Reviews

Sorcery & Cecelia by Caroline Stevermer, Patricia C. Wrede

purps's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book written through letters was so beautifully coordinated for coming out of two completely different heads. The duel plots mesh so well and it was such fun to put the pieces together along with the two heroines. I loved every moment of it! 

alokam's review against another edition

adventurous funny slow-paced

3.75

The authors wrote letters to each other, writing as the two characters- no plot decided! They exchanged letters until the story started to come together and then sat down to make sure their stories lined up!! 

I didn’t learn about how the process they used until I finished the book but it made so much sense! Such a cool idea. 

The story itself is fun and amusing but the writing process it makes it so much more cool!

katreenagd's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kebreads's review against another edition

5.0

A delightful book! Especially for anyone who had interest in the Regency era in England, and magic. The characters were charming and lovable. I was leery at first of the epistolary form, but it turned out to be quite marvelous.

curiousparticle's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

roseofbattles's review against another edition

5.0

Easy to read and lots of fun, the magical elements are delightful.

applegnreads's review against another edition

5.0

I'm not sure why Cecelia alone got into the title of this book. Both Kate and Cecelia are wonderful and spunky. Really, the whole thing is cute but well written.

crimsoncor's review against another edition

5.0

Just a blast, with fun characters, some comedy of manners, and an interesting letter-based style.

shareen17's review against another edition

4.0

Sort of Jane Austen meets J.K. Rowlings meets Jasper Fforde. Maybe not as good as anything of theirs, but a very fun read. The whole book is in a letter correspondence between two cousins. I didn't love the format at first, but it grew on me as the book went on.

sassmistress's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted

4.75

Loved this! Really unique fantasy, Jane Austen meets magic in a letter-correspondence style. So fun, great pace, couldn't-put-it-down adventure. Just exquisite. 

Normally it's a bad sign for me when authors collaborate on a book together, because the voices get muddled and it loses its life, but two characters writing letters to each other is the perfect way to do it well. Bravo! 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Infertility, Violence, Blood, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexism

Being from the perspective of two Well-bred Young Ladies with (mostly) Proper Decorum, content is all quite mild. Violence is pretty much all suggested/threatened. Generally stays within Austen-y sensibilities. Technically there is death, but it isn't graphic. About the worst you get is a final showdown in which

an antagonist who is about to steal the youth of a MC has the spell turned around on her and shrivels up on the floor.

I had to reread that twice to realize that it resulted in death. Small amounts of blood on a handkerchief. Someone looks scraped up and disheveled after a fight. Someone "made him tell me" some crucial information, called out as meaning "hitting him". There are attempts to cause fatal "accidents" and vague terminal wasting fevers/fatigue. Romantic / sexual content: Virtually none. Physical contact is limited to kisses on the hand and taking an arm to walk into dinner, topping out into

"I love you"s and showering with (lip) kisses upon becoming engaged. Wedding arrangements discussed.

Reference to virginity is made twice, called out for being shocking to mention in polite society. Evidence of a gambling addiction is uncovered. Very Improper. Alcohol: One of the ladies walks into the aftermath of a drinking contest. The loser is carried out unconscious. Claret is called for and tasted on-page. Infertility briefly mentioned in the context of someone struggling to conceive, then succeeding much later. Tons of magic, much of it witchy. Genetic aptitude, then studied to hone skill. "Charm bags" (for protection) made with herbs, sewing, and incantations, there are hand signals and chanting, professionals have personal objects that focus power for spellcasting. Dark magic is a thing, with the bad guys using spells that

drain a wizard's power and kill the victim.

The ladies (both cousins?) are brought up and chaperoned by their aunts, having lost their mother(s?). This is glossed over, or at least brief enough that I forgot the details.