Well, this one took forever and a half to get through, but so worth it. I went in hoping for a YA version of The Prestige . That is not at all what I got and I'm happy for it.
Lisa Maxwell brilliantly blends the colors and intricacies of magic and time travel together to create a whopping 500 page adventure that will leave you very much reminiscing on Six of Crows. Make no mistake. That is high praise.
The story brings together a fabulous cast for this Adventure. Esta from our modern day travels back in time to find a book that can free magic-kind from a barrier that keeps them within city limits. However she isn't the only one after the book. Dolph (who you will find heart achingly familiar to Kaz) and his mottly crew are the only ones who have a chance of pulling off the heist to get the book and destroying the barrier. They in turn need Harte(throb) Darrigan.
Harte is magician who has gotten off the streets and made a name for himself. He is roped into Dolph's scheme but at a cost He wants the book for his -and only his -final escape act.
Trying to control all the pawns of the game, Esta must immerse herself in street-rat society and get the book...all without changing the known future.
A trusted one becomes a betrayer.
A villain becomes a savior.
A savior becomes a villain.
A leader is led.
A follower is followed.
Granted, the time travel affecting different outcomes of both future and past could be explained a bit better, but I'll look over it because of how well the book attempted to explain it and set up the rest of the story. You'll get many POVs, but not so many that the story becomes bogged down or overwhelming in it's detail (again, think Six of Crows style).
The plot twists are wicked and will leave your mind reeling. Kudos for Maxwell for pulling off those reveals just one after another in rapid succession while staying true to the continuity of the plot and rules of time. That ish can get hard to especially when you're going back and forth in the past and future.
Trust me, you do not want to miss out this brilliant magic act Maxwell. Book 2 comes out October 9, 2018.