Publishers Weekly
12/07/2020
Galland, who coauthored The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. with Neal Stephenson, continues the byzantine tale of the now divided interests of the Department of Diachronic Operations as its operatives manipulate time strands through the application of magic and science. Five years after the formation of D.O.D.O., the organization has fallen under the influence of Gráinne, a witch from 17th-century Ireland whose objective is to disrupt the historical events that led to a 21st century dominated by science rather than magic. To stop her, Diachronic Operative Tristan Lyons and his coworker and lover, Melisande Stokes, form an informal counter-agency, GRIMNIR. Both D.O.D.O. and GRIMNIR embark on multiple history-altering missions. After Gráinne changes a few critical lines of Macbeth, for example, Tristan and his sister, Robin, a new recruit, are dispatched to Shakespeare’s London to restore the original text. Gráinne’s mission and GRIMNIR’s countermeasures also take operatives to 14th-century Florence, fourth-century Sicily, and 15th-century Kyoto, with wide-ranging effects on the present. Galland’s careful attention to everyday life in various time periods creates verisimilitude, as does the assortment of found documents through which the tale is presented. Fans of time-travel science fiction are sure to be engaged. Agent: Liz Darhansoff, Darhansoff & Verrill. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Galland’s careful attention to everyday life in various time periods creates verisimilitude, as does the assortment of found documents through which the tale is presented. Fans of time-travel science fiction are sure to be engaged.” — Publishers Weekly
“Galland does a good job evoking the feel of each period from which the letters or other materials originate. . . for those who favor time-travel yarns, this will be an absorbing and satisfying experience.” — Booklist
"For a second novel, Master of the Revels masterfully managed to create an entirely new story that breathed life into new potential mythos and fantasies, while still fleshing out the character arcs of Tristan and Mel in a satisfying, fast-paced way." — The Mary Sue
“The action plays out from ancient Rome to Renaissance Florence and will be delightful to true fans of both history and fantasy. The style is fast-paced and direct, as is necessary with so much complexity of plot and character. The characters are nuanced, and clever use of dialog in a variety of media (epistolary, oral and modern message boards) keeps the pages turning.” — Historical Novel Society
Historical Novel Society
The action plays out from ancient Rome to Renaissance Florence and will be delightful to true fans of both history and fantasy. The style is fast-paced and direct, as is necessary with so much complexity of plot and character. The characters are nuanced, and clever use of dialog in a variety of media (epistolary, oral and modern message boards) keeps the pages turning.
Booklist
Galland does a good job evoking the feel of each period from which the letters or other materials originate. . . for those who favor time-travel yarns, this will be an absorbing and satisfying experience.
The Mary Sue
"For a second novel, Master of the Revels masterfully managed to create an entirely new story that breathed life into new potential mythos and fantasies, while still fleshing out the character arcs of Tristan and Mel in a satisfying, fast-paced way."
Booklist
Galland does a good job evoking the feel of each period from which the letters or other materials originate. . . for those who favor time-travel yarns, this will be an absorbing and satisfying experience.
