Review: Jump (Madders of Time, Book #2) by D.L. Orton
This Jump by D.L. Orton review looks at the second book in the Madders of Time series, a high-stakes science-fiction story that expands the world and raises the emotional stakes even further.
Old allies. New enemies. One impossible mission across fractured time.
Part of TheWriteReads Ultimate Blog Tour.
About Jump
Jump
By D.L. Orton
Series: Madders of Time, #2, #2
Published by Rocky Mountain Press on November 4, 2025
Genres: Science Fiction
Formats: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 406
The multiverse is collapsing. The time machine is broken. And humanity’s last hope? Might already be dead.
Seven months after the EMPs brought the world to its knees, a handful of scientists are racing against extinction—and each other. Somewhere in a flooded skyscraper lies a wormhole generator that might be able to undo the apocalypse. If they can find it. If it still works. If it doesn’t kill them first.
Meanwhile, Diego Nadales wakes in a cell, his face bloodied and his memories fractured. He's being accused of terrorism, treason, and time travel. The last one, at least, is true.
Isabel is trapped inside a biodome ruled by the man she once trusted. But her bees—microscopic drones designed to save the planet—have been hijacked and weaponized. If she doesn’t find a way out soon, her creation will wipe out the last threads of life on Earth.Old friends return. New enemies rise. And somewhere in the chaos, one small spark of hope just might be enough to ignite a revolution.
The clock isn’t ticking. It’s blowing up.
Review at a Glance
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Setting | Earth |
| Length | 406 pages |
| Content Considerations | Intense peril, large-scale disaster themes, and end-of-humanity stakes. |
| My Rating | 5 of 5 |
| Quick Take | The story blends high-stakes science fiction with multiverse chaos, making it a standout entry in the Madders of Time series. |
Content Considerations: Includes intense peril, large-scale disaster scenarios, and end-of-humanity stakes typical of high-concept science fiction.
I've been following this story since the early Crossing in Time days, and returning to these characters still feels like stepping back into a world I know well.
My Thoughts
Let's start here: this remains one of my favorite science-fiction series, and I went into Jump with very high expectations. Somehow, D.L. Orton still managed to exceed them. This Jump by D.L. Orton review reflects why the series continues to stand out among modern science-fiction thrillers.
The story picks up the fractured threads left behind in earlier books and weaves them into an even more complex and compelling narrative. Familiar characters — Isabel, Diego, Matt, and Kirkland — continue to anchor the story, while new additions expand the emotional and narrative stakes without losing the heart of what made the series so immersive in the first place.
As the race to save the multisphere accelerates, the tension feels immediate and personal. Alliances shift, difficult choices come into focus, and Madders' calculated odds of survival grow slimmer by the moment. The pacing is urgent, but never chaotic, allowing both action and character growth to carry equal weight.
Readers who enjoy science-fiction thrillers will appreciate the blend of high-stakes storytelling, layered world-building, and vivid cinematic imagery. The scale is expansive, yet the emotional core remains deeply human.
In Conclusion
Jump is a powerful continuation of the Madders of Time series and a reminder of why I've followed D.L. Orton's work since first discovering Crossing in Time. The combination of intricate plotting, emotional resonance, and unforgettable characters makes this a series I recommend without hesitation. For longtime readers and newcomers alike, it feels like both a continuation and an evolution - exactly what great science fiction should deliver.
If you're new to the series or want to revisit where this arc begins, you can also read my review of Hive (Madders of Time #1).
Meet the Author
About D.L. Orton
THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR D.L. ORTON lives in the Rocky Mountains where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops.
In her spare time, 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 has received numerous literary awards including two Indie Book Awards, the BookLife Prize in Fiction, a USA Best Book Award, and an International Book Award. She was recently shortlisted for the Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize and was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of "The Best of the Best" Indie authors.
Where to Buy
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Thanks for stopping by! If you'd like to help spread the word, please share this post on social media.
Author: @dl_orton | Tour Host: @the_writereads
Discover more from Gina Rae Mitchell
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
[…] Jump by D.L. Orton […]
You’ve been riding with this story since the Crossing in Time days—so when you say JUMP still feels like coming home, that hits.
Also: thank you for clocking the real engine here. The multisphere goes feral, the odds get uglier, alliances wobble… but it’s still driven by people making bad choices for good reasons (and paying for them).
And linking your HIVE review? That’s you handing new readers a map before the timeline eats them. Respect.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing the book. I've already pre-ordered Dome! Maybe I should go back & add that to my post. Gotta drive that traffic for both of us!