#Review - The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell #YA #Fantasy #Historical

Series: The Last Magician # 4
Format: Hardcover, 768 pages
Release Date: December 6, 2022
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows meets Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger in this spellbinding conclusion to the “vivid and compelling” (BCCB) New York Times bestselling Last Magician series.

Unite the Stones
Free the City
Remake the World

Once, Esta believed that she could change the fate of magic. She traveled to the past and stopped the Magician from destroying a mystical book that held the key to freeing her people from the Brink, an energy barrier that traps all Mageus who cross it.

But the Book was more than she bargained for. So was the Magician she was tasked to steal it from.

Hunted by an ancient evil, Esta and Harte have raced through time and across a continent to track down the powerful artifacts they need to bind the Book’s devastating power. They’ve lost family, betrayed friends, and done what they’d both vowed never to do: fallen in love with the one person who could truly destroy them.

Now, with only one artifact left, their search has brought them back to New York, the city where it all began. But nothing in Manhattan is as they left it. Their friends have scattered, their enemies have grown more powerful, and as the deadly Brink beckons, their time is running out.

If they can’t find a way to end the threat they’ve created, then the very heart of magic will die—and it will take the world down with it.  

The Shattered City, by Lisa Maxwell, is the Fourth and final installment in the authors The Last Magician series. Key Characters: Esta Filosik, Harte Darrigan, Jack Grew, Cela Johnson, Jianyu Lee, James "Nibsy" Lorcan, Viola Vaccarelli, and Ruby Reynolds. This story travels from 1920, to 1983, to 1902 Brooklyn. Esta and Harte have moved forward to 1983 to get away from the enemy, and figure out how to solve the problems of the Brink and the evil Nibsy Lorcan. 

Viola and Jianyu are in 1902 with Nibsy and Cela and the villainous Jack Grew who is somehow still alive and itching to prove to doubters that he is a man who is willing to do anything. Nibsy has taken over the Devil's own, and now controls everyone who was marked by Dolph Saunders. Once, Esta, who has the natural ability to go back and forth between timelines, believed that she could change the fate of magic. 

She traveled to the past and stopped the Magician from destroying the Ars Arcana that held the key to freeing her people from the Brink, an energy barrier that traps all Mageus who cross it. But the Book of Mysteries was more than she bargained for. So was the Magician she was tasked to steal it from. Hunted by an ancient evil (Thoth), possessed by Seshat, Esta and Harte have raced through time and across a continent to track down the powerful artifacts they need to bind the Book’s devastating power. 

They’ve lost family, betrayed friends, and done what they’d both vowed never to do: fallen in love with the one person who could truly destroy them. Now, with only one artifact left, the Pharaoh's Heart their search has brought them back to New York, the city where it all began. But nothing in Manhattan is as they left it. Their friends have scattered, their enemies have grown more powerful, and as the deadly Brink beckons, their time is running out. If they can’t find a way to end the threat they’ve created, then the very heart of magic will die—and it will take the world down with it.

 

*Thoughts* The reason it took me so long to finish this series is the length of the book. I figured, what better time to read this book, than over Thanksgiving break? I am glad I did finish the series. I would recommend that if you haven't read the series yet, to familiarize yourself with what has happened to this point. Esta has been through Hell and back. She was used as a thief by Professor Lorcan to go back in time and grab valuable artifacts. Every time she thinks she has found a way to win, she and Harte are forced to rethink their paths. 

 

She has since realized that if she can grab all 5 of the artifacts needed to bring time and magic back to balance, it's worth her time and her life. You will benefit from taking notes while reading this book. Each character from Viola, to Jianyu, to Cela, get their own plotlines which eventually comes together with Esta and Harte's. I think this book would’ve been a thousand times better if it wasn’t so drawn out or maybe 200-300 pages shorter. I normally never skip pages in books but I did this time.

 

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#Review - The Serpent's Curse by Lisa Maxwell #YA #Fantasy #Historical

Series: The Last Magician # 3
Format: Hardcover, 768 pages
Release Date: April 13, 2021
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows meets Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger in this spellbinding conclusion the “vivid and compelling” (BCCB), New York Times bestselling Last Magician series.

Evade the Serpent.
Heed the Curse.
Rewrite the Present.

Esta isn’t a stranger to high-stakes heists. She’s a seasoned thief who has no reservations about using her affinity for time to give her an edge, and she’s trained her whole life for one mission: travel back to 1902 New York, steal the ancient Book of Mysteries, and use its power to destroy the Brink and free the Mageus from the Order’s control.

But the Book held a danger that no one anticipated—Seshat, an angry goddess was trapped within its pages. Now that terrible power lives within Harte, and if given the chance, Seshat will use Esta to destroy the world and take her revenge.

Only Esta and Harte stand in her way.

Yet in their search to recover the elemental stones needed to bind Seshat’s power, Esta and Harte have found themselves stranded in time with a continent between them. As Esta fights to get back to Harte, the Order is no longer the only obstacle standing in her way.

Saving Harte—and magic itself—will put even Esta’s skills to the test. And all the while, another danger grows, one more terrible than both Seshat and the Order combined... 

The Serpent's Curse is the third installment in author Lisa Maxwell's The Last Magician series. Key characters in this book are: Esta Filosik, who has the ability to manipulate & travel through time; Harte Darrigan, who is struggling mightily with the Ars Arcana Book being part of his very being and its draw towards Esta. Plus, since the author loves multiple narrations, Jericho Northwood, Maggie, Viola Vaccerelli, Nibsy Lorcan, Jack Grew, Jianyu Lee, Ruby Reynolds, Logan Sullivan, and Cela Johnson.

Esta and Harte continue their journey to find the magical artifacts scattered across the country by Harte. They’re working against the Order, which seems to pop up everywhere they go. Seshat, the goddess whose power lives in Harte and time itself, is a thorn in the side and their may be consequences to come sooner than later. They do have help, of sorts, from Jericho and Maggie who are Antistasi. At certain points, Harte goes his own way and leaves Esta to her own devices. But they eventually reunite in order to continue their war against Jack and his minions. 

Esta has learned some hard truths. Her parents were murdered, she was brought to the present where her life was basically stolen and turned into the Devil's Thief. Everything she's known about magic has been a lie. She thought the Book of Mysteries held the key to freeing the Mageus from the Order’s grasp, but the danger within its pages was greater than she ever imagined. With the Egyptian Goddess Seshat attached to Harte and desiring Esta and her abilities, Esta needs to step lively or the goddess will finally get what she's wanted.

Jack is still grappling for power and control within the Order and that storyline of procuring the ring artifact involves so many different players. He also has Thoth eager for revenge against Esta and Seshat. Jack really is a villains villain. He literally is evil no matter what year Esta and Harte manage to show up at. His hatred, or shall we say, Thoth's hatred for those with magic, is legendary. Mageus, people with magic, are marginalized in society and they actually passed a Defense Against Magic Act. 

The author has chosen to point out how people of color, Mageus or not, are oppressed. Jianyu is Chinese and Cela is Black; while Viola is an Italian immigrant, also hated during this time, she is still seen as “better” because she has white skin. I can honestly relate to Viola in that my mother's great grandparents came over from Italy in the early 20th century. They were told that they weren't white enough, they weren't black enough, they often fought block to block wars with Irish, and where called many, many obscene crap.  

As with other readers/reviewers, I am a big flabbergasted. I honestly thought three books would be enough to circle around and find out the answers to the questions that the author continues to tempt readers with. When I learned this book was 700 pages, plus a fourth book, needless to say I wasn't a happy camper. I didn't want to wait yet again for more of this story and just wanted to get to the ending. This book also relentlessly goes back and forth between 1902, 1904, and now 1920 & 1952 which I was happy to see. I will be even happier when the story returns to the present so that Esta and Jack can resolve their issues once and forever. 

 

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#Review - The Devil's Thief by Lisa Maxwell #YALit #Fantasy

Series: The Last Magician # 2
Format: Hardcover, 704 pages
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: NetGalley & Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

In this spellbinding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Last Magician, Esta and Harte set off on a cross-country chase through time to steal back the elemental stones they need to save the future of magic.

Hunt the Stones.
Beware the Thief.
Avenge the Past.
Esta’s parents were murdered. Her life was stolen. And everything she knew about magic was a lie. She thought the Book of Mysteries held the key to freeing the Mageus from the Order’s grasp, but the danger within its pages was greater than she ever imagined.
Now the Book’s furious power lives inside Harte. If he can’t control it, it will rip apart the world to get its revenge, and it will use Esta to do it.
To bind the power, Esta and Harte must track down four elemental stones scattered across the continent. But the world outside the city is like nothing they expected. There are Mageus beyond the Brink not willing to live in the shadows—and the Order isn’t alone in its mission to crush them.
In St. Louis, the extravagant World’s Fair hides the first stone, but an old enemy is out for revenge and a new enemy is emerging. And back in New York, Viola and Jianyu must defeat a traitor in a city on the verge of chaos.
As past and future collide, time is running out to rewrite history—even for a time-traveling thief.

The Devil's Thief is the second installment in author Lisa Maxwell's The Last Magician series. The story alternates between 1902 and 1904, as well as between Manhattan and St. Louis. As the story opens, Esta Filosik, who has the ability to manipulate & travel through time, has traveled back to 1902 in order to save Harte Darrigan. The same Harte who is struggling mightily with the Ars Arcana Book being part of his very being and its draw towards Esta. 

Now, the two of them are attempting to find the elemental stones that Harte sent out of Manhattan and the Brink to places all over the country. While running from Jack Grew, Elisa and Harte find themselves in 1904 due to some weird time blip. After learning that Harte's contact is now in St. Louis, they travel there. St. Louis is where readers will discover The World's Fair, The Society, and a new group called Artistasi who give our main players all they can handle and more. 

You will also be introduced to an entirely new cast of characters who are both tertiary in nature, but important since events happen around them. To be fair, there's a giant elephant in the room that gets in the way of every conversation, and every action Esta & Harte take thanks to the Book's pull on him. The other issue is that at every turn, Esta and Harte are confounded by a group called the Antistasi who are led by a woman named Mother Ruth who really could be labeled as an anarchist. 

While I maintain that Elsa and Harte are the main characters in this series because of who and what they are and are able to do, there are others that readers will ride through this story with including Viola Vaccerelli, Nibsy Lorcan, Jack Grew, Jianyu Lee, Ruby Reynolds, Logan Sullivan, and Cela Johnson. I have to say that Viola's story may be the most intriguing, the most heart breaking, and the most emotional of all the characters who are chosen to carry the load. I also can relate to her being Italian and the struggles she has had to deal with.

I have to be honest, I am happy that the author titled each of her chapters so that I could pay attention to the year and the characters who were being featured. This goes on throughout the book, so, if you are like me who takes copious notes, be prepared to take the above characters I named and write them down so that you can keep track of where they are, and what they are involved in. 

I am glad that Cela played more of a role in this story. Her struggles are real as both a woman of color, and the fact that she has no magic. It's hard to say who is the real villain of the story; Nibsy, or Jack. I would not want to fool with either one, but Nibsy's story is one that actually crosses with Esta's while Jack and Harte are like two heavy weight champions just itching to go one more round to see who walks away with the prize. 

In the end, the story is a power struggle of who has it, who wants it, and who wants to destroy it. The stakes are high for every single character in this book from Cela, up and including Esta and Harte. If you have not read The Last Magician and you love historical fiction, original magic systems, time travel, witty banter between characters and subtle romance, do so now before jumping into this monstrosity which really is 700 pages long. Maxwell does a fantastic job of making the reader feel as though you are right there with the characters on each stop, NYC, and St. Louis.

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Friday #Review - The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell #YALit #Fantasy #Historical @LisaMaxwellYA ‏@SimonKIDS

Series: The Last Magician # 1
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: YA  / Fantasy / Historical

From Unhooked author Lisa Maxwell comes a captivating new world filled with magic and deception, about a girl who must travel back in time to find a mysterious book that could save her future.

Stop the Magician.
Steal the book.
Save the future.

In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

The Last Magician is the first installment in author Lisa Maxwell's The Last Magician duology. Maxwell is also the author of Unhooked, Sweet Unrest, and The Gathering Deep. Told in the third person narrative, the story is set in an alternative New York City, but through different time frames like 1899, 1901, 1926, and the present. It is a story that features characters like Esta Filosik, Harte Darrigan, Dolph Saunders, & Jack Crew. One could argue that Esta is truly the main protagonist because of her ability and her curious upbringing. 

The story begins with Esta, a brilliant safe cracker and artifact hunter who also has the ability to travel through time and slow it down, traveling back to the year 1926 where she is on a mission to find what's called the Pharaoh's Heart. From there, she is sent back to 1901 to stop the destruction of a book called the Ars Arcana that could potentially destroy the Brink. The Brink is a magical barrier that keeps the Mageus from leaving the city with their magic intact. Esta has to infiltrate a group run by Dolph Saunders, find the Magician, survive being stabbed in the back, and return to the future with the book intact. Easy Peasy, right? 

The settings for this book is absolutely remarkable. As a descendant of Italians who came thru Ellis Island, and settled in the lower part of Manhattan, this really did bring that era to life in a huge way. This is a society that is ruled by gangs, and of course the Order who loves to keep those with magic under their thumbs. They have no issue with rounding up Mageus and making them disappear without a trace. It is a dog eat dog world, and if you are weak, you will just be tossed aside like so much garbage. The deplorable conditions that immigrants live in is realistic and heart breaking. 

I loved the pacing of the story, the details brought to light before our eyes, and the story that is remarkably engaging in all aspects. I loved Esta. I loved her ability to weave the spaces in between and travel any where in time. I loved that she is feisty, and capable all on her own of proving that she is as good, or better than any man in this story. I loved that she can break out of any situation, any lock, with just shear strength of her character. I loved the betrayal aspect of the story as well. You really can't trust anyone in this story, for they all have agendas. 

There are other characters in this book that stand out as well. Like Jianyu, who is Chinese (can bend light), and Viola Vaccarelli, an Italian who is a trained assassin and is deadly with a knife. Yes, there is a bit of romance as well, but it doesn't snuff out the action, or the mystery, or the backstabbing that takes place right before our eyes. Since this is part one of the duology, there is an ending that isn't closed. It is open ending. I am encouraged by the start of this series, and do look forward to seeing what Maxwell does next.

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#Wednesday Review - Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Format: E-Galley, 342 pages
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself?

Lisa Maxwell's Unhooked is a clever retelling of Peter Pan created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. 17-year old Gwendolyn (Gwen) Allister is a girl who is used to moving around a lot. She is used to her mother claiming that monsters are searching for them. She used to seeing strange things like rows of stones carved with protective runes, or lines of salt, or iron nails buried at the four corners of a property where they have stayed.

So, it's no big deal when her mother chooses yet another strange flat to move to, this time London, England. Yet, this time around things take a very unusual and dangerous turn for Gwen and her friend Olivia Peel. Ignoring warnings is nothing new for so called heroines, so when Gwen doesn't heed her own mother's warning, she and Olivia are quickly kidnapped and transported to the land of Neverland by creatures that come out of the darkness.

Gwen finds herself on board a pirate ship and discovers that a boy named Rowan (Captain Hook) is the captain of the ship and he is not at all what the original Peter Pan made him out to be. Gwen slowly realizes that she is forgetting all about the world where she came from, her mother, and her friend who is facing her own challenges. Neverland is a place that once you are there, you quickly become consumed by the place, and lose all focus on where you came from.

I dare say that I loved the twist with Hook and Pan. In fact, Hook could be considered the hero, while Peter Pan, who just goes by the name Pan in this world, is the villain who is very manipulative and power hungry and eager to twist his own story to his own liking. I will just go ahead and say it, if you watch Once Upon A Time on a regular basis, I won't disparage you for comparing this versions Captain Hook with OUAT's. It is after all, hard to do. 

Unhooked is a remarkably enjoyable story with a heroine that clearly has some interesting secrets that surround her. She is focused on getting her friend back, and finding a way back home to her mother. She puts up with Hook's crap, and gives back as much as she can. She isn't a wilting violet that is going to shrink away at the first signs of trouble. I am happy to report that there is NO LOVE TRIANGLE which has me smiling from her to London. The romance is made from tension, and trust, and adoration.

There really doesn't need to be a whole lot of world building if you have ready any version of Peter Pan. After all, you can't entirely ruin Neverland if you follow the previous scripts that have already been written. Sure there are some questions that aren't answers right away, including why we should really care about Gwen, but do we really need answers from the first page? I'm happy to report that this is also a standalone, and therefore your questions should be all answered by the time you turn the last page. 

Thank you! 

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