An adventure for children and young teens 9 - 14 (The Time Hunters Saga)

This is a fun story with lots of interesting characters and creatures. Share it with a special child or savor it for yourself. The term "fantastical" comes to mind when I think of this story; it is most definitely imaginative and enjoyable. The target audience seems to be children aged 8-11 years, but children of all ages will enjoy traveling through time with Becky, Joe, and Uncle Percy. You won't regret the time invested reading this book.

What a wonderful, fascinating and funny story. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I am now reading the second Time Hunters and loving it as much as the first. Mr. Ashmore has gained an avid follower of his works. Looking forward to his next Times Hunters book.

Having read several time travel stories, I'm always skeptical when I read one that attempts to rewrite history or show that the past is not quite what we imagined. However, I think Carl Ashmore does a fabulous job of creating an alternative history (myth?) that is not only believable but engaging. I'm definitely adding this book to my top ten list of favorite time travel books. "The Time Hunters" has some great characters (Edgar is my favorite) and plenty of action. I actually found this book to be a real page turner, which was a pleasant surprise considering it is young adult fiction. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

A brother and sister sibling set, who recently lost their father, are sent to live with their uncle for a while. They soon discover that their uncle is not just eccentric, he is a time traveller!

To me, the characters seemed overdrawn, specially Becky and there was just too much going on. The book seems to lack continuity and has a jerky sort of progression to it. Every moment of the book has something new happening in it, right from Robin Hood to Sabre toothed tigers to Greek mythological characters and their adventures, and not in a good way.

If it is the author's first attempt, then maybe this can be accepted and even overlooked but otherwise, clearly the chap should be on the look out for a better editor.

The verdict - I bought it when it was free and hence don't feel too bad about reading it, but if I were to pay for it, I would give it a skip

By chance, I stumbled onto the discussion of this superb book one evening, and eagerly purchased the kindle edition. I read this book to my class and they truly LOVED it and I must admit I did as well. The Time Hunters is a great mystery with lots of delightful humour as well. My students were always disappointed when I finished reading a chapter as they eagerly wanted more. They were able to relate well to the main characters. The Time Hunters is a must read for older children and adults young at heart.

Although this novel about time travel was written for a younger audience, I enjoyed the story very much. It started out slow, but picked up midway through. Great editing too: I only noticed a couple of misspelled words.

The story was cute and action packed. Although somewhat simplistic (only the bad guys get hurt), and the children of the story pretty much do everything they're told not too, everything comes out okay in the end.

Even the distant past is only a heartbeat away for anyone who has a time machine.

There are many reasons why I like time travel stories. Two of the biggest reasons why they appeal to me have to do with how cool it would be to actually see an extinct species in person or have a conversation with a famous historical person. Watching Becky and Joe do both of these things was a thrill. They really appreciated the fact that they were experiencing things that should not have been possible, and that made me curious to see how they’d react once their adventures became even more exciting.

The beginning was confusing to me because the plot introduced a large number of characters without describing who most of them were or how they knew each other. When this was combined with the limited amount of time the narrator spent explaining what the main conflicts were and why certain characters were acting so afraid, I struggled even more to understand what was going on. There were too many vague hints and not enough exposition.

One of my favorite parts of this tale was how nicely it was paced. There was a lot going on in the plot, and the author kept everything moving quickly from the first scene to the last one. This strong and even pacing made it difficult for me to take breaks while I was reading. Every chapter had something new and exciting in it, and I wanted to find out what secrets all of them held.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced adventure, look no further than The Time Hunters.

originally posted at long and short reviews

1/15/1900, London, England (Thames River). Percy Mathias Halifax (Uncle, Oxford U) was hoping he could save Bernard Preston (# 17 Cromwell Gardens, Oxford U) life.
Time Room (Bowen Hall). Becky Mellor (wife) was a time-traveler.
The Oxford Time Travel Exploration & Research Society (OTTERS) consist of: Bernard, Stef Calloway, Mary Blyton, Emerson Drake (died), Ricardo Nero, Malcolm Everidge, Ian Cuthbertson, & Sally Everard.
Percy was explaining to Becky about what happened to Bernard.
What was SS Otto Kruger up to? He had not been seen since 1940.
Did Phineus of Athens have any valuable information for the group?

What happened to the Golden Fleece?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written paranormal book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great paranormal movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It was just OK for me so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.

Thank you for the free Instafreebie; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn)

When we meet thirteen year old Becky Mellor and her eleven year old brother Joe, they are facing the dullest summer holidays of their life. Their mother has to work, resulting in them being sent to stay with their Uncle Percy – an eccentric inventor who they have never even met. Becky is resentful and determined not to enjoy herself, but, before long, even she has to admit she was wrong. Uncle Percy lives in the wonderful Bowen Hall, with huge grounds, eccentric staff and it seems to the children that the summer may look up after all. Then, once they discover Percy tending to a sabre-toothed tiger on the lawn, it not only looks up, but becomes a whole lot more interesting. For Percy Halifax is a time traveller and he has a mystery to solve – who killed his good friend Bernard Preston and what is the Theseus Disc? Plus, as it becomes obvious that the baddies are showing more than a little unwelcome interest in Becky and Joe, how are the children, who have never even met Percy before, involved in events?

This is a really exciting novel, which is perfectly pitched at ages 7+. There are Nazi baddies, mythical creatures and visits to the Ice Age, Victorian England and Ancient Greece as well as appearances by Jason and the Argonauts. The storyline is cleverly constructed, the chase and mystery keeps the thrills up and the characters are really well written. Overall, I was very impressed by the beginning of this series and I know my children want to read on.

Brief synopsis - Becky and Joe are the kids who lost their dad years ago. Their kindly, though rarely-seen, uncle offers them a holiday at his estate. There, they find their uncle to be one of a regulated fraternity of time travellers, and they set out on a venture through time to find the legendary Golden Fleece. Pursued, of course, by the obligatory bad guys.

I try, wherever possible, to deliver a balanced review. I make sure that if there is good, no matter how deeply it is buried, I bring it into the review. Likewise, if there is something which doesn't sit right, I try to include it in a positive way so that you can be assured you are getting my genuine and honest review.

And so it is with this one. I'd like to kick off with the bad. There's a line of dialogue I didn't particularly like (it wasn't offensive, I just didn't like it). I found a " where there should have been a `. And... that's about it.

Well, there is maybe a glaring plot hole (which I won't mention to avoid spoilers), but that's it.

Seriously.

This is an absolutely charming children's book. The characters are delightful and believable. The dialogue rings true. There's a sense of whimsy which carries through the whole piece, and things which shouldn't work are carried off delightfully.

Even the cheeky playing with established mythology (Greek primarily, although there's a fantastic play with the Robin Hood mythos) works. And I've long enjoyed the classics.

Hell, the time travel is done nicely, especially so with the introduction of the Omega Effect (which works largely like an enforced "set moments in time" from Doctor Who, but more strongly). And includes a (possibly accidental) tip of the hat to Bill and Ted. Or, at least, that's how I read it!

The book is 240 pages, yet never once drags or outstays its welcome. For an old cynic like me, who enjoys horror, fantasy, and the occasional action-adventure, this hearkened back to the movies and books I enjoyed as a kid, without making me feel bored as an adult.

Bravo, Mr Ashmore. I look forward to reading this with my little `un in a couple of years.

I bought 'The Time Hunters' just before Christmas but a long 'to be read' pile pushed it to the end. I decided to start it in February and my only complaint is with myself and with why I waited so long to start it!

The book is filled with twists and turns and so many great characters. Zooming in and out of different times is everybody's dream and this book helps you live out that fantasy.

So.. take my advice and buy it now and unlike me read it right away! You will not be sorry that you did. And for the record I am 35 years young and can say this book would be great for children, young adults or adults.

Can't wait for the next in the series! :)

The Time Hunters is excellent first novel written by author Carl Ashmore and is a wonderful mix of time travelling, ancient mythology with a bit of murder mystery thrown in. I had only recently finished reading the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan when I first encountered this book, and after reading the blurb, I thought, "Oh no, not another story about a Percy and the Golden Fleece". Despite this, I took it on and was pleasantly surprised by this gem.

The story begins with Becky and Joe being sent to spend the summer with their Uncle Percy. The children were never close with him and always thought he was some kind of eccentric loner living in his mansion. It wasn't long before the children unravel the secrets hidden within Bowen Hall and learn that their uncle is actually a member of a secretive group of time travellers. Soon afterwards they find themselves on an adventure across time to investigate the mysterious murder of their uncle's friend while being chased by a group of renegade time travellers.

I had a great time with this book even though its target are kids. I found it to be well written, fast paced and most importantly the story hooks you right from the beginning. I've always been a little wary of time travelling stories as they introduce all kinds of paradoxes and so far the story has handled them nicely. I especially enjoyed the re-imagination of classical characters. You think you know your Argonauts and Minotaur? Well think again.

This book has been called a natural successor to Harry Potter and indeed it has the same magical qualities that I found in those books. I look forward to reading the second book, The Time Hunters & the Box of Eternity which is due out Christmas 2011 and I wish Carl Ashmore the very best with his future books.

I had the opportunity to read this extremely imaginative, fun-filled unexpected mystery book. I must be a big kid because I LOVED every word of it and couldn't put it down. I was swept away by the authors creative mind, wonderful characters, and fantastic summer vacation.
This was a cross between Jumanji and The Time Machine, just terrific..This is one book no adult would mind reading over and over again to children of all ages.This Will definetly become a family favorite, and a book to be passed down to younger siblings...Patricia Vandenburg

'The Time Hunters' has everything a child could want: Victorian villains, mythic monsters, dangerous deeds and a reassuringly heroic mentor for the young protagonists. And it's not just fun for the kids: I actually found myself picking the book up and suggesting that we read some more. Carl is a new talent and his enthusiasm is infectious. I teach mythology, and I know a good story when I meet one. I'd recommend this not just as a good read, but as a model for any budding author wanting to write a book for children.
Jane Bailey Bain ('LifeWorks: Using myth & archetype to develop your life story')

I am a UK the store customer and have started copying my reviews onto here to help support the indies/less well known authors. Here's what I said on the store.co.uk:

I agree with all the other positive reviews of this book and although I don't give 5 stars lightly, I really think this one is worth a 5 star rating. Since buying my kindle,I've been reading a few children's books lately (even though I am 22!) and I've definitely enjoyed this one the most and can see it appealing to all age groups. I hear there are more books to follow in this series and I can't wait to see where the time travellers go next! I recommend this to all.

Time hunters is great and Amazing with adventures that you never expected. I hope that Becky and Joe have fun in their next book! I really enjoyed every thing in this book. Keep traveling and never stop believing in time travel!

Got this for Christmas for my eight-year-old niece and she loved it. I had to explain a few things to her since she's probably not quite the target audience, but even with that she had a great deal of fun. It was a lovely story with interesting characters and I'd buy the next book in the series.

This is a bright and healthy mix of technology and classic story telling with characters you warm to immediately . Their journey is very varied and full of surprises ,with twists and turns that give it a good pace and an interesting variety of times and places.
I look forward to further adventures involving this funny little band of people , this story has a lot of future potential ( and past of course ).

I really enjoyed this book, it has all the elements I love in a book, interesting characters, interesting plot and not your usual pets!! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little time-travel on their days off!

I'm an adult, but I still thoroughly enjoyed, The Time Hunters!
I found it a fantastic read from start to finish.
The characters are endearing and true to life.
The twists and turns in the story are amazing.
Looking forward to the sequel!