Review and Giveaway: City of Lost Dreams

City of Lost Dreams (City of Dark Magic - Book 2) by Magnus Flute

Publication Date: 11/26/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Penguin Books
Genre: Romance/Mystery
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0143123270
ISBN-13: 978-0143123279

(Received for an honest review from Penguin Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Magnus Flyte on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

City of Dark Magic (2012), City of Lost Dreams (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from City of Lost Dreams, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

In this action-packed sequel to City of Dark Magic, we find musicologist Sarah Weston in Vienna in search of a cure for her friend Pollina, who is now gravely ill and who may not have much time left. Meanwhile, Nicolas Pertusato, in London in search of an ancient alchemical cure for the girl, discovers an old enemy is one step ahead of him. In Prague, Prince Max tries to unravel the strange reappearance of a long dead saint while being pursued by a seductive red-headed historian with dark motives of her own.

In the city of Beethoven, Mozart, and Freud, Sarah becomes the target in a deadly web of intrigue that involves a scientist on the run, stolen art, seductive pastries, a few surprises from long-dead alchemists, a distractingly attractive horseman who’s more than a little bloodthirsty, and a trail of secrets and lies. But nothing will be more dangerous than the brilliant and vindictive villain who seeks to bend time itself. Sarah must travel deep into an ancient mystery to save the people she loves.

Thoughts:

City of Lost Dreams is the second novel by author Magnus Flyte. This novel has received a huge amount of buzz coming off the huge success of the first book, City of Dark Magic. These two writers throw caution to the wind and make the reader suspend their beliefs in the what is possible in this novel, as well as, the first. It is a very intelligent, well crafted novel that does not sit well in any genre, but embraces several. Flyte's ability to bend the rules is not left to just time travel as the reader is treated to everything from drug induced expeditions to finding a cure for a blind teenage composer. This novel everything from music to history and everything in between. A can't miss, read!

I hardly know where to start. What an amazing sequel to City of Dark Magic. I thought the first book, was both amazing and challenging for any reader, but City of Lost Dreams certainly lives up to it's hype. Magnus Flyte is the collaboration of two writers and honestly I can't imagine how all of this came together into such a cohesive novel with two brains creating it. They must think very much alike to make it work. 

City of Dark Magic was over the top in just about every way you can imagine from the drugged time traveling to the sexual exploits of the heroine, Sarah. I felt like City of Lost Dreams continued in the same vane, but was a little more tempered in reality. What in City of Dark Magic was totally and completely impossible yet believable, in City of Dreams becomes tangible, substantive and yes, achievable. 

There are so many wonderful things to talk about in regard to this novel. I absolutely loved the way that Flyte blended mystery, history, music, science, alchemy and fantasy all into one tight package. The European setting is so well described that readers will instantly be transported to Prague and Vienna. The world of the arts is so well portrayed that readers will not be able to help wanting to know more about the painters and composers, as well as, other historical figures Flyte describes. The alchemical discussions alone will have science geeks in awe of Flyte's ability to make the reader understand exactly what alchemy was and what the alchemists were trying to do. This is a very intelligently written book that will appeal to a sophisticated reader and a reader looking for imaginative and entertaining read.

Sarah Weston is looking for a cure for her friend, Pollina, who is a blind teenage composer on the verge of brilliance. But her life is dwindling and time is of the essence. Sarah remains her very inquisitive and thoughtful self in City of Lost Dreams. She is still using mind altering drugs to travel through time and she's one step ahead of a dangerous villain. She isn't slowing down in any aspect of her life and her sexual exploits are still random and just as creative as the rest of the novel. Readers will find her precocious and determined. Her dissertations on Meser and Klimt are come across as believable and credible. She is just a wonderfully unique character and Flyte does an amazing job of remaining true to her in this second book. She changes and grows throughout but she is still Sarah.

I loved the fact that Flyte keeps the core characters the same in the second book, including Max and Nico, but also added new and amazing characters that will take the series in different directions. I enjoyed the use of all of the characters to bring about what the author envisioned in the book and how they interacted and played on each other's sensibilities and talents. The interplay between them is amazing. I can't say enough good things about Flyte's character development, attention to detail and pure imagination. It took a lot to bring everything together in this book and Flyte pulls it off with style.

Bottom line: You've got to read this book to understand. Oh and you might need a translator for a part or two or three but that certainly doesn't take away from the experience. If you are looking for something completely different than what you are used to reading you've gotta try this one, you'll be sorry if you don't!

City of Lost Dreams is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Magnus Flyte is a pseudonym for the writing duo of Meg Howrey and Christina Lynch. Howrey is the author of the novles The Cranes Dance and Blind Sight. She lives in Los Angeles. Lynch, who lives near Sequoia National Park, is a television writer and journalist.

Giveaway Details:

Debbie's Book Bag is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of City of Lost Dreams by Magnus Flyte.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 13th.

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