Timekeeper by Tara Sim

Timekeeper (Timekeeper, #1)

by Tara Sim

Two o’clock was missing.

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.

It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.

But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Reviewed by layawaydragon on

5 of 5 stars

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I have tried audio books before but it didn't work out. I was so excited for Timekeeper I just had to give it another shot. I'm so glad I did!

Not only did I LOVE Timekeeper but I'm going to keep trying audiobooks out now since this went so well.

↣I love the worldbuilding. Original, doesn't just focus on Britain like the rest of the world doesn't exist.
↣It felt gaslamp-y enough for me. But I'm not huge into the genre so YMMV.
↣I personally loved the snippets of mythology between chapters. It helped me "get" what the tension between clock mechanics and the public were.
↣A+ PTSD representation and anxiety.
↣I LOVE how it handles money and bills. You damn right that's something to worry over and should be included. Going hungry is fucking awful and given how many people struggle with home and food security, not enough books or characters deal with it as well.
↣I liked Danny's mum. She's struggling too and a full person. She's admitted to fucking up as a mum and trying. She's also a smoker, which sounds weird to be happy over but both my parents are smokers and it's odd to never see it in fiction unless it's a villain. She's not a villain, she's a victim too.
↣I love how she's there for Danny when he needs it and they finally talk and work out their troubles. I'm glad to see a relationship that isn't an abusive nightmare or perfectly perfect.
↣I love Danny & Colton!!! They're solid people apart but so, so adorable together. Them getting to know each other? *swoon* Even their fighting was cute.
↣I love Danny's best friend, Cassie who happens to be a girl. She's a kick ass auto mechanic and their friendship is goals.
↣It's not all about the romance, there is the bombing plot and other mechanics to deal with. Usually, I'm head over heals for this. Of course, this only happens when I WANT the book to go back to the romance....*sigh*
↣I guessed who was behind it only a bit before Danny, and that was the only thing I predicted.
↣I cannot wait for the sequel this November!
↣Narrator was amazing, really brought it to life and just sounded perfect. I can still hear him in my head for certain lines and *dreamy sigh*


The biggest drawbacks for me was trying to review and quote using the audiobook format. Trying to find a quote that I didn't bookmark the area sucks. Then going through all the bookmarks because I bookmarked EVERYTHING sucked.

I ended up getting frustrated and said fuck it for my review. Any tips for a newbie audio reviewer? I'd love to hear them!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 23 February, 2017: Finished reading
  • 23 February, 2017: Reviewed