Timescape: Dreamhouse Kings, Book #4 [Hardcover]

Robert Liparulo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dreamhouse Kings | Publication Date: July 14, 2009

Which door would you go through to save the world?

David, Xander, and Toria King never know what new adventures--and dangers--await them beyond the mysterious portals hidden on the top floor of their new house. They have battled gladiators and the German army, dodged soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, and barely escaped a fierce attack in their own home.

Still they are no closer to finding their mother, who was pulled by powerful forces through a portal and lost in time.

Their only hope is to turn the tables on Taksidian, the menacing stranger who wants them out of the house so he can use it for his own twisted purposes.

But everything changes when a trip into the near future reveals the devastating outcome of Taksidian's schemes--a destroyed city filled with mutant creatures. It is only then that the Kings realize what they're really fighting for--the fate of humanity itself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you like creepy and mysterious, this is the house for you! Every room opens a door to magic, true horror, and amazing surprises. I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?" --R.L. Stine (Goosebumps)

"A powerhouse storyteller delivers his most fantastic ride yet!"
-Ted Dekker, bestselling author of Chosen and Infidel

Review

"A powerhouse storyteller delivers his most fantastic ride yet!"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 1 edition (July 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159554500X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595545008
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been writing since before I could drive. Short stories, investigative exposes, celebrity profiles, editorials, business columns, radio dramas, screenplays--you name it. For the last few years, I've focused on novels. I'm the author of the thrillers "Comes a Horseman," "Germ," "Deadfall," "Deadlock," and the young adult series Dreamhouse Kings--"House of Dark Shadows," "Watcher in the Woods," "Gatekeepers," "Timescape," "Whirlwind," and "Frenzy."

Several of my books have been sold or optioned by Hollywood producers. All of them are in various stages of production. I'm also working on an original screenplay with Andrew Davis (director of "The Fugitive" and "The Guardian). I wrote the screenplay for Ted Dekker's "Blessed Child." My short story "Kill Zone" appears in the James Patterson-edited anthology "Thriller," and my essay on Thomas Perry's "The Butcher's Boy" can be found in the anthology "Thriller: 100 Must Reads."

Check out my websites at robertliparulo.com and dreamhousekings.com. You can find me on Facebook at facebook.com/LiparuloFans.

Hope you enjoy my stories!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Why I Love to Read!!, June 10, 2009

By 

Jake Chism (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Timescape: Dreamhouse Kings, Book #4 (Hardcover)

Things just became a little more complicated for Xander and David King. Not only is their mother still missing, but a sobering look into the future reveals that much more is at stake. As Xander and David search for answers within the time portals they find an unexpected ally who sheds more light on the house and the greater mission they have been called to. With a renewed sense of purpose the King family decides to turn the tables and go after Taksidian to put a stop to the evil plans he has put into motion.

As this series unfolds I continually find myself in awe of Robert Liparulo's ability to not just write amazing stories, but also his ability to get better with each offering. Timescape is easily the best novel of the Dreamhouse Kings series, showcasing the most intense action sequences and the most gut wrenching suspense we've seen. Two of the time portal scenes were actually crafted from ideas students entered into the Dream the Scene contest on Liparulo's website. In masterful fashion, Liparulo pulls out all the stops making these scenes the most memorable of the series so far.

In a young adult market saturated by commercialism, mediocrity, and unoriginality it's refreshing to find a series like this that is not only fun to read but also challenging and engaging. These are the kind of books families can love and share together, and no matter your age you will find yourself easily immersed into this marvelous world of adventure that Liparulo has crafted. Once again Robert Liparulo reminds me of the beauty of story and why I love to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, August 16, 2009

By 

William Oterson (About 50 miles, or so, east of Manhattan.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Timescape: Dreamhouse Kings, Book #4 (Hardcover)

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Fast paced scifi adventure from start to finish. I can't remember when last I felt compelled to finish a book without putting it down, it was that good. Surprisingly so as I read "Timescape", the fourth installment, as a stand-alone, not having realized it was part of a series. Mr. Liparulo has penned a gripping tale about a mysterious house, the family that resides there, time travel through portals and all sorts of mysterious happennings. Written with the young thinking adult in mind. An absolute treasure - can't wait to read the entire series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OUTATIME, April 15, 2010

By 

fredtownward "The Analytical Mind; Have Brain... (Mocksville, North Carolina, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Timescape: Dreamhouse Kings, Book #4 (Hardcover)

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Intriguing premise undone by all too clever gimmick.

The intriguing premise is having our heroes live in a house full of time portals; the gimmick is having each book cover a single 24 hour time period. As a result, our heroes spend half of their time in a state of steadily increasing exhaustion due to everything that is continually coming at them, which might not be so bad if they didn't spend the other half of their time complaining about how exhausted they are!

Other reviewers have complained about the lack of character development, but that is unfortunately the inevitable consequence of the gimmick. Seriously, how much could someone's character develop in only 24 hours? (Revealing character is another matter, but there isn't much room for that, either.) Others have complained about the lack of references to Christianity in what is supposed to be an overtly Christian book, but again the gimmick is to blame. A hurriedly offered prayer, a short Bible quote, a quick moral lesson is about all anyone in this book has time for. Heck, at this rate we won't even get around to Sunday (again?) until book SEVEN (if there ever is one)!

Note: There is a warning at the beginning to read House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, and Gatekeepers before reading this book and going on to read Whirlwind and Frenzy, which is no doubt good advice. I believe I was able to pick up the thread by the end, but that certainly wouldn't be the preferred way to sample this series.

Too bad. IMHO Robert Liparulo is clearly a talented writer, but he attempted a gimmick too far.