The Magician's Diary (Glass and Steele) Paperback – November 7, 2017

The characters are all so interesting and the storyline is great. The only trouble is I have a hard time stopping. On to book 5!

The author is a great storyteller and holds readers attention throughout the book.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and plot twists.

As usual Ms Archer weaves her magic around characters and events in a fantastical manner that keeps a reader on the edge of their seat in anticipation of an unexpected surprise for the reader. I can’t wait to read the 5th book as soon as I’m finished writing this review. Enjoy!

Who knew?!I haven't been a fan of this genre in the past, but hey~ this series has it all! Complex, quirky, yet believable characters, twists and turns in the plot that keeps you wanting more. Can't wait to read the next book!

I love this magical world and characters. CJ Archer has such a wonderful way of weaving the bigger plot together.This is my second time reading the book - it was a combo of audio book and kindle - and I think the voice narrator does such an excellent job of bringing the characters to life.

MY RATING SYSTEM5 stars--WOW4 stars--would read again3 stars--was good, won't read again2 stars--read it, but didn't enjoy it1 star--didn't finish, it was so awfulDo I need to read books before this one: yesCliffhanger: yesSUMMARYChronos reveals that India is the granddaughter of 4 magicians: a baker, a confectionist, and 2 horology families who forced their children to marry. Chronos didn't want to be a husband, much less a father and grandfather. When he and Dr Millroy experimented on a vagrant, then Dr Millroy was murdered and Chronos fled, India's grandmother was relieved. At least according to Chronos.Chronos casts his spell on the watch, Matt uses it, but there's no difference. They need to find a magician doctor. Dr Millroy had an illegitimate son, so they investigate Millroy's murder as a cover to find his son.Chronos is amazed and intrigued by the strength of India's magic. While he seems to have no interest in India herself, he wants to study her magic. He teaches her the 2 spells he knows: perfect timekeeping and spell lengthening.EVALUATIONThis one, I struggled to follow the mystery. We're searching for the medical diary and the son. Because the author's trying to develop two plots, the story gets murky. Then everything gets revealed in the last 20%, and I still don't know where I could've figured it out. It's okay, though, when I acknowledge it's more true to life; only school wraps itself up neatly before moving on. We learn more about India's magic and history, get some mystery about Willie, and the romance between Matt and India escalates.RECOMMENDATIONEveryone's who's read the rest of the seriesFAVORITE QUOTES"He's very charming, in his own way. It's sort of an innocent way, like he doesn't know he's being charming. I suppose that's what makes him…well, charming.""Anne frets without me, see." "Frets?" "Aye, sir. She gets all shaky and whimpery like a puppy without her master. She's a good wife," Matt went on. I was beginning to think he was enjoying this. "Agreeable and eager to please." He was definitely enjoying this. "I don't like that in a wife so much, though. Prefer me a fiery girl to a meek one, but I can't cast my Anne out for being what she is, and what she is is silly in love with me. Ain't that right, Anne?""Where common sense gets thrown out and emotions rule, trouble follows.""Sometimes I wonder how I got this old. Time slipped past while I was doing other things.""He sees your unique character as attractive, not as a fault."Matt bent down and clicked his fingers. "Here." The dog trotted happily to him. It must be female.A clever and powerful man can get ahead in the world. He is admired and highly sought after in both his professional and private life. A clever and powerful woman is seen as unnatural by both men and other women.POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS)Sex: kissLanguage: 0 F words, 33 Lord's name in vain, 1 S wordsViolence: murder, prostitution, child abuse, incest, slap, assault, gun threats

What was there to dislike about this book. It was so great! The ending I did not see coming. I love that. This book keeps you on the edge and doesn’t make it easy to figure out who the enemy is. The chemistry between Matthew and India is very hot. I cannot wait to find out if they finally get together. I will be buying the entire series of this book because I am hooked!

If I have to read Matt looked through his lashes at India one more time, I'm going to scream. While Ms. Archer creates an engrossing mystery filled with strange characters, she's bored me with the constant silly non-romance between Glass and Steele. I realize the book is set in Victorian England (and when some obnoxious character yakked about "weak women," India failed to remind him of the Queen!), and there's a certain set of "rules," but Ms. Archer also needs to think of her readers. I don't expect graphic sex; I simply want Matt and India to be together -- either a simple engagement, or an "illicit" affair. As stated, I enjoyed the mystery, and the magic, but I don't know if I can muddle through another teenage, "Will she, or won't she?" novel. Sorry to be so negative.

I am so into this series! I am hooked! Its the perfect combination of crime, magic and period drama. Which is everything I love. It's like Downton Abby meets midsummer murders with a dash of magic. Hopefully that description doesn't put anyone off! Haha! It's a good read.

it's the fourth book, where I don't know who is the guilty one. It's great to see how the story turns into something completely unexpected. I love them very much and will buy the fifth one.

Another in the G&S series finally comes with some answers to the mysteries. India and Matt are closing in on finding a cure...

This series is delightful and so well written that I simply can't stop at one any more than I can stop at one Jaffa.To my dismay I now have to wait until March before the next book will be available, but at least I was able to preorder it, so I think I'll survive.

Enjoyable