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The Grand Tour (Cecelia and Kate #2)

by Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 3,264 ratings · 331 reviews

Kate and Cecy and their new husbands, Thomas and James, are off on a leisurely tour of the Continent. But once they arrive in France, strange things start to happen. Cecy receives a mysterious package, Thomas's valet is assaulted, and Kate loses a glove. Soon it becomes clear that the newlyweds have stumbled upon a magical plot to take over Europe, and they must embark on...more

Paperback, 469 pages

Published April 1st 2006 by Graphia (first published September 1st 2004)

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Jun 15, 2007 Res rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: sff

The one where Cecy and Kate and their husbands go on a marriage tour of Europe and wind up entangled in a plot.

I'm afraid this lacks a good deal of the charm of Sorcery and Cecelia. It's longer, and more conventional in structure, and while we still get first-person accounts from both Kate and Cecy, they're not talking to each other, so we lose those hints at the cousins' relationship that made the first book so much fun.

My first problem here is that I still can't tell the people apart -- not K...more

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Feb 09, 2009 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-books

This book was cumbersome. Again, the authors engaged in the Letter Game, but this time the main characters, Kate and Cecily were side by side, involved in the same plot. It was interesting to see the different points of view with which they approached each event, but the way the story was set up, it was fraught with problems that plagued the plot and made the story drag.
Cousins Kate and Cecy are on their honeymoons – touring Europe with their husbands, who are best of friends. They stumble ac...more This book was cumbersome. Again, the authors engaged in the Letter Game, but this time the main characters, Kate and Cecily were side by side, involved in the same plot. It was interesting to see the different points of view with which they approached each event, but the way the story was set up, it was fraught with problems that plagued the plot and made the story drag.
Cousins Kate and Cecy are on their honeymoons – touring Europe with their husbands, who are best of friends. They stumble across international intrigue that suggests someone is trying to use magic to bring Napoleon Bonaparte back to power. Kate writes the events of a day or two in her commonplace book (diary), then we read an excerpt from Cecily’s deposition to the British Ministry of Magic, the War Office, and the Foreign Office, which covers the next day or days. Thus, the characters leapfrog in their explanation of events. It is interesting to note Cecy’s direct development of plot, twists, and forthright telling of events. Kate is much better at creating atmosphere, developing relationships, and adding the personal touch with an occasional and usually humorous ‘note bene’.
Beyond that, the story has problems. If both authors are writing about the same characters in the same rooms, the characters never develop completely. When Cecy’s narrative involves Kate’s husband, Thomas, as it naturally must, we see a different Thomas than the one that Kate writes about. Instead of lending richness to his character, his personality becomes so blurred that he becomes more of a bland pawn of the plot, than the unpredictable rascal with the stinging retorts that we came to love in the first book. The same is true for Cecy’s husband, James when Kate is writing. Each author writes not only about her own character, but tells what the others are saying and doing at any moment, and the essential nuances that help the reader visualize setting and personality are lost.
The plot also suffers. The pace drags. (This book is half again as long as the first book, but develops only one storyline instead of two.) It is clear the authors are not discussing the plot, as the rules of the Letter Game dictate, so each advances the action just so much, then leaves hints for the other to pick up and develop. The hints are sometimes ignored, sometimes dwelt on too deeply, and often lead nowhere important. It was much more interesting in the last book when each character had her own adventure to relate – the other could comment, sympathize, offer advice, but couldn’t actually act in such a way to significantly redirect the plot. Here it seems that each author has an idea about what could happen, but doesn’t want to take the action too far – so as not to overshadow each other. After all, though there are many opportunities for extreme suspense (i.e. James is shot and Cecy nearly blows herself up), the characters recover in a matter of hours or days, all along assuring everyone that they are perfectly fine. It’s as if one author doesn’t dare put the other author’s character into anything resembling real danger. The reader senses this polite restraint, and wishes they would actually do something! When there is actual suspense, in the last sixty pages, I finally couldn’t put the book down.
There are far too many loose ends and sudden character entrances and exits. Why does Lady Sylvia play such a prominent part in the first sections, then suddenly have so little influence in the rest? After all, much is made of her extensive network – why does it really not come to any significant purpose? Are there only a wizards in Britain? Apart from a select few characters, positioned as authorities on the clues they seek, why do our couples not encounter any other normal, magical folk like themselves?
I’m looking forward, with some reservation, to the next book. The dust jacket suggests that the authors return to the successful formula of the first book, in which the characters don’t actually meet during the course of events. That story takes place ten years later – will it be written from the point of view of their daughters? (less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Britain rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-clean-fun

I gave this book five stars because it is worth reading, even though it is not as good as the first one. The thing that didn't work quite so well this time was exactly what made the first one great: the Letter Game. In this book, the cousins' adventures are taken from their personal accounts of the story. Cecelia is writing to a public government audience, while Kate writes in her journal. I preferred the private entries to the public ones. They were more in keeping with the style of the first b...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Kerry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2004, 7, fantasy

Cousins Kate and Cecy, along with their new husbands (Thomas and James respectively) set off for a honeymoon "Grand Tour" of Europe as this book begins. Thomas' mother, Lady Sylvia, is accompanying them as far as Paris. But their adventures start the moment they cross the Channel into France, when a strange woman leaves an equally strange parcel for Lady Sylvia. This turns out to be the Sainte Ampoule, a piece of the (now unnecessary) coronation regalia of France. Soon after, their party is atta...more Cousins Kate and Cecy, along with their new husbands (Thomas and James respectively) set off for a honeymoon "Grand Tour" of Europe as this book begins. Thomas' mother, Lady Sylvia, is accompanying them as far as Paris. But their adventures start the moment they cross the Channel into France, when a strange woman leaves an equally strange parcel for Lady Sylvia. This turns out to be the Sainte Ampoule, a piece of the (now unnecessary) coronation regalia of France. Soon after, their party is attacked by highwaymen and the Ampoule is stolen away. This leads to the discover that Lady Sylvia was once (and still is) a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and that this in unlikely to be the quiet honeymoon that was planned.

Visiting a local ancient Roman Temple, Cecy encounters young Theodore Daventer and his tutor, the unpleasant Mr Strangle who appeared in The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. Mr Strangle appears to have performed some equally unpleasant magic ritual and when this is only the first such encounter, all the newlyweds become further suspicious of Mr Strangle and his charge. On reaching Paris, General Wellington informs them that the Ampoule is not the only piece of European coronation regalia to have been stolen recently and charges them, under the guise of continuing their honeymoon tour, to find out just what is going on.

Soon the four are getting caught up in magic, both new and ancient, a possible plot to restore Napoleon and, of course, discovering what marriage is all about.

Like its predecessor, this book is written in sections by Cecy (Patricia Wrede) and Kate (Caroline Stevermer). Kate is writing in a personal journal, but Cecy is supposedly writing a disposition about their adventures for the (magical) authorities. For something that is supposed to be a report, it is very, very full of personal thoughts and descriptions that really shouldn't be there (I don't think the readers will really want to know every mundane, or even just personal, detail). She also discusses at great length what she is going to use as a focus for her magic. This is supposed to remain a secret so that an unscrupulous magic user cannot take advantage of the knowledge (as happened to Thomas in the first book). Of course, if it really was a stolid report, it would be very boring for the reader. Still, I feel perhaps Wrede should have chosen a different medium for Cecy.

The plot of this book is more convoluted that the first one, but it is also well thought out and very clever. I didn't pick up what was going on until the gang discovered it all (in a singularly easy way, I felt) and I certainly didn't pick out who the chief villain was or what their dastardly plan was.

Once again, the magic has been woven neatly into this near-history and done very cleverly. Kate's first attempt to build a focus in rather spectacular, given a good explanation of why things didn't go exactly as planned, and is important at the resolution of the story.

And if you very want to have great adventures like this, it might be a good idea to learn to knit.

All in all, another enjoyable story by Wrede and Stevermer. It isn't likely to change your life, but it is a very nice way to while away a few hours.

[Copied across from Library Thing; 25 September 2012](less)

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Jul 17, 2012 Joseph Teller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-historical

The sequel of 'Sorcery and Cecelia' and again a collaboration between Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermar.

This is written in a combination of personal diary/journal entries, parts of an official deposition to the British Ministry of Magic, Foreign Office and War Office on a series of events that the characters become involved in while on their 'Grand Tour' (a traveling Honeymoon) across Europe.

It's heavier in dialogue than the previous novel, which I found made it a much easier and more p...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Maura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

1. do not attempt to read this without first reading Sorcery and Cecelia -- it will simply not make much sense.

2. i love Sorcery and Cecelia -- while it's fluff, it's terribly well written fluff. and it's in epistolary format, which i'm a sucker for. i think it's safe to say it's one of the most re-read books on my shelf.

3. this doesn't evoke nearly as much love. which disappointed me greatly for about the first half of the book. eventually the plot engaged me enough to get over it. so if you to...more

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May 18, 2009 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, regency

Summary: I was disappointed in this book, but if you liked the first, you should go ahead and plow through this one. The third is better, but you might need background information from this one to understand it.

I was excited about reading this after reading Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country; unfortunately, this one did not work as well.
Instead of using letters bet...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Karen Keyte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fantasy-scifi, teen-girls-adventure-mystery, teen-historical, teen-romantic

Newly (and very happily) married, cousins Kate and Cecy are ready to make their shared wedding journey on the Continent with their estimable husbands, Thomas and James. Both young ladies have romantic and exciting plans for their tour - shopping expeditions in Paris, viewing historical antiquities, visiting the opera - and it's not as if their expectations won't be met. Most assuredly, they will be. But the double-honeymoon will also include magic, intrigue, kidnapping and peril, Kate and Cecy j...more Newly (and very happily) married, cousins Kate and Cecy are ready to make their shared wedding journey on the Continent with their estimable husbands, Thomas and James. Both young ladies have romantic and exciting plans for their tour - shopping expeditions in Paris, viewing historical antiquities, visiting the opera - and it's not as if their expectations won't be met. Most assuredly, they will be. But the double-honeymoon will also include magic, intrigue, kidnapping and peril, Kate and Cecy just don't know it yet.

Almost from the very minute the traveling party lands in Calais, events of a magical persuasion threaten to overtake them. A mysterious lady in blue leaves a package meant for Thomas' mother with Cecy and when it's opened the object turns out to be a magical artifact of great age and power. Then a midnight thief attempts to steal the parcel. The would-be robber is foiled, but he manages to escape - leaving only a Turkish slipper behind. Soon the newlyweds learn of several more successful thefts from various sites across Europe. In each case, an important antiquity tied to various coronation rituals is stolen. Clearly, something devious and threatening is afoot.

In this adventurous sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia, authors Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer have sent their young heroines (and heroes, of course) to explore the European Continent just two years after the final defeat of Napoleon. Once again, the combination of Regency manners, romance, magic and dastardly deeds is used to great effect. Clearly Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer (both of whom are capable of magic with their pens) had a great deal of fun writing this novel. Cecy, Kate, James and Thomas are all extremely likable and the plot is full of action and derring-do, with a few tender moments thrown in for good measure. In Sorcery and Cecelia, Kate and Cecy were separated (one in London, one in Essex), and the novel was written as a series of letters between the two. This time around the cousins are together throughout, so the use of letters was impracticable. Instead, Cecy's voice is heard through her sworn deposition to various members of His Majesty's Government, while Kate relates the more personal details in the diary she received as a wedding present from her uncle. Once again, the combination of the two points of view adds depth and color to the narrative. Given the fabulous plot and the high quality of the writing, this book is both a pleasure to read on every level.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, historical-fiction, epistolary, 2012

This is the second book of Wrede and Stevermer's Cecelia and Kate series. Both are now happily married after their adventures in book 1 and have traveled to the continent for their wedding tour. (As an historical aside, I never knew that was a thing. I guess that's were today's honeymoon evolved from.) Almost as soon as they set foot off the boat, however, they find themselves caught in the middle of another plot.

The book started out a bit convoluted, and it took a bit for me to really get into...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fantasy

2.5

Like the first book, we get the story from the perspective of the two protagonists, Kate and Cecy, through their writings; however, instead of letters written back and forth between the two we get Kate's entries from her "commonplace" book - pretty much a diary - and Cecy's deposition of the incident.

It didn't work quite as well in this book as it did in the first.

For one thing, everyone is together on the Wedding/Mystery Tour, so it makes less sense to have it written this way - though it i...more 2.5

Like the first book, we get the story from the perspective of the two protagonists, Kate and Cecy, through their writings; however, instead of letters written back and forth between the two we get Kate's entries from her "commonplace" book - pretty much a diary - and Cecy's deposition of the incident.

It didn't work quite as well in this book as it did in the first.

For one thing, everyone is together on the Wedding/Mystery Tour, so it makes less sense to have it written this way - though it is interesting to see the same events from the two viewpoints. Moreso, though, the plot dragged more in this one. Even though there was a big mystery and high stakes, I never really *felt* the tension. More time seemed to be spent discussing buying gowns and interviewing maids than the 'who's killing people' aspect, and if this was more of a romance that would be fine, but it felt like it tried to be too many things and sort of failed at fulfilling any of it.

Also, I had a harder time keeping track of who was who. Even though the two character's writings are written by different authors, their voices were just too much the same - not to mention a certain deal of inconsistency. (For instance, at one crisis we're told how Kate (view spoiler).

More than anything, though, it seemed to not work as well because our heroines took a backseat to most of the action. James and Thomas were not only tiresome in constantly trying to protect the girls, which is understandable to some degree, but they were often successful, so we get entries of how Kate, for instance, is sitting at home and waiting for news.

Not exactly the most riveting thing to read.

Even their maids seemed more active, as they were constantly complaining of being tired and going to bed and letting others take care of things.

Also, since Cecy's parts were written as a deposition, we don't really get any personal touches. In Kate's parts we at least see moments of tenderness and romance with her and her new husband, but with Cecy we don't get to see much of that side at all.

If the mystery is going to be tepid I at least want some decent romance, damnit!

Still, it was a pretty short read, though draggy in places (especially the travelling bits), and did have a certain bit of charm. I do intend on reading the third in the trilogy, but I can't not pretend that I'm not hoping for an improvement.(less)

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Sep 25, 2011 Hope rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series; once I finished first book I had to read the second book. I did go to the library next day to get it but unfortunately it was checked out. So I put it on hold and waited for the email to arrive notifying that the book was ready to pick up. I have to say that I enjoyed book two, The Grand Tour, very much. It was an entertaining read, humorous, fun, fast paced plot and never dull moment. All the characters from book one are in this book as well, the mail char...more This is the second book in the series; once I finished first book I had to read the second book. I did go to the library next day to get it but unfortunately it was checked out. So I put it on hold and waited for the email to arrive notifying that the book was ready to pick up. I have to say that I enjoyed book two, The Grand Tour, very much. It was an entertaining read, humorous, fun, fast paced plot and never dull moment. All the characters from book one are in this book as well, the mail characters. There are some new characters that we meet along the line, for example one of them was Lord Wellington.

Book was very well written and I really enjoyed the writing stile. The authors keep you interested in the book and its characters. Even though I noticed that Kate and Cece are less independent now that they are married, which irked me the wrong way. I realise that the book is set somewhere is eighteenth century and that woman were though of a husbands, or father or brothers property. But this was not straight forward historical book, but rather historical fiction/fantasy. Even though they come across as less independent than in book one they still stand their ground.

I really enjoyed the traveling across the Europe, I felt like I was there with the characters. Visiting different cities and going to the exhibits of the ancient Greece and Rome. In this book we get to see more intimacy between Kate and Thomas as a married couple (nothing graphic). This book was bit different, it was told through journal entries, of Kate and Cece. If you recall previous book was told through the correspondence between Kate and Cece. Journal is more intimate, person is more likely to reveal more personal information in it (like I already mentioned intimacy between Thomas and Kate). I believe that Kate is more open where as Cece is more couscous with what she write in her journal.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am looking for ward to reading book three “The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After.” This book misses magic, travel (less)

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Dec 10, 2009 Lydia rated it 1 of 5 stars

I found this book disappointing after Sorcery and Cecelia. The most exciting part of the first book for me is the way it was written and how the two authors pick up on each other's threads, not knowing where the plot or the characters will go next. They wrote Sorcery and Cecelia as a "Letter Game" where the first one to write makes up a character and a setting writing to another character and then the characters correspond. The joy of that game was lost in The Grand Tour, the writing felt like t...more

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Jun 11, 2009 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, fiction, romantical, regency

Not as evocative as the first. It doesn't pull you in when you start it, and it doesn't hook you afterwards. Unfortunately, the characters are rather boring in this- it might have something to do with the format- there's a switch from the epistolary layout of the first to a diary/testimony layout, and it really is not at all effective. It makes the story seem flat and dull. It doesn't help that the two title characters have become even more boring- Kate has turned into a wilting flower who only...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance-mystical

The follow up to Sorcery and Cecelia, I enjoyed this book but not as much as the original. The authors again wrote the book with the narrative perspective alternating between Kate and Cecy. Because they are traveling together on a joint honeymoon, however, they don’t exchange letters. Rather, Kate rights in a journal and Cecy’s viewpoint comes from a deposition to several government agencies investigating a dangerous plot that the ladies and their husbands stumble upon in Europe.

I continue to e...more

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Jun 12, 2009 Wealhtheow rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mannerpunk, fantasy, regency

The sequel to Sorcery and Cecilia is significantly less charming than its predecessor. I had a hard time remember which character was which, and who was married to who. I had an equally difficult time caring about the plot. From Kelly's review of the third book, it doesn't look like the series gets much better. Save yourself the effort and reread Dealing with Dragons or Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell.

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Jun 21, 2009 Purpledolphin789 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a completely random book I found at the library. Actually this is the second in a trilogy but it doesn't spoil much of the first book. This is good, because I read this first! :)
Basically it is told in the journal entries of two cousins, Kate and Cecy (Cecelia). It is set in the early 1800s, 1817 to be precise, in England. Also a kind of alternate world where wizardry/magic is real. Kate and Cecy are 18, and newlyweds. As a honeymoon, they plan a Grand Tour around Europe with their husb...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Beth Wood rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: funny, fantasy, ya

The sequel to Sorcery and Cecilia, this book takes place after the weddings of the characters in the last book, and occurs as they unravel a mystery on their wedding tour. The learning of magic and its rituals is very entertaining, as are the descriptions of ancient sites in Italy.

This book is written in a similar style to the last, in that the narrative is carried between the two main characters. It is slightly less effective in this volume, because the main characters are in the same place at...more

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Apr 06, 2009 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-adventure, magic, victorian-romance

This is a sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot. I loved the first book because it was a compelling, fun, quick read. This book was a bit harder to follow. (Or maybe I was more distracted during this one.)

However, if you liked the first book, you will most likely enjoy this follow-up story. Instead of letters, Cecy is writing a deposition and Kate is simply writing in her journal. Because the format of Kate's entries are more personal, I seemed to enjoy her portions emens...more

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Feb 16, 2009 Janelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Grand Tour is the sequel to Sorcery and Cecilia. I adored Sorcery and Cecilia. This book? Not so much. I’m not even sure why I finished it. It was very, very different than Sorcery and Cecelia. I suppose I just did not care about the characters anymore now that they were married.
What I think made Sorcery and Cecilia so delightful was the epistolary narrative. In this installment in the series, that device has been replaced by the Deposition testimony of Cecelia and the private diary of Kate....more

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Aug 02, 2012 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, regency-romance, historical-fiction, fantasy, 2012-reads

The sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia lives up to the charm and entertainment of the first. Kate, Thomas, Cecy, and James decide to go on their wedding journey together, taking a grand tour of Europe (as was common for wealthy young Englishmen in those days) (the grand tour, that is, not the dual wedding journey. Those weren't all that common).

Naturally, the four, together with Thomas's mother, can't help but find themselves embroiled in another adventure; in this case, bits of coronation regalia f...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Andree rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Probably 3.5 stars, much as it pains me. It's good, but not as good as the first one in the series.

I like that the story follows the two couples after they get married and we learn what happened. I really like the first third when they're travelling with Lady Sylvia. I like that everybody is still competent, and everybody has a role, and nobody is perfect.

But it's not as good as the first one.

To start, the first book in the series is charming and fabulous because of the alternating letters. And...more Probably 3.5 stars, much as it pains me. It's good, but not as good as the first one in the series.

I like that the story follows the two couples after they get married and we learn what happened. I really like the first third when they're travelling with Lady Sylvia. I like that everybody is still competent, and everybody has a role, and nobody is perfect.

But it's not as good as the first one.

To start, the first book in the series is charming and fabulous because of the alternating letters. And I feel like the fact that the action took place in two different locations helped. A lot. The exerpts from the two ladies diaries just wasn't as effective.

But really, the biggest problem with this book for me is that it felt unbalanced. Particularly after the first 100 pages. We get to read all about how Kate and Thomas are adjusting to married life, and settling into their relationship. I feel like I understand their relationship quite well. We hear almost nothing about Cecily and James. Nothing beyond concern for each other when one is injured, and James' almost overprotectiveness is highlighted. But there are no moments between them, solidifying the bond. Nothing unique. Nothing stands out. They obviously care for each other. But honestly, more of that comes from Kate's observations that they're well-matched and both quite happy than anything else. There are no intimate little discussions like the ones we get from Kate between her and Thomas. Not one. Not that I can remember at least. As a result, their relationship feels very generic.

Not only that, but there were quite a few scenes, particularly in the second half, where I watned more of Cecily's perspective. I admit, she's my favourite so I may be biased, but it did seem very Kate and Thomas heavy, which is not the impression I got in the first book, even when a lot of the action was in London. Kate's perspective is fun too, but I feel like half the fun is getting both. And Cecily is just so delightfully practical.

That said, I really enjoyed the first third of the book. I enjoyed it all, but the first third was the best for me. The balance felt better there, or something. Maybe it was the fact that the four of them had Lady Sylvia to play off of, that it worked bettter for me. I don't know.

I did like reading about Kate growing further into her own. And her relationship with Thomas is adorable and charming. But at times, the fact that it was adorable and charming only served to highlight the fact that Cecily's and James' just wasn't as well developped. Or developped AT ALL. Cecily herself developped. We heard all about her learning magic, and appreciating her scholarly father more, and about how good she is with people and at scheming. (Towards the end, when she needs to distract the henchman so she just slaps him with her reticule... FABULOUS. Also the fact that they are actually referred to as henchmen.)

In the end, a good book, and a fun read. But not a great one. (less)

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May 12, 2013 Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids

On the plus side, Kate and Cecy are more distinguishable as characters than in the first book. The blend of history and mythology and magic is fun. On the other hand, I found it hard to relate to the main characters' opulent, privileged lifestyle, and hard to feel sympathetic toward their missing gloves and bumpy carriage rides and the awkwardness of interviewing French maids. The first book built suspense with romantic (but very chaste) tension, whereas this one relies on magical and political...more

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Feb 24, 2010 Treasa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy, young-adult

In this sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia, we again follow the two cousins, Kate and Cecy, this time as they travel together (with their husbands) on their wedding trip. What was supposed to be a relaxing tour of Europe turns into a frantic race to stop an unknown enemy. As the four friends travel around Europe, they gradually pick up pieces of the puzzle, leading them to a surprising and magic-filled ending.

I didn't love this book as much as the first, but I still really enjoyed it. Like the first...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mystery

Sadly, this is a very disappointing sequel. The new format (official deposition & diary, rather than exchanged letters) dulled the characterizations that sparkled so delightfully in the first book. While I found it easy to keep the mirrored characters straight in "Sorcery & Cecelia," the same people in this book were insipid and confusing. The plot dragged, stumbled, picked up again, and then fell apart all together; and the wrap-up at the end was a jumbled mess.

I'm sure my criticism wou...more

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Oct 30, 2012 zjakkelien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I didn't like this book as much as number 1. There are no letters, instead there's a deposition by Cecy and a diary by Kate. Kate writes annoying reminders in her diary, such as to remember to hem a dress. These remarks are distracting. It was still difficult to know which one of the two was talking, particulalry with their changed names. But also because Kate and Cecy sound the same. The main difference is that Kate gets down and tired from hardships, Cecy is more awake and actually does things...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Kingsgrave rated it 2 of 5 stars

I cannot say why it was that this book didn't charm me quite to the extent that its predecessor did. I wanted to love it, but I never quite managed to sink in. I can't blame it on the writing, overly, as I've read far worse prose by far better paid writers, nor can I really blame it on the niceties of plot, pacing, or characters, as those were all known quantities.

I guess I just slid off this one. Perhaps I was not in the mood. I only know that I sat down this morning, and determinedly read the...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, ya-historical-fiction

Kate, Thomas (umm, and his mother?!?), Cecelia, and James go on their honeymoon tour of Europe with the duel purpose of solving a royal mystery for the Duke of Wellington.

It took me forever to get through this, and Lindsey was totally right. It focused on a lot of unexplained bits of magic (blah blah blah MAGIC, should have been the title). It also felt like the authors were stringing each other along, and neither knew what was going to happen- but when it did happen, it worked out so well for...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Holly rated it 2 of 5 stars

I probably would have rated this higher if I didn't have such high expectations after Sorcery and Cecelia. The story itself is fun and the plot is interesting, but I feel like it fell a little flat after how original and interactive the first book was. There was no real character growth that I could see, and it just felt like there were too many characters not really doing anything. Maybe it wasn't as good because Cecy and Kate were together? I don't know. Like I said, I liked the story and the...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, historical-fiction

This one actually gets 3.5 stars from me. The thing I loved most about the first book was the distinctness of voice between the two characters, which was, of course, because two different people were writing it. With this one, instead of the characters writing to each other, they're traveling around together, and one is writing in her journal and one is writing a testament for British authorities. The problem with this is that they're both telling a story that involves all the characters, and so...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Molly Westerman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-ya, fantasy, fiction

The second installment in the Cecelia and Kate series proved an ideal on-my-way-to-bed book for the first few weeks after having a baby: light, quick, and interesting. It's not terribly deep, but it's quite fun.

Sorcery and Cecelia is told through letters written between cousins Kate and Cecelia in a magic-endowed version of Regency England; The Grand Tour follows the same characters as they travel around Europe with their new husbands and a few servants (who are appealing new characters). Since...more

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About Patricia C. Wrede

Patricia Collins Wrede was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the eldest of five children. She started writing in seventh grade. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where she majored in Biology and managed to avoid taking any English courses at all. She began work on her first novel, Shadow Magic, just after graduating from college in 1974. She finished it five years later and started her se...more Patricia Collins Wrede was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the eldest of five children. She started writing in seventh grade. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where she majored in Biology and managed to avoid taking any English courses at all. She began work on her first novel, Shadow Magic, just after graduating from college in 1974. She finished it five years later and started her second book at once, having become permanently hooked on writing by this time.

Patricia received her M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1977.
She worked for several years as a financial analyst and accountant, first with the Minnesota Hospital Association, then with B. Dalton Booksellers, and finally at the Dayton Hudson Corporation headquarters.

Patricia finished her first novel in late 1978. In January, 1980, Pamela Dean, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Steven Brust, Nate Bucklin, and Patricia Wrede -- all, at that point, hopeful but unpublished -- formed the writer's group that later became known as "The Scribblies." In April of 1980, Patricia's first novel sold to Ace Books. It came out at last in 1982, which is the year she met Lillian Stewart Carl (who introduced her to Lois McMaster Bujold by mail).

In 1985, shortly before the publication of her fifth book, she left the world of the gainfully employed to try winging it on her own.

Her interests include sewing, embroidery, desultory attempts at gardening, chocolate, not mowing the lawn, High Tea, and, of course, reading.
She is a vegetarian, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her cats, Merlin, Brisen, and Nimue. She has no children, but as of this writing, she does have four nieces and four nephews ranging in age from seven months to twelve years old and in geographical location from Maine to Alabama.
She has published twelve and a half books:
Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, The Seven Towers, Talking to Dragons, The Harp of Imach Thyssel, Caught in Crystal, Snow White and Rose Red, Dealing with Dragons, Mairelon the Magician, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, The Raven Ring, and a collaboration with fellow Minneapolis author Caroline Stevermer, Sorcery and Cecelia, as well as a collection of short stories titled Book of Enchantments. She is also part of the Liavek shared-world anthology. (less)

More about Patricia C. Wrede...

Books by Patricia C. Wrede

Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)

Searching for Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #2)

Calling on Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #3)

Talking to Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #4)

Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (Cecelia and Kate, #1)

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The Grand Tour (Cecelia and Kate #2)

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