A review by harukoreads
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

5.0

This is definitely a book I had to pace myself with - it could have been very easy to feel impatient with how dense this felt at times, but when I reminded myself to appreciate the dry humor and thoughtful worldbuilding I was able to keep enjoying this book. If you like British humor, winding fantasy, and nebulous magic this is well worth the time. Clarke is such a talent - the way she combines the wit of Jane Austen with the drama of Emily Bronte into a winding yet ultimately satisfying epic is quite a feat. As a person who strongly feels most books never need to surpass 600 pages, I have to admit this one comes closest to earning its high page count, although if I had to nitpick I do think the beginning and sections on the Napoleonic wars could have been tightened up. Even so, working my way through such a solid volume and having the satisfaction of seeing all the threads come together in the final 200 pages is a feeling that's hard to beat, and although I won't be recommending this to everyone, the people I do recommend it to will hear a seriously emphatic endorsement.