The Hypnotic City (The Gold and Gaslight Chronicles #2)

I must confess I wanted to read this book based on the gorgeous cover alone but thankfully the contents more than matched it. I haven't read the first book in this series but that didn't hinder me at all.
It follows Philomena Blackwell as she escapes London and heads to New York in 1905 to try and land a role on Broadway. She has always looked young for her age and fears this will hold her back. However she catches the eye of 2 very different men and for a large chunk of the book I wasn't sure which one I could trust (if any.) I would say for the first half this reads very much like a contemporary but slowly the creep factor ramps up to a quite terrifying conclusion.
Philomena is a wonderful leading character and she has some great friends, both new and old that were also fun to read about (I believe some of them are from the first book in the series) and there was also enough romance. I loved the setting of the book, the writing, the story: all in all a fantastic read.

"The Hypnotic City" tells the tale of Philomena who has escaped London to go to New York City where she hopes to become an actress. Taking place in the early twentieth century, the book includes a cast of modern-seeming characters. It easily seems like it could have taken place in the current day (except that no one has cell phones or computers). Philomena is trying her hardest to make it as an actress, but she is held back by her age (she's 16) and lack of physical development. She just looks too young. At a promising audition, she is mocked by a director who subsequently realizes he misjudged her and apologies. This man, Jamie, becomes her boyfriend- and he turns out to be incredible. Jamie is the early twentieth century hipster-type man, eschewing all the modern, popular theater and wanting to make shows with more impact and less commercial appeal. He is also great in that he believes in Philomena and is happy to support her as she seeks to grow her career. He is also incredible in terms of their physical relationship and asking for permission, etc. This becomes markedly notable later in the book with a clear contrast.

Philomena's luck changes when the wealthy Tom, who owns a theater that produces dime romance productions, finds her and sets her up as his next star. Tom supports (or controls, depending on whom you ask) his staff by keeping them in a building he owns and dictating a set of rules which they must live by. Philomena is happy to live in his building for the opportunity of stardom, which has been desperately seeking and wanting for so long. About 60% of the way through the book, things begin moving quickly and a mystery forms about things at the gilded palace Tom has created that don't seem to add up.

I have not read the first book in the series, but I found this one easy to read outside of it/did not feel like I was missing anything. The first half of the book is slow, building up Philomena's desperation for acting and her relationship with Jamie (who is seriously the best)! I would have scored it lower if it weren't for the incredible last half of the book. It's much faster paced and the mystery is so intriguing, I devoured it! Philomena is a strong character who knows what she wants and believes in herself enough to get it.

This book was really a fantastic romance, thriller, and mystery! I really loved it. I'm definitely going to need to read the first one now! Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Hypnotic City is the second in the Gold and Glasslight Chronicles. I read this book as a stand alone. It does not completely reveal the previous story, but I definitely know the basics after reading the Hypnotic City.


The book is set in the theater world of New York City in the early 1900s. Philomena and her friend Jennie are escaping London after an extended quarantine had been lifted from the city. Philomena is the daughter of an earl, but she has only ever felt like a bird in a gilded cage. She steals some of the family wealth and sets out to America to be her own person and seek success on the stage.


While in America, she encounters all of the problems that face a young unknown actress: theives, false friends, disinterested producers, exploitative employers and the need to find a way to survive. Philomena and Jennie find a balance about the time that Jennie falls in love, gets married and leaves to help her husband in his new business. Philomena finds herself on her own in a job that feels like a dead end. One of her co-workers arranges for Philomena to get an important audition only to have the stage manager make fun of her and the producer to dismiss her without even listening to her audition. All of the stress leads Philomena to do something rash while performing at her job. However, that moment is the beginning of big things for Philomena, not least of which attracts a monster. Read The Hypnotic City to see if Philomena is able to make it big and escape the monster that pursues her.

I fell in love with The hypnotic city just as soon as I read the first page. I am blown away by the relatable characters, the well written chapters. It really feels like I am there walking the streets of New York just a few paces away from Philomena and her thrilling dramatic adventure.
Philomena is a character most people would want to be; She is a strong, independent, petite , heroine that lets no one get in the way of what she wants. (She is my favorite character. )
I give this Sequel five big stars!

For those who read the first (Heartless City), this continues the adventures of Philomena as she leaves the dark streets of London and heads across the pond to New York City. There she will discover the entrancement of Broadway, the appeal of a certain stage manager, and the haunting of something dark like just might spell her doom.

As anyone who reads my reviews, this is one of my favorite publishers for reason just like this. This is a beautifully written web of intrigue, horror, and romance set in the Big Apple and revolves around the diverse world Broadway. Lovers of Frankenstein, Jekyl, and retellings of classics will fall in love with these books. I am truly hoping for a third.,