Sorcerer to the Crown - (Sorcerer to the Crown Novel) by Zen Cho (Paperback)

About the Book

"In this sparkling debut, magic and mayhem clash with the British elite... The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty's lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman--a freed slave who doesn't even have a familiar--as their Sorcerer Royal, and allowing England's once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven't stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man's profession... At his wit's end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England's magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain--and the world at large.."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

One of NPR's 50 Favorite Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the Past Decade

Magic and mayhem clash with the British elite in this whimsical and sparkling debut.

The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers maintains the magic within His Majesty's lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman as their Sorcerer Royal and allowing England's stores of magic to bleed dry. At least they haven't stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man's profession...

At his wit's end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England's magical stocks are drying up, an adventure that brings him in contact with Prunella Gentlewoman, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, and sets him on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain--and the world at large...

Review Quotes

"An enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susanna Clarke, full of delights and surprises. Zen Cho unpins the edges of the canvas and throws them wide."--Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of the Temeraire novels

"Absolutely everything about this book is delightful...Witty, wise and wonderful, Sorcerer to the Crown is an admirable achievement and a deep delight."--NPR.org

"Cho has humor and flair to match Pratchett and Heyer plus her own marvelous style."--Karen Lord, author of The Best of All Possible Worlds

"Sorcerer to the Crown felt like Pride and Prejudice but with magic and race, which makes Zen Cho Austen crossed with Susanna Clarke and Ignatius Sancho...I am utterly in love."--tor.com

"Zacharias brings to mind another orphaned young wizard whose combination of grit and melancholy captured readers' hearts, and ingenious, gutsy Prunella simply shines."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Sorcerer to the Crown exceeds expectations. It's a very entertaining and deeply enjoyable novel--and if this is what Cho gives us for her debut, I'm really looking forward to seeing what she does next."--Locus

"A captivating debut that, aside from examining both gender and racial prejudice, tells an entertaining story with wit and consummate skill."--The Guardian (UK)

About the Author

Zen Cho was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and her short story collection Spirits Abroad was a joint winner of the William L. Crawford Fantasy Award. Her debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown won a British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer and was a Locus Awards finalist for Best First Novel. She lives in the UK.