Title: The Last Labyrinth
Author: Gwendolyn Womack
Publication Date: April 1, 2026
Publisher: 47North (Amazon)
Format Read: Kindle e-ARC
Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy
One of the books that has stuck with me for ages is Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. Ever since I read it, that word always catches my attention. That’s how I came to read the synopsis for The Last Labyrinth by Gwendolyn Womack. To be perfectly honest, I’m quite particular about my sci-fi. I much prefer fantasy. However… a good time-travel story will draw me in time and time again. This story proved me right on both the word and time travel.
Magellan is preternatural with musical instruments. She can simply pick them up and figure out how to play them like a virtuoso. On her most recent birthday, an aurora borealis paints the skies all over the world. What some people believe to be nothing more than beauty is actually the sign of an imminent polar shift — the world is going to end. Magellan happens to be performing at a wedding when the world learns this, and the guests go crazy. She calms herself the way she knows best: music. Her fingers dance over the organ’s keys as the world goes insane… and then she wakes up. In 1829, in the middle of a giant labyrinth, with the owner of it standing before her. All of the answers to the whys and hows are contained within the ancient diary of Gwynedd, Merlin’s twin sister.
I really enjoyed Magellan and her quirks. Reading how she connects with music is like recognizing my own passion for something — in my case, books — in another person. She’s pleasant enough, and her long list of anxieties makes her feel a touch more real. I deeply related to how she uses her passion to cope whenever she is frightened. The other main character is Rhys, the owner of the labyrinth she awoke in. I appreciated experiencing parts of the story through his eyes, although he felt a bit less tangible to me. The various settings in the tale are like a character themselves. I could tell the author did her research, because I felt as if I was indeed in those times with Rhys and Magellan.
The writing, though, is where I could rain praises for eternity. It scales to whatever point in the story like a well-tuned piano. Much of it is straightforward and readable, nothing overly ornate. Subtle emotional cues are used to highlight feelings and reactions. I’d call it smooth, traditional storytelling with gentle emotional beats and a focus on character interaction over flashy prose. However, the tale continues to build and build, much like a symphony, until we reach the peak, and then it ends with a lush, luminous finale. Here the prose becomes almost musical itself, reflecting the story’s theme of sound, resonance, and connection across time. I struggle to even put my thoughts about it into words. It was simply a vibration, and a gorgeous one at that.
I found The Last Labyrinth to be magical and transportive. I was utterly absorbed each time I picked it up. I’m sure many others will liken it to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, and I’ll be no different. This is the book I feel it comes nearest to for comparison purposes, but don’t be fooled, because it’s definitely individual. All the same, I highly recommend this to readers who loved Outlander.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓— Lush, musical time-travel story
Let’s Discuss
If you could travel through time using music, what song would you choose?
Find out more about The Last Labyrinth and Gwendolyn Womack here.
I read a digital copy made available by 47North through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.