From the start the descriptions in this book brought so much life and movement to the physical environment. If you don't enjoy a lot of description as to how things feel, look, and smell, then this may not be the book for you. I tend to really enjoy it and felt it worked especially well here where the story travels to so many different environments, whether that be out at sea or in exotic cultures from the past. 
 I found Nicholas to be a little more well developed and interesting than Etta, but I enjoyed them and their story. I also sympathized with Sophia as a person living in a time where she is held back from fulfilling herself. The same can equally be said of Nicholas. I hope things turn around for her in the next book. 
 On the downside I felt there could have been a lot more danger and tension here than there was. The trouble the guardians posed was relatively mild. Between the Ironwoods, the Guardians, and the nature of time travel, the material was there to create some heart pounding scenarios but for the most part the tension never spiked that high. 
 The whole back story as to why the special object in question was not destroyed at the outset by Rose felt weak as well. Especially considering how imperative it became to do so in the current day and all the trouble it caused. 
 None the less, I enjoyed this in spite of its faults. Probably due to my love of the nautical and world/time traveling elements as well as how gender and race affects various characters from one time period to the next.