Reviews

A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer

kelsey_delacy's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

muppetymelody's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.0

michellehenriereads's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn’t love A College of Magics. I liked many of the characters and the premise. I believe my problem was with the pacing and details. It moved from being very slow to very fast paced, almost frantic by the end. I am still wondering how did the rug from the library fit it? Did it relate to the maze, the rift, or nothing? Who knows since Stevermer didn’t happen to tell us after making it such a big deal. I thought it odd...

To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com

hagbard_celine's review against another edition

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3.0

Big lud-in-the-mist vibes

coralrose's review against another edition

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5.0

Re-reading. As I told Rachel, not heavy on plot, but a nice escapist read. (I mean, the first two years of her schooling, less than a hundred pages, the last half-year of her schooling, another 50, the rest of the book, 450. Not to mention the confusion of the muddled ending. But good stuff.)

eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book, and felt it had some unique features that set it apart from most run-of-the-mill fantasy novels.

mrswythe89's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved this, to my mild surprise. A couple of complaints first:

1) I've already complained about this on my blog, but it doesn't make sense to me to have an extra country in our own world with goofy fantasy names like the Duchy of Galazon. "Faris Nallaneen" has no business existing in the same world with a name like Jane Brailsford. At least lah have more convincing names.

2) Ahhhhh Europe Europe Europe. I grew up reading the same books these Minnesotan writers read, or at least I assume they were the same books, because I see why they are so stuck on this particular idea of ~Europe~ (and never mind whether or not Galazon etc. are actually in Europe; they are all ang mohs and the landscape sounds European) and why they can't get out of their habit of writing like a version of Jane Austen watered down for modern consumption. The style and mindset have a potent charm; I don't deny it myself. But it's still frustrating to have a whole book with all these casual fun world-building references to Europe all that and hardly any acknowledgment that the rest of the world exists, save insofar as the rest of the world is under the subjugation of the fabulous British Empire. Tired lah. I'm glad I read the book, but I'm glad I don't feel I only have this kind of book to enjoy. When I was growing up I did feel like that -- and it wasn't good for me.

Despite the things that irritated me, I really loved Faris -- her determination, her temper, her smarts, her love for Galazon and her interest in agriculture. I sort of hope fantasy has moved on from the political mindset where it's all unquestioning yay aristocracy and ooh look at Jane and how clever she is at manipulating the accoutrements of class and feudalism of the "Faris, you are our ~true~ duchess" sort. But as I said, I do see the appeal. And back to positive comments -- I love Faris. I can never have enough of characters who are all about responsibility and debts and obligations -- I just about died at the scene where Menally (?? some stupid fantasy name that starts with an M) says, what do you have that I haven't had first, and Faris tries a couple of things before she hits on responsibility. Yessss. So satisfying!

Slightly odd ending -- I wish she'd kept Tyrian dead.

Went straight on to the next and got thrown out by too blatant positive references to British imperial interests, so who knows when I'll finish that.

rebeccacider's review against another edition

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3.0

I had no idea that Caroline Stevermer had written adult fantasies, so I was excited to encounter this vintage title in a used bookstore.

A College of Magics is an alt-history gaslight fantasy, part school story and part Ruritanian romance. In blending genres, Stevermer takes structural risks that almost made me put down the book. The first several chapters are largely narration, and the story develops very organically and episodically.

I kept reading for Faris. The young duchess of Galazon, gawky, headstrong, and equal parts self-assured and self-conscious, she is a splendid, unforgettable character. The other highlight here is Stevermer's confidence with her source material—she has an incredible command of the language and culture of early twentieth-century Europe, with just a subtle twist of magic and whimsy for flavoring.

Despite the slow start, the tension ratchets up as the book progresses, and the last third is exciting and well-plotted (and features one of the funniest examples of a Chekhov's gun that I've encountered in fiction). It's a pleasure to encounter a novel that delivers on all its narrative promises.

Definitely a quirky book, but some serious talent behind it - on the whole, a pretty excellent light fantasy read.

ETA: Apparently when they reprinted this, they marketed it as YA and as a "better than Harry Potter" magical school story. OH NOES. Older teens would enjoy this book, but stylistically it is really not YA at all.

catling42's review against another edition

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3.0

Slow to get into with an unsatisfying ending, but the middle was enjoyable. Apparently there's a second one; that's probably why the ending was unsatisfying.

andydear's review against another edition

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3.0

This is just gonna be a bunch of spoilers about the things that I loved and continue to love in stories in this style (see diana wynne jones, patricia wrede, etc) and the thing that pissed me off at the end.

I loved a lot about this book.
Spoiler
1) Feris' fury was phenomenal, and they were some of my favorite scenes.
ex. Find Menary with your cat- used to body guard? YES FERIS BODY SLAME HER INTO THAT TREE,

“Very far away, Faris heard Jane’s voice. “Oh, dear—”
Then Faris felt the silk of Menary’s hair in her hands, and heard Menary’s outraged shriek as Faris hauled her to her feet. ”
“What little vision remained, anger tinted red.
Faris shook Menary until her head banged against the tree trunk. The impact traveled up Faris’s arms. Satisfactory but not perfect.”

ex. sometimes ur uncle is being a dumb bitch and you gotta make some Points
“Brinker gave her another long, faintly bewildered look. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you don’t.” Faris drew the revolver from her belt and inspected it fondly. Very carefully she leveled the revolver at him. “I was taught never to point a gun unless I intend to use it.”

spoiler: she uses it lmao

2) It's funny

ex. naked man
“Faris turned and held out the bundle to her. “You take his clothes in. Please.”
Dame Villette smiled. “I think not.”

ferris: please help me, hes naked
Dame villette, loves chaos and remembers Faris being a lil shit in class last week: :) no
--
ex. court martialed for well deserved attempted murder

The Dean: “Do either of you have a defense to offer for your extraordinary behavior?” (I.E. why did you light her hair on fire and who brought the naked man)
Faris met the Dean’s steely gaze. “I do. I didn’t try to do any magic. I tried to kill Menary, that’s all.”
“Do I understand you correctly? You admit you attempted to kill your classmate.”
Faris nodded.
“You consider that a defense?”
Faris nodded again.”

I love Faris.

3) her devotion for her country was so thorough and the love they had for her was just as clear and exciting and I thought it was so rewarding to see how they embraced her after her long trip away at school.

“As Faris straightened, he halted before her and dropped to his knees, his slouch hat in his hand. “You have been too long away, my liege,” he said softly. “Welcome home to Galazon.” One or two at a time, as they splashed across the ford, Woodrowel’s men dismounted before Faris. ”

“Faris felt the calm and silence of the forest sink into her as she rode. The discomfort she’d felt in the saddle for the first few miles was gone, her stiffness melted into her mount’s motion.
She could not explain how, even to herself. Impossible to say aloud, ‘Oh, yes. The wood is calm today, isn’t it? That’s just Galazon welcoming me home.”

So like, lots of things I Really enjoyed, you know? And sure the beginning was a bit slow, but when you get the romantic academic friendships??? worth it. I love the singing under the library window scene. I love the room #5 homey feeling. I love the stuttered and ridiculous conversations. I even love the lack of school structure. 'we give you too many classes and too much homework and you decide what's worth your time' yes please, I need some of that in grad school. And the friendships were great! I even liked the uncles interesting shades of affection and clear conniving plans.

But then???
STUFF I DID NOT LIKE:

It literally comes down to like one thing. SHE DIDN'T GET TO GO BACK TO GALAZON. you're telling me that for this entire book we learn how utterly devoted she is, and how devoted her people are to her?? We see her putting the pieces together in Paris, we see her bringing help to Warin and using the gun to find out about her uncle's taxes? We even see the way the servents love her and want her to kick her Uncles ass, we get all of this packed in so that we Know that she deserves her position AND she would do it well, AND THEN SHE JUST CANT?? WHOOPS GOTTA FIND AN HEIR BECAUSE IM IN CHARGE OF THE NORTH NOW, CAN'T ACTUALLY GO DO MY JOB IN GALAZON?? WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT. im Mad. and not to mention???
fuckin- it would have been understandable because it was part of the whole rift thing- you know paying the price and all that jazz. I can accept that. I would be upset but it would be a worthy price to pay to bring peace and she would be sad but like, you know, responsibility. EXCEPT. THAT TYRIAN COMES BACK TO LIFE. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE SACRAFICE THEN?? IF SHE GETS HER BOYFRIEND BACK, WHY CAN'T SHE ALSO GO RULE GALAZON?? IF WE'RE MAKING EXCEPTIONS, WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO STAY IN THIS TOWER, WHY CAN'T SHE FEEL MAGIC DISTURBANCES FROM THE QUEEN MATILDA ROOM? ITS JUST// DUMB. look, tyrian is nice and all, but I'm PISSED.