The Secrets of Time and Fate by Rebecca Alexander
| The Secrets of Time and Fate by Rebecca Alexander | |
|
| |
| Category: Fantasy | |
| |
Reviewer: Ani Johnson
 | |
| Summary: The third and final instalment of the supernatural fantasy 'Secrets' Trilogy brings us more thrills, some demonic possession and the realisation that there are worse things than death. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 384 | Date: June 2016 |
| Publisher: Del Ray | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0091953263 | |
|
Share on: | |
|
| |
Having killed Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the revenant from the 16th century, 21st-century Jackdaw Hammond did something she's regretting. By depriving it of its host, the spirit Saraquel has moved from the Countess to Jack. Can she get some help to banish it before someone else does it a little more terminally both for Jack and Saraquel? Meanwhile back in the 16th century of Edward Kelley and Sir John Dee, Elizabeth Bathory still lives and Saraquel proves he can wreak havoc across time.
Rebecca Alexander, the author with the degree in magical thinking brings Jack, Dee and Kelley back for a thrilling conclusion.
Jack is discovering that Saraquel is quite a character… but not in a good way. It seems that she's playing host to something that's not your usual run of the mill demon, in which case the manuscripts from Dee and Kelley in the 16th century may be the only hope she has.
There's definitely a keener sense of paranoia this time as we wonder who is actually on whose side. Jack is now a liability, suffering from gaps in memory that coincide with Saraquel taking over so perhaps for the national good something should be done? It's a compelling argument and one that keeps us on the edge of our seat as the nearer to the end we get the more we realise that no one in this book is indispensable.
Meanwhile back in the 16th century our Holmes-and-Watson of the supernatural, Dee and Kelley go to Venice to seek ways to conquer this cross era nemesis. Ok, we know they don't as Jack wouldn't be in that position if they had, but what they uncover is still fascinating as well as downright dangerous.
Once again Rebecca uses the point of view chapters that go back and forth in time to enhance the excitement. At some stage, each century's occurrences cliff hang while we visit the other. Links between the past and modern-day follow us back and forth, a case in point being the revelation about what Elizabeth's relatives are doing these days.
After The Secrets of Blood and Bones which many thought was a little disappointing in the light of the excellent first book, Time and Fate sees a return to form once we hurtle towards the blood-curdling finale. The domestic loose ends may tie up a little quickly and too conveniently, but the supernatural denouement is rather clever. Taken as a complete supernatural urban fantasy trilogy laced with romance, it isn't quite to the standard of the All Souls Trilogy but still well worth a read.
(Thank you, Del Ray, for providing us with a copy for review.)
Further Reading: If you haven't already, you'd be missing a treat if you didn't pick up that trilogy debut The Secrets of Life and Death. If you like your supernatural fantasy with a dash of romance then it has to be A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (the beginning of the aforementioned All Souls Trilogy). Whereas if you like straight urban fantasy, try anything by Category:Kate Griffin for starters. You might also enjoy Unclean Spirits: Black Sun's Daughter by M L N Hanover and The War in the Dark by Nick Setchfield.
Please share on: 
Facebook, 
Twitter and
Instagram
You can read more book reviews or buy The Secrets of Time and Fate by Rebecca Alexander at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Secrets of Time and Fate by Rebecca Alexander at Amazon.com.
Comments
Like to comment on this review?
Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.
