STARRED Book Review: Just In Time Service

Reviewed by Joelene Pynnonen

Time traveling with a Roman Emperor is even better in this enthralling sequel.

In early 2001, Flavius Claudius Julianus, former Emperor of Rome turned time traveling human rights advocate, is preparing for death. He has no idea what form it will take, a unique experience for someone whose life has been laid out like a corridor lined with unscalable walls. He can feel his body slowing down and knows it must be soon. To his astonishment, instead of death, an old relative shows up on his doorstep with an offer to whisk him away to another life. 

With the choice of a new life or death, Julian joins the Time Service, an organization that keeps the monumental historical events safe from accidental time travelers. In a de-aged body, Julian prepares to dedicate himself to this cause. Little does he know, in another timeline, Lexi, the woman he still loves, is raising his son. A child who has the same astounding abilities as him.

Just in Time Service is the second book in the Just in Time series. It picks up where the first ends with an aging Frank/Julian readying himself for his death. This series explores time travel through a contemplative, thoughtful lens, which gives the distinct feeling of burrowing down for a bit of cozy sci-fi when you settle in to read it.

Many of the aspects that made the first book, House on Constantinople, such a phenomenal read return in Just in Time Service, only bigger and better. The fusion of real history and fiction is just as vital in this book as it was in the last, but as more time travelers are introduced, we’re exposed to a far wider range of historical events and periods. The abilities time travelers have are fleshed out too, and the second novel is much more action-oriented in light of this. 

As always, characters are the thing that sells this story. Julian is as engaging as he ever—clever, thoughtful, and inventive by turns. His friendships with Joe, Lexi, and himself/Frank in the first novel are a huge reason that the novel was so charming. It included a cast of characters who were all interesting and unique in their own and had them work together harmoniously. The newly introduced characters don’t have the same dynamic, but when Julian meets up with Joe and Lexi, it feels comfortingly familiar. 

The addition of the Time Service works brilliantly. It fleshes the world out, gives the characters more goals, more to learn, and more eras to explore. The drawback to it is that Julian’s introduction to the Time Service meanders so that by the time the plot gets going, the novel is more than halfway through. It’s also never satisfactorily explained why Julian goes along with their goal of keeping history the way it was originally meant to be. He has been a proponent of altering history to help people in need, so this turn-around feels out of character.

Just in Time Service is the perfect follow up to House on Constantinople. It revisits most of the aspects that made the original so engaging, but it amps up the emotional and physical stakes. The first book in this series finishes on a bit of a cliffhanger, but that’s nothing like how this one ends. With the first, you could think of the story as being done with a couple of loose ends. With Just in Time Service, you’ll be itching to get your hands on the next installment.

---

Thank you for reading Joelene Pynnonen’s book review of Just In Time Service by Howard Wetsman! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.