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jsoakes's review against another edition
4.0
"All magicians lie and this one more than most."
Exceptionally long, but purely magical. This is the gentleman's story of magic. If you enjoy 19th century etiquette (or the critique thereof), fairy tales, and excellent usage of footnotes, you will love this story. Seriously, this is what footnotes were made for.
It is very long and it is somewhat tedious, but it works as long as you remember that the story is about these two magicians and those they interact with more than about what they actually do (the magic is nonsensical). The long exchanges and apparent diversions are important to character building... except for the fairy tales, which are just delightful.
Exceptionally long, but purely magical. This is the gentleman's story of magic. If you enjoy 19th century etiquette (or the critique thereof), fairy tales, and excellent usage of footnotes, you will love this story. Seriously, this is what footnotes were made for.
It is very long and it is somewhat tedious, but it works as long as you remember that the story is about these two magicians and those they interact with more than about what they actually do (the magic is nonsensical). The long exchanges and apparent diversions are important to character building... except for the fairy tales, which are just delightful.
annacation's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
maybetara's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rachelmnly's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mbell4567_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
zibbi_is_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marvelruinedmyspirit's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely adored the writing style, footnotes and all, and the worldbuilding was fascinating, and the humor was incredible, and yet the characters and the plot were just a little boring (except for the scenes between the Gentleman and Stephen Black, which were my favorite). The parts about the wars against Napoleon gave me Les Mis and War and Peace flashbacks.
ginadale's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
straylight's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up after eyeing it on the shelf for months. While it is a long read, it is quite a satisfactory romp through England starting in 1806 and running the course of several years. The book is very character focused, and while several countries are visited during the course of the storyline, the intricacies of the characters and their personalities are much more the focus of the story than the locations where they find themselves.
Essentially, it is the story of how two determined men bring magic back to England. One is a bookish and quiet magician, who, while he wants to bring magic back, is determined to keep his books on the subject for no one but himself. He falls in with a couple of bad characters that lead him somewhat astray. The other magician is a personable, strong-minded yet studious man who wants nothing more than to share magic with all who are interested, but who finds himself in a sticky situation when a Fairy takes a fancy to his wife.
These men have a great debate about whether Faeries should play a role in the magic they seek to revive, or whether these beings are malevolent creatures whom should be avoided. Their once-amiable relationship devolves into an ongoing battle of sorts, which makes up a good portion of the story.
A host of other characters play varying roles within the plot as well, helping to drive parts of it forward to a conclusion that many may find only somewhat satisfactory. I was quite pleased with how things stood at the end, but some may find the separation of husband and wife to be a displeasing conclusion, considering the amount of effort Mr. Strange puts into trying to regain his wife throughout the course of the book.
All in all, I found this to be an excellent read.
Essentially, it is the story of how two determined men bring magic back to England. One is a bookish and quiet magician, who, while he wants to bring magic back, is determined to keep his books on the subject for no one but himself. He falls in with a couple of bad characters that lead him somewhat astray. The other magician is a personable, strong-minded yet studious man who wants nothing more than to share magic with all who are interested, but who finds himself in a sticky situation when a Fairy takes a fancy to his wife.
These men have a great debate about whether Faeries should play a role in the magic they seek to revive, or whether these beings are malevolent creatures whom should be avoided. Their once-amiable relationship devolves into an ongoing battle of sorts, which makes up a good portion of the story.
A host of other characters play varying roles within the plot as well, helping to drive parts of it forward to a conclusion that many may find only somewhat satisfactory. I was quite pleased with how things stood at the end, but some may find the separation of husband and wife to be a displeasing conclusion, considering the amount of effort Mr. Strange puts into trying to regain his wife throughout the course of the book.
All in all, I found this to be an excellent read.
belindad's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5