There is something deeply unsettling about the premise of this novel. in my review burning time By Ellery Lloyd I want to focus on how the idea of tech entrepreneur Inigo Frank “perfecting” time travel just to sell tickets to the Blitz is a horrifying reflection of the worst parts of human nature. It’s hard not to draw comparisons to World War II spectators who watched mass shootings in Europe as if they were public events, even bringing their own children to witness the horrors.
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Exploring the Dark Side of Money in Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd
In Lloyd’s novel, the wealthy tourists of Tempus Tours treat 1941 London as a playground, proving how foolish and perverse the elite can be when they have the money to turn someone else’s tragedy into a spectacular enterprise for entertainment. To help market his new venture, Frank hires award-winning filmmaker Phoebe Hunt to capture the historic moment. She’s there to film the homecoming of a billionaire property developer and his family, giving her a front row seat to what must be the ultimate luxury experience. However, the scene recorded by Phoebe is a far cry from the triumphant return that Frank had envisioned. The group emerges from the past bloodied and in shock, and it immediately becomes clear that a traveler – a woman named Sasha – has been left behind in 1941.
A personal vendetta across the timeline
The story takes a sharp turn when Phoebe discovers that Sasha is a fraud. Phoebe recognizes him immediately, and their shared history is so full of bitterness that his presence becomes a warning sign. The revelation that Sasha has sinister, personal motives for remaining in the past transforms the book from social commentary to High-stakes thriller. As the present timeline is distorted and altered due to Sasha’s actions in 1941, the threat to everyone close to Phoebe becomes immediate. It is a race against the changing timeline where the past is being used as a weapon of revenge.
my final thoughts
As I noted in this review burning time By Ellery Lloyd, the author has delivered a stimulating, genre-bending page-turner that forces us to look at the ethics of technology and the persistent gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” It’s a sobering reminder that some parts of history should remain untouched, especially for those who just want to use it as a backdrop for their entertainment.
burning time Expected to be published on August 4, 2026. If you’re looking for a mystery thriller that challenges your perspective on history and money, this is one to add to your preorder list. Seriously, you’re gonna love this time travel mystery. So check it out when this haunting book hits store shelves!
Thank you to HarperCollins and HarperCollins for this #genius book for this review.
