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! ( )

Co-authors Wrede and Stevermer began this novel as a game--the letter game--in which participants assume a persona and correspond via letters without discussing their characters or plot outside of those letters. They cobbled the results into a vibrant and fun re-imagining of 19th century England with wizards and magic, as revealed through the pens of their plucky correspondents, Kate and Cecilia. The two of them flirt and plot and spy and generally sparkle as characters--at least when they don't have "the headache." ( )

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Absolutely delightful! The book is written as a series of letters between two cousins in an alternate Regency England, where magic works. One has gone to London for her Season, while the other remains in their country town. Some familiarity with Regency England - like a love for Jane Austen - would be best for younger readers. In the footsteps of spunky young heroines everywhere, even being separated can't stop them from getting into trouble. ( )

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. ( )

Lovely, lovely, lovely! This book consists of letters between two teenaged witches named Cecelia and Kate, living in the Victorian era. Full of magic, humor, suspense, and wacky characters, it is a charming and unusual book, perfect for a long ride. It's a bit hard to follow, but once you get the hang of it, its a sweet and enduring book.

Quite a charming book. I really liked the back-and-forth correspondence as the authors hand off writing duties--clever idea that worked well here. Although I knew the ending would be happy, I was quite interested to see how it would get there and read much of the book in one sitting. A taste of Austen without quite so much to work out for the modern reader ( )

I heard of this book from a recommendation on the LT page for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I was intrigued by the notion that there were other books set around the time of the Napoleonic wars in which English magic played a large role. Both Sorcery and Cecelia and Strange & Norrell came out in 2004, and their authors appear to have been unaware of one another's works.

The story is told through letters between the cousins Cecelia, who is at the family home Rushton Manor, and Kate, who is embarking on her first Season in London. The girls are headstrong and quite funny in their alliance against stuffy aunts and the dangers of literature of the improving persuasion. Their adventures begin when Kate attends the official ceremony inducting an old neighbor, Sir Hilary, into the Royal College of Wizardry. While there, Kate is drawn to a small door that leads into a garden, where a beautiful witch waits with chocolate brewed in an enchanted pot. Kate barely escapes, but it was all a mistake; she wasn't the target at all. When he shows up, things begin to get quite interesting indeed.

Meanwhile Cecelia (or "Cecy") is having her own adventures at Rushton Manor. Sir Hilary and Miranda the witch are in league, and Cecy must try to raid Sir Hilary's library to find out more about his plans. And who is the unpleasant man who has no skill in stealth, yet who persists in creeping about and spying on Cecy and her new friend Dorothea? Why does Cecy's brother have a charm bag under his mattress? And is it possible that Cecy herself has some aptitude for magic?

It's fun to compare Sorcery and Cecelia with Strange & Norrell. Both mention Wellington (though he is called "Wizard Wellington" in S&C). Both hint that magic as a profession is not entirely respectable in certain quarters. JS&MN has a much more developed history of magic and sense of English magic as a distinct entity. Both have a subtle sense of humor.

Sorcery and Cecelia also reminded me very much of Jane Austen's Lady Susan, that epistolary feat of varying perspectives and excellent characterizations. Imagine Lady Susan endowed not only with great beauty and cunning, but magic as well! (Not to mention an enchanted chocolate pot; with that, she'd be positively lethal!)

Reading the afterword was enlightening — it seems that Wrede and Stevermer embarked on this as a sort of game, with Wrede writing as Cecy and Stevermer writing as Kate. They worked together very well and the story is seamless, although they say when they discussed it during the writing they were careful not to give away their plot points.

I was delighted to learn that there is a sequel, The Grand Tour. I've placed it on hold at the library and I'm looking forward to it. Overall, this was a wonderful and entertaining little story that I couldn't put down. Highly recommended! ( )

This is the first of a series of three epistolary novels, and the best of the three. This high quality amusement, supposedly Young Adult, is dedicated to Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, JRR Tolkien and Ellen Kushner. I do strongly recommend it to readers of fantasy who also love Georgette Heyer. Well written, fast-paced, amusing, with happy ending promising more adventure of the same sort in the next volume. I wore a small smile the whole time I was reading it. ( )

Steady pace throughout, then becomes a bit rushed near the end... a little too perfect when Kate and Cecy defeat their enemies at around the same time. (And I must admit I thought Cecy was a little boring.)

I couldn't keep my interest in this book. It is a dialog of letters written between two young women in England. Kate has gone off to London for her season. Cecy is in her home town attending balls & parties. Both of them seem to get mixed up with the same magical characters. I can't comment on the plot, as I stopped reading at page 107 out of 326. I suppose young women who are fascinated with England society in the early 1800's might enjoy this book. There is also the mysterious magic aspects. I am rarely intrigued by magic. ( )

This book was so charming! It took me a while to finish it, but I really loved the letters back and forth between Cecy and Kate. The two authors actually wrote this book by playing a game--they didn't actually plan out what would happen in the book, but just wrote letters back and forth and let the plot unfold. I really thought the book was quite magical! ( )

Though the plot is as complete as in any other novel, the authors had given to develope it in the form of correspondence between two cousins. It doesn't lessen its entertainment. As the authors state the story is inspirated in Jane Austen's world, so I'm sure that all of us who love that world, and who don't worry too much about finding a little of sorcery in the plot, will enjoy them. Best for teenagers, though I am not. ( )

I don't like Jane Austen. There, I said it. But I *do* like this book. Imagine a Jane Austen book with heroines who are spunkier and more original, where an editor has trimmed down the wordiness and played up the humor, and then insert some magic, and you have this book.

Cecilia and Kate are cousins. The impetuous Cecilia is stuck in boring Rushton while accident-prone Kate is off in London having her Season. The two cousins come across strange circumstances involving their neighbor, the Mysterious Marquis, when Kate is almost killed by a witch with a magical chocolate pot and a beautiful new girl moves to Rushton overwhelmingly attracting all of the boys. There is adventure aplenty, sham engagements, people being turned into trees, overbearing aunts, and, of course, a thoroughly satisfying ending of the wicked being defeated and true love being united.

The book is written in epistolary style (i.e. as letters) and began as a game between the two authors. I enjoyed the style (I have a distinct fondness for first-person narrators), but there was a good bit of slang and more obscure dialogue than a novel set in modern day. Even people without much knowledge of such, though, should be able to figure out the gist of the expressions. This is billed as a YA novel, but it's a lot of fun for adults, so don't let that stop you. It really is a very enjoyable read.

There is apparently a sequel following Kate and Cecy's adventures on the Continent, which I am quite tempted to buy. ( )

This book is a delight and a half in its crossbreed of Jane Austen language and Harry Potter events! Cousins and dear friends Cecelia and Kate, separated by distance, write letters to each other to keep up the correspondence. From the start, things do not seem to be right. For instance, at Sir Hilary’s induction into the Royal College of Wizards, Kate wanders through a doorway and into a magical garden, where a witch by the name of Miranda confuses her for a wizard named Thomas and tries to poison her with chocolate from a chocolate pot. After escaping, Kate actually meets Thomas, the Mysterious Marquis of Schofield, whose impudence puts her on her guard, and even more so when, after a few more near-death moments, he makes an offer of marriage to her, so that he will have some protection from the charms of a young lady whom Miranda wants to set upon him.

Meanwhile, outside of London, Cecy befriends Dorothea, the shy girl whose stepmother, the malevolent witch Miranda, placed a charm spell on her so that every guy in her vicinity will fall heads over heels. Dorothea refuses to stand up to Miranda, and it is during one of their strolls that Cecy notices they are being watched by a not-so-subtle James Tarleton, a dark and elegant man who, it turns out, is good friends with Thomas. He warns Cecy not to meddle in the Marquis’ affairs with Sir Hilary and Miranda, but of course Cecy doesn’t heed him, and finds herself sneaking spellbooks out of Sir Hilary’s library and trying to understand more about magic and the significance of a chocolate pot that was once Thomas’ but is now possessed by Sir Hilary for sinister reasons.

SORCERY AND CECELIA was written as an unplanned, unscripted letter game between two authors, and so the beginning may seem slow and hard to get into. But persevere, and you will be greatly rewarded by a pleasing, adventurous, and romantic story. ( )

I love Patricia Wrede, which is how I started this series and I was not disappointed. The story and characters are charming and very fitting of young ladies of quality. The story is written in letters, which can be a little off putting, but overall it works. ( )

Absolutely splendid. This is just as delightful now as it was when I originally read it. Two spirited heroines, plenty of stirring adventures, and a believable system of magic, all add up to a wonderful trouncing of romantic conventions.
"...We are to return and take tea on Thursday. I am determined to have the headache Thursday, if I have to hit myself with a rock to do it."
"... he turned my hand over again and brushed a kiss across my knuckles. I experienced a nearly overpowering desire to hit him in the eye." ( )

A bit slow starting out, this book is told through a series of letters. Readers can easily guess at times the "hidden" connections, but it is still quite fun to read them as they emerge to the characters. Cece and her younger sister have moved to London for the season, debuts for both of them, leaving Cece's cousin and best friend Kate behind. Then the two of them become embroiled in a magical plot to destroy a marquis. They are quite smarter than the males they keep having to save, and I wish there was a bit more about the romance that develops, but all in all, quite enjoyable. ( )

Sorcery & Cecelia is an epistolary novel with a twist: all the letters in the book were actually sent by the authors, to each other, and they didn’t set out to write a novel. They were just playing the Letter Game: two people (they don’t have to be writers) carry on an in-character correspondence. They chose to be two cousins, best friends Kate and Cecelia, living in England in 1817. An England just like the one in our world, except that magic exists, and witches and wizards abound. Early in her Season, Kate is nearly poisoned by a witch who mistakes her for the Mysterious Marquis. Meanwhile, Cecelia finds herself spied on by an elegantly-dressed young man, and her new friend Dorothea begins to have a rather startling effect on the gentlemen of the neighbourhood.

This is a really excellent young adult novel. The writing is quick and clear, and the characters are delightful. The book has a real sense of humour, with delicious absurdities in every letter. The tone, too, is wonderful—the book is dedicated to Austen, Heyer, Tolkien, and Kushner, and their influence (or at least the women’s) definitely shows in this comedy of manners. There’s something so delightfully gothic about the “Mysterious Marquis”, and the same atmosphere pervades the book. Not many modern authors choose to create that kind of atmosphere; the only one I can think of, funnily enough, is Lemony Snicket.

Anyway, if you like Austen, Heyer, or Kushner, as well as young adult novels, you’ll probably enjoy this. Not because it’s a rip-off of those authors, but because it has a similar sensibility. The plot and the characters, however, are all the authors’ own. And the characters, especially, are people I enjoy spending time with. Cecy and Kate are fabulous; intelligent and independent young women, but still believable as Regency ladies. Altogether a very satisfying read! ( )

first line: "8 April 1817 / Rushton Manor, Essex / Dearest Kate, / It is dreadfully flat here since you have been gone, and it only makes it worse to imagine all the things I shall be missing."

Imagine Northanger Abbey...with magic. (And indeed, Jane Austen is acknowledged as one of the authors' inspirations...along with Georgette Heyer, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Ellen Kushner.) The novel is an epistolary, with letters between cousins Cecelia (written by Wrede) and Kate (Stevermer). At times, the characters and relationships seem a bit overwhelming (such that a family tree could be useful) but this does not detract from the book. I recommend this to my Austen-addicted friends, and I myself intend to read the two sequels. ( )

Light story told in correspondence between young woman cousins who get involved in a battle between magicians, at first unwittingly, later deliberately, in an alternative early 19th century England in which magic exists. An afterword explains that the two authors drafted the story by sending each other the letters and not otherwise communicating with each other. While they subsequently edited the story, it still shows signs of its disorganized past. ( )

Having grown up together, sharing all sorts of scrapes and escapades, cousins Kate and Cecy are somewhat disappointed to find themselves split up when it comes to "coming out" in London. Undeterred by their separation, the girls resolve to write diligently regarding all of the goings on in town and country. Little do they know that danger (and romance) is lurking in innocent looking gardens -- and even bushes.

Charming, creative, and entertaining. I have the sequel sitting here ready to be read, and I can't wait. ( )

I thought this was a fun and charming read. I picked this up at the library on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. ( )