Originally Published: August 11, 2016Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Publisher: John Murray
Pages: 293
Source: Goodreads Giveaway
Series: Standalone
Price: £14.88 (Hardback from Amazon)
£8.99 (Paperback from Amazon)
£10.99 (Kindle Edition)
About the book (Taken from the blurb):
In 1999 a programmer is trying to fix the Millennium Bug, but can't shake the sense he's been chosen for something.
In 1888 five women are brutally murdered in the East End by a troubled young man in thrall to a mysterious master.
In 1777 an apprentice engraver called William Blake has a defining spiritual experience; thirteen years later this vision returns.
In 1666 poet and revolutionary John Milton completes the epic for which he will be remembered centuries later.
But where does the feeling come from that the world is about to end?
My review:
This book is a perfect example of why I don't like books set in multiple timelines. The stories set in 1999, 1888 and nearer the end of 1777 were absolutely fantastic! They kept me on edge, they were interesting, they made me laugh... but the timeline in 1666 and early 1777 just had to ruin it. I didn't have any idea what was going on most of the time because I was so bored my mind just sort of shut off. Nothing really happened in those chapters until the ends, which redeemed 1777 but not 1666. I just wish *no spoilers* that the thing that happened in 1777 happened a little earlier because that was pretty cool. But, *no spoilers* the thing that happened in 1666 was the most anti-climatic and underwhelming thing I've ever read. I get that Hughes wanted to keep the story semi-historically accurate but come on.
If any of you were to ask me how the book ended, I would have no clue how to answer you. Literally no idea. I'm guessing this is a book you need to read a few times to fully understand it because otherwise, what the hell just happened? I can definitely see myself re-reading this book, just for the letters from Jack the Ripper (which were fricken awesome btw), so maybe I'll understand it more then? I really hope so, because not understanding sucks.
Another thing that I found challenging in this book is the length of the chapters. If any of you have read my reviews before, I constantly say that I am not a patient girl. I like finishing chapters, that's what motivates me to carry on reading, but the average chapter length was 26 pages and for me, that's a lot. To be a little fairer, each chapter was spread across each of the timelines, which kept things at least a little interesting. But when your OCD only lets you finish reading at the end of chapters, it gets frustrating.
To wrap this up, books set across different timelines are not my thing. Never have been, never will be. But this is definitely one of the best I've read in a long time. It gets a little boring at times, but the amazingness of 1999 and 1888 saves it a lot. If it was just those two, and 1777 if it got to the point a little faster, it would easily be 5 stars. If it was just 1666 and 1777 (1777 staying how it is) it would be barely 2 stars. AARRGGHH I'M SO CONFLICTED! I'm going to have to go 4. Well, 3 and 3/4 but I don't have that star picture. And that is purely down to the Jack the Ripper letters. Those should be a book in themselves. Seriously Hughes, get on that, I would buy that in a heartbeat. So, due to my conflicting opinions, read away, but definitely tell me what you think afterwards!
How do you feel about books set across multiple timelines? Like longer chapters? Think I'm being too harsh? Comment down below and tell me what you think"
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