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settleforhalf 's review for:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is, first and foremost, a novel about british society in a very particular era of history. After that, it is a sort of academic rivalry. And then, finally, it's a fantasy book about magic.
While I appreciate it very much for the prose and character work, I do prefer a lot more action and much higher stakes in my fantasy. It took me a good 200 pages to make peace with this book as a consequence. I'd even argue we could have dropped about that many pages and had a much more enjoyable book.
I won't punish it for being something I wasn't expecting it to be, but I also can't rate it any higher based on my personal enjoyment. I do concede it probably objectively does deserve a higher rating, though.
While I appreciate it very much for the prose and character work, I do prefer a lot more action and much higher stakes in my fantasy. It took me a good 200 pages to make peace with this book as a consequence. I'd even argue we could have dropped about that many pages and had a much more enjoyable book.
I won't punish it for being something I wasn't expecting it to be, but I also can't rate it any higher based on my personal enjoyment. I do concede it probably objectively does deserve a higher rating, though.