Reviews - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

8.15k reviews for:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Susanna Clarke

3.96 AVERAGE

teenytinycarcar's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 2%

I could not get invested in these fancy Englishmen

sailors_delight's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

jack_l_1984's review against another edition

4.0

funny hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Objectively this is a five star novel but my enjoyment of it brought it down to three, at some points even two.

The setting is unique and enthralling, the period-style writing was a creative way to tell the story and the magic system was a lot of fun. Clarke has created an engaging world that I wish we had more of in the fantasy genre, namely magicians in early 1800s England.

However, this is a long and slow-paced novel. The two protagonists are interesting, quirky, and funny, but never truly engaging. Only by the very end did I really care about them.

The story itself had its moments, but as soon as I was invested, it would lose me again, and in parts become boring. The first few hundred pages were particularly uninteresting for me, and it was only when Strange became involved that I became invested in any of it.

All that said, this was a pleasant book to read - I would recommend it, but only if you like slow-paced books.

mamaquiereleer's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rociodmv's review against another edition

3.0

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

doritoscanada's review against another edition

3.0

slow-paced

noah_loves_you's review against another edition

5.0

informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

berkeleybear's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 58%

Really wanted to like it, sounded right up my alley, plus I loved Piranesi, but not really grabbing my attention. The characters were not particularly likable or charming.