Author: Philip Fracassi
Published: March 18, 2025 by Orbit
Format: Kindle, Paperback 336 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Blurb: Scientist Beth Darlow has discovered the unimaginable. She's built a machine that allows human consciousness to travel through time—to any point in the traveler's lifetime—and relive moments of their life. An impossible breakthrough, but it's not perfect: the traveler has no way to interact with the past. They can only observe.
After Beth's husband, Colson, the co-creator of the machine, dies in a tragic car accident, Beth is left to raise Isabella—their only daughter—and continue the work they started. Mired in grief and threatened by her ruthless CEO, Beth pushes herself to the limit to prove the value of her technology.
Then the impossible happens. Simply viewing personal history should not alter the present, but with each new observation she makes, her own timeline begins to warp.
As her reality constantly shifts, Beth must solve the puzzles of her past, even if it means forsaking her future.
My Opinion: What starts as a seemingly straightforward science fiction techno-thriller transforms into something much more intricate—multiple timelines, blurred realities, and a dash of supernatural intrigue. The novel combines themes of despair, manipulation, and the fragile thread of agency into a narrative that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
I thought I was stepping into a futuristic world. Chapter 3 name-drops the year 2044, which conjures visions of gleaming cities, flying cars, and revolutionary technology. But here's the kicker: the setting is ordinary. No Jetson-esque hovercrafts, no dazzling breakthroughs – Well, other than the time travel parts. This leaves the timeline slightly ambiguous—is it the future, or is this contemporary fiction disguised in futuristic clothing? It’s unclear whether the author intended this sense of uncertainty, but it adds a layer of intrigue to the story.
About halfway through the book, I found myself wondering: where’s the hook? The plot felt deceptively simple, almost too comfortable in its slow pace. But then came the twists—one after another, like dominos I didn’t realize had been set in motion. Just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s heading, the book blindsides you with another twist. The rush to the end is a whirlwind of shock and exhilaration, leaving you breathless and unsure of what’s real and what’s another illusion. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve closed the cover.
If you’re searching for a book that will ignite debates in a reading group, this might be it. The Third Rule of Time Travel is bound to spark discussions—and maybe even disagreements—about its twists, its themes, and its many layers. But one thing’s for sure: boring, it is not.
After Beth's husband, Colson, the co-creator of the machine, dies in a tragic car accident, Beth is left to raise Isabella—their only daughter—and continue the work they started. Mired in grief and threatened by her ruthless CEO, Beth pushes herself to the limit to prove the value of her technology.
Then the impossible happens. Simply viewing personal history should not alter the present, but with each new observation she makes, her own timeline begins to warp.
As her reality constantly shifts, Beth must solve the puzzles of her past, even if it means forsaking her future.
My Opinion: What starts as a seemingly straightforward science fiction techno-thriller transforms into something much more intricate—multiple timelines, blurred realities, and a dash of supernatural intrigue. The novel combines themes of despair, manipulation, and the fragile thread of agency into a narrative that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
I thought I was stepping into a futuristic world. Chapter 3 name-drops the year 2044, which conjures visions of gleaming cities, flying cars, and revolutionary technology. But here's the kicker: the setting is ordinary. No Jetson-esque hovercrafts, no dazzling breakthroughs – Well, other than the time travel parts. This leaves the timeline slightly ambiguous—is it the future, or is this contemporary fiction disguised in futuristic clothing? It’s unclear whether the author intended this sense of uncertainty, but it adds a layer of intrigue to the story.
About halfway through the book, I found myself wondering: where’s the hook? The plot felt deceptively simple, almost too comfortable in its slow pace. But then came the twists—one after another, like dominos I didn’t realize had been set in motion. Just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s heading, the book blindsides you with another twist. The rush to the end is a whirlwind of shock and exhilaration, leaving you breathless and unsure of what’s real and what’s another illusion. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve closed the cover.
If you’re searching for a book that will ignite debates in a reading group, this might be it. The Third Rule of Time Travel is bound to spark discussions—and maybe even disagreements—about its twists, its themes, and its many layers. But one thing’s for sure: boring, it is not.
