Splinter Effect
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In this action-packed debut, time traveling archaeologist Rabbit Ward maneuvers through the past to recover a long-lost, precious menorah hiding out in ancient Rome.
Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. Although exceptional at his job, Rabbit is not without faults. In a spectacular failure twenty years ago, he lost both the menorah of the second temple and his hot-headed mentee, Aaron. So, when new evidence reveals the menorah’s reappearance in 6th century Constantinople, Rabbit seizes the chance for redemption.
But from the moment he arrives in the past, things start to go wrong. Rabbit quickly finds out that his prime competition, an unlicensed and annoyingly appealing “stringer” named Helen, is also in Constantinople hunting the menorah. And that’s only the beginning. The oppressed Jewish population of the city is primed for revolution, Constantinople’s leading gang seems to have it out for Rabbit personally, and someone local is interested enough in the menorah to kill for it.
As the past closes in on him and his previous failures compound, will Rabbit be able to recover the menorah before it's once again lost in time?
With new and old dangers alike hiding behind every corner, time might just be up for Rabbit’s redemption—and possibly his life.
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1 primary book#1 in A Splinter Effect Book
A Splinter Effect Book is a 1-book series first released in 2025 with contributions by Andrew Ludington.
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A Solid Adventure with Some Bumps
Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington caught my eye with its promise of time travel, ancient artifacts, and high-stakes adventure. If you’re imagining a time-traveling Indiana Jones tangled up in religious history and political schemes, you’re not far off. Rabbit, our scrappy, slightly worn-out hero, definitely gives off those Indy vibes.
I read this during a five-hour work shift, and it kept me turning pages the whole time. That says a lot. The pacing is steady, the plot intriguing, and there’s always something around the corner—whether it’s an ambush in 535 Rome, a twist in the mission, or an uneasy alliance with someone who may or may not stab Rabbit in the back.
One thing I really enjoyed was the religious and historical depth. The search for a lost Jewish artifact set against a backdrop of Christian-Jewish conflict and Roman-Byzantine politics added weight to the story. It wasn’t just about finding a cool object—it meant something. That’s where this book shines.
That said, the historical detail sometimes veered into info-dump territory. Rabbit tends to launch into long explanations about obscure facts, which slowed things down in a few spots. It’s not bad writing—just a bit heavy at times for readers more interested in action than ancient trivia.
Character-wise, Rabbit gets the most attention, and he’s a strong lead. The dynamic with Helen—his clever, double-dealing rival—adds tension, though I wished a few of the other characters had more depth. Aaron’s storyline, involving his being stranded 20 years ago in ancient Rome, had serious potential, but it didn’t land quite as emotionally as I expected.
Still, the ending pulled it together nicely. I closed the book with a smile, glad I stuck with it. The concept of splintered timelines is always fun, and Ludington handles it in a way that feels fresh, even if not every moment hits perfectly.
Final verdict? A 3.5-star read for me. Great premise, solid execution, and a lot of love for history and theology packed into an ambitious adventure. If you’re a fan of time travel, religious artifacts, and ancient settings, this one’s worth checking out—especially if you’ve got a few uninterrupted hours to kill.