by Kim Harrison
Series: The Peri Reed Chronicles #0.5
Genres: Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Rating:
Don’t miss this thrilling first look into the elite world of Peri Reed, government agency operative extraordinaire, and catch more of her character in The Drafter, the first book in the all-new suspense trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison, out September 1. Every hero, even the accidental ones, have a beginning. Silas’s radical theory that drafters are not replaying time as much as they are temporarily sliding into an alternate universe has never been well-received, but frankly, the darling of Opti’s research has enough clout not to care, until a professor with a grudge tries to put a permanent end to it. Love can’t alter time, and sometimes, even being able to rub out a single mistake isn’t enough…
The novella Sideswiped by Kim Harrison introduces us to the characters and world of her new series the Peri Reed Chronicles. This science fiction suspense thriller sheds light on the concept of drafting. A small percentage of the population has the ability to move back briefly in time. Other humans can act as an anchor preventing the drafter from becoming trapped.
Sideswiped takes the reader back five years before The Drafter begins and introduces us to key players. They are all brilliant college students in their senior year and preparing for final exams. One of those tests involves a mission to retrieve an item in a real-world environment. Told from the perspective of Silas we learn about the characters, witness their test and see them band together to change the outcome. We have also introduced to Peri Reed a freshman and she makes a grand entrance which left me with many questions I hope will be answered in the series.
Harrison was clever allowing Silas to tell us their story; He shared his relationships with his fellow students and introduced us to Peri Reed the main character of The Drafter. The idea of drafting, anchors and the technology are briefly described teasing the reader with tantalizing tidbits. We learn that upon graduation they will have careers as drafters or anchors working for the government. Silas is already a doctor and is working on his thesis. His theory is that drafters are actual shifting sideways in time to alternate versions of reality and not going back in time as the scientist believe.
Events that occur in Sideswiped clearly have a strong impact on Silas, Perri, and their friends. A stranger named Fran introduced near the end hints that there is an alternate path for their careers.It gave me a sense of sides being drawn and I am excited to see what develops.
While I have a million questions, Sideswiped left me excited for The Drafter. If you are like me and love the backstory then I recommend picking up Sideswiped before you begin the Drafter.
For fans of the Hollows, the Peri Chronicles has a very different vibe but with Harrison at the wheel, I am buckled and ready to go. Sideswhiped does include a sample of The Drafter.
The Peri Reed Chronicles
You can pick up Sideswhiped for .99 cents or 3.30 on audio for a limited time:
Tika
Would it matter if I read this, or the drafter first? I know that with some novellas, reading them first can really set things up for when you read the first novel, so what do you think is best?
kimbacaffeinate
I personally believe reading this will enhance your enjoyment of the Drafter..but both rocked!
Sarah
Huh. Haven’t really read anything by Harrison (yet) but I love that she’s venturing into science fiction!
kimbacaffeinate
Sideswiped is the perfect way to test drive this series as it includes a chapter of the Drafter. I really enjoyed it
Bookworm Brandee
I picked up this one but haven’t gotten to it yet. I’m so very anxious to see what Harrison does with something new though. Glad you enjoyed your introduction to drafting. I do hope The Drafter answers your questions and leaves you (and me) wanting more! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I’ve already read the Drafter and loved it..this is different than the Hollows more of a thriller.
Melanie Simmons
I’m so glad to see that you enjoyed this. The only thing I’ve read from Kim Harrison is The Hollows series. I haven’t tried her YA series. I have no idea if I will like her other stories.
kimbacaffeinate
I haven’t read her YA either, but this new series is exciting..hope you enjoy them!
Lorna
I just went and bought it! Great review and I will probably want to read Drafter as well. Thank you!
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, I finished the Drafter and really enjoyed it. I will share my thoughts on release day.
A Voracious Reader
Hmmm…not a huge fan of time travel anymore, but this sounds interesting. I’m gonna put it on the TBR. Maybe I’ll get to it someday. But if I do, I’m definitely reading it before The Drafter. Thanks, Kimba!
kimbacaffeinate
Not really time travel it is more science fiction think going back seconds and reversing something.
Tracy Terry
Whilst not a fan of the novella I do like this author – luckily a good friend of mine buys all of her books and passes them on to me – so I’m looking forward to reading Sideswiped.
kimbacaffeinate
I tend to skip them myself Tracy, but received this through publisher. After reading the Drafter I would strongly recommend grabbing this first..I really wonder if folks will be a little lost without it.
Wattle
This one has piqued my interest (even if Amazon is geoblocking me and not allowing me to buy it!) I’ll definitely have to keep it in mind to read it before the first novel when it’s out here 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Evil Amazon..LOL Yes I recommend reading this first.
Jennifer Bielman
I am so out of the loop. I didn’t even know Kim had a new series coming out. Off to go buy it!
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy, and after reading the Drafter I think reading Sideswiped first is important
Kristin
You, Christy, and Felicia have me sold on reading this before “Drafter”!!! My hubs is gonna kick my butt this week 😉
kimbacaffeinate
LOL .99 cents sweetie and worth it..tell hubs to chill 🙂
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
Thanks for the recommendation on this one. I hadn’t realized there was a prequel so I picked this up (at less than a buck who could resist) and I devoured it before starting The Drafter. I am so curious to see where this series goes. These are my first Harrison reads:)
kimbacaffeinate
Glad you picked it up, I really feel that without it I would have had trouble settling into the Drafter.
Jeann
Oooh I love the premise for this new series – thanks for sharing with us! I’d love to follow along with her new one especially with the sci-fi stuff in here.
kimbacaffeinate
I love that it’s science fiction based..lots of action and techie stuff.
Priscilla and her Books
This sounds exciting! Sideswiped reminds me a bit of Rob Boffard’s Tracer 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Oh neat, I had fun reading this and the Drafter..Harrison gets you caught up in the story
The Bibliophile Babe
That’s a gorgeous cover! Great review. I want to read these both.
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy!
laura thomas
I’m waiting for The Drafter to arrive in my mailbox. Are the covers for these books not spectacular. This is going to be an amazing series!
kimbacaffeinate
Awesome, it was so good..but I recommend reading this first
Angela Adams
Thanks for the post!
kimbacaffeinate
You are welcome 🙂
Paij Slater
This sounds good. I haven’t heard of this series yet, so thanks for adding more to my TBR pile…heheh
kimbacaffeinate
Always happy to feed the need to read 🙂
Sophia Rose
I like the idea of a sci-fi thriller. The novella sounds like a good teaser for the series. I’ll have to catch the sale. Thanks!
kimbacaffeinate
It really is, and after reading the Drafter I am glad I read this first.
Nise'
I have not read this author and am glad to know this is the beginning of a new series.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, very exciting and the perfect time to try her:)
Katherine
She’s a new to me author but this sounds really great! I’ve been watching older NCIS episodes lately and they’ve got a lot of dealings with the CIA and international arms dealers and undercover investigations that has me in the mood for this kind of book.
kimbacaffeinate
If you like science fiction, then you will enjoy this series…government entities, undercover operatives, corruption and more
Red Iza
Oh yeah, I need to read this !
kimbacaffeinate
Yes…this new series is cool.
Melliane
I have book 1 but I haven’t read it yet, tought I’m really curious about it because it sounds really interesting!
kimbacaffeinate
Read this first Melliane..it really clarifies the world/characters etc
Candace
I will read anything Kim writes and this series is definitely one I’ll have to read one of these days. Starting with the prequel novella sounds like a good plan to me!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I actually recommend it Candace. I read the Drafter and think it really helped me understand the world.
ShootingStarsMag
That’s great that this novella/prequel made you even more ready to read the first book in the series! I wonder if things will still make sense in The Drafter if you DON’T read this first?
Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
I am reading the Drafter now, and I am glad I read Sideswiped first, otherwise I may have felt a little lost.
Ramona
I’m pretty sure I read her at some point, but not this series. It sounds well plotted and very interesting. Great review, Kimba 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
This is a little different for her..but Ihe read the Drafter and it rocks
Mary Kirkland
It’s been a while since I’ve read one of her books but this sounds promising.
kimbacaffeinate
I just finished the Drafter and I am pretty excited about the trilogy.
Debbie Haupt
Thanks Kim, great review. My copy of The Drafter just arrived in the mail and I’m scrambling to rearrange my schedules to move it to the top of the pile, and now after reading this it’s just climbed another rung or two 😉
kimbacaffeinate
I have 100 pages left of the Drafter..trying to savor it. I recommend reading this novella first Debbie.
kindlemom1
I’m not huge into sci fi reads for some reason (although I love tv shows, weird, I know!) but I really do want to start this series. It just looks so interesting and I have come to love this author!
kimbacaffeinate
I finished the Drafter as well and really enjoyed it Ali 🙂
Stormi
I am curious about this one and I got The Drafter for review so I picked this one up the other day and can’t wait to try it.
kimbacaffeinate
Read this first, it makes a difference. I finished the Drafter and enjoyed the ride.
Nick
I’ve never read an adult book by this author, but I’ve wanted to. I don’t normally read novellas, but this one sounds like it does a good job getting you excited for the next book.
kimbacaffeinate
It really helps set up the Drafter and I recommend not skipping it.
Jenny
I need to check this series out Kim! Though I never made it all the way through her other series (I can’t deal with character deaths!), I loved her writing and really want to give this novella and the first book a try:)
kimbacaffeinate
I loved the Hollows, but yes I cried over losses.
Tanya
Ah! A prequel! I will probably pick this one up before The Drafter. I’m nervous about this series since I loved Rachel Morgan so much.
kimbacaffeinate
I really recommend that you read this first Tanya. I just finished the Drafter and think maybe I would have been a little lost in the beginning without it.
ailyn
woo cool story, I have to say that those dust particles look like wings if you are peering into it
kimbacaffeinate
*scrolls back up and looks at cover* I totally agree!
ailyn
points for coolness
Tyler H Jolley
I’ve got SIDESWIPED in my kindle right now. This will be my first Kim Harrison book, I can’t wait to start it.
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy, I just finished the Drafter and it was one heck of a ride.
Christy
Now that I’ve started reading The Drafter, I’m SO glad I read Sideswiped first. So, so glad. And it definitely had me loving the characters already.
kimbacaffeinate
I totally agree. I am wondering if I wouldn’t have been lost a little in the beginning without it.
Christy
I read some of the prologue before I read Sideswiped, and definitely had a wtf feeling. Just reading it now, I can see where I would’ve been lost if I hadn’t.
blodeuedd
I can’t remember if I have read a book by her…I think the answer is no, but I want to
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you do, I enjoy them