Stevie‘s review of Sorcerer To The Crown (Sorcerer Royal, Book 1) by Zen Cho
Historical Fantasy published by Ace 12 Jul 16
I have a large amount of fondness for historical fantasy that combines magic with proper manners, even though I’m still to read some of the most eminent novels in the genre. Proper manners, magic, and also a thorough dissection of race and genre issues, however, was too tempting a combination for me to resist for long.
Zacharias Wythe became Sorcerer Royal upon the mysterious death of his benefactor and substitute father, Sir Stephen Wythe, although not all are happy at the appointment of a gentleman of colour – and the son of slaves to boot – being allowed to practise magic, much less hold power over all those in England who also do so. To make matters worse, England has been starved of magic for a number of years, and the situation is getting to a point where the non-magical powers-that-be will soon start noticing. Throw in a diplomatic incident involving foreign magic users – and females at that! – and it’s hardly surprising that Zacharias is frustrated with his job: a job he has no means of walking away from and which others are prepared to use any means necessary to evict him from.
Zacharias decides to seek answers from Fairyland, but is persuaded to make a detour by an old friend, who has been asked to deliver a speech at a school for magical young ladies. Not that young ladies are encouraged to use their magic – that sort of thing is all very well for the lower orders, provided they do it only to improve the lot of their betters – but proper magic is the domain only of gentlemen. Arriving at the school, Zacharias finds that the pupils are being taught to use powerful charms to suppress their abilities, and that one young woman in particular – an orphan who is neither a pupil, a servant, nor a prospective teacher – shows particularly promising skills, if they could only be put to use without shocking the male sorcerers in London.
Prunella, meanwhile, wants to get away from the school and persuades Zacharias to take her with him through a variety of underhand tactics. She proves to be ruthless in her aims and even more talented than Zacharius anticipated – plus, she is in possession of a legacy any sorcerer might be prepared to kill for.
On arriving back in London, the pair are thrown into a whirlwind of adventures and social engagements as Prunella’s legacy causes chaos, the diplomatic incident escalates, and several of Zacharias’ friends and enemies prove to be more powerful – and less human – than he ever thought possible.
I loved this book for so many reasons, not least Prunella. Zacharias was slightly more problematic in that we were tantalised with knowing he had a Big Secret, but had to wait until almost the end of the book to find out what that was. The resolution of the main plot lines was very satisfying, however, setting us up for the rest of the series without any annoying cliffhangers.
I’m looking forward to visiting this world, and its principal inhabitants, again very soon.
Grade: A
Summary:
Magic and mayhem clash with the British elite in this whimsical and sparkling debut.
The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers maintains the magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman as their Sorcerer Royal and allowing England’s stores of magic to 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, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up, an adventure that brings him in contact with Prunella Gentlewoman, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, and sets him on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…
Read an excerpt.
