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Witness to the Revolution: Time Travel Historical Fantasy
The first soldier I killed was a kid, and he haunted all my dreams after that.
The twenty-first century doesn’t prepare you for 1778.
Without warning, the roar of the traffic and the stink of funeral lilies fade away. Just as Savannah Moore notices that the world around her has changed, a man wraps her in his arms and presses a knife to her throat. Only after she escapes, with the help of Captain Jonathan Wythe, does she realize she has been inexplicably sucked into America’s Revolutionary War. Anything Savannah does could alter the course of history and threaten the family she left behind.
But Savannah is not the only one keeping secrets. Jonathan’s mission places him at odds with the other Continentals, marking Savannah as a potential spy herself. Haunting his steps is a mysterious dark entity, watching from the woods surrounding the camp and taking sadistic glee in the bloodshed.
Savannah must choose—brave the woods and the redcoats closing in to search for a pathway back to the twenty-first century on her own or follow Jonathan on his time-sensitive mission—because remaining a passive witness may not be an option for long.
The twenty-first century doesn’t prepare you for 1778.
Without warning, the roar of the traffic and the stink of funeral lilies fade away. Just as Savannah Moore notices that the world around her has changed, a man wraps her in his arms and presses a knife to her throat. Only after she escapes, with the help of Captain Jonathan Wythe, does she realize she has been inexplicably sucked into America’s Revolutionary War. Anything Savannah does could alter the course of history and threaten the family she left behind.
But Savannah is not the only one keeping secrets. Jonathan’s mission places him at odds with the other Continentals, marking Savannah as a potential spy herself. Haunting his steps is a mysterious dark entity, watching from the woods surrounding the camp and taking sadistic glee in the bloodshed.
Savannah must choose—brave the woods and the redcoats closing in to search for a pathway back to the twenty-first century on her own or follow Jonathan on his time-sensitive mission—because remaining a passive witness may not be an option for long.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 30, 2023
Witness to the Revolution is great for readers who enjoy the history of the American Revolution. The author has clearly done her research, and the setting is filled with rich details. There is a juxtaposition between Savvy and Jonathon as Savvy struggles to adapt to living during such a different time (and in the midst of war), and plenty of mystery and magic is woven throughout, leaving the reader guessing. As other reviewers have mentioned, the story ends on a cliffhanger and will leave readers wanting to know what happens next and who exactly are the Enlightened.
December 27, 2022
This book had really well thought out historical details. I found it very fascinating to read about the Revolutionary War from the perspective of the main character, Savannah. The characters were all well written and I enjoyed each of them. There were several twists in the book that I didn’t see coming, and it kept me thinking about what would happen next each time I had to put it down. Overall a very lovely story with tons of detail and a great slow-burn romance. The cliff-hanger ending has me wishing the next book was available right now! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next after all of the twists at the end of this one. Definitely worth the read!
May 8, 2023
I enjoyed this novel all the way to the last couple of chapters, at which point I felt betrayed by the author. She took this narrative in a totally different and, for me, unacceptable direction. Time travel is one thing, but the abrupt introduction of witchcraft to wind up the story lost me. I will never read another book by this author.
February 10, 2023
Kiersten Marcil’s debut novel "Witness to the Revolution" transports readers – and twenty-first century prosecutor Savannah Moore – back in time to the American Revolution. After a day at court, Savannah inexplicably finds herself thrust into the middle of blistering bullets and military chaos. Captain Jonathan Wythe, a handsome Continental, rescues her, and a mysterious journey begins.
"The first soldier I killed was a kid, and he haunted all my dreams after that.
The twenty-first century doesn’t prepare you for 1778."
Savvy desperately desires to return home. Eighteenth-century life might be fun for a weekend reenactment, but not for permanent living. Even as he promises to help her, she accompanies Jonathan on a critical – and secret – mission that leads to eye-opening revelations about the captain, his charge, and their companions.
The pair do not journey alone through the battle-stricken Highlands of New York, however. Enter in the dark, sinister, watchful presence that stalks their steps. It revels in bloodshed, never seen, only sensed. Who knew the American Revolution came with a dose of the supernatural?
Ultimately, Savannah faces a difficult decision: search for a way back to her own time or assist Jonathan in his mission. Either way, our protagonist plays a bigger role in the story of the American Revolution than she knows.
"Witness to the Revolution" should be required reading of anyone interested in American history or historical fiction. From accurate and engaging descriptions of the Revolution to lovingly-drawn and fascinating characters, this book has it all.
Savannah’s character development shines in the narrative. From the first time she falls rear-first into American history, Savannah struggles with adapting to eighteenth-century life. While offering some comedic relief, these struggles also highlight her very real peril. Every day offers some new danger or situation, and Savannah faces them with courage, conviction, and unshakeable determination.
Additionally, Marcil tugs on readers’ emotional heartstrings as Savannah contends with her burgeoning friendship and relationship with Jonathan. Though their slow-born romance builds over the novel, the captain remains an enigma for our heroine. Something very mysterious simmers beneath his surface.
Finally, Savannah struggles with the very nature of history and reality itself. Does she remain an innocent bystander despite the battles raging around her? Or does she engage with the past, knowing full well the possible cost to her present and her family?
Overall, "Witness to the Revolution" satisfied the time-traveling reading itch I didn’t know I had. Marcil effortlessly balances historical research and realism with supernatural elements to craft a highly readable historical fantasy sure to please a wide swath of readers.
Thank you to Kiersten for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
"The first soldier I killed was a kid, and he haunted all my dreams after that.
The twenty-first century doesn’t prepare you for 1778."
Savvy desperately desires to return home. Eighteenth-century life might be fun for a weekend reenactment, but not for permanent living. Even as he promises to help her, she accompanies Jonathan on a critical – and secret – mission that leads to eye-opening revelations about the captain, his charge, and their companions.
The pair do not journey alone through the battle-stricken Highlands of New York, however. Enter in the dark, sinister, watchful presence that stalks their steps. It revels in bloodshed, never seen, only sensed. Who knew the American Revolution came with a dose of the supernatural?
Ultimately, Savannah faces a difficult decision: search for a way back to her own time or assist Jonathan in his mission. Either way, our protagonist plays a bigger role in the story of the American Revolution than she knows.
"Witness to the Revolution" should be required reading of anyone interested in American history or historical fiction. From accurate and engaging descriptions of the Revolution to lovingly-drawn and fascinating characters, this book has it all.
Savannah’s character development shines in the narrative. From the first time she falls rear-first into American history, Savannah struggles with adapting to eighteenth-century life. While offering some comedic relief, these struggles also highlight her very real peril. Every day offers some new danger or situation, and Savannah faces them with courage, conviction, and unshakeable determination.
Additionally, Marcil tugs on readers’ emotional heartstrings as Savannah contends with her burgeoning friendship and relationship with Jonathan. Though their slow-born romance builds over the novel, the captain remains an enigma for our heroine. Something very mysterious simmers beneath his surface.
Finally, Savannah struggles with the very nature of history and reality itself. Does she remain an innocent bystander despite the battles raging around her? Or does she engage with the past, knowing full well the possible cost to her present and her family?
Overall, "Witness to the Revolution" satisfied the time-traveling reading itch I didn’t know I had. Marcil effortlessly balances historical research and realism with supernatural elements to craft a highly readable historical fantasy sure to please a wide swath of readers.
Thank you to Kiersten for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
August 28, 2023
In an interesting new twist, Kiersten Marcil has spliced traditional American Revolution historical fiction with time travel by the main protagonist to produce a captivating storyline. Her book Witness to the Revolution features a twenty-first-century lawyer who is inexplicably transported into a 1778 skirmish between Redcoats and Rebels in New York’s Hudson Valley. While creatively invoking fantasy and mystery, Marcil, a native New Englander and Mayflower descendent, presents cogent descriptions of military and civilian lives during this uncertain wartime period not found in standard non-fiction accounts.
Throughout the three-hundred-page book, the author describes ordinary life in a military camp and what it was like for civilians to live on the edge of combat. For example, readers learn that soldiers mixed vinegar into their canteens to make untreated water potable and that camp followers received half rations from the army cooks. Additionally, it took a lot of work to tell which side people supported, leading to mistrust among neighbors. While fantasy, the rich detail provides a strong sense that the story could be true if time travel could occur! In addition to mixing accurate historical information, the plot has many unsuspected twists and turns, which keep the reader guessing to the final page (and beyond).
Aiding the vivid dialogue, Marcil intersperses Latin quotes from the Vulgate, a fourth-century translation of the Bible. Additionally, to lend more authenticity, the author employs many eighteenth-century words that have fallen out of use today. For example, readers encounter the term snatch cly, which describes a thief who steals from a woman. Lastly, Marcil describes the heroine as in a “state of undress.” The Revolutionary Era meaning of this phrase is not what you think, and you will have to read her book to find out!
I strongly recommend Witness to the Revolution to those interested in learning more about eighteenth-century culture and what it was like to live in the uncertain, war-torn Revolutionary Era. The time travel thread interests all readers who wish to stretch their imaginations and contemplate alternative realities. I can’t wait for book two in the Enlightment Series!
Throughout the three-hundred-page book, the author describes ordinary life in a military camp and what it was like for civilians to live on the edge of combat. For example, readers learn that soldiers mixed vinegar into their canteens to make untreated water potable and that camp followers received half rations from the army cooks. Additionally, it took a lot of work to tell which side people supported, leading to mistrust among neighbors. While fantasy, the rich detail provides a strong sense that the story could be true if time travel could occur! In addition to mixing accurate historical information, the plot has many unsuspected twists and turns, which keep the reader guessing to the final page (and beyond).
Aiding the vivid dialogue, Marcil intersperses Latin quotes from the Vulgate, a fourth-century translation of the Bible. Additionally, to lend more authenticity, the author employs many eighteenth-century words that have fallen out of use today. For example, readers encounter the term snatch cly, which describes a thief who steals from a woman. Lastly, Marcil describes the heroine as in a “state of undress.” The Revolutionary Era meaning of this phrase is not what you think, and you will have to read her book to find out!
I strongly recommend Witness to the Revolution to those interested in learning more about eighteenth-century culture and what it was like to live in the uncertain, war-torn Revolutionary Era. The time travel thread interests all readers who wish to stretch their imaginations and contemplate alternative realities. I can’t wait for book two in the Enlightment Series!
January 13, 2023
Kiersten Marcil's debut Witness to the Revolution is a lovingly and painstakingly researched time-travel, historical fantasy set during the American Revolutionary War. The scenes, settings, clothing, etc are all period-authentic, with the addition of Savvy Moore, the falls-through-time heroine of the tale who finds herself ripped from 20th century America to 1778, and literally under the gun of a Redcoat soldier.
Savvy just wants to go home. She’s got a career, she’s got commitments, and she’s got a son who needs her. The 18th century is definitely not for her. Well, except that: a) it is fascinating to see all the things that her history-buff father obsessed over; and b) there’s Capt. Jonathan Wythe, a hunky enigma wrapped in a conundrum who rescued her, has promised to get her back to where she came from, and has a most mysterious mission that piques Savvy’s interest.
And then, there’s the dark whatsit that’s pursuing Jonathan (and by association, Savvy), and I have to say it is extremely ominous and downright scary, even though never seen. There’s also the confusing alliances and possible betrayals swirling all around her, along with the unexpected (for both Savvy and the reader) supernatural aspects of the American Revolution. Finally, there’s Savvy’s own confusion regarding her feelings for Jonathan, his loyalties, and how she’s ever going to make it back to the 20th century.
Ms. Marcil has penned an excellent debut outing which will appeal to both fans of Outlander and history buffs alike. The battle scenes are gripping, the character development is terrific, and the tension just builds and builds until that ending... There are four more books planned in this series, which I’m delighted to hear, because Witness to the Revolution left me on the edge of a cliff, dangling by one hand, and hoping someone would come along to rescue me (i.e. let me know where this is all going). I need more, and I need it quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not the way publishing works (as I well know), so I’ll possess my soul in patience as I eagerly await Savvy and Jonathan’s next adventure in Vol. 2.
Savvy just wants to go home. She’s got a career, she’s got commitments, and she’s got a son who needs her. The 18th century is definitely not for her. Well, except that: a) it is fascinating to see all the things that her history-buff father obsessed over; and b) there’s Capt. Jonathan Wythe, a hunky enigma wrapped in a conundrum who rescued her, has promised to get her back to where she came from, and has a most mysterious mission that piques Savvy’s interest.
And then, there’s the dark whatsit that’s pursuing Jonathan (and by association, Savvy), and I have to say it is extremely ominous and downright scary, even though never seen. There’s also the confusing alliances and possible betrayals swirling all around her, along with the unexpected (for both Savvy and the reader) supernatural aspects of the American Revolution. Finally, there’s Savvy’s own confusion regarding her feelings for Jonathan, his loyalties, and how she’s ever going to make it back to the 20th century.
Ms. Marcil has penned an excellent debut outing which will appeal to both fans of Outlander and history buffs alike. The battle scenes are gripping, the character development is terrific, and the tension just builds and builds until that ending... There are four more books planned in this series, which I’m delighted to hear, because Witness to the Revolution left me on the edge of a cliff, dangling by one hand, and hoping someone would come along to rescue me (i.e. let me know where this is all going). I need more, and I need it quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not the way publishing works (as I well know), so I’ll possess my soul in patience as I eagerly await Savvy and Jonathan’s next adventure in Vol. 2.
October 2, 2023
I am in complete shock after reading Witness to the Revolution by Kiersten Marcil….. I turned the page expecting there to be more but Marcil ended it with such a way readers won’t know what to do. You are so engrossed in the story that you don’t realize how close you are to the end.
In Witness to the Revolution Savannah Moore goes home after work and decicdes to take her dog, Goldie, out for a walk before her young son Evan gets home from school. Unfortunately while she is walking Goldie in the cemetery something life altering occurs …. Savannah somehow is whisked back to the time of the Revolutionary War right in the middle of a fight where she has to fight to save her life. She ends up fighting Captain Jonathan Wythe, kills another person, gets hurt herself and faints.
When she wakes up she is in a tent with Captain Wythe in his camp and all she wants to do is go home. Unfortunately she doesn’t know how to do that other than have Captain Wythe return her to the hillside where they first encountered each other. Captain Wythe cannot just drop things and take her there as he has a mission he must see to as well as it would not be safe to travel there at that time.
Savannah has to adjust to living in that time period until she can convince Wythe to take her to their meeting place. As much as Savannah misses her son and her life in the twenty-first century, something about Wythe pulls her to him and she fears his feelings and trust issues are holding him back from helping her.
Readers will fall in love with this story and the feelings between Savannah and Jonathan and as much as you will want Savannah to return home to Evan, you cannot help but wish to see her stay with Jonathan to see where that relationship will go …. if at all possible. And when you get to the end, you will be closing the book and shaking your head at the way that Marcil ends the story !!!
In Witness to the Revolution Savannah Moore goes home after work and decicdes to take her dog, Goldie, out for a walk before her young son Evan gets home from school. Unfortunately while she is walking Goldie in the cemetery something life altering occurs …. Savannah somehow is whisked back to the time of the Revolutionary War right in the middle of a fight where she has to fight to save her life. She ends up fighting Captain Jonathan Wythe, kills another person, gets hurt herself and faints.
When she wakes up she is in a tent with Captain Wythe in his camp and all she wants to do is go home. Unfortunately she doesn’t know how to do that other than have Captain Wythe return her to the hillside where they first encountered each other. Captain Wythe cannot just drop things and take her there as he has a mission he must see to as well as it would not be safe to travel there at that time.
Savannah has to adjust to living in that time period until she can convince Wythe to take her to their meeting place. As much as Savannah misses her son and her life in the twenty-first century, something about Wythe pulls her to him and she fears his feelings and trust issues are holding him back from helping her.
Readers will fall in love with this story and the feelings between Savannah and Jonathan and as much as you will want Savannah to return home to Evan, you cannot help but wish to see her stay with Jonathan to see where that relationship will go …. if at all possible. And when you get to the end, you will be closing the book and shaking your head at the way that Marcil ends the story !!!
October 4, 2024
A wild historical fantasy ride through the Revolutionary War in the Hudson Valley!
The protagonist, Savvy, is dropped from modern times right into the action and bloodiness of war. She allies herself with a soldier named Jonathan who offers her protection. An obvious attraction and slow-burn romance is kindled between Savvy and Jonathan. The first half of the novel is spent at a soldier encampment, while Savvy gets her bearings—a wonderful immersion into the period. Intrigue abounds with each clue Savvy learns about her situation.
Jonathan takes Savvy to a wealthy Dutch family's estate, where she'll be safe. But this is the point where everything is put into question and I was surprised at the magical turn that the novel takes! The cliffhanger ending has me moving right on to the 2nd in the series!
The protagonist, Savvy, is dropped from modern times right into the action and bloodiness of war. She allies herself with a soldier named Jonathan who offers her protection. An obvious attraction and slow-burn romance is kindled between Savvy and Jonathan. The first half of the novel is spent at a soldier encampment, while Savvy gets her bearings—a wonderful immersion into the period. Intrigue abounds with each clue Savvy learns about her situation.
Jonathan takes Savvy to a wealthy Dutch family's estate, where she'll be safe. But this is the point where everything is put into question and I was surprised at the magical turn that the novel takes! The cliffhanger ending has me moving right on to the 2nd in the series!
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March 11, 2023
"I seem to be missing some time." Not so much a lie as an artful truth.
When attorney Savannah "Savvy" Moore is unexpectedly drawn into the midst of the American Revolution, she wants to not change history and to get back to her son in the present. But as she starts to interact with the people around her (and particularly Captain Jonathan Wythe) and learns more about what's inside her, her priorities start to shift...
I enjoyed seeing Savvy try to navigate Colonial America, and I loved learning bits about life in Colonial times along the way. I had honestly never pictured the soldiers' camps, and I always love visiting other worlds. I wanted to visit Anna's house!
From the blurb, I assumed the book would be largely standard time-travel fantasy, with a hint of the supernatural. But even though , I was rather surprised at the turns the story took.
Early on, I really enjoyed when Savvy's lawyer-self shone through. Later, I found Anna to be an especially interesting character who I'd like to hear more about. Overall, it was a book that wasn't at all what I expected, and like nothing I've read before.
Recommended for fans of portal fiction with a heavy dose of the historical and the supernatural, as well as a bit of romance (which I assume will deepen as the series goes on).
When attorney Savannah "Savvy" Moore is unexpectedly drawn into the midst of the American Revolution, she wants to not change history and to get back to her son in the present. But as she starts to interact with the people around her (and particularly Captain Jonathan Wythe) and learns more about what's inside her, her priorities start to shift...
I enjoyed seeing Savvy try to navigate Colonial America, and I loved learning bits about life in Colonial times along the way. I had honestly never pictured the soldiers' camps, and I always love visiting other worlds. I wanted to visit Anna's house!
From the blurb, I assumed the book would be largely standard time-travel fantasy, with a hint of the supernatural. But even though , I was rather surprised at the turns the story took.
Early on, I really enjoyed when Savvy's lawyer-self shone through. Later, I found Anna to be an especially interesting character who I'd like to hear more about. Overall, it was a book that wasn't at all what I expected, and like nothing I've read before.
Recommended for fans of portal fiction with a heavy dose of the historical and the supernatural, as well as a bit of romance (which I assume will deepen as the series goes on).
April 3, 2024
OMG! What a great ride back in time! I don't often wander into the genre of historical time travel, but when I do I want a story that is entertaining and a sense that the time traveler's journey is feasible. In 'Witness to the Revolution', Marcil delivers both. Modern day District Attorney Savannah Moore suddenly and inexplicably finds herself in a skirmish in the American Revolutionary War and finds herself thinking "How the hell did I get to 1778? More importantly, how was I going to get back?" The author does a superb job of taking DA Moore - and us, her readers - from that point on. It's a great ride ... and a great read.
September 25, 2023
I found much of the story to be too descriptively historically detailed and not enough action for my taste. But the last .part of the book took off in a new 2direc.tion and I was challenged to put the rest of the book in line with the sudden change of pace-frenetic and introduction of mystical/magical elements and not a clear picture of what happened to Savannah. But it was a drop off of plot line that makes the reader wart to follow up on what's happening.
April 2, 2023
Although the lead character Savannah frustrates me sometimes (which I think is how Jonathan probably feels) I felt myself really rooting for her strength. I think Kiersten's genius is its not just her main characters that I love... but some of her supporting characters I love just as much (Dr. Cole and Anna Cloet) and are rooting for their return and success in future additions to Savvy's story.
December 29, 2022
4.5 stars
May 1, 2024
Enjoyable time travel histfic with great period details. Ending takes the book in a much different direction...curious where this goes.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews