The Shape-Shifter's Guide to Time Travel – Mark Budman

Black Rose Writing | Paperback | March 26, 2020

A shape-shifting prince and a time-traveling teen from the US team up to save a rebel leader determined to liberate the imaginary country of Temnota—a country that strongly resembles the USSR at the height of its power—from oppression. Budman’s novel does a commendable job of showcasing teenage activism and moving at a fast pace from the first page. It can easily be read in an afternoon or two. But while the novel’s premise is undeniably imaginative and the elements of shape-shifting and time travel offer unique flair, the world doesn’t feel completely fleshed out. Temnota’s colloquialisms, traditions, and overall cultural identity feel more American, rather than otherworldly, and in turn not entirely its own.