The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell
The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell is the page-turning conclusion to the Last Magician series. In this novel, the story follows Esta Filosik through time itself. The young thief has been tasked with stealing a mystical book from a powerful magician named Harte. But things don't always go as planned, and the two find safety in and love for each other. However, more than one enemy is still prowling in the shadows, biding time until Esta returns to 1902 to either save magic or destroy it. I enjoyed this novel, but it took a while for the plot to start rolling. Even though the book has over 700 pages, the ending still felt rushed; it was almost anticlimactic with how much tension there was leading up to it. But the poetic language that Maxwell uses was beautiful and an enchanting writing style. The chapters are also quick and short, making the reading easier. The characters felt real and alive–something I also liked. There is well-written LGBTQ+ representation as well. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who have time on their hands and are looking for an action-packed fantasy filled with twists and turns.
—Sylvi