Once again, Rory and Arthur were just darn adorable! They are SUCH a cute couple, and their light-hearted banter, smoldering attraction, and deepening feelings are the highlight of this series.

This book also really focused on the adorable found family element in the series. With his mother dead and his father just awful, Rory felt mostly alone in life and didn't trust easily. But he wasn't alone, and his new lover and friends were determined to show him that.

Since this book was the last in the trilogy, it wrapped up the plot about Zeppler, the paranormal relics, and the romance in a happy, satisfying way. I felt like there were some background elements that were brought up or seemed hinted at but then were never brought up again, but nothing big. There were also some interesting uses of magic and paranormal abilities, plus some surprising little twists here and there.

The Prohibition Era setting was great again, but this time the characters traveled to Europe for a while, which was fun too!

Overall this was a really great, sweet, fun series with interesting magic, a vibrant historical setting, lovable characters, sweet found family, and an adorable romance!

4.5 Stars!

It's no secret I love this series. Book #1, Spellbound was my first book by Allie Therin and I almost instantly loved her writing and the tale she wove with these two men and their paranormal adventures in the 1920s.

Fast forward two books later to this book and the writing is still as good and the story still as compelling as ever. This time, their paranormal adventures took them out of their home turf of NY, into new places, and finally culminated at Paris where the "Big Bad" that had been lurking in the shadows finally came to light. Let me tell you this, he really was a piece of work . *shudders*

Rory and Ace were as cute together as ever and even though this book threw a lot at them, they managed to get even stronger in their relationship. Also, like the previous two books in this trilogy this book managed to deliver intimacy without giving us explicitly laid out sexy times. As someone who reads a lot of steam, books like this can be refreshing when done right like this was.

So yeah, if you like your historical romance or PNR done right, don't hesitate to pick up this trilogy. You will not regret it.

The third in the series, and just as much a rollicking adventure as the others. Once again Ace and Rory traverse the ocean this time in search of a way to destroy a dangerous magical object. Side characters from the previous novels turn up in delightful ways and new ones are introduced with aplomb.

The only issue I had was the pacing. Some parts of the novels seemed added in as padding or only as a way to explore the relationship between Ace and Rory while not advancing the other plotline at all. As this is a common issue with genre romances and something I've learned to ignore, I suspect other readers of the genre will be able to do the same.

Overall a fun way to spend an afternoon or three, and you can rest assured of a happy ending.

All good things must come to an end, as the saying goes, and Allie Therin has brought this trilogy and these characters to their inevitable conclusion with nothing less than the perfect blend of magic, danger, intrigue, and, of course, the romance between Arthur “Ace” Kenzie and Rory Brodigan—as lovable a pair of opposites as there ever was. This trilogy was sensational from the start, and I can’t think of a more fitting way to leave the world and these characters behind than with the wondrousness that is Wonderstruck.

The long arc of the series has always been to find Baron Zeppler and discover a way to destroy a magical artifact that would spell horror for non-magical humans if it fell into the villainous baron’s hands. Up to this point, he’s been nothing but a name on the page, working in the background through a series of henchmen chasing Ace and Rory, and their two closest allies, Jade and Zhang, but we now, finally, get to put a face to the name, so to speak, and everything that happens when Zeppler crawls out from the shadows plays out in heartrending and pulse-pounding ways. The consequential moment, when all seems lost, couldn’t have been written better, with twists and surprises, and I loved the moment when everything became clear as well as the resulting impact of the events and how they needed to play out in order for the good guys to emerge, if not unscathed, at least in one piece.

As impressive as the world-building and the magic system are, this trilogy simply would not be what it is without Ace and Rory and the complications that come along with their relationship. Rather than glossing over the inherent challenges, Therin allows those conflicts—not only the need to maintain a certain level of discretion in their feelings for each other, but also creating plausible reasons for the wealthy son of a politician and a poor antiques appraiser to keep company with each other—to appropriately influence the story but not drive it into gratuitous dramatics. The insecurities that arise for Rory from their economic disparity, and those that result from something Arthur learns about how deeply their connection to each other runs, plays up the tension to peak, sometimes heart-wrenching, perfection, and where we leave them in the end couldn’t have been more satisfying. The found family, the friendships, the feelings of belonging to someone, and to something much bigger than yourself, are all here.

Will there ever be a spinoff of this series? Could Rory and Ace and company reappear once again to save the world from another villain and dangers untold? I have no idea, but if they do, count me in on any and all adventures. Therin’s compelling characters and storytelling made loving this series effortless.

I enjoyed the heck out of Wonderstruck,. I'm sad to say goodbye to Ace and Teddy but it was a lovely send off.

Therin is a master at setting a scene so that the reader is immersed in a different time period. Her attention to detail is phenomenal, and it pays off in spades.

The descriptions of the characters' voyage from NYC to London--the differences in classes, the accommodations--is fascinating. And on to Paris and London. Life in 1925 is meticulously recreated in America and abroad. Aside from the magic, every tiny aspect of the time period is thoroughly represented.

The worldbuilding of the magic is so colorful and imaginative. The range of powers the paranormals have and how those powers interact grabbed my attention and curiosity. I simply couldn't put this book down.

And what brings it all together is the romance between Arthur and Rory. I am here for all the mushy, sweet, and adorable scenes with these two.

All of these elements--the historical setting, the magic, and the love story--combine to make an exceptional story and a wonderful conclusion to Magic in Manhattan trilogy.

I have been waiting for the conclusion of the Magic in Manhattan trilogy for nine months, and now it’s finally here! The plot picks up after the events of Starcrossed. Ace and Rory and their supernatural friends are still trying to stop the big villains before they unleash utter destruction on the world. This probably doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read the rest of the series, but I’m keeping the details vague so as to not spoil the first 2/3 of a trilogy.

But for those of you who have read the other books, Wonderstruck is an absolute treat. Rory is still as grumpy as ever, and some of the funniest scenes involved defending slights—both real and perceived—against his beloved Ace. As Rory would say, this book isn’t just mushy lovey dovey stuff: there’s plenty of action and a couple of real close moments where you aren’t sure if everybody is going to come out okay.

Rory and Ace’s romance is still as strong as ever. Despite their differences, they find a way to be together, even if they can’t show affection in public. I loved the way that Therin found new ways to show how special Ace and Rory’s bond is. As with the other books, the love scenes tend to be at about a PG-13 level, which fits perfectly with the book’s dynamic.

Therin has created this fascinating and compelling alternate 1920s world. I thought I was familiar with the artefacts and the supernatural abilities, but this book provided me with a fresh perspective, demonstrating that there are undiscovered facets.

I would absolutely recommend Wonderstruck. Like I said, you need to read the first two books before this one; otherwise, you won’t know what’s going on and you’ll spoil so many plot twists and just take it from me: read the series in order. I’m a bit—okay, more than a bit—sad that the series is coming to an end. I hope this isn’t the end of the Magic in Manhattan world because there are plenty of side characters who I would love to see become protagonists. Rory and Ace are one of my favorite couples, and even though their HEA has been achieved, I hope we can still have new stick figure memes in the future. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then follow Therin on Twitter or Instagram and be prepared to laugh.


I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press/NetGalley.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I was so excited for book 3 in this series. I really enjoyed the first 2 books and when I hit a slump I knew just the book to get me out of it... sadly it didn't work. I struggled through the first half of this book, sad that I wasn't enjoying it. I eventually decided to take a break, read something in between and then return. My mood was a lot better after that and I enjoyed the second half more, but Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first 2 books. It's a solid read, it just was missing something for me that the first two books did have.

So in Wonderstruck Arthur and Rory are on a quest to destroy the dangerous relic they got their hands on in book 2. More accurately Arthur is doing that while Rory is stuck in New York. I thought the book had quite the slow start, they're trying different things to destroy the relic and for a long time it feels like they're not getting anywhere. It also feels like the stakes aren't as high, they're preventing a possible bad future, but there's nothing really going on right now. More importantly I didn't really feel the urgency and danger. The pacing felt a bit weird, with some parts being slow and then others almost feeling rushed.

Things pick up once they go to England and I was curious to see what happened next, while I enjoyed the second half a bit more, it never fully pulled me in as much as I would've liked. At times I would've liked to see a bit more of the characters, it feels very plot focused at times, but not in an engaging way. It's hard to explain exactly what about this book didn't quite work for me.

The ending is great and I liked how it wrapped up the main plot line while still leaving things a bit open. I personally would've liked to see a bit more closure about what happens next, but that's mostly because I rather have the author fill in the blanks than that I have to do that myself.

There are some awesome bonding scenes between Arthur and Rory later on in the story. The definitely have some bump to overcome first tough. I was a bit disappointed they go through some of the same issues as in the previous books. It felt realistic sure, but it was wasn't as interesting to me to read. It just felt like repeating some of those same conversations again. I do like these two together. They made for a great couple and it's clear they care about the other a lot and a lot of their troubles come from caring too much.

There is a big show down scene at the end, but it didn't feel as strong as those in previous books and I didn't really care for a certain power that a bad guy had, it just felt too convenient. There is a nice twist along the way and I am glad with how some things got resolved, it just seemed to lack that little something that really pulls the story to the next level for me.

To summarize: I really enjoy this series and would definitely recommend it. While I really enjoyed books 1 and 2, this one fell a bit flat for me. The pacing didn't feel as well done, with parts feeling pretty slow and others almost rushed. The first half really was a struggle for me to get through. Things are going on, but it's mostly preventing a future disaster and there is nothing really going right now. There are plenty of attempts, but it feels like they're not getting anywhere. After I took a break from this book I returned and enjoyed the second half more, there are some interesting developments and I liked the romance. I like Arthur and Rory as a couple and there are some great scenes between them, although I didn't really care for how they went over some of the same issues as in previous books again. It was realistic, just not as interesting to me. I also would've liked to see a bit more of the side characters in this one. Sadly this one didn't fully work for me, but the series as a whole is a great one and this one brings a good resolution to the main plot lines.

First, a confession: every time I think of the title of this book, I sing it in my head to tune of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Just me?

OK, moving on . . .

Wonderstruck is great! I loved it.

Rory and Arthur continue with their quest to destroy a dangerous magic relic in their possession or at least to prevent it from falling into the hands of the evil telepath Baron Zeppler. After their attempts fail and Zeppler’s henchmen show up in America, Rory, Arthur, and their friends travel to London and then, following a lead, to Paris—which is, of course, where Zeppler is based. Then everything goes spectacularly wrong before Rory’s magic and a surprising twist (plots within plots!) lead to the defeat of the Baron once and for all.

So, the book has plenty of action, but the romance between Rory and Arthur is the best part of story, I think. Arthur is a former soldier, a man who has killed, but he’s a squishy marshmallow for Rory. Rory is completely gone for Arthur, too, and together they are just adorable. Each of them has their vulnerabilities and insecurities, but Rory and Arthur work them out together, and in the end they recognize their strength and commitment as couple. I really felt the love between them, much more so than in many of the romance novels I’ve read.

Rory and Arthur clearly get their HEA as the series wraps up, but the author leaves an opening for more books in this world. If so, since I’ve got a soft spot for the snarky ones, I’m hoping that Arthur’s ex Lord Fine gets a starring role. He’s obviously in need of some loving!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

This book is a wonderful conclusion to a spellbinding trilogy. I really just love Therin's world building and characters. I did not want the book to end because watching Rory and Arthur is just too much fun. This novel takes us out of Manhattan, though not to the World's Fair as is implied by the blurb. That would actually be my biggest complaint about the story, as I would have loved to see it.

Rory and Arthur's relationship continues to develop in the story, and we get to enjoy the excellent secondary characters as well. I did wish we got to see more of their romantic time, but like the previous books, the novel keeps all the sexual encounters off the page. But the chemistry and love is there, and the dialogue is well done.

I recommend reading this series in order to get full enjoyment. Now I want to go back and read all 3 books again!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

Heat Factor: Extremely low key, still fade-to-black
Character Chemistry: Every time Arthur calls Rory "Teddy" (his real name that only Arthur uses), I turn into a puddle of goo
Plot: We’re finally going to come face to face with the evil baron and save the world!
Overall: I’m glad I read this trilogy.

I was paying attention over on yon bird app when Starcrossed was released, and I thought, “That sounds fun!” So this series was sort of nebulously out there for me when we got an email from our friends over at Carina with the opportunity to read this book. I took it.

Now, I’m the sort of person who likes to read a series in order. So I figured “now’s the time!” And it is a good thing I did because I do not think this book would be nearly as enjoyable if you haven’t read the other two books first. Therin does recall or recap some prior events, but there are quite a few characters, and not all of their thoughts, backgrounds, and actions are rehashed as we dive into the final segment of the three-book story.

This book is wrapping up the loose ends that all unraveled for us in the first two books. I’m not sure that I was particularly illuminating plot-wise in my prior reviews (though by all means, go read them), so to summarize:
Arthur found out about magic during WWI when he tried to rescue one of his soldiers who used his magic to save himself. He became friends with a group of paranormals who were then targeted by this power-hungry and probably sociopathic baron.
All of them now know that there are magical relics in the world that can make paranormals even more powerful, and it’s a race to see who can find them - the Arthur team, who wants to protect the world from people bent on using magic for selfish and destructive reasons, or the baron, who...wants to rule the world? He both wants to control everything and throw non-magical humans into chaos for entertainment purposes.
The core Arthur team: Arthur, Jade, Zhang, and Rory, are purely altruistic, but they run into former friends and current enemies who are a bit gray. An enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all, and they need all the help they can get to save the world.

That’s the primary plot, and it’s very Arthur-centric, I guess, but there’s a lot more going on. Rory, who was afraid of his power in book 1, is still struggling to control what is turning out to be immense power, but he’s a lot more confident and a lot more comfortable now that he’s not the only paranormal of his acquaintance. This results in Arthur, who wants to protect young and inexperienced Rory, feeling like the outsider because all of the paranormals who have superpowers are afraid for the safety of the non-magical people they love, and they want to keep the non-magical folks as far away from the magic as possible. It’s an interesting conflict as it plays out.

Also, Rory and Arthur seem to be going through a really normal relationship arc. In the first book they’re falling in love and trying to figure out that their feelings are even reciprocated, but in the next books they’re realizing that they have some conversations and issues to work through before they can really be committed to each other on a more permanent level. It’s nice to pretend like “I love you” is enough sometimes, but let’s be honest, what it really is is: “I love you so I am willing to put in the effort to be with you,” and that’s what we get from Arthur and Rory. This book, which removes them from the social inequality challenges they have in New York, sees them cement their relationship as equals more than as Rory being the adorable young innocent and Arthur being the paternalistic protector.

Because we talk romance here, I have to admit that this runs a bit into romance-adjacent territory. That seems to be sort of the nature of the beast with relationships that exist in trilogies. The nice thing about the way Therin handles this particular trilogy is that she doesn’t make any of the three books end with a cliffhanger or a breakup, so it’s like three versions of a HEA, maybe.

As this is the conclusion of the trilogy, I also want to talk for a moment about how Therin wraps up everything that she’s been unravelling. I really enjoyed this trilogy, and I think the wrap-up was solid, but I also thought that it was a little bit unconventional. It was as if Therin considered what had to be tied up and got us there without necessarily showing us all the tied up loose ends. For example, one issue is resolved with a conversation along the lines of, “We’ll clean this up and then you’ll go talk to that guy we left behind at the last place about how specifically he wants to solve this problem.” Like it doesn’t have to be resolved on page because they don’t have to stress about the bad guy out to get them now. Which, frankly, is fair. I don’t need a hundred pages of denouement. But as I said, it felt somewhat unconventional.

There are also some characters introduced or re-introduced who don’t necessarily add much, like Arthur’s ex. I like him, and I totally liked seeing him again (he’s very entertaining and I would love for him to find love), but after I finished the book, I wondered if he was doing much work for this story. And he’s not the only one. It’s possible that some of these characters will be featured again in the spinoff that Therin is planning (and I hope my hunch is correct because that would be fabulous), but if so the foreshadowing isn’t especially obvious.

My thoughts boil down to: I wouldn’t recommend this book to a reader who has not read the first two books. I don’t think it would be super satisfying on its own, and I don’t think the first half of this book is fast-paced enough to suck in a reader who isn’t already invested in the story. But if you’ve read the first two books, I think the excitement of watching how everything finally plays out is really fun. And it’s not super predictable, so the three books together is an awesome paranormal read with a great cast of characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Wonderstruck is a strong finish for Allie Therin’s historical urban fantasy series, Magic in Manhattan. To recap, Arthur “Ace” Kensie is the younger son of a wealthy and politically powerful New York family. As a lieutenant in the army fighting in WWI, he discovered that magic exists. Though he has no magic, he becomes part of an unofficial group of magic users trying to protect the world from paranormals who want to use magic for evil reasons. Theodore “Rory” Brodigan (not his real name) is a young, poor New Yorker who can scry the history of an object by touching it. Rory and Ace start off as antagonists, but Rory wins Ace’s heart by telling him to scram repeatedly (he does not say “scram”).

Rory and Ace are the heart of the series and the second book suffered a bit for keeping them apart. Standing against them as a couple are homophobia, the social and economic differences between them, Rory’s growing, but not under control magic, and Baron Zeppler and his lust for magical power. To overcome all that, Ace and Rory have to learn to trust each other and what’s between them. I loved that it took them three books to build that trust as they chased magical relics and faced off against the bad guys. Therin has done such a great job of building to a climax for the romance and for the mystery.

The ending was like being wrapped in a warm, fluffy blanket and given a plate of fresh pastries. I very much hope that at some point in the future, Therin gives us a short where Ace gives Rory a shave. As Rory says, “hngh!” Other than that I hope they get time to rest and enjoy one another. Allie Therin is such a good writer. I wish I were better at describing just how well she writes. Since I can’t, I’ll leave you with a quote:

“That’s what love does,” said Rory. “The best kind of love makes us stronger by ourselves, too. Meeting you changed my life. It changed me. And I like me better now.”

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series so much! Paranormal historical needs to become a thing! I wish it was in print right now, I would handsell the heck out of this series! What a great conclusion to the story and I hope the author continues to write in this universe.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly January New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

I’m going to miss Rory and Ace! The Magic in Manhattan series had quickly become one of my favorites and I always looked forward to the next novel. All good series have to come to an end and I’m happy with how this series wrapped up.
Ace and Rory head to Paris and towards the world’s fair to destroy the relics that are dangerous to humanity for even existing. It could be life or death for them, but this is much bigger than them. Zhang, Jade, Gwen, and Ellis all return and at first, I was like, huh? Gwen and Ellis? But Gwen and Ellis surprised me.
My favorite parts about Wonderstruck
The action sequences. There were moments that my heart was racing with anxiety. I needed to keep turning the page to see what was going to happen. Adding the vivid setting, imagery and dialogue I felt as though I was in the moment.
Rory finally acknowledged that he can ask for help and that these people were his real family. Family isn’t always what you’re born into, it’s the people who make you feel whole. He finally saw this.
There were moments Ace and Rory couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. It was clear they missed each other when they were separated, but even when they were traveling together there were little touches between each other. My inner romantic sighed happily a few times.
What I wished there was?
More novels in the series! I know, I know. But honestly? The only thing that was missing, was on page love scenes. I’m an avid romance reader so with the build up and then skipping to later was a little disappointing.
BUT
I absolutely loved this series. It’s one I’ll revisit and continue recommending to other readers because it truly was a series that made me happy and excited to read.

A single tear runs down my cheek as I read the last sentence of this magnificent trilogy. Leave me alone with my happy pain! This was the perfect conclusion to a perfect series. It didn't lack heart pain and often you just wanted to slap some sense into the characters, but overall they were all super cute and sweet and weirdly smart in very difficult situations. I say weirdly because these are stubborn men and they love to keep secrets from each other "for their safety". Yeah, right, we know that it doesn't work this way. They don't, so that's why I wanted to slap some sense into their stubborn brain.

Rory and Ace were even closer than usual not without their constant doubts about themselves and how much they brought into their relationship. I loved how in synch they were and I loved seeing their jealousy. It was funny! Then of course one or both has to be in danger because that's how they roll so I was always anxiously waiting for the mean guys to come and kidnap one of them. Kidnapping seemed like their MO seeing the two previous books.

I loved the storyline in this one and how it allowed Rory and Ace's love to bloom and shine more, and how it also explained more about magic and the relics. There wasn't much of Rory scrying objects but there was plenty of adventure from NY to Boston to London to Paris. There was so much going on!

Perfect conclusion and I sense there might me more in this world to tell. A certain lord maybe getting his happy ending? Crossing my fingers!

Wonderstruck, book #3 in Allie Therin's Magic in Manhattan series, brings everything that was amazing and glorious in the first two books together and with the artful and creative cadence that is unique to Therin, weaves an ending that is both exhilarating and utterly satisfying.

Ace and Rory are back, seeking relics and ways to keep them from those who would use them for evil. Complications continue to arise, from the mundane challenges of honesty and trust, as well as two men trying to have a relationship in the 1920s, and escalate to the supernatural when they are forced to face those who can control others through blood and the evil Baron Zeppler, who does not disappoint in the final installment of this absolutely magical trilogy (no, seriously, he is terrifying, and he isn't even the worst of it!). These tests will try Rory, Ace, and those who love and care for them, more than anything before.

My favorite aspect of Wonderstruck was watching the lines between enemies and friends blur. More than one individual is offered redemption before the story has played out. I certainly won't give any spoilers, but the me that loves redemption arcs was more than pleasantly surprised.

Also, seeing Ace jealous drew a giggle from me on more than one occasion.

The bottom line with this book is that Therin artfully pulled together each and every glittering thread from the first two books, using them, and a few new ones, to weave a spellbinding take of magic, adventure, and love. This book brought me to tears in more than one instance, and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you enjoyed Spellbound and Starcrossed, then there is no way you should miss this glorious conclusion.

Wonderstruck is the last(?) book in the Magic in Manhattan series by Allie Therin and it knocked me off my feet. This entire series has been one of the best I have read in YEARS. It is so beautifully written, emotionally charged, action packed, and full of delight. Rory and Arthur are such a joy and their relationship grows and is mixed with such strength and sweetness. It blows me away every time. The grumpiest cinnamon roll and the dashing charmer. A match made in Manhattan. The supporting cast of characters are the greatest as well, Jade and Zhang, Pavel and Sasha, Gwen and Ellis and most especially Wesley. (still pulling so hard for him to have a series). This last book had it all and was such a wild ride. I loved every minute of the journey and absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on more by Therin

And finally, we arrive in the conclusion of Allie Therin's alternate-fantasy-universe of the 1920's. Arthur, Rory, and the rest of their friends are trying to find a way to destroy the powerful pomander relic while at the same time capturing the big bad Baron Zeppler, once and for all. This being a conclusion, you all definitely have to read the first two books first.

To be honest, I still got rather lost with the talks of relics in this book, but again, I found the adventure and the characters to be too interesting, that I didn't really care about the relics. In this third book, the baddies were known, the friends more determined, and well, because of that, I thought the romance were stronger because Therin focused on Arthur and Rory battling their own insecurities.

Since Arthur and Rory came from different class, they had their own fears. On top of that, Arthur was a non-magical being, while Rory ended up being one of the most powerful. Arthur worried that his non-magical status would just be a burden to Rory while Rory didn't want to burden Arthur with asking help for money and home. Plus, Arthur being from an upper class, Rory didn't want their relationship (as in men loving men) also ruining Arthur's life

There were moments that I loved so much, Arthur acknowledging how much he missed Rory, Rory being adorably jealous with Wesley, Arthur also a bit jealous towards Sebastian. Sure, I might be rather exasperated with Arthur's way of keeping secrets when it came to his own life, and Rory's inability to ask for help from Arthur ... but in the end, I thought they were solid gold.

The full and original version of this review can be found here: https://twobirds1blog.wordpress.com/2021/01/23/wonderstruck-recently-published-read-review-bookreview-arc/

There are so many good things to say about this series overall and this book in particular. Let’s start with the main draw, the characters. Arthur and Rory are out alpha couple of the series. Arthur Kenzie is a rich ex-American football player, former boxer, Veteran from a political dynasty in NYC. To sum up Arthur Kenzie I’ll make this comparison, he’s Steve Rodgers without if he wasn’t a superhero but still looked buff as hell, except he’s got Bucky’s colouring. Rory is a psychometric, he sees the past when he touches objects, and he’s very powerful. Rory’s not his read name, his real name is Theodore and Arthur calls him Teddy which is just bloody adorable. To keep my comparison going imagine Bucky if he were some sort of psychic, and had Steve’s colouring instead haha. Did this comparison pop into my head after reading an amazing series of Bucky/Steve fanfic for another challenge? Yes it did, will I apologise for that? No, I am unapologetic. They’re very protective of each other, and with good reason Rory is wanted by a terrifyingly powerful psychic who wants to rip a bunch of magical knowledge out of Rory’s brain. And as Rory says, Arthur has a penchant for getting kidnapped while wearing tuxedos. Neither of them is a one dimensional character though Therin does an amazing job of making the reader fall in love with not just them as a couple but each man individually. They are so well fleshed out, especially by the time you get to this point in the series.

In this entry in the series there are really two beta couples, you’ve got the wonderfully diverse Jade and Zhang, Arthur’s best friends. Jade is a black woman and Zhang is of Chinese descent. In New York City it was very hard on them as a couple in the 1920s Therin doesn’t sugarcoat that, and we all know that was sadly the historical truth. She explores that issue a little bit more in this novel by sending the crew to Europe where things are slightly easier for both of our main couples. They don’t have to hide as much – although I’m not entirely certain Europe was that much more progressive than the US at that point in history.

The other beta couple is the straight, white, married couple who would be the main characters in most other romance novels, Gwen and Ellis. These two are Arthur and Jade’s former best friends from before they met Zhang and Rory. Gwen and Ellis are definitely antiheroes by the time we get to Wonderstruck but this is character growth because they started off the series firmly in full on antagonist/villain territory. After saving Rory in the climax of Starcrossed though the gang starts to trust them again a little bit more and agrees to work with them against Zeppler in this one but they’re still wary. Therin does a great job of not only giving her characters great growth over time but of showing their motivations and making you understand why they behave the way they behave. Every action has a reason for being done.

My only disappointment in the character department is with the big bad Baron Zeppler he’s built-up over the course of the first two books to almost Thanos levels of baddie reputation to continue my Marvel comparison. But he doesn’t turn up in person until about 3/4ths of the way through the book…wait I take it back that still actually does make him pretty much exactly like Thanos…

Another thing this book has going for it? You can tell Therin did her research, this is a fantasy novel yes, but it is a historical fantasy novel and the history here serves as more than just a backdrop against which the characters have been dropped. In this book for example they attend the Paris World’s Fair and it’s actually a plot point. Being set in 1920s NYC for the bulk of the series’ action, prohibition was a big part of the first two books, Jade runs an illegal speakeasy where a lot of important things happen for Arthur and Rory. So when they have to cross the Atlantic to Europe Therin makes a point of explicitly stating that they chose an international ship not an American one specifically so there would be alcohol for example. So that kind of little detail is a fun nod to her research.

She’s incorporated the magic in such a seamless way that the book could almost lean more towards historical magical realism than it does to historical paranormal fantasy. The main difference though is the type of magic. Comparing the magic in Wonderstruck to the magic in Alice Hoffman’s Magic Lessons which I read in December 2020, for example, you see that in magical realism the magic tends to be much “quieter” it is simple and tends to fit into the laws of nature and science, so, for example, psychometry and telekinesis and telepathy really don’t fit into the magical realism realm because they are all rather “loud” types of magic that all rather go against the laws of physics.

Overall this is a fun read, it’s a good romp with a fantastically realistic diverse cast of characters that has everything you want, magic, adventure, suspense, and a happy ending. I want more, desperately, I’m sad that it’s over. I hope she re-visits this universe in another series or does some spin-offs, maybe a novella where we get to see what happened when Arthur sends Sebastien to protect Wes? If you’re into fantasy and you’ve never tried a m/m novel give this series a shot (there are no graphic scenes, it’s not erotica), heck given it a shot regardless it’s a good time.

A wonderful way to wrap up the series! The final twist was deeply satisfying and I'm sorry to say goodbye to these two men trying to fumble their easy to their own forever.