Fast paced and entertaining end to this series. I enjoyed it and the characters. It should not be read as a standalone.

A wonderful edition to a swoony and suspenseful series. Rory, Arthur, and the whole gang remain endlessly charming and reading this book felt like reuniting with old friends. It’s bittersweet to close the chapter on Rory and Arthur, but their HEA is hard won.

On the plus side, there’s definitely a hint of more to come from a certain ex and a certain not-quite-enemy-not-quite-friend — although this chapter is closing, it seems as though the story will continue on with other characters in the limelight. With any luck, we’ll be able to check in on Rory and Arthur during those further adventures.

I'm utterly convinced that Allie Therin does not write a bad book. Wonderstruck was such a wonderful, action-packed, satisfying conclusion to the Magic in Manhattan series, and I loved it completely!

Review excerpted from my blog post over at Pan/Cis LGBT2SQ+ Romance Reviews (https://pancis.wordpress.com/2021/07/01/wonderstruck-by-allie-therin/)

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library Romance, Fantasy/Paranormal Romance, and/or LGBTQIA collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

_____________

Number of titles I have read by this author: 3

Love story speed: Relationship in progress from previous book in series

Relationship dynamics: The Paranormal Orphan (H1) / The Politician’s Son (H2)

Sexual content: Some; off-page. Kissing and some mild foreplay on-page.

Gender Identity: Cis (H1) / Cis (H2)

Sexual Identity: Bisexual (H1) / Gay (H2)

Triggers: PTSD (war); parental estrangement

Acceptance Rating: 2.5 stars

Acceptance Rating Explanation: Historical societal homophobia and constraints and fear of being “found out” are mentioned throughout.

Grammar/Editing: My ARC had some typos, missing words, etc.

Review: This volume in the series moves along at a medium pace. It is set in Prohibition Era New York City, Boston, at sea, and in London and Paris. The world building continues to be immersive and well done, as with the previous books in the series. As this book is a direct continuation from the previous book, I still recommend reading this series in order. You may also want to remind yourself of events in the previous books if you haven’t read them in a while. See my review of the first installment on my other blog, Titillated Termagant Romance Reviews here and my review of the second on this blog here.

As in the previous two books, Arthur and Rory continue to be the main characters. The focus in this installment is in building trust in one another and each of them overcoming personal faults to become what the other needs. I enjoyed them just as much in this installment as I did in the previous books. Indeed, I requested this book as soon as I saw that it was available, because they are so compelling. The supporting characters continue to have nice depth and complexity, consistent with the previous books. The villain comeuppance is also extremely satisfying.

Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun conclusion (if the author does end it here, there are a few loose ends :D) to the story line. The cast of characters is as always well written and enjoyable to spend time with. I appreciated the author's take on the effects of trauma and relational bonds. I liked that there wasn't a lot of relationship drama in this one and that the characters communicated. I did figure out the "twist" at the end before it was revealed, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of this.

This is the third and final book in the Magic in Manhattan series. I absolutely loved all three of these, and I thought the conclusion was really well done. I will miss the characters of Rory and Arthur and all of their friends. The books feature an m/m romance, but it’s not the main focus. The book is much more about magic and special powers and trying to save the world from nefarious men and women. I love that the book takes place in the 1920’s – it adds another layer to all the storylines. Highly recommend this trilogy!

I really loved the first novel in this series, Spellbound. Yes, it was a romance – and I'm not a romance reader – but it was also a very good fantasy story, and I was able to enjoy the fantasy story without being too bothered with the romance.
I was hoping for this to be more of it.
It wasn't.
This is definitely a romance, and I wonder whether the issues I had with it are merely a consequence of the fact that I don't care for romances.
It is perfectly possible that a lot was happening on a romance level. In fact, I'm pretty sure it did. A lot of space and words went into building Rory and Arthur's relationship, and a lot of the conflict came from that. On a romance level, it could be that this is a very good story.
But I was hoping for the fantasy side of it, and I'm sorry to say, there is very little about it here. Not to mention that what there is, it's very disappointing and clearly more of an excuse for the romance than a story in itself. On that side, there were so many loose ends and threads that went nowhere.
But as I said, it is probably me rather than the story.
As for the rest, it is a good one. The writing flows smoothly, the characters are well-crafted, and it's easy to get attached to them. The historical setting is maybe a little less interesting than the first book, but it was still enjoyable.
If you enjoy romances, you'll probably enjoy this far more than I did.

A fantastic conclusion to Rory and Arthur's journey. Wonderfully well-written with a plot that drew me in from the very first page. I have seriously enjoyed following along with these characters and while I hate saying goodbye this was a perfect sendoff for them. I highly recommend starting at the beginning because not one minute of their adventures is to be missed.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

Some books just leave you feeling happy. WONDERSTRUCK does a good job of wrapping up the plot begun in SPELLBOUND, but it’s one of those happy-making books because of its found family. I’m all aglow over how Allie Therin pushes them past their justified fears and into some truly special connections. I’ve been smiling about it for days.

I’d love it if her next project were a sequel series so I can see everyone again, but whatever it is, I’ll read it.

The epic finale of Allie Therin’s “Magic in Manhattan” series literally put Ace and Teddy (or Arthur and Rory) at the center in a battle to save their love and life. Not stopping at throwing pain our heroes way, WONDERSTRUCK gave it multiplied way in a heartbreaking development to their journey to defeat the big bad villain.

This installment also brought the crew finally step out of America to find answers and unlikely allies in Europe. And among what excites me here was also the answer to the question whether or not Ace’s old comrades be considered friends or foes, all things considered.

WONDERSTRUCK is a well-timed, action-packed order to the series; Ace and Teddy hadn’t changed yet their characters developing into better individually and as a couple. In some part I yelled at them to not be ridiculously oblivious to obvious trap(s) and in other harrumphing ‘told ya so’ when the dreadful struck to snickering for something Teddy said or did for nothing other than him being Teddy. It was an entertaining and gripping read as other “Magic in Manhattan” series and as much as I loved the guys prevailed it’s also sad to say goodbye to this gang. Perhaps the author would continue their adventure dealing with something (someone) else after this?


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I one hundred percent am obsessed with this world. What a beautifully written journey. Thank you for access to an early copy. Review link is below.

A nice enough end to this series although there really were a lot of plot point that seemed rushed or shoe-horned in. I do really like the relationship between the two main characters and they did have several very cute scenes in this but ultimately I think I might be moving away from historical romances. Still worth a read to finish out the series but I think the plot in this series becomes a little bit less coherent with each book.

I had a lot of fun in reading this historical paranormal and I'm a bit sad if think there won't be further story of Arthur and Rory.
It was a gripping and highly entertaining story, I appreciated the plot and the mix of fantasy and historical fiction. and the excellent character and world building.
As the other installment it was gripping and highly entertaining.
I hope to read soon another book by Allie Therin as this series is excellent.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Wonderstruck by Allie Therin
Magic in Manhattan #3

1925 New York with paranormal and mundane persons working together to save the world – loved it! This is definitely a book that should be read as a series and a series I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend!

What I liked:
* Rory: psychometric, barely twenty-one, poor, hard-working, sweet, kind, tough, charming, jealous, perfect for Arthur
* Arthur: mundane, interested in magic, early thirties, wealthy, military veteran, generous, kind, lethal when necessary, a good man, perfect for Rory
* The relationship between Rory and Arthur
* The magic component of the story and how it all comes together
* The supporting characters (some may need stories of their own)
* The writing, plot, and the way it all came together
* The friendships and team feeling of how they all worked together
* The twists and turns – there were a few I did not see coming
* That evil was eventually thwarted
* The feel-good ending that made me believe in happily ever after.

What I did not like:
* Baron Keppler and his henchmen…especially the puppeteer…
* Being reminded of how wicked Rory’s father was and how hard it must have been for orphans
* The other evil people that showed up here and there.
* Saying goodbye to characters I grew to know and love

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more by this author? Without a doubt!

Wonderstruck is the perfect final book in the Magic in Manhattan series. It ties up every loose end from the series into a beautiful, magical bow.

[su_quote style="modern-orange" cite="Goodreads" url=”GOODREADS LINK TO YOUR BOOK"]

New York, 1925

Arthur Kenzie is on a mission: to destroy the powerful supernatural relic that threatens Manhattan—and all the nonmagical minds in the world. So far his search has been fruitless. All it has done is keep him from the man he loves. But he’ll do anything to keep Rory safe and free, even if that means leaving him behind.

Psychometric Rory Brodigan knows his uncontrolled magic is a liability, but he’s determined to gain power over it. He can take care of himself—and maybe even Arthur, too, if Arthur will let him. An auction at the Paris world’s fair offers the perfect opportunity to destroy the relic, if a group of power-hungry supernaturals don’t destroy Rory and Arthur first.

As the magical world converges on Paris, Arthur and Rory have to decide who they can trust. Guessing wrong could spell destruction for their bond—and for the world as they know it.

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I received an eARC of Wonderstruck via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book in two fell swoops. It would have been one, except my body informed me that I had to sleep. I'll keep this as spoiler-free as possible, since it is the end of a trilogy, but be warned if you haven't read the first two that there might be spoilers here.

Allie Therin masterfully wove the plot of Wonderstruck together with betrayals, new friendships, hints of jealousy, healing old wounds and actual magic. We got to see some familiar faces from previous books, but not in the way I expected to see them. It was absolutely

Rory and Arthur love each other so much at the beginning of this book, but had trouble making their lives fit together. By the end their love is so strong that not even Baron Keppler can come between them. It made my heart sing. The epilogue was absolutely perfect for me and for this series.

I've recommended this book to basically every m/m reader I know and now I'm doing the same to you. You can buy your copy right now from Amazon through our affiliate link! I highly, highly recommend it.

[su_box title="ABOUT WONDERSTRUCK" style="default" box_color="#ff4400" title_color="#f2f2f2" radius="3" class=""]

Title: Wonderstruck

Series: Magic In Manhattan #3

Author: Allie Therin

Publisher: Carina

Length: 295 Pages

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Rating: Highly Recommended

Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance

Representation: Italian American gay man main character, white American gay main character, Black woman secondary character, Chinese man secondary character, Cuban American woman author

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Disclaimer: All links to Indiebound, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository, The Ripped Bodice and Amazon are affiliate links. If you buy through those links, LFAI will make a small amount of money off of the sale.

This series has kept me spellbound from the very start and I'm delighted to say that the finale is everything I had hoped for - except I don't want it to end! (cue the crying). In preparation for this finale I recently reread the first two books in the Magic in Manhattan series before starting this one and I definitely recommend it if you're like me with a poor memory for details, and also because they are definitely worth re-reading.

The final installment sees Rory and Arthur on their quest to find a magical object ( a siphon) that can be used to drain magic from the other magical objects that they've encountered over the course of the series. It will require lots of help, from their tried and true friends Jade and Zhang, to their nemeses Gwen and Ellis as well as some other paranormal characters who've appeared along the way. The action starts from the very beginning and doesn't let up as Arthur and Rory make their way to the continent and the world's fair in Paris where they hope to acquire what they need. But while the magic and worldbuilding in this series is top notch, the evolution of Rory and Arthur's relationship into one of equals is just as important. Rory has matured from the first novel and now they are in a position where they both need each other - and have to admit it in order for them to successfully navigate the trials they encounter in this book. I enjoyed every moment of this story (and the series as a whole) and it absolutely deserves a place on my keeper shelf!

I have loved this Prohibition-era paranormal series since the moment we first met Rory, and I was a little worried going in because I knew this was the third and final book. How would the entire situation with Baron Zeppler be taken care of? Whose side are Gwen and Ellis really on? What about the relationship hiccups between Rory and Arthur? And, most importantly to me, would Arthur ever take Rory to his beloved Italy? And yes, all these questions are answered and more.

“It’s adorable you think I need hard evidence of danger to worry about you. It’s like you’ve never even met me.”


Arthur, Jade and Zhang are traveling up and down the coast, chasing possible ways of destroying the pomander, a magical relic that can control the non-magical. Meanwhile, Rory is stuck back in the dubious safety of New York City, as his psychometry and (limited) control of the Tempest Ring have made him a person of interest to the Baron. But things are changing for Rory: Mrs. Brodigan is getting married and selling the store, and Rory’s left unmoored without a job. It soon becomes clear that Rory’s not safe anymore, so the gang follow the trail across the ocean to Paris – and London. What they find there – and who they chose to trust – could make the difference for the world, and Arthur and Rory’s relationship.

“You could ruin me, ruin my family, and my friends—”
“I would never—” Rory started.
“You would never,” Arthur agreed. “Your magic in my aura would never hurt me, and you would never hurt me. But you don’t think you’re safe with me too.”


Three books in, Rory is still struggling with not being a burden for Arthur. He knows from personal experience that the ones who are supposed to take care of you can abandon you without a second thought, and he’s afraid that relying on Arthur will leave him without a fallback. After all, he’s already magically anchored himself in Arthur’s aura – without his consent. It takes Arthur getting drunk and revealing that it makes him feel like Rory doesn’t trust him before Rory realizes he’s hurting Arthur. It’s not just Rory who has to deal with his past, though, but also Arthur. He doesn’t have magic like the rest of the group, so he views using his money as his contribution to the cause. If Rory won’t let him help him out financially, then what does he have to contribute? And while he’s quick to (gently) chide Rory for his lack of trust in him, Arthur’s the pot calling the kettle black. When he finds out some devastating information, he delays telling Rory in order to “protect” him. There were times I just wanted to grab Arthur and yell “use your words!”. So while it did feel like it was a lot of rehashing of the same relationship struggles from previous books, by the end – once they finally communicated – I felt like they were finally on solid ground. And, gosh, they’re just so sweet together, so it’s very fulfilling to watch them get their HEA.

“You’re not chained to anything just because it’s who you’ve always been or what you’ve always done. You can wake up on a new morning and choose a new path, a new adventure.”


It’s hard to talk too much about the plot without getting into spoilers. While there is a new character introduced, a lot of the plot focuses on tying up ends from the first two books, so it would be good to refresh your memory on those prior to reading this book as there’s not much recap given. The secondary characters, especially Jade, are so well-rounded, and honestly I wish we could have a book for Jade and Zhang’s relationship. There’s a really amazing sense of found family, especially for the paranormals, of reaching out past class and ethnicity and racial boundaries and bonding together. It’s especially evident in an early scene where the friends all gather for Rory’s birthday, and gosh, it made me so happy. They also work well together with solving the clues around the relics, each using their specific skills and magical talents.

“I’m on a big ship, not locked up in my room, scared of myself,” he finally said, his throat tight. “I’m going on a new adventure, to a whole new country, with friends.” He swallowed. “I think maybe, if she could see me right now, my mom would be happy. And you’re the one who would’ve made that happen.”


So overall, this was the perfect ending to the series, and to be honest, I cried. Forgive me for being exceedingly cheesy, but the whole series has been spellbinding. I’m going to miss Rory and Arthur, but I’m very much looking forward to whatever Allie Therin comes up with next!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This was such a wonderful book and amazing end to an amazing trilogy. I ADORED Arthur and Rory and their amazing dynamics, as well as Jade and Lord Fine and Zhang and just the entire cast of the characters (except the ones I was supposed to hate, I hated those :D )

Buy This Book
Wonderstruck is the third book in Allie Therin’s Magic in Manhattan series of paranormal romances set in 1920s New York, and is the best of the bunch, boasting a high-stakes, fast-paced plot, engaging characters, strong worldbuilding and a central relationship that has come on leaps and bounds since the first book.

When I reviewed the previous book (Starcrossed), I said I wish I’d thought to re-read Spellbound (book one) first, as there is very little recapping and I was at a bit of a loss to start with. Wanting to avoid the same again, I listened to the audio version of Starcrossed shortly before beginning Wonderstruck and I’m pleased I did, because I had no problems getting into the story this time around. (Which is to say that I’d advise anyone interested in reading Wonderstruck to do a bit of backtracking first!). As this is a series with overarching plot-threads, there will be spoilers for the other books in this review.

When Wonderstruck opens, we find Arthur Kenzie in Montreal with his close friends, paranormals Jade, a telekenetic and Zhang, who can walk on the astral plane. They’re there searching for a way to destroy a dangerous supernatural artefact, a pomander created using the most vile magic in existence and which has the ability to enslave non-magical minds. Arthur has been away from New York – and from his lover, powerful psychometric Rory Brodigan – for a month and is no closer to his objective than when he started – and the lack of progress and time away from the man he loves is really trying his patience. He knows it’s best for Rory that he stays put in New York, but he misses him dreadfully.

The news that there is to be a secret paranormal exhibit at the upcoming world’s fair in Paris offers some hope, however. Such an exhibit might well draw the attention of someone with the knowledge to help them destroy the pomander – but a trip to Paris will mean more weeks, maybe months away from New York, and bringing Rory to Europe just isn’t an option. Baron Zeppler, the telepath who is bent on harnessing the power of magical relics for his own nefarious purposes, is now undoubtedly aware of Rory’s existence and of the power he can wield through the Tempest Ring and his psychometry – and Arthur is determined to keep Rory as far from his evil machinations as possible.

But of course, the best laid plans never pan out. Arthur, Jade and Zhang return to New York so that Arthur can be with Rory on his twenty-first birthday, and after another failed attempt to destroy the pomander, they realise they’re going to need help. None of them likes the idea of approaching Gwen and Ellis – the former wartime best friends of Jade and Arthur who betrayed them in Spellbound; but after Gwen saved Rory’s life in Starcrossed, they’ve realised they have a common aim in wanting to neutralise the pomander and put Baron Zeppler out of commission. Working on the principle that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ (sort of), and realising that it’s no longer safe to leave Rory in New York, the four of them – Arthur, Rory, Jade and Zhang – sail across the Atlantic and head for London.

What follows is a tense and exciting romp that kept me reading until well past my bedtime! With Arthur hiding a terrible secret of his own, and the line between friend and enemy becoming blurred, the story moves at full pelt into the nail-biting finale, wherein our heroes are forced to battle the vilest magic of all.

Amid the thrills and spills, Arthur and Rory find time for a few tender moments, and I have to say that Ms. Therin has at last managed to convince me of their genuine attachment and absolute devotion to one another. Previously, I found it difficult to see what a wealthy sophisticate like Arthur could see in the prickly, much younger Rory (the age gap is about eight years) who, when they first met, behaved like a complete brat towards him. Here, however, I finally bought their connection, and even though their relationship is still beset with problems of communication and trust, they feel really solid as a couple. As in the previous books, the author doesn’t sweep aside the difficulties faced by two men attempting a romantic relationship in the 1920s, difficulties which are compounded by their vast difference in social status. One of the major sticking points between them has always been Rory’s refusal to accept Arthur’s help or to rely on him in any way. By now, Arthur is finding it a bit wearing, his heart heavy because he feels that Rory’s reluctance to lean on him is because Rory has always got one foot halfway out the door. Here at last, Rory starts to realise how his attitude is hurting the man he loves; he admitted in the last book that he would want to help Arthur were their situations reversed, but he still wasn’t able to make any concessions. Now though, he’s grown up enough to realise it’s not weak to ask for and accept help, and I was impressed with the amount of character growth Rory exhibits in this book.

The author’s research into Prohibition Era New York is excellent, enabling her to skilfully weave the threads of her own magical world into the historical background, putting the reader squarely at a table in Jade’s speakeasy or inside Rory’s dingy room at his rat-infested boarding house. I noted – with a smile – that she chose an International ship for the gang to travel across the Atlantic so there would be booze available!

On the downside, I did find some of the information about the relics a bit confusing, and while Zeppler is definitely eeeevil, I was never completely clear as to why he wanted to amass All the Relics and All the Magic. World domination, I suppose, but that’s rather unoriginal! There were a few places it seemed there was just too much going on and too many characters on page – although I admit that might be more a ‘me’ problem than a ‘book’ problem – and a couple of plot points appeared and then disappeared, never to be seen again.

But I enjoyed Wonderstruck despite those quibbles, and was completely caught up in the story. A compelling combination of vivid historical setting, memorable characters, fascinating magic and a heartfelt romance, It’s a fine way to end this unique series.

Rating: 4.5 stars / B+

Arthur Kenzie is trying to find a way to destroy the magical relic that almost demolished Manhattan. His quest has taken him away from Rory, who is in danger now that the Baron and his minions know about Rory’s psychometric abilities. But being separated is hard on both men, especially as Rory is struggling at home. Not only is he still trying to gain control over his abilities, but Mrs. Brodigan is getting married and moving away. She has been Rory’s only family for so long and he feels like he is losing her, not to mention that leaves Rory out of a job.

It soon becomes clear that gaining control over the magical relics isn’t going to be a straightforward process. And it is also clear that keeping Rory safe isn’t going to be easy either. In order to stop the Baron and destroy the artifacts, Rory and Arthur are going to need more help than they can get in New York. Along with Jade and Zhang, the pair head off to England where they hope to get more information and resources, and ultimately to Paris, the site of the world’s fair. It means reconnecting with people from their past, including those they are not sure they can trust. It also means that Rory and Arthur will have to put their lives on the line. But the situation is too dire not to take that chance, and with the fate of the world in the balance, Rory and Arthur will have to trust each other and give all they have to stop the destruction before it is too late.

Wonderstruck is the third book in Allie Therin’s fabulous Magic in Manhattan trilogy. The books read as one long story and so you should start at the beginning of this wonderful historical paranormal series. This final book is full of romance, adventure, and excitement, tying things up nicely both with the larger series arc, as well as for Rory and Arthur.

From the suspense end, things have heated up and they are facing danger from all direction. The Baron has numerous paranormals under his command and even with Rory’s vast power, they are still up against a huge hurdle. All the pieces come together from across the series to lead to the final battle. It is intense and exciting and so well done. Therin brings together the paranormal and suspense elements so wonderfully, but also threads them with Rory and Arthur’s connection in a way that makes the tension rocket all the higher. Rory and Arthur’s abilities and strengths are so inextricably tied to one another and I loved how their bond really fits into the resolution of the story. I’ll admit there are a few times where I found myself a bit lost remembering all the characters and details that have played out over the three books (reading these stories closer together would have helped me), but I just loved how this all comes together. It is a great, suspense-filled resolution that ties the story up nicely, but leaves some openings if Therin ever revisits this world.

For me, as exciting as these stories are, the real heart of the series is Arthur and Rory’s relationship and Therin does a great job tying things up for them as well. One of the recurring themes here has been both men’s desire to take care of the other, even at the expense of themselves. That also overlays with Rory’s concerns about the wealth/class differences between them. Despite Arthur’s assurance that he wants nothing more than to take care of Rory, Rory has continued to struggle with not just giving up his independence, but also feeling a burden to Arthur. Here things come to a head as Rory finds himself in pretty dire straits and the men finally are able to hear each other and work though the situation. They both want to take care of each other so badly, but they also have to trust the other to take care of them. This theme plays out so nicely over the course of the story in many ways and it really solidifies the bond these men have. I found myself a bit swoony with the declarations between Rory and Arthur and the way they have been so solid as a couple. Therin is a master at really making me feel the intensity and the passion between them, even through the closed door scenes. I just love how things all come together for Rory and Arthur and I just adore the two of them.

So this was a wonderful end to a really great series. Therin balances a taut and exciting paranormal thriller with a really emotional romance. This final book brings the story to a great close and I have so enjoyed these stories.