In City of Time and Magic , Paula Brackston brings a well-written and entertaining mix of historical fiction, fantasy, time travel, romance, and suspense. It is the fourth book in the Found Things series and readers will benefit from reading the series in order as there are references to events in previous books. The novel is set in and around Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire in contemporary times and 1878 London.

Our protagonist, Xanthe, and her mother Flora live in Marlborough above their antique store, The Little Shop of Found Things. Xanthe has found that she can time travel to address injustices, an ability known to a few as Spinning. Objects sing and whisper to her to let her know when and where she is needed. At the end of book three, the main mission was accomplished, but there was a major cliffhanger. This book starts two weeks later with Xanthe feeling betrayed and worried about a friend. When three objects sing to her, she isn’t sure which one will take her on the mission she desires.

Xanthe has gained some confidence in herself and her ability to understand what the found objects need her to do. However, she is still learning what it means to be a Spinner able to travel to other times and places. She shows tremendous growth during the course of this fourth novel. The secondary characters provide the emotional support that Xanthe needs at this stage of her understanding of Spinning. They also bring realism to life through their quirkiness, hobbies and personalities. The antagonists’ motivations are as believable for 1878 as they are today.

Paula Brackston does a great job in giving the reader a sense of both time and place, and her descriptions help the reader to travel with Xanthe. The story has history, mystery, suspense, danger, deceit, uncertainty, secrets, villains, hope, friendship, sorrow, grief, love, duty to family, and much more. The author brings history to life with an entertaining story that is suspenseful, dramatic, and emotional. Be prepared for the imagery to engage your visual, tactile, auditory and olfactory senses.

Overall, it was compulsively readable, full of some surprising twists, and provides a believable historical atmosphere full of danger. This engaging combination fully delivered on the promise of its premise and opening scenes. The subplots tied together well, the main characters were strong, and the ending was explosive. Readers that enjoy time travel mixed with suspense and history will likely enjoy this novel.

St. Martin’s Press and Paula Brackston provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 16, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I enjoyed this book as much as I have enjoyed all the books in the Found Things series. The last book ended with a cliffhanger and I really don’t like when a new arc is introduced at the end of a story but I still liked this book. Liam is stuck in the past and Xanthe must find when and where he is so she can return him to the present. He has been kidnapped by Ms. Flyte, a fellow spinner. Xanthe had thought her trustworthy and a friend of sorts but now she must discover what Mrs. Flyte is up to and why she is using Liam as a pawn to get Xanthe’s help. I love the setting of the antique shop and the premise that old things sing to her and guide her in her time travel. It is a refreshing idea. I like reading the history of the times and places she travels to. I also like the introduction of Elizabeth as a character and that magic now is a new dimension in this story. I will also look into reading the other series by Ms. Brackston. I was unaware of it and am interested in reading Elizabeth’s story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL opinions expressed are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series so far. This is more than just a time travel series. People from the past call for Xanthe’s help through items she finds. She is then able to travel to the past to help. It was a lonely pastime for her as she kept it secret, except for Harley from the local bar. But now her Mum knows and also Liam, a friend who wants to be more but she has kept him at arms length so far. I loved to see the development of the characters and the interactions.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.

The fourth entry in the Found Things series begins exactly where the third book ended, with boyfriend Liam missing in time and Xanthe searching desperately for a way to bring him back. With three found things calling to her, the complication is to figure out into which time Mistress Flyte has taken him.
In the previous books Brackston envelops us firmly in two worlds, the present and the past, with equal success in the feel of time and place. This book takes place mostly in Victorian London and it’s a page-turner. This can be read as a standalone but having followed the series from the beginning, I highly suggest reading at least the first book, The Little Shop of Found Things, to get a feel for the characters and their place in the story. The second and third books - Secrets of the Chocolate House & The Garden of Promises and Lies are all as highly imaginative, immersive, and thrilling as this one. The third book ends on a major cliff hanger, this one does not, so it will be interesting to see where the author takes her series next.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I've read every book of this series and I love them more and more she rides a new one. I can't wait for the next book!

The fourth book in the Found Things Series was an awe inspiring read that grabbed my attention from page one! I have followed Xanthe's story from the beginning and each time the plot gets more exciting! Having lost Liam in the third book of this series, Xanthe is trying to find some lost object that will sing to her and lead her to where Liam is lost. Not knowing what time or place he is at, Xanthe has to be patient so that she doesn't cause more harm than good. With the help of local pub owner Harley, Xanthe soon receives the answer to her problem when she locates not one but three objects that are singing to her, but which one will lead her to Liam? Will those from Xanthe's past be the cause of Liam's disappearance? What will Xanthe have to do in order to get not only herself and Liam back home safely but Harley, as well? Be sure to get your copy so you can follow the dangerous adventure that Xanthe, Liam, and Harley find themselves on. Filled with new aquaintance's and old ones, as well, City of Time and Magic was a magical read that continues to keep me addicted to Author Paula Brackston's magnificent series! I am excited to see what spinner extrordinaire, Xanthe will be getting into next!

The fourth book in this series is just terrific!
Time travel mixed with some magic, interesting historic details with a touch of
romance make a great addition to this series. I can’t wait for the next adventure.

I'll be honest before I got approved of the ARC I went back and looked into the first installment of this series to learn more on what it's about! I'm glad I started the first one because there were some questions left unanswered and City of Time and Magic filled them in nicely! I adore all the characters and Paula Brackston's writing!

The author has a tendency towards redundancy with little comments here and there (as though she forgot she had already mentioned something), it’s small and doesn’t take away from the story. I do feel the first book was very different from where she took the series so that might turn away some readers. I think it’s weird that the ghost played such a crucial role in the first book but then there’s nothing about ghosts in the books after. I guess that’s probably because Xanthe never could see them before, but I would think if both seeing ghosts and time traveling were new at the same time, both talents would stay. Brackston has a talent for writing strong, intelligent, independent women and balancing them with equally compelling men. The villains in this book were less developed than Benedict Fairfax and the ending was a little rushed. I do agree that Xanthe’s lack of research and blind trust in “figuring it out” was a little naive. Things usually seem to work in her favor from sheer luck rather than her talents, yet she’s supposed to be this great spinner. I haven’t seen a lot of evidence to support that claim. Regardless, I do really enjoy these books and look forward to reading the next.

City of Time and Magic is the fourth book in the Series and is a continuation of the previous books. It was like hearing from old friends and I enjoyed the continuation of the growth of Xanthe and her acceptance of her role. It was interesting watching her friends drawn more into the story and the addition of Elizabeth and Erasmus. I can't wait to see where we go next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

I have never been more impatient for the next installment of a series. Brackston is a magical story teller!

I would love to read more of Xanthe's stories, but I would be perfectly happy to leave these wonderful characters where they landed here.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this gem!

Author Paula Brackston has become a favorite of mine and this series, FOUND THINGS, in particular. I love that the protagonist, Xanthe, is skeptical of her role in her newfound skills (time travel), that her mother has a chronic illness yet strives to function, that her boyfriend is not an all encompassing love and that her dog is lovable yet annoying. CITY OF TIME AND MAGIC picks up where the previous book ended, so this is not really a stand alone book. I would add, why miss out on the enjoyment of the previous three books? For Brackston fans, we even get a crossover character from a previous series. This feels like an ending to this series; all the loose ends are tied up and the big questions are settled. I would love more in the series, but the earlier books ended mid-scene and this did not.

This was a joy to read and I read it straight through. What a pleasure! I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

In this latest installment in the Found Things series, the story picks up where we left off with Xanthe desperately searching for an item that will return her to Victorian England, where her boyfriend Liam was left behind. Mistress Flyte, who Xanthe trusted as a friend, snatched him away from her in the last book when Xanthe was time spinning them home. Then she finds three items at the same sale... but if she chooses incorrectly, she could waste precious time away from Liam's rescue. She finally arrives in the correct time only to discover that Lydia Flyte was using Liam as bait for the Visionary Society, a group of spinners that use their gifts for evil purposes that could change the course of the future. Xanthe and her friends, both old and new, must fight to stop this ruthless group.
I love this whole series, so I was really excited to get chance to read it now as an ARC through NetGalley! Each book makes me more excited for the next, and this one didn't disappoint. Liam just makes an excellent match for Xanthe, putting his own life in the line to help her. I'm so excited that she brought Elizabeth, her main character from the Witch's Daughter series, into this book. I look forward to even more exciting things to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

I thought this book was a good continuation of the series.
It resolves some issues left from the previous book which made me happy. It was fast paced and kept me engrossed thru out the whole book. Definitely looking forward to Xanthe’s next adventure.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

City of Time and Magic by Paula Brackston

9781250260697

320 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: November 16, 2021

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Magic

Xanthe is frantic to find a found item so she can return to the past and find Liam. In the last book, as they were returning to their time, Liam was pulled from her arms and lost in time. Now she must when and where to find Liam. When she goes to an estate sale, three items sing to her but she isn’t sure which item will take her to Liam. Now more than ever she needs the help of her mother and friends.

This is the fourth book in the Found Things book series. As with the previous books, the story is well paced, and the characters are well developed. The story is written in the third person point of view. I love everything about this series from the setting to Xanthe’s black London cab car to the description of people and places in the past. If you enjoy Paula’s other books, you certainly will want to read this one.

Totally fascinating, I simply could not put City of Time and Magic down. I wondered, before I started reading if this book would be as riveting as the first three books. It definitely did not disappoint. I find the whole time travel part captivating!

I absolutely loved this adventure through time! Until now, I’ve only known Xanthe’s stories (which honestly just keep getting better and better), but now that I’ve discovered this is a crossover book, I’m off to read Brackston’s Witch’s Daughter series. It does make the book mourning period after an amazing read a tiny bit easier. There were some unexpected losses in this book that struck me harder than I thought they would, but the story as a whole was poignant and so beautifully done. Brackston’s careful attention to detail makes you feel like you’re deeply ensconced in the past along with Xanthe and her friends. And THREE singing items? I can’t even imagine where Xanthe will go next. I’m definitely following her.

Wow, cliffhanger from Book 3 to a fabulous story in this much loved series, kept me up reading late every night until The End.
City of Time and Magic sees Xanthe face her greatest challenges yet. She must choose from three treasures that sing to her; a beautiful writing slope, a mourning brooch of heartbreaking detail, and a gorgeous gem-set hat pin. All call her, but the wrong one could take her on a mission other than that which she must address first, and the stakes could not be higher. While her earlier mission to Regency England had been a success, the journey home resulted in Liam being taken from her, spirited away to another time and place. Xanthe must follow the treasure that will take her to him if he is not to be lost forever.
I love all the characters in this series and in this book we see so much more of Liam and Harley, which I loved.
I can't wait for book 5 in the Found Things Series. These books are a must read for me.
** Writing Quality 1 0/10
** Image / Illustration Quality 10/10
** Character Development 10/10
** "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness" 10/10
** Intellectual Depth 10/10
** Originality 10/10

What a treat to be drawn in to visit with old friends—-Xanthe, Liam, Harley, Flora! One could read this as a stand alone. But I think it is much richer if you read all the volumes in order, so that you know how Xanthe became a Spinner of Time, and what that means. The story——a voyage into Victorian England—-was, by turns, delightful and tragic, but always full of good company. New characters were as charming and engaging as the ones I already knew; with the exception of the bad guys, who really were quite bad (not badly written, just genuine evildoers). These volumes by Paula Brackston deserve the highest praise I can give: I look forward to reading them again (and maybe even again).