Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal, #1) by Zen Cho

Feb 20, 2015 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ Rabid Reads-no-more rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone who likes the sound of Ann-with-an-e + P&P + hilarity + fantasy

Shelves: acerocstars, netgalley, shiny, dragons, fae, fantasy, favorite-secondary-characters, it-came-from-the-sea, kickass-heroines, here-be-slaves

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I tried to read SORCERER TO THE CROWN by Zen Cho THREE separate times, and had pretty much given it up for lost when I decided to give it one . . . more . . . chance.

Many, many thanks to friend and fellow Ace Roc Star Anne at The Book Nympho , whose review influenced this decision. *tips hat*

The beginning is slow, no getting around it. Even if I hadn't been reading mostly high-octane, action-packed urban fantasy in the weeks prior to my first attempts, I think I still wo ...more

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May 05, 2015 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, netgalley, review-copy, fantasy, historical-fiction, magic, alternate-history

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/09/11/b...

So many comparisons have already been made to describe Sorcerer to the Crown, and I’m going to chime in too with “This feels like epic fantasy for fans of Gail Carriger.” Zen Cho has created a world here that’s reminiscent of Austen meets Tolkien, yet at the same time it’s so wonderfully adaptable that pigeonholing this book into any one category makes it feel a bit remiss.

A Regency setting is what you will get though, eve 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/09/11/b...

So many comparisons have already been made to describe Sorcerer to the Crown, and I’m going to chime in too with “This feels like epic fantasy for fans of Gail Carriger.” Zen Cho has created a world here that’s reminiscent of Austen meets Tolkien, yet at the same time it’s so wonderfully adaptable that pigeonholing this book into any one category makes it feel a bit remiss.

A Regency setting is what you will get though, even if the nature of the style and story is up for debate. “Fantasy of manners” is also a subgenre that frequently crops up in discussions of novels like this, with a focus on a rigid set of expectations within a hierarchical societal structure. One of the protagonists in Sorcerer to the Crown is Zacharias Wythe, the first black sorcerer in Britain who also holds the highest office in his profession, a fact that makes him the target of much opposition and bigotry from many of his so-called “socially-refined” peers who feel that a freed slave should not have risen so far above his station.

Institutional racism and oppression is a real menace in this story, even overshadowing the threats of war from France, the dwindling magical resources of England, and the political entanglements involving the matter of witches and belligerent visiting diplomats. In spite of all that’s going on, Zacharias’ greatest enemies end up being his own neighbors and fellows. Already plagued with ugly rumors surrounding the death of his predecessor and adoptive guardian, now it seems someone has decided to go even further by attempting to murder Zacharias. Just when he thinks life couldn’t get complicated enough, along also comes Prunella Gentleman, a mixed-race young woman of considerable thaumaturgical power, and Zacharias takes it upon himself to mentor her in a society where women using magic is considered anathema.

The fleeting mention of Prunella in the book’s blurb actually belies the huge role that she plays. While I adored Zacharias, to me it was Prunella who stole the show as the star of the novel with the sheer force of her personality. In every proper situation she somehow still manages to find a way to throw expectations back into the scandalized faces of those who naively thought they could use tradition to keep her in line. It was also very entertaining to see how often she bends etiquette to her advantage, wielding it as a weapon rather than letting it restrict her (as evidenced by a particularly hilarious scene where she proposes the use of gossip and rumor as a way to actually deflect potential damage to her reputation). I loved her for her frankness and her thoroughly unbreakable spirit, and because she is strong, ruthless, and determined – in other words, the opposite of everything the small-minded folks in this book say about women magicians.

I was also surprised at how light-hearted this novel was, some of its weightier themes notwithstanding. I definitely don’t claim to be an expert in Regency fiction or books of this type, but it’s my understanding that a particular style of humor is frequently employed and that it could be quite tricky to pull off. For what it’s worth, I thought the author nailed it. There’s some genuine wit in here, subtle but also infused with that certain Austenesque charm. That said, I wouldn’t exactly call Sorcerer to the Crown an easy read, especially if you’re not use to the style, which I’m personally wasn’t. I confess to having a difficult time at the beginning of the novel while adjusting to the writing, which I thought it was a little hard on the eyes and it made reading slow. But eventually I did get into it, as you can see; once I reached a point where I could enjoy myself and start appreciating its cleverness and nuances, this novel was a pure joy.

Zen Cho crafts her setting with much love and care, evoking the Regency era and all its punctilious social arrangements but also manages to seamlessly weave in romance, adventure and political intrigue – and I haven’t even gotten the chance to mention the magic and all the fantastical creatures yet. Dandy socialites, posh boarding school matrons and quarreling politicians share this wonderfully unique world with fairies, dragons and magicians. It is a truly delightful alternate history where magic is an integral part of life.

You really can’t ask for more. Sorcerer to the Crown is a deftly written novel that thoroughly explores important issues, adding further depth to a story already rich with memorable characters and a pleasantly entertaining plot. Zen Cho is a new fantasy novelist who is immediately going on my list of authors to watch, and I’m looking forward to her next book in this series. ...more

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Sep 09, 2015 Althea Ann rated it it was amazing

Not at all what I expected! And it was great!

From the cover art, the title, and the length of the book I was expecting a weighty, Asia-tinged fantasy epic. Nope!

It may be long - but I zipped through it in a day. And - it's hilarious.
As the comments below indicate, yes, comparisons with Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' are unavoidable. The settings are very similar: an old-timey London inhabited by a society of stuffy and aristocratic magicians. There are also incursions of Fai Not at all what I expected! And it was great!

From the cover art, the title, and the length of the book I was expecting a weighty, Asia-tinged fantasy epic. Nope!

It may be long - but I zipped through it in a day. And - it's hilarious.
As the comments below indicate, yes, comparisons with Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' are unavoidable. The settings are very similar: an old-timey London inhabited by a society of stuffy and aristocratic magicians. There are also incursions of Fairyland, and in addition, both prominently feature a former slave who dramatically rises in society. However, this is a much less serious work. Although not unsophisticated, it's less fussy - and much more romantic. I'd say: imagine if Susanna Clarke's writing met Gail Carriger's. I have to say though, I enjoyed this better than either - it hit my sweet spot.

Our two main characters:

Prunella is an orphaned assistant at a girls' school. Abandoned by her British father; her Indian mother known only by the tint she imparted to her daughter's skin, she is dependent on the headmistress for her living. She has a deal of magical talent - unfortunately, in this England, girls are not considered to have a constitution suitable for the use of magic, and schools such as this one, for gentlewitches, are devoted solely to preventing the young women from using their skills. (Of course, people tend to look the other way when servants use magic to accomplish their menial tasks.)

Zacharias is the titular Sorcerer to the Crown. Unfortunately, his occupation of the post of head sorcerer in Britain is a matter of some controversy. A black man and a former slave, he is not quite the aristocrat his fellow magicians want as their leader. Plots to depose him are already being fomented.

Although Zacharias' position is already unstable, politics and disasters wait for no one. The magic of England seems to be draining away, and no one is sure why. In addition, a Sultan and a 'foreign witch' from Janda Baik (a small Malaysian island) are at each others' throats and both threaten to drag England into a conflict overseas.

But when the Sorcerer is imposed upon to give a speech at a girls' school, he meets Prunella - and from there, events proceed in a merrily headlong, roller-coaster type fashion.

Thoroughly delightful.

Many thanks to Ace and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this excellent book. As always, my opinions are solely my own. ...more

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Aug 27, 2015 Sherwood Smith added it

Shelves: alt-history, fantasy

Copy provided by NetGalley

There have been a plethora of fantasy-romances-in-the-Regency of late, not surprising considering there's a good chance that a lot of these authors grew up reading Georgette Heyer, and possibly Jane Austen. Except for Susanna Clarke, I don't find Austen's sharp characterization, wit, or style of satire in any of them, however there's a strong feel of Heyer's mix of modernity and her idiosyncratic version of Regency era language in most, and I think that the homage to He Copy provided by NetGalley

There have been a plethora of fantasy-romances-in-the-Regency of late, not surprising considering there's a good chance that a lot of these authors grew up reading Georgette Heyer, and possibly Jane Austen. Except for Susanna Clarke, I don't find Austen's sharp characterization, wit, or style of satire in any of them, however there's a strong feel of Heyer's mix of modernity and her idiosyncratic version of Regency era language in most, and I think that the homage to Heyer is part of the strong appeal as they are entertaining and accessible to readers not steeped in period literature.

In Zen Cho's Sorcerer to the Crown, there is a great deal of Heyer's idiom, but without her tendency toward unexamined prejudice and the underlying assumption that Birth Will Always Tell.

What Cho gives us instead is a black Sorcerer Royal, who, despite his intelligence and scrupulous honesty, is constantly dealing with insults, assassination attempts, and other forms of bigotry by supposedly well-born Englishmen. Meanwhile, he is also a man of his own time in believing that females are too frail to handle magic . . . until he meets beautiful, dusky-skinned Prunella Gentleman. Then the sparks begin to fly!

Meanwhile, there are potentates and witches from foreign lands to deal with, and also awareness of French sorcerers ready to pounce (Cho does the most interesting job, I find, in explaining why magic isn't used in the Napoleonic wars), and oh yes, Britain's magic is seriously ebbing.

The book is a great deal of fun, with some laugh-out-loud moments. Some of the motivations might not bear close scrutiny, as is often the way with comedic books, but the many threads, and especially the thoroughly imaginative magic, race along at a spanking pace--while taking some good hard looks at colonialism and the groundless assumptions of the prerogatives of "good birth" when manners, morals, and brains are missing.

Come to think of it, however little the language resembles Jane Austen's, in many ways I think the book's intent might have tickled her fancy, considering her trenchant representation of nobly born and pretentiously superior characters in her novels. Her satire of social frauds hiding behind their pedigrees and Cho's sapient eye on same share a great deal of a similar spirit. ...more

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Dec 20, 2015 Kelly rated it really liked it

Shelves: brit-lit, coming-soon-to-a-blog-near-you, fiction, regency, shes-quite-an-original-my-dear, owned, fantasy-and-scifi

This review originally appeared on my blog, Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Books.

Man, I hope the writer of this book was cackling as she wrote this. That's how I pictured her, especially as the book wore on, just sitting there, rubbing her hands and laughing as she typed, going, "Ooooh, I know what I'll do to them now!" I mean, that's what I would have been doing as I wrote this. I don't know if I could have restrained myself, because I would have been very pleased with just how clever I was. Maybe she This review originally appeared on my blog, Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Books.

Man, I hope the writer of this book was cackling as she wrote this. That's how I pictured her, especially as the book wore on, just sitting there, rubbing her hands and laughing as she typed, going, "Ooooh, I know what I'll do to them now!" I mean, that's what I would have been doing as I wrote this. I don't know if I could have restrained myself, because I would have been very pleased with just how clever I was. Maybe she could restrain herself, because doubtless she is less shocked about how great she is- I don't know. But anyway, I hope that gives you an idea of the spirit of the thing, because that's the best part of it.

I have to be honest, I wasn't quite sure about this one when I started. The tone seemed forced, like someone who had studied a great deal of Jane Austen and read a lot of Regency romances and was painstakingly trying to recreate the sentence structure, with the result that her characters sounded a good deal more wooden than they should (even the excellent concept of a protagonist- Zacharias Wythe, the somewhat hapless, well meaning Sorcerer Royal the book focuses on). And then of course, there was all the exposition to get set up and getting our protagonists, heretofore with no reason to be anywhere near each other, together. That part was okay- I kept going more for the concept than anything else- magic is commonplace in England, there's a whole long standing structure of magicians and familiars in place, it's tied up with politics and acknowledged as A Thing, but very much tied into an otherwise recognizable Regency society that can't be bothered to be that impressed (too busy being impressed with the knots in their cravats, obviously). You guys know that Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is one of my favorite books, right? I couldn't love this concept more. I was going to stick around until the end (especially since it was clearly going to deal with some racial and class issues that simmered under the surface in that one in a more blatant way, and there were some cleverly placed unanswered mystery breadcrumbs placed out early on- well done, Cho.)

But then I hit what my kindle told me was about 40%. Remember how I told you guys reading JS&MN and losing patience to just hang out for Strange? Same damn thing here. Then Strange showed up and things got amazing pretty quickly and never got less amazing until the last page. I laughed out loud once, then twice, and then traded gasping and laughing for a sustained period pretty much almost until the end.

Okay, so basic plot: Zacharias Wythe is the Sorcerer Royal, like I told you above- but he inherited his position from his mentor and father figure, Sir Stephen Wythe, in suspicious circumstances that were never quite explained. He is clearly the most powerful magician living, so, as yet, he still holds the staff of office- but there is a louder and louder rebellion stirring amongst England's magicians about his leadership (not helped, of course, by the fact that this is the early 1800s and Zacharias is of African birth and appearance and some Englishmen don't like acknowledging that any "foreigner" can do anything better than they can- hey- actually, maybe this isn't just because it's the early 1800s. Ringing some bells). This situation is only made more precarious by the fact that England seems to be in the process of losing the plentiful magic it once had, and has been for decades. No new magical creatures or familiars have appeared, and the borders to Fairy have been slowly, but inexorably closing.

Enter Prunella Gentleman, aka my new fictional best friend. She works at a magical school for young ladies where they are mostly taught to hide their gifts and pretend like magic doesn't exist (think of it like one of those boarding schools where rich people send embarrassing daughters who get pregnant young or show signs of mental health difficulties). She has lead a precarious life on the sufferance of someone who took her in- but then, early in the novel, she makes a discovery that changes her entire life and throws her in the path of Zacharias- leading to life-altering consequences for both of them. The surprise is so good and her course of action is so audacious and amazing I don't want to even hint at it, but suffice it to say that it leads to them making an amazing team in more ways than one.

Aside from the wonderful plot and an outstanding cast of supporting characters in the best Regency farce fashion, (Rollo! Damerell! Aunt Georgiana!) what's really wonderful in the back half of the book is Cho's increased confidence and ability to handle the tone, dialogue and rhythms of the genres that she's paying homage to- both Regency farce and epic fantasy. She really does a great job with ramping up the ridiculousness to just the right volume, while never quite forgetting the serious threats that underlie all of this conflict.

(BTW-Man, I hope this book is an indication that this mixed genre is here to stay. Can I just make up one of these cool new subgenre names for it to help marketers? "Bonnet fantasy"? "Carriage-wheels-and-magic-wands fantasy"? Hmmmm. Come on guys, we have to be able to come up with something to encourage people to do this more.)

Not to mention the serious girl power in this book. Prunella, my new BFF, is, as I mentioned, utterly fantastic, and I love the way the author goes about showing that to us. She never needs her to be admired and stared at as the belle of the ball (at least not more than briefly, before something goes terribly wrong), she doesn't need her to necessarily be Mary Sue. She just needs her to be determined, clever, to know what she wants and not be afraid of stating it (whether it's "feminine" or "feminist" or not), and of course to be a whole lot of fun. Although Zacharias is our ostensible hero, and so much of the book is from his point of view- and he really does a great job of playing the straight man and the tragic hero we want out of our epic fantasies, Prunella is really the true farcical heart of the novel- she gives it life and insanity and the heart palpitations we want out of an adventure. I told you guys, she's Strange- but way funnier, more self-aware, but just as ferocious when she needs to be. There's some pitiless stuff in here, and she's nobody's perfect heroine, and man, does she screw up, but it's enjoyable from beginning to end.

I was never more delighted than when I saw, in parentheses after the title, that this was only Sorcerer Royal #1- which hopefully means there's more to come. I don't think it's spoiler-y of me to say that I want to see how Prunella continues her reign of terror and mayhem in the next book and who she shocks to their core next.

I am sorry I was ever wary of this, anyone who ever recommended this to me! More fool I, please be as smug as you like! You deserve it. ...more

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May 20, 2015 TheBookSmugglers rated it it was amazing

Delightful books are delightful.

I am completely, utterly enamoured with Sorcerer to the Crown, Zen Cho’s first novel. A wonderful and charming book that pays homage to Regency romances and Fantasy novels at the same time that interrogates some of the problematic aspects of those genres in regards to race and gender. It’s like this book was written for me.

Zacharias Whyte is a freed slave and a talented magician who just so happens to have recently become Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophe ...more

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Oct 06, 2017 Bookdragon Sean rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: those who have not read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

Shelves: 1-star-reads, fantasy, y-a

I picked up Sorcerer to the Crown because I heard it was strikingly reminiscent of one of my favourite fantasy books, the wonderful Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Suasana Clarke.

Such a thing is this book’s greatest asset and also its downfall. Perhaps my rating of this would have been slightly higher had I read first. Though when reading all I saw was how the book had drawn from a much better book. Cho’s setting and world building are adequate, but again I was imagining them in relation to I picked up Sorcerer to the Crown because I heard it was strikingly reminiscent of one of my favourite fantasy books, the wonderful Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Suasana Clarke.

Such a thing is this book’s greatest asset and also its downfall. Perhaps my rating of this would have been slightly higher had I read first. Though when reading all I saw was how the book had drawn from a much better book. Cho’s setting and world building are adequate, but again I was imagining them in relation to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Both books deal with English magic during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the regency period. Magic is seen as improper in the stuffy society of the early nineteenth century; it is frowned upon and drastically misunderstood.

Is it too similar?

In Clarke’s novel Stephen is the black house-servant of Sir Walter Pole. He has descended from slaves, and though not part of the system, he is very much a second class citizen. Zacharias Wythe, from Cho’s novel, is a black sorcerer in a society that deems him inferior. I feel like Cho has essentially read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and asked herself a question: what would happen if Stephen was also a magician? And this is the book that answers the situation. An African sorcerer is at the head of the English magic society in an all too familiar world.

Cho attempts to write in dated prose; she attempts to infuse modern prose with that of Austen. Clarke did the same with an absolute brilliant level of execution. She even produced a typical three-volume novel to add to this effect. Cho’s attempt is sloppy with distinctively modern words and phrasing being set against older expressions. The result is uneven writing that dances between being accessible to younger readers and being a pastiche. All in all, it just was not written with the same level of skill and attention to detail that Clarke displayed.

Clarke is just SO much better!

Sorcerer to the Crown certainly isn’t a terrible book, but for me it will always exist in the shadow of a much greater book: one that I wanted to stop reading this one for. The parallels are far too strong. Perhaps all this is merely coincidental and the writers just had similar ideas for the setting of a novel, though even so Clarke handles her book with more skill. Her characters are charming and very complex individuals. I love the way she based her two magicians on Wordsworth and Coleridge with magic replacing the arguments they had over poetry.

If you have read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell then you will possibly hate this for its bland attempt at similar ideas. However, if you have not read it, you may find some enjoyment here. ...more

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Jul 24, 2015 Sherwood Smith added it · review of another edition

Copy provided by NetGalley

There have been a plethora of fantasy-romances-in-the-Regency of late, not surprising considering there's a good chance that a lot of these authors grew up reading Georgette Heyer, and possibly Jane Austen. Except for Susanna Clarke, I don't find Austen's sharp characterization, wit, or style of satire in any of them, however there's a strong feel of Heyer's mix of modernity and her idiosyncratic version of Regency era language in most, and I think that the homage to He Copy provided by NetGalley

There have been a plethora of fantasy-romances-in-the-Regency of late, not surprising considering there's a good chance that a lot of these authors grew up reading Georgette Heyer, and possibly Jane Austen. Except for Susanna Clarke, I don't find Austen's sharp characterization, wit, or style of satire in any of them, however there's a strong feel of Heyer's mix of modernity and her idiosyncratic version of Regency era language in most, and I think that the homage to Heyer is part of the strong appeal as they are entertaining and accessible to readers not steeped in period literature.

In Zen Cho's Sorcerer to the Crown, there is a great deal of Heyer's idiom, but without her tendency toward unexamined prejudice and the underlying assumption that Birth Will Always Tell.

What Cho gives us instead is a black Sorcerer Royal, who, despite his intelligence and scrupulous honesty, is constantly dealing with insults, assassination attempts, and other forms of bigotry by supposedly well-born Englishmen. Meanwhile, he is also a man of his own time in believing that females are too frail to handle magic . . . until he meets beautiful, dusky-skinned Prunella Gentleman. Then the sparks begin to fly!

Meanwhile, there are potentates and witches from foreign lands to deal with, and also awareness of French sorcerers ready to pounce (Cho does the most interesting job, I find, in explaining why magic isn't used in the Napoleonic wars), and oh yes, Britain's magic is seriously ebbing.

The book is a great deal of fun, with some laugh-out-loud moments. Some of the motivations might not bear close scrutiny, as is often the way with comedic books, but the many threads, and especially the thoroughly imaginative magic, race along at a spanking pace--while taking some good hard looks at colonialism and the groundless assumptions of the prerogatives of "good birth" when manners, morals, and brains are missing.

Come to think of it, however little the language resembles Jane Austen's, in many ways I think the book's intent might have tickled her fancy, considering her trenchant representation of nobly born and pretentiously superior characters in her novels. Her satire of social frauds hiding behind their pedigrees and Cho's sapient eye on same share a great deal of a similar spirit. ...more

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Aug 13, 2015 Molly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternate-history, but-wait-there-s-more, fae, fantasy, god-save-the-queen, historical-fiction, magic

Rating, 3 stars. (more ranting than review)

It started promising, with little Zacharias Wythe showing the Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, that he is a worthy apprentice to Sir Stephen Wythe, despite the color of his skin. Years have passed and following the death of Sir Stephen, Zacharias takes his place of Sorcerer Royal, something that because of his origins doesn't sit well with the majority of the thaumaturges (magicians/sorcerers).
Zacharias was born a slave. Sir Stephen saw someth ...more

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Oct 16, 2015 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, anglophilia, class-gender-race, alt-history, fantasy, i-vant-to-drink-your-blood, not-quite-five-stars-but-sooo-close, orphalins, treasure-and-adventure, urban-fantasy

This sneaky little book is a sneaking sneakster. It sneaks right up on you, and you love it before you realize what's happening.

I actually read this book way before I meant to. I realized on my drive to Phoenix a couple of weeks ago that I was quickly going to run out of Pride and Prejudice audiobook, and I didn't have a replacement on deck. Good old public library and OneClickDigital had this puppy featured, and I wanted to read it anyway, so why not?

It was a bit hard to get into at first. I k ...more

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Dec 19, 2014 Aliette rated it really liked it

(based on an advance copy obtained from the publisher)

Magic, manners and dragons in Recency England--this alone would be awesome, but Zen Cho adds a veneer of comment on English colonial politics: the two main characters are POCs struggling to find a place in a highly hierarchical English society, and not always succeeding. Oh, and romance, and aunties, and Malaysian vampires; and plenty of hilarious sharp one-liners as sorcerer to the crown Zacharias and impoverished gentlewoman Prudence lock h ...more

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Nov 20, 2016 Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, england, london, magic, series

This magical, fantastical, witty comedy of manners meets magical fairyland is so fun to read. There is much foreshadowing to provide plenty of excitement and anticipation for the sequel which has not yet been published. For all it’s playfulness, there is also an underlining seriousness to this novel. This has to do with the politics of Britain and the treatment of women and people of color. In fairyland, race does not matter, it is not even noticed. Likewise, in fairyland, women are equally adep This magical, fantastical, witty comedy of manners meets magical fairyland is so fun to read. There is much foreshadowing to provide plenty of excitement and anticipation for the sequel which has not yet been published. For all it’s playfulness, there is also an underlining seriousness to this novel. This has to do with the politics of Britain and the treatment of women and people of color. In fairyland, race does not matter, it is not even noticed. Likewise, in fairyland, women are equally adept and capable of practicing magic as men are. This is in stark contrast to England. Politics and society are portrayed as a comedy of manners in Britain where people are tripping over themselves to maintain decorum despite the pervading racism and sexism.

The story is set in 19th century England. Upon the death of his guardian and mentor, Zacharias Wythe becomes the “sorcerer royal” more out of obligation, than desire. Given that he is a freed slave, a black man, there is much outcry against him. There is an underground movement afoot to unseat him, led by the unscrupulous and dishonest Geoffrey Midsomer. This all comes at a time when there is a drain on the magic in England, there are political entanglements with magicians from foreign lands, and war is ensuing with France.

Zacharias is asked to visit a school for gentle witches where the main objective is to banish or hide their magical abilities. Zacharias immediately notices the magical talents of Prunella Gentleman, who was orphaned and left in the care of Mrs. Daubney at a young age. Prunella has fallen out of favor with Mrs. Daubney, the headmistress of the school and Prunella’s guardian since her father’s death. She asks Prunella to move to the servant’s quarters, but instead Prunella accompanies Zacharias back to London and begins to study thaurmatorgy with him. Prunella has recently discovered herself in possession of a singing orb and seven familiar’s eggs. As she begins to grow her familiars while looking for a husband, her powers grow, and a love interest develops between Zacharias and Prunella. Prunella is certainly a “Cinderella” character, but one with much bravery, talent and ambition. It is she who becomes the true star, the heroine of the novel, able to take the reins of her position, to succeed as the ultimate “Sorceress Royal.”

This is, of course, a very simplified and scaled back version of the novel. There are many subplots within the main plot. The novel is chock full of an interesting array of characters: nosy society ladies, seedy politicians, faeries, vampiresses, curious familiars, mermaids, dragons, and much more!

This novel is craftily written, full of surprises and larger than life characters. It is at once serious and whimsical. It delights and exceeds expectations. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction!!

For discussion questions, please visit: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=776 ...more

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Oct 01, 2015 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Let's just get it out there - OMG!

This book is beautiful inside and out. The cover design is luxurious loveliness and the contents within - they're even better.

Sorcerer to the Crown takes us back to the early 19th century for a tale of fantastical courtly intrigue the Royal Society of Magicians (well, Thaumaturges, but whatever). Despite it's traditional fantasy setting of ye olde Europe this book falls far from trad fantasy tree. It's diverse, clever, doesn't get bogged down in ridiculously c ...more

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May 15, 2017 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: alternative-history, historical-fantasy

Set in a Regency style Britain. An enjoyable and farcical magic infused romp. The author uses the language of the Regency period very well (says I, who gets all her ideas about Regency phrases from Georgette Heyer novels - therefore an expert!). It has similarities in tone to Novak's Temeraire series.
The main characters suffer from the racist attitudes and gender inequality of the times as well as setting the magical world to rights as open to all, not just the priviledged. Sorcerers, magicians, ...more

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Sep 30, 2015 Mary Robinette Kowal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, recommend

I wish I'd written this book.

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Sep 17, 2015 Alissa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-ebooks

This is a very delicate story. I truly appreciated the writing style and the hyperbolic characters, the novelty of integrated people of foreign birth as protagonists and all the little idiosyncrasies of this alternative Regency London society.

I agree that the atmosphere, the presence of an association of thaumaturges, fairies and a crisis regarding English magic are reminiscent of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (I’ve not read the book, only watched the TV show). This said, while this story ha ...more

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Dec 04, 2015 Eon ♒Windrunner♒ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Zacharias looked around, but everyone had ceased to pay attention to him. For the moment he was reprieved.
He let out a small sigh of relief. As if that tiny breath were the key to his locked memory, his mind opened, and the spell fell into it, fully formed. The words were so clear and obvious, their logic so immaculate, that Zacharias wondered that he had ever lost them.
He spoke the spell under his breath, still a little uncertain after the agonies he had endured. But magic came, ever his friend ...more

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Jul 27, 2015 Carly rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy, historical-fiction

In Sorcerer to the Crown, comedy of manners meets fairyland, and the result is pure unadulterated fun. The story takes place in an alternate reality where magic, once a primary occupation in the best of families, is slowly falling out of favour as England’s atmospheric magic dries up. While the nonmagical part of society may be preoccupied by their victories and failures in the Napoleonic war, magical society is engrossed by scandal. Sir Stephen, the old Sorcerer to the Crown, has died under mys In Sorcerer to the Crown, comedy of manners meets fairyland, and the result is pure unadulterated fun. The story takes place in an alternate reality where magic, once a primary occupation in the best of families, is slowly falling out of favour as England’s atmospheric magic dries up. While the nonmagical part of society may be preoccupied by their victories and failures in the Napoleonic war, magical society is engrossed by scandal. Sir Stephen, the old Sorcerer to the Crown, has died under mysterious circumstances, his familiar has disappeared, and the man who has taken up the staff is none other than an emancipated slave Sir Stephen picked up on his travels and raised as a thaumaturge. Zacharias himself never wanted to be Sorcerer to the Crown; he’d much rather continue his research into restoring England’s atmospheric magic. Instead, his new role throws him into imperialistic politics, plots against his life, meetings with the Fairy Court, and, most frightening of all, giving a speech at a school of gentlewitches on the dangers of magic.

Sorcerer to the Crown is definitely a comedy of manners, and I think it very successfully integrates some shoutouts to authors such as Austen, Wodehouse, and even Hornug. Although the entire sequence of events is triggered by a speaking visit to a girl’s school (Yes, I see what you did there), the greatest influence upon style and plot is definitely Austen. I’m not generally fond of Austenesque alternate magical realities, but Cho really did her research and has created a charming book with much of the amusing commentary as the authors she references:

”Can you conceive of anything more absurd? [...] He might as well seek to persuade us that a pig can fly--or a woman can do magic!”
The friend observed that so could pigs fly, if one could be troubled to make them.
“Oh, certainly!” replied the first. “And one could teach a woman to do magic, I supposed, but what earthly good would a flying pig or a magical female be to anyone?”

It’s been over a decade since I’ve read it and the book is exceedingly dim in my memory, but I think if you enjoyed Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and are (still) waiting anxiously for the sequel, Sorcerer to the Crown is definitely worth a look. From my very vague recollections and a helpful recap from a friend, there are certain similarities in the plot, including the heavy focus on parties and politics and the ways in which these familiar themes are altered by the presence of magic. Sure, Regency or Napoleonic fantasy stories are dime a dozen, but I think Cho’s story is elevated from the rest of the rank and file by her examination of political issues surrounding racism and sexism. In Zacharias’s world, women are considered “too delicate” for magic, and are strongly discouraged from practicing it. The other major character, the “inconveniently magical” Prunella, is forced to make a decision between practicing her craft and finding a functioning place in society, and she is coldly pragmatic about her options. Both Prunella and Zacharias are pioneers for their minority in the area of magic, and Cho deftly presents the pressures they face to be “model minorities.” Zacharias, in particular, has been subject to endemic racism all his life, exoticised, belittled, and dismissed. Sir Stephen’s advice to him was always to simply take it, to never lose his courtesy, and to outperform and defy expectations. Cho touches upon the stifling weight of responsibility that Zacharias lives under. As he says at one point,

"I would not have been rescued from my bondage if not for Sir Stephen’s conviction that he could make of me something extraordinary. I was told that I must prove the African’s ability to English thaumaturgy."

As a pioneer in diversity, Zacharias is tasked with the responsibility of the magical reputation of his entire race. Prunella faces similar issues, but she is far less willing to accept such an unfair burden and instead uses all the ”amoral ingenuity” she possesses to remove such obstacles in her path.

If you’re looking for a gentle, often silly story of Napoleonic-era magic that still manages to dip into some more interesting themes, then Sorcerer to the Crown is definitely worth a look.

~~I received an advanced reader copy through Netgalley from the publisher, Penguin Group, in exchange for my honest review. Quotes were taken from an advanced reader copy and while they may not reflect the final phrasing, I believe they speak to the spirit of the novel as a whole.~~ ...more

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Feb 11, 2015 Justine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015-read

I thought this was really entertaining. It was like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but with a strong female character and all the boring parts taken out.

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Apr 15, 2018 Zanna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bechdel-pass

This book is extremely good fun. It sends up the imperialist, masculinist, racist and class-fixated culture of Regency England superbly while weaving an intricate and satisfying fantasy plot around deeply sympathetic central characters. I especially liked how different cultures have different magical philosophies and theories.

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Nov 04, 2015 Monica rated it really liked it

Set in an alternate historical Regency England where magicians hold a place of prestige in society, Sorcerer to the Crown has prose that reflects the novel’s antiquated setting combined with the pacing of a highly engaging adventure. With significant themes including isolation and prejudice, it is definitely a thought-provoking novel, but Cho’s sense of the whimsical and her often light-hearted storytelling ensure that it is a quick and easy read. Though this book is often compared to Susanna Cl Set in an alternate historical Regency England where magicians hold a place of prestige in society, Sorcerer to the Crown has prose that reflects the novel’s antiquated setting combined with the pacing of a highly engaging adventure. With significant themes including isolation and prejudice, it is definitely a thought-provoking novel, but Cho’s sense of the whimsical and her often light-hearted storytelling ensure that it is a quick and easy read. Though this book is often compared to Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I found Sorcerer to the Crown to be a more enjoyable, less laborious read, with a better sense of the absurd. This is the perfect read for those looking for a feel-good fantasy that is still smart and original.

One of the best elements of this novel is the protagonist, Zacharias Wythe. Freed from slavery as a small child by a prominent English sorcerer, Zacharias struggles to gain acceptance and respect from his fellow sorcerers, and society in general, who look down on him because of his background and the color of his skin. When he suddenly inherits the position of Sorcerer to the Crown, the most exalted position a sorcerer can achieve, his whole world starts to fall apart. In order to escape the persecution of colleagues who are trying to unseat him from his position, he ventures to the border of Fairyland in hopes of discovering why the influx of magic into England has stopped. On the way he meets Prunella Gentleman, a young woman whose magical prowess is both forbidden and far more powerful than he could have imagined. Together they will attempt to save England from threats both magical and mundane, all the while fighting against the prejudice of a society that sees them as inferior.

Zacharias and Prunella are both complex characters who, despite their quirks, are incredibly easy to root for. Both characters are betrayed and persecuted, but still ache to put trust in those who may or may not be deserving. Their struggles give depth to the novel in a way that challenges the reader to think about these issues on a much larger scale. They both become endearing to the reader not only through their struggles, but with their contrasting personalities that clash in unsuspecting and often humorous ways. Prunella in particular adds plenty of hilarity to the novel through her biting wit and her absolute refusal to accept society’s restrictions on women (which tends to get her into the most absurd situations). Zacharias is a much more subdued and subtle character than Prunella, but his intelligence and pure intentions lead him to take on the burden of London’s magical problems, and his status as an outcast leaves him with very few people to turn to for help. It is the combination of these two opposite approaches that will finally allow Zacharias and Prunella a way to fight for a bright future for London’s magical society.

Despite Cho’s addition of complex themes, Sorcerer to the Crown is in many ways an intelligent comedy. Though this is often the result of quick-witted dialogue, I also must commend Cho’s subtle addition of humor into her prose. Her subtle commentary on British imperialism is amusing and apt, and the magical beings Zacharias and Prunella come in contact with are light and imaginative in a way that often caused me to laugh out loud. Those looking for a darker or more epic fantasy will surely be disappointed, but as far as fantasy set in the Regency era, this novel is one of the most engaging and entertaining that I have read.

My Rating: 8/10

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This review originally appeared on Avid Reviews: http://www.avidfantasyreviews.com ...more

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Aug 18, 2015 Kaitlin rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is a book I was very kindly sent for review by PanMacmillan after asking because the premise intrigued me, however this does not in any way affect my review :)

My first impression upon seeing this book was that the cover itself is flawlessly stunning. I thought that the book looked beautiful, and when I read the blurb it also sounded really quite wonderful. This is a story not unlike Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in its premise (although later on it does go more its own way). The story is This is a book I was very kindly sent for review by PanMacmillan after asking because the premise intrigued me, however this does not in any way affect my review :)

My first impression upon seeing this book was that the cover itself is flawlessly stunning. I thought that the book looked beautiful, and when I read the blurb it also sounded really quite wonderful. This is a story not unlike Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in its premise (although later on it does go more its own way). The story is set in Regency London and focuses on Zacharias, a Sorcerer who works for the Crown but is not actually of English heritage and so is deeply despised and feared by many. We follow Zacharius as he faces troubles with the other English Magicians and Political undertones start to shift away from him, cause problems and magical mayhem later into the story.
We also have another character who we meet a little later into the book who is called Prunella and she's a young lady who has been cared for by the owner of a GentleWitch school. Her father committed suicide when she was young and so Prunella helps out around the school and she's as magical as they come (not that this is a good thing as female magic is highly frowned upon in this day and age).
As fate would have it their paths do cross later into the storyline and we get to see that they will both be needed to work together somehow if they are going to have any hope of actually helping to stop the decline of English magic.

Some of the things I really liked about this book include the magical elements which were all involved in the storyline, and also the various themes which Zen Cho focused the reader on. We get to see ghosts, witches, sorcerers, fairies, vampires and dragons and much more as we follow Zacharias and Prunella and discover not only the cause of the decline, but also various other threats from both abroad and at home.
The issues of gender, race and equality are often talked about within this book too. We see debates around whether men should be the only ones who get to practise magic, and questions surrounding the fear of people different from oneself be it racially or otherwise. These questions and ideas are slipped nicely into the story and they certainly do make the reader think and question all that is going on with the characters.

This is a debut book and for a debut it certainly does read very well. it didn't feel overly clunky or anything like that, my only small criticism is that I expected more of the book to be spent within magical Realms and not London itself. I also feel as thought there were some 'convenient' solutions to problems and we certainly could have had a slightly longer book with a bit more development of magic, world and characters which could have made this fantastic, but overall it's a very polished debut and nothing to mock :)

I liked the story a lot and think there were some great little moments which surprised and excited me, this is a good 3* read :) ...more

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May 27, 2015 Elizabeth Bear rated it really liked it

Sly, witty, and playful. This political fantasy is a great deal of fun.

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Mar 26, 2015 Allison rated it it was amazing

*YELLING*

What a DELIGHT of a novel. I hate using the words "charming" and "quirky" in reviews, but THIS WAS SO CHARMING AND BRILLIANT. Regency England plus dragons plus Malaysian witches. Eat your heart out, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell!

This took me a couple chapters to get into, as I'm completely out of practice in reading anything convincingly Regency in flavor, but then it really takes off and goes in a few really wonderful directions. Zacharias and Prunella are both entirely engaging pro ...more

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Feb 11, 2015 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, fantasy

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...

Sorcerer to the Crown was a wonderful escape, a book that really takes you to a different time and place. One that is fraught with etiquette and expectations. Expectations that dictate what one should, and of course what one should not do. Then, to make things more interesting, layer in magic, ghosts, fae and familiars and you get quite a delightful and intriguing read. This world is not perfect. Far from it, actually, and som Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...

Sorcerer to the Crown was a wonderful escape, a book that really takes you to a different time and place. One that is fraught with etiquette and expectations. Expectations that dictate what one should, and of course what one should not do. Then, to make things more interesting, layer in magic, ghosts, fae and familiars and you get quite a delightful and intriguing read. This world is not perfect. Far from it, actually, and some of the society’s shortcomings were quickly brought to the fore.

One of the things that captured my attention about this book immediately was the disregard of women with magical abilities. See in this fictional version of a historic England, women are seen as frail, dainty things that couldn’t possibly be able to summon the strength to not only wield, but also control any sort of magic. So, when innate power manifests itself in the “weaker sex”, these girls are taught to suppress it, they are “cursed” with this unwanted magic that must be a danger to their fragile bodies (as well as those around them). Women from other lands that do practice magic are called witches, in quite a derogatory way. So, seeing this blatant sexism so rampant among England’s magicians, I couldn’t help but expect a strong female character to emerge that I could root for, one with the potential to fly in the face of suppressive tradition. Enter Prunella, who couldn’t be more perfect for the role. I love Prunella, she finds a way to have a blatant disregard of propriety with a style that still feels quite proper. Prunella

This prejudice was not just limited to females, but also to people of color, as even after attaining the position of Sorcerer Royal, Zacharias is subjected to discrimination, people feeling he does not deserve his high position. He is grateful for the opportunities he has, freed from a life of slavery and adopted and raised by the previous Sorcerer Royal. But that doesn’t mean he feels he fits in or is accepted. He is quite aware of his precarious position and that many would love to see him fail. Magic in England has become a thing many feel should be preserved for just rich white gentlemen. He and Prunella are both outsiders in this world they have grown up in, neither ever feeling like they are able to suceeded by just meeting standards that would be sufficient for others. They both have to prove themselves, and go beyond what could be expected.

England’s magical stores are dying, and Zacharias is determined to find a way to make things right. With an unexpected, and honestly a bit unwelcome, journey to visit a school for girls with magical abilities (a school that teaches them to not use their magic), he encounters Prunella. A series of unlikely events set the stage for both these characters to take courses they could never imagined. It almost feels like perhaps something else was at work to make everything fall in line. Perhaps there was, since there is magic after all.

I will absolutely read the next installment to this, and am really looking forward to it. The style was fun, easy to read and just overall a refreshing change of pace for me. Definitely recommend. ...more

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Jan 05, 2017 Jaya marked it as i-really-really-tried-but-failed · review of another edition

Shelves: uf-pf-magic-sci-fi, mmxvii, did-we-read-the-same-book, kindle, audio

Auspicious beginnings of 2017
Lo, behold first dnf of the year :-/

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Sep 28, 2015 Rose Lerner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. The comparison to Heyer and Susanna Clarke is super apt, I really felt like I was reading a Heyer but without all the annoying stuff, and also there was magic and magic swashbuckling and husband hunting and forceful older ladies who IN SOME CASES are also dragons. It was that feeling of light banter-y goodness with plenty of just-hinted-at angst. I loved every character, everything was perfect, READ IT. Zachary is my darling and Prunella is ...more

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Mar 01, 2016 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fairytale-myth-inspired, historical-fiction, contemporary-fantasy, aoc

The Sorcerer to the Crown is an absolute blast.

Set in regency era England, Zacharias is a freed slave who has been trained as a sorcerer by his adopted father, Stephen, who freed him. At Stephen’s death, Zacharias takes up the staff of Sorcerer Royal, the exalted group of England’s sorcerers, but despite his obvious abilities and kindness, many in the society wish him harm because of the color of his skin. Yet he is above all else noble and respectful, so even in the face of discrimination and The Sorcerer to the Crown is an absolute blast.

Set in regency era England, Zacharias is a freed slave who has been trained as a sorcerer by his adopted father, Stephen, who freed him. At Stephen’s death, Zacharias takes up the staff of Sorcerer Royal, the exalted group of England’s sorcerers, but despite his obvious abilities and kindness, many in the society wish him harm because of the color of his skin. Yet he is above all else noble and respectful, so even in the face of discrimination and pettiness, he always has England’s and humanity’s best interests at heart.

But magic is becoming scarce in England, and Zacharias knows that the fairy realm—where magic comes from—must be the cause. On his way to the border between England and fairyland, he stops by a school for girls with magic as a favor to a friend. Women, especially ladies, aren’t allowed to practice magic, so at the school the girls are taught how to suppress their magical tendencies. Horrified by what he sees, Zacharias decides reform is essential, and he must start a school so women can properly learn magic and take their places by male sorcerers.

Prunella is just the woman to be his first student. Of mixed heritage, she’s spunky as hell, and the smartest, most talented magician Zacharias has ever seen. When she follows him to the border of fairyland, she takes over his story and shows how women can be the masters of their own destinies.

It’s impossible not to make parallels between this and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Also, since I’m currently embedded in a research project about contemporary postmodern fairytale fictions, I also can’t help but analyze this novel as a postmodern critique on Regency fantasy, like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Everything that’s missing from Strange—women, POC, multicultural magic—is pointedly addressed in The Sorcerer to the Crown. And to add to that, it’s a more engaging and driven narrative. If you loved Strange, you’ll still love this one too, but if you didn’t love Strange, I encourage you to read The Sorcerer to the Crown.

An updated review is on my blog, if you'd like to check it out: http://wp.me/p7FGzW-3z
...more

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Feb 04, 2016 Brandi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-nice-mild-roast-coffee

Spells. Dragons. And a bunch of magicians who just can't seem to get along.

This was so much fun.

In Sorcerer to the Crown, we enter a world where England is bordered by Fairyland, a realm of magic - which is currently sucking all the magic away from British magicians.

Unfortunately, the person who's getting the blame for the lack of magic in England is a man who has no idea how to resolve the problem: the current Sorcerer Royal, Zacharias Wythe, who only recently took up the the role after his men ...more

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Dec 15, 2015 Sue (Hollywood News Source) rated it really liked it

Shelves: authors-of-color, diverse-books, characters-of-color, historical-fiction, magic, adult, interracial-romance

You are my daughter. Can there be any doubt that you will be brilliant—audacious—and free?

Before picking up Sorcerer to the Crown, I had this silly notion it’s going to be a dark and somber story. But, Alas I was wrong! As everyone had remarked, it is a clever and delightful read.

If we are going to talk about the ravishing writing, and outstanding world building, Sorcerer to the Crown deserves all the stars. Without doubt, this is one of the finest, well refined book I’ve ever encountered in a w ...more

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(Sorcerer Royal #1)

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