Book

Invictus

📖 Overview

Time criminal Farway Gaius McCarthy commands a crew aboard the ship Invictus, conducting illegal missions to steal valuable artifacts from history's most significant events. After failing his entrance exam at the Time Corps Academy, Far turns to black market time travel to pursue his dreams of exploring the past. The crew's routine heists become complicated when they encounter a mysterious girl who knows too much about Far's past and future. Their operations spiral into chaos as they discover larger forces at work in the timeline, forcing them to make choices that could impact history itself. Far must confront questions about his own identity and origins while protecting his crew and their livelihood. The story combines elements of science fiction, heist capers, and historical adventure as the team navigates different time periods and locations. The novel explores themes of destiny versus free will, and asks what truly makes a family - blood ties or chosen bonds. Through its time travel premise, it raises questions about how the past shapes who we become and whether we can ever truly escape our origins.

👀 Reviews

Readers appreciate the fast pace, detailed historical research, and blend of time travel with real events. Many note the complex character dynamics between the four main crew members and their distinct personalities. Positive reviews highlight the imaginative "what-if" scenario involving Nazi Germany and the writing's ability to build tension. Several readers compare it favorably to Doctor Who and Timeless. Common criticisms include: - The romance feels forced and unnecessary - Historical details sometimes overwhelm the plot - The middle section drags - Time travel rules lack consistency Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (4,600+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (20+ ratings) "The historical elements were meticulously researched but the pacing suffered as a result," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another praised the "unique spin on the time travel genre with high stakes that kept me turning pages."

📚 Similar books

All Our Yesterday's by Cristin Terrill Time-traveling teens work to prevent a dystopian future while navigating the complexities of changing the past.

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by M.G. Buehrlen A sixteen-year-old girl discovers she can travel through time by accessing her past lives and must stop others from exploiting this power.

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor A girl joins a secret organization of time travelers on a mission to rescue her mother from 12th century London.

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow Three teenagers become time-travel agents who protect history from those attempting to alter the timeline for their own gain.

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig A girl navigates through time on her father's ship using historical maps while searching for her deceased mother in nineteenth-century Hawaii.

🤔 Interesting facts

🕰️ Time travel in the novel is based on "time corridors" that connect specific time periods, similar to subway lines - travelers can only visit times where these corridors exist 🎯 Author Ryan Graudin was inspired to write this story after watching the Doctor Who episode "Vincent and the Doctor," which deals with historical figures and time travel 🎨 The book's title "Invictus" comes from the famous Victorian poem by William Ernest Henley, which means "unconquered" in Latin ⚡ The novel incorporates real historical events, including the sinking of the Titanic and the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria 🌟 The main character's name, Farway Gaius McCarthy, is a blend of ancient Roman and modern naming conventions, reflecting his unique birth as a child born outside of time