Book Review: Sorcerer to the Crown

Winner of the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Newcomer. Shortlisted for the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Novel. Shortlisted for the 2016 Locus First Novel Award. Sorcerer to the Crown is the first in Zen Cho's thrilling magical adventure series, the Sorcerer Royal Trilogy.

This was an absolute delight to read. Magic, racism, and sexism, wrapped together with international politics.

It is, basically, fan-fiction for the "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" universe. With a dash of Neil Gaiman's Stardust. In courtly Olde Englande magicians preen themselves despite the fact that English Magic Is In Peril!

Yes, it is derivative, but it is so much fun that I'm prepared to forgive it. There are no big surprises - the baddies are obvious bad and the plucky young girl is rewarded for her vim and vigour. It's an entertaining universe to spend time in.