth, if I get my hands on an audio version of this book, I would listen the story all over again, that was how much I enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley and Rocky Mountain Press, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

At the end of the world? Check. The last few people desperate to save the world? Check. Time Travel? Check. Hive by DL Orton is an exciting sci-fi thriller that will have you hooked just a few chapters in. There's AI, micro drones, time travel, everything that makes a science fiction fantasy tale an enjoyable read.

Each chapter is told from a different point of view. There is romance, villainy, government corruption...you name it this book has it. What is scary is to how close to today's climate it mirrors. One could say, based on true events, almost. The character development is top tier. You will love to hate some and love to love others.

Hive is Book 1 in the Madders of Time series, so there is more to this story, and that excites me!

Thank you to Rocky Mountain Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Hive is the first book I’ve read of DL Orton and I was very intrigued. It’s a dystopian time travel sci-fi. And boy does it deliver on the science part. There’s a lot of technical elements used to explain the science of this world.

One of our main characters has to travel to the past to stop a world ending event. He’s sent back by his wife, and finds the past version of her on the other side. The book balances the main storyline of saving the world with the romance of these two characters and how changes in the past can affect the future.

There’s also an adorable dog and cat!

We finish on a cliffhanger and I’m intrigued to see where the story goes next.

For those of you who love sci-fi with a hefty dystopian touch, I think I have something for you here!
What would YOU do if you got the chance to go back in time and prevent a tragedy?
The book goes beyond just being a rich, action-packed story; this one also makes you think and makes you think a bit too much about things that might be a bit too uncomfortable too.
And now what? Now we wait for Book Two in the series. Looks like it’s coming this November.

This is one novel you won't want to put down. Be prepared, once you start, not to put this book down again until you are finished.

One heck of a book from one heck of an author!

I can't wait to read book 2.

Splendid job!

With Earth having been wrecked by climate change, the last vestiges of humanity are locked in a bio-dome living out what remains of their lives. When Isabel, who is dying of cancer, discovers that time travel is still possible, she sends her husband Diego back in time to try and alter the course of the coming apocalypse. We follow Isabel and Diego's younger selves as their lives are altered by the older Diego and this ripples out to effect others including Professor Matthew Hudson, materials expert.

I had a lot of fun reading this approachable and bingeable science fiction story. (With the exception of that cliffhanger, how dare you DL Orton!) I instantly fell in love with all three of our main characters, particularly Professor Hudson. And I think Orton has cracked the code on getting a reader to instantly like the female protagonist: have them rush into a burning building to save puppies and kittens.

I liked the concept of the future AI being able to look back into the past to see how Diego's actions have changed the timeline. Including little blurbs at the beginning of the chapter from the AI was a unique way to keep the reader guessing about what happened in the original timeline vs. what's going to happen in the new one. I won't pretend that I understood any of the science discussed but I still enjoyed all of the discussions between the various scientist characters. Mostly because it sounded like real people talking instead of characters doing info dumps.

I'm excited to read the next book and see if we get a look into the multiverse.

Reviews posted on fable, Goodreads, Storygraph and Amazon on 5/6 and to be posted on Tiktok on 5/8.

This was such a captivating read I had to rearrange my schedule so I could finish it one sitting. The concept of time travel and a love story woven across timelines was so creative and intriguing - the die-hard romantic in me was doing somersaults the entire time.

The log entries at the beginning of each chapter were such a clever touch - they added a layer of suspense and anticipation to the story that kept me turning the pages. I can’t wait to find out what happens in book two.

If you love a good, fast-paced time travel dystopian sci-fi with a healthy dose of romance (like me!), you’ll definitely enjoy escaping into this one.

✨ARC Review✨

4⭐ for Hive by D.L. Orton

I stepped out of my usual genre for this one, and I actually quite enjoyed it! I read it as a standalone, though some of the characters are introduced in another series from what I've gathered, but it didn't take away from my understanding.

Time-travel and its repercussions are the focal point of the story, with a nice side of second chance romance that kept the romance girlie in me satisfied. The book does a good job of setting up this series, although the cliffhanger at the end frustrated me a bit because we're left with so many questions.

Intriguing, thought-provoking and easy to follow even if you're not a science geek (talking about myself here!), I enjoyed the adventure! If you were a fan of the TV series Timeless, I feel like you'd enjoy this book!

Thank you to The Write Reads and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

In the opening scenes of Hive, sometime in the future, Diego and Isabelle are old and living in bleak times. They are the only human survivors holding out in a dying biodome under attack from microdrones. Isabelle is dying, meaning Diego will be left all alone with only the AI system to talk to. When Isabelle discovers a way to allow one person to travel back in time and change the past, she sends Diego so that he can at least live out his final years in a better time, even if he fails to make the desired impact on their future timeline. Time travel brings its own pitfalls, as there are ethical implications for interfering in the past. Even small things can have a rippling effect. The entry logs from the AI system, Madders, are helpful to keep track of the main deviations in the timeline.

I would be the last person to say I understand anything about quantum physics, multiverses and parallel universes. However, that being said, I didn't need to understand it. All the science stuff seemed plausible and presented in an easy manner, allowing me to continue on my merry way without needing to overthink anything. I liked how modern issues are addressed in the book, from climate change, AI technology and the use of technology in warfare and other nefarious purposes.

At the heart of this book is a story of love and sacrifice. The main characters, Diego and Isabel, are beloved characters from the earlier Between Two Evils series. Having read those books, I knew that Diego and Isabel are destined for each other, so I didn't need a lot of relationship building for their younger selves. However, another reader unfamiliar might feel that spark missing and find their relationship rushed.

The story is told from the point of view of three main characters, Isabel, Diego, and Professor Matthew Hudson. I enjoyed the three perspectives as they gave insight into what was happening at different locations. I felt all the tension, pent-up frustration, and worry for his niece that the Professor was feeling. I really enjoyed the dark humour that he reverted to in tense situations, but it was Cassie who really lightened the mood with her snarky wisecracks and her brilliant but tough-as-nails persona.

A thought-provoking and emotional rollercoaster of a story. Themes of sacrifice, resilience, second chances, regret, and the power of love will resonate with all readers.

Hive ends in a cliffhanger so you finish the book wanting to immediately start the second.

Absolutely enthralling, edge of your seat, end-of-days, high octave, and emotionally wrenching drama! Dystopian Sci fi thrillers are not my go-to genre, but this one had me from page one and held me fast until the final page! The character depth and connection between the dying Isabel , a scientist, and Diego, the man she has loved throughout time, is just beautifully depicted. isabel discovers a space time bridge offering their final chance at rewriting terrible history in the hope of changing their ending. Their love and sacrifices are just captivating. Hive explores the ordinary lives of some ordinary people doing extraordinary things for love and survival. Matthew Hudson, a quantum materials expert and his niece Cassie, are two wonderful characters, too, who have known love and loss and use their skills to determine the extraordinary events they are witnessing. Their relationship is amazing. Hive, Madders of Time in book one in this series by DL Orton. I am excited about what is to come! #hive #hivemaddersoftime #bookone #dlorton #netgalley

Hive - Madders of Time was my first book by this author. I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was attracted to this book after reading the synopsis which described the book as a science fiction story set in a dystopian future with an element of time travel. I immediately thought this was a book I would enjoy, and enjoy it I did. This was a book which had me hooked very early. The people of earth have self destructed. The last two remaining people in the world (Isabelle and Diego), are surviving inside a self sufficient dome city. Isabelle is however dying of cancer and the dome power supply is running dangerously low. Soon Diego will be the last person alive. They decide to send Diego back in time as a last resort to see if he can alter the past so there is a better outcome for the world. How could I not be invested from the get go. Many of the characters in the book were introduced to readers in an earlier series by this author. I have not read that series and I suspect it would have helped if I had. In saying that this is the first book of a new series and it isn’t critical to read earlier books. I know there is another book coming because of where this one ended. It basically didn’t end. It just stopped leaving the reader hanging. I don’t generally like it when authors to this as the reader is kind of forced to acquire the next instalment in order to see the conclusion of the story. There was quite a lot of technical/scientific information within the text and I was impressed with the authors level of research and knowledge. I would have liked to have seen more of the older Diego within the story. It would have been good to know what he was doing and thinking in order to alter the future. Maybe this was in fact explained and I missed it? The world building and character development was excellent. Two characters however (Dave and Dick), were portrayed as OTT stereotypical assholes. I found this very annoying and unrealistic. They could have easily been portrayed as unlikeable without exaggerating it so much. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the writing and am keen to see how it continues to unfold. Thank you Netgalley.

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S HIVE ABOUT?
We open on a semi-functional (less so by the day) biodome some 30 years in the future (it's vague, but safe to put it in the 2040s-2060s largely depending from when the reader picks this up)—there are two living humans, and an AI of sorts trying to keep going. There are some other biodomes out there, and hopefully, they're doing better. The land outside the biodome is not fit to sustain human life—or much in the way of animal or vegetable life, either.

They have enough energy to use a spacetime bridge one more time as a last-ditch effort to go back and stop things from getting to this point. The target day was a fateful day for the two of them as individuals, and apparently one for the timeline as well (probably for different reasons, I'm not suggesting history pivots on them). They can send one person back with the sole idea of preventing their present.

I'm being as vague on details as the characters are here—you'll get an idea about the particulars later.

We spend the rest of the book watching how this plays out from the point of view of some pivotal individuals (earlier versions of these characters in one way or another), with some observations from that AI about how well it's working and the chances their mission holds of success.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE COLORS
Our primary characters (in the 2010s-2030s) are Matthew, Diego, and Isabel. Matthew and Diego did some work together in the past, and have some loose connections in the book's "present"—but they're not great pals or anything, and their stories don't intertwine much (in Hive, anyway—I expect that to change). Matthew is a physicist of some repute and his expertise will be important.

When we meet Isabel, her divorce has just been finalized and she is excited and free from her husband (well, as free as you can be from an egomanical technocrat that you happen to work for and who owns your research). Diego is the would-be do-gooder scientist/entrepreneur who's trying to do his part to help poorer countries with their water supply. Diego is also the one who got away, for Isabel. Through some unlikely coincidences (probably shaped by their future selves), they reconnect and try to start over/make up for lost time.

Also, they've received prompting from future-Isabel to stop Dave. It's unclear what they're supposed to stop him from doing, but they're all in.

Dave is the kind of character that the reader is primed and ready to hate, or at least really dislike, from his first line of dialogue—and your impression of him goes downhill from there. There are a few sycophants in his company that we don't get to know too well, but their devotion to him really solidifies your impression of them.

Meanwhile, Matthew is pretty much kidnapped by a couple of representatives of the U.S. government to work on a mysterious artifact, presumably (to the reader) something sent back to the past from the biodome. The senior member of this pair is easily as dislikable as Dave—almost irrationally so. And while he might be one of the "good guys," or at least is working to help people, he's definitely one of those envisioned by the coiners of the phrase, "Who needs enemies with friends like this?"

I'm focusing on these two here to be efficient—other than these two jackwagons, 99% of the rest of the characters (from very minor on up) are kind, pleasant, smart (if not brilliant), and are working to improve things. They're the kinds of characters you want to spend time with—they've got good senses of humor, are optimistic and determined to keep going. Reading about them while there's some sort of apocalypse around them is actually pleasant. Even if only you and the AI knew how bad things were going to get for them, you would like their chances and be pleased every time the AI mentioned their chances of improving their chances of success.

A FOCUSED ARMAGEDDON
It's hard to judge the scope of this/these calamity/calamities—our view is of Denver and the surrounding area. We get some hints that conditions are the same in other parts of the country as things get worse. But we really don't know what things are like outside the U.S.

Given how bad it is 30+ years into the future when we first see things, it makes sense to think this happened globally. But it's also possible that the devastation was limited to North America (or just the U.S.) and the rest of the world was able to protect itself, or weren't exposed to the effects. During the bulk of our time with Diego and Isabel, some forms of communication work and some don't for them, so it's believable that they just have no clue what's happening outside of Colorado. Communications around Matthew seem a lot more reliable, but he's kept so much in the dark that it really doesn't get the reader anywhere.

I'm not sure how much it matters for the story—particularly at this point. But I think it's fun to speculate about while you're reading and afterwards. Has the rest of the world moved on, fairly intact, waiting for things to calm down in North America so they can come over and try to rebuild? Or are they, so far removed from the three events, suffering just as much?

CROSSING IN TIME
Feel free to skip this part and move on—I'm not sure this adds much to the overall post, but I can't stop thinking about this.

This is a reworked version of Orton's novel Crossing in Time. I listened to that book back in 2021 and enjoyed it—try as I might not to, I inevitably kept what was different about this version. The little voice in the back of my head just wouldn't shut up. To make things worse—I think I have some details of Crossing in Time conflated with one or more other time travel books involving a strong love story.*

What I think she did here was lop off some later chapters, I assume to move them to Book Two. And introduce and/or beef up some of the chapters and subplots. I'm more sure about the former than the latter, if I'm right, that makes the ending more of a cliff-hanger that will springboard you into wanting Book Two in your hands straightaway.

I also think Orton removed what could be described as convolutions—making the novel more streamlined and fast-paced. Overall, I get her choices, and I do think it makes the book a stronger read.

But again, I could be wrong—but I couldn't stop thinking about it as I read the book, or as I think about it now—so I had to get this out.

* With apologies to the author, there have been 800 or so books between now and then, details get fuzzy.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HIVE?
This is a fast-paced, propulsive read filled with amiable characters who aren't afraid to joke around even when things are tense or confusing. The hook gets set pretty early, and the pages melt away as you plunge ahead to follow the events. It's exactly the kind of popcorn read that helps you escape after a long day.

The tech is very cool—both the stuff that Isabel developed and the items that Matthew talks about and develops. Orton gives you enough to understand how it all works and to visualize it clearly without bogging down the pace with paragraphs and paragraphs of details. The plausibility of it all? Eh, it's SF, it's plausible enough if you come with a standard level of suspension of disbelief needed for time travel (especially, in this case, when the time travel comes with a side order of multiverse story).

Because of the pacing, Orton's able to get away with a few things that maybe she couldn't in a slower-moving book. I don't actually see the grounding of the romance between Diego and Isabel—he's carried a torch for years, she regrets making the choice years ago to walk away. But...that's it. We don't see many sparks, just have to take it because we're told that. There's no reason for the senior agent involved with Matthew to be such an ass to everyone, all the time, especially when just a sentence from him now and then would be enough to get people to work with him instead of his threats (and I don't care how instinctive and characteristic his brusqueness is, you don't move up in an organization simply be being mule-headed, there has to be at least an insincere level of cooperativeness expressed occasionally). All the depth of the characters that could be brought out are merely nodded to, or you have to assume them.

Actually, this all might be necessary because of her pacing. If so, I understand the choice (as much as I disagree with it).

I want to stress, however, in the moment, you don't think about this (and if you do, you brush it off because you don't want to step out of the movement). Everything works, everything clicks while you're reading and speeding off to the next twist/revelation. It's only after you get to the ending that leaves you holding onto the cliff's edge with your fingers that this might occur to you if you stop and think about it. Mostly, you're going to be thinking about how long it will be until you can get your hands on Book Two.

It's easily enjoyable, engrossing, and entertaining. You should give it a try.

Hive is a sci-fi romance novel that seamlessly weaves in intriguing timelines of present and past with amazing twists and turns.

Humanity as we know it now has been decimated and the last surviving members are living in Eden- 17 bioderm. We follow Isabelle who is on the verge of dying. She although has her days numbered, tries to convince the love of her life to go back in time and change the events. But Diego would rather just stay with her till the end of time than to go back. To honour her wish, he agrees and Isabelle with the prominent help of Madders, the AI prepares for this venture.

As the shift is decided, Diego has to navigate many ebb and flow as he encounters Isabelle who is quite different from the one he has loved all these years. As the events begin to take shape and everything is thrown in a flux.

I'd highly recommend this book to all the sci-fi readers.

As an Sci-Fi enthusiast I have always felt that this genre always brings out something new. With 'Hive' I definitely had an enjoyable experience. The world building is intriguing and masterfully crafted. The pacing of the story follows an engaging streak while the characters are well written as well. Without any entangling plotholes or dull moments, this novel converges on adventure, romance, mystery. D.L. Orton has done a commendable job in weaving an absolute page-tuner and I'm impressed with the way how the plot was executed.

Wow! I LOVED this book! Such a addictive and captivating story line, engaging characters with depth, mysteries being discovered as we go along, and a race against the clock to prevent the apocalypse. I really appreciated that we got to follow the story from our three different main characters POV’s, it gave me a wider look and understanding for the story, and also to get know the character and what motivates them. I found the story unique and thrilling, like something you could see in a episode of Black Mirror, what can go wrong with all the technology we’re producing if it gets in the wrong hands? We also get a lot of emotional scenes, a perfect blend of human interactions and plot, with the scientific and dystopian bits. Time travel will always be something that peeks my interest, in both television and books. Just something about it, it’s fantastical but at the same time ”possible”, you know? One can dream huh? We are left on quite the cliffhanger, so I really can’t wait for book two which comes out in October! 🙏🏻 Thank you for this wonderful book DL Orton, such a great experience! ⏳🚀🐝

🔥 One of my Best Reads of 2025!

What a wild, brutal, brilliant ride! Hive drops you into a dystopian nightmare and refuses to let go—and I loved every second of it. This isn’t your typical post-apocalyptic survival tale. Orton blends razor-sharp world-building, fierce female resilience, and sci-fi grit with haunting emotional depth.

The characters, especially the women, are raw and unforgettable, grappling with identity, control, and the terrifying cost of survival in a fractured world. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

It’s gritty, smart, thought-provoking, and deeply human. Hive earns its place on my Best of 2025 list without question. Do not miss this one if you’re into high-stakes survival, dark timelines, and fiercely written heroines.

There you have it. My review, as best I can without spoilers. Grab your copy of the entire series, binge-read it, then join me in impatiently waiting for the next release.

In a ruined future, Isabel knows she herself doesn't have much time left. With the last of the energy she can gather, she sends the love of her life, Diego, back into the past, the process shutting down the rest of the dome and the AI named Madders along with it. No matter, so long as one final chance to salvage life remains. This was such a neat read that is somewhat science-heavy, but never feels like it. It's not overwhelming, no terminology goes over my head, and I'm never lost!

The story is unique and the way the author sets up how the past [technically the present] links up with the future, and the chances from the virgin timeline, is very cool to read. I enjoyed the characters that clearly have lots of love put into each of them, they're so colorful, rich, and well written, yes, even that one character I hated...

My favorite scene had to have been the seashell scene, talk about a neat version of explaining the Schrodinger cat! A cliffhanger there in the end, but that only makes me want to continue, no?

I loved this post-apocalyptic, time-travel, romantic suspense, with high stakes and wonderful characters. The genre mashup is incredibly fun and well-executed. I enjoyed the multiple POVs of Isabel, Diego, and Professor Hudson. The science is easy to understand, and I loved the moral dilemmas surrounding it. Isabel and Diego’s romance is also first rate. With the way this book ended, I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Right from the first sentence, I was intrigued. What a phenomenal way to introduce the world and the main characters.

The way the prologue introduces the dire situation that Isabel and Diego are in, along with a glimmer of hope, if the time travel works, really grabbed my attention. It shows just enough of the future to make you wonder how the heck it all went wrong, while providing small breadcrumb clues that don't give all the answers but make you want to keep reading to find out how they got to this point.

Add in the third main character, Matt aka Madders, who in the future had his consciousness uploaded into an AI, and there's a lot to be curious about. How did the artificial pollinators go wrong? How long have they been in the biodome? What happened to the rest of humanity?

Once we find ourselves back in the past, the story truly picks up. As we bounce between Isabel, Diego, and Matt's perspectives as they deal with personal and business issues, and of course, the trickle effects of the time travel - something they aren't aware of for the first bit of the story.

With each chapter, we can see the building blocks of the disaster form. And yet, there are positives sprinkled throughout, giving you hope that it may all work out.

Along the way, there is the suspense of discovering how Diego's traveling into the past affects the current timeline. From the mystery of the sphere, which highlights Matt's area of expertise, to the reveal of the biodome where Isabel's pollinator bots will be a key player in producing food, we watch events unravel and twist together.

With each chapter, we also get to see a small snippet of what AI Madder is seeing, as he keeps track of events in the past and notes any minor or major differences from the virgin timeline. These little snippets are a fantastic addition and really highlight how quickly things can change. They also provide hints for what happened originally and if, perhaps, those events will be avoided, accelerated, or delayed.

Each character's specialization is key to ensuring humanity's survival, though it may not always seem like it at first. Diego is one such character whose water systems are important; however, compared to Isabel's bees, it seems like it won't matter as much. However, as it all unfolds, you realize that he indeed has a major contribution to the world.

While each character has a connection to the others, I found that Isabel and Diego stood out the most. Perhaps it's because of the romantic past, or something else, but I enjoyed their chapters more than those following Matt.

Isabel is a strong woman, and despite the numerous setbacks she endures, there is always hope in her future. Her artificial pollinator bees are an amazing invention, but the stain of her ex-husband on the project hampers it more than anything. Speaking of that lowlife, thank goodness none of the chapters are from his perspective because he is a horrible human, and I hated every minute he was on the page.

One character I would love to see more of is Cassandra, Matt's niece. I completely understand why she doesn't have chapters from her perspective, however, I'm hopeful that in future books we will get to see more of her because I can see she holds some importance to the story.

This book is quick-paced, and there is a constant stream of events rolling through. However, I will say that this is a detriment to some scenes, especially those emotionally heavy moments with Isabel and Diego that could have used a bit more time to fully process what was happening.

The science behind the time travel, and other aspects (which I don't want to go too deeply into to avoid spoilers), were really well done. At no point did the story feel bogged down with details about the machines or anything else, which can be a common issue in some sci-fi stories. I enjoyed seeing how the characters came to solve each mystery from the future and how it could or had affected their timeline.

The ending was quite a nail-biting moment, and there is some good to be found; it also hints at more bumps in the road.

Overall, I loved this book. Between the pacing, interesting characters, suspense of things to come, and gripping plot, Hive has a lot going for it. I have already added the next book to my TBR and cannot wait to see what comes next for this trio of characters and the world.