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Keeping Time #1
Timepiece
You only THINK you know what happened at Waterloo.
The real story involved more monsters. And a lot more time travel.
It's 1815, and Wellington's badly-outnumbered army stares across the field of Waterloo at Napoleon's forces. Desperate to hold until reinforcements arrive, Wellington calls upon a race of monsters created by a mad Genevese scientist 25 years before.
It's 1815, and a discontented young lady sitting in a rose garden receives a mysterious gift: a pocket watch that, when opened, displays scenes from all eras of history. Past...and future.
It's 1885, and a small band of resistance fighters are resorting to increasingly extreme methods in their efforts to overthrow a steampunk Empire whose clockwork gears are slick with its subjects blood.
Are these events connected?
Oh, come now. That would be telling.
"Waterloo and time travel are made for each other and Heather Albano has done a wonderful job of giving us a delightful cast of characters, tasked with stitching together the proper nineteenth century while fending off several monstrous alternatives. Propulsive adventure with historical insight." - Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars and 2312
The real story involved more monsters. And a lot more time travel.
It's 1815, and Wellington's badly-outnumbered army stares across the field of Waterloo at Napoleon's forces. Desperate to hold until reinforcements arrive, Wellington calls upon a race of monsters created by a mad Genevese scientist 25 years before.
It's 1815, and a discontented young lady sitting in a rose garden receives a mysterious gift: a pocket watch that, when opened, displays scenes from all eras of history. Past...and future.
It's 1885, and a small band of resistance fighters are resorting to increasingly extreme methods in their efforts to overthrow a steampunk Empire whose clockwork gears are slick with its subjects blood.
Are these events connected?
Oh, come now. That would be telling.
"Waterloo and time travel are made for each other and Heather Albano has done a wonderful job of giving us a delightful cast of characters, tasked with stitching together the proper nineteenth century while fending off several monstrous alternatives. Propulsive adventure with historical insight." - Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars and 2312
307 pages, ebook
First published September 27, 2011
306 people are currently reading
2171 people want to read
About the author
Heather Albano
11 books99 followersHeather Albano is a storyteller, history geek, and lover of both time-travel tropes and re-imaginings of older stories. In addition to novels, she writes interactive fiction. She finds the line between the two getting fuzzier all the time.
Heather lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two cats, a tankful of fish, and an excessive amount of tea. Learn more about her various projects at heatheralbano.com.
Heather lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two cats, a tankful of fish, and an excessive amount of tea. Learn more about her various projects at heatheralbano.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
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September 29, 2017DNF.
I do not rate or review books I do not want to finish reading
I do not rate or review books I do not want to finish reading
January 18, 2020
Well, this was an interesting start to a series!
I liked the author's writing, and I loved the fact that she did her homework in regards to the historical aspects of the story...which made it easier and more fun to create the twists and turns! With the added bits from well-known classics - 'Frankenstein' being one - 'Timepiece' was one hell of a ride!
The Regency heroine - Elizabeth - got on my nerves on occasion, but she did come through at the end. I liked her friend (future beau)? William as well, and I really liked the older time traveler, Maxwell (The man went through a lot).
I would have leaned towards giving this 4 stars, but the actual time-traveling scientific aspects of the story was vague; there were also a few grammatical errors, like missing words, or words or phrases typed twice (which didn't take away from the actual story). I'll be reading the next two books for sure, even though it is a 'clean read'. lol
3.5 stars.
I liked the author's writing, and I loved the fact that she did her homework in regards to the historical aspects of the story...which made it easier and more fun to create the twists and turns! With the added bits from well-known classics - 'Frankenstein' being one - 'Timepiece' was one hell of a ride!
The Regency heroine - Elizabeth - got on my nerves on occasion, but she did come through at the end. I liked her friend (future beau)? William as well, and I really liked the older time traveler, Maxwell (The man went through a lot).
I would have leaned towards giving this 4 stars, but the actual time-traveling scientific aspects of the story was vague; there were also a few grammatical errors, like missing words, or words or phrases typed twice (which didn't take away from the actual story). I'll be reading the next two books for sure, even though it is a 'clean read'. lol
3.5 stars.
May 31, 2017
This is a fun story, I'm looking forward to the sequel. Good characters and fun to see what happens when you "mess" with time. It took me longer than the other books I read because I was reading it on my Kindle and have limited time to read read, most of the books I listen to while I work. The time it took me in no way reflects how I felt about the story. I enjoyed it and felt bad I didn't have the time to devote to it that it deserved.
November 29, 2016
It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to take the worlds of novels like Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice, and The Time Machine and pull them all together around the Battle of Waterloo, but this book does it. Its steampunk sensibility flows cleanly from the plot. I'm looking forward to the next book!
January 19, 2014
Timepiece, by Heather Albano, was an experiment for me into a sort of steampunk plus time travel experience. A little to my surprise, it was set overtly in a very recognisable version of our own world, beginning on the day of the Battle of Waterloo. As the story progressed it became clear that other fictional elements had been woven into the plot, most notably from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I suppose that I had expected something set in an invented world, or at least one in which the divergence from our own history had happened sufficiently early that there were many more differences.
As it was, I did not find the basic premise compelling. It seemed altogether too easy for Heather to inventively write her way out of problems, and I felt that difficulties raised early on were side-stepped later. Certain constraints in the time travel part were set up, but did not seem to be followed through consistently if the plot seemed to require otherwise (for example, being in two places at once at the same time, or whether or not it was possible to revisit a time already accessed). On the one hand, the world was too much like ours, but on the other, there were too many added ingredients to know where things stood.
Like several other books I have read recently, it is just the first part of a story, and it finishes rather abruptly, almost in mid-narrative. To some extent this incompleteness is signaled by clues dropped quite skilfully into the storyline. Certain relationships are suggested but then left unresolved. As reader, you begin to suspect that these clues are building into a pattern, but the characters remain ignorant of this. Perhaps they will become aware of the pattern in the next volume, which I am guessing is going to see the main characters try and resolve the problem that they were left in at the end of Timepiece – it’s something of a ‘three wishes’ plot where at each stage the central couple have to try to sort out the problems that were created last time. At any rate, this device of simply halting the story mid-flow did not endear me to the book, and has not left me eager to pick up the next one: instead I felt frustrated that it was left incomplete.
The book necessarily handles some science / technology plot components as it goes along, and I had mixed feelings about these. Some felt about right for the early to mid 19th century, but others felt out of place. But then, if you’re writing about a parallel universe maybe it’s fair game to just swap things around? I wasn’t sure, and I think on balance I prefer dealing with the actual history of our own world, and the problems faced by people in it. From conversations with others I am aware of how hard it is to create a convincing imaginary world. In the world of Timepiece, I was never sure that I actually knew what the rules and boundaries were, and they seemed rather fluid as things moved along.
One of Heather’s main interests is clearly to explore how people from one era might cope with a culture reasonably close to their own – in this case about 70 years. That is an interesting endeavour – it’s almost within the protagonists’ lifetimes, but with enough changes (quite apart from the time travel stuff) to make for some unexpected dissonance as well as reassuring familiarity. This worked well for a while, but it seemed that having gone into changes of costume, and some aspects of the role of women, Heather dropped back into differences more to do with social rank than cultural development. I would have enjoyed something further along the original lines.
Technically this is yet another book where kindle features have not been properly coded. The the hardware navigation works, and there is an HTML TOC, but this has not been fully integrated and you cannot ‘goto’ table of contents. However, the content of the book has been carefully proof-read and is nicely laid out.
Timepiece is undoubtedly imaginative, but for me it slightly failed to reach a target, resulting in my four star rating. I do prefer books about the real past of this world, but am quite happy to delve into imaginary or parallel places… so long as the ground-rules are clearly set out and maintained. Alternate history books are a fascinating look into unrealised possibilities, but I did not find this one very compelling. Having said that, I am sure that readers who click more with steampunk than I do will have a great time with Heather’s book, and appreciate its particular flavour more than I did. Worth a look, if this is a genre you enjoy.
As it was, I did not find the basic premise compelling. It seemed altogether too easy for Heather to inventively write her way out of problems, and I felt that difficulties raised early on were side-stepped later. Certain constraints in the time travel part were set up, but did not seem to be followed through consistently if the plot seemed to require otherwise (for example, being in two places at once at the same time, or whether or not it was possible to revisit a time already accessed). On the one hand, the world was too much like ours, but on the other, there were too many added ingredients to know where things stood.
Like several other books I have read recently, it is just the first part of a story, and it finishes rather abruptly, almost in mid-narrative. To some extent this incompleteness is signaled by clues dropped quite skilfully into the storyline. Certain relationships are suggested but then left unresolved. As reader, you begin to suspect that these clues are building into a pattern, but the characters remain ignorant of this. Perhaps they will become aware of the pattern in the next volume, which I am guessing is going to see the main characters try and resolve the problem that they were left in at the end of Timepiece – it’s something of a ‘three wishes’ plot where at each stage the central couple have to try to sort out the problems that were created last time. At any rate, this device of simply halting the story mid-flow did not endear me to the book, and has not left me eager to pick up the next one: instead I felt frustrated that it was left incomplete.
The book necessarily handles some science / technology plot components as it goes along, and I had mixed feelings about these. Some felt about right for the early to mid 19th century, but others felt out of place. But then, if you’re writing about a parallel universe maybe it’s fair game to just swap things around? I wasn’t sure, and I think on balance I prefer dealing with the actual history of our own world, and the problems faced by people in it. From conversations with others I am aware of how hard it is to create a convincing imaginary world. In the world of Timepiece, I was never sure that I actually knew what the rules and boundaries were, and they seemed rather fluid as things moved along.
One of Heather’s main interests is clearly to explore how people from one era might cope with a culture reasonably close to their own – in this case about 70 years. That is an interesting endeavour – it’s almost within the protagonists’ lifetimes, but with enough changes (quite apart from the time travel stuff) to make for some unexpected dissonance as well as reassuring familiarity. This worked well for a while, but it seemed that having gone into changes of costume, and some aspects of the role of women, Heather dropped back into differences more to do with social rank than cultural development. I would have enjoyed something further along the original lines.
Technically this is yet another book where kindle features have not been properly coded. The the hardware navigation works, and there is an HTML TOC, but this has not been fully integrated and you cannot ‘goto’ table of contents. However, the content of the book has been carefully proof-read and is nicely laid out.
Timepiece is undoubtedly imaginative, but for me it slightly failed to reach a target, resulting in my four star rating. I do prefer books about the real past of this world, but am quite happy to delve into imaginary or parallel places… so long as the ground-rules are clearly set out and maintained. Alternate history books are a fascinating look into unrealised possibilities, but I did not find this one very compelling. Having said that, I am sure that readers who click more with steampunk than I do will have a great time with Heather’s book, and appreciate its particular flavour more than I did. Worth a look, if this is a genre you enjoy.
February 18, 2019
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I read time travel, so count me in. There's an introduction in the book about the special setting where, from our POV, people from one historical setting visit another one. Besides it is set in an alternative steampunk London where monsters and the machines that were meant to keep them in check roam around.
This is a good example of how thing gradually became worse, with the solution being even worse than the problem and this for several problems. Luckily there is a bunch of time traveling pocket watches available and some young people who are willing to use it to rid the world once and for all of these problems. Our main characters are from Georgian England and it is clear that HG Wells and the like have not yet been around, because of course they should have realized right from the start that History doesn't want to be changed and that these things NEVER end well.
The story was a bit slower than I expected. While they do jump around in time quite some, I was perhaps still used to the mayhem that is St Mary's in that other Time Travel series that I'm reading. I'm however, not entirely on board with the rules of the time travel in this one, especially since they glance over (or at least give a unsatisfactory answer) to two of the most important paradoxes of time travel. I hope this will be resolved a bit better in the next book, which I hope to read soon.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I read time travel, so count me in. There's an introduction in the book about the special setting where, from our POV, people from one historical setting visit another one. Besides it is set in an alternative steampunk London where monsters and the machines that were meant to keep them in check roam around.
This is a good example of how thing gradually became worse, with the solution being even worse than the problem and this for several problems. Luckily there is a bunch of time traveling pocket watches available and some young people who are willing to use it to rid the world once and for all of these problems. Our main characters are from Georgian England and it is clear that HG Wells and the like have not yet been around, because of course they should have realized right from the start that History doesn't want to be changed and that these things NEVER end well.
The story was a bit slower than I expected. While they do jump around in time quite some, I was perhaps still used to the mayhem that is St Mary's in that other Time Travel series that I'm reading. I'm however, not entirely on board with the rules of the time travel in this one, especially since they glance over (or at least give a unsatisfactory answer) to two of the most important paradoxes of time travel. I hope this will be resolved a bit better in the next book, which I hope to read soon.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 18, 2012
I really enjoyed this unusual time travel story. When faced with the possibility of defeat on the battlefield of Waterloo, Wellington calls on the 'Special Brigade', a squad of monsters who are barely controlled by their handlers, they sway the day for Wellington and the British, but the cost will only be counted 70 years in the future. On the same day as Waterloo, Elizabeth Barton and William Carrington, the one hemmed in by convention and her parent's ideas of what a 17 year old young lady in the early nineteenth century should be and the other a slightly older young man, wounded on the Peninsula where he lost the use of his right arm and wishing he could be at Waterloo, meet in the orchard near the boundary to their two properties, they cannot know what will result in that meeting. Hours earlier, Elizabeth had had delivered to her an unusual watch, and it is this watch that she is examining when William comes upon her, together they investigate the seemingly impossible moving images on the inside face of one side of the watch, only to find themselves catapulted out of 1815 and into 1885, where terror reigns in the streets of London, as the Constructs built to beat back the Wellies (as the monsters used at Waterloo are now called) are used to police the inhabitants of London. Meeting with Mr Maxwell, who turns out to be a fellow timetraveller, the two young people are pulled into trying to help Maxwell prevent the rise of the monsters and the constructs.
ugh
October 12, 2016DNF - PG 92
Why?
Because I'm so bored and I've been working on this barely 300 page book for almost a month.
Also, I NEED the time travel explained. Either that, or toss so many complicated words at me that I don't realize it isn't being explained. This book does neither and some actually admits that they don't know how the time travel works or where the watches come from. And no one seems at all curious.
Why?
Because I'm so bored and I've been working on this barely 300 page book for almost a month.
Also, I NEED the time travel explained. Either that, or toss so many complicated words at me that I don't realize it isn't being explained. This book does neither and some actually admits that they don't know how the time travel works or where the watches come from. And no one seems at all curious.
May 17, 2019
Timepiece by Heather Albano
As I've protested before, Steampunk is not my genre. Nor am I a fan of history although I'm not entirely bereft of some grasp of historical events. So, when the book begins at Waterloo in the midst of battle I'm pretty sure I have a grasp of where we are and what the outcome should be. Although I must admit that as I often do before giving a review I paused at some point to recite aloud to Virginia a few items I enjoyed about the book with a brief synopsis of the book itself. So when I started to mention Waterloo and came stuck upon the name of the British duke, Virginia was quick to fill in the blanks with a confident: Wellington. You see it pays to be a reader of romance novels now doesn't it. Virginia's genre is Romance.
I thus felt it fell upon me to check what I could. You see the book hinges entirely on being in a world where there are monsters much like Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. These monstrosities were created, by the British, prior to this battle and are now being held in reserve. The biggest puzzle would seem to be the why, to Wellington using them. Was there a change in the original battle that made matters worse for Wellington's troops or are we to believe that Wellington's confidence in his green troops is so low that the change mostly comes from having such a thing in reserve as these monsters as enough to tempt Wellington. It's a difficult puzzle even so because it would seem that Wellington is not happy about his own decision which leads on into history by placing his name upon the whole thing by calling these creatures Wellingtons monsters. Giving them the glory for the victory and taking it away from his troops.
If I see things correctly this leads to the Steampunk nature of the story revolving around the events that follow this great battle.
But we don't get there directly since the main characters are still within this same time sphere which is what makes this primarily a time travel novel over Steampunk. Elizabeth Barton is anything but a prim an proper young lady. Perhaps she'd be best described as a tomboy despite the efforts of her parents and her aunt. Let me say her aunt is singularly cruel above and beyond the call of duty as regards molding Elizabeth into a fine young marriageable woman. At the age of seventeen Elizabeth is hardly ready to settle down with any suitor. She receives on this day in the mail a strange watch that not only has multiple dials but also a strange movable picture. (Definitely something not of this time.)
Next is William Carrington, a former military man who was wounded seriously and has lost the function of one arm. Rather despondent that he is unable to accompany his brother in law back into battle, when Napoleon escapes from prison to begin his 100 day reign. Now unable to join the battle and feeling quite crippled and maimed he has serious doubts of his ability to make a show as a husband in his present condition. It is while getting away from everything that reminds him of his inadequacy that he takes a stroll that leads him to the same place that Elizabeth has gone to escape the mechanization's of her family in trying to match her with anything of flesh and blood and breeding that will tolerate her.
She has also gone to examine her watch more closely.
William finds her with the watch and confronts her about it. When he opens it to look at it he's mesmerized equally as much as she has been, but because he has some familiarity outside of the cloistered community that oppresses Elizabeth he has a better chance of recognizing that this is something that does not come from anywhere near or far from here. Because of the strange features within the watch there are a number of dials moved and an accidental pushing in of the stem. They both sense that something has happened. When Elizabeth takes possession of the watch and begins to fiddle with the stem William starts to caution her. Too late she presses the stem and they are thrust into immediate darkness.
And the adventure begins.
They first meet Max-an apparent fellow time traveler who will be able to fill in some gaps and give us the laws of time travel for these stories. Max helps them to find a place to lie low in this world where they are out past curfew and in danger of running afoul of the mechanical monstrosities that were created to put down the Frankenstein like monsters who rebelled against their creators. Those in charge of the mechanical wonders took the advantage after saving everyone and now have control of the empire.
The notion is that the creation of the monsters put emphasis on their saving the day in the battle at Waterloo and ensuring that the confidence level of the British foot soldier is lowered enough to change all of their history to a complete reliance upon the monsters to do battle for them. Thus the changes in history that lead to this society of steam and metal are all tightly bound with the first anachronistic event in history.
One major law of time travel seems to be that the time traveler is only allowed one attempt to change specific events in specific times and the traveler gets blocked out from those timelines once his presence in that timeline has occurred. (Explained here as not being able to be in the same place at the same time.) We get the sense that Max has already tried several things to zero in on the event that most strikingly determined the outcome, which is, to his unknown timeline, apparently history. Max mentions that his parents were time travelers and he sort of inherited the whole business from them. He possess a watch similar to the one Elizabeth has.
This is really a fascinating time travel story. We see mostly that the time travelers are quick to learn that even the most dramatic changes in some of the important or even less important events are not enough to stem the tide of time and history. Now with the three of them working on it perhaps they will have an impact, but will they be able to reconcile the consequences of the outcome of meddling.
This is a great book for history fans who aren't too particular about maintaining accuracy or overthinking the fact that there were so many things happening those days at Waterloo that it's difficult to say what would have occurred had any part gone differently. This novel has good solid world building for a Time Travel and Steampunk novel so there is lots here for the Sci-Fi and SFF group to love.
This is also a love story that's building slow but believable with the relationship between Elizabeth and William and there's a bit of mystery about Max's over concern at getting those two back to their time line and I think it has something to do with that locket around his neck which Max guards possessively.
A fun and fascinating romp through time and altered history.
Although I don't need to say it; I will be reading the next novel soon.
J.L. Dobias
As I've protested before, Steampunk is not my genre. Nor am I a fan of history although I'm not entirely bereft of some grasp of historical events. So, when the book begins at Waterloo in the midst of battle I'm pretty sure I have a grasp of where we are and what the outcome should be. Although I must admit that as I often do before giving a review I paused at some point to recite aloud to Virginia a few items I enjoyed about the book with a brief synopsis of the book itself. So when I started to mention Waterloo and came stuck upon the name of the British duke, Virginia was quick to fill in the blanks with a confident: Wellington. You see it pays to be a reader of romance novels now doesn't it. Virginia's genre is Romance.
I thus felt it fell upon me to check what I could. You see the book hinges entirely on being in a world where there are monsters much like Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. These monstrosities were created, by the British, prior to this battle and are now being held in reserve. The biggest puzzle would seem to be the why, to Wellington using them. Was there a change in the original battle that made matters worse for Wellington's troops or are we to believe that Wellington's confidence in his green troops is so low that the change mostly comes from having such a thing in reserve as these monsters as enough to tempt Wellington. It's a difficult puzzle even so because it would seem that Wellington is not happy about his own decision which leads on into history by placing his name upon the whole thing by calling these creatures Wellingtons monsters. Giving them the glory for the victory and taking it away from his troops.
If I see things correctly this leads to the Steampunk nature of the story revolving around the events that follow this great battle.
But we don't get there directly since the main characters are still within this same time sphere which is what makes this primarily a time travel novel over Steampunk. Elizabeth Barton is anything but a prim an proper young lady. Perhaps she'd be best described as a tomboy despite the efforts of her parents and her aunt. Let me say her aunt is singularly cruel above and beyond the call of duty as regards molding Elizabeth into a fine young marriageable woman. At the age of seventeen Elizabeth is hardly ready to settle down with any suitor. She receives on this day in the mail a strange watch that not only has multiple dials but also a strange movable picture. (Definitely something not of this time.)
Next is William Carrington, a former military man who was wounded seriously and has lost the function of one arm. Rather despondent that he is unable to accompany his brother in law back into battle, when Napoleon escapes from prison to begin his 100 day reign. Now unable to join the battle and feeling quite crippled and maimed he has serious doubts of his ability to make a show as a husband in his present condition. It is while getting away from everything that reminds him of his inadequacy that he takes a stroll that leads him to the same place that Elizabeth has gone to escape the mechanization's of her family in trying to match her with anything of flesh and blood and breeding that will tolerate her.
She has also gone to examine her watch more closely.
William finds her with the watch and confronts her about it. When he opens it to look at it he's mesmerized equally as much as she has been, but because he has some familiarity outside of the cloistered community that oppresses Elizabeth he has a better chance of recognizing that this is something that does not come from anywhere near or far from here. Because of the strange features within the watch there are a number of dials moved and an accidental pushing in of the stem. They both sense that something has happened. When Elizabeth takes possession of the watch and begins to fiddle with the stem William starts to caution her. Too late she presses the stem and they are thrust into immediate darkness.
And the adventure begins.
They first meet Max-an apparent fellow time traveler who will be able to fill in some gaps and give us the laws of time travel for these stories. Max helps them to find a place to lie low in this world where they are out past curfew and in danger of running afoul of the mechanical monstrosities that were created to put down the Frankenstein like monsters who rebelled against their creators. Those in charge of the mechanical wonders took the advantage after saving everyone and now have control of the empire.
The notion is that the creation of the monsters put emphasis on their saving the day in the battle at Waterloo and ensuring that the confidence level of the British foot soldier is lowered enough to change all of their history to a complete reliance upon the monsters to do battle for them. Thus the changes in history that lead to this society of steam and metal are all tightly bound with the first anachronistic event in history.
One major law of time travel seems to be that the time traveler is only allowed one attempt to change specific events in specific times and the traveler gets blocked out from those timelines once his presence in that timeline has occurred. (Explained here as not being able to be in the same place at the same time.) We get the sense that Max has already tried several things to zero in on the event that most strikingly determined the outcome, which is, to his unknown timeline, apparently history. Max mentions that his parents were time travelers and he sort of inherited the whole business from them. He possess a watch similar to the one Elizabeth has.
This is really a fascinating time travel story. We see mostly that the time travelers are quick to learn that even the most dramatic changes in some of the important or even less important events are not enough to stem the tide of time and history. Now with the three of them working on it perhaps they will have an impact, but will they be able to reconcile the consequences of the outcome of meddling.
This is a great book for history fans who aren't too particular about maintaining accuracy or overthinking the fact that there were so many things happening those days at Waterloo that it's difficult to say what would have occurred had any part gone differently. This novel has good solid world building for a Time Travel and Steampunk novel so there is lots here for the Sci-Fi and SFF group to love.
This is also a love story that's building slow but believable with the relationship between Elizabeth and William and there's a bit of mystery about Max's over concern at getting those two back to their time line and I think it has something to do with that locket around his neck which Max guards possessively.
A fun and fascinating romp through time and altered history.
Although I don't need to say it; I will be reading the next novel soon.
J.L. Dobias
June 6, 2019
The concept: Jane Austen-style characters travel through time to keep Frankenstein’s monsters from saving the Battle of Waterloo and transforming Victorian London into a nightmare of pollution and Orwellian robots.
The execution: Deft prose, careful characterization, and meticulous historical research brought the story alive from the opening pages; On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Wellington’s position is dire. The French have inflicted massive losses on his forces and he fears with good reason that his lines cannot hold another determined assault. The Prussians, whom he had counted on for relief and reinforcement, have been delayed, despite promises of imminent arrival. His only hope: the “special battalion” troops, descendents of the monsters created by “the Genevese” student (presumably a historical Dr. Frankenstein) a generation ago. He makes a choice and sends for them. That’s the set-up.
Across the Channel in England, a young woman, straight of the pages of Jane Austen and very much an homage to Elizabeth Bennett, aptly named Elizabeth, befriends William, a disabled veteran of those same Napoleonic wars. A mysterious gift, a watch-like device with multiple dials whose purposes are unfathomable, catapults the two to London half a century later, where the city has become an inferno-esque nightmare of pollution, poverty, child labor, and an Orwellian spy state, enforced by gigantic robots. The robots, it turns out, were developed against the “monsters,” who did not simply go away after Waterloo but were used as slaves in hazardous occupations like mining, rebelled, and were driven to Scotland behind “Moore’s Line” (shades of Hadrian, anyone?) Here they meet enigmatic Maxwell, possessor of a second time-travel watch, whose goal has been to prevent the current catastrophe by changing history. His multiple attempts – convince the Genevese to not create a monster, prevent Wellington from using the “special batallion,” etc., have all been unsuccessful. Now our stalwart team, aided by a few sundry folks from 1885 and a few more allies they make upon the way, embark upon the same mission. Needless to say, the following adventures are vastly entertaining, full of poignant moments, character development, and perspectives on the cultural shifts between 1815 and 1885, particularly for women. When they finally return to 1885, the initial signs are good: clear skies, fresh air, streets bustling with normal commerce…except they have inadvertently broken history. And obviously must go on to fix it in the second volume.
Now comes the complaint! Although I read Timepiece in a NetGalley ARC in 2019, when I went looking for the sequels, I found that it was originally published in 2011. All three volumes (Timepiece, Timekeeper, Timebound) are still in print, with new hardcover editions running a shy short of $26.00. Alas, none are available through my public library. While I did enjoy the first installment and am looking forward to the rest, I’m a bit puzzled why Timepiece was offered as an ARC eight years after its publication. The only thing I can figure out is that the third volume was released last year, and this is a strategy to drum up buzz about the series so folks go out and buy all 3.
Regardless, the Keeping Time trilogy is finely handled, thoughtful but exciting travel across time and parallel worlds, all done up in grand steampunk style. I had never heard of it before, but hope that with this re-issue it receives the attention and enjoyment it merits.
The usual disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book, but no one bribed me to say anything in particular about it. Although chocolates and fine imported tea are always welcome.
The execution: Deft prose, careful characterization, and meticulous historical research brought the story alive from the opening pages; On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Wellington’s position is dire. The French have inflicted massive losses on his forces and he fears with good reason that his lines cannot hold another determined assault. The Prussians, whom he had counted on for relief and reinforcement, have been delayed, despite promises of imminent arrival. His only hope: the “special battalion” troops, descendents of the monsters created by “the Genevese” student (presumably a historical Dr. Frankenstein) a generation ago. He makes a choice and sends for them. That’s the set-up.
Across the Channel in England, a young woman, straight of the pages of Jane Austen and very much an homage to Elizabeth Bennett, aptly named Elizabeth, befriends William, a disabled veteran of those same Napoleonic wars. A mysterious gift, a watch-like device with multiple dials whose purposes are unfathomable, catapults the two to London half a century later, where the city has become an inferno-esque nightmare of pollution, poverty, child labor, and an Orwellian spy state, enforced by gigantic robots. The robots, it turns out, were developed against the “monsters,” who did not simply go away after Waterloo but were used as slaves in hazardous occupations like mining, rebelled, and were driven to Scotland behind “Moore’s Line” (shades of Hadrian, anyone?) Here they meet enigmatic Maxwell, possessor of a second time-travel watch, whose goal has been to prevent the current catastrophe by changing history. His multiple attempts – convince the Genevese to not create a monster, prevent Wellington from using the “special batallion,” etc., have all been unsuccessful. Now our stalwart team, aided by a few sundry folks from 1885 and a few more allies they make upon the way, embark upon the same mission. Needless to say, the following adventures are vastly entertaining, full of poignant moments, character development, and perspectives on the cultural shifts between 1815 and 1885, particularly for women. When they finally return to 1885, the initial signs are good: clear skies, fresh air, streets bustling with normal commerce…except they have inadvertently broken history. And obviously must go on to fix it in the second volume.
Now comes the complaint! Although I read Timepiece in a NetGalley ARC in 2019, when I went looking for the sequels, I found that it was originally published in 2011. All three volumes (Timepiece, Timekeeper, Timebound) are still in print, with new hardcover editions running a shy short of $26.00. Alas, none are available through my public library. While I did enjoy the first installment and am looking forward to the rest, I’m a bit puzzled why Timepiece was offered as an ARC eight years after its publication. The only thing I can figure out is that the third volume was released last year, and this is a strategy to drum up buzz about the series so folks go out and buy all 3.
Regardless, the Keeping Time trilogy is finely handled, thoughtful but exciting travel across time and parallel worlds, all done up in grand steampunk style. I had never heard of it before, but hope that with this re-issue it receives the attention and enjoyment it merits.
The usual disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book, but no one bribed me to say anything in particular about it. Although chocolates and fine imported tea are always welcome.
May 28, 2019
Timepiece is an addicting time-travel steam punk novel that you won't be able to put down!
Whether you enjoy 19th century history or not, this book is an exceptional pick. Albano rewrites history time and again as Maxwell, Elizabeth and William try to change the dreaded future from becoming reality.
Elizabeth is discontent with her cushy, yet controlled, life in 1815. When she is sent a magical timepiece that throws her and an acquaintance, William, 70 years into the future to 1885, they find Britain is overrun by robot like monsters. It is their good fortune that Maxwell, a fellow time traveler finds them and brings them to meet his friends, rather than them being captured and their timepiece discovered.
As they help their new friends the next day and see this terrible reality, they find that once disaster strikes and they return home that they can not, in good conscious, stay there and let the future unfold as it does.
Elizabeth is such a fascinating protagonist. While growing up in a life of plenty, she is not like most of the young women of her era. She is adventurous and inquisitive, bold and brave, and above all, fiercely loyal to those she cares about. Through the novel, she is willing to risk everything, her life included, to save others.
William, while much less vibrant than Elizabeth, is caring and intelligent, and a nice contrast to Elizabeth. Maxwell is somewhat of an enigma. We haven't heard his back story yet, however, it feels like the author may giving some foreshadowing hints if I am reading into it correctly.
The writing is fantastic. Albano's work feels very seasoned and is both intriguing and addicting. Her work seems quite researched. While she obviously puts her own spin on events, there are certainly parts that lend from actual history as well. The story is congruent with history up until Waterloo, where one vital decision completely changes the timeline.
I can't wait to start the next book and am anxious to see where Maxwell, Elizabeth and William will go in the next novel!
Whether you enjoy 19th century history or not, this book is an exceptional pick. Albano rewrites history time and again as Maxwell, Elizabeth and William try to change the dreaded future from becoming reality.
Elizabeth is discontent with her cushy, yet controlled, life in 1815. When she is sent a magical timepiece that throws her and an acquaintance, William, 70 years into the future to 1885, they find Britain is overrun by robot like monsters. It is their good fortune that Maxwell, a fellow time traveler finds them and brings them to meet his friends, rather than them being captured and their timepiece discovered.
As they help their new friends the next day and see this terrible reality, they find that once disaster strikes and they return home that they can not, in good conscious, stay there and let the future unfold as it does.
Elizabeth is such a fascinating protagonist. While growing up in a life of plenty, she is not like most of the young women of her era. She is adventurous and inquisitive, bold and brave, and above all, fiercely loyal to those she cares about. Through the novel, she is willing to risk everything, her life included, to save others.
William, while much less vibrant than Elizabeth, is caring and intelligent, and a nice contrast to Elizabeth. Maxwell is somewhat of an enigma. We haven't heard his back story yet, however, it feels like the author may giving some foreshadowing hints if I am reading into it correctly.
The writing is fantastic. Albano's work feels very seasoned and is both intriguing and addicting. Her work seems quite researched. While she obviously puts her own spin on events, there are certainly parts that lend from actual history as well. The story is congruent with history up until Waterloo, where one vital decision completely changes the timeline.
I can't wait to start the next book and am anxious to see where Maxwell, Elizabeth and William will go in the next novel!
Want to read
June 21, 2019THAT COVER ALONG WITH THAT UNIQUE PLOT?! YES PLEASE!!!
October 7, 2019
"Timepiece: A Steampunk Time-travel Adventure " eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Heather Albano (http://www.heatheralbano.com/). This is Ms. Albano's first publication and the first in her "Keeping Time" series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in a variety of times and places in Europe. It begins in 1815 with the primary character 17-year-old Elizabeth Barton receiving a very special pocket watch.
In this alternate reality, the monsters of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are real. The British have created an enslaved army of them to counter Napolean. After that victory, they are employed as forced labor in mines, but soon they rebel. England is desperate to control them. A brilliant inventor steps in with mechanical men, not quite robots as they are controlled by a human crew.
That allows the monsters to be brought under control, but the mechanicals are then used by the government to control the populace. As more and more work is done by the mechanicals and other automation the displaced are kept in check by the mechanicals.
Into this steps Barton and her new acquaintance, 21-year-old Willaim Carrington. Carrington had been a soldier but a wound to his arm caused him to be discharged. The unlikely pair soon discover that the watch has the astounding ability to travel through time.
They discover the plight of future inhabitants of England and try to change history to prevent the mechanical men. They also attempt to stop the use or even the creation of the monsters used to beat Napolean. Their travels are not without risk but they do find allies in other timelines. They also discover that theirs is not the only special pocket watch.
I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 264-page steampunk fantasy. While this has a touch of Romance and appeals to the Young Adult, it was an enjoyable story. I liked this slightly new take on time travel with the travelers starting off in the past. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in a variety of times and places in Europe. It begins in 1815 with the primary character 17-year-old Elizabeth Barton receiving a very special pocket watch.
In this alternate reality, the monsters of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are real. The British have created an enslaved army of them to counter Napolean. After that victory, they are employed as forced labor in mines, but soon they rebel. England is desperate to control them. A brilliant inventor steps in with mechanical men, not quite robots as they are controlled by a human crew.
That allows the monsters to be brought under control, but the mechanicals are then used by the government to control the populace. As more and more work is done by the mechanicals and other automation the displaced are kept in check by the mechanicals.
Into this steps Barton and her new acquaintance, 21-year-old Willaim Carrington. Carrington had been a soldier but a wound to his arm caused him to be discharged. The unlikely pair soon discover that the watch has the astounding ability to travel through time.
They discover the plight of future inhabitants of England and try to change history to prevent the mechanical men. They also attempt to stop the use or even the creation of the monsters used to beat Napolean. Their travels are not without risk but they do find allies in other timelines. They also discover that theirs is not the only special pocket watch.
I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 264-page steampunk fantasy. While this has a touch of Romance and appeals to the Young Adult, it was an enjoyable story. I liked this slightly new take on time travel with the travelers starting off in the past. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
September 20, 2021
Wow. I honestly did not think that I was really going to like, "A Steampunk, Time-Travel Adventure". I tend to be picky about any sci-fi books I read. However, this one surprised me. I loved that Elizabeth and William were from Regency England, and carried those mores and values with them into Victorian England. Too often, characters who time travel are thrust into different eras and they are either oblivious to all the differences, totally mission-focused (which is not realistic to me at all) or they are so focused on every little difference that it gets annoying. Heather Albano has created characters with just the right balance. The time that they come from obviously influences them, but in a way that makes sense. The story is a good blend of interpersonal, relationship stuff and history-changing, monster-fighting, action stuff. I loved all of the literary allusions, and the historical parts seemed well-researched. The only negative is that I want to read more, and I will have wait until I order the next two books.
August 13, 2019
"As recent days had been rather full of conflict with her mother over her chosen pastimes and as there was no ball conveniently available, Elizabeth had elected to spend this particular morning in the garden and thereby avoid a quarrel. When Bronson brought her the parcel, she was pruning roses and only a little bored by the fine June day."
I didn't like this anywhere near as much as I thought I would.
For one, the time-traveling. It didn't make sense. Logically, you would be able to travel to the same point in time more than once. And the same month or "junction". It didn't completely add up to me.
Also, the ending. I didn't see what purpose it served, besides a medial cliff-hanger. Obviously, something wasn't going to go exactly how Elizabeth, Maxwell, and William needed it to go. It was just obvious to me, and kind of a copped-out, easy-to-build-off-of ending.
Don't think I'll continue reading the series, although the idea was interesting.
I didn't like this anywhere near as much as I thought I would.
For one, the time-traveling. It didn't make sense. Logically, you would be able to travel to the same point in time more than once. And the same month or "junction". It didn't completely add up to me.
Also, the ending. I didn't see what purpose it served, besides a medial cliff-hanger. Obviously, something wasn't going to go exactly how Elizabeth, Maxwell, and William needed it to go. It was just obvious to me, and kind of a copped-out, easy-to-build-off-of ending.
Don't think I'll continue reading the series, although the idea was interesting.
January 29, 2019
The first in a trilogy of timetravel cum cyberpunk novels that read like some undiscovered manuscripts of H.G. Wells.
Time travel, yes, but the adventurers through whose eyes we see events future and past (for them) are not from OUR present, nor indeed our future, but from 1815. Their future is 1885, a cyberpunk Empire under threat from the descendants of Frankenstein’s monsters, and from the oppressive regime that has evolved to deal with them.
The writing is strong – it’s such a pleasant surprise to read a book of this type and not instantly think “fan-fiction” – as is the characterisation and feel for historical detail. As I said, it evokes a feeling of reading Wells, but with admixtures of Jane Austen and Mary Shelley.
Interesting, original, and well worth reading!
Time travel, yes, but the adventurers through whose eyes we see events future and past (for them) are not from OUR present, nor indeed our future, but from 1815. Their future is 1885, a cyberpunk Empire under threat from the descendants of Frankenstein’s monsters, and from the oppressive regime that has evolved to deal with them.
The writing is strong – it’s such a pleasant surprise to read a book of this type and not instantly think “fan-fiction” – as is the characterisation and feel for historical detail. As I said, it evokes a feeling of reading Wells, but with admixtures of Jane Austen and Mary Shelley.
Interesting, original, and well worth reading!
June 11, 2018
I have to say this one came at me in unexpected ways. I was initially pulled in by unexpectedly lyrical writing, which perfectly complemented the Victorian drawing room drama that leads the story off. That said, it was initially jarring when, after the first leap forward in time, we were met by giant mechanical men (think Pacific Rim meets The Next Doctor's giant cyberman) that patrolled the streets of a fascist London, ostensibly protecting it from what is essentially a raging race of Frankenstein's monsters.
It's a testament to the style and plotting that the story recovers from this stylistic change. My suggestion is to embrace the conceit and run with it. It's a lot of fun.
It's a testament to the style and plotting that the story recovers from this stylistic change. My suggestion is to embrace the conceit and run with it. It's a lot of fun.
August 3, 2019
It’s a well written novel, very reminiscent of Wells with a twist & the concept is interesting.
I found it a little difficult to get invested in the story & I’ not really sure why.
I found Elizabeth to be a bit annoying & at times overbearing. I guess because she’s headstrong & coming from the early 1800s she wanted more freedom & independence that she wasn’t allowed in her time.
I was intrigued by Mr. Maxwell & am interested to read the next book to hopefully find out more about him.
Overall it’s a good read, if this is a writing style & genre you enjoy.
I found it a little difficult to get invested in the story & I’ not really sure why.
I found Elizabeth to be a bit annoying & at times overbearing. I guess because she’s headstrong & coming from the early 1800s she wanted more freedom & independence that she wasn’t allowed in her time.
I was intrigued by Mr. Maxwell & am interested to read the next book to hopefully find out more about him.
Overall it’s a good read, if this is a writing style & genre you enjoy.
July 22, 2019
Although I enjoyed the dialogue between Elizabeth, William, and Maxwell (I tended to jump ahead to these parts) there were many times I wanted to hurry and get some of it over with. But, reaching the end, I find myself wanting to know what happens in the sequel. So, slow parts or not, somethings working here :))
July 18, 2017
Well written with interesting characters and an author obviously enjoying playing with history. The structure of the story requires the reader to pay attention to what year and place each chapter is set in. Great steampunk effects.
Recommended.
Recommended.
August 13, 2017
This time travel, steampunk novel was a LOT of fun! Well-researched history, exciting adventures, and interesting characters make for a good story. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
May 26, 2017
The Battle of Waterloo was the most interesting part of the book.
September 17, 2020
I am a fan of time travel novels, steampunk, fantasy and historical novels, so finding them all in one book made this one a must-read! It begins in the middle of the battle of Waterloo which Wellington is about to lose. He sends an envoy to collect his secret weapon, troops not born but created in the manner of Frankenstein's monster. They are completely fearless, although very difficult to control, and defeat Napoleon's forces with ease. This will, however, lead to unforeseen consequences.
Back in England, also in 1815, we meet Elizabeth, a young lady who has huge difficulty with the restrictions placed on her by her position in society. Rather than attending society balls and arranging a marriage to a husband with a respectable position and income, she would rather be out in the country enjoying nature and climbing trees.
So when this young lady receives a gift of a mysterious watch which somehow can transport her and injured soldier William through time, the adventure begins. They are first catapulted into 1885, where they soon discover that England as they knew it has changed drastically and it soon becomes apparent that they can possibly influence the future by altering certain key events in the past. Of course, the usual problem with time travel quickly raises its head and shows that altering things in the past does not always have the wished for effect in the future. Some alterations can actually worsen the situation and living conditions of those in the possible future.
I found this book to be interestingly written and the writer used her obvious historical knowledge to good effect. I enjoyed her use of language on the whole but did spot a couple of Americanisms buried in the text.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Back in England, also in 1815, we meet Elizabeth, a young lady who has huge difficulty with the restrictions placed on her by her position in society. Rather than attending society balls and arranging a marriage to a husband with a respectable position and income, she would rather be out in the country enjoying nature and climbing trees.
So when this young lady receives a gift of a mysterious watch which somehow can transport her and injured soldier William through time, the adventure begins. They are first catapulted into 1885, where they soon discover that England as they knew it has changed drastically and it soon becomes apparent that they can possibly influence the future by altering certain key events in the past. Of course, the usual problem with time travel quickly raises its head and shows that altering things in the past does not always have the wished for effect in the future. Some alterations can actually worsen the situation and living conditions of those in the possible future.
I found this book to be interestingly written and the writer used her obvious historical knowledge to good effect. I enjoyed her use of language on the whole but did spot a couple of Americanisms buried in the text.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 13, 2024
Rebellious 17 year-old Elizabeth in Regency England, escapes from her locked room after a misdemeanor planning on running away. But after some reflection, knows this won’t work, but before returning home she opens a package sent anonymously with an unusual pocket watch inside. Her next door neighbor, William happens upon her, and they try to determine what it is. But before they do they find themselves transported to 1885 and a disastrous future England. They meet another time-traveler, Maxwell, who is trying to correct history. During the course of the story they jump to various dates, including several times at the Battle of Waterloo, trying to get the right combination of events to fix history, but often make it worse or a different kind of worse. William is 2 years older than Elizabeth and been injured on the Peninsula, returning home with a mostly unusable right arm. This is a good look at how trying to fix something doesn’t always work. It also leaves you with problems still to be solved in the next book.
March 18, 2019
You only think you know what happened at Waterloo... This story is an interesting take on time travel in the Regency period.
In an attempt to save themselves at the battle of Waterloo, Wellington's forces call upon a race of monsters created by a madman nearly a quarter of a century before. But the price for using such magic will be collected seventy years ahead in the future.
When Elizabeth Barton receives a mysterious parcel with an old and elegant pocketwatch, things start to get a little weird. She and William Carrington, a solider wounded in the Peninsula, are whisked away to the future... Seventy years in the future to be exact. They land in a Victorian England filled with clockwork machines and booming industry. Like two members of Regency/Georgian England would be they are completely shocked to meet a band of resistance fighters. Elizabeth is the prim and proper seventeen year old that her parents raised a young lady to be, where as most women in her newfound land are pant wearing... gun shooting... women of somewhat questionable character. It is, to say the least, a culture shock for our young heroine.
In an attempt to save themselves at the battle of Waterloo, Wellington's forces call upon a race of monsters created by a madman nearly a quarter of a century before. But the price for using such magic will be collected seventy years ahead in the future.
When Elizabeth Barton receives a mysterious parcel with an old and elegant pocketwatch, things start to get a little weird. She and William Carrington, a solider wounded in the Peninsula, are whisked away to the future... Seventy years in the future to be exact. They land in a Victorian England filled with clockwork machines and booming industry. Like two members of Regency/Georgian England would be they are completely shocked to meet a band of resistance fighters. Elizabeth is the prim and proper seventeen year old that her parents raised a young lady to be, where as most women in her newfound land are pant wearing... gun shooting... women of somewhat questionable character. It is, to say the least, a culture shock for our young heroine.
August 7, 2025
Cliffhanger!
I don't read much steampunk sci fi, but I did enjoy this very much. At least until it stopped right in the middle of the story. In my mind no cliffhanger deserves more than two stars, and that only if the writing is exceptional. Despite Ms. Albano's repeated inability to select the proper homonym, the novel is engaging, mostly literate and compelling. That's what earned this 3 stars, although it should have been just 2.5. The review format does not allow fractions,so it became 3.
I don't read much steampunk sci fi, but I did enjoy this very much. At least until it stopped right in the middle of the story. In my mind no cliffhanger deserves more than two stars, and that only if the writing is exceptional. Despite Ms. Albano's repeated inability to select the proper homonym, the novel is engaging, mostly literate and compelling. That's what earned this 3 stars, although it should have been just 2.5. The review format does not allow fractions,so it became 3.
July 19, 2017
Interesting book, didn't hold my attention well but I did like it. I am not sure if the fiture books will be on my to read list. The book was a bit boring to me. It had some good imagery, but the characters just seemed a bit flat to me. The battle scenes were engaging but it wasn't enough to make it a book I couldn't put down. In fact, I had a hard time picking it up. I love to read and I love to read books of all kinds. This one was ok, just not really good.
March 10, 2019
It could have used another round of editing (several obvious text errors), but the story was a fun concept, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. The author's writing style and word choice are well-suited to the Regency era from whence our main characters come, and she does a good job marking cultural differences between the Regency and late Victorian eras (especially through misunderstandings). Some mild swearing, but otherwise quite clean. I enjoyed it.
April 29, 2020
"Timepiece" by Heather Albano is a gripping steampunk time travel novel. Battles abound throughout alternate histories in a Waterloo you never imagined. The author writes with expert formal language while providing a smooth reading experience.
"It was as if we bred Bengal tigers to exterminate...well not rats. Wolves, perhaps. Now the wolves are gone, and we are still riding the tigers."
This story with its heart-dropping surprise ending will have you clamoring for more.
"It was as if we bred Bengal tigers to exterminate...well not rats. Wolves, perhaps. Now the wolves are gone, and we are still riding the tigers."
This story with its heart-dropping surprise ending will have you clamoring for more.
October 24, 2023
This time travel novel had an interesting steampunk element. It had characters adapting to a different time when manners and rules of engagement were vastly different. I enjoyed the story overall and will probably continue with the series. I read this book for the 52 Book Challenge October Mini-Challenge: Steampunk
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