A review by headertime1981
Splinter's Edge by Boydell Bown

4.0

This was an ARC read, and I'm writing an honest review.

As a devoted fan of sci-fi thrillers, I fell comfortably into the story. The time travel subgenre, a personal favorite of mine, was familiar and 100% in my wheelhouse. The pacing, the characters, the events as they unraveled, and the bizarre realities were easy to get immersed in, and I'm confident others will find them enjoyable as well.

The characters were easy to engage with, even though we didn't have much backstory; actions defined them. Lahn and Lucia were my favorites; both felt the most real and fleshed out. Maddox I never connected to, though I wanted to.

The way the tech talk and time paradox explanations were revealed and explained made total sense. I don't need to know how everything works, and you'll lose me in a thriller with too much techy jargon. What I didn't understand seemed compatible with the story, and so I went on believing the scientific rules of this world.

The pace of the story was just right, keeping me hooked from start to finish. I devoured this book in three days, eager to uncover the mystery. The author's skill in maintaining a balance between action and suspense was commendable, and it was this constant sense of anticipation that kept me turning the pages.

The only problem I encountered was the dialogue. At times, it flowed nicely and naturally, and other times, it was extremely stiff, almost robotic, which was jarring when the prose was moving so naturally. Maddox was the best example throughout, and this may be part of the reason I never fully connected with his character, though I was still rooting for him.

This was a lot of fun. If you're into Science Fiction Thrillers with a time travel cherry on top, I'd recommend this, and I'd absolutely read more books by the author.