About the book

About Chains of Time

Finalist for the 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Award!"A strong literary fantasy novel about race, family, and time-traveling." -- IndependentBookReview.com On the morning of her wedding in 1859, West African clan princess Amara wakes to find she is blessed -- or cursed -- with the power of prophecy. In her visions, she sees the slaver Van Owen, who will soon arrive on her shores. Her father will challenge the invaders, wielding magic against rifles and whips, and setting in motion Amara's bid for freedom -- a quest that will extend for five generations. But no wait is too long, for Amara can see far into the future, and Van Owen is immortal.From the past, she can only watch as Van Owen hunts her descendants in modern day Harlem -- Terry, 15, the target of a school bully; Regina, 11, who stopped speaking years ago; Jerome, 17, who seems so well-adjusted; and Warren, 26, a down-on-his-luck drifter. But Amara knows what they all have in common: a power they have not yet fully discovered, a power they inherited from her. What she doesn't know is how she can help them in their battle against Van Owen. After all, in their time, Amara died 70 years ago!Praise for CHAINS OF TIME.."A perceptive and gripping tale of race and family." -- Kirkus Reviews"★★★★★ The beauty of Woodstone's prose evokes the intensity and allegorical journey that is usually reserved for literary fiction. The writing is simultaneously gorgeous, terrifying, and hopeful." -- Readers' Favorite"R.B. Woodstone has crafted a thoughtful, time-spanning novel that touches on family, oppression, and otherness in Chains of Time... the dramatic blend of history, tragedy, and magic pulls a reader in from the very start." -- Self-Publishing Review "An exceptional story that will place you in the heart and mind of each of the amazing characters. Prepare to be moved by a unique story that delves deep into the historical abuse of a people but has dynamic pockets of excitement, heartbreak, and the paranormal. Highly recommended." -- Lesley Jones, international best-selling author "With captivating characters on a fulfilling magical journey, Chains of Time is a strong novel that does not disappoint." -- IndependentBookReview.com "Though the work is rooted in fantasy and magical realism, there's a highly realistic quality to the historical content and the experience of Africans in the tragedy of the slave trade. Young adult and adult readers alike can appreciate the sophistication of ideas, which are layered into a powerful storyline that blends present and past exceedingly well." -- K.C. Finn, USA Today best-selling author and Chanticleer Book Award winner

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