Book Review: Time’s Tempest by MJ Moores

It's funny how sometimes an email that was originally in your junk mail folder can lead to a great book and that is exactly what happened at The Bookshelf in Newmarket last summer when I grabbed a copy of Time's Tempest: The Chronicles of Xannia by MJ Moores after having received an invite from her for the event.

The novel follows the story of Jutaya 'Taya' Fyce, a Contractor (in the novels a position referring to an adventurer for hire) who is thrust into the midst of a government conspiracy attempting to hide the causes of climate change on the planet. Assigned to lead a group of truth seekers across the desert who put their faith man whom they view as their prophet, Taya and the others uncover the truth of these rumors. In the course of these events, Taya also discovers the truth of her own origins.

Despite never having been much of a hard sci-fi reader, I found myself being able to immerse in the world after only a few chapters, a feat not easily accomplished. The pacing and use of language were such that each chapter left me wanting to progress further in the story. More importantly, the world building was never forced. MJ managed to always include enough in a passage that either it was assumed you knew what was going on (a ploy I wish more sci-fi and fantasy writers would use now at days) or was explained in such a way that it was not an information overload. The characters themselves were also written in a rich and three dimensional manner, that left me wanting to know more about them.

I recommend this book to both new adult and young adult readers who enjoy adventure, sci-fi and fantasy books. I think this one has a lot to offer in all three genres. It's safe to say also that I've already picked up the next book in the series and I heard some rumors that a third is on the way after.