I think this book will receive a lot of comparisons to This is How you Lose the Time War because it focuses on how two different individuals are reaching out to one another. But I’m not sure that’s an entirely fair comparison.

This story isn’t told in letters, its structure doesn’t feel as experimental, we spend more time seeing what the characters are doing instead of what they want to tell one another. And that gives it a very different feel. City of All Seasons, while still a good story in its own right, felt like a very different book to me.

It’s still a slower, contemplative book. One that wants you to think instead of thrilling you with action. The focus is on family, and connections. How they can be strained, broken, held on to, and repaired. It’s about what happens when people who are important in your life leave it, the holes left behind and the lengths one might go through to repair them.

It doesn’t answer every question it raises, there are a few mysteries that will remain even at the end of the book. But if you don’t mind being left with a few questions I’d say that this book is a worthwhile read.

In this book we follow, Esther and Jamie Pike, who are cousins, grew up in Fairharbour and were very close before a cataclysm separated them. Now Esther Pike lives in a version of Fairharbour that is stuck in an endless summer and Jamie Pike lives in a different winter version of Fairharbour. Esther and Jamie manages to get glimpse of each other and find ways to communicate across the divide. They need to do so in order to solve the mystery of why there is two different Fairharbours and how to bring the cities, and themselves, back together.

I loved being able to follow the POV of Esther and Jamie and learning about their family pre-cataclysm was very interesting. I found the character of Carmen Pike, their grandmother, fascinating. The concept of the story is very original and I enjoy the way we discover little by little about the different characters, their pasts and the entities who are trying to impose their views on the different cities. There's really a magical feel to the story.

I did find that some parts were a bit repetitive because we read some of the same anecdotes and stories in Jamie's and Esther's POV's and felt some of the revelations and twists could have been explained better. I also wasn't blown away by the ending and was waiting (wanting?) for something more.

Thank you NetGalley, Titan Books and the authors for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

City of All Seasons is a richly imaginative science-fantasy story that transports readers to two mirrored worlds: the scorching summer city and the frozen, desolate winter city. At the heart of the story are cousins Jamie and Esther Pike, who uncover family secrets and buried memories as they work to solve the mystery of what tore their once-united city apart. The novel deftly weaves together flashbacks, history, and present-day struggles, creating a world that is as intriguing as it is fractured.

There is so much to love about this book. The concept is fresh and original, with the history of the Pike family standing out as a particularly strong aspect of the narrative. The story moves at a fast pace, keeping the reader constantly engaged as new revelations and twists unfold. It’s an emotionally driven tale, and the vivid descriptions of both the summer and winter cities make the setting feel alive.

That said, the fast pace occasionally worked against the story. Some moments felt rushed, making it difficult to follow or fully appreciate what was happening. I also found the ending a little anticlimactic; while the resolution tied up some threads, I was hoping for a more impactful conclusion. Additionally, a few plot points and elements of the world-building could have been explained or developed more fully, as they left me with lingering questions.

Despite these critiques, I found the story compelling and would recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy with a focus on family, mystery, and emotional depth. While it doesn’t quite achieve its full potential, City of All Seasons is a unique and memorable read that deserves attention.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed a City of All Seasons. That's kind of all I got for this one. I thought the setting was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the two main characters, even if their internal dialogues weren't all that different from each other. I really enjoyed everything about the Pike family and thought that all the glimpses into their past was sometimes more interesting then the dual-cities plotline.

The problem is there a just a lot of small things keeping this read from being a full 5 stars for me. A lot of little plot contrivances that just always had me at arm's reach from the story. None of them stopped me from enjoying the novel, just wished they weren't there to distract me from the things I did really like.

City of All Seasons is such a masterpiece. I rated it 5 stars because it's really THAT good!! Such a good book omg. I recommend everyone to read this book.