2 stars
I have many feelings about this, but few of them are good.

The idea is quite interesting, but the book is surprisingly tedious to slog through.

While Vivian is not the sharpest of tools in the shed, she is the only sane person here. Accounting for company, it's not saying much, I know. But she is doing the best she can after being kidnapped by two crazy strangers who fancied themselves in need of an Adventure. She's done pretty well for herself, I'd say.

If forced to keep company with Jonathan, I'd step back and let him have at it with some disastrous crazy scheme with terrible consequences. That would -hopefully- teach him SOMEthing. He is in serious need of a Life-Changing Experience TM, and would do well to have some sense shaken into him.

Sam needs therapy to treat his addiction. The only thing he does is eat pies, or talk about eating pies, or recover from overeating pies. He is so annoying that leaving him in a ditch sounds very tempting. Also, duct-tape to keep his mouth shut (yes, please; but sadly no).

Adults are ... not completely useless, but they haven't got a clue. Which is just sad, really. Except for Dr. Wilander whose usefulness is so obvious he may as well be shining - but there's a whole story there, so not going into it. Why can't we have books with adults being a part of the adventure?

Elio is my favourite. His personality shines through. Bless his generous android heart. I genuinely think he is the most interesting person here.

Faber John and Time Lady are THE WORST. First they need to be hunted down and made to see sense - which, okay, part of Adventure and mostly makes sense to do since those two are supposed to know most of anything about Time City. But then they turn up their noses, act all high and mighty, and start bossing everyone around Because They Know Best. TL is way too arrogant in her presumptuousness. FJ is a bit better but he just steps back and lets her be all snotty.

The ending left me feeling cheated. Anger and indignation are not a good way to finish a story, any story.
I am most emphatically NOT. HAPPY. ( )

Despite suffering from a terrible cover, this book is pretty enjoyable. The ideas about time and time travel presented in this book make almost no sense to me, but since you learn about them along with Vivian the main character it sorta works. She gets pulled into this bizzare situation where she doesnt understand the technology or clothes or food but she sorta learns to just go along with it, and thats what I ended up doing as well. The time city clothes and technology dont make a ton of sense, but they are vividly described and fun to read about. As are the characters. I think this would be worth a reread at some point since its always fun to spot all the little clues that Diana Wynne Jones puts in her stories that dont always pop out the first time round. ( )

A Tale of Time City was a good story, but not one of Diana Wynne Jones' best. I have been remembering little snippets of books lately and could not place the books. They seemed very like Diana Wynne Jones' style, which led me to read some of her books again. A Tale of Time City turned out to not be one I was remembering, even though I know I read it several years ago. The storyline was different and interesting, and there were moments I could not put the book down. However, overall it was just an okay book. I am sure I will read it again several years from now, as I do reread my favorite authors from time to time, but I don't see it as a book that will ever stand out in my mind. ( )

I've been a huge DWJ fan since childhood and at my ripe age of [REDACTED] I still find her works to be funny and accessible. Her characters and the themes of her books are pretty wildly nuanced for kid lit. A Tale of Time City is not her best (which isn't saying much, all her books are great) but it made me laugh out loud multiple times. A fun little time travel romp with hints of existentialism. ( )

Not her strongest stuff by far, but still a pretty fun outing from Diana Wynne Jones fans. ( )