Customer Reviews

Sojourn (Time Rovers - Book 1)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sojourn by Jana Oliver? Never heard of it? Where have you been? Victorian England? Well, now everyone can go there! Join brassy heroine, Jacynda Lassiter as she tries to outwit a killer while hunting a madman in Jack the Ripper's Whitechapel District!

In reading this book, I was treated to a whirlwind ride through time, from 2057 to Victorian England (1888), encountering Jack the Ripper, time-travel, Victorian English society, shape-shifters, Scotland Yard, Fenians & madmen. It has something for everyone!

Sojourn is one of the most FUN reads EVER!!! Jana Oliver gives the reader a thrill ride that picks you up, slings you about, loops you upside down and around, finally leaving you breathless, flushed with excited contentment & wanting more.

"Get back in" and enjoy Virtual Evil (Time Rover Book 2) & Madman's Dance (Time Rover Book 3 and finale)! You won't regret it!

I finished the series (3 books) in 11 days while working a very busy month long night shift!

I liked this book a lot, but I don't think it's a 5-star novel. The Whitechapel portions of it are great, and from the little I know of the Ripper murders and the period, the author got it right. I also agree with an earlier review that says one of the author's strengths is dialogue. I agree 100 percent. Conversation is very natural here, one of the most natural I've read in awhile. George RR Martin quality. Well not quite but close.

Where I think the novel breaks down is in the "modern era", the time in which the main character actually lives. It's very oppressive and restrictive. Privacy is limited to the extreme, where a person can download another person's personal information on the fly, where people go to jail for seemingly very minor altercations. This in and of itself is not a problem, but to have this kind of society coupled with time travel didn't ring true with me. How could a society this restrictive allow time travel? It would be way too dangerous to allow someone the chance of going back and changing the "status quo". Luckily, little time is spent in the modern world, so you only have to deal with these conundrums for a short while.

A good book. Not great, but still, Oliver is one to watch for in the future.

When I had the opportunity to read Jana Oliver's Sojourn, I jumped at the opportunity -even before I had any idea what the book was about. Aside from the fact that I just love books, I also have recently fallen in love with Oliver's Demon Trappers series, so it's hard for me to say no to any of her other work. However, I'm always careful when it comes to delving into an author's past titles. While such an expedition can turn up unexpected gems, it can also turn up some titles that were just not as good.

Fortunately, I'd say Sojourn is one of these unexpected gems.

Sojourn straddles two different worlds: a futuristic world where an organization openly allows time travel, and time "tourists" are somewhat common, all policed by the time rovers -and the dark world of late 19th century England on the eve of the Jack the Ripper murders. Jacynda, also known as Cynda, is given the mission of retrieving an overdue tourist who has gone missing just before the murders begin. Cynda quickly finds that her mission isn't as easy as it seems, and that she must unravel the secrets of one of London's most famous serial killers, and how he is connected to the time rover organization.

While I must admit that I wasn't completely expecting something like this from Oliver (especially with such a strong Dr. Who vibe!), but I still found it enjoyable to read. Oliver does an excellent job of painting an accurate and well-constructed picture of 19th century London that is incredibly well-researched and tightly woven. Oddly enough, the futuristic setting wasn't as vivid or as well put together, and at times was very hazy for me, so I desperately wanted to get back to London and back into the fascinating webs of the Whitechapel underground.

Though Sojourn isn't quite as polished as the Demon Trappers series, it's a wonderful, creative series that's a fun adventure that fans of Oliver's other novels will enjoy.

Time excursions can be exhausting. Time Rover Jacynda "Cynda" Lassiter is more than ready for some time off after returning a "tourist" from Pompeii right before the explosion. Unfortunately, an emergency order to find an overdue tourist sends her once more hurtling out of the year 2057. Her destination: Victorian England during the Whitechapel killings of Jack the Ripper. As if avoiding the unknown murderer isn't complicated enough, Cynda soon finds herself caught up in another murder mystery and torn between two men. Will Cynda find the missing tourist in time? Danger lurks around every corner in the year 1888....

Time travels have become a bit of a jaded storyline for me as there have just been so many over the years. However, Jana G. Oliver breathes new life into the genre as she reminds me of why I first loved time travels. The story takes place in both the years 2057 and 1888 and Ms. Oliver makes both time periods come vividly alive. From the technology-oriented future to the fearfulness of the Whitechapel district, each period is beautifully described.

The inclusion of the Transitives and their ability to go en mirage adds a nice touch to the plot as well. Transitives have the ability to shape shift (or as they call it, en mirage) to look like other people. What a fascinating twist this adds to any story but particularly to one featuring Jack the Ripper!

Jana G. Oliver doesn't shirk on character development either. Cynda is a superb heroine with her loyalty and dedication to her friends. And who didn't smile at the thought of Fred? Dr. Alistair Montrose and Jonathan Keats are also well developed as the friendship between them is sorely tested during such a trying time. I only wish we could see a bit more of Lady Wescomb as I found her to be most intriguing, especially for the time period she lives in.

SOJOURN is a wonderful blend of time travel, science fiction, and fantasy! Jana G. Oliver combines phenomenal world building with spectacular character development to create a book that is both enjoyable and highly memorable. Highly recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Jana Oliver is a consummate story teller, who does not shirk from the daunting task of creating a time travel tale in the setting of 1888 London. Her details are astounding, her characterization superb and her plot line devilishly captivating.

Jana's sequel, Virtual Evil follows suit wonderfully!

Once you get involved in this time travel story, you will have a difficult time putting it down. Ms. Oliver's strengths are plotting, characterization, and dialogue. Perhaps even more important is the element of humor that's sprinkled throughout. In addition, Victorian England (and the Jack the Ripper case) have been tremendously researched. It all adds up to a delicious read. The best news is that this book is the first in a series!

Jacynda Lassiter is a Time Rover on mission. Find a missing "tourist" and bring him back to 2057 before he changes history. A simple task? Not quite. The time period is Victorian England. The place none other than the infamous Whitechapel District. And she's been deposited into this maelstrom just before the Ripper's killing spree.

In addition to the horrendous conditions that abound in Whitechapel, messy streets, prostitutes, thugs, the Ripper, mysterious shape-shifters lurk about, making friend and foe indistinguishable. Jacynda has entered a very dangerous world. A world that will suddenly make her "assignment" become even more dangerous when a fellow Time Rover is killed. Now it becomes personal and Jacynda will not rest until she finds out who the murderer is. Could it be the Ripper? With the aide of two Victorian gentlemen, who have secrets of their own, Jacynda tries to find her "tourist" and uncover the identity of the murderer of her fellow Rover.

This is an intriguing new novel from Jana G. Oliver. Ms. Oliver has painted a clear picture of Victorian England at the time of the Ripper Murders. The reader will quickly get the feel for the time and place. The vial nature of this world will certainly hold the reader's attention, as Ms. Oliver's tale brings one face to face the harsh realities of 19th century England. One will understand Dr. Montrose's passionate desire to help the poor unfortunates of Whitechapel and his friend, Jonathan Keats' driving force to undercover clues to find the anarchists bent on bringing down the English government. Jacynda and her two gentlemen friends quickly become involved in more dangers than they can imagine. This is quite a time travel, shape-shifter, mystery. Jana Oliver is becoming quite a wordsmith in her own right. Keep an eye on this lady. She's on the rise in the literary world. Highly recommended.

Once I began this book, I could not put it down. Sojourn is much more than a suspenseful time travel. Jana Oliver takes the reader through Victorian London on a quest to outwit a killer and capture a madman.

Jack the Ripper lurks in the background, an evil just waiting to pounce. The scenery is rich with grimy streets and tired floozies hoping to last just one more night. Jacynda Lassiter, fresh from the 21st century, emerges to rescue yet another lost "tourist." But the traveler has vanished from sight and tracking him down lures her into great peril.

The story flows effortlessly between Jacynda's "future" livelihood and her attempts to fit into Victorian society. The shapeshifter attributes add to the complexity of the plot, increasing the attraction of one suitor while interfering with the duties of another. Yes, there is a bit of romance here, and it was difficult to determine which admirer I preferred.

Ms. Oliver has done her research. I had no trouble imagining the vivid settings, from the overly heavy gowns to the rat-infested rotting tenements. And all references to Jack the Ripper are in keeping with historical notations. My only complaint was that the story ended too soon. Let us hope for a sequel.

Imagine a world in the near future where people with the means to pay can vacation in a different time period with a specialized "tour guide" called a time rover. Now imagine that world is similar enough to the one we live in now that those same people that have the means to pay for a time travel vacation can also pass money under the table to visit these locations without a time rover as an escort. What kind of trouble could a person cause by meddling in the past? LOTS...and that's just a sliver of the premise!


Cynda is one of the most talented Time Rovers of her time, but all is not well at her agency and with financial short falls rumored, her job is in jeopardy. Upon returning (by the skin of her teeth) with a tourist from 79 AD Pompei, Cynda is told that she must turn around on another trip and recover a missing tourist in 1888, London. Not her favorite time period, Cynda begins to argue but is hinted at that her job might be a little more "secure" if she obeys and takes the mission. With her only real friend, Ralph, manning the technical aspect of the trip back home in 2057, Cynda feels confident she can get there grab the missing tourist and get back home for some overdue R&R with her handsome honey, and fellow time rover, Chris. If only it were that simple....


Upon arrival in 1888 London, Cynda begins to suffer some awful time roving side effects like hallucinations, nausea, and fainting. She quickly makes it to the safe house but not without falling ill to her symptoms. Enter the handsome Dr. Alastair Montrose. Dr. Montrose also happens to be a tenant at the boarding house Jacynda is staying at and witnesses her illness. Being a compassionate doctor, he assists Jacynda and helps her get settled into her room. He is very intrigued by her and unsure what to think of the bold and modern woman...but he has his own secrets too. A secret society of people who have the ability to go en'mirage as other forms have been living in our midst for ages and Dr. Montrose has first hand knowledge of these shape shifters.


Time Travel, Shapeshifters and Jack the Ripper...OH MY! Everything about this book pulled me in and hooked me. The characters are layered and interesting, the world is well thought and believable, and the descriptions of Victorian London are the most accurately described I have read in a fictional tale. Most authors tend to romanticize London, 1888 and the Victorian era in general, but not Jana Oliver. Jana rolls up her sleeves and paints readers a most honest picture of a murky, smutty, smelly, sick, impoverished age where medicine is still not completely without it's limitations, the streets are debris ridden with horse manure and litter, prostitutes & gents sneak off into alleys for a quick "knee trembler", and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing the night streets.


Sojourn truly is one of my favorite series I've been intoduced to this year. I immediately finished the first book and ordered the following two. It is a completed trilogy (which made me happy that I could read them all and not wait) with both a character and plot driven story line. There is a tiny love triangle, but it is done so cleverly that it didn't bother me at all. Both of the suitors are admirable, and handle the whole thing like gentlemen befitting the time period. The heroine is smart, strong, but not without flaws. Everything in this book just comes together perfectly for the reader and really is like taking your very own "Victorian Sojourn". And, isn't that what we want our stories to do for us--transport us on a literary vacation? Well, this book does...but, don't take my word for it, go get your own copy and read for yourself;).

I picked this book up at my local library and received a very pleasant surprise. Despite the fact that this author is a relative newcomer to writing, she did a fantastic job making a very enthralling trilogy. It would have been very easy to take the story's premise and main characters and turn it into a cheesy and clique'd Harlequin romance with some fantasy and science fiction elements rivaling each other for page time. Instead, this book somehow manages to blend time travel and shapeshifting seamlessly, have two proper Victorian gentlemen love-interests without turning the novel into a bodice-ripper, and have an intelligent and down-to-earth female main character without turning her into a Mary Sue. The setting makes you want to do a little more research on Victorian-era and the Whitechapel murders.

The only bad thing about this book is its price. I'm not willing to spend $60 to buy the trilogy for my collection, so instead I'm going to settle with checking them out at my library until somebody publishes them in a mass market paperback edition.

Two thumbs up, five stars