So: first of all, this is the third book in a trilogy. If you really wanted, you could read this one without having read the others in the series. However, the characters and some of the worldbuilding would be lost on you, and you might need longer than usual for things to start making sense. Plus, there are definite spoilers for the rest of the series. Honestly, if you were interested in the series at all, I'd suggest starting from book one and reading all three. I really enjoyed them all.

The plot is basically "some Power from another reality wants to unmake our universe," and Rhiow and company have to stop it. The reason for the time travel is complicated, and wasn't strictly necessary, but it is at least explained in the text. It is also a convenient way to have the events in book three happen chronologically right after the events of book two, even though there has been a lot of real-world time that passed between. There's no need to update technology in the story if the characters have traveled back in time.

Overall, I really liked this story. I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this conclusion to the trilogy, and I was satisfied with how everything turned out. However, I really want to go back and read the rest of the Young Wizards books now, to see if these characters make cameos in those ones. (I know a few of the YW characters have made cameos here.) ( )

In the third story of the feline wizards, Rhiow and her fellow gate technicians face an innocent-seeming problem that proves to be the first manifestation of a major crisis.

The L.A. worldgate keeps moving around and has never spawned another gate, but now it's acting even stranger than usual. Rhiow and her team, the most skilled gate technicians around, head to L.A. to help the feline wizard responsible for that gate. Things get stranger yet, when Hwaith, the wizard responsible for the gate in the 1940s, timeslides forward to ask for their help in his own time. Their current problems are rooted there, and can't be solved without solving Hwaith's problems.

I freely admit that I love Duane's feline wizards. They're pretty convincing intelligent, talking cats, and I love Rhiow in particular. This is an adventure that blends the wizards, the Powers, Native American beliefs and history, and Hollywood of the 1940s. Damon Runyon is a significant character.

It's probably possible to pick up the story here and just go with it. It's even better if you've read previous installments and know the characters and background. Rhiow in particular has some surprises in store, and there are hints that could be the basis of later stories, if Duane chooses to follow that route.

Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

Well. I like the cats - but somehow this was less satisfying even than To Visit The Queen. Of course, that may be partly because what I was reading was essentially an e-ARC - it hasn't had the final professional polish. However, as I have little or no interest in early Hollywood, or Damon Runyon, I doubt it will ever be a favorite. On the other hand, I don't much care about modern New York either, and The Book of Night with Moon certainly drew me in there.
That aside - I have a little trouble with the multiple factors. And there's the annoyance of escalation - in the first book they saved the universe; in the second, the multiverse - so in this one they have to protect the multiverse against a threat that comes from _outside_ it, so the Queen and the rest are only moderately helpful. And the Lone One is actually an ally, of sorts... So we have time travel, earthquakes accelerating in two times, random - or not so random - murders, cats talking to all kinds of people (I think her wish at the end will only make her life _more_ complicated!), and oh yeah, true love across a lifetime or two. That's what I meant by multiple factors. Plus Ith, of course, and (as I mentioned) Damon Runyon...A little scattered. And the ending is just a little too sweet (ok, it took a lot of pain and effort and struggle to get there...but it's still a trifle HEA). I really want to see the finished book - here's hoping! ( )