The Extractor Series – Book 1
Escape in Time is a poignant reminder of the past, our collective present and hope for the future.
I had the privilege of reading the original version of this story, and whilst undoubtedly improved and polished in places, this new version continues to cement my adoration of this series. In its original form Escape in Time was one of the very first Sapphic books I read; 7 years later and it still highlights to me ho much I’d wished I’d had the chance to access books such as this one as a young adult. A story that is full of grit, and the reality and rawness of life rather than a sweet romance, but where the characters on the pages are still proudly LGBTQ+.
If I were to sum up Escape in Time in two words, darkness and light would be my picks. It’s a heavy hitting book with some graphic scenes and perhaps not for the faint of heart; there are however clear content warnings for those readers who would prefer to avoid those segments. But, in all honesty the value in reading this story is worth far more than simply word on paper, for reasons I’ll explain below.
There is an enormous depth of character to the main protagonists – Landry Donovan and Jacqulyn Foster – both of whom work for Pulsus as an extractor and operative respectively. The comprehensiveness of each of their characters deepens a reader’s connection to Donovan and Foster’s angst, inner turmoil, and sexual desire. These qualities build and maintain the physical and psychological momentum of the story, creating the perfect pacing for a book that has a lot to give from beginning to end.
The mission of the Pulsus organization to travel back in time to rescue very specific individuals, thus affecting the course of history (and the present day) is an authentic concept, generating ethical, moral, and timeline questions. Questions that readers see Donovan and Foster explore: as a reader these aspects are massively thought-provoking and really adds another layer to the base plot.
There’s a strong supporting cast, some who I loved getting to know like Cait and Beth, and others (Simson) not so much. Each additional character fits well into the overall storyline, coaxing a different dynamic from the character and personalities of Donovan and Foster. This is particularly true of Landry’s love interest: basketball player Jade Carter. Jade brings out a distinct side to Landry that you don’t see when she’s on a ‘mission’. Jade’s banter and ability to keep Landry on her toes is sweetly amusing in a flirtatious teasing way.
It would be remiss of me not to mention that the Pulsus’ mission focuses on Hitler’s reign and the atrocities carried out at a concentration camp. However, the depiction of Nazi Germany even in all its brutality is not gratuitous and is wholly relevant to the plot.
Given current happenings in real life, I personally find it tremendously important that we don’t forget nor diminish history for the sake of palatability. If those few chapters make you uncomfortable, they should; let them serve as a reminder to not allow history to repeat itself.
“Usually, she worked hard to ensure missions didn’t stay with her, but this one was different. It wasn’t the end result that was making her feel this way, though being part of a team that purged the world of cancer was going to feel damn good. It was about having been a part of history that should never be forgotten, and she wanted it to live and breathe inside her. She wanted it to remind her not only of how appallingly the human race could behave when given half a chance, but also of how resilient the human spirit could be.”
Robyn Nyx, Escape in Time.
By setting part of the story in Nazi Germany and exploring the impact that existing in that time period had on Donovan and her team, there is a real sense of their struggles with such pervasive darkness. But there are also resounding reminders in every square inch of this book that traces of light can still prosper: people need other people, love is powerful, hope exists, there is no light without darkness. Whether it’s a soulful look of compassion, a shared understanding across a squalid bunkroom, or the comforting arms of a lover post nightmare, we all in our own ways need other people to be our glimmers in the dark.
Escape in Time is a fast paced, bold, and complex time travel story. It’s also littered with empathy and passion; for lovers, for unrequited love, for the fate of the world and the human race. Those interlapping aspects weave many thought-provoking pathways giving rise to a fulfilling, and interesting book that surpasses all the hallmarks of quality literature.
Stories like Escape in Time must continue to be told, now more than ever. My heartfelt thankfulness goes to the author for courageously bringing the darkness into the light; gracefully and engagingly exploring everything it means to be human.
I received an ARC of this book from Butterworth Books, in exchange for an honest review.
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