Sorcerer to the Crown

A Sorcerer Royal Novel

By: Zen Cho

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty's lands. But lately the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman - a freed slave who doesn't even have a familiar - as their Sorcerer Royal and allowing England's once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven't stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man's profession.

At his wit's end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England's magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path that will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain - and the world at large.

©2015 Zen Cho (P)2015 Recorded Books

who else is tired of the 18th century

Read it and see how many plots you find that were stolen from other books. I have found Little Miss Sunshine, a Shirley Temple movie, as well as a PG Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster short story.

It reads like Diana Wynne Jones without the clever humor and human insight.

Magic under the patriarchy

Zen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is a fantasy tale set in pre-industrial England where magic exists in the world. Certain individuals possess the power, but women do not partake except for lowly servants who use it to prevent souffles from collapsing. The Sorcerer Royal (the highest magician) is of African descent and has forces moving against him. At the same time, England seems to be gradually losing magic for some unknown reason. A young girl who secretly inherited the eggs of familiars and possessing unique magical skills, allies with the Royal to defeat his foes and solve the mystery of English magic.

Cho crafts an engaging tale with a twist on magical skills (similar to Harry Potter) and the need for subsequent training to properly exploit. There’s a classic upper-class patriarchy embedded in the social hierarchy as well as a bizarre marriage arrangement. One interesting aspect is the broad agreement among countries to avoid using magic in warfare.

The narration is good with decent character distinction. Pacing is a tad slow.

So under-rated!

Quirky, well written, and a page turner. I’m shocked this hasn’t received more attention. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Perfect magical premise

This is a superb premise for a fantasy series. Open magic in the world, land of fairy is known about, and there is the rich and the poor, the prejudice towards people of color, people who know there is something better and strive towards it despite obstacles.
The setting here is in England with magic only allowed to the men and rich gentlemen at that. Poor and women are not to utilize it for all that they have the abilities. Young ladies of substance are sent to schools to suppress their magic if not downright extinguish it.
And the characters with the intestinal fortitude who buck the system. The two main characters, Zacharias and Prunella are people of color, therefore looked down upon by most but not all, especially by each other. Though they have their own prejudices towards one another. Zacharias isn't sure it's proper for Prunella, a mere woman, to have the magical ability she does. And Prunella is sure that Zacharias requires her assistance to maintain his standing and appointment as the Sorcerer Royal against pretty much the entire league of Unnatural Philosophers, the sort of governing body of magic.
Secrets are slowly revealed and the story bends and flows to the point of me staying in the driveway or parking lot to hear more of what's going to happen next. I love when a story makes me almost late for work or dinner.
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author. I look forward to listening to the rest of the series.

Delightful

Fans of The Night Circus and Jonathan Strange will be likely to enjoy this weaving of manners and magic. All the characters were well drawn and the story, although not shocking, a bit slow to start and a bit abruptly ended, was very enjoyable. Jenny Sterlin is a phenomenal narrator and exactly right for this period and the variety of accents. I'm looking forward to listening to the next book and hoping to work "droll" into my regular vocabulary.