Riven by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley

May 5th, 2015 Kimberly Review 64 Comments

5th May
Riven by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley
Riven
by Sherry D. Ficklin, Tyler Jolley
Series: The Lost Imperials #3
Genres: Science Fiction, Steampunk
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

In a battle for control of the time stream, the past and the future will collide, either saving mankind—or destroying it.What should be a routine mission leaves Ethan with a serious problem. He’s fractured, a break between mind and body that leaves him at the mercy of his Rifter abilities, which are quickly tearing him apart. He will have to trust the only person who might know how to fix him, a mysterious Rifter named Stewart Stills, who seems to have a special connection with the time stream. Forced to face his dark past and a decision he may never forgive himself for, he will be trained unlike any of the others, to become a true guardian of time. If he accepts, it will mean leaving everyone he loves behind, if he refuses, time itself could unravel. After a glimpse of the dark future awaiting them all, he will have to choose between destiny and desire. Will he rise up and take his place as a defender of the natural order, or will he watch as all of time burns at the hands of the girl he loves?

coverlove scifi Young Adult

Riven is the third book in the Lost Imperial series by Tyler Jolley and Sherry D. Ficklin. Riven mirrors the timeline of Prodigal and offered an intense ride. This tale focuses on Ethan and his story held me spellbound from the mysterious Stills to rifting in the future.

While Riven follows the beginning timeline of Prodigal, it splits and tells us what happen to Ethan, and the others while Ember and Stein were off visiting Tesla. This writing duo had me holding my breath as we faced danger and traveled the time-stream.

The tale focuses on Ethan. He and Lex are on a mission rifting and collecting items when something goes terribly wrong. This causes Ethan to fracture, and the tale that follows was intense and geek-tastic. He gets help controlling things from Stewart Stills. Stills is fascinating and has been somewhat mysterious throughout the series. What he reveals to Ethan will alter his history. Ethan is struggling with remembering his past, and coming to terms with the burden Stills is about to thrust upon him. Should he accept it would mean leaving all that he holds dear.

Timestreams, rifting, danger, revelations and some serious danger had me flipping the pages and forgetting to come up for air. I love the direction the Lost Imperial series is taking and closed this book eager for the next episode. The whole idea of the time-stream itself was bloody brilliant. Time is more than a wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey ball of stuff.

Once again, I cannot recommend this series enough for fans of time travel, steampunk and Dr. Who. Vivid descriptions, fascinating, unpredictable world building and characters I have come to love Riven was another winner.

Flipbook of Prodigal & Riven

Do you remember flipbooks? In my youth I loved them. It was two books in one. You read one, flipped the book upside down and read the other. Now you can get Prodigal and Riven as a flipbook!

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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64 Responses to “Riven by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley”

  1. Olivia

    AHH for fans of Doctor Who, vivid descriptions and time travel <333 That is so me in every way! I am super happy to see that the last book was just as great as the others. It's always wonderful when that happens.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh I think you might like this time rifting Jennifer. The steampunk aspect of this tale is the tools and equipment to help them travel the time stream.

  3. Lupdilup

    I need to look into this series ASAP. or maybe the first book is already on my waiting list. I need to check.
    Thanks Kimba 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yes I hope you do Loupe. I was hoping these would come out on audio 🙂

  4. Jaclyn Canada

    I added the first one in the series to my to-read list. The concept is absolutely interesting and I like how the readers can see what other characters are doing while action is going on somewhere else in different books. Excellent review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh I am glad to hear that Jaclyn. Would love to hear your thoughts when you read it 🙂

  5. Lauren

    I love steampunk and Doctor Who so I think I’ll be a big fan of this series. It wasn’t really on my radar, but now I’m definitely going to check it out. Thanks for introducing me to it!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yay..glad I could share with you Lauren

  6. Christy

    Okay, okay … I’ll get on this. You and Ali both love these, and it’s time travel. How can I say no?

  7. Aurian

    I’ve never seen this series before today, but it does sound very interesting. Thanks for the review Kimba!

  8. Michele at A Belle's Tales

    I have not started this series, but it is definitely going on my list! You have me with time travel, steampunk, and Dr. Who! I love the sound of the danger and excitement this installment offers — and oh, did I ever love FlipBooks!! That is so incredibly cool! Thank you for the wonderful giveaways! Fabulous review, my friend!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I thought it was cool too and so glad you are going to read the series

  9. Bookworm Brandee

    I’m glad this installment was just as satisfying, Kim. Okay, okay…I’ll check out the series. 😉 I’m going to buy it for my two younger kiddos who are HUGE Dr. Who fans – then it’ll be in my house and I’ll just *have* to read it. 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Totally good for kiddos as it is clean..and cool. Ya can all read it together 🙂

  10. Ro

    For the life of me, and I know I probably should, but I can’ t remember Flipbooks. They sound totally neat, though, and I love this cover. Hugs

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I had quite a few growing up, and I think Nora Roberts had one too

  11. Sophia Rose

    Difficult choices are always a draw for me. That’s cool that it is part of a flip book since the stories are parallel.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      yeah i thought that was pretty darn clever 🙂

  13. Ramona

    I’ve added Extracted yesterday and I can’t wait to make my way to it! 🙂 The way you’re describing this series makes me crave it like I sometimes crave chocolate ice cream! Another wonderful review, Kimba, thank you!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      aw dang Ramona now I want chocolate ice cream.

  15. Hafsah

    I absolutely LOVE that cover! So many details and it is just gorgeous overall. I love the sound of it, too, though I’m not a fan of time travel (the ones I’ve read never fail to confuse me). Nonetheless, I’m interested in giving the series a try one day. Thanks for putting it on my radar, and wonderful review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I think the authors do a good job with it. They sort of jump in time..for example they jump to 1985 to grab a part they need to repair something.

  16. Lanie

    Another cool cover, you’re really on a roll with this series! I know you said it’s a different storyline but in the same world, do you think they’ll eventually collide? Like both storylines will come together?

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Not quite what is happening. In Prodigal the girls go off to Tesla’s lab while they are away Ethan is dealing with being fractured and we find out how he is doing in Riven. So overlapping time line.

  17. Heidi

    You and Ali have convinced me now to read this series, and gosh darn it I want a flip book now.

  18. Jenny

    What a lovely interview. I’ve never heard of this series before but I’m definitely adding it to my TBR list. Sounds amazing.

  19. Lorna

    i haven’t heard of this series before, but I have read a book by Sherry Ficklin that I enjoyed. Sounds like very interesting world building!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Glad you liked it. I loved your vision of the time stream

  23. Keionda

    Oh hecks to the yes! I already said I was going to read this series and like someone already said, win or lose, I’M GETTING IT. Idk, there’s just something special about time traveling that just makes me stop all that I’m doing and devour it in one sitting. Can’t. Wait.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      These are quick reads and yeah I have a thing for travel too Keionda 😉

  24. Jenny

    Must read this series Kim! And when you said flipbook, I was picturing those animation type books where you flip through them and a little scene is created:) I can’t say I’ve ever read the kind of flipbook you’re talking about where there are two books in one, very cool!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh I know the books you mean. I had tons of these type books as kid. Imagine 2 books turn one upside down cover down, now place the other book on top of it right side up cover looking at you. Imagine those two books glued together.

  25. Nick

    That’s really cool how this story happens at the same time as the previous book but with a different character’s POV. I like the idea of a flipbook too. I’ve added this series to my TBR thanks to you, KIm! 🙂
    Lovely review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was cool, and I liked that it wasn’t just another pov of the same story, but a whole new thread.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I really think it’s cool Matt, and love all the deets and gadgets

  27. kindlemom1

    This was definitely my favorite of the two as well. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes them!

  29. Tracy Terry

    Loving the covers of these books. Yet to read a Steampunk novel, this series sounds like it could be a good place to start.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This is a perfect place to start Tracy 🙂

  30. Melliane

    Oh it sounds like a great series and the theme used are quite interesting there! I always love that, it’s more my kind of sci-fi. Thanks for the discovery!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I hope you give them a go Melliane..I really enjoy them

  31. Renee

    Lovely review. I do love it when authors do great world building, and this one sounds fantastic. I definitely might try this out sometime.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I had a blast reading these and look forward to more 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      All the covers in this series have been amazing Linda