Author: iLana Markarov
The Timekeeper’s Secret: Timeless Fate Series Book 1 is the first book in a series of (currently) two books by iLana Markarov. I was recommended this book on Blue Sky when I responded to a question about what genre I like. I can totally see why this would be recommended to someone who said they also like sci-fi. The book has elements of time travel, which are depicted unusually, and there is also a dystopian world in which the story is centred.
However, there is an educational part that reminds me of Harry Potter because the main protagonists are attending a timekeeper’s, Gridwick Academy, which is a place full of mystery where timekeepers learn their craft. When I started the book, I thought that maybe the author was J. K. Rowling, writing under a pseudonym, so I googled the author to see if I could find some pictures. I did not read the Harry Potter book series, but I tried to watch films several times, and I could not get into it and never became a fan. So, when I started to read this book, it felt the same as the Harry Potter films: an educational setting teaching new, young timekeepers how to time travel, manipulate and control time, what having this power means, how things can be changed in a way that obliterates humanity, the history of conflict and how timekeepers were involved, etc. Mind you, this is original because time travel stories are not usually done in this context. I just did not like the educational component because I did not think that it had enough depth for my taste, and there was way too much fighting and action in favour of time travelling and historical narratives on how time travel works, which is mentioned in history classes but not explored sufficiently. I feel as if developmental editors could have made more input into the book in this respect.
The story of the Timekeeper’s Secret is centred in a dystopian world where humans are also partially machines and have mechanical parts; the story happens after many wars and the Great Fire, which has polluted the air, so we learn about coughing, staying indoors and not being able to breathe. So, a dystopia meets time travel meets Harry Potter. It is an original idea and I can see how the book harnessed so many fans that rated it highly on Goodreads but I really think the book should have been more developed concerning time travel, what are the main protagonists trying to find, revealing intentions of a timekeeper who starts the quest better and not at the end of the book, and dialogues could have been better.
I am guessing that The Timekeeper’s Secret is a time travel book series for younger audiences, albeit many time travel lovers will enjoy this. I prefer dystopia and alternative universe meets time travel books like Station 11 and the book series The Quantum Curators by Eva St John (see here, here, here, here, and also here) and also, I always definitely prefer books where there is lots of time travelling and changing history, which this book is not doing sufficiently and not in a conventional way. Harry Potter funs will love this though!
Thank you for reading!