Breaking Time

Content warnings: murder, violence, loss of a parent, grief

Klara meets Callum in 2022, but he's from the late 1500s.

Klara lives in her family's Scottish B&B. She moved back to Scotland with her father after completing high school in America and losing her mother. She almost hits a man with her car and brings him back to the B&B to call an ambulance.

The man is Callum, who just witnessed the murder of his surrogate brother in the late 1500s. The murderer collected Thomas' blood and called him a pillar before Callum latched onto him and accidentally traveled to present-day Scotland.

While trying to unravel Callum's mystery, the murderer reappears and calls Klara the final pillar. Thomas was also a Pillar of Time, which are people who hold a portion of Welsh goddess Arianrhod's powers. These people are scattered throughout time to prevent her son, demigod Llaw, from using them to destroy the world.

The beginning of the novel sucks the reader in and makes them want to know more about the story, but when Arianrhod is introduced the story flags and it's hard to stay interested in the plot. The action picks up towards the end of the novel as the climax looms and ends in a cliffhanger, probably to ensure a sequel. The connection between Klara and Callum is very well-written and leaves the reader wanting more, but the fantasy element lacks the same skill.

I'm unsure of the author's intent, but using Welsh deities in a novel about Scotland seems an odd choice, as does turning Welsh folk hero Llaw into a villain. The author is a BookTuber, and the trend toward people who review books writing books of their own doesn't seem to be producing great novels.

Recommended only for teen readers who like romance and mythology, especially if they like Scotland or uncommon deities.

Sasha Alsberg is a New York Times bestselling author, YouTuber, painter, and history student.

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Length: 352 pages

Release Date: June 14, 2022

Representation: dyslexia

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.