Sorcerer to the Crown

Book cover of Sorcerer to the Crown

Book description

One of NPR's 50 Favorite Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the Past Decade

Magic and mayhem clash with the British elite in this whimsical and sparkling debut.

The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers maintains the magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace,…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Sorcerer to the Crown as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Donna Maree Hanson

Author

A great voice, an interesting take on fantasy, a non-white hero and heroine, rich mix of traditional fable and myth, and lots of Austeneque language. This story also takes on colonialism. I loved this book so much. It was a delight from start to finish and I’ve gone on to read other books by this author and I went to a coffee talk at the World SF Convention in Dublin. I was so thrilled to meet her.

From Donna's list on world building and imaginary worlds.

Colleen Cowley

Author

It’s probably clear by this point that I love books whose characters wrestle with injustice. Sorcerer to the Crown does that—taking on racism, sexism, classism, and colonialism—with a page-turning, witty comedy-of-manners plot.

Zacharias Wythe, the first Black sorcerer to lead the Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, is in a bind. England’s magic is fading for reasons unknown, his racist colleagues are trying to push him out, the ghost of his predecessor keeps offering unwanted advice and he has to give a speech to a girls’ school because a friend fobbed it off on him. What he finds there increases his…

From Colleen's list on fantasy with magic, romance, and a dash of subversion.