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The Magic Hour
Eleven-year-old Ailsa Craig is always late! To everything - her own birth, school, and even her own house exploding! Although it is certainly better to be late for that than early...
But then one day, Ailsa discovers the secret of a lifetime: An extra hour in the day. The Magic Hour which exists in a fantastical, parallel Edinburgh, accessed at twilight. As she explores this extraordinary place where anything seems possible, Ailsa can't believe her luck. Her grades improve and life seems to be on the up - even the popular kids start liking her.
But messing with time, can have desperate consequences. When Ailsa discovers that the extra time comes at a terrible cost, she must battle the sinister forces at work and save herself, her parents and the world.
But then one day, Ailsa discovers the secret of a lifetime: An extra hour in the day. The Magic Hour which exists in a fantastical, parallel Edinburgh, accessed at twilight. As she explores this extraordinary place where anything seems possible, Ailsa can't believe her luck. Her grades improve and life seems to be on the up - even the popular kids start liking her.
But messing with time, can have desperate consequences. When Ailsa discovers that the extra time comes at a terrible cost, she must battle the sinister forces at work and save herself, her parents and the world.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 17, 2024
'There are, of course, twenty-five hours in a day.'
Of all twelve books that I bought during my STLBSS (Summer 2023 London Bookshops Shopping Spree, in case anyone's wondering), The Magic Hour was one of two books of which I wasn't so sure, but of which I also couldn't help myself.
Turns out there was nothing to worry about. Wolstencroft (try saying that ten times in a row) weaves a story that combines physics and Celtic fae - which, mostly surprisingly of all, somehow actually works. Don't ask me how, but it just does. Talk about originality! And it's not just that the physics are just around for the plot to work, you actually learn something as well. Nice work! There's even some Scottish thrown into the mix, which makes it all the more fun.
The author also includes footnotes, another funny element, although it's a bit of a shame that most of them are concentrated in the start of the book. There's 56 footnotes in total, but nearly half of them are situated in the first quarter of the story. So it would have been nice if that had been spread out a bit more. Overall, the funniness of The Magic Hour seems to be situated near the first chapters of the book. It never disappears, but I was mostly laughing out loud at the very start, and less so later on.
Did you notice that there are sixty chapters in this book, like sixty minutes? I'm eating up my daffodil-yellow hat if that's a coincidence!
Ailsa - which I'm assuming is pronounced something alike 'Elsa', thinking of the 'ai' in 'laird' - is a great character. At first, everything that's going on is all rather convoluted because we're mostly following the story from her perspective and she obviously doesn't have a freaking clue what is actually going on, so I was very befuddled at first. That the narrator himself makes all these weird jumps and interrupts the story, doesn't make things easier. It took some time before I started figuring out the bigger picture, and I was afraid for some time that it would just remain too vague and weird.
As soon as Ailsa starts getting a grip on what's happening, though, you as a reader will too. I loved the way she thought and reacted to stuff, although I would have preferred a bit more evolution in her normal life, because the Magic Hour is responsible for some big changes and we don't really see them first-handedly, like the way she behaves with Credenza at school. Within the Middlemarket, though, it's just one big blast. The plot twist at the end regarding her life didn't surprise me very much, but it was a nice touch anyway.
Credenza comes a very close second, although I did miss some real apology for being not very nice at first, even though that also remains a bit vague. I was smiling, though, whenever there was a scene where it showed that Ailsa - dammit, I can hardly even type it - and Credenza had become true, close friends.
Tobias was great to read about as well, and Ozzie (not Osbourne) too. They were marginally less important but still came off the page very clearly. The plot twists regarding Tobias... those I didn't see coming at all!
Some final character remarks: I'm not entirely sure where Priya is coming from. I'm hoping we'll meet Lulu in Book 2, because she sounds terrific! The Lady and the Laird were great as well, I had fun with the scenes where they were present.
The story reaches a big climax pretty quickly, and I was almost flipping the pages faster than I could read. Of course, it becomes clear very soon that something is off, and after some time I could guess what it was, but then there was other stuff going on too, which I hadn't suspected, and it all formed one enormous, exciting ride at the end!
The whole thing with 'Time is a river' reminds me a lot of James Rollins' Jake Ransom series, a series that has been in my heart for many years now and that'll hopefully have a conclusion sometime this century, although at this point I'm not so sure anymore... Time may be a river, but I'm afraid this is slowly turning out to be water under the bridge...
8/10
Of all twelve books that I bought during my STLBSS (Summer 2023 London Bookshops Shopping Spree, in case anyone's wondering), The Magic Hour was one of two books of which I wasn't so sure, but of which I also couldn't help myself.
Turns out there was nothing to worry about. Wolstencroft (try saying that ten times in a row) weaves a story that combines physics and Celtic fae - which, mostly surprisingly of all, somehow actually works. Don't ask me how, but it just does. Talk about originality! And it's not just that the physics are just around for the plot to work, you actually learn something as well. Nice work! There's even some Scottish thrown into the mix, which makes it all the more fun.
The author also includes footnotes, another funny element, although it's a bit of a shame that most of them are concentrated in the start of the book. There's 56 footnotes in total, but nearly half of them are situated in the first quarter of the story. So it would have been nice if that had been spread out a bit more. Overall, the funniness of The Magic Hour seems to be situated near the first chapters of the book. It never disappears, but I was mostly laughing out loud at the very start, and less so later on.
Did you notice that there are sixty chapters in this book, like sixty minutes? I'm eating up my daffodil-yellow hat if that's a coincidence!
Ailsa - which I'm assuming is pronounced something alike 'Elsa', thinking of the 'ai' in 'laird' - is a great character. At first, everything that's going on is all rather convoluted because we're mostly following the story from her perspective and she obviously doesn't have a freaking clue what is actually going on, so I was very befuddled at first. That the narrator himself makes all these weird jumps and interrupts the story, doesn't make things easier. It took some time before I started figuring out the bigger picture, and I was afraid for some time that it would just remain too vague and weird.
As soon as Ailsa starts getting a grip on what's happening, though, you as a reader will too. I loved the way she thought and reacted to stuff, although I would have preferred a bit more evolution in her normal life, because the Magic Hour is responsible for some big changes and we don't really see them first-handedly, like the way she behaves with Credenza at school. Within the Middlemarket, though, it's just one big blast. The plot twist at the end regarding her life didn't surprise me very much, but it was a nice touch anyway.
Credenza comes a very close second, although I did miss some real apology for being not very nice at first, even though that also remains a bit vague. I was smiling, though, whenever there was a scene where it showed that Ailsa - dammit, I can hardly even type it - and Credenza had become true, close friends.
Tobias was great to read about as well, and Ozzie (not Osbourne) too. They were marginally less important but still came off the page very clearly. The plot twists regarding Tobias... those I didn't see coming at all!
Some final character remarks: I'm not entirely sure where Priya is coming from. I'm hoping we'll meet Lulu in Book 2, because she sounds terrific! The Lady and the Laird were great as well, I had fun with the scenes where they were present.
The story reaches a big climax pretty quickly, and I was almost flipping the pages faster than I could read. Of course, it becomes clear very soon that something is off, and after some time I could guess what it was, but then there was other stuff going on too, which I hadn't suspected, and it all formed one enormous, exciting ride at the end!
The whole thing with 'Time is a river' reminds me a lot of James Rollins' Jake Ransom series, a series that has been in my heart for many years now and that'll hopefully have a conclusion sometime this century, although at this point I'm not so sure anymore... Time may be a river, but I'm afraid this is slowly turning out to be water under the bridge...
8/10
June 16, 2024
It was an experience I did not need in this life… by the way save ink and slow down on the footnotes!! I was bored by chapter 5.
May 24, 2023
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE MAGIC HOUR is a rip-roaring adventure through time - and into the magical 25th hour of the day, where things are not as they seem to be.
What would you do if you had an extra hour in the day? I liked the tongue-in-cheek explanation the book provided for why some people seem so successful - but also the reality that it's a privilege the rich have bought. And of course, never trust a free lunch! There's a sinister side to it all that Ailsa must uncover and stop - with the help of friends.
The book weaves Sidhe (which the book often refers to phonetically-in-English and "Shee") and other elements of Scottish mythology into the tale. It's a nice blend of folklore and made-up parts to give it a unique feeling, and like it exists just beyond our version of Edinburgh.
I love, love, loved the use of the scientific method in the book. Ailsa has been well trained by her scientist Grandma to approach things logically, step by step - and that's what she does every time she hits a problem. It's so nice to see a key part of science celebrated (and explained so clearly.)
The book is told from the perspective of a narrator watching it all - and trying (and sometimes failing) to keep up with the pace of it all, apologising when events get out of hand because Ailsa runs too fast. It is a very quirky voice that's simply having fun with it all, leaning into the semi-omniscient nature of it all by leaning into foreshadowing and addressing the audience. There are also footnotes which go into this even more (I did mostly ignore them, but that's a personal reading preference quirk - the ones I read were fun.)
This is the first book in a new series, and contains a sneak peak of book two. Ailsa is only just getting started on her adventures!
THE MAGIC HOUR is a rip-roaring adventure through time - and into the magical 25th hour of the day, where things are not as they seem to be.
What would you do if you had an extra hour in the day? I liked the tongue-in-cheek explanation the book provided for why some people seem so successful - but also the reality that it's a privilege the rich have bought. And of course, never trust a free lunch! There's a sinister side to it all that Ailsa must uncover and stop - with the help of friends.
The book weaves Sidhe (which the book often refers to phonetically-in-English and "Shee") and other elements of Scottish mythology into the tale. It's a nice blend of folklore and made-up parts to give it a unique feeling, and like it exists just beyond our version of Edinburgh.
I love, love, loved the use of the scientific method in the book. Ailsa has been well trained by her scientist Grandma to approach things logically, step by step - and that's what she does every time she hits a problem. It's so nice to see a key part of science celebrated (and explained so clearly.)
The book is told from the perspective of a narrator watching it all - and trying (and sometimes failing) to keep up with the pace of it all, apologising when events get out of hand because Ailsa runs too fast. It is a very quirky voice that's simply having fun with it all, leaning into the semi-omniscient nature of it all by leaning into foreshadowing and addressing the audience. There are also footnotes which go into this even more (I did mostly ignore them, but that's a personal reading preference quirk - the ones I read were fun.)
This is the first book in a new series, and contains a sneak peak of book two. Ailsa is only just getting started on her adventures!
November 27, 2024
This wasn't a bad book; it just felt a little young to me. The plot was engaging, but I think it could be better organized. The plotlines felt disconnected and introduced at random. Thankfully, the ending wrapped it all up nicely. There were plenty of great lessons regarding using your time and gratitude for what we have, in addition to power and greed. Lastly, the style of writing was entertaining. The use of the narrator, creative chapters, and footnotes make the story much more humorous and interesting. Can't say whether I'd recommend The Magic Hour or not; it depends on your reading style!
April 26, 2025
Rating: 3.5
Ailsa is thirteen- and always late! When she discovers a magical place where there is an extra hour in every day - she’s astounded! But not all is as it seems, will Ailsa get to the bottom of this mysterious magic?
As someone who is chronically late, this was a fun story and concept! I loved the inclusion of folklore and fantasy within the story.
The footnotes were fun and the audiobook was a blast!
Its downfall however was the pacing, there were many times within this story that I felt lost, like I had missed a chapter or paragraph. A lot felt disjointed, which for a middle grade audience might keep them engaged and interested, where for me I was left confused often.
I also loved the awareness in this book about female scientists who are often ignored and not given credit for their discoveries! This was a big plot point and a super important one.
I can’t wait for the next adventure in this series!
Ailsa is thirteen- and always late! When she discovers a magical place where there is an extra hour in every day - she’s astounded! But not all is as it seems, will Ailsa get to the bottom of this mysterious magic?
As someone who is chronically late, this was a fun story and concept! I loved the inclusion of folklore and fantasy within the story.
The footnotes were fun and the audiobook was a blast!
Its downfall however was the pacing, there were many times within this story that I felt lost, like I had missed a chapter or paragraph. A lot felt disjointed, which for a middle grade audience might keep them engaged and interested, where for me I was left confused often.
I also loved the awareness in this book about female scientists who are often ignored and not given credit for their discoveries! This was a big plot point and a super important one.
I can’t wait for the next adventure in this series!
October 17, 2023
DNF-ed at 100 pages. Gave it a good chance. By no means a bad book, but not for me. Wasn't a huge fan of the writing style (the footnotes mostly) and maybe if the book was shorter I might have finished it. Or maybe I just read it at the wrong time of my life. But if you like magical stories, by no means give it a try. I appreciate the attempt of different kind of narration (footnotes and all). I didn't click with it, but you might.
December 3, 2023
Interesting middle grade novel, for kids from 10-13 years old. I liked the characters and the worldbuilding, although, in my opinion, it wasn't developed as good as it could've been. It has quite a lot of action, but the pacing isn't rushed, it lets the reader enjoy the goodness and the horrors of the magic world.
May 14, 2023
I raced through this! Absolutely adored the characters and the whole premise! The voice of the narrator proper made me chuckle. I loved how science-y this was too! What would you do with an extra hour? I’d quite love to read this to my kids!
June 27, 2023
I enjoyed this. I loved the concepts around time and making sure we treasure every moment. There were bits I thought it dragged a little but on a whole it was a good read.
December 17, 2023
"That was a good 5 star"
August 25, 2024
Super time-consuming(1) and an excellent storyline.
(1- do you get the joke? 🤣)
(1- do you get the joke? 🤣)
December 12, 2024
Would love an extra hour per day. Want to read book 2 now
September 29, 2025
I was so confused the entire time
December 17, 2025
Best I have read this year. A time bending adventure that will suck you in immediately.
December 12, 2023
I have had this in my TBR stack for far too long and I wish I’d picked it up sooner. It was incredibly clever, as well as funny, and had a powerful message about time, power and greed.
I thought the main character was brilliantly written and I found her friendships with some of the other characters to feel really genuine. They weren’t friends at first but come together - sometimes this can feel forced in kids books but I really loved the way this was written.
I loved the overarching theme of the book about how precious our time is and how we choose to use it and I loved the concept of being granted an extra hour. It really got me thinking! I think this would be a really good book to read with a class too.
I thought the main character was brilliantly written and I found her friendships with some of the other characters to feel really genuine. They weren’t friends at first but come together - sometimes this can feel forced in kids books but I really loved the way this was written.
I loved the overarching theme of the book about how precious our time is and how we choose to use it and I loved the concept of being granted an extra hour. It really got me thinking! I think this would be a really good book to read with a class too.
June 25, 2023
What would you do if you knew that every second quite literally counted, if, for you, time was truly of the essence? David Wolstencroft has taken the idea of time, and in this case of being late, always, and crafted it into a magical and unforgettable story. It’s pacey, its clever, its magical, and don’t worry, luckily you do have time to read it. Maybe even time to read it more than once if you are really careful with time. That of course is the joy of time, that we have it and we can use it - or is it…?
The Magic Hour is about to show readers that there is the secret of a lifetime hiding in its pages. This secret belongs to Ailsa Craig. But let us not get ahead of ourselves, let’s meet her first. Ailsa is that girl who is always running behind. Classrooms, swimming lessons, birthday parties, her own birth, you name it and she has been late for it. She always promises to make it up, that next time will be better but somehow it never seems to work. For Ailsa time is a complete mystery and can feel very different from one day to the next. There does however come a moment when she is glad to have been late. The moment her house explodes. This sets off a chain of events which lead Ailsa to discover that in a parallel Edinburgh (her hometown) there is an extra hour in every day. But she is also about to learn that messing with time can have dark consequences and a powerful battle is about to begin!
The Magic Hour is about to show readers that there is the secret of a lifetime hiding in its pages. This secret belongs to Ailsa Craig. But let us not get ahead of ourselves, let’s meet her first. Ailsa is that girl who is always running behind. Classrooms, swimming lessons, birthday parties, her own birth, you name it and she has been late for it. She always promises to make it up, that next time will be better but somehow it never seems to work. For Ailsa time is a complete mystery and can feel very different from one day to the next. There does however come a moment when she is glad to have been late. The moment her house explodes. This sets off a chain of events which lead Ailsa to discover that in a parallel Edinburgh (her hometown) there is an extra hour in every day. But she is also about to learn that messing with time can have dark consequences and a powerful battle is about to begin!
December 26, 2023
What would you do if you knew that every second quite literally counted, if, for you, time was truly of the essence? David Wolstencroft has taken the idea of time, and in this case of being late, always, and crafted it into a magical and unforgettable story. It’s pacey, its clever, its magical, and don’t worry, luckily you do have time to read it. Maybe even time to read it more than once if you are really careful with time. That of course is the joy of time, that we have it and we can use it - or is it…?
The Magic Hour is about to show readers that there is the secret of a lifetime hiding in its pages. This secret belongs to Ailsa Craig. But let us not get ahead of ourselves, let’s meet her first. Ailsa is that girl who is always running behind. Classrooms, swimming lessons, birthday parties, her own birth, you name it and she has been late for it. She always promises to make it up, that next time will be better but somehow it never seems to work. For Ailsa time is a complete mystery and can feel very different from one day to the next. There does however come a moment when she is glad to have been late. The moment her house explodes. This sets off a chain of events which lead Ailsa to discover that in a parallel Edinburgh (her hometown) there is an extra hour in every day. But she is also about to learn that messing with time can have dark consequences and a powerful battle is about to begin!
The Magic Hour is about to show readers that there is the secret of a lifetime hiding in its pages. This secret belongs to Ailsa Craig. But let us not get ahead of ourselves, let’s meet her first. Ailsa is that girl who is always running behind. Classrooms, swimming lessons, birthday parties, her own birth, you name it and she has been late for it. She always promises to make it up, that next time will be better but somehow it never seems to work. For Ailsa time is a complete mystery and can feel very different from one day to the next. There does however come a moment when she is glad to have been late. The moment her house explodes. This sets off a chain of events which lead Ailsa to discover that in a parallel Edinburgh (her hometown) there is an extra hour in every day. But she is also about to learn that messing with time can have dark consequences and a powerful battle is about to begin!
March 21, 2025
I could not of finished this fast enough, I could not put it down from start to finish. Plus when I started getting to the end there was so much going on and I loved it. I think is a great idea as I expect we all think what we would do if we had an extra hour. This is going on my 100% read again shelf. Brilliant concept loved it! Worth a read for sure
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews