Temporary Magic
Summary
Lyra stands at the edge of the clockways, the air thick with the scent of ozone and cinnamon, as the city trembles on the cusp of a spell that refuses to end. A miscast charm has scattered temporary beings through the streets, each with needs that collide with her own. The goblin tailor insists on stitching fate into a coat that will fit nobody, while a polite but insistent ghost negotiates with the rain for a ride to a memory long past. A dragonlet, small and ravenous for knowledge, makes a nest in a kitchen chimney, sending regular gusts of smoke that reveal secret loyalties in the residents below. The more Lyra clings to the plan she drew—one neat page of steps and safeguards—the more the world unravels the moment she chooses to improvise. The choice is hers to make: press forward and risk losing herself to the spell’s hunger, or surrender a part of her own life to mend what she’s broken. Her decisions will redraw the map of the city, and perhaps of her own heart.
The Temporary Magic series sits within Gardner’s broader playful, satirical fantasy oeuvre, weaving nimble wordplay with genre-savvy setups. It’s a brisk, character-driven continuation of a conceit that gleefully plays with magical mishaps and their human consequences, often leaning into humor without sacrificing heart. Critics have noted Gardner’s knack for zippy dialogue and situational humor that doesn’t undercut emotional stakes, a balance that keeps his magical premise feel fresh across installments.
