Reviews

A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer

bookworm2828's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this book as a kid, though I often confused it with [b:A School for Sorcery|798518|A School for Sorcery (A School for Sorcery, #1)|E. Rose Sabin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1330953388s/798518.jpg|784483] because their names were so similar for an elementary/middle schooler who didn't keep a book list yet.

After re-reading it now, I am amazed that I did get the two confused because they are quite different. For some reason this book does not have as much staying power for me and even though I re-read it quite recently, I already find myself hazy on the details. The magic of reading I suppose! Just means I'll have to go back and read it again.

kelsey_delacy's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

muppetymelody's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.0

michellehenriereads's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn’t love A College of Magics. I liked many of the characters and the premise. I believe my problem was with the pacing and details. It moved from being very slow to very fast paced, almost frantic by the end. I am still wondering how did the rug from the library fit it? Did it relate to the maze, the rift, or nothing? Who knows since Stevermer didn’t happen to tell us after making it such a big deal. I thought it odd...

To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com

hagbard_celine's review against another edition

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3.0

Big lud-in-the-mist vibes

coralrose's review against another edition

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5.0

Re-reading. As I told Rachel, not heavy on plot, but a nice escapist read. (I mean, the first two years of her schooling, less than a hundred pages, the last half-year of her schooling, another 50, the rest of the book, 450. Not to mention the confusion of the muddled ending. But good stuff.)

eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book, and felt it had some unique features that set it apart from most run-of-the-mill fantasy novels.

mrswythe89's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved this, to my mild surprise. A couple of complaints first:

1) I've already complained about this on my blog, but it doesn't make sense to me to have an extra country in our own world with goofy fantasy names like the Duchy of Galazon. "Faris Nallaneen" has no business existing in the same world with a name like Jane Brailsford. At least lah have more convincing names.

2) Ahhhhh Europe Europe Europe. I grew up reading the same books these Minnesotan writers read, or at least I assume they were the same books, because I see why they are so stuck on this particular idea of ~Europe~ (and never mind whether or not Galazon etc. are actually in Europe; they are all ang mohs and the landscape sounds European) and why they can't get out of their habit of writing like a version of Jane Austen watered down for modern consumption. The style and mindset have a potent charm; I don't deny it myself. But it's still frustrating to have a whole book with all these casual fun world-building references to Europe all that and hardly any acknowledgment that the rest of the world exists, save insofar as the rest of the world is under the subjugation of the fabulous British Empire. Tired lah. I'm glad I read the book, but I'm glad I don't feel I only have this kind of book to enjoy. When I was growing up I did feel like that -- and it wasn't good for me.

Despite the things that irritated me, I really loved Faris -- her determination, her temper, her smarts, her love for Galazon and her interest in agriculture. I sort of hope fantasy has moved on from the political mindset where it's all unquestioning yay aristocracy and ooh look at Jane and how clever she is at manipulating the accoutrements of class and feudalism of the "Faris, you are our ~true~ duchess" sort. But as I said, I do see the appeal. And back to positive comments -- I love Faris. I can never have enough of characters who are all about responsibility and debts and obligations -- I just about died at the scene where Menally (?? some stupid fantasy name that starts with an M) says, what do you have that I haven't had first, and Faris tries a couple of things before she hits on responsibility. Yessss. So satisfying!

Slightly odd ending -- I wish she'd kept Tyrian dead.

Went straight on to the next and got thrown out by too blatant positive references to British imperial interests, so who knows when I'll finish that.

rebeccacider's review against another edition

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3.0

I had no idea that Caroline Stevermer had written adult fantasies, so I was excited to encounter this vintage title in a used bookstore.

A College of Magics is an alt-history gaslight fantasy, part school story and part Ruritanian romance. In blending genres, Stevermer takes structural risks that almost made me put down the book. The first several chapters are largely narration, and the story develops very organically and episodically.

I kept reading for Faris. The young duchess of Galazon, gawky, headstrong, and equal parts self-assured and self-conscious, she is a splendid, unforgettable character. The other highlight here is Stevermer's confidence with her source material—she has an incredible command of the language and culture of early twentieth-century Europe, with just a subtle twist of magic and whimsy for flavoring.

Despite the slow start, the tension ratchets up as the book progresses, and the last third is exciting and well-plotted (and features one of the funniest examples of a Chekhov's gun that I've encountered in fiction). It's a pleasure to encounter a novel that delivers on all its narrative promises.

Definitely a quirky book, but some serious talent behind it - on the whole, a pretty excellent light fantasy read.

ETA: Apparently when they reprinted this, they marketed it as YA and as a "better than Harry Potter" magical school story. OH NOES. Older teens would enjoy this book, but stylistically it is really not YA at all.

catling42's review against another edition

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3.0

Slow to get into with an unsatisfying ending, but the middle was enjoyable. Apparently there's a second one; that's probably why the ending was unsatisfying.