The Timekeeper Chronicles Review – Elemental Magic Awakens

For Modern Myths, Roxan had the opportunity to read Dutch author Robert Kroon’s debut novel Elements Unleashed and his second book Trials and Errors. Both books are part of the series The Timekeeper Chronicles. It’s an epic adventure set in the world of Roden where elemental magic starts to awaken, setting in motion a sequence of events that have far-reaching consequences spanning space and time. Read our The Timekeeper Chronicles review!

In this article, I will review both books in The Timekeeper Chronicles series. This is because the second book – Trials and Errors – follows directly after the first book – Elements Awaken. I see them more as a continuing story and will review them as such. If you read the first book, you will have to read the second one as well, or you will be left very confused and unsatisfied.

Elements are awakening

The Timekeeper Chronicles are set in the world of Roden. The countries of Daenor and Archai are at war again, as they have been on and off for centuries. Highpoint Keep is where the battle is focusing on. It is a strategically important Archai city that is under siege by the Daenor army. But why are the Daenor laying siege to this fortified city that is well prepared for attacks? And why are the Archai generals sending a large army to break the siege when the city is not truly in danger?

Reports are coming in that the true reason for this war is a girl with strange powers who is hiding in Highpoint Keep. But she is not the only one whose powers are awakening.

Koop Elements Unleashed

The Timekeeper Chronicles Review – Fire, Shadows, and Chaos

Marcus and Anthony are soldiers in the Archai army. Marcus has always looked out for his little brother Anthony. When they are separated in battle, he will stop at nothing to find his brother again. But he is gaining strange powers that he does not understand, and Daenor soldiers make the quest to find his younger brother perilous.

Anthony is dreaming of times far in the past when Elemental shapers were known and trained. Dreams and visions of times long ago as well as future events seem to guide his steps. But are the dreams real? And can they be trusted?

Stoneskin Masters and Fire Powers

When Andros accidentally burned his house down, he had no choice but to leave his village behind to find answers in the capital of Daenor, where a learnmaster named Stoneskin has been studying the Elements. But his unpredictable fire powers make him a danger to himself and others, and bad luck dogs his footsteps.

Julia is the princess of Daenor. When her powers awaken, she uncovers a dangerous plot against her father, the king. But will she be able to save him when her powers are untested? She is up against a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to secure a victory.

The Timekeeper Chronicles Review – A General with Shadow Powers

And then there is Isabelle, a general in the Archai army who protests the plans of the army leadership. Her shadow powers are strong and useful for uncovering secrets. But the shadows whispering in her mind are getting louder and louder until Isabelle fears she is going mad.

As more Elementals awaken, an ancient order of Keepers starts sharpening their swords. It has been many cycles since they were needed. But balance must be restored to the natural order. What needs to be done to achieve this will not become clear until you’re far into the second book. So, you have to be patient.

A Complex System of Magic

Koop Trials and Errors

Robert Kroon’s elemental system of magic is very complicated. In the first book, a lot of Elemental shapers are awakening. But because most characters have no idea what is happening to them, it takes a while to understand what is going on as a reader. Our information comes mostly from Anthony, who is dreaming of the past.

His dreams feature the experienced fireshaper Rodrik, who was standing trial for a murder he did not commit seven hundred years ago. His trial features a battle with several other trained Elemental shapers.

The Timekeeper Chronicles Review – Almost Like a Fantasy Detective

Because it is unclear to most characters how their powers work, sometimes they seem very random when they are featured in battles and fights. To me, that made it difficult to really connect with the characters when I started to read these books. This problem is exacerbated by the shifting points of view in both location, side of the war a character is on, and even the time the character is living in.

This is a problem I often have with stories told from multiple points of view. But it does get better as you keep reading the books and get to know the characters. The Timekeeper Chronicles feel almost like a detective story. You are not only uncovering how the elemental powers work exactly but also uncovering bit by bit who the Timekeepers are and what their motivations could possibly be.

A Cheat Sheet to Keep Track of the Elements

Luckily, the second book of this series comes with a handy cheat sheet in the form of a table clarifying the different elements and their powers. It offers helpful insights into these powers in the form of a page taken from the notebook of a knowledgeable shaper.

Then it becomes clear how the elements work and what powers they grant their shapers. You’ll also learn the severe side effects the powers give. For example, the element Time is connected to the eyes. Overuse of Time powers will lead to (temporary) blindness.

A Question of Scale

Dutch readers will notice a familiar map at the front of both books. However, there is no mention of distance between points on the map. Most characters are traveling by foot or on horseback in a relatively short amount of time. Sometimes even while traveling with a large army composed mostly of foot soldiers. I, therefore, question the intended scale of Roden.

Elements Unleashed and Trials and Errors focus on Elementals in the countries of Daenor and Archai. But it makes me wonder what the writer has in store for further books. Could other Elementals be awakening in other countries as well? Partway through Trials and Errors, I realized there was no way the story would be concluded in the second book. I am curious to see where Robert Kroon’s story is going in the following parts of The Timekeeper Chronicles.

The Timekeeper Chronicles Review – Uncovering the Bigger Picture

While reading the first two books of The Timekeeper Chronicles, you are gathering snippets of information in every chapter, trying to find out how the Elements work. Uncovering puzzle piece by puzzle piece, you are building the picture, only to realize that at the end of the second book, you are not laying a one hundred-piece puzzle. Instead, it’s but one of a thousand pieces, and you have only just managed to find the outlines.

The world of Roden that Robert Kroon has built is complex and rich, and The Timekeeper Chronicles are nowhere near finished. I hope the author will keep on building his world so readers get to uncover more of it. For me, Elements Unleashed and Trials and Errors were not easy reads, but they are very interesting and complex. I would recommend these books to fans of epic fantasy with multiple storylines. The style of storytelling is reminiscent of George R. R. Martin’s epic A Song of Ice and Fire series (better known as Game of Thrones), which is saying something.

Title: The Timekeeper Chronicles
Author: Robert Kroon
Publisher: Robert Kroon
ISBN:
Elements Unleashed: 978-90-903-2250-6
Trials and Errors: 978-90-830-4701-0

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