Kelly's Bookworm Review Blog: City of Time and Magic by Paula Brackston

November 23, 2021

NetGalley

Book 4: City of Time and Magic (November 2021) crossover story to The Witch’s Daughter

St Martin’s Press/rivka.holler@stmartins.com

Historical fiction, arc, book series, time travel, digital, publisher widget

ISBN: 9781250260697 320 pages

11/24/21-12/30/21

The Lost Things series shares the unique experience with time travel for Xanthe Westlake. She moved from London with her mother Flora to Marlborough following the divorce from her father, Philip. As they attempt to start their new life and renovate the old antique shop left in disarray after the death of Mr. Morris, a ghost from the past hones in on Xanthe for help. Margaret Merton, a spirit from the past, senses Xanthe's unique sensitivity to "hear singing" when she held certain items from the past. Through the years it has served well discovering the history and unresolved issues left with the items. This time Xanthe buys a silver chatelaine, made in Bristol, at an auction which desperately made it known it needed her help. Little does she realize that the chatelaine is connected to the ghost, Margaret Merton, who haunts and threatens her to help her save her daughter, Alice. Of course, the problem is that Alice lives in 17th century Marlborough accused of a crime to which is she due to be hanged.

They each tell stories following the challenging adventures Xanthe endures to hopefully save people and solve mysteries. Trying to maintain discretion to avoid stressing her ailing mother, Flora, Xanthe develops a friendship with Liam Adams, a local mechanic who agrees to check on her mother when she has to "visit a friend". Her dedication to her mother, Flora, who ails with often disabling arthritis, is admirable but she soon finds herself "lost" between the past and present trying to solve a mystery for a spirit who presents a danger to her mother should she fail. In the process, Xanthe meets and confuses many people as she seeks help and information which leaves many with unresolved feelings and unanswered questions.

Xanthe's time travel eventually leads her to discovering there's a deeper purpose for her special abilities when she meets Mistress Flyte on one of her missions. She also encounters another time traveler who becomes her nemesis by trying to derail her missions. She initially shares her secret with Harley who runs The Feathers pub with his wife Annie. Soon her travels become more dangerous so she needs to inform her mother in case something should happen to her. Although each story focuses on a specific mission, I would not recommend reading these as standalone. This addition to the series introduces a character from the author's The Witches' Daughter series, Elizabeth Hawksmith. Her travels begin to involve other people and she learns more about the history of the Spinners and the moral responsibilities.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4053007546

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Book 1: The Little Shop of Found Things (October 16, 2018)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2802473818

Book 2: The Secrets of the Chocolate House (October 22, 2019)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2802475947

Book 3: The Garden of Promises and Lies (December 15, 2020)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3388010787