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Home » Authors, Doll Day, Jana Oliver, Reviewers, Reviews

Review: Madman’s Dance by Jana Oliver

Submitted by on March 7, 2011 – 4:00 am4 Comments

History is melting down, courtesy of a multi-century plot to bring the Transitive shape-shifters to power. Only Time Rover Jacynda Lassiter can set things back on course, but that will be difficult. She’s been abandoned in a Victorian insane asylum with no memory of who she is.

Her two Victorian friends are facing equal difficulties: Dr. Alastair Montrose is caught between his duty to uncover the truth and powerful foes who wish it buried. Once lauded as a hero, Detective-Sergeant Jonathon Keats is on the run, framed for a woman’s heinous murder. Keats’ arch enemy, Desmond Flaherty, can prove him innocent, but the Fenian isn’t about to come forward, not with the life of his only daughter on the line.

If the anarchist’s cache of explosives ignites the biggest conflagration since the Great Fire of 1666, the future will change. There will be no sanctuary from the Madman’s Dance.

You know that feeling you get when you find a new series that completely enthralls you in it’s pages and all you want to do is spend time with the characters? It’s a certain kind of high, that is similar to falling in love (at least to me), and leaves me feeling “Twitter-pated”. Well, I am in love with The Time Rover series by Jana Oliver. I know what you are thinking…didn’t she say almost the same thing about a different series not too long ago? Yes, I did. But what can I say? When the books are awesome, I get a little excited.

The thing about this book in particular is that it is a brilliant finale to not only an exceptionally well written but well researched trilogy. Reading the Time Rover series literally transports readers to historical London with all the sights, slang and smells one would realistically expect in 1888. What’s more is we get a taste of the future and what it holds (at least in this world) and it’s scary!

The story picks up right where the rather nail-biting cliffhanger left off and tosses the reader right back into the fray. Jacynda’s mind has been damaged but why and who is responsible remains a mystery. Keats is still on the run trying desperately to clear his name for a murder he did not commit. Dr. Montrose continues to try to help Keats, but there are some new murders that are unusual and gruesome that his expertise is needed to help determine the forensic cause behind the slayings…and he is beginning to feel like there is more behind his council of transitives than meets the eye.

The author does a great job of switching points of view and juggling different time periods. There is such great character growth and so much action that takes place in this book that I was exhausted and spent after reading it…though that could have more to do with staying up all night reading.;)

I was surprised by the course Jacynda’s character took and where everything ended, yet I was left feeling fully satisfied by how cleanly all the plot threads were tied. Oliver did not disappoint with the ending and left room to possibly continue the adventures at some point *crosses fingers*.

Love. love, love this series. I just can’t say enough good things about it!

Sojourn (Time Rovers 1, 2006) REVIEW
Virtual Evil (Time Rovers 2, 2007) REVIEW
Jana Oliver INTERVIEW

This book was purchased by Day.

Day is a dreamer who has never met a stranger. She is fearless and will talk to anyone and read anything! She taught music and dance and was a singer/actress for years, performing on stages both nationally and overseas. Now married with children, she spends less time singing on stage and more time writing songs at home. But, family life has not completely slowed this chick down. She still loves an adventure and learning new things. She resides in Texas with her family, Great Dane (Sophie), Labradoodles (George & Cosmo) and Chihuahua (Juan Carlos).
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4 Comments »

  • Noa says:

    Day, I love this review! You got me excited about this series just reading it!

    Thank you! I need series to get excited about!

    Reply to this comment »
  • Jana Oliver says:

    Thanks, Day! I did surprise a few folks with Cynda's decision at the end of the book. To be honest, it surprised me when I wrote it. I didn't see that coming until I started the third book.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Day says:

    LOL! I want to say it came out of the blue because I feel like the characters were taken back and a bit surprised by their feelings. As the reader I caught glimpses of tiny clues here and there so it's not a total shock…yet at the same time because of how into the character I got it was a little surprising–and I am failing at articulating my thoughts. How about I just leave it at BRILLIANT!

    Please mam', I want some more please :D

    Reply to this comment »
  • Fox says:

    These book sound really entertaining!

    Reply to this comment »