4.5/5 Stars: ‘The Last Magician’ is a Young Adult, Historical Fantasy by Lisa Maxwell; ‘The Last Magician’ is a twisted tale of alchemy and spell-binding magic. Insert a richly re-imagined version of 1900s New York – set during the time of Tammany Hall – and you have a feuding battle between magical factions. The past and present perspectives are interconnected in complex ways; combining secret societies; gangs; turf wars; heists; and a diverse cast. It immerses you into the world ruled by the Ortus Aurea, where people born with natural magic are scorned and fear the Brink, a wall that devours magic, resulting in death. Maxwell gives a welcome air of multi-dimensionality amongst the characters; our protagonists’, Esta and Harte, in particular, flirt and feud, and their interplay proves to be a highlight. The plot is intricate, and precise, shifting between several third-person perspectives; providing plenty of detail. It is truly a door-stopper with a total shake-up of an ending.