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1 to 25 of 25 items
Dec 06, 2023
Set in an alternate 19th-century England, Cho skillfully melds the fantastical with history, mystery and romance, while sharply observing race and gender politics. I loved spending time in this world, with these characters.
Nov 07, 2022pdiksit rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Delightful light fantasy. Short and enjoyable.
Apr 20, 20220049833601 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This was an unexpected pleasure. I read this as part of the 10 to Try program.
Mar 05, 2021wyomingf rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely beautiful writing. Enough of Pratchett to be engaging, but not enough to be derivative. I consider this an essential fantasy read for any western fan of the genre. Cho is original and downright entertaining. 9/10
JCLS_Ashland_Kristin
Oct 21, 2020JCLS_Ashland_Kristin rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I love both the Regency period AND fantasy...so this fantasy is perfect for me. A super fun alternate Regency period with wizards and schools that teach magically gifted women to suppress their magical gifts because it's just not done for…
Feb 06, 2020IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
What a lot of fun! A witty fantasy novel, with a style obviously influenced by Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Susanna Clarke, and other British writers. The author is a young woman raised in Malaysia and currently living in England, so…
Dec 31, 2019
Well-paced and engaging this will appeal to readers who enjoyed "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell".
Jan 24, 2019Hillsboro_ScifiFantasyCollective rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A wonderfully engaging mixture of fantasy and Georgette Heyer style regency romance. This book contains one of my all-time favorite fictional characters in Prunella Gentleman. The refreshingly diverse cast of characters and witty banter…
Jun 07, 2018JCLHebahA rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Sparkling, witty, banter-filled regency romp featuring an England whose magic is fading and two heroes who must save it in spite of precarious social standing.
Jun 21, 2017ApollosRaven rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Excellent mix of fantasy fiction with an alternate regency era. Zen Cho presents us with a wizard in distress who is an appealing romantic hero (if not quite assertive enough) and a too-assertive orphan who discovers that she has set her…
Apr 26, 2017Tabby_6 rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
Trash. I couldn't bear to finish it. The affected, stilted dialogue is too much to bear. Not to mention the characters are cardboard, and the action in the first two-thirds of the book went nowhere. Returned it. Advise you not to pick it…
NBaccari
Sep 14, 2016NBaccari rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Slowgoing at first, but really great read towards the end. The language and plot will remind you of Jane Austen, but there is a healthy dose of fantasy and fantastical plotlines in here as well. Recommend for Austen lovers, and fantasy and…
Aug 16, 2016ArapahoeBridget rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This was delightful. If you're in the mood for something that mixes humor and magic with political intrigue and historical fantasy, I can't recommend it enough. It even addresses class and race in engaging and surprising ways, making for a…
Aug 04, 2016dkgriff rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
sorry .. just couldn't get into this one .. read first 100 pages and it seemed to go nowhere.
Jul 12, 2016shayshortt rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Although obviously highly socially conscious, Sorcerer to the Crown is also a great adventure, with a good bit of political intrigue. Even as he tries to solve the problem of England’s decreasing magical atmosphere, Zacharias is fighting…
Jul 03, 2016mwuth rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I didn't buy in to the love story in this one, but the world building was done well and the action was good. Looking forward to the sequels.
Jun 28, 2016
What an astonishingly fun read! It's like if Jane Austen's romances had a baby with "Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrel": a perfect blend of witty high-society conversation and whimsical magical antics. Bonus points for the great reminder…
May 18, 2016LibraryGirl101 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Victorian fantasy that touches on issues of race and class in England at the time. Character development could be better and the plot felt choppy--perhaps a sequel is in the works?
Feb 07, 2016AmandaG7 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The story takes place in Regency England where magicians are not fully accepted in society, yet too powerful to be ignored. I loved that this wasn't just a fun novel about magic, but it also addressed gender and race issues head on. The…
Jan 13, 2016JennaZeeLibrarian rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
In a fantastical Regency era England a young man named Zacharias has just been made Sorcerer to the crown - the most powerful magical position in the land. However, he is drowning in problems. Magicians across England are slowly losing…
Dec 30, 2015mpot rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Very fulfilling. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Dec 24, 2015CoreneBee rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho is perfect for those pining away for a sequel to Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Cho’s novel of magic and manners set in Regency England follows freed slave and magician, Zacharias Wythe. …
Dec 04, 2015Librarydog rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The world-building was really original. Reminded me of Naomi Novik's world-building in her Temeraire novels. Her characters "evolved" in their opinions and feelings as they moved through the story. Cho wrote thoughtfully about 'race'…
Nov 23, 2015
Historical Fantasy. Born a slave, Zacharias Wythe has just been appointed England's new Sorcerer Royal -- much to the dismay of the socially conservative Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, who are already plotting to oust him from…
Oct 18, 2015GummiGirl rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The best fantasy book I've read since The Golem and the Jinni. I loved Zacharias and Prunella and enjoyed this book from beginning to end.