My goal is to read 50 books this year. We'll see how far I get, considering I'm starting a doctorate program in May!
However, so far this year I've already read a few books, and among the most delightful is Zen Chao's Sorcerer to the Crown.
First of all, since I'm an unabashed design nerd, let's talk about the cover! I love how touchable it is. The red foil is embossed and it's just a joy to run your fingers over. I also love how the details--the two faces in profile and the magic ball in the middle--don't immediately stand out. Like the book itself, the cover has secrets to hide, begging you to search them out. The white background is a great contrast to the detailing of the type and the images. Just lovely design. 10/10.
So diving into the book, I found tone immediately likeable. It switches between the perspectives of our two protagonists--the titular Sorcerer Royal, Zacharias Wythe, and spitfire magical talent, Prunella Gentlewoman. They are both carefully developed and have distinct personalities. Prunella is the kind to jump into things without thinking, and she's surprisingly ruthless in her pursuit of power. She is an orphan raised at a ladies boarding school for magic, where the focus is suppressing their power than on developing it.
On the other hand, Zacharias has lived under a magnifying glass his entire life and is therefore prudent, guarded, and controlled. He is the son of black slaves, emancipated by the former Sorcerer Royal and raised for his immense sorcerous power. The race issue, brought up on literally the first page, was sensitively and courageously handled. He is unquestionably the Sorcerer Royal, but many of the white English magicians doubt his ability to handle the post, mainly because of the color of his skin.
So already you have two controversial topics--racism and sexism--and we're not even to the plot yet!
Like all great protagonists, Zacharias and Prunella have problems. He is dealing with the slow decline of English magic, which is somehow tied up with the fairy realm. Unless he can restore magic, his position--and possibly his life--are in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Prunella is determined to join London Society and become a female sorcerer. She's not shy about using Zacharias to achieve this, and their interactions are a highlight of the book. There's more, but as River Song would say:
The story of how these two disadvantaged souls uncover the truth about the decline of magic, Prunella's real parents, who is trying to assassinate Zacharias, and more! Highly recommended.
Link to Goodreads review:
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