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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!
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!
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 whichbadseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Sometime a person just wants to read a story that will entertain and not tax the brain. Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer is just such an adorable novel. The entire novel is written as correspondence between the two heroines Katherine and Cecelia. Set in a Regency England where magic is accepted skill, Kate and Cecy, as they are addressed in the letters, cousins who have been separated because Katherine is to have her “Season” in London with her sister Georgia, while Cecilia is to wait until next year. While separated both girls manage to have adventures involving magicians and gentleman callers and a magical chocolate pot. All of which has made for one of the most adorable novels I have ever read!
The funny thing is, I completely enjoyed this novel, something that shocked me because this is not exactly what I usually go for. Our heroines experience danger and adventure, but as a reader there is no real sense of urgency anywhere in the novel. You know that no matter what scrape these young women get themselves in that they will be ok in the end.
Part of the reason I enjoyed this novel so much was that although these are Regency era characters, both Kate and Cecy on several occasions confound their enemies and male companions alike with their abilities to manage and their grasp of the situations. Although they did not at first appear to me to be such, these young women are in fact strong characters, just strong characters with very good manners!
After reading the novel I was surprised to read that the authors, Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer actually wrote this novel as a series of letters to each other, first as a writing exercise and then getting more and more involved. Ms. Wrede wrote the “Cecy” letters and Ms. Stevermer, “Kate”. This gave the characters distinct voices, and just added an interesting factoid to a completely satisfying novel. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
The funny thing is, I completely enjoyed this novel, something that shocked me because this is not exactly what I usually go for. Our heroines experience danger and adventure, but as a reader there is no real sense of urgency anywhere in the novel. You know that no matter what scrape these young women get themselves in that they will be ok in the end.
Part of the reason I enjoyed this novel so much was that although these are Regency era characters, both Kate and Cecy on several occasions confound their enemies and male companions alike with their abilities to manage and their grasp of the situations. Although they did not at first appear to me to be such, these young women are in fact strong characters, just strong characters with very good manners!
After reading the novel I was surprised to read that the authors, Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer actually wrote this novel as a series of letters to each other, first as a writing exercise and then getting more and more involved. Ms. Wrede wrote the “Cecy” letters and Ms. Stevermer, “Kate”. This gave the characters distinct voices, and just added an interesting factoid to a completely satisfying novel. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
collectedscribbles's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
1yourmom1's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first exposure to a “letter book”, and it was a great experience. While it has been nearly a decade since my first time reading Sorcery and Cecilia, I have reread it with glee many times. Perhaps my nostalgia has pushed my rating above average, but I will not apologize!
Note: 0 stars for the audio version of this (and its sequels). I learned how to return an Audible book after purchasing the audio version - and if you’ve ever figured THAT process out, you will understand how desperately I wanted my money back.
Note: 0 stars for the audio version of this (and its sequels). I learned how to return an Audible book after purchasing the audio version - and if you’ve ever figured THAT process out, you will understand how desperately I wanted my money back.