Scott K. Andrews’ Timebomb is a fun, fast-paced time-travelling adventure. I must admit it was with some trepidation that I began reading part one of the Timebomb trilogy: I expected the whole ‘time travelling’ thing to be a bit daft, but soon learned to suspend my disbelief and just roll with it.

The story focuses on 3 likeable, yet different, teenage protagonists: there’s Kaz the impulsive Polish immigrant from 2013; Jana the reckless, rich American from 2141; and Dora, the innocent bumpkin from seventeenth century Cornwall. All 3 characters are likeable and intriguing, although the fast-paced plot doesn’t really give a lot of opportunities to explore them in depth.

The fact that the characters jump around in time provides ample opportunity for plot twists and confusion, much of which is still waiting to be revealed in the sequels. The historical settings abound with anachronisms both disjointing and bizarre (in a good way), and provide for some wonderfully disorientating ‘wtf?!’ moments; for instance, the moment when the cook worries about the flour delivery for the bread, only to remind herself that there is some in the freezer and that the toaster has a ‘defrost’ setting – in 1645. You’re like, ‘wait, what?’

Andrews has taken a well-worn trope and adapted it to create the first book in a new and exciting series. I, for one, look forward to reading more.