A College of Magics (A College of Magics, #1)

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A College of Magics (A College of Magics #1)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 2,439 ratings · 136 reviews

Teenager Faris Nallaneen is the heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon. Too young still to claim her title, her despotic Uncle Brinker has ruled in her place. Now he demands she be sent to Greenlaw College. For her benefit he insists. To keep me out of the way, more like it!

But Greenlaw is not just any school-as Faris and her new best friend Jane discover. At Greenl...more

Paperback, 480 pages

Published October 13th 2002 by Starscape

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Jan 11, 2010 Minli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative, young-adult, boarding-school-story, sucky-endings

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. If I were to use one word to describe this book, it would be: subtle.

The novel's comparison to Harry Potter baffles me, I suspect in an attempt to make a reprint of A College of Magics a commercial success (HP is not subtle). I actually think it could have used a different title, because most of the action took place away from the college, and the magic was so very metaphorical, and for the lack of a better world, surrealist.

Instead of a contemporary setting, A College of Magics is set in the e...more If I were to use one word to describe this book, it would be: subtle.

The novel's comparison to Harry Potter baffles me, I suspect in an attempt to make a reprint of A College of Magics a commercial success (HP is not subtle). I actually think it could have used a different title, because most of the action took place away from the college, and the magic was so very metaphorical, and for the lack of a better world, surrealist.

Instead of a contemporary setting, A College of Magics is set in the early 1900s, beginning with Faris Nallaneen's arrival at Greenlaw College. From my deduction I'm guessing it's somewhere in Normandy, and the college is more like a finishing school for ladies, with 'unofficial' magic studies and forays into classical philosophy and literature. I never get a clear sense of just how magic works, but maybe I'm not supposed to.

I remain confused and conflicted over this book--there were so many things I liked about it: the fantasy of manners, the historical setting, the characters, the political intrigue and the touches of mystery. I liked Faris, hot-tempered and wilful, and I liked how Uncle Brinker's motivations were complex and layered (he's crafty, but not evil). I thought Jane was fantastic, and her friendship was Faris was one of the best I'd read in a long time. I found their dialogue hilarious and wished to be part of their conversations. Tyrian's character could have been botched and cliche, but ended up so refreshing and genuine I had fits over the ending (more on that later). Some things were nicely foreshadowed, like Eve-Marie's arrival in Aravill, and Brinker taxing Galazon dry for Faris's dowry.

But. But. I could have done without the subplot with Menary--it seemed like a feeble tie between Greenlaw and Aravill. The plotting feels uneven and dreamlike, with some characters introduced and then dropped and never revisited, and others (like Graelent) who were too important and brought in too late. I had major problems with the ending, and I don't know if that's just me being thick but I did not quite understand how exactly Faris descends the stair, or closes the rift, or what she sacrifices to be able to do so. And must I say, that OMG! those few chapters when Tyrian was dead made me shake so madly I had to pause and catch my breath, I was sad and shocked and angry and going "HOW DARE SHE" and then feeling guilty because it's ultimately up to the author and not me. Even when Tyrian does a bodyswitch with the nasty king and gets to live, the ending felt unsatisfactory though presumably happy.

I have a few ideas about this. One is, the time period Stevermer set the book in, and drew inspiration from: Woolf, Joyce, etc in the early 1900s. I still think it tries to do too much, and that A College of Magics straddles so many genre lines it doesn't fit well in any of them. It's a Ruritanian/historical romance, a high fantasy tale, a political satire with a kickass heroine, a comedy of manners where beloved characters actually die, a magical boarding school story, etc. etc. It sits between YA and adult fantasy--Faris is 18 at the onset and 21 at the end, and the book really speaks to that age group.

With that said, however, A College of Magics was an engrossing read--I couldn't put it down--and a highly creative and original story. (less)

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Aug 21, 2011 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-ya-crossovers, college, coming-of-age, fantasy, gutsy-girls, mages-wizards, magic, young-adult-fiction, duty-responsibility, favorites, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Faris Nallaneen is going to be the Duchess of Galazon when she reaches her majority – if she lives to reach her majority. Her Uncle Brinker has just sent her off to finishing school to keep her out of his hair. “Finishing school,” however, is Greenlaw College, which turns out the finest magic users in the world. And once Faris resigns herself to being there and to making the most of her time, she actually begins to enjoy herself.

Although she’s not completely sold on the idea of “magic” (at leas...more Faris Nallaneen is going to be the Duchess of Galazon when she reaches her majority – if she lives to reach her majority. Her Uncle Brinker has just sent her off to finishing school to keep her out of his hair. “Finishing school,” however, is Greenlaw College, which turns out the finest magic users in the world. And once Faris resigns herself to being there and to making the most of her time, she actually begins to enjoy herself.

Although she’s not completely sold on the idea of “magic” (at least not for her), Faris does study a number of other things – philosophy, 3 volume novels, deportment, etc. And she never lets herself forget her responsibility to Galazon. She is just settling into her third year in school when she is called to her vigil – the night long ceremony every third year student sits before they begin their serious study of magic. Faris’ vigil ends with an encounter with her school nemesis, Menary, who uses magic to transform her hired bodyguard into a cat. Faris manages to right him and to thwart Menary, but as practical magic (magic use) is forbidden on school grounds, she and Menary are both asked to leave. Menary is expelled and her powers/knowledge learned at Greenlaw are stripped (she, however retains magic of her own). Faris is sent to see a man in Paris – Hilarion, one of the four wardens.

Amidst attempts on her life, Faris learns that she is the Warden of the North – come again – and that she must mend the rift that the previous Warden of the North (her grandmother, Prosperian) created. Faris, untrained, agrees to do this, but has no idea what to do or how to do it. At the same time, her uncle calls her home, and tells her that she is to be the Galazonian Ambassador to the king of Aravill. This is a ruse to get her to meet the king, who has tentatively agreed to marry her. Faris goes anyway, because the rift lies within the king’s castle. She survives more attempts on her life, and eventually manages to seal the rift – not without great danger to herself.

Faris is a wholly congenial character – she’s awkward and fiery and says exactly what’s on her mind, even when it’s not the best course of action. She really cares for her people and her land and she throws herself into things whole-heartedly. She’s also somewhat lonely and sad, but she’s a powerful ally. I liked her immensely. Her friends, Jane and Tyrian, are good people as well. Tyrian is her bodyguard and manservant, but she’s much more attached to him than those titles belie. Jane is supposed to be her tutor, and she’s the primary magic user – helping Faris do what she must to seal the rift.

There’s a lot of wry humor here, political intrigue, and witty banter. Highly enjoyable.(less)

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Mar 31, 2008 Rhiannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant to get the book when I noticed the "age range" was projected for 9-12 year olds. Or maybe it was 9-12 grade? The reading level was never a problem... meaning I didn't feel like i was reading a children's book.
The narration seemed a little disconnected emotionally. Personal preference really comes in to play on that point. The style intrigued me, and I thought it was a great complement to the way Faris seemed to keep herself emotionally detached...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Hilary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, juvenile

Books set in magical schools never seem to tell you anything about the actual teaching of magic. To be fair, this is really far more about politics, and the protagonist's magical abilities are more of a means to an end than an end in themselves. It's set in an alternative Edwardian era, in a world similar to ours � the magic school, in fact, appears to be sited on Mont St Michel � and Faris, our heroine is the heir to a small Duchy somewhere in the vicinity of the Balkans, so far as I can make o...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book. It was a super cute, super fast read involving everything from English tea to huge rifts in the balance of the world.

That said, let's start with the things I didn't like so much. While the characters very obviously developed throughout the course of the story, it was really hard to actually see that development happening, and I found myself wondering if they were actually like that all along, and I just didn't see it at the beginning. One characters in particular, Jane, change...more I liked this book. It was a super cute, super fast read involving everything from English tea to huge rifts in the balance of the world.

That said, let's start with the things I didn't like so much. While the characters very obviously developed throughout the course of the story, it was really hard to actually see that development happening, and I found myself wondering if they were actually like that all along, and I just didn't see it at the beginning. One characters in particular, Jane, changed so much that I actually started to dislike her, when she was supposed to be one of the ones I was rooting for. And if Farris, the main character, actually matured, I had trouble seeing it.

Then I also found it really difficult to imagine where the story was taking place. There just wasn't enough information for my imagination to go into overdrive, and my overactive imagination is one of the reasons I love fantasy so much.

Lastly, the entire story felt somewhat emotionally detached. Death, for example, didn't seem to exact any emotion at all. Since the emotion was lacking within the story, it was also hard for me to get emotionally involved.

Despite all of this, I really enjoyed the book. I liked the subtle way in which the students at Greenlaw learned magic without ever actually being able to learn it hands on. I liked the way the good guys slowly separated themselves from the bad guys. I liked the dreamlike qualities of the plot and the way new plot lines just sort of presented themselves with no real explanation but were just understood (I didn't like, though, how some of them, including the most important, the functions of the wardens of the world) never got explained. I liked the way it progressed smoothly and easily, thus making it a book that I ultimately enjoyed despite all the problems I had with it.

So would I recommend it whole-heartedly? Probably not? But if you've got a little bit of free time and are looking for a quick, fun, cutesy fantasy, I say go for it! I'll be reading the second one if I find myself in that situation. (less)

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Nov 17, 2012 Lissa Notreallywolf rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, speculative-fiction, ya

I am ambivalent about this book, but I would recommend it to anyone who aspires to write. The dialogue is great, and well integrated into the story. It is a YA novel, and I think it is appropriate for girls younger than the late teen protagonist, Faris. Sent to a finishing school with a magical subcurriculum, the book models how to survive and thrive being in a place you don't want to be in. Faris's rebellion is a dull roar throughout the book and makes everything bubble. It makes you want to si...more I am ambivalent about this book, but I would recommend it to anyone who aspires to write. The dialogue is great, and well integrated into the story. It is a YA novel, and I think it is appropriate for girls younger than the late teen protagonist, Faris. Sent to a finishing school with a magical subcurriculum, the book models how to survive and thrive being in a place you don't want to be in. Faris's rebellion is a dull roar throughout the book and makes everything bubble. It makes you want to sit down with the author and see if she is as funny as her character. I will be reading more of her in hopes that this is true.
My ambivalence stems from the unusual setting of the novel, which has rich opportunities to lapse into steampunk themes, but does not. There is very little description of Faris's dress, so it took me awhile to get situated in time. It took me a bit to sort out, because prior to the auto showing up in Paris it was all horses and a less mechanized reality. And mechanics don't ever play the role they might, especially with Faris's agnostic view of magic. Science itself was used to entertain the masses in this period with a sense that magic was somehow becoming more possible via electricity and other aspects of progress.
I applauded Faris's interest in classic literature and the day she discovered she was reading Greek for pleasure, a great accomplishment for a few years of schooling. Like many other things in the book it a potential, these studies, that the author refers to as if opening a door to the reader's imagination, but not fully filling in the scene. Her studies are a diversion from her homeland Galazon, but they become a pursuit in and of themselves, a process that remains, like magic, mysterious.
Another point of ambivalence was the conclusion of the book. I have enjoyed the way Stevermer has poked at classism throughout the novels. From the time they show up at Greenlaw, the entitled have been chastized. Faris comes through her deportment classes with grace, but with an unimpaired sense of human value. Her integrity is wonderful, but I was still less than convinced by the surprise ending. In some ways her diplomatic service, informed by her wily uncle's plan to marry her off, feels like another chapter of Greenlaw. Finishing school and then an appropriate marriage to subborn the would be ruler of Galazon. It backfires, at the risk of spoiling the outcome.
I will probably read more of Stevermer's work, because I recall enjoying River Rats about 10 years ago, and because I enjoyed this very densely plotted book.(less)

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May 11, 2012 Zen Cho rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-stories, sff, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I loved this, to my mild surprise. A couple of complaints first:

1) I've already complained about this on my blog, but it doesn't make sense to me to have an extra country in our own world with goofy fantasy names like the Duchy of Galazon. "Faris Nallaneen" has no business existing in the same world with a name like Jane Brailsford. At least lah have more convincing names.

2) Ahhhhh Europe Europe Europe. I grew up reading the same books these Minnesotan writers read, or at least I assume they wer...more I loved this, to my mild surprise. A couple of complaints first:

1) I've already complained about this on my blog, but it doesn't make sense to me to have an extra country in our own world with goofy fantasy names like the Duchy of Galazon. "Faris Nallaneen" has no business existing in the same world with a name like Jane Brailsford. At least lah have more convincing names.

2) Ahhhhh Europe Europe Europe. I grew up reading the same books these Minnesotan writers read, or at least I assume they were the same books, because I see why they are so stuck on this particular idea of ~Europe~ (and never mind whether or not Galazon etc. are actually in Europe; they are all ang mohs and the landscape sounds European) and why they can't get out of their habit of writing like a version of Jane Austen watered down for modern consumption. The style and mindset have a potent charm; I don't deny it myself. But it's still frustrating to have a whole book with all these casual fun world-building references to Europe all that and hardly any acknowledgment that the rest of the world exists, save insofar as the rest of the world is under the subjugation of the fabulous British Empire. Tired lah. I'm glad I read the book, but I'm glad I don't feel I only have this kind of book to enjoy. When I was growing up I did feel like that -- and it wasn't good for me.

Despite the things that irritated me, I really loved Faris -- her determination, her temper, her smarts, her love for Galazon and her interest in agriculture. I sort of hope fantasy has moved on from the political mindset where it's all unquestioning yay aristocracy and ooh look at Jane and how clever she is at manipulating the accoutrements of class and feudalism of the "Faris, you are our ~true~ duchess" sort. But as I said, I do see the appeal. And back to positive comments -- I love Faris. I can never have enough of characters who are all about responsibility and debts and obligations -- I just about died at the scene where Menally (?? some stupid fantasy name that starts with an M) says, what do you have that I haven't had first, and Faris tries a couple of things before she hits on responsibility. Yessss. So satisfying!

Slightly odd ending -- I wish she'd kept Tyrian dead.

Went straight on to the next and got thrown out by too blatant positive references to British imperial interests, so who knows when I'll finish that.(less)

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Feb 13, 2009 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jane by: murklins

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, female-protagonist, young-adult

This has been on my to-read list for ages (about two years now? *sheepish*) and I've only finally gotten around to it. The characters are compelling, but I don't know how I feel about A College of Magics. One thing you have to consider is that the plot doesn't really move until the second-half of the novel when the heroine's "magic" is revealed; the first-half just feels like exposition. Then there's also the feeling like the author doesn't know to which audience she wants to address - or rather...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Nenia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-baby-ya, x-series-bk-1, x-1990s

After reading Caroline Stevermer's delightful Regency-era fantasy collab with Patricia Wrede, I pounced on the opportunity to check this book out from the library: I was not disappointed. Not at all.

I've always loved fantasy books. People kept telling me I was going to grow out of it, but over a decade later, they continued to be wrong. Maybe it's the kind of fantasy that's so telling. My mother has ~~snobbish~~ discerning tastes when it comes to books, so I grew up on the creme de la creme when it...more After reading Caroline Stevermer's delightful Regency-era fantasy collab with Patricia Wrede, I pounced on the opportunity to check this book out from the library: I was not disappointed. Not at all.

I've always loved fantasy books. People kept telling me I was going to grow out of it, but over a decade later, they continued to be wrong. Maybe it's the kind of fantasy that's so telling. My mother has ~~snobbish~~ discerning tastes when it comes to books, so I grew up on the creme de la creme when it came to the genre: Aesop's fables, the Brothers Grimm, Mother Goose, and then, later, Diana Wynne Jones, Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, and of course, the crowning glory of my childhood, Ella Enchanted: the well-loved, slightly tattered edition I've lovingly kept since fifth grade.

These books have instilled with me a strong love for fairytales and their retellings, as well as plucky protagonists that don't do stupid things that end up requiring knights to rescue them from whatever tower they've allowed themselves to be trapped into. I tell you, it is frustrating as a child when you read about moronic adults who are distinctly told NOT to do something, and yet do it anyway! And then they act all startled when whatever curse/misfortune/travesty befalls them. I hate to say I told you so, but...

A College of Magics is about Faris, an underachiever and a troublemaker who is being sent to a magical finishing school by her uncle to keep her from making her claim on her duchy. She is a sympathetic character -- she's not perfect, she has her flaws, and she makes stupid mistakes. But she's also self-sufficient, clever, and kind. There were many twists I was anticipating that did not happen, and many more that did which I wasn't. I've said this before, but I really like it when an author can surprise me. The dialogue was witty, and very proper (as well as a fantasy novel, ACM also falls under the umbrella of "mannerpunk"). There was romance, intrigue, murder, daring escapes, and magic, of course. Caroline Stevermer had a very interesting magic system that reminded me a lot of Patricia Wrede's (which is why I suppose they wrote the collaborative effort in the first place): magic isn't some frivolous thing that you can get the hang of right away, nor is it in the blood (although the aptitude for it seems to be heritable). Like any talent or skill, the work is up to you. And you can't just flick your wand and say accio talent, no, the mastery of it tends to sneak up on you and surprise you, frequently when you're relaxed and not particularly stressed. I find that I play my best chess games when I'm not being pressured, and I'm not overthinking myself. Such is the case with Faris.

The bit about wardens was also quite interesting, as well. Reminded me of that old 1980s movie (also a favorite of mine), called Flight of Dragons. I like the idea of each corner of the globe having a guardian wizard. Faris finds out that her destiny is inextricably linked to the north warden (won't say how), and at the very end when she discovers what she must do, and what she has to give up, I almost cried. The ending nearly made me throw the book against the wall but I pressed on, and indeed, I'm glad I did, because it wasn't nearly so depressing as I imagined (though it was still bittersweet at best). I do like the fact that Caroline Stevermer stuck to her guns and delivered the kind of ending that she'd been foreshadowing since the beginning. With all Faris's talk of "duty" and "responsibility" and her inordinate fondness for Galazon, it would have been highly hypocritical and out-of-character if she had done anything else but what she did.

I'm a bit put out that there's only one more book in the series, and that it took the author over a decade to produce it. So I'm probably going to put off reading A Scholar of Magics for a bit so I can savor my fondness and expectations of what's to come. There are so few good fantasy authors that manage to produce perfect plots and perfect characters, both. I love those hours, or days, of anticipation when you've picked up a book you've been dying to read and everyone and their grandmother's been singing its praises but you're also afraid to read it because of your expectations of how good it will be -- when you're disappointed, it's like a lance, but oh, when the book surpasses your expectations.... Well, that's what the five-star ratings are for. ;)(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Kayt rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

2.5 stars

Faris Naralleen is heir to the dukedom of Galazon. Too young to rule, she's sent from her beloved homeland by her jerk uncle until he works out a way to rule even after she comes of age. At Greenlaw College, though, she discovers there's more to learn than just poise and history: magic.

A College of Magics, I will admit up front, is not a book that would appeal to me hugely even if it didn't have flaws, simply due to the writing style. I found it reminiscent of Robin McKinley with its hu...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This is what I was expecting from The Magicians - it's strong throughout, never leaning on the setting to charm (life is good at the titular college, but things are just as interesting outside of it). It's a shame this has such a terrible cover, because it really did surpass my expectations and I know that I never would have picked it up if I hadn't been curious about Stevermer after reading Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. It's nice to read a YA book that isn't constantly rem...more

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Nov 26, 2007 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative_fiction, historical_fiction, young_adult

Stevermere has an unusual writing style for a fantasy writer--a terrific ear for historical context and language, a judicious use of dialogue, lots of subtlety in terms of character development and foreshadowing. Her prose is never too flowerly, and yet one can almost believe she wrote this book when it was set--in 1908. Never a single anachronism, even as she writes of magic and derring-do among witches. Wonderful, even the third time 'round.

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Jan 21, 2013 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-ve-reviewed

Good character development, good pacing, and just enough detail that you're not overwhelmed. This book is a quick read, and most of the subplots were wrapped up nicely. I also really liked the geographical setup in this universe. It made sense, but was still oddball enough to be different and fun. Also, the language and banter was far more suitable for 15 and up than for 9-12 year olds, which I believe is the recommended age group.

I really only had two complaints with this book, but they were bi...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Although the title and the book description imply that this story is set at a magical girls' school in the early 20th century, that only describes the first third of the book. I really liked that part: Faris Nallaneen, the not-yet-adult duchess of Galazon, is packed off to Greenlaw College by her uncle who would prefer to run Galazon without her interference. She's understandably reluctant to attend at first, but settles in, makes friends and an enemy, maybe learns magic...and then we start the...more

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Jan 23, 2008 Kami rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read and would have been a four star for its originality, except I hated the ending. I won't write any spoilers but I really didn't like how things turned out at all. Plus, I thought the main character was a little immature, well, more than a little immature a lot of the time. But then, I guess if I can get sucked into the story enough to be so annoyed at her and the ending, it was pretty engrossing.

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May 18, 2012 Kim Ryser rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012booksread

Honestly this is just not really my kind of book. It's too much strict fantasy. And it's weird, because it's set during the Edwardian period, and there's a bit in Paris, but otherwise it's in fictional places that just feel like generic fantasy worlds instead of real European countries. It's not that it's bad, and it did a decent job entertaining me, but it just never really popped. I never really got attached to the characters or the outcomes or the relationships or anything, really. It really...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Mauri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenbooks, fantasy, 100in2007

Jane Yolen states that this book is "A large step up...from Harry Potter" and in some ways I think she's right. Things are a little less straight-forward emotionally and the magic is more complicated. But Harry Potter got thousands of kids who would rather eat worms than read to stay up all night with a 700-page book. I doubt this book would appeal to such a large audience.

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Feb 03, 2010 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

I hate to confess this, since this was a beloved book recommended on a few blogs and GR... but I was lukewarm about this book. I thought it got better at the end, once we saw how the warden/world theory related at all to Faris' life.

I don't get the point of Menary, though-- her character's supposed to serve as a foil, but I prefer my antagonists to have a little more development. I also found the story-telling to be a little uneven. Periodically, Stevermer would dwell for pages and pages on the...more

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Jun 22, 2009 Hollowspine rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones or J.K. Rowling

Shelves: ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Though the book is compared to Harry Potter there are few similarities between the two. First of all, of course, the main character is a girl and all of her schoolmates are also girls, many of the important characters are female, almost the opposite of the male dominated Harry Potter world. Although the book is titled A College of Magics only about half the book actually takes place at school and encompasses all her years of attendance. Also the world is not based in a contemporary time as is th...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

This was a fun little book, filled with clever, witty, and entertaining characters. It's set in a fictionalized late-Victorian Europe where magic works and one can go to university to acquire the proper knowledge of it. Our feisty heroine, Faris Nallaneen (the heir to the duchy of Galazon), is sent to one such university, Greenlaw, where she not only acquires magic but becomes the Warden of the North. As such, it is Faris' duty to repair a rift in the world's magical fabric. Along the way, there...more

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Jun 17, 2009 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure why this book took me more than a month to get through... I really enjoyed it, especially the ending which I found thrilling and emotional and exciting and satisfying. I loved the writing, the storyline, the characters. I think it just required more mental energy than I had available. Normally I like a book that makes me think and work a little, but I guess brainpower is at a premium for me these days. Anyway, still highly recommended, especially for Kristen (when you're ready to fa...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-fantasy

Picked this up as an antidote to Grossman's The Magicians, for which purpose it is recommended. Women doing things! A magical college that produces functional humans! An academic community I totally recognize! Protagonists I don't want to drown! A protagonist who undergoes change and grows the hell up and deliberately chooses political power! Seriously, I have so much love for Jane and Tyrian and Eve-Marie, and Faris gets better throughout the book, and I hope very much they all remain awesome i...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book was terrible. The cover boldly claims that it is a "large step up from Harry Potter" and it couldn't be more wrong. The believable environment and rich characters of Harry Potter don't compare to a school that's barely even described and a cast of callous characters. The main character in A College of Magics comes off as stuck up and annoying. The magic doesn't seem very magical, and the lessons are ridiculously boring. Random plot threads are introduced but never finished and most of...more

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Nov 06, 2010 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, fantasy, recommended, fantasy-of-manners

This is such a wonderful book that I have a hard time summing up. It's set in a turn of the century Europe that is similar to our own. Magic exists, and is something that proper young ladies are taught. The book chronicles the adventures of Faris Nallaneen the rightful ruler of a tiny nation state, who has been exiled to a school in England by an appropriately wicked uncle. There are intrigues, magic, tea and transformations. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical British fi...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Johnny B rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was well on its way to a solid four stars, but the end lets it down. Pacing in this book is it's downfall. An interesting plot and interesting characters with a fair amount of depth make this an enjoyable book. The first few chapters don't have a huge hook so it takes a little while to get into it. The middle section is great and flows nicely. The end section gave me the feeling like this was not ready to be published but was rushed out anyway. It is incomplete like an outline form tha...more

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Feb 11, 2009 Lightreads rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, historical

A young Duchess is sent far away from home to magic finishing school in alternate Europe, and then there's plot and politics. I picked this up because I particularly liked Stevermer's half of Sorcery and Cecelia. This didn't hit the same sweet, simple notes. It's a nice enough book, with some interesting world building and a heroine with a temper, and you really can't go wrong with magical girls' college. But this book had a vague feeling of being all under glass for me. There's a fair amount of...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Kelli rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I read this book a couple months after finishing The Kate and Cecy books. I loved Kate's storyline, which Stevermer wrote, and the book was written largely in the style of Georgette Heyer, who is one of my absolute favorites. So I thought reading other books by her would be enjoyable.
However, A College of Magics, disappointed me. It didn't have the pacing that the Kate and Cecy books had. The world was intriguing, but the story doesn't work. There were some outstanding characters to this book, b...more

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May 17, 2013 Allyson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've read this several times over the years, each time enjoying the feeling of being totally immersed in the world of academic magic. Long before Harry got his letter, Faris entered the hallowed halls of Greenlaw College. One of the things that resonates with me is the reality of the hard work of being in college, so much like my own experience, even though the subjects Faris studies are completely different from anything I studied at LSU! A ripping yarn full of fascinating detail, this is defin...more

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May 16, 2013 Leah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: magical

This book is a travesty. I hardly know where to start.

It might be best to start with the claim on the front and back covers, from Jane Yolen, that this book is superior in all respects to Harry Potter. I'm not sure what yardstick she's using as a comparison, but it certainly isn't plotting, characterisation or reader engagement. Perhaps it's the dubious claim that this book is better written, which is a nebulous claim in any circumstances, and seems to be levelled here because she can't think o...more This book is a travesty. I hardly know where to start.

It might be best to start with the claim on the front and back covers, from Jane Yolen, that this book is superior in all respects to Harry Potter. I'm not sure what yardstick she's using as a comparison, but it certainly isn't plotting, characterisation or reader engagement. Perhaps it's the dubious claim that this book is better written, which is a nebulous claim in any circumstances, and seems to be levelled here because she can't think of anything else to say about it that would also get her name on the cover of a book she didn't write. This was written ten years after the book's initial publication, in time for the international boom of Potter, but it's clearly intended for the same average reading group.

To start with, the title and the Potter comparison are wildly misleading. Faris spends no more than a quarter of the book at Greenlaw College, and most of that is abstract and infuriatingly poorly constructed. There is a mysterious yet ineffectual and distant Dean and a half-assed rivalry between the heirs to imaginary Western European countries, there is some kind of unspoken agreement about 'magic' (it gets taught, but it doesn't get taught, if you catch their meaning. No? Funny, me either) and a rah-rah English boarding school air to the late night study sessions and the sharing of foods sent from home. It's a copout to tell us they study hard when we don't go to classes with them. It's also a copout to say 'there was so much work to do, none of them went to even half their classes' when we don't see them doing any work. What's the point of setting a book in a school if we don't see any of the schooling, let alone the magic? This is not, even a little bit, like Harry Potter.

Then there is some highly hush-hush time when each girl is sent a note from the Dean and told that tonight is her 'Vigil'. Girls who come back from this are never the same, and most of them suddenly 'know' magic and that's that. I was reminded, vomitacularly, of the random scene in The Magicians where for no reason anyone can quantify (it's a magical secret!), the entire fourth-year class is turned into geese and have to migrate to the South Pole to resume their schooling for the year.

My beef with this vigil sums up the entire experience of this book: until Faris's friend gets called up, we have never heard of the vigil. In any half-decent story building environment, such an integral part of the Greenlaw experience would have been built up so that we, and Faris, are anticipating her note to the detriment of everything else. We should be curious, fearful, wondering. Instead, much like Faris, we drift through her story, superficially in control of things, but really allowing events to take us where they will, with some very little interjection, wandering from plot point to plot point with nary a hint of what came before, or what might happen next. It is beyond frustrating. Stevermer could have benefited monumentally from some solid plotting and some training in foreshadowing. And so on and so on for the rest of the book, ad infinitum. Faris's life is in danger! Faris is the warden of the North! Faris has to mend the rift! Apparently, she has feelings about all these things, but we don't hear about them until Stevermer remembers, usually directly before the important thing happens.

Most all the characters are massive, if enjoyable, cliches. Faris, the fiery-tempered redhead with fierce loyalty to her little Duchy; Jane, the blue-blooded English daughter with a no-nonsense head for magic and a fearsome way with servants; Brinker, the skulking uncle 'looking after' Faris's land until she comes of age, imposing some unexpected taxes; Tyrian, he of the romance-novel name and the romance-novel looks, the strong silent protector who never forgets his place... You get the idea.
They're all pleasant enough to spend time with, but really, I could also be spending my time looking at plain white walls or a pretty green field and get the same result. Certainly not worth 500 pages of my time.

I'm sorry I spent so long reading this book before realising it wasn't going anywhere. I should have stopped, but I'm getting tired of all the half-finished books laying around my house, so I struggled on. When I first found a lot of these old 90s fantasy book, I wondered why they had fallen out of print and the reading consciousness. I think I can safely answer that question, and posit that this book is only slightly older than Harry Potter now (1992 vs 1997), and it's certainly not a coincidence that the enjoyable, well-plotted, exciting and richly-characterised one of the two has endured. Whatever faults you may find in J.K. Rowling's writing, she recognised the hunger for detail and description of magic that exists in the hearts of most fantasy readers - we sit through Harry's classes with him, we sympathise while he tries to juggle homework, friends and a dark magical legacy, we laugh at the Weasleys, we grind our teeth at Malfoy. There is none of the engagement here, none of the feeling that we're getting the whole story.

A total, total miss. Don't waste your time. Go back to your childhood bookshelves and read Harry Potter again.
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Apr 24, 2013 Molly Westerman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, childrens-ya

I had a lot of fun reading A College of Magics--and I know I would have found it at least as engrossing (and hard to put down) as a younger person. Twelve-year-old me would have read it in one sitting ... unfortunately, thirty-two-year-old me can't just wander off to read for hours at a time, but I still felt that impulse.

I didn't love the ending, and some of the romantic feelings and so on are rather overdone. But many of the characters are interesting--evil Uncle Brinker who turns out not to b...more

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About Caroline Stevermer

(from website)
Caroline Stevermer grew up miles from anywhere on a dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota. She has a sister and two brothers. After high school, she attended Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.A. degree in the history of art. She knew she wanted to be a writer when she was eight years old. She began by writing stories in her school notebooks. (They were not good....more

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Books by Caroline Stevermer

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Quotes from A College of Magics

“Faris turned on him. "Why choose to wear black today, of all days? I know why I'm in black. Why are you? Mourning?

He looked startled. "One does not wear mourning for a servant."

You still don't understand, do you? He was not my servant."

He regarded her anger, aghast. "What then? What else could he be?

Her empty hands shook as she held them out to him. Her voice shook as she replied, "Glove to my hand." Slowly she closed her fists. "Everything.” — 13 people liked it

“You must form your own fashions in a way which demonstrates that you flout the standards from knowledge, not from ignorance. . . But I may flout the standards? . . . Of course. What do you think standards are for?” — 10 people liked it

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