City of Time and Magic (Found Things, 4)
This delightful fourth book in Brackston’s Found Things series picks up where the last, The Garden of Promises and Lies, ended. Xanthe, time-traveling spinner, is determined to get back to Liam, her boyfriend, who is currently lost in Victorian England. She begins by seeking treasures that will “sing” to her, which is the way in which she can time-travel. Xanthe is able to find the perfect antique and quickly finds herself at the door of none other than Erasmus Balmoral, Lydia Flyte’s rumored spinner lover. So begins her grand adventure to find Liam and get them both back to the proper time. Naturally, all kinds of mischief are afoot, danger lurks in corners, and Xanthe must overcome many hurdles to save the day.
Brackston has once again developed a fun and enjoyable time-travel novel with good historical elements and an interesting plot. Xanthe and Liam make a great team, and old favorites such as beloved friend Harley feature prominently. As with the previous books, the story is well paced. Readers learn a lot of backstory and history of spinners throughout time. While it can be read as a standalone, it is much richer (and more entertaining) if you read them all in order. The entire series is highly recommended for all lovers of time-travel books.
