Sorcerer to the Crown
by Zen Cho
fantasy
copyright 2015
read in October 2018
rated 7/10: well worth reading
Magic in Regency England, nothing startling here. Will the hero marry the heroine ? (I don't think that the next sentence counts as a spoiler, the answer is well telegraphed !) Well, of course. Nothing startling here.
Beyond the obvious -- this book is unique ! And very enjoyable :-) Lots of new ideas, presented in an enjoyable fashion.
Think PG Wodehouse -- with magic, politics and murder. Strange and entertaining characters appear -- sometimes unexpectedly but always sensibly. A heap of great ideas which do add up to a coherent whole. Here's an interesting one:
The hero is black. He is subject to racial prejudice and social distrust. Yes, there is a message here -- but it is not a pointed, hammer the reader over the head with it message. It is simply presented as an essential part of the plot. I take the message -- without objection.
The villains do tend to be a bit stupid, a bit easily cowed. There are plenty of very likeable characters, perhaps too many. I had the feeling that the stage was being set for a multi-character, multi-volume epic... and yet, the ending is perfectly satisfactory.
The ending is a solid & satisfying conclusion -- with room for more books. Sorcerer is the ideal first book for a series: every loose end has been wrapped up, there are no cliffhangers -- just a strong wish to read more !
I enjoyed reading this book. I hope there are more in the series. [A quick check of Wikipedia: No more yet. Ah well. Pity.]
Well worth reading.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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"Relax. Only dread one day at a time." … Ginger Meggs
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