content warnings: violence, loss of a loved one, murder, kidnapping, torture,
representation: gay protagonist, bi/pan main character, m/m main relationship, biracial (indian-white) main character, indian sikh main characters, amputee side character, mute side character, sapphic trans side character, lesbian indian side character, interracial f/f side relationship,


“‘I’m not just Colton anymore,’ he said. ‘I am also Evangeline, and Ben, and every clock spirit in the world. I speak and fight for them, because they can’t.’”


Review may contain spoilers for Timekeeper and Chainbreaker.


Tara Sim is an evil genius, and I can’t decide whether I hate her or want to worship her. I love this entire trilogy, and I think this final book might be my favourite, something which doesn’t happen very often.

The conclusion of the Timekeeper series follows almost immediately from where the last book left off, with Danny, Daphne, Meena and Colton all kidnapped. The directions this book went were very unexpected, from the twists and turns to the character decisions, and I loved it for that.

Without any spoilers, I’ll just say that the mythology of the world plays a much greater role in this book than the others, both in terms of general worldbuilding and the directions the plot goes in. I wasn’t expecting the angle it took but I liked the way it went. I also loved how much more brutal and emotional this book is than the others; the stakes are far higher in this one, and there are times when it does ‘go there’, which I loved as a reader and hated as someone who loves all these characters.

Speaking of, there are several side characters introduced in this book, most notably Zavier, Dae, Jo, Astrid and Archer. The first four make up part of the crew of the Prometheus, and I love the direction that Sim took their characters. There’s also a lot that hasn’t been explored with them and I would be 100% down for another book, or even just a novella, following a lot of those characters, whether it was a prequel or sequel.

Archer is a bit different, and functions as the primary villain. In general, she and the Builders are only there to be a threat. Yes, there’s some personal issues there between them and the main characters, but on the whole they really are only there as an obstacle for the heroes to defeat. That probably won’t work for people who don’t love this series as much as I do and aren’t as willing to lay their lives down for the characters, but I don’t think it’s too much of a detriment to the book as a whole.

People who didn’t like the fact that Danny and Colton were apart for majority of the last book definitely aren’t going to be disappointed in that aspect with this one. They’re together fairly quickly, and there’s so much angst and love it was literally murdering me. They also get their fair share of steamy scenes in this, which was greatly appreciated ;)

Daphne is my wife and I love her so much. She’s easily my favourite character of the whole series. Seeing her grapple with her identity as a biracial woman, as well as with the morality of the things she does to save the ones that she loves, is sometimes heartbreaking to read but, oh god, so fulfilling. There’s also more about her past and family in this one, which was almost amazing to read about.

Part of me is really sad because I’ve been reading this series from the start (I bought and read Timekeeper the month it came out) and it’s quickly become one of my all-time favourite series. I never want a series I love to end, but I’m so glad that this trilogy had such a satisfying and emotional ending. I can’t wait for Tara Sim’s next series, and everything she does past that; she has well and truly solidified herself as one of my all-time favourite authors.



15/01/19: I AM HOLDING THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND AND I. AM. NOT. OKAY.