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My Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you love a story that plays with quantum physics, alternate realities, and the looming threat of global catastrophe—plus throws in some AI bees and biodomes for good measure—then this wild ride from D.L. Orton might just be your next obsession.
I was immediately drawn in by the unique mix of science and survival. This apocalyptic world is richly imagined, layered with techy intrigue (robotic bees! artificial ecosystems!) that made my inner sci-fi nerd very happy. Do I know how accurate the science is? Not really. Did I care? Also no. I was too busy enjoying the ride to get hung up on the formulas.
But beyond the gadgets and global stakes, this is also a love story. Isabel and Diego’s romance is the kind of slow burn I live for—tender, emotional, and gradually unfolding as they fight to reconnect across timelines and disasters. My only gripe? The last quarter of the book felt like it hit fast-forward. Emotional beats and plot points that should have landed with a bang got a bit rushed, making the ending feel slightly less earned than the rest.
Still, this book had heart, brains, and imagination—and I’ll absolutely be picking up the next in the series.
Book Info
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Age Category: Adult
- Number of Pages: 350 Pages
- Publication Date: May 6, 2025
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222567665-hive
- Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/92ec58c7-fbb5-45cf-b7ab-23c42ea9f4e9
- Amazon: https://a.co/d/bnN8PN1 (Canada) https://a.co/d/7AiywJA (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/1P5EFIe (UK)
Blurb
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity’s last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world’s collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he’s forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time – Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
About the Author
The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, D. L. ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).
When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
One response to “Book Review: Hive (Madders of Time #1) by D.L. Orton #sciencefiction #adultreads”
Tessa-
Thank you so much for the lovely review of Hive! It means a lot—especially coming from a longtime reader who knows where these characters started. I’m so glad the mix of science, survival, and slow-burn romance hit the mark (even if the ending could’ve taken a breath).
Your support through the twists, timelines, and bee-induced catastrophes has been a gift. I can’t wait to share Jump with you—Diego and Isabel aren’t done fighting fate just yet.
With gratitude,
Deb
p.s.
🤫 Psst… Blog Readers Only!
Email maddersoftime@gmail.com with the code “Eden-17” and your country (US or UK) to score a secret Amazon gift code for HIVE 🐝, the sci-fi thriller that everyone’s buzzing about.
⏳ Limited supply. One per reader. Only in US or UK.