YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Stop the Magician. Steal the book. Save the future.

In modern-day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she’s been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

Starting!

Holy Moly, now that is how you start a book!!!

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ Ok I hate the jumping back and forth. I guess it makes sense since it seems it is a time traveling book but I get so used to reading in one time period that the jumping kind of sucks me out of the story a bit. (hide spoiler)]

A new age

(view spoiler)[ So I don't know about anyone else but I don't think Jack should be allowed back into the Order, and what is this machine that he is building! This book is a lot of suspense also it is making me think about the Great Gatsby for some reason...lol (hide spoiler)]

Ahh! Now I'm excited! XD I still have 3 books to finish before I can get to this but I'm still aiming for the 12th :)

This Viola chick is a first class female dog.
(view spoiler)[ Why does she have such a huge problem with Este? She knows that she can pretty much steal anything but anytime a job comes up she never wants her to get picked? Jealous much??
I wonder if there is going to be anything between Harte and Este. that could be all different types of awesome! (hide spoiler)]

Part 4
What the heck!!!
(view spoiler)[ This ending is Awesome!! Professor Lachlan is Nibs! I almost forget all about him! No freaking way! I hope they figure out how to use the book to get through the Brink! This went from a 2 star to a 4 star book just off of the ending! (hide spoiler)]

Making me want to read it now Rae! I dumped that one this month XD

I'm going to give this a go tomorrow.

Just started this and I'm only 18 pages in, but can I just say that I love the fact I'm not being told how the magic system works, and I don't feel like I'm in a history lesson either. I get to figure stuff out on my own instead and I'm so freaking happy!

*Note that I'm saying this because so many authors would have taken a similar concept and info-dumped the shit out of it. Lisa Maxwell has earned my respect for now! :)

Joining this! =D

I am listening to the audiobook so I am not sure how to write my progress. Uhm... Chapters? (if I am right the book/ebook doesn't have them numbered)

Part 1
Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[ Liked how it started. I am intrigued by the book and magic system and I want to see how this is going to work out. I like the mood and the characters, especially Esta. Finally a book about a girl thief!

Felt really sorry for Dolph... I don't know why but listening rather than reading the scene was heartbreaking. *sob* (hide spoiler)]

Part 1

(view spoiler)[I'm really liking this so far! The back and forth between the present and the past isn't bothering me too much, but it always takes me a little bit to accept that I'm jumping out of one perspective and into another. It's not slowing me down, but it's easier than it should be to pause my reading. :/ The thing that's bothering me most is that some of the pages in my copy seem to have gotten a bit messed up in printing. The letters of some pages are this super light grey color and it's irritating my eyes. Clearly not the author's fault though! :)

I really like Esta. Her power is super cool and although I don't have the tiny details of how it works yet, I appreciate getting the chance to figure it out on my own. I hate it when I get an info-dump and author's treat me like I can't put 2 and 2 together. Lisa Maxwell isn't like that. RESPECT!!!

I'm a little bummed that we're leaving Logan behind. I liked his dynamic with Esta and I would have liked to see them together in action some more.

The 1900 storyline is very promising as well. I think this heist will be a fun one to plan and I'm getting some Six of Crows vibes, tbh. I'm pretty sure this book won't compare to that level of awesomeness, but you never know...

Super excited to see where this goes! (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 1

(view spoiler)[ I also get some Six of Crows vibes. Maybe because of the heist vibes and some of the characters.

I thought that Logan was going to die, tbh. I am still not sure if he will make it till the end. I liked him at first but now I find his character a bit hard to place into this story. What is his meaning? Hope he's not going to betray Esta, that would be crappy.

I like Dolph a looot. Hope we'll get to see more of him in the next part. *w* Tihii.

The plot is a bit slow for my taste but I can understand it is like this. We need time to get used with the world and how things work. Really curious to see how the author is going to explain the magic system. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[So a lot has happened since my last update so I'm probably going to forget to mention something. Oh well...

First of all, Jack's creepy machine... I'm pretty sure that's what caused Tilly's sickness. I'm not sure how exactly it works, but it looks like it's meant to take(?) magic. I haven't figured it out yet.

Also, I don't think Harte will end up being the Magician/traitor. I mean, Esta is pretty convinced he is and sure it makes sense. But would the author really make it that obvious? In my head, it makes a lot more sense to spring a different traitor on us closer to the end.

The museum robbery was pretty cool. I love how Esta wasn't ready to leave anyone behind, even though Jianyu (I had to look up how to spell that...) was kind of a dick with the whole blackmailing business earlier. Esta's use of her affinity is definitely going to come to bite her in the ass later...

And I love Esta and Harte! They're so fun together and I can't wait to see more of them together in part 3.

Also, Dolph is getting protective over Esta and I'm loving it! :D (as long as it stays out of the romance zone!!) (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 - chapter 13

(view spoiler)[ I like the plot and I like the characters and where this is going BUT pleaaase, don't let this be insta love. I can't deal with that. >.< (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[I must admit I'm not sold on this Harte/Esta ship. Probably because they are both planning to betray each other in the end... I really hope that doesn't happen because I have a feeling Esta's time isn't like it used to be. I think that's the explanation for the knife too. Why would Malone straight up deny having it if she did? Why not just say; "Yup, I have it, I'm keeping it. Deal with it."

I've grown to despise Jack. At first, I felt sort of bad for him because he was humiliated after that scandal in Greece. Now, I just want the guy to throw himself into the river and drown. Sooner rather than later, please?

I wasn't expecting Nibsy to be a traitor. I mean, he hasn't done anything yet but he's definitely planning it.

And finally, I feel like there is something more to Esta's last name than the professor simply giving it to her "because it might prove useful one day". There's something bigger going on and I need to figure it out ASAP...
(hide spoiler)]

Part 4
(view spoiler)[Okay... the ending wasn't as epic as I had hoped, but it was still pretty damn good!

--->Dolph died... Not cool Nibsy! You absolute jerk!
--->Nibsy is the professor. I had a theory about that, but it never really made sense because of how old he would be. That's why I didn't piece it together.
--->That failed ritual was pretty weird and creepy, but at least Nibsy didn't get what he was after. Fucking Nibsy...
--->Esta was Dolph's daughter?! Can we please go back in time in the next one and save him? :'(
--->Overall, this ending was pretty confusing (but I'm sick, so my brain isn't really at full capacity XD...)
(hide spoiler)]

Part 2 - Chapter 28

(view spoiler)[ I am not a fan of this, unfortunately. It takes me longer than expected to finish. O.o
I liked how Esta used her magic in the theatre. Haha, in your face, Harte!

So Esta is supposed to stop The Magician but surprise, guess who the magician is? Can't be the boy she kissed and liked. Oh... so unexpected. >.<
Also, Harte is so basic! Hope he will get interesting.

Dolph is still my favourite and I like the parts with him the best. Nibsy is so annoying I can't even... This guy is going to do something weird soon, I can feel it. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 62

(view spoiler)[ Nibsy, you little shit!
I can stand the chapters with Esta and Harte. They have 0 chemistry and their relationship is forced and just not fun to read about. (hide spoiler)]

Done. Finally

(view spoiler)[ Ok.
This was a relatively slow book. Why was the ending so rushed? O.o So many things happened all at once and I was trying my best to follow the action. Wut.

So disappointed. Also, the only character I liked (Dolph) died. That was such a sad and horrible and not necessary. Argh. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting September 1st 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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I have started this and I am enjoying it. Just hoping that I can stay focus.

Betelgeuse wrote: "Done. Finally
....
So disappointed. ..."

That's a mood. I'm with you. I found the pacing didn't work for me. :( I'm sad I didn't like it because it was a lot of the things I'm usually interested in. I tried pretty hard, but couldn't completely pinpoint why I just never got invested in the book.

Raven wrote: "Part 3


Yeah, to be honest I'm having trouble getting into their relationship. I don't know why. I just haven't really connected with any of them I guess.

Betelgeuse wrote: "I am listening to the audiobook

Did you like the audiobook? I personally found the narration kind of rough. I think it might have contributed to why I just didn't like it the book.

Sweettie Pie Reviews wrote: "I have started this and I am enjoying it. Just hoping that I can stay focus."

I'm glad! What parts do you like? My favourite part was probably the National Treasure-esque vibes from it.

Hi guys :) I might jump into the BR, if that's okay? My scribd isn't allowing me to listen to any more audios until my next month's membership starts, which is frustrating, but I'll be picking this up tomorrow :)

Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "Sweettie Pie Reviews wrote: "I have started this and I am enjoying it. Just hoping that I can stay focus."

I'm glad! What parts do you like? My favourite part was probably the National Treasure-es..."

I am definitely getting a national treasure vibe from the book. I like anything set in the 20s and have so called gangsters in it that is what I am liking about it so far.

Dannii wrote: "Hi guys :) I might jump into the BR, if that's okay? My scribd isn't allowing me to listen to any more audios until my next month's membership starts, which is frustrating, but I'll be picking this..."

the more the merrier

Just started this a couple days ago. So far, I'm really enjoying the Diviners/Six of Crows vibe I'm getting from it, especially as the two aforementioned series are some of my favorites! The magic system seems really interesting so far...

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[Oh boy, the romance is on between Esta and Harte. I just hope that it is done well and is not super overbearing or cheesy. I'm excited but anxious at the same time for this... (hide spoiler)]
But, other than that, I absolutely love the setting and the characters!

Chapter 49
Ah, so much has happened since I last updated! At first the pace was slow but it has most definitely picked up speed now...
(view spoiler)[Lisa Maxwell is more than willing to kill off characters. Though we don't really get to know the character Tilly very well, her death is still meaningful. What I'm more interested in right now is Jack's machine! It is going to cause a whole lot of trouble for everyone, including Jack. Also, I'm finding the romance between Esta and Harte to be kind of irritating. (hide spoiler)]

I'm getting close to being done, so I figured I should hop in if that's okay!

Me rambling about the setting:
(view spoiler)[
When the book started, I was pretty intrigued by the setup, even if I did kinda wish it wasn't set in New York (I respect the reasoning here but it does feel like most books set in this time period are going to be New York, London, or Paris and I get a little tired of it, even though I know there aren't too many options for a freshly industrialized world).

The setting doesn't matter too much overall here, I guess, but I think I was still thinking about The Diviners books (they weren't my cup of tea) and that might have set me up to not like this as much because of the similar vibes. (hide spoiler)]

Oh god, I shouldn't have read this one because I've never liked time travel stuff and here I am again... hating time travel stuff

Jaye wrote: "Oh god, I shouldn't have read this one because I've never liked time travel stuff and here I am again... hating time travel stuff"

Right like - at this point can I even be mad at the book at all? I don't like time travel what was I thinking!!!!

But on that note: (view spoiler)[please can they just pick time travel OR magic and not both because I really can't handle the overload of so many things. Also I felt like Esta's power changes too much with the "key" - like it's a completely different power in some respects, no matter how similar the book tries to convince me it is. 'stopping' time and 'stepping through it' should be two separate talents. (hide spoiler)]

turniip wrote: "I'm getting close to being done, so I figured I should hop in if that's okay!

Me rambling about the setting:

When the book started, I was pretty intrigued by the setup, even if I did kinda wish i..."


When I can actually stand time travel shenanigans, I like to see different places and even familiar events from the past because why not? (view spoiler)[ To trap everything in one city in one time period was just... eh. I wanted more adventure and time jumping not such a limited scale of it. (hide spoiler)]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "Oh god, I shouldn't have read this one because I've never liked time travel stuff and here I am again... hating time travel stuff"

Right like - at this point can I even be mad at the ..."


Agreed! I could have possibly liked either but so many books lately just shove in as many different concepts at once like pls... pick one and stop shoving 20 different things that don't even fit together in my face.

Jaye wrote: "pick one and stop shoving 20 different things that don't even fit together in my face..."

exactly! It's not like I can't juggle a lot of concepts (although I'm lazy and I really don't want to sometimes) but there's no reason to shove so much into this. I feel like the book could have worked better for me if (view spoiler)[time travel or magic was taken out of it. Obviously it would have to change a lot but I just can't handle the loose ends both me with (hide spoiler)]

Plus the (view spoiler)[time travel explanation at the end made me want to scream. "this makes sense when the exact same thing in reverse wouldn't because.... i say so" PLEASE (hide spoiler)]

My least favorite method of explaining time travel: (view spoiler)[not doing it at all??? Time travel works for esta because it does and that is that I guess (hide spoiler)]

Jaye wrote: "My least favorite method of explaining time travel: [spoilers removed]"

:/
Like I don't think I can rate this 1 star even though I didn't enjoy it at all because at least the effort is there for some stuff, but when something doesn't make sense, just saying "oh well it does now!" doesn't really work for me.

Plus (view spoiler)[we get the early understanding that ONE misstep by Esta can cost people their entire existence, but we don't get to understand more specifics - I can't really enjoy things where a question I have will never get answered. What about that time period cost Mari her life but then didn't when Esta went back again? The butterfly effect drives me insane and that's not this book's fault, but I just can't handle it LOL. (hide spoiler)]

Part One - 14%

(view spoiler)[This book has so much going on: magic, time travel, dual timelines, multiple povs, ragtag team on a heist, taking down the 'rich guys'. THIS IS LIKE MY IDEAL BOOK. I LOVE IT!! (hide spoiler)]

I had to put this down for a few cause I book I need to read for a readathon. I will be picking it back up in a couple of days.

I've just been catching up on these comments, excluding the comments, and I'm nervous! I feel like this has been on my tbr for a long time but I can't remember ever actually knowing exactly what it was about. I'm only a few chapters in but it is nothing like I thought it would be, even though I had no definite idea of what that was! I'm enjoying it, but it is very different.

I'm listening to the audio and am not sure that medium would really be best for me and this book, either. Just a personal preference but the magic system seems quite complex and I sometimes struggle to get the rules straight if I'm only listening and not physically reading it.

First quarter - (view spoiler)[Straight up action from the off, which I appreciated! The reader gets introduced to thief Esta. We see her powers at work and then, only a few pages later, her potentially losing them. The brink is very intriguing and I'm looking forward to learning exactly how the rules of it work. The magic in this novel seems to function by individuals harnessing the energy between things. That's the best I can work out for now, until I continue on. (hide spoiler)]

Jaye wrote: "My least favorite method of explaining time travel: [spoilers removed]"
Exactly, haha! It really doesn't make much sense.

Dannii wrote: "I've just been catching up on these comments, excluding the comments, and I'm nervous! I feel like this has been on my tbr for a long time but I can't remember ever actually knowing exactly what it..."
I've been listening to the audio version of this, and yes, it can be confusing. However, I'm about 75% of the way through and it makes more sense the farther along you go. :)

Chapter 61
(view spoiler)[Okay, so a lot has just been revealed. I knew that something had to happen to make the plot more interesting, and I must admit, though Nibsy is the height of all annoyances, I wasn't expecting him to be masterminding everyone. Although in hindsight, it's kind of obvious. (hide spoiler)]

~Sophia~ wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I've just been catching up on these comments, excluding the comments, and I'm nervous! I feel like this has been on my tbr for a long time but I can't remember ever actually knowing ..."

Thank you, Sophia :) I'm still planning on sticking with it as it's super intriguing but glad to know it gets easier!