One choice. Two possible timelines. And a world hanging in the balance.
It’s the summer of 1986 and reluctant prodigy Nick Hayes is a student at Cambridge University, working with world-renowned mathematician Professor Halligan. He just wants to be a regular student, but regular isn’t really an option for a boy-genius cancer survivor who’s already dabbled in time travel.
When he crosses paths with a mysterious yet curiously familiar girl, Nick discovers that creases have appeared in the fabric of time, and that he is at the centre of the disruption. Only Nick can resolve this time paradox before the damage becomes catastrophic for both him and the future of the world. Time is running out—literally.
Wrapped up with him in this potentially apocalyptic scenario are his ex-girlfriend, Mia, and fellow student Helen. Facing the world-ending chaos of a split in time, Nick must act fast and make the choice of a lifetime—or lifetimes.
Limited Wish by Mark Lawrence is the second book in the Impossible Times trilogy, and it might just be even better than the first.
We see more of Nick and his friends, and oh how I wish I had a group to play D&D with as a teen. Their friendship, banter, and in-game adventures are just as fun to read about as the main plot. All the characters, from central figures to minor side players, feel fleshed out and real.
Nick faces choices no one would envy, having to decide between impossible options and people he cares about. And yet, when bad things happen, and they happen often, he deals with them and moves forward rather than wallowing.
The universe does not like people breaking time or creating paradoxes, and Nick feels every consequence of his actions.
“We all have something that’s just too much for us. Everyone does. We may never meet it, but it’s out there, waiting.”
The science, time travel, mathematics, and more are handled so well that even my very anti-math brain could follow along. I came away feeling just a little wiser.
Where the book truly shines is in the combination of strong character development, clever plot, and beautiful prose. It is full of quotable moments, from wry observations.
“There is an unwritten rule of tube travel… You pretend that half a dozen strangers are not squeezing against you to a degree that is usually reserved for orgies”
There’s also plenty of humorous or whimsical nods, as well as humour and banter that balances the tension and high stakes
“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
By the end, I found myself wishing for more time in this world and with these characters, and thankfully there is one more book to go.
Smart, heartfelt, and endlessly quotable, Limited Wish blends high-stakes time travel with genuine friendships, sharp humour, and emotional depth. A perfect mix of brain and heart, it will make you think, grin, and turn the pages far too quickly.
