readingspace13 's review for:

Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

5.0

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

This book is so hard to summarize. It's about magic, but it also has a lot to say about friendship, sanity, English identity and imperialism, and the nature of knowledge itself. I loved all the characters, even the ones I hated; they were all written so well. Susanna Clarke is a master of immersing you in a setting so completely that you forget it isn't real, and I am so very glad that I decided to read this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Death, Violence, War