In the City of Time - by Gwendolyn Clare (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the author of the highly acclaimed Ink, Iron, and Glass series, this YA duology sends three science prodigies on a time-traveling adventure to save the Earth--if they don't accidentally destroy it first--in Gwendolyn Clare's In the City of Time.

In 1891, Willa Marconi's life falls apart when her mentor at the University of Bologna unexpectedly dies. She loses her laboratory access and her stipend, but she refuses to let anyone take her research away. While testing her prototype radio equipment, she detects a mysterious signal and pursues its origin.

In 2034, a cataclysmic event has rendered the Earth uninhabitable, and humankind survives by living inside of artificial worlds. Riley would do anything for Jaideep, who lost his parents in the collapse of the Bay Area pocket universe--and anything includes building a time machine so they can travel back to the 19th century, prevent the destabilization of the planet, and rewrite history.

But the experiment goes wrong, accidentally pulling Willa forward in time and stranding the three of them in a strange, seemingly abandoned city. Now they've got a glitchy time machine, a scary android time cop hot on their trail, and some tangled temporal mechanics to unravel. Can they save the Earth when the Continuity Agency is dead-set on preserving the current timeline?

Review Quotes

Praise for the Ink, Iron, and Glass Duology

"The novel samples historical figures the way a hip-hop album might sample a classic riff: it opens a window to European history, lets in fresh air, and sends facts flying... This novel is a source of serious fun." --School Library Journal (starred review) on Ink, Iron, and Glass

"This debut novel is fully realized steampunk-fantasy, offering an alternate history that deftly and creatively adopts the politics of 19th-century Italy to create a compellingly unique world.... Exciting and original." --Kirkus (starred review) on Ink, Iron, and Glass

"Clare's debut is built upon an intriguing premise... A solid series starter featuring a competent, flawed heroine that's built for sf fans." --Booklist on Ink, Iron, and Glass

"There's much more to uncover in the political machinations of each world, and a gasp-worthy ending ensures a sequel." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB) on Ink, Iron, and Glass

"The alternate-history thrill ride continues ... The author is a master of character development ... Action and adventure with a fearless heroine at the helm." --Kirkus Reviews on Mist, Metal, and Ash

"A satisfying sequel." --Booklist on Mist, Metal, and Ash

About the Author