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Loading... The Magicians and Mrs. Quentby Galen Beckett
Amazon preorder   romsfuulynn | Apr 28, 2013 |  A sort-of alternate history fantasy, set in a sort-of Regency England. Had nice moments and worldbuilding, but I struggled to understand certain motivations, and the main romance of the book didn’t quite work for me (I need more than just vague echoes of Jane Eyre to convince me two people are meant for each other). [July 2011] (  ) maureene87 | Apr 4, 2013 | It's just not grabbing me. I see the attempt at similarity to Jane Austen; however Ivy is no Lizzy, and Rafferdy is much more Willoughby than Darcy. After 100 pages, either the plot is taking too long to get started, or it's just not interesting me. GinnyTea | Mar 31, 2013 | I'm not really sure how I feel about this one, but that may come in part from the completely whacked flap copy. One big, huge spoiler is in the flap copy, referencing an event that happens about halfway through the book which greatly changes the circumstances of the characters. The fact that I knew it was coming made me impatient to get there, which I think ruined the reading a bit up to that point. Also, nothing really happens until about 2/3 of the way through the book when "Mrs. Quent" (from the title) is at last explained and events proceed quickly. A bit of foreshadowing is done for the next book, but not to the point where this story felt unfinished. The narrative is a bit hard to follow at times--jumping between different characters at each chapter--and I think at least one, perhaps two, entire storylines should have been left out to be explored at a later date. This came to be a case of too much backstory for the peripheral characters who didn't play nearly the large role I expected given all the attention paid to them. I would have enjoyed it more had it been a bit tighter, but it was what the author intended: an exploration of what a book along the lines of Jane Eyre could have been like had magic been thrown into the mix. I don't regret the time I spent reading it, and will likely pick up the sequel (eventually). ( ) Krumbs | Mar 31, 2013 | Ivy Lockwell is the daughter of a magician, but it's been several years since her father was well enough to practice magic. He now lives mostly in the attic of their house, occasionally throwing books in a fit of silent rage. Ivy, her mother, and her two sisters subside on the income from some of Mr. Lockwell's old investments, but it's a pinched and economical lifestyle that they are forced to adopt. When Ivy and her sisters gain a chance introduction to a handsome young lord who appears to be paying Ivy special attention, their future looks bright -- but a sudden tragedy causes Ivy to instead take a position as a governess to the wards of one of her father's friends, the gruff and solemn Mr. Quent. At Heathcrest, Mr. Quent's foreboding home, Ivy learns that there is more to magic than she had previously supposed. . . . I thought this was an excellent read, full of intricate detail and strong characters, and a plot that moved just fast enough but not too fast. Though The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is set in an alternate universe, the societal rules in the book feel very much like Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters. It felt a lot like a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, but well-done enough that I felt the similarities added to, rather than detracted from, the book's appeal. (  ) foggidawn | Sep 2, 2012 | no reviews | add a review
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