annieb123's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
City of Time and Magic is the fourth book in the Found Things historical time travel fantasy romance series by Paula Brackston. Released 23rd Nov 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 4th quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.
The book has a complex and nuanced plot with well written, often lyrical prose. The books are sequential, with major plot turning events which are difficult to puzzle out if read out of order, so it would be much better read as part of the series. If binge reading the entire series from the start, readers should be aware that the author has a real thing for appalling "cliff-hanger" endings. I generally feel put out by cliffhangers (especially since there's usually a minimum year wait between series books). This installment's denouement and resolution didn't annoy me at all, which was a relief. It strongly foreshadows future stories in the series which I'm sure will be well written and worth a look.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours and 44 minutes and is capably narrated by Marisa Calin. She has a well modulated voice with a breathy, whispery aspect which suits the writing. I had no trouble at all following what she read. She does struggle somewhat with the character Harley's Scots brogue, but it's not a major problem. The sound and production quality are high throughout the recording.
It's an easy and fun read. It's more of a YA/NA story, but I enjoyed it very much and am certainly some decades outside the target audience age range. The language is PG with a few "damns" and nothing worse. There are some descriptions of bloodshed and violence, but they're very much in context in the story and not so very graphic.
Four and a half stars. This is a charming and well written book and series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
City of Time and Magic is the fourth book in the Found Things historical time travel fantasy romance series by Paula Brackston. Released 23rd Nov 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 4th quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.
The book has a complex and nuanced plot with well written, often lyrical prose. The books are sequential, with major plot turning events which are difficult to puzzle out if read out of order, so it would be much better read as part of the series. If binge reading the entire series from the start, readers should be aware that the author has a real thing for appalling "cliff-hanger" endings. I generally feel put out by cliffhangers (especially since there's usually a minimum year wait between series books). This installment's denouement and resolution didn't annoy me at all, which was a relief. It strongly foreshadows future stories in the series which I'm sure will be well written and worth a look.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours and 44 minutes and is capably narrated by Marisa Calin. She has a well modulated voice with a breathy, whispery aspect which suits the writing. I had no trouble at all following what she read. She does struggle somewhat with the character Harley's Scots brogue, but it's not a major problem. The sound and production quality are high throughout the recording.
It's an easy and fun read. It's more of a YA/NA story, but I enjoyed it very much and am certainly some decades outside the target audience age range. The language is PG with a few "damns" and nothing worse. There are some descriptions of bloodshed and violence, but they're very much in context in the story and not so very graphic.
Four and a half stars. This is a charming and well written book and series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
elle_loves_reading's review
5.0
How lovely to be back in Xanthe's world again! I thoroughly enjoyed the fourth instalment in The Found Things series, and, as always, was totally captured by the beautiful voice of Marisa Calin. Full of charm and historical detail, this was a delightful book to listen to. I am eagerly awaiting the fifth book in the series!
littlelizzieborden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
kerrisbooks13's review
4.0
A great addition to the series. It does have huge character crossover from her other series but I haven’t read them and didn’t think it a detriment. I loved having Harley and Liam along b for the ride on this one!
tonisecelecticlibrary's review
4.0
3.5 stars! A nice ending to the series although the author left the ending a little open ended with the room for potentially more books. Quick-paced and full of action. Again the MC annoyed me a bit.
sheryls's review
4.0
I've really enjoyed this series of time travel with historical fiction, hero action and a little romance. I'm not sure if there will be more books written in this series, as this one seemed like a nice wrap-up but didn't close the door on more.
vivienned's review
5.0
[b:City of Time and Magic|56269135|City of Time and Magic (Found Things #4)|Paula Brackston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628534763l/56269135._SY75_.jpg|87659677] drops the reader directly into the story as this is book #4 of the series. I haven't read the previous books and didn't feel lost at all. There were a few times when the author would reference other characters, but it didn't confuse me. Everything in the time traveling/spinner world was explained in a way that was easy to follow.
The story was very charming and has a little bit of fantasy, magic, suspense, romance, action and time travel. Xanthe is such a unique name and is such an emphatic female character. She's able to connect with objects from the past which "sing" to her and has the ability to travel through time to interact with the person connected to that object. In this story, Xanthe starts out trying to find out where Liam is in time in order to bring him back and realizes that she has a higher responsibility upon finding him. The book was well written and details of the environments made it clear of what time period we were in as I listened to the audiobook. Of course now I'll be going back to read the first 3 books! I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it if you're into time travel and magic.
I listened to the audio book version of this story and enjoyed Marisa Calin's enactment of it all. She did a great job with the voices and emotions of the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an audiobook copy to review in return for my honest opinion of the book.
The story was very charming and has a little bit of fantasy, magic, suspense, romance, action and time travel. Xanthe is such a unique name and is such an emphatic female character. She's able to connect with objects from the past which "sing" to her and has the ability to travel through time to interact with the person connected to that object. In this story, Xanthe starts out trying to find out where Liam is in time in order to bring him back and realizes that she has a higher responsibility upon finding him. The book was well written and details of the environments made it clear of what time period we were in as I listened to the audiobook. Of course now I'll be going back to read the first 3 books! I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it if you're into time travel and magic.
I listened to the audio book version of this story and enjoyed Marisa Calin's enactment of it all. She did a great job with the voices and emotions of the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an audiobook copy to review in return for my honest opinion of the book.
rochellehickey's review
4.0
It’s a cross-over book!
Do you need to have read the other books in the Little Shop of Found Things series: Yes.
Do you need to have read The Witch’s Daughter series: No, but you really should because they are amazing.
It was so exciting to have Xanthe meet Elizabeth and work together…maybe even in the future? I also loved that Xanthe has a small group of people she can trust in and are willing and able to help her.
Without giving anything away I just want to say two words: ballroom chandeliers. Wow. That was intense, but I won’t say more.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars was I thought Lydia Flyte’s reason for kidnapping Liam in the last book was a little weak. Xanthe looks at Lydia as a mentor, so for Lydia not to believe that Xanthe wouldn’t have helped her wasn’t strong. I do know Lydia needed Liam to help her gain access into the Visionary Society but Liam seemed pretty up to anything that Xanthe would have done if Lydia had only asked. This caused a lot of the tension in the first half of the book before the Visionary Society was introduced.
Am I excited for the next book? Yes! Each book in this series gets better than the last.
Thank you to Paula Brackston and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advanced readers edition for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Do you need to have read the other books in the Little Shop of Found Things series: Yes.
Do you need to have read The Witch’s Daughter series: No, but you really should because they are amazing.
It was so exciting to have Xanthe meet Elizabeth and work together…maybe even in the future? I also loved that Xanthe has a small group of people she can trust in and are willing and able to help her.
Without giving anything away I just want to say two words: ballroom chandeliers. Wow. That was intense, but I won’t say more.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars was I thought Lydia Flyte’s reason for kidnapping Liam in the last book was a little weak. Xanthe looks at Lydia as a mentor, so for Lydia not to believe that Xanthe wouldn’t have helped her wasn’t strong. I do know Lydia needed Liam to help her gain access into the Visionary Society but Liam seemed pretty up to anything that Xanthe would have done if Lydia had only asked. This caused a lot of the tension in the first half of the book before the Visionary Society was introduced.
Am I excited for the next book? Yes! Each book in this series gets better than the last.
Thank you to Paula Brackston and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advanced readers edition for my honest and unbiased opinion.
abberdene's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0