Stevermer, Caroline Books

Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot

Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Nothing short of perfection 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer first published Sorcery and Cecelia under that that title in 1988. In recent years, thanks to reprints with shiny new cover art by Scott M. Fischer in the case of the edition I read as well as two new sequels, this book has regained popularity and visibility. Aside from that, one of the most important things to know about this book is its alternate title: The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country.

Wrede and Stevermer wrote this book as a writing exercise of sorts called the Letter Game. Patricia C. Wrede wrote as Cecelia while Caroline Stevermer responded with Kate's letters. They did not plan the plot before they began writing.

Almost every review I have found online describes Sorcery and Cecelia as a cross between the books of Jane Austen and those of J. K. Rowling. The comparison does make sense, but I might venture to say I liked this book better than any of the Harry Potter series.

The year is 1817 in an England where magic is as much a part of life as letter writing. The latter is of particular importance to Kate and Cecelia as the cousins spend the novel in separate parts of England. While Kate and her more glamorous sister Georgina are in London enjoying a proper Season, Cecelia, much to her consternation, is left to languish in the country with her brother Oliver for company (at least until he's turned into a tree).

Problems begin for both cousins when Kate accidentally intercepts a rather nasty pot of chocolate in a London garden that was, apparently, meant for the eccentric Marquis of Schofield. If only he would explain exactly why.

Meanwhile, in the country, Cecelia finds herself following a shady figure spying on Cecy's new (and surprisingly popular!) friend Dorothea. When Cecelia repeatedly catches him in the act of spying, James Tarleton repeatedly refuses to offer any information.

As the girls learn more about these mysterious men, and the mysterious events, it becomes clear that something big is happening--big enough that evidence of the plan can be seen in both London and the country. The only question is what, exactly, is going on and if Kate and Cecelia can stop it in time.

Being an homage to Jane Austen, this novel has not one but two romances. Which couple is better has been a hot topic since the book came out. The librarian who recommended the book to me feels very strongly that the Mysterious Marquis and Kate are a more enjoyable match to observe. For my part, I preferred Cecelia and James.

This novel avoids all of the traps that can make an epistolary novel awful. There is no repetition, there is dialogue, the narrative reads like a, for lack of a better word, normal book in that the narrative flows in a fairly traditional way. There is neither too much information nor too little. And, most importantly, the novel is filled with suspense, action, humor and romance that shines through both Cecelia's and Kate's letters.

But then from two talented and well-known fantasy writers, what else can a reader expect but perfection?

Sorcery and Cecelia is the first in a series of books featuring Kate and Cecelia. Their stories continue in The Grand Tour (2004) and The Mislaid Magician of Ten Years After (2006).

Editorial Review:

A great deal is happening in London and the country this season.

For starters, there's the witch who tried to poison Kate at the Royal College of Wizards. There's also the man who seems to be spying on Cecelia. (Though he's not doing a very good job of it--so just what are his intentions?) And then there's Oliver. Ever since he was turned into a tree, he hasn't bothered to tell anyone where he is.

Clearly, magic is a deadly and dangerous business. And the girls might be in fear for their lives . . . if only they weren't having so much fun!

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After

Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

About on parr with the second book 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

It might be that I read the second two books in this series more sporadicly than the first and so I didn't fully grasp the plot, on the other hand I didn't read them as quickly because the plot did not fully grab me. If I could I would probably give it a 3.5 because I didn't find it all that memorable. the first book really made an impression which seems to have been fading ever so slightly with each consequential book.

Shifting from how the second book was written this is again in pure letter form, with additional missives from James and Thomas (I agree that they might be a bit excessive and that like in the second where we had more than one person narrating the same set of events it got slightly tedious at times).

Again like the second one Ithought it focused too much WAY WAY toomuch on the mechanics of the magic. Not only were James and Cecy bored to tears with ley lines and locomotives, so was I. Those poor characters their plot only got really interesting towards the very end when every one kept turning into dogs.

This might be the difference in the strengths of the authors, but I found the Kate and Thomas storyline much more interesting, it was rolicking and moving and less stagnent and technical than Cecy and James. (Ironic since Kate and Thomas stay at home while Cecy and James travel the country side)

They have been saddled with the care and keeping of all of Cecy and James' children--alot. In addition they find another child, the almost mute Drina. Thomas is still wonderfully Thomas and writes some of the funniest letters towards the end in regards to a certain dog. Georgy has a plot as well, which I found very amusing (she has a penchant for sappy poetry, how apropos)

Still a fun read but I wouldn't put off reading it too long after the first and second because things might get forgotten in the interim.

Editorial Review:

Ten years have passed since Kate and Cecy married Thomas and James, and England is now being transformed by the first railways. When the Duke of Wellington asks James to look into the sudden disappearance of a German railway engineer, James and Cecy's search reveals a shocking truth: The railway lines are wreaking havoc with ancient underground magic, which could endanger the very unity of England. Meanwhile, Kate has her hands full taking care of all their children, not to mention the mysterious mute girl they rescued from a kidnapper!

Written in letters between Kate and Cecy--and between their husbands--this installment of the cousins' adventures is another satisfying blend of magic, mystery, adventure, humor, and romance.

The Grand Tour

Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this elegant, old-fashioned rambler, a sequel to the historical fantasy Sorcery and Cecilia, a party of five Brits (three of them are wizards)--Kate and Thomas Schofield, Cecy and James Tarleton, and Lady Sylvia--takes a "grand tour" of 19th-century Europe. What promises to be a pleasant exploration of old world antiquities and fancy shops turns out to be an adventure of a lifetime when Cecy receives a mysterious alabaster flask (a coronation treasure) from an agitated Lady in Blue. Before they know it, they are wrapped up in a magical conspiracy to take over Europe.

Written in two voices by two different authors, the novel alternates between Cecy's deposition and excerpts from her dear friend and cousin Kate's diary. Despite the crisp, clever dialogue and wonderful character subtleties in this Jane Austen-style comedy of manners, readers may be confused by the episodic nature of the novel whose mysteries take their sweet time in unfolding. Teens with the patience to savor this slow-as-molasses grand tour, however, will be amply rewarded by the novel's myriad delights. (Ages 14 and older) --Karin Snelson

A Scholar of Magics (A College of Magics)

Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Fun magical mystery 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Like Stevermer's earlier book 'A College of Magics' this is set in the early 20th century in a parallel universe where magic is part of everyday life. Samuel Lambert is a sharpshooter from Wyoming, who is invited to Glasscastle university (Glastonbury?), a very exclusive establishment for teaching magic to young men of the right background. His talents a marksman are required for the mysterious Agincourt Prjoect, which is top-secret. He makes friends with a student called Nicholas Fell, and meets the provost's attractive siter Jane (from 'A College of Magics'), a teacher of mathematics at Greenlaw,a women's magical college in Normandy.Jane has a message for Nicholas Fell, he is to be the new Warden of the West (a sort of magical guardian) but he doesn't want to be. Strange things begin to happen, the Agincourt Prjoect is cancelled, and Nicholas Fell and Jane's brother Robert both disappear. jane and Lambert set out to find them, then Jane disappears herself, and Lambert has to track her down as well, and try and figure out who the villains are. This is a very enjoyable story, with a clever plot, interesting characters and plenty of magic and humour. One of my favourite bits is where Lambert fells the villain with a well-aimed cricket ball. lambert is an amiable hero, and Jane is an attractive and interesting heroine, despite her passion for reckless driving.And unlike the earlier book, this one has an upbeat ending. Great fun.

Editorial Review:

Glasscastle University—on the surface, one of the most peaceful places in England. But underneath, its magic is ancient and dangerous…

American Samuel Lambert, sharpshooter, adventurer, late of the Wyoming plains and Kiowa Bob’s Wild West Show, has been invited to Glasscastle University in England to contribute his phenomenally accurate shooting eye to the top secret Agincourt Project. The only dangers he expects to face are British snobbery, heavy dinners, and tea with the Provost’s pretty wife. But when the Provost’s stylish sister, Jane Brailsford, comes to town, things get much more exciting….

This sparkling sequel to A College of Magics is a whirlwind of secret weapons, motor cars, mysterious assaults and abductions, thugs in bowler hats, and a mild-mannered don who is heir to a magical power greater than all of Glasscastle’s.

(20040301)

A College of Magics

Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Adequate Entertainment 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

The author has an elegant prose style and the characters are amusing enough to sustain a reader's interest throughout the moderate length of the book. The plot is well-paced and centers on the adventures of Faris Nallaneen, a young woman who has been sent to Greenlaw College by her uncle who is ruling her kingdom until she comes of age. But a larger destiny and surprising perils await Faris.

I'm afraid I must condemn this book with such faint praises, because while it is well written it just didn't click. The author was uncertain in her setting--bits and pieces of the real world intruded, seeming less real than the fantasy landscapes. The heroine did not give the impression of any emotional depth. Comparisons to Hogwarts and Harry Potter are inevitable, and this work suffers by the comparison. Rowling might be a sloppy writer, with less elegance, but her prose is less self-conscious, more exuberant and playful, and Harry is made real to us.

Editorial Review:

Teenager Faris Nallaneen is the heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon. Too young still to claim her title, her despotic Uncle Brinker has ruled in her place. Now he demands she be sent to Greenlaw College. For her benefit he insists. To keep me out of the way, more like it!

But Greenlaw is not just any school-as Faris and her new best friend Jane discover. At Greenlaw students major in . . . magic.

But it's not all fun and games. When Faris makes an enemy of classmate Menary of Aravill, life could get downright . . . deadly.

When The King Comes Home (A College of Magics)

Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

When the King comes home... miracles will occur, the rivers will run with wine, all wishes will be granted. The kingdom of Aravis believes its beloved King Julian, dead 200 years, will return in the hour of its greatest need--and surely that hour is now. The current king is ancient, witless, and dying without an heir, the sinister Prince Bishop controls both church and state, and rebellion is brewing in the provinces.

Hail Rosmer has no interest in politics or legends. The daughter of a rural wool merchant, Hail wishes only to be a great artist. And her wish is granted, it seems, when she is sent to the city of Aravis to apprentice with Madame Carriera and study the works of King Julian's artist, the infamous Maspero. But Hail's fate is forever changed--as changed as the fate of Aravis itself--when she sees a man who looks exactly like King Julian. Marvels and wonders there will be--and events far darker and more dangerous than were ever imagined in legend.

When the King Comes Home is a smart, sly, unpredictable, and fascinating fantasy that lives up to the high standards of Caroline Stevermer's critically acclaimed previous novels, A College of Magics and River Rats. --Cynthia Ward

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After: Being the Private Correspondence Between Two Prominent Families Regarding a Scandal Touching the Highest Levels of Government and the Security of the Realm

Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

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Editorial Review:

Ten years have passed since Kate and Cecy's honeymoon tour with their husbands, Thomas and James. England has been transformed into a world of modern magic, with everything from steam engines to seemingly miraculous advances in science. In a newly industrialized world, however, a little old-fashioned wizardy can be a real lifesaver. When a German railway engineer working in Leeds goes missing, it's up to Kate and Thomas, Cecy and James--and their children--to use everything in their power to save him.

River Rats

Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A Definite Re-Read 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

When I borrowed this book from a friend's younger sister, I thought it would be an easy read to take my mind off things before I did my homework. Well, I read it.. and then I read it again. While the plot could be a little contrived at times, the characters were vivid and real, and the relationships between them left me wishing for a sequel. I bought the book for myself, and it has a permanent place on my bookshelf for those rainy lonely days when I need some cheering up.

Editorial Review:

A paddle wheeler cruises up the Mississippi, delivering mail and hosting an occasional concert. A scene straight out of the nineteenth century? Not quite. This Mississippi is a toxic brown river. And the paddle wheeler is run by the River Rats, a troop of orphans who survived the Flash, a nuclear holocaust. What were once huge cities are now plague-ridden ruins haunted by gangs of savage children. And the concerts the Rats play are post-apocalyptic rock and roll--a music as rough and ragged as the musicians who perform it.

When the Rats rescue a stranger from the river, all the troubles of the old world suddenly threaten to end their travels forever.

Magicians of Quality

Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

For country-bred cousins Cecelia Rushton and Katherine Talgarth, something extraordinary is afoot besides the constant whirl of Regency balls - something Young Ladies of Quality rarely come in contact with: magic. Oh, not the mere love spells used by country folk, but real sorcery capable of thwarting ambitions and destroying life. In Sorcery of Cecili,Kate begins to suspect this is so while enjoying her first Season in Loindon, where a beautiful socialite in an outdated powdered wig tries to lure her into having poisoned hot chocolate from an enchanted chocolate pot - while continually addressing her as Thomas! It's all very puzzling,especially when Thomas turns out to be the Mysterious Marquis who owns an estate near Rushton Manor.And equally strange things are happeningat Rushton. The lovely Dorothea arrives quite suddenly and instantly captures the heart of every man in the neighborhood - which may not be unrelated to the charm-bag gound under Cecy's brother's bed. To make matters worsr, Dorthea's cousin James keeps lurking in the shadows, watching every move Cecy makes. Cecy and Kate are determined to discover who the stranger with the lethal chocolate the matter is with Dorothea...and how to put a top to the malevolent flow of sorcery before anyone else can be harmed. But there are forces at work that are equally determined to put a stop them...Excellent Read...

Scholarly Magics (A College of Magics, A Scholar of Magics)

Caroline Stevermer

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