The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Intelligent fantasy!

Told in alternating timelines of 1902 and 1983 Brooklyn, each time focuses on different people. Esta and Harte move forward to 1983 where they can go to the future, 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. All of the main characters from the past books of this series are mentioned in different timelines. The characters eventually all end up in the same timeline together. The storyline consists of turmoil and struggles to right the wrongs of the past and give freedoms to the people who have an affinity for magic. An intelligent time travel fantasy.

Likes/dislikes:
The many timelines, characters and struggles almost need a chart to keep track of. This is the fourth book of The Last Magician series and it just adds another layer to the whole concept and plot. If this series is going to be read, the books should be read together without much time between to help keep it all straight. I like the diversity of the characters and their strengths.

Mature content: PG-13 for drug use by side character, kissing
Language: R for 53 swears and 1 f-bomb
Violence: PG-13 for villain shooting himself, explosions that killed people.
Ethnicity/other info: The ethnicity is mixed with white, Italian, Oriental and Black.

Malice by Pintip Dunn

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I enjoyed this book more than any other Pintip Dunn book (that I have read). The concept is unique and the character growth and depth is profound.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Malice by Pintip Dunn!
Alice begins to hear a voice that’s telling her what to do. She soon realizes that the voice belongs to her future self, and is warning present time Alice, about a future virus that is going to destroy the world. Future Alice wants her to kill the virus maker. As the story unfolds, I kept thinking that I had figured out who the virus maker was, but I just kept getting hit with one surprise after another! The story concept is interesting and I especially like the mystery surrounding the virus maker. Bandit is intriguing but I want to know more about Zeke. Alice goes through a whirlwind of back and forth time travel, possible futures and the shocks and surprises that are thrown at her. This is the absolute best Pintip Dunn book I’ve read! 4 stars!

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

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Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier opens as Gwyneth is dealing with her breaking heart because of Gideon, while Paul and Lucy are in 1916 getting Paul’s wound treated. Gwyneth meets with her grandfather many times to figure out what happened to the chronograph. Once the mystery of the chronograph has been solved, the mission to save the world from evil begins in earnest. Gwyneth accidentally discovers unknown information about her parents and finds out more secrets by chance. Cute humor and squabbling characters make this time travel finale light and fun. With the added action, this story deserves 4 stars!

 

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance by Madeline J. Reynolds

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Time travel adventure!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review The Time Traveler’s Guide to Modern Romance by Madeline J. Reynolds!
Elias lives with his family in London during the 1800’s and he feels like a constant disappointment to his family. His grandfather shares a secret with Elias because he sees how unhappy he is. The secret is a pocket watch that lets the holder travel through time. Elias accidentally ends up in America in the present time, surprising Tyler while he’s in the school library. Tyler accidentally films everything, as he’s aspiring to become a famous filmmaker. He captures the arrival of Elias, including the small earthquakes that occurred in the library, startling Tyler. The boys become fast friends and Tyler guides Elias around the school and New York City, teaching him current slang and explaining the different inventions Elias has never seen before. The culture and technology differences are entertaining and the story is interesting but light at the same time. 4 stars for a fun, cute read!

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

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The second book in the Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier, Sapphire Blue, begins where Ruby Red left off. Gwyneth is forced to learn eighteenth century history, politics, behavior and culture for time travel. She’s also unsure of who to trust, Gideon or any other time travelers or guardians. She meets her grandfather when he’s a young man and before he was married. The intrigue, mystery and espionage increase in this installment of the trilogy. Gwyneth is a lovable teenager who has been thrown into a world that she never wanted to belong to. Romantic gestures from Gideon and trying to figure out who is trustworthy keeps Gwyneth on her toes. More twists and turns happen at the end of the book making me anxious to read Emerald Green, the next and last book in the Ruby Red trilogy. 4 stars for suspenseful intrigue!

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

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Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier opens as Gwyneth helps her cousin Charlotte get home after her first dizzy spell. The first sign of reaching the age and ability to time travel is feeling dizzy. The time travel ability runs in the family and begins around the age of sixteen. Gwyneth ends up traveling through time first, but soon after she lands back in time, she returns to the present. Gwyneth’s friend, Lesley, helps her with research and keeping her confidences. Before she gets the chance to tell her mother that she traveled back in time, Gwyneth takes another journey during the night. She time travels three times before she confides in her mother and her mother stresses and immediately takes Gwyneth to the time travel authorities. The chronograph controls time traveling if it has a record or sample of your blood. Otherwise, time traveling comes at random times and in spurts. Gwyneth learns of the history, chronology and ancestry of time travel and the prophecy/philosophy of the twelve. The Guardians take care of the chronograph and the time travelers. I give this book 4 stars because of the adventure and fun character dynamics!

Waking in Time by Angie Stanton

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone for the opportunity to read and review Waking in Time by Angie Stanton! Abbi has recently lost her grandma to cancer and now Abbi is determined to attend her grandma’s Alma-mater in Madison, Wisconsin, even though her mother will be left alone in Ohio. Abbi receives a package from her mother that contains notes and photographs of her grandma’s. One of the photos shows someone who looks just like Abbi standing next to her young grandma. Abbi drinks at a party with her friends and the next morning, she wakes up in her dorm room but the year is 1983! Next, she wakes up in 1970! Each morning, she awakens in a different time. In 1970, she finally meets someone who knows what she’s going through, Professor Smith, her physics professor. She doesn’t get any helpful information and a few days later she wakes up in 1961! In 1961, Abbi meets Will, a fellow time traveler. But where Abbi is traveling to the past, Will travels to the future. Will knows Abbi well and apparently they have a close, romantic relationship. When she wakes up in 1951, her young grandma happens to be her roommate. Next, Abbi wakes up in 1930. Will and Abbi meet and fall in love. They try to conquer the time travel issue so they can stay together, but it seems that no matter what they do, time travel is inevitable for the both of them.
I especially like the author’s information about historical facts contained in the story and the personal connection that the author based the story on. Complex and suspenseful – 4 stars!