Halfway through this book I was really annoyed at the main character because he made a paternalistic reasoning for a decision that would become the turning point in the novel. Thankfully upon finishing the book, it paid off grandly. It wasn't enough that the mechanism of time travel is not a vessel per se (as HG Well's Time Machine, Bill & Ted's telephone booth or even the Doctor's TARDIS) was beautifully executed, but the late 1800s New York City is depicted so lovingly (in both word and illustrated form) that I have to admit, I walked around the city looking at older buildings more than I already do. But, somehow, the return to modern NYC was even more magical after what the characters have been through, and their choices were heartbreaking (turning out to be a pretty darn good love story, and a dissolving of another relationship that was actually handed in a mature fashion--who knew??). The central plot begins innocuously enough, with a slight mystery that results in an action-packed pay off. On top of all that, there were incredible twists to the story, right up to the last page. Phew. Good stuff!