Set in the Regency era, the book follows Zacharias Wythe, recently appointed Sorcerer Royal of England’s Unnatural Philosophers, who has to contend not only with rising opposition against his rule from his fellow sorcerers, but also a mysterious drain on the available magic in the country. Political crises, the question of women’s magic use, and the unstable relationship with Fairyland on which England depends for its influx of magic are all problems he must solve.
On the surface, this is a pretty standard fantasy romp with dragons and other strange creatures, spells and magical artifacts, and a supernatural world that coexists with the mortal realm. It’s not perfect because the worldbuilding is not quite up to par, the pacing is a little erratic, and the antiquated and stilted language takes some getting used to. The ending shouldn’t be as predictable as it is, with everything wrapped up rather neatly. Nonetheless, it managed to draw me in because there is another layer to the story, and that is the look it takes at some ugly and timeless issues plaguing every society.
Racism, sexism, classism, and chauvinism are the impetus for most of the events in this book. Zacharias Wythe, for example, is an unlikely leader of the sorcerers and despised by many because he is a black man, freed from slavery as a child by his predecessor, and used to derision and hate all his life. He is aware that he can never lose his temper in the presence of others, never show anger or agitation no matter how many insults are thrown in his face, rather he must always be rational and calm. He knows that others think him weak because of his lack of response to their disrespect but the alternative would only reinforce all their prejudices against him as an uncivilized savage. His adoptive parents raised him with great love and care but he feels conflicted towards them because the truth is that they do not and cannot understand him or the impact the colour of his skin has on every aspect of his life. Yet he cannot bear to tell them that he cannot love them as they love him because they have failed him in that vital respect, even if it was of course utterly unintentional. There are some powerful moments concerning this that are interspersed throughout the story and they are heartbreaking.
If only other characters had been as complex as this one. The female lead, Prunella Gentleman, sadly lacks most of Zacharias’s depth. As soon as she is freed from the societal constraints holding her back she is an unstoppable force that can seemingly do anything and everything at once. I appreciate a female character taking what she wants and showing up sexist men left and right while she does it but to me it felt that any kind of realism went out the window in order to make her a kind of superwoman. At least some nuance is sorely missed in the development and handling of her character.
Overall, I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys fantasy as it was a lot of fun reading it despite its shortcomings. There are quite a few moments that got a laugh out of me, and that are just wickedly clever. At its core, it is an engaging read exhibiting some unexpected depth every time the ugliness lurking underneath a thin veneer of civility and quaintness raises its head.