This was a fun read and had a lot of tropes I actually like.
Talking animal sidekick? Check
Time traveler strangers having to learn recent technology? Check
Paranoid Mage on the run from something? Check

The entire book is like being inside Kaz's mind, (other than the few other pov we sometimes see) and sometime Kaz gets sidetracked thinking about absolutely completely random things. I think it would all have been better had the book been 100 pages smaller tbh (which isn't something I often complain about).

My biggest complaint, other than certain inner monologues going too far and things getting dragging along, is that the first half of this book had certain.. sexist vibes.

Kaz gets sent two protectors from the past. One is a young woman who is smoking hot. And Kaz instantly gets a crush on her, and treats her like a little girl. (Hint she's a murder ninja). He was constantly thinking about how good looking she was, and getting angry at the other protector doing innocent things like.. putting his hand on her shoulder.

On one side, it kinda makes sense. Kaz has spent most of his life on the run and doesn't actually have the most experience with women, so it makes sense he gets a little distracted. But there was a point in the book I considered dropping it. I was quite happy when it changed, and it became clear that neither Kaz nor this other guy was actually interested in her.

Either way, it was a really solid read and I'll definitely read the next book!