Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Timeless
SERIES: Standalone
AUTHOR: Declan Rhodes
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: Approx. 238 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2024
BLURB:
In 2024, Dylan Mercer is a rising star of professional hockey, adored by fans and unmatched on the ice. Yet beneath the glitz of his burgeoning career lies a truth Dylan fears could derail everything: he’s gay in a world where he fears coming out could mean the end of his career. After a tough game, Dylan’s discovery of a pair of vintage skates in an old locker unexpectedly sends him spiraling back in time to 1980, just before the US Olympic hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice.”
Thrown into an era where the stakes for being himself are even higher, Dylan finds an unexpected ally and more in Nico Santoro, a fellow player with secrets of his own. Dylan and Nico forge a bond that defies time, facing down prejudice and fear with the strength found in each other.
But as Dylan grapples with his return to the present, he’s faced with an impossible choice: his career as a rising hockey star, or a chance to change history by seizing the love that transcends time itself.
REVIEW:
Dylan was a rising ice hockey star. He loved everything about the game but remained on the outside looking in. Dylan wore masks and kept everyone at arms-length because he had a secret he couldn’t let out, for the risk of losing everything he found dear. Then, a pair of skates transports Dylan forty-four years into the past. Dylan meets Nico, and the two form an instant connection. The question was whether Dylan would, could, or even had a choice to return to his own time.
The blurb for this time travel tale is highly enticing. The story concept is superb, and parts are exquisitely written – especially the atmospherics. However, the technicalities and some pitfalls of self-publishing bring down the overall rating. There is a chance that the copy I received was not the final edition, but I have no paperwork to enforce that possibility. Therefore, I have reviewed Timeless as if it is the final edition.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoint of Dylan and Nico. There’s the odd slip between first/third person and present/past tense. Also, some minor autonomous body parts appear, which isn’t unexpected when writing in the first person. Nevertheless, they can be overcome with qualifying sentences, such as without conscious thought.
It was lovely to read a story where ice hockey isn’t simply a background feature – the adrenaline-filled games are experienced, and I felt like I was on the ice with the players. The rallying atmosphere of an ice hockey game and other emotional aspects of the story are very well written.
However, self-publishing can bring a set of potential complications. There are several essentials when writing. Among other things, a good editor and a ruthless pre-reader are worth their weight in gold. An author reads their work multiple times, changes things, and then does another re-read. Familiarity breeds contempt, and things can get missed. Editors/pre-readers ask questions that an author may not have thought of and pick up on elements that may have been missed.
There are some issues with the story that would/should have been picked up by someone in the authors’ team. For example, how did Nico know Dylan’s name before they were introduced? – this is either a mistake or was written in the third person. Either way, it’s a booboo. Dylan calls Nico to pick him up at the arena when they haven’t long left the practice ice. The narrative says forty years into the past when 2024 to 1980 = -44. It’s a small detail, but it makes a difference in the confidence a reader has in the narrative. Consequently, they second-guess other information. Logistic intimate positioning made me question some lines of sight and paranormal focus. These issues are small in word count but make a big difference to the overall reading experience.
Traveling to the past, where he was unknown, allowed Dylan to discover himself and showed him how life could be. It also brings some sadness as Dylan looks at the world, knowing what happiness and disasters are in its future, yet unable to do anything that wouldn’t make him sound crazy. The emotional upheaval and questions flying around in Dylan’s mind were a pleasure to read. Dylan is a character with whom many people, not just sports players, will connect.
Nico is aware of the world as it stands in the 80’s. He is guarded about Dylan’s origins yet acknowledges the hole that Dylan fills in his soul. Nico also knows a kindred spirit when he sees one. His gaydar is top-notch. Thus, things between them move at quite a pace. Some readers may question the pace, while others may support the – ‘live for today’ element. Initially, I was in camp one, but eventually transferred to camp two.
The creativity behind this story was superb. The tale has its adrenaline boost, mushy parts, beautiful, and reflective moments. Could a few extra sentences here and there elevate some scenes from ‘simply accepted’ to ‘accepted with explained reasoning – most definitely. A different font for imagined conversations, too, would have prevented some confusion. Once corrected, this story could easily be a huge winner.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: