Scan barcode
erintowner's review against another edition
4.0
Great nostalgia and distracting reading during the pandemic. There were some glaring plot holes but I still enjoyed it.
crimsoncor's review against another edition
3.0
A fine conclusion to the series, but it definitely runs out of gas before the end of the novel. The constraints placed on plotting and suspense by the epistolary format really shows here. The first novel coasts on bubbly charm and the dual-threat of magical discovery and romance. With neither of those engines in play here, the story drags along. And with the limited POV, secondary characters are hardly developed at all. None of this makes the novel bad, but it isn't a resounding success like the first book was.
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
I still like the first book by far the best, but I definitely enjoyed the writing style and characters a lot more in this sequel than the second.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
The Mislaid Magician: or Ten Years After (Cecelia and Kate #3) by Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer is much much better than their last novel The Grand Tour. It was better for the reader that they went back to the ideas of a novel by correspondence. Although it had been a while since I had read the first and second books and I had to make a family tree so I could keep track of who belonged to whom.
As suggested by the title, it has been 10 years since the Honeymoon Grand Tour, and both Cecelia and Kate have settled into 19th century connubial bliss, family and dogs included. I enjoyed reading about the exploits of Kate and Cecilia’s children. I also found the mystery to be more engaging this time.
This being the third and (up to this point) final novel in the series, I can say with certainty that the first novel is definitely the best of the series. That said I very much enjoyed the writing style of Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer and will someday get to their other novels sitting on my bookshelf.
As suggested by the title, it has been 10 years since the Honeymoon Grand Tour, and both Cecelia and Kate have settled into 19th century connubial bliss, family and dogs included. I enjoyed reading about the exploits of Kate and Cecilia’s children. I also found the mystery to be more engaging this time.
This being the third and (up to this point) final novel in the series, I can say with certainty that the first novel is definitely the best of the series. That said I very much enjoyed the writing style of Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer and will someday get to their other novels sitting on my bookshelf.
kberry513's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one better than the second one, probably because it was a little shorter, but I think the first one is the best. The second one changed from the letter format of the original, as Kate and Cecy were together through pretty much all of it, and instead was composed of diary entries and a deposition. This one was back to the original format and I think I preferred it. I liked the glimpse of Kate and Cecy as mothers and the sort of shenanigans their children got up to. I enjoyed the addition of the steam engine and its affect on magic - very interesting idea.
I guess it just didn't suck me in the way the first book did. I suppose it could also have to do with my mood - if I reread it later, maybe I'll like it even more.
That being said, it was a solid story.
I guess it just didn't suck me in the way the first book did. I suppose it could also have to do with my mood - if I reread it later, maybe I'll like it even more.
That being said, it was a solid story.
teresaod's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
thecolouryes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kivt's review against another edition
3.0
Pacing was better than the second book in the series, but it still wasn't very interesting, honestly. Entertaining enough but not particularly recommendable.
maryconnors6's review against another edition
4.0
A fun conclusion! I wish Kate’s character was less washed out, but I enjoyed visiting the characters 10 years later!
Age Considerations: 13+
Age Considerations: 13+
istiel's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
A fun romp with plausible older versions of the characters of the Sorcery & Cecelia series that kept my attention while reading. On reflection, though, the characters are aged-up 10yrs without gaining emotional maturity, which makes quite likeable teenagers into unlikeable adults.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Colonisation
pseudo-historical gender essentialism within family and work