It’s 1788 and Alice Payne is the notorious highway robber, the Holy Ghost. Aided by her trusty automaton, Laverna, the Holy Ghost is feared by all who own a heavy purse.

It’s 1889 and Major Prudence Zuniga is once again attempting to change history―to save history―but seventy attempts later she’s still no closer to her goal.

It’s 2016 and . . . well, the less said about 2016 the better!

But in 2020 the Farmers and the Guides are locked in battle; time is their battleground, and the world is their prize. Only something new can change the course of the war. Or someone new.

Little did they know, but they’ve all been waiting until Alice Payne arrives. 

Once in awhile, a really cool thing happens. The great good folks from TOR.COM Publishing will periodically send me a book I wasn’t expecting. Maybe something that just wasn’t on my radar for one reason or another, but it makes its way into my hands regardless. That was the case with Alice Payne Arrives. I wasn’t anticipating getting a copy, and I had never read anything by Kate Heartfield. 

And…oh my god. Alice Payne Arrives is a fucking gem of a book…I read this beautiful & wacky time-travel novella over the course of one day, and I just absolutely loved it. 

As is the case with so many time travel stories, the mechanics of the time travel itself in this book can be…a lot to take in. We really do hop around quite a bit, from the late 1700’s all the way up to 2145, and everywhere in between. So you just kind of strap yourself in & enjoy the ride…at least that’s what I did.

When we meet her, Alice Payne is a notorious highwaywoman in England, 1788. She’s known as the Holy Ghost, and the money from her string of stagecoach robberies goes towards helping her father, who is in debt and in poor health after returning from war in America. Alice’s girlfriend, Jane, is a scientist who invented, among other things, an automaton who assists in these robberies. The whole story takes on a bit of a steampunk western vibe at this point. 

Our other main character is Major Prudence Zuniga, a time traveling military operative. We get glimpses of The Time War that begins in 2092 (there’s a helpful list of events at the back of the book!), so Prudence (and others like her) are scattered through time trying to prevent some Really Bad Shit from happening. 

It’s through one of these jumps in time, called shimmering in this book, that Alice & Prudence inexorably meet.

While some of the action scenes are brilliant, the strengths of this book are certainly in its characters. While I think the relationship between Alice & Jane could’ve used a bit more page-time, they are both very smartly written characters. And Prudence is a take-no-shit time traveling badass!! Add in the fact that the two main characters are women of color, and you’ve also got a really diverse book on your hands. 

I thought Alice Payne Arrives was a total blast! Fast paced & bonkers, some great dialogue, and a really memorable cast of diverse characters! Check this one out! Can’t wait for the follow-up, Alice Payne Rides!!! 

Alice Payne Arrives releases 11.6.18! Thank you to TOR.COM Publishing for sending me a copy!!