I always enjoy Wrede's writing, and this book was no exception. It was one of those books that I'd been eyeing for years, but for some reason never had a chance to purchase... so when it was sitting blatantly on the shelf at the library, I figured it was time to give it a go. It's actually a slower read than it looks - or at least it was for me - and I think that may be because it's written in Victorian-style language. But that just means it's a good book to savor, not blast through!

It's written in letter-style, between two young ladies, and apparently (as stated by the authors in the back of the book) the book came about after Wrede and Stevermer actually just decided to play "The Letter Game" and write letters in character to each other for awhile. Then, when they later sat back and talked about things, they realized they had a book... and so they polished the letters up and the rest is history! I thought that was very interesting: a book that wasn't intended as a book... I'll be honest, I think it shows in just a few spots where the story dragged a little, but I wouldn't dissuade anyone from picking this up. There are two more books after this one, and I've got them on the list to find the next time I'm at the library (or, let's be honest, a bookstore). A worthwhile read! ( )

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This YA fantasy novel, written in the epistolary style, combines historical romance with fantasy & magic. It sounds like a strange, possibly lame combination, but I thought it was fun, exuberant, and a joy to read. The plot, in a nutshell, is two young cousins who have various adventures (one in the country and one in London), stumble upon a villain in the wizarding world, research magic to try and stop him, and find true love in the process. The system of magic in this novel is not described in great detail, so diehard fantasy fans might be irritated by that; but I'd recommend this for anyone interested in sheer escapism.

This book was so much fun! I'll admit that up until about a year ago I used to turn my nose up at YA novels. I don't know why really but I luckily got over my prejudice because I've found some really incredible titles since then. But this one has to rank as one of my favorites. The story is told through a series of letters written between cousins Cecelia and Kate. It's kind of a cross between Jane Austen and Susanna Clarke as it is set in a magical Regency England and had me laughing from the first page. I will definitely be revisiting this book from time to time and may even pick up it's sequel, "The Grand Tour." Until then, I highly recommend it. ( )

What a delight! Two young Regency era girls exchange letters, and keep each other abreast of the strange and magical events occurring both in the London Season and the rural country house in Essex. In this slightly alternate reality, magic and wizards are very real in the post-Napoleonic War time period. The book was written as a game between Wrede and Stevermer - neither of whom consulted with the other concerning the development of the plot. In this way, these two wonderful writers react to each other's ideas and machinations in a way that is exciting, funny, and delightful. ( )