Member Review

Time-traveling, Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward witnessed a horrific murder in the past and barely survived it. Back in the present, he discovers that his former adversary and current friend, Helen, is being framed for a crime he's certain she didn't commit. Her call for help sends him to first-century Jerusalem to find a man who can clear her name. Not only will he find past Helen there, he'll also discover that the man he's hunting is not just a time-travelling thief, but he's the murderous psychopath he faced before. It becomes a race through time to capture the culprit and save Helen, but what will Rabbit have to sacrifice if he hopes to succeed?

We return to the complex world of sanctioned time travel with a trip that tests everything Rabbit believes in. It's fascinating and full of history, but it's also slightly savage and heartbreaking. The disconnect Rabbit counts on of looking at the people he meets as individuals long gone and unassistable will see him face some very tough decisions that come with heavy consequences. He's a fascinating character who fills the page with his personality, so it's great that we get to explore more of Helen and see how interacting with her changes Rabbit in fundamental ways. And it's not just him, major props to Ludington for how he made the villain feel like such an empathetic character that you end up comprehending why he is like he is. I never thought I'd root for the murderer to get treated with compassion, yet here we are.

The plot is a weird mix of fast and slow pacing that sees Rabbit rushing through danger only to then find himself luxuriating in peace. It sounds like it would make reading a chore, but it gives the characters (and the reader) time to fully absorb everything that's going on and all the revelations. It worked to keep me hooked despite some moments hitting a little too hard for my taste.

You can't read this and understand all the nuances and decisions made if you didn't read the first volume, Splinter Effect. Ludington jumps right into the story without much exposition of the world and characters that make this a page turner if you're familiar with them. You might still be able to follow the plot, but I don't think it'd be as enjoyable.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the excellent read!