In the first Time Hopper novel, we saw the brilliant and wealthy Dan Walton decide to start an invention company and we saw how that led to his travels through the universe, visiting new worlds and meeting new people. The end of that novel, though, makes it very clear that a sequel is coming to continue Dan’s adventures and resolve new questions. The second book in the Time Hopper series, called Time Hopper: The Tale Of The Sand Dwellers, will be released August 26th.

This sequel continues the first novel’s themes of adventure, exploration,  trust and manipulation, but creates a new plot and adventure. Powerful demigod Galecian, introduced in the first novel, now finds himself in a distant desert world and gets caught up in a surprising storyline. Like Dan on his travels, Galecian needs brains and bravery to survive, but he’s also discovering more about his place in the universe. Galecian is the child of a god on his home world,  although here, in a non-magical world, he’s without his powers. It’s hard to discuss this book without revealing spoilers, or revealing spoilers for the first Time Hopper novel, but Galecian’s loss of magic feels like a curse in an epic fantasy, as he must find other ways to survive and make his way back to the people he cares about.

The scifi adventure in Time Hopper: The Tale Of The Sand Dwellers, has a Saudi style, full of creatures from Saudi legends. The blend of old, traditional stories with modern scifi elements is appealing. You don’t really need background knowledge to follow the story well, this is readable as a scifi journey, and the new creatures add interest.

Over these two books, Dan has built his own company, a real friendship with his mentor, and even add some romance to his once-solitary life, so he now has important treasures he could lose. Time Hopper: The Tale Of The Sand Dwellers sets up high stakes for Dan and Galecian, and the rest of the characters. Engaging questions of who to trust and questions of implied hidden agendas keep tensions high and return to the themes of trust and manipulation found in the first novel.

Once again, the ending makes it clear that these adventures through time and space, and some of the shady machinations behind the scenes, aren’t over.

Time Hopper: The Tale Of The Sand Dwellers, by Os Ibrahim, will be released August 26th, 2024.