Timeborne Audiobook By Sara Samuels cover art

Timeborne

Blade of Shadows, Book 1

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Timeborne

By: Sara Samuels
Narrated by: Sarah Sampino, Liam Price
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About this listen

She was born in darkness, under the shadow of a full moon during a solar eclipse with a mysterious black dagger at her side. As a child, Olivia James witnessed her mother’s gruesome murder. As an adult, her godfather has trained her to be a skilled fighter. But when Olivia’s boyfriend betrays her and threatens her life, setting off a string of events that catapults her back in time from 21st-century Seattle into third-century Rome, the secrets of her past begin to unravel.

The discovery that she is a Timeborne, one with the ability to travel across time, is just the beginning. Soon, Olivia finds herself under the protection of—and owned by—Roman Alexander, a former gladiator and bodyguard to the emperor. Torn between his duty to his emperor, a desire for vengeance, and a longing to search for his lost twin brother, Roman now has the added complication of protecting this strange woman from the depravity of ancient Rome. Worse, he finds himself falling for her, despite accusations that she is an enemy spy. But even Roman is no match for the dark shadow that has pursued Olivia into the past.

A fighter in her own right, she’s forced to work with Roman to find a way back to her own time. Do the ancient scriptures on her dagger hold the key? Can she trust Roman with her secrets? And can she fight her enemies and protect her heart at the same time?

Timeborne is the first book in the Blade of Shadows series.

©2023 Sara Samuels (P)2023 Sara Samuels
Action & Adventure Heartfelt

What listeners say about Timeborne

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Maybe reading the book would be better than listening?

Bad narrators, the male especially sounded like a robot. The dialogue was hard to listen to and I seriously questioned whether it was AI for the male roles for most of it.

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Listener received this title free

enjoyed

this one was definitely not what I was expecting., but I must say it totally sucked me in. Looking forward to more of this series.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Poorly written

I can’t believe someone recommended this book. Poorly written; I gave it a shot but couldn’t Finnish it. Don’t waste your time.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

When the female voice actor takes away from the narrative

I really wanted to like this book! I like the idea of time travel and of the roman empire and enemies to lovers.

However, the voice actor for this book consistently sounded like she had something in her mouth while she was speaking. It was obnoxiously distracting.

When the main character does go back in time it isn't explained how much time she has spent there....or if she had IUD. So when she and the male lead share a secret and are magically in love it's really hard to buy into, especially since he wanted to help her and wasn't exactly an enemy.

The main character also commented that she hadn't cut her hair since her mother died which meant she has fourteen years of hair and that also was a little hard to buy.

Lastly, I am going to need a better description of what a stola is. There wasn't enough world building to recreate the time the main character was in. And if this is a garment, hoopskirt, head band or scarf from that time period, a little more information may have been helpful, as this was a resource that got the main out of a lot of situations.

I think I may have been too critical - but feel like some of this should have been in the book.

Lastly, I think "round house kick", "goose skin", and the word "filthy" as a stand alone description are the authors " Obscene gesture" :)

if you aren't overly critical or analytical, it was a fun book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

When the narrators detract from the story

Pick up a copy of this and read it to yourself. The male narrator does not have range and has poor attempt at accents. It’s like someone asked them to read it for the first time and deadpan the whole way. The female narrator sounds overly anxious the whole time.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Had so much potential.

I felt like this book had potential and landed flat. lacked character development, lacked plot. I forced myself to finish this book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Male Narrator Ruined It

I wanted to like this since I LOVE time travel but the male narrator was so stiff and flat it ruined the audio for me. The story itself was not very well written and the characters were all of a sudden in love— not a good amount of build up at all.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Timeborne by Sara Samuels is a refreshing and exciting read that stands out from the typical romance novels

Timeborne by Sara Samuels is a refreshing and exciting read that stands out from the typical romance novels I’ve come across. As my first time travel book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but Samuels' storytelling hooked me from the very first page, blending romance with a unique twist of time travel in a way that feels both captivating and fresh.

What I really loved about this book was how it broke away from the typical romance tropes. The dynamic between Roman and Olivia is beautifully complex. Their relationship doesn’t just rely on instant attraction or typical plot points we’ve seen before, but instead builds slowly with depth and real emotional connection. You can’t help but root for them as they navigate not just their relationship but the challenges that come with time travel.

Roman is an intriguing character, strong and mysterious but with a vulnerability that draws you in. Olivia is equally well-written—smart, compassionate
, and relatable. Together, they form a bond that feels genuine and heartfelt, making their journey through time feel like a true partnership rather than just a romantic plot device.

The concept of time travel itself is woven seamlessly into the story. The way Samuels incorporates this element into the romance without overwhelming it with confusing details or over-explanation was a huge plus. The author keeps the time-travel elements accessible while maintaining the mystery and excitement that comes with it, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the adventure without getting lost in the mechanics.

Overall, Timeborne is an enjoyable, emotional, and thought-provoking read. Sara Samuels has managed to create a romance that is unique, gripping, and incredibly heartfelt. If you’re looking for something different in the romance genre—something that blends time travel, an intriguing plot, and a beautiful
love story—this book is definitely worth the read. I can’t wait to see what Samuels comes up with next!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Save a credit! Please!!!

Don't make the same mistake as I did. This is NOT the next Outlander! It's maybe kind of like Outlander in that they both have time travel. That's it. Maybe if Outlander had terrible, cheesy dialogue and was based solely on clichés?! Nope. Not even then. Save a credit if you're an avid reader and have higher than average standards for your reading material!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Poor excuse to make a smut book

almost no progression in story, constantly delayed by sex scenes. great premise, poor execution

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