Time Messenger | Reviewed By Jennifer Bailey for Hollywood Book Reviews

Colonel Jenks, Dominic Costa and Maria D’Luce embark on what they think is a test mission, only to find themselves among other worldly life forms: the Tarsi. The Tarsi are an ancient race who resemble what we know as Velociraptors and hold complex knowledge and culture that Colonel Jenks and his team strive to understand.  While doing so, they race through not only space, but time itself to prevent an asteroid from hitting and destroying all who live in Tarsi City; aka the entire Tarsi race. If the Tarsi fall, then the human race is doomed, as the Tarsi are critical to human evolution and survival.

This is one of those books which is easy to get lost in and lose track of time. Author F. Jay Falone has a way of making his readers forget they are reading – the story is so immersive and has everything at the forefront.  For me personally, a lot of science fiction books feel robotic, but not Time Messenger.  This book has a warmth to it due to its realistic and relatable characters, and vivid storytelling. This book does not read like many science fiction books I have read. It is compelling, has amazing world-building, rich in details and complex ideas which I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of.  

One of my favorite things an author can do is include real world history into the story.  I love that F. Jay Falone includes different American historical figures or things from pop culture like the reference to Doc. Brown, The Three Stooges and President George W. Bush.  While readers get a glimpse of the Tarsi and their city, I wish there was more about the culture.  C’Net and Keevek were tasked with showing Jenks’ team the culture, but it felt like we didn’t see much of that come across to the readers.  I love seeing cultures develop within the story with history and mythos, and while we get some of the history of Tarsi, we don’t see much cultural things (music, food) or beliefs.

In a world on the brink of collapse, only one man carries the messages that can change the future—or rewrite the past. Time Messenger is a gripping science fiction odyssey where secrets are measured in centuries and every delivery could mean salvation… or extinction.  I think this is a great book for science fiction, and speculative fiction fans spanning a wide range of ages from young adults to older adults.  This is also a great book for those looking for an introduction to science fiction.  Time Messenger is a book which I’d recommend to all readers,  and is a high-stakes journey through centuries, secrets, and the ultimate paradox: fate.