Sci-Fi & Scary

From characters to plot, and everything in between, Jodi Taylor's The Chronicles of St. Mary's series is hilarious, touching, fascinating and wonderful. This isn't a series where everything goes perfectly. In fact, lots of people get hurt, fight, do stupid things, and generally make butts of themselves. Max herself being no exception to this rule. But the pain, the stupidity, and the anger is always tempered by laughter, snark, friendship and love.

This was true of books 1-3, and its certainly true in A Trail Through Time, the 4th book in The Chronicles of St. Mary's You know when the books open that Max and team are going to get themselves in some sort of trouble, then they'll get through it. Then something else will happen. And that, in the end, St. Mary's will overcome. St. Mary's. Not necessarily any/all of the characters because its amazing that some of them (Markham) even manage to make it down the stairs on a daily basis without breaking their neck. Or blowing themselves and others up (Rapson). Or how long some of them can resist the urge to smack everyone back to the Stone Age (Mrs. Partridge). Never has this been more true than in this book.

Max finds herself in a situation she didn't think was possible, racing desperately up and down the timelines with someone she thought lost forever. Pulling her usual tricks of being in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. Surrounded by familiar strangers, facing an unfamiliar villain, and trying to find a way to deal with Isabella Barclay - again! - Max is in for one of her roughest rides yet.

It's a great read, and Max and crew feel like family to me already. The kind that you love to pieces but never get within 5 feet of without making sure there's no way they can accidentally hurt themselves or you. The ones that leave you cherishing at least two or three new memories of laughter every time you see them. The Chronicles of St. Mary's is a must-read series, and A Trail Through Time is an excellent entry into it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.