Status
Available
Call number
Description
The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty's lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman--a freed slave who doesn't even have a familiar--as their Sorcerer Royal, and allowing England's once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven't stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man's profession... At his wit's end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England's magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain--and the world at large.… (more)
Pages
371
DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |
Language
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — First Novel — 2016)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — Robert Holdstock Award — 2016)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2016)
Otherwise Award (Long list — 2015)
NPR: Books We Love (2015)
The Observer Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2016)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2017)
Series
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member stefferoo
So many comparisons have already been made to describe Sorcerer to the Crown, and I’m going to chime in too with “This feels like epic fantasy for fans of Gail Carriger.” Zen Cho has created a world here that’s reminiscent of Austen meets Tolkien, yet at the same time it’s so wonderfully
A Regency setting is what you will get though, even if the nature of the style and story is up for debate. “Fantasy of manners” is also a subgenre that frequently crops up in discussions of novels like this, with a focus on a rigid set of expectations within a hierarchical societal structure. One of the protagonists in Sorcerer to the Crown is Zacharias Wythe, the first black sorcerer in Britain who also holds the highest office in his profession, a fact that makes him the target of much opposition and bigotry from many of his so-called “socially-refined” peers who feel that a freed slave should not have risen so far above his station.
Institutional racism and oppression is a real menace in this story, even overshadowing the threats of war from France, the dwindling magical resources of England, and the political entanglements involving the matter of witches and belligerent visiting diplomats. In spite of all that’s going on, Zacharias’ greatest enemies end up being his own neighbors and fellows. Already plagued with ugly rumors surrounding the death of his predecessor and adoptive guardian, now it seems someone has decided to go even further by attempting to murder Zacharias. Just when he thinks life couldn’t get complicated enough, along also comes Prunella Gentleman, a mixed-race young woman of considerable thaumaturgical power, and Zacharias takes it upon himself to mentor her in a society where women using magic is considered anathema.
The fleeting mention of Prunella in the book’s blurb actually belies the huge role that she plays. While I adored Zacharias, to me it was Prunella who stole the show as the star of the novel with the sheer force of her personality. In every proper situation she somehow still manages to find a way to throw expectations back into the scandalized faces of those who naively thought they could use tradition to keep her in line. It was also very entertaining to see how often she bends etiquette to her advantage, wielding it as a weapon rather than letting it restrict her (as evidenced by a particularly hilarious scene where she proposes the use of gossip and rumor as a way to actually deflect potential damage to her reputation). I loved her for her frankness and her thoroughly unbreakable spirit, and because she is strong, ruthless, and determined – in other words, the opposite of everything the small-minded folks in this book say about women magicians.
I was also surprised at how light-hearted this novel was, some of its weightier themes notwithstanding. I definitely don’t claim to be an expert in Regency fiction or books of this type, but it’s my understanding that a particular style of humor is frequently employed and that it could be quite tricky to pull off. For what it’s worth, I thought the author nailed it. There’s some genuine wit in here, subtle but also infused with that certain Austenesque charm. That said, I wouldn’t exactly call Sorcerer to the Crown an easy read, especially if you’re not use to the style, which I’m personally wasn’t. I confess to having a difficult time at the beginning of the novel while adjusting to the writing, which I thought it was a little hard on the eyes and it made reading slow. But eventually I did get into it, as you can see; once I reached a point where I could enjoy myself and start appreciating its cleverness and nuances, this novel was a pure joy.
Zen Cho crafts her setting with much love and care, evoking the Regency era and all its punctilious social arrangements but also manages to seamlessly weave in romance, adventure and political intrigue – and I haven’t even gotten the chance to mention the magic and all the fantastical creatures yet. Dandy socialites, posh boarding school matrons and quarreling politicians share this wonderfully unique world with fairies, dragons and magicians. It is a truly delightful alternate history where magic is an integral part of life.
You really can’t ask for more. Sorcerer to the Crown is a deftly written novel that thoroughly explores important issues, adding further depth to a story already rich with memorable characters and a pleasantly entertaining plot. Zen Cho is a new fantasy novelist who is immediately going on my list of authors to watch, and I’m looking forward to her next book in this series.
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adaptable that pigeonholing this book into any one category makes it feel a bit remiss.A Regency setting is what you will get though, even if the nature of the style and story is up for debate. “Fantasy of manners” is also a subgenre that frequently crops up in discussions of novels like this, with a focus on a rigid set of expectations within a hierarchical societal structure. One of the protagonists in Sorcerer to the Crown is Zacharias Wythe, the first black sorcerer in Britain who also holds the highest office in his profession, a fact that makes him the target of much opposition and bigotry from many of his so-called “socially-refined” peers who feel that a freed slave should not have risen so far above his station.
Institutional racism and oppression is a real menace in this story, even overshadowing the threats of war from France, the dwindling magical resources of England, and the political entanglements involving the matter of witches and belligerent visiting diplomats. In spite of all that’s going on, Zacharias’ greatest enemies end up being his own neighbors and fellows. Already plagued with ugly rumors surrounding the death of his predecessor and adoptive guardian, now it seems someone has decided to go even further by attempting to murder Zacharias. Just when he thinks life couldn’t get complicated enough, along also comes Prunella Gentleman, a mixed-race young woman of considerable thaumaturgical power, and Zacharias takes it upon himself to mentor her in a society where women using magic is considered anathema.
The fleeting mention of Prunella in the book’s blurb actually belies the huge role that she plays. While I adored Zacharias, to me it was Prunella who stole the show as the star of the novel with the sheer force of her personality. In every proper situation she somehow still manages to find a way to throw expectations back into the scandalized faces of those who naively thought they could use tradition to keep her in line. It was also very entertaining to see how often she bends etiquette to her advantage, wielding it as a weapon rather than letting it restrict her (as evidenced by a particularly hilarious scene where she proposes the use of gossip and rumor as a way to actually deflect potential damage to her reputation). I loved her for her frankness and her thoroughly unbreakable spirit, and because she is strong, ruthless, and determined – in other words, the opposite of everything the small-minded folks in this book say about women magicians.
I was also surprised at how light-hearted this novel was, some of its weightier themes notwithstanding. I definitely don’t claim to be an expert in Regency fiction or books of this type, but it’s my understanding that a particular style of humor is frequently employed and that it could be quite tricky to pull off. For what it’s worth, I thought the author nailed it. There’s some genuine wit in here, subtle but also infused with that certain Austenesque charm. That said, I wouldn’t exactly call Sorcerer to the Crown an easy read, especially if you’re not use to the style, which I’m personally wasn’t. I confess to having a difficult time at the beginning of the novel while adjusting to the writing, which I thought it was a little hard on the eyes and it made reading slow. But eventually I did get into it, as you can see; once I reached a point where I could enjoy myself and start appreciating its cleverness and nuances, this novel was a pure joy.
Zen Cho crafts her setting with much love and care, evoking the Regency era and all its punctilious social arrangements but also manages to seamlessly weave in romance, adventure and political intrigue – and I haven’t even gotten the chance to mention the magic and all the fantastical creatures yet. Dandy socialites, posh boarding school matrons and quarreling politicians share this wonderfully unique world with fairies, dragons and magicians. It is a truly delightful alternate history where magic is an integral part of life.
You really can’t ask for more. Sorcerer to the Crown is a deftly written novel that thoroughly explores important issues, adding further depth to a story already rich with memorable characters and a pleasantly entertaining plot. Zen Cho is a new fantasy novelist who is immediately going on my list of authors to watch, and I’m looking forward to her next book in this series.
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LibraryThing member Herenya
Sorcerer to the Crown is a lot like Jane Austen with diversity and dragons. And the politics of magic.
This book is a utter delight, and I couldn't put it down. I loved the main characters, and the writing style works really well for their story.
In terms of its world-building and portrayal of
Cho describes her book as "postcolonial fluff for book nerds (or rather, fluff for postcolonial book nerds)", and Sorcerer to the Crown is about the people who don't usually turn up, let alone take centre stage, in a Regency novel.
Prunella had once thought life in London would be all flirting and balls and dresses, hitting attentive suitors on the shoulder with a fan, and breakfasting late upon bowls of chocolate. She sighed now for her naivete. Little had she known life in London was in fact all hexes and murder and thaumaturgical politics, and she would always be rising early for some reason or other.
This book is a utter delight, and I couldn't put it down. I loved the main characters, and the writing style works really well for their story.
In terms of its world-building and portrayal of
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London society, Sorcerer to the Crown seems at first glance more similar to the novels of Georgette Heyer than the novels of Jane Austen. But there was a reason I described Sorcerer to the Crown as "Jane Austen with diversity and dragons". Heyer presents her society quite uncritically - she is critical of individuals, but rarely of society as a whole. Austen is much more insightful and satirical - more conscious of social and economic constraints, especially for women of a certain class. Zen Cho goes much further than Austen does but I think she's following more in Austen's footsteps than in Heyer's.Cho describes her book as "postcolonial fluff for book nerds (or rather, fluff for postcolonial book nerds)", and Sorcerer to the Crown is about the people who don't usually turn up, let alone take centre stage, in a Regency novel.
Prunella had once thought life in London would be all flirting and balls and dresses, hitting attentive suitors on the shoulder with a fan, and breakfasting late upon bowls of chocolate. She sighed now for her naivete. Little had she known life in London was in fact all hexes and murder and thaumaturgical politics, and she would always be rising early for some reason or other.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Zacharias is a black man who is the highest sorcerer in the land after his adoptive father's death, much to the chagrin of other magicians. He is fighting off a mysterious assassin while attempting to figure out why magic is decreasing in England. Meanwhile, Prunella is a half-English, half-Indian
The book has a fascinating premise and setting of Napoleonic England, but I felt like what could've been a fantastic adventure story is drawn out and slow paced instead. Zacharias was okay, but I was much more interested in Prunella and would've preferred if the book were entirely about her. This is the first in a planned trilogy, and I may try the next to see if the pacing picks up but it's not high on my list.
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young woman going to a magic school for girls - which is not to say she's learning how to use magic, but how to suppress it.The book has a fascinating premise and setting of Napoleonic England, but I felt like what could've been a fantastic adventure story is drawn out and slow paced instead. Zacharias was okay, but I was much more interested in Prunella and would've preferred if the book were entirely about her. This is the first in a planned trilogy, and I may try the next to see if the pacing picks up but it's not high on my list.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Fun story. The setting is kind of vaguely fantasy Regency, with heavy sexism and racism (and classism, which plays a lesser part), which is a large part of the point of the story. Zacharias gets seriously dumped on, from all directions. I found the revelation about Rollo near the end rather
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ridiculous; doesn't really fit the character, as previously revealed. Mrs. Daubney would no doubt be seriously unhappy to know who she was acquainted with... Prunella was...rather convenient, at least in timing, as was the arrival of the Sultan et al just then. All of this has been going on for years, and it just happens to come together in these few...weeks? Is it that long? The ending was rather predictable - actually, my reaction was rather "Oh good, they finally got around to it!" Good story, I enjoyed it, but it didn't really catch me. I might reread in a while, and I'll keep an eye out for the sequels. I got a copy from Netgalley, but was unable to read it (format problems, PDF) - I slogged through (I thought) a good bit of the story, but when I got this copy I found I hadn't quite finished the second chapter. So I'm not sure the disclaimer is necessary, but I did get a free copy of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member pwaites
Sorcerer to the Crown is an alternate history fantasy novel set in Regency England. Magic is running low in England, and many pin the blame on an easy target – Zacharias Wythe, the first ever Royal Sorcerer to be an African. Zacharias has to navigate political difficulties, a situation involving
The comparisons to Susana Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are inevitable. Both are books about magicians and fairies in Regency era England. Both deal with returning magic to England. Both explore the ideas of who is allowed access to magic. While there are similarities between the two, I’d say that Sorcerer to the Crown is it’s own book. People who like Clarke’s book might like Cho’s, but people who hated Clarke’s book might love Cho’s, especially given the differences in tone and writing style. Sorcerer to the Crown is a much more accessible book that never takes itself too seriously. The result is delightful.
I might go anywhere and do any magic I pleased if I were Peter, not Prunella.
Society in Sorcerer to the Crown deems magic to be a fit career only for gentlemen. They ignore the lower class people who practice magic and expound upon the dangers of female magicians, whose bodies are “too frail” to hold the necessary magic. Both our protagonists are excluded from the qualification of “gentlemen” and face many struggles as a result.
"Your amoral ingenuity in the pursuit of your interest is perfectly shocking,” said Zacharias severely.
“Yes, isn’t it?” said Prunella, pleased.
Characterization was overall well done, but only Prunella really stole my heart. I love Prunella! She is smart and determined, a force to be reckoned with. While she cannot imagine living without her magic, Prunella does not at first see any point in studying it. She grew up at a school for gentlewitches, where young women are taught to repress their magical abilities. She’s seen the results of what happens to women with magic, and she thinks the only path to success in life for a woman is marriage. Especially for Prunella, a half-Indian girl stuck between classes, this seems her only chance.
Prunella took to the ballrooms of London in the spirit of ruthless calculation of a general entering a battlefield.
It surprises me just how quickly I read Sorcerer to the Crown. It’s a middling sized fantasy book, just under four hundred pages, and yet I read it in less than twenty four hours. It wasn’t so much the plot that drew me in but the characters and world that Cho had created. This is a truly excellent debut novel. Oh, and as a bonus, there’s dragons!
I give Sorcerer to the Crown a strong recommendation, particularly for anyone who likes fantasy of manners, historical fiction, or diverse characters. However, Sorcerer to the Crown should really appeal to anyone looking for an engaging book that will make them smile.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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Malaysian witches, and find a way to return magic back to England. In this effort, he’s added by Prunella Gentleman, a mixed race women with prodigious magical abilities of her own. It is one of those rare books that manages to deal with such difficult themes as institutionalized oppression but remain an overall fun and charming read.The comparisons to Susana Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are inevitable. Both are books about magicians and fairies in Regency era England. Both deal with returning magic to England. Both explore the ideas of who is allowed access to magic. While there are similarities between the two, I’d say that Sorcerer to the Crown is it’s own book. People who like Clarke’s book might like Cho’s, but people who hated Clarke’s book might love Cho’s, especially given the differences in tone and writing style. Sorcerer to the Crown is a much more accessible book that never takes itself too seriously. The result is delightful.
I might go anywhere and do any magic I pleased if I were Peter, not Prunella.
Society in Sorcerer to the Crown deems magic to be a fit career only for gentlemen. They ignore the lower class people who practice magic and expound upon the dangers of female magicians, whose bodies are “too frail” to hold the necessary magic. Both our protagonists are excluded from the qualification of “gentlemen” and face many struggles as a result.
"Your amoral ingenuity in the pursuit of your interest is perfectly shocking,” said Zacharias severely.
“Yes, isn’t it?” said Prunella, pleased.
Characterization was overall well done, but only Prunella really stole my heart. I love Prunella! She is smart and determined, a force to be reckoned with. While she cannot imagine living without her magic, Prunella does not at first see any point in studying it. She grew up at a school for gentlewitches, where young women are taught to repress their magical abilities. She’s seen the results of what happens to women with magic, and she thinks the only path to success in life for a woman is marriage. Especially for Prunella, a half-Indian girl stuck between classes, this seems her only chance.
Prunella took to the ballrooms of London in the spirit of ruthless calculation of a general entering a battlefield.
It surprises me just how quickly I read Sorcerer to the Crown. It’s a middling sized fantasy book, just under four hundred pages, and yet I read it in less than twenty four hours. It wasn’t so much the plot that drew me in but the characters and world that Cho had created. This is a truly excellent debut novel. Oh, and as a bonus, there’s dragons!
I give Sorcerer to the Crown a strong recommendation, particularly for anyone who likes fantasy of manners, historical fiction, or diverse characters. However, Sorcerer to the Crown should really appeal to anyone looking for an engaging book that will make them smile.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
Not at all what I expected! And it was great!
From the cover art, the title, and the length of the book I was expecting a weighty, Asia-tinged fantasy epic. Nope!
It may be long - but I zipped through it in a day. And - it's hilarious.
As the comments below indicate, yes, comparisons with Susanna
Our two main characters:
Prunella is an orphaned assistant at a girls' school. Abandoned by her British father; her Indian mother known only by the tint she imparted to her daughter's skin, she is dependent on the headmistress for her living. She has a deal of magical talent - unfortunately, in this England, girls are not considered to have a constitution suitable for the use of magic, and schools such as this one, for gentlewitches, are devoted solely to preventing the young women from using their skills. (Of course, people tend to look the other way when servants use magic to accomplish their menial tasks.)
Zacharias is the titular Sorcerer to the Crown. Unfortunately, his occupation of the post of head sorcerer in Britain is a matter of some controversy. A black man and a former slave, he is not quite the aristocrat his fellow magicians want as their leader. Plots to depose him are already being fomented.
Although Zacharias' position is already unstable, politics and disasters wait for no one. The magic of England seems to be draining away, and no one is sure why. In addition, a Sultan and a 'foreign witch' from Janda Baik (a small Malaysian island) are at each others' throats and both threaten to drag England into a conflict overseas.
But when the Sorcerer is imposed upon to give a speech at a girls' school, he meets Prunella - and from there, events proceed in a merrily headlong, roller-coaster type fashion.
Thoroughly delightful.
Many thanks to Ace and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this excellent book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
From the cover art, the title, and the length of the book I was expecting a weighty, Asia-tinged fantasy epic. Nope!
It may be long - but I zipped through it in a day. And - it's hilarious.
As the comments below indicate, yes, comparisons with Susanna
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Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' are unavoidable. The settings are very similar: an old-timey London inhabited by a society of stuffy and aristocratic magicians. There are also incursions of Fairyland, and in addition, both prominently feature a former slave who dramatically rises in society. However, this is a much less serious work. Although not unsophisticated, it's less fussy - and much more romantic. I'd say: imagine if Susanna Clarke's writing met Gail Carriger's. I have to say though, I enjoyed this better than either - it hit my sweet spot.Our two main characters:
Prunella is an orphaned assistant at a girls' school. Abandoned by her British father; her Indian mother known only by the tint she imparted to her daughter's skin, she is dependent on the headmistress for her living. She has a deal of magical talent - unfortunately, in this England, girls are not considered to have a constitution suitable for the use of magic, and schools such as this one, for gentlewitches, are devoted solely to preventing the young women from using their skills. (Of course, people tend to look the other way when servants use magic to accomplish their menial tasks.)
Zacharias is the titular Sorcerer to the Crown. Unfortunately, his occupation of the post of head sorcerer in Britain is a matter of some controversy. A black man and a former slave, he is not quite the aristocrat his fellow magicians want as their leader. Plots to depose him are already being fomented.
Although Zacharias' position is already unstable, politics and disasters wait for no one. The magic of England seems to be draining away, and no one is sure why. In addition, a Sultan and a 'foreign witch' from Janda Baik (a small Malaysian island) are at each others' throats and both threaten to drag England into a conflict overseas.
But when the Sorcerer is imposed upon to give a speech at a girls' school, he meets Prunella - and from there, events proceed in a merrily headlong, roller-coaster type fashion.
Thoroughly delightful.
Many thanks to Ace and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this excellent book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
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LibraryThing member bragan
A fantasy novel set in an alternate, magical version of Regency England. The Sorcerer to the Crown is one Zacharias Wythe, although there's a lot of resistance to his holding that title, as he came to it under somewhat mysterious circumstances, and also because English society is not at all
When Zacharias makes an appearance to give a speech at a school for magical girls -- a school to teach them how not to use their magical gifts, that is, because of course women are supposed to be too delicate for such things -- he makes the acquaintance of the delightful, and memorably named, Prunella Gentleman, who turns out to have a mysterious magical background of her own. His path quickly becomes entwined with hers, as he tries to avoid assassins and to solve the problem of England's declining magic levels.
It's a fun read, with some entertaining magical shenanigans, a sense of humor that really snuck up on me, and a romance that actually worked for me, when so many romances in fiction don't.
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thrilled with having a black man holding the foremost magical office in the country, even if he was personally raised and mentored by the last person to fill the position. When Zacharias makes an appearance to give a speech at a school for magical girls -- a school to teach them how not to use their magical gifts, that is, because of course women are supposed to be too delicate for such things -- he makes the acquaintance of the delightful, and memorably named, Prunella Gentleman, who turns out to have a mysterious magical background of her own. His path quickly becomes entwined with hers, as he tries to avoid assassins and to solve the problem of England's declining magic levels.
It's a fun read, with some entertaining magical shenanigans, a sense of humor that really snuck up on me, and a romance that actually worked for me, when so many romances in fiction don't.
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LibraryThing member infjsarah
This was OK but didn't wow me.
LibraryThing member Shrike58
I could have easily given this Regency-flavored fantasy four stars but at the end of the day I decided that three and a half was the more honest assessment that I should hand out. Why the low-balling? To a large degree I want to see how Cho develops this story further. This is considering that the
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triumph of her main female character, to a degree, I found a little Mary-Sue like; could this only be a set-up for a fall? I look forward to finding out. Show Less
LibraryThing member imyril
A frothy fantasy farce with serious ideas under its lacy skirts; comparing it to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (as many people seem to) feels almost entirely inappropriate to me as I found that novel dour and slow. Sorcerer to the Crown may also be set in a Regency England with a well-established
If the tone is whimsical, the context is anything but: we meet former slave and newly-appointed Sorcerer Royal Zacharias Wythe in mourning for his adoptive father. Elevated to the highest thaumaturgical office on his father's death, he is undermined and threatened by the racial prejudice of his sorcerous colleagues and under pressure from the Government to help them out with a 'little problem' in the colonies. The snubs and backstabbing provide a major plot thread, but the novel lays out the politics and moves right on without getting bogged down.
Zacharias travels to the country to escape a vicious rumour that he killed his father. He also needs to replenish England's diminishing magic with some clever spell-casting on the Fairy borders (another plot thread; needless to say nothing is simple), but he visits a school of 'gentlewitches' on the way as a favour to a good friend (the joke tied up with said friend took 250 pages to catch up with me- sometimes the intimidating aunt really is a dragon ). Here we meet the outrageous Prunella Gentleman, orphan, magical prodigy and unstoppable force of nature.
One of the things I delight in across all of Zen Cho's work are her ferocious female characters. Prunella is half-'foreign' (uncovering her parentage being a peripheral storyline), with no prospects and absolutely no idea of how much is too much. She throws herself into situations that anyone with half an ounce of common sense would shy away from and pooh-poohs most of the strictures of polite society. She's delightful, and she gets away with it all by combining wide-eyed naivete with a self-absorbed lack of regard for the opinions of others. Prunella was made to tiptoe through Gothic corridors getting into trouble (but she'd probably frighten the monsters), or - as here - to storm the sensibilities of British Magic. She's arguably a little too perfect - too bright, too pretty, too talented, too brave - but I was too charmed and giggling too much to care.
She is a vivid contrast to poor, put-upon Zacharias, who is all woe and duty and has a dark secret besides. When he decides that women can and should be formally trained in magic (the school of gentlewitches actually teaches them to suppress their powers), and that Prunella will be his project, it's painfully clear that he's bitten off far more than he'd be able to chew even if he didn't have so much on his plate already. It's ironic that Prunella appears to be every bit as frivolous as England's thaumaturges fear 'females' will be (GAH. But, this is also a book laughing in the face of sexism, so) and in spite of this is a better magic user than any of them.
In spite of this, she's over-shadowed by Malaysian witch Mak Genggang whenever the cantankerous old lady is on-page. She is a powerful, browbeating archetype who is determined to get what she needs from Zacharias and stymie the British government in their interference. If Prunella doesn't much care for conventions, Mak Genggang simply doesn't know they exist - she is a hurricane that storms through a scene, upsets everything in sight (and, inevitably, makes Zacharias' life even more complicated).
Between the sorcerers manoeuvering to strip him of his staff, a fragile relationship with the Fairy Court, a magical situation even more complicated than it seemed, a mysterious illness he tries to hide from everyone, and a highly talented young lady more intent on finding a husband than mastering the principles of thaumaturgy (Prunella thinks magic is great; learning less so), Zacharias has more than enough on his hands.
It's sometimes silly, over the top stuff, and I had to be in the right mood to enjoy it. Thankfully, the writing is polished and Cho masters the mannered Regency dialogue, which could have been a real stumbling block if done poorly. She also sustains multiple inter-related plots and adds nuance around racism, sexism and colonialism without the whole thing feeling over-burdened. I liked the occasional darker touches - Cho has always blended sour with sweet in her short stories, and she's not afraid for her protagonists to be ruthless (Nidget! ), which stops this being too saccharine however cosy it all feels (at no point did I think I was in for an unhappy ending, although I wasn't sure how the challenges would be resolved ).
I think Zen Cho is one to watch, and I'll certainly watch out for the sequels.
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magical tradition, but it has a gleeful exuberance.If the tone is whimsical, the context is anything but: we meet former slave and newly-appointed Sorcerer Royal Zacharias Wythe in mourning for his adoptive father. Elevated to the highest thaumaturgical office on his father's death, he is undermined and threatened by the racial prejudice of his sorcerous colleagues and under pressure from the Government to help them out with a 'little problem' in the colonies. The snubs and backstabbing provide a major plot thread, but the novel lays out the politics and moves right on without getting bogged down.
Zacharias travels to the country to escape a vicious rumour that he killed his father. He also needs to replenish England's diminishing magic with some clever spell-casting on the Fairy borders (another plot thread; needless to say nothing is simple), but he visits a school of 'gentlewitches' on the way as a favour to a good friend (the joke tied up with said friend took 250 pages to catch up with me
One of the things I delight in across all of Zen Cho's work are her ferocious female characters. Prunella is half-'foreign' (uncovering her parentage being a peripheral storyline), with no prospects and absolutely no idea of how much is too much. She throws herself into situations that anyone with half an ounce of common sense would shy away from and pooh-poohs most of the strictures of polite society. She's delightful, and she gets away with it all by combining wide-eyed naivete with a self-absorbed lack of regard for the opinions of others. Prunella was made to tiptoe through Gothic corridors getting into trouble (but she'd probably frighten the monsters), or - as here - to storm the sensibilities of British Magic. She's arguably a little too perfect - too bright, too pretty, too talented, too brave - but I was too charmed and giggling too much to care.
She is a vivid contrast to poor, put-upon Zacharias, who is all woe and duty and has a dark secret besides. When he decides that women can and should be formally trained in magic (the school of gentlewitches actually teaches them to suppress their powers), and that Prunella will be his project, it's painfully clear that he's bitten off far more than he'd be able to chew even if he didn't have so much on his plate already. It's ironic that Prunella appears to be every bit as frivolous as England's thaumaturges fear 'females' will be (GAH. But, this is also a book laughing in the face of sexism, so) and in spite of this is a better magic user than any of them.
In spite of this, she's over-shadowed by Malaysian witch Mak Genggang whenever the cantankerous old lady is on-page. She is a powerful, browbeating archetype who is determined to get what she needs from Zacharias and stymie the British government in their interference. If Prunella doesn't much care for conventions, Mak Genggang simply doesn't know they exist - she is a hurricane that storms through a scene, upsets everything in sight (and, inevitably, makes Zacharias' life even more complicated).
Between the sorcerers manoeuvering to strip him of his staff, a fragile relationship with the Fairy Court, a magical situation even more complicated than it seemed, a mysterious illness he tries to hide from everyone, and a highly talented young lady more intent on finding a husband than mastering the principles of thaumaturgy (Prunella thinks magic is great; learning less so), Zacharias has more than enough on his hands.
It's sometimes silly, over the top stuff, and I had to be in the right mood to enjoy it. Thankfully, the writing is polished and Cho masters the mannered Regency dialogue, which could have been a real stumbling block if done poorly. She also sustains multiple inter-related plots and adds nuance around racism, sexism and colonialism without the whole thing feeling over-burdened. I liked the occasional darker touches - Cho has always blended sour with sweet in her short stories, and she's not afraid for her protagonists to be ruthless (
I think Zen Cho is one to watch, and I'll certainly watch out for the sequels.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
I received an ARC of this book at San Diego Comic-Con. It isn't for sale until September 1st.
High society hijinks, politics, and magic are artfully blended in this absolute gem of a novel. This is one of my favorite books of the year. That said, I imagine some people will have difficulty getting
The two leads are characters of colors, and I loved how Cho handled the issues of racism and sexism. They are ever-present concerns and I felt they were handled within context of the period without being too heavy-handed for modern readers. Zacharias Wythe is an African-born emancipated slave, adopted at an early age by the Sorcerer Royale. As the book begins, Zacharias has assumed the role of Sorcerer Royale upon the death of his mentor--and inherited many other woes as well.
Meanwhile, Prunella Gentleman is an orphaned young lady of great magic talents who faces a future utterly reliant on marriage and the concealment of her great skill. Things are complicated even more by the discovery of her inheritance.
A romance between Zacharias and Prunella is inevitable (and really the only predictable plot in the book), but handled with decorum and charm. The main plot contained many twists and turns. The climax completely surprised me.
I have already added this book to my list of possible nominees for major awards this coming year. It may not be a read for everyone, but it sure hit my sweet spots.
High society hijinks, politics, and magic are artfully blended in this absolute gem of a novel. This is one of my favorite books of the year. That said, I imagine some people will have difficulty getting
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into the book because the voice is so thick and true to the 19th century. It took me a few chapters to find the Regency groove, but once I did, the novel pulled me in like a hungry kraken.The two leads are characters of colors, and I loved how Cho handled the issues of racism and sexism. They are ever-present concerns and I felt they were handled within context of the period without being too heavy-handed for modern readers. Zacharias Wythe is an African-born emancipated slave, adopted at an early age by the Sorcerer Royale. As the book begins, Zacharias has assumed the role of Sorcerer Royale upon the death of his mentor--and inherited many other woes as well.
Meanwhile, Prunella Gentleman is an orphaned young lady of great magic talents who faces a future utterly reliant on marriage and the concealment of her great skill. Things are complicated even more by the discovery of her inheritance.
A romance between Zacharias and Prunella is inevitable (and really the only predictable plot in the book), but handled with decorum and charm. The main plot contained many twists and turns. The climax completely surprised me.
I have already added this book to my list of possible nominees for major awards this coming year. It may not be a read for everyone, but it sure hit my sweet spots.
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LibraryThing member WilliamDorr
Lovely read. Spent the weekend cuddled up with it. No regrets.
LibraryThing member rivkat
Zachariah was bought out of slavery as a child and raised by the Sorceror to the Crown to prove to the Sorceror’s British compatriots that Africans could do magic; now he’s the Sorceror to the Crown, though prejudice against him leads to whispers that he was responsible for his patron’s
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death. Meanwhile, Prunella Gentleman, raised in a school for suppressing magic in respectable young ladies (since witchery is all right for peasants, but not for well-bred women), has great magical gifts and a legacy from her parents that suits her ambition, which is to become wealthy and powerful--no matter who she has to steamroll to do it. There are some horrifying elements, but mostly this is a delightful mix of Austen and Susannah Clarke, with rather more acknowledgement of racial prejudice (Prunella’s heritage is Asian Indian). Show Less
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
A slow start but it picked up as it went along. Lots of twists and turns. Humor and suspense and interesting characters. Some of the characters, Rollo and Damerell I really wanted to know more about. I liked the Regency setting and it fit beautifully with the fantasy theme the author created. Very
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fresh and amusing. Show Less
LibraryThing member cissa
I loved this novel- but I love Regency novels, from Austen on up, and adding magic just makes them more fun.
It's not a peasant rebellion, but the 2 main characters that WIN are outsiders according to the working tropes.
I do agree with some of the critiques: Prunella is a piece of work, and i really
Zach I found to be a bit tedious, though also admirable.
Very recommended for people who like Regency novels, and are Ok with throwing magic into the mix!
It's not a peasant rebellion, but the 2 main characters that WIN are outsiders according to the working tropes.
I do agree with some of the critiques: Prunella is a piece of work, and i really
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do not see how she would have developed thus given her rearing. That being said, she's pretty cool; I do admire very pragmatic women.Zach I found to be a bit tedious, though also admirable.
Very recommended for people who like Regency novels, and are Ok with throwing magic into the mix!
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers has as its job the maintaining of magic within King George III’s domain, but lately things haven’t been going so well. Magic seems to be draining out of the kingdom, for one thing, a former slave and possible murderer has been made the Sorcerer Royal,
Because of my extreme love for Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I’d snap up any novel concerning an association of British magicians struggling to maintain magic during the Napoleonic wars era, but while Zen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is no Strange/Norrell knock-off--her writing isn’t as deep and beautiful for one thing, and she uses a P.G.Wodehouse type of humor--it’s as if Clarke’s book had caused Cho to ask some very fruitful questions.
Questions like, “If men can have an inborn knack for magic, as Jonathan Strange does, what about females? What would happen to girls growing up with a natural inclination for spells, and what would women do with such a skill?” And, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if a character of African origin held a prestigious, if precarious, position instead of being a servant like Stephen Black? And couldn’t the story be enriched by adding some Asian-based magic?”
Sorcerer to the Crown is the first book in a series, and based on how the story ends (not a cliffhanger, but with things in a very interesting state) I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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and relations with Fairyland are so fraught that English magicians have been unable to secure familiars to enhance their powers. Full of desperate situations, lively banter, entertaining Regency manners, a Georgette Heyer-like romance, and magic most amazing, Sorcerer to the Crown kept me entertained from start to finish. Because of my extreme love for Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I’d snap up any novel concerning an association of British magicians struggling to maintain magic during the Napoleonic wars era, but while Zen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is no Strange/Norrell knock-off--her writing isn’t as deep and beautiful for one thing, and she uses a P.G.Wodehouse type of humor--it’s as if Clarke’s book had caused Cho to ask some very fruitful questions.
Questions like, “If men can have an inborn knack for magic, as Jonathan Strange does, what about females? What would happen to girls growing up with a natural inclination for spells, and what would women do with such a skill?” And, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if a character of African origin held a prestigious, if precarious, position instead of being a servant like Stephen Black? And couldn’t the story be enriched by adding some Asian-based magic?”
Sorcerer to the Crown is the first book in a series, and based on how the story ends (not a cliffhanger, but with things in a very interesting state) I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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LibraryThing member musichick52
I loved it, The premise of a land where everyone is capable of some degree of magic is absurd and outrageous. I fell for it, however, I fell through the looking glass, directly into Regency Britain and was transported by the tale of an underdog who triumphs (two underdogs to be exact). My eyes sped
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along in the delicate and elegant language this author employs. Instantly, I was reminded of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but this is more child-like and less dark. I say "Here, Here", Ms. Zen Cho. Let's have some more from your pen. My thanks to the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
The premise holds great potential - a dark-skinned young man becomes Sorcerer Royal of England under suspicious circumstances and forces conspire to remove him from the post. By chance, he meets a young woman who possesses more magical talent than many of the magicians who have studied magic for
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years. Society has always deemed magic as unacceptable, and quite possibly dangerous, for ladies of high class. But, with a steady decline in the amount of magic in England, Zacharias begins to wonder if the solution doesn't lie in the women's magical education. Prunella couldn't care less about education - she already knows how to work magic - but she was orphaned with nothing more than an old suitcase of dubious treasures and needs to get to London to find a husband if she hopes to claim her rightful place in magical society. Written in the mannered language of the Regency period, the story develops rather slowly. Zen Cho's world is interesting but not well-developed. She succeeds in creating a sympathetic character in Zacharias and, even though their interactions are the source of much of the humor in the book, Prunella emerges as a somewhat unlikable brat who learns everything there is to know about magic from a foreign visiting witch in about two days' time. Obviously the beginning of a series, the novel resolves satisfactorily but one hopes Prunella's character might be better, and more appealingly, developed in the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
This book was an utter delight (and I could not be more upset at the cover, which is pretty much the opposite of "Regency fantasy"). It is terribly refreshing to read a book about characters of color where the story isn't All About Racism, but historically-likely racism (and sexism) isn't ignored,
I adored Zacharias and Prunella, both together and for their own delightful selves: Zacharias is a nerd who's been made into a politician, and Prunella has absolutely no reservations about doing whatever she needs to do to get what she needs (I was going to say "what she wants," but she's absolutely right, she couldn't function in this society unmarried). Mak Genggang is so great I want a whole book just about her.
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either. It's a terrific plot complication, and it gives the story a little bite. I read an interview with the author where she said that what she wanted to point out was that empire is bad for everyone, not just the colonized but the colonizers as well, and this does it perfectly.I adored Zacharias and Prunella, both together and for their own delightful selves: Zacharias is a nerd who's been made into a politician, and Prunella has absolutely no reservations about doing whatever she needs to do to get what she needs (I was going to say "what she wants," but she's absolutely right, she couldn't function in this society unmarried). Mak Genggang is so great I want a whole book just about her.
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LibraryThing member swingdancefan
As I began this book, I found it pretentious. It seemed to be trying too hard to be Jane Austen meets sword and sorcery—with commentary on racial prejudices of the Regency era thrown in for a bonus. I put it aside for a while, and when I returned, it only took me a couple of chapters to start
By the end, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
The author does a good job of slowly revealing important knowledge—what happened to Leofric, who Prunella’s mother is, and so forth, and she reveals them at the right time for the story—not in a way that seems contrived, but when it’s important to the plot.
I enjoyed Zacharias’ reluctance to use his power, but, once he had it, he was determined to use it wisely and well. Prunella’s original goal—an advantageous marriage—gets sidetracked, but in a very beneficial way indeed!
Possible objectionable material:
If you don’t like magic, don’t read this. There is some minor violence and injury from magical attacks. No cursing or sex—this is just as clean as any Jane Austen novel.
Who would like this book:
Lovers of Jane Austen, fantasy, or both. This has only mild moments of romance, so if you’re in it for the romance, this might not be the book for you. Because of the Regency-era style, there are some more elevated vocabulary words and more complex sentences, so I’d say strong middle graders on up. I think boys can enjoy this just as much as girls, even if they aren’t Jane Austen fans! Approximate Lexile: 1260
Thank you, NetGalley for the Advanced Reader ebook. I’ll be looking for the other books in this series as they come.
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really having fun. It might have been around the time Prunella comes on the scene.By the end, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
The author does a good job of slowly revealing important knowledge—what happened to Leofric, who Prunella’s mother is, and so forth, and she reveals them at the right time for the story—not in a way that seems contrived, but when it’s important to the plot.
I enjoyed Zacharias’ reluctance to use his power, but, once he had it, he was determined to use it wisely and well. Prunella’s original goal—an advantageous marriage—gets sidetracked, but in a very beneficial way indeed!
Possible objectionable material:
If you don’t like magic, don’t read this. There is some minor violence and injury from magical attacks. No cursing or sex—this is just as clean as any Jane Austen novel.
Who would like this book:
Lovers of Jane Austen, fantasy, or both. This has only mild moments of romance, so if you’re in it for the romance, this might not be the book for you. Because of the Regency-era style, there are some more elevated vocabulary words and more complex sentences, so I’d say strong middle graders on up. I think boys can enjoy this just as much as girls, even if they aren’t Jane Austen fans! Approximate Lexile: 1260
Thank you, NetGalley for the Advanced Reader ebook. I’ll be looking for the other books in this series as they come.
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LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
What a delightful book! A friend who knew that I enjoyed Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer suggested I read this and I am glad I did. The story is intriguing and I liked the characters.
Do be aware that the language is authentic. The novel has a slower pacing than many
I am waiting impatiently for the next book of what the author and publisher suggest is a trilogy.
If you enjoy Patricia Wrede's fantasy Regency England, then I think you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. If you liked The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, give this book a try. If you simply like fantasy, I think you stand a good chance of enjoying this book.
Do be aware that the language is authentic. The novel has a slower pacing than many
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expect today. You learn much about the world and characters. As is typical of the time, there is casual sexism and racism, but the main characters face both with strength and dignity.I am waiting impatiently for the next book of what the author and publisher suggest is a trilogy.
If you enjoy Patricia Wrede's fantasy Regency England, then I think you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. If you liked The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, give this book a try. If you simply like fantasy, I think you stand a good chance of enjoying this book.
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Zacharias Wythe is young to be the Sorcerer Royal for England, but his true disadvantage in the eyes of the Society of Magicians is his complexion--Zacharias was a slave, adopted to be Sir Stephen Wythe's heir. He bears the disdainful treatment of his fellows with admirable restraint and honor, but defeat several assassination attempts and a would-be coup. At last, she takes up the staff of Sorcerer Royal, and Zacharias is free to potter about the country doing magical research.
I wanted to absolutely love this book, as it contains my favorite things in the world: Regency society shenanigans, magical battles, and consciousness of class, race, sexism, and colonialism. But unfortunately the combination of it all didn't particularly work for me. It was like a light hearted romp smashed into a super serious book. A dragon and a mermaid tease each other about family anecdotes like something out of Wodehouse, while below them their masters are engaged in a battle that will lead to someone being tortured to death. Prunella foolishly trips off to confront a magical enemy, leaving behind a note that her noble patron takes as a sign that she's eloped. Prunella chatters away about her dress being out of style while a witch nearly stabs a fairy at a ball. Prunella sounds like she came straight from a Heyer novel, whereas Zacharias is a restrained noble soul struggling with weighty issues of parentage and equality. Putting them together made me feel like the very important and troubling problems Zacharias was having were of equal weight to the minor social problems Prunella caused for herself. And the tangle of very serious consequences for very silly characters really threw me for a loop.
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he wishes they would let him perform his duties in peace. This uncomfortable situation comes to head at the same time that he takes on a young woman as his apprentice. Prunella is astoundingly magically talented, but as a woman her practice of magic should not be countenanced. Prunella causes Zacharias a great deal of political and personal embarrassment and worry, but also helps him I wanted to absolutely love this book, as it contains my favorite things in the world: Regency society shenanigans, magical battles, and consciousness of class, race, sexism, and colonialism. But unfortunately the combination of it all didn't particularly work for me. It was like a light hearted romp smashed into a super serious book. A dragon and a mermaid tease each other about family anecdotes like something out of Wodehouse, while below them their masters are engaged in a battle that will lead to someone being tortured to death. Prunella foolishly trips off to confront a magical enemy, leaving behind a note that her noble patron takes as a sign that she's eloped. Prunella chatters away about her dress being out of style while a witch nearly stabs a fairy at a ball. Prunella sounds like she came straight from a Heyer novel, whereas Zacharias is a restrained noble soul struggling with weighty issues of parentage and equality. Putting them together made me feel like the very important and troubling problems Zacharias was having were of equal weight to the minor social problems Prunella caused for herself. And the tangle of very serious consequences for very silly characters really threw me for a loop.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
This entertaining fantasy introduces an England where Napoleon would be fighting with magic had the English and French sorcerers not made a treaty. Things are not going well for English sorcery. Magic a drying up. The Sorcerer Royal died and passed the staff on to his adopted son who happens to be
Zachariah takes a break from all the politics on London to make a speech at a girls' school and not only meets an unlikely young magician named Prunella but sees the length the headmistress will go to keep women from doing magic. Prunella decides to run away to London to make a better life for herself since she has been treated like an unpaid drudge since the death of her father. But she discovers that her father has left her a very powerful and very unexpected legacy.
Besides Zachariah and Prunella's adventures, we also have a visit to Fairyland, a visit from a very angry witch, and a sneaky magician who has wrested a familiar out of Fairyland. The story is filled with adventure and has very interesting characters. I liked the magical world that was created.
Fans of fantasy will enjoy this one.
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a freed slave and black. The rest of the magic community, composed primarily of members of the upper class, are determined to remove the staff from Zachariah's hands and place it into the hands of someone more worthy.Zachariah takes a break from all the politics on London to make a speech at a girls' school and not only meets an unlikely young magician named Prunella but sees the length the headmistress will go to keep women from doing magic. Prunella decides to run away to London to make a better life for herself since she has been treated like an unpaid drudge since the death of her father. But she discovers that her father has left her a very powerful and very unexpected legacy.
Besides Zachariah and Prunella's adventures, we also have a visit to Fairyland, a visit from a very angry witch, and a sneaky magician who has wrested a familiar out of Fairyland. The story is filled with adventure and has very interesting characters. I liked the magical world that was created.
Fans of fantasy will enjoy this one.
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LibraryThing member Gretchening
I read this all in one day! It is a very solid entry into that Victorian era magic-enabled Britain trope, and I would say it's my favorite one of the few I've read or tried to read. I think if you enjoy stuff like Temeraire or Mary Robinette Kowal's books (which I have not read) or Marie Brennan's
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books, you will like this one. I am particularly enamored of this title as the two lead characters are both people of color (yes! just like there really were in Britain at the time! Who knew!) and deals with classism, sexism, and particularly racism very well. The tone and pacing were swift and merry, and the plot was satisfyingly political, actiony, and full of balls and parties. I had a great time reading this book and I highly rec it. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibraryGirl11
Decidedly odd, with several subplots that never really coalesced and characters that weren't overly developed. Very much a setup for the second book--more of a prequel than a first novel.
Publication
Ace (2015), Edition: 1st Edition, 384 pages
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015
Physical description
371 p.; 9.25 inches
ISBN
0425283372 / 9780425283370