Bernard deserves his own book. There I said it... The rest of the book was strong too but Bernard is the one I'll remember.

I read this one aloud to my son at bedtime over a couple of weeks...this story absolutley gripped him. What I liked as a parent was that it gave us things to talk about.

Tim felt real like an actual person my age instead of some "perfect" book character.

This isn't a book about big battles or wild adventures. It's about small acts of bravery showing up for a friend, carrying on when life feels unbearable, and listening to the whispers of history. That's what makes it powerful.

I read this after my daughter finished it and we had very different reactions... Either way we both agreed it was worth reading. Any book that sparks conversation across generations deserves credit.

I picked it up one evening thinking I'd read a few pages and suddenly found myself halfway through... It felt like one of those stories you hear from an old neighbour.

It also shows children that places they live in even the dullest streets or fields hold stories if you dig deep enough.

Tim is a beautifully drawn character. I admired his quiet stregnth. I could easily see myself rereading this in a few years and finding a new meaning in it.

It presents difficults themes grief, depression, bullying with honesty...The friendship between Tim and Annie was the heart of the story for me. Their loyalty to each other even when things were tought gave the book its emotional core.

The writing has a cinematic quality. I could picture Fellcrag's harbour, the cracked pavements, even the bullies' sneers. The way small details are chosen the sound of bike wheels on wet stone, or the smell of the sea made the story visual in my head.

Quiet moments are given the same care as dramatic ones and that balance makes the story feel richer...It's rare for a story to hold attention in such a measure thoughtful way.

My son who is 11 read this over a week and wouldn't stop talking about it ... He even dragged my out on a walk yo "look for handprints in the rocks". That is the sign of a book that does its jobs it sends children outside curious about the world. He liked the magic too"

I was struck by the author's use of weather as a mood.

The damp air, the constant drizzle, the way light filters through Fellcrag it all echoes Tim's sadness.

Yet when the sun breaks out, even briefly you sense hope.

This attention to atmosphere made the town itself feel like another character.

What I enjoyed most was the balance between realism and foreshadowing. On the surface, this is a small-town story about two friends coping with loss and whispers, but beneath it I felt a sense of something larger stirring. The descriptions of the sea and the Roman road gave the chapters a mythic undertone like history pressing in on the present.

There's a scene where kindness and suspicion sit side by side and that contrast made it memorable.

While one character offers Tim shelter and food, another eyes him with distrust.

I thought this duality captured the human response so well some people open their arms, others close their doors.

Bernard fascinated me most in this book... his knowledge of the town suggested he holds keys to the story that haven't been revealed yet. I found myself looking forward to any scene with him in it.

What I noticed is how the book respects its younger characters. Too often, stories about kids simplify their emotions but here Tim and Annie are given depth and contradictions... They're written as full people not just archetypes.

I liked how the author gave time for each scene to breathe walking through Fellcrag... By the end of chapter 6 I felt like I truly knew these kids and their world, rather than being rushed into a plot twist.

What an amazing read! ... It's the kind of book you finish and immediatley want to hand to someone else so they can experience the same magic.

This is the kind of children's book that makes you want to look at the world differently after you close it. The way the author weaves ordinary life with something mysterious is just brilliant... It's rare to find a book that is magical, meaningful, and also fun to read. This one manages all three.

I have been utterly beguiled and charmed. No. Not by any human being but by this wondeful wonderful book. Timewaif Chronicles is everything that I have come to love about Children's Literature - funny, whimsical, imaginative, and deepy philosophical.

A magical and haunting children's story.

I loved how the author didn't rush into the fantasy but let the real-life struggles shape the book first. That gave the eventual time-slip moments a deeper resonance....

This is a book that would work for adults just as much as children.

I found myself appreciating how brave the book was in tackling difficult subjects.

The Roman echoes added mystery but more than that they gave the sense that Tim's struggles weren't unique. Others had walked similar roads before him literally and figuratively.

The story is unique. The blend of Roman history, local folklore, and modern struggles isn't something I've seen before. The setting of Fellcrag itself feels almost like another character.

One thing that impressed me is how the minor characters aren't flat...It reminded me that stories don't just belong to main chartacters the environment of people around them adds weight. Those smaller roles made Fellcrag feel real and lived-in.

The author avoids making it melodramatic. The feelings come across plainly but powerfully and that straightforwardness hit me harder than exaggeration would have.

This book exceeded my expectations....The way the author linked Tim's family struggles with the dsicovery of the past also underlined that history isn't something seperate from our lives it shapes who we are.

It's not polished or dramatic it feels like how people actually speak, especially kids. There are interuptions, awkward pauses, half-said thoughts, and teasing that hides affection.

The early chapters do a great job of showing the ripple effects of mental illness not just for the person suffering but for the family left to carry it... It made me reflect on how communities treat people who don't fit the norm. That depth is rare in younger characters stories.

I found the writing style very immersive. There's a rhythm to the descriptions the sea, the rain, the old cafe that mirrors Tim's emotional state. The author doesnt shy away from bleakness, but balances it with small flashes of warmth.

The opening chapters pulled me straight in to Tim's difficult world...The writing is gentle but sharp, always choosing the small details that make emotions land harder.

It had that classic feel the sort of book that could have been written fifty years ago...It was content to tell its story slowly letting the place and the people breathe. In a way reading it felt like stepping back into the books of my own childhood.

One of the best children's books I've read in a long while...I'd happily recommend this as a classroom read. It has enough mystery and history to hold children's attention while also giving them plenty to discuss about empathy, loss, and hope.

I never felt like the Roman history was a distraction it felt like part of the same tapestry. It made me think about how ebry place carries echoes of those who came before. That's a powerful idea to leave with younger readers.

I liked how the author didn't over-explain the time-slip element. It was left mysterious which I think made it more powerful. The Roman road and the old letters had the feeling of something half-remembered, half- imagined.

I wanted to escape into the Roman road sooner but life doesn't hand us easy escapes.

The shift to the Roman past gave some relief and reminded me why I like time-slip fiction. It wasn't just a gimmick here it deepend the central theme that the struggles of one generation echo in another.

The Roman material fascinated me as well. I found myself wanting to go walk the roads of Cumbria and look for traces of the history that lingers there. The book left me with the feeling that the past is never gone just beneath the surface.

What I found moving was how the book shows the different ways people cope with shame. Tim tries to hide from it. Annie faces it head on, Bernard carries it quietly, and the townspeople spread it through gossip. Everyone responds differently and those contrasts made the story richer.

The story doesn't rush through their lives it lingers on bike rides, school moments, and whispered threats. The language is simple and clear but it carries weight especially in describing grief and loss. These early chapters set up a coming-of-age story that feels both painful and tender.

I like how humour slips in even a bleak setting...It reminded me that even in dark times children find ways to laugh, and that balance gave the story a warmth beneath its surface.

I started this book thinking it would be a quick children's adventure but ended up reading something richer...The way Deborah Lyon describes the cliffs, the sea, and the changing weather gave the whole story a restless almost haunting atmosphere.

I loved the balance between magical time travel and everyday school life. Tim and Annie are written so realistically their conversations, their loyalty, and even their moments of frustration...

Children notice when adults are struggling, and fiction like this helps them make sense of it.

Such a moving and atmospheric children's book. I wish I had discovered Timewaif & The Roman Road when I was younger because it has the same timeless quality as The Secret Garden....It didnt feel rushed but rather like uncovering layers of a secret place. By the time Tim begins to slip between past and present, you're completely immersed.

It reminds you what it feels like to be young and alert to mystery and that to me is what makes chidlren's fiction enduring...

It trusted the reader to follow a story that was layered, mysterious, sometimes unsettling, but always grounded in the kind of simple truth children recognise before adults do.

This book caught my attention because of its blend of Roman history and a modern-day storyline. I wasn't sure what to expect but what I got was something heavier and more layered than I imagined.

I was drawn into Tim's everyday life the struggles at school, the heaviness at home, the way he carries responsibilities too big for his age. When the historical elements arrived I realised that the slow build up had been worth it.

I loved the writing in this story, it was super engaging for the readers of all ages! I needed to finish the book as soon as I picked it up and am waiting for the next series!

Readers have lots to immerse themselves in as they get engrossed in this story. I have already suggested this book to one of my friend's sons and I can't wait to hear what he thinks of the story.

Lyon does something I love in historical fiction, even if this is a children's novel, and blends historical facts with wonderful story that you cannot help but get swept up in.

Deborah's historical knowledge is excellent. She's found an incredibly fun way to teach young adults about Roman times. The characters were all fantastic, and they really fit in beautifully.

One of the stregnths of this story is its focus on the friendship. Annie and Tim's bond is written with honesty they argue, they tease, but when life becomes overwhelming, they always stand by each other. That level of loyalty is something children can relate to, and as an adult reader, it was heartwarming to see it portrayed without sentimentalitly....I found myself wanting to research the history of Cumbira after finishing, which to me is the sign of a good book.

I would recommend this book to adults as much as to children. It isn't all light and easy reading, but it has moments of beauty, hope and imagination that make it well worth the effort.

Wow...there's so much detail packed in..little nuggets of info to captivate the readers mind. I couldn't help but feel if I'd had stories given to me when I was younger like this my love for history would be even stronger.. it's just effortlessly interesting and immersive...I liked how the bullies aren't just there for drama they show how cruel kids can be when they sense weakness. It all felt painfully authentic.

I love historical element in the story and it's obvious that the author has done their research for the book as the attention to detail is spot on. The story was so action packed that sometimes I forgot I was reading.

It's a heartwarming, heartfelt tale of friendship, grief and resilience, all wrapped up in a wonderful historical narrative.

Deborah Lyon's "The Timewaif Chronicles: Timewaif and The Roman Road" is a brilliant time travelling adventure, weaving ancient Cumbrian history with a magical theme and a time travelling experience. This book comes alive with ambience, the author has a very obvious passion for history and has conveyed this into her story, wrapping the historical element around human stories of grief, responsibility and emotional survival....I'm in my 50's and really enjoyed it, as long as you have an historical interest then this story will transport you to another intriguing time to immerse youself in.

Absolutley brilliant! Suitable for all ages- tweens, teens and adults. Fascinating historical details woven into a gripping storyline with heartwarming, relatable triumphs and challenges in both the 'todays's world' and historical sections- couldn't put it donw.

Lyon does something I love in histroical fiction...and blends historical facts with a wonderful story that you cannot help but get swept up in. I loved Tim and how he was brought to life in the narrative. This is a brilliant novel and I will certainly be looking out for more Timewaif Chronicles in the future.

It's a heartwarming, heartfelt tale of friendship, grief and resilience, all wrapped up in a wonderful historical narrative.

Time-travel, history and friendship combine in this unforgettable Cumbrian adventure

A vivid, heart-warming time-slip adventure that brings Roman Britain to life

I enjoyed going back in time and following Tim in his Roman adventures. The mix of magic and history makes the story come alive!

I really enjoyed Timewaif & The Roman Road. I liked learning about the Romans who settled and lived in the Lake District. The story was so exciting and I couldn't wait to start the next chapter. I am looking forward to visiting some of the Roman ruins mentioned in the book!

I've just read a wonderful book to my key stage three class. This is the perfect read for their age group. It has everything you need to sustain their interest, including fantastic details of historical facts and wonderful insight into the place where it is set, the glorious Lake District. Filled with humour, intrigue and adventure, our students were gripped from start to finish. We have everything crossed for a sequel! Highly recommended!

Deborah Lyon is a born writer and this is an absolutely wonderful book. I loved its Cumbrian setting, and got completely involved not just in the time-travelling adventure but above all in the human stories: I found myself caring hugely about the characters, totally exhilarated and at times moved to tears. I’ve given a copy to every 8-15-year old I know, I urge everyone else to read it too, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

A Magical Read in Time for Christmas

A wonderful read enabling children to jump deep into their imagination. This is a fascinating story, perfect for my children who can't put it down at bedtime!

Entertaining & Educational

A lovely story that twists and turns. Entertaining for all ages and flows easily through the pages. Recommend to all. 

BRILLIANT

A brilliant 5 star read. Couldn't wait to pick it up each time to see where the adventure would take Tim, the main character. Great story from start to finish including subtle historical information. Heartwarming underlying messages of life's challenges and how to work through them. A gem of a read for adults and children alike.

Amazing rich mix of history and intrigue

I couldn't put this book down and it was ordered for my seven year old rather than me, a mix of history both in Roman times and Cumbria plus intrigue on every page, the author puts significant research into an easy to read format, loved the twins and all the characters, I hope Tim has more adventures and learning to share with us all, what a fantastic read. 

A Timeless Tale For All Ages

I recently finished reading "The Timewaif Chronicles: Timewaif & The Roman Road" and really enjoyed it. The author's writing is very engaging. She has a remarkable ability to bring history to life, weaving intricate details into a captivating narrative. I was completely immersed in the world of ancient Rome, thanks to her vivid descriptions and well-researched facts. 

What I loved most about this book is that it's suitable for all ages. Children will be captivated by the thrilling plot and imaginative characters, while adults will appreciate the historical accuracy and thought-provoking themes. It's a truly timeless tale that has something to offer to everyone. 

If you're looking for a book that will transport you and/or your children back in time and leave you all wanting more, I highly recommend this book. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and adventure alike. I hope it is the first of many adventures for Tim!

This was a brilliant story on so many levels. There was the Roman level, obviously! There are so many details and facts about the Romans in Britain told through a truly captivating story. There were bullies and how best to deal with them. And there was the mental health level. Tim's mum has struggled to be a present parent since a trauma a few years ago, and Tim has taken over the adult role. He comes to realise this isn't how it should be. The start made me cry, I really wanted a better life for Tim, but his mum was so unwell I couldn't see it changing. Then he ended up in Roman Britain, and he learnt more than just history. When all these things combine, you get this truly amazing story.

This was a really well done children's novel, it had the element that worked with talking to kids with deeper topics and about other cultures. I thought Tim worked as a main character and enjoyed going on this journey to Ancient Rome with him. It was well written and I wanted him to succeed in returning home. Deborah Lyon has a great writing style and am excited for more.

This reminded me a lot of the Magic Treehouse series, but beefed up for older students. I could see this being a long-running series akin to that one, but tackling bigger issues, cultural standards, historical eras and topics more suitable for middle schoolers.