Friday 25 September 2015

HISTORICAL URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Sorcerer Royal 1: Sorcerer to the Crown - Zen Cho

Release Date: 10/09/15
Publisher:  Pan Macmillan

SYNOPSIS:

THE FATE OF ENGLISH MAGIC LIES IN THEIR HANDS...

In Regency London, Zacharias Wythe is England's first African Sorcerer Royal. He leads the eminent Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, but a malicious faction seeks to remove him by fair means or foul. Meanwhile, the Society is failing its vital duty - to keep stable the levels of magic within His Majesty's lands. The Fairy Court is blocking its supply, straining England's dangerously declining magical stores. And now the government is demanding to use this scarce resource in its war with France.

Ambitious orphan Prunella Gentleman is desperate to escape the school where she's drudged all her life, and a visit by the beleaguered Sorcerer Royal seems the perfect opportunity. For Prunella has just stumbled upon English magic's greatest discovery in centuries - and she intends to make the most of it.

At his wits' end, the last thing Zachariah needs is a female magical prodigy! But together, they might just change the nature of sorcery, in Britain and beyond.


REVIEW:

This was a strange book for me as to be honest I had a hell of a time getting into it as it was a very slow burner, however don’t let that put you off as when it does pick up you are in for a hell of a ride, especially if you love Susanna Clarke or Gail Carriger. The setting works wonderfully well, has a divine Georgian (Regency) feel and when you have an author that utilises the language to further the arc really makes this something special.

Back this up with top notch characters that jump from the pages into your imagination, help keep you in the period with their thoughts as well as emotional aspects alongside throwing a good helping of the fae into the mix, all round made this a book that I was more than impressed with. Please stick with it and you’ll see the delights within also. Magic

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