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Noctis Magicae #2
Lady of Magick
Sylvia Izzo Hunter brought “both rural Brittany and an alternative Regency England to vivid life”* in The Midnight Queen, her debut novel of history, magic, and myth. Now, in her new Noctis Magicae novel, Sophie and Gray Marshall are ensnared in an arcane plot that threatens to undo them both.
In her second year of studies at Merlin College, Oxford, Sophie Marshall is feeling alienated among fellow students who fail to welcome a woman to their ranks. So when her husband, Gray, is invited north as a visiting lecturer at the University in Din Edin, they leap at the chance. There, Sophie’s hunger for magical knowledge can finally be nourished. But soon, Sophie must put her newly learned skills to the test.
Sophie returns home one day to find a note from Gray—he’s been summoned urgently to London. But when he doesn’t return, and none of her spells can find a trace of him, she realizes something sinister has befallen him. With the help of her sister, Joanna, she delves into Gray’s disappearance, and soon finds herself in a web of magick and intrigue that threatens not just Gray, but the entire kingdom.
*National Bestselling Author Juliet Marillier
In her second year of studies at Merlin College, Oxford, Sophie Marshall is feeling alienated among fellow students who fail to welcome a woman to their ranks. So when her husband, Gray, is invited north as a visiting lecturer at the University in Din Edin, they leap at the chance. There, Sophie’s hunger for magical knowledge can finally be nourished. But soon, Sophie must put her newly learned skills to the test.
Sophie returns home one day to find a note from Gray—he’s been summoned urgently to London. But when he doesn’t return, and none of her spells can find a trace of him, she realizes something sinister has befallen him. With the help of her sister, Joanna, she delves into Gray’s disappearance, and soon finds herself in a web of magick and intrigue that threatens not just Gray, but the entire kingdom.
*National Bestselling Author Juliet Marillier
480 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
30 people are currently reading
1855 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Hunter
11 books5 followersAKA Sylvia Izzo Hunter for books published in US & Sylvia Hunter for books published in UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 11, 2017
Lady of Magick started off really slow for me! I felt like it didn't pick up pace until about half way through. I had really enjoyed the first one, and was looking forward to this one. Once it picked up, I had found myself caught in a web of mystery, betrayal, and a coup against a kingdom, but it took way too long to get there. I felt like this one could have been better. The world and characters were familiar, but needed more depth and development. The plot twists in the second half of the book were intriguing and entertaining, but I wish the first half of the book had had more. I will most likely read the next book, but may not be so quick to pick it up.
August 26, 2015
Somehow I forgot to post the review when I'd finished, even though I must have written this at least four times in my head! (And naturally they were all far superior to this...)
I hadn't realized Lady of Magick was a second book when I requested it, but enjoyed it so much I didn't care (other than immediately putting book 1 on my to-read list).
Set in an alternate version of Britain, here Roman influence is still strong, Practical Magick is a popular subject for mages while legal magickal ethics creates many discussions, Scotland (Alba) has remained separate from the rest of Britain and we're up to Henry Tudor the Twelfth, making it just that little bit different from regular history but close enough to be familiar, just as Din Edin's streets may be familiar to readers... but this was only a tiny part of the charm.
Gray and Sophie's relationship, while relatively easy, still required work on both sides. Learning a new language had its own difficulties as well as rewards, friendships were built through scrapes as well as proximity, politics is messy, and rushing to the rescue requires both planning and patience as well as support. The combination of magic, history and realism made it a winner.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I hadn't realized Lady of Magick was a second book when I requested it, but enjoyed it so much I didn't care (other than immediately putting book 1 on my to-read list).
Set in an alternate version of Britain, here Roman influence is still strong, Practical Magick is a popular subject for mages while legal magickal ethics creates many discussions, Scotland (Alba) has remained separate from the rest of Britain and we're up to Henry Tudor the Twelfth, making it just that little bit different from regular history but close enough to be familiar, just as Din Edin's streets may be familiar to readers... but this was only a tiny part of the charm.
Gray and Sophie's relationship, while relatively easy, still required work on both sides. Learning a new language had its own difficulties as well as rewards, friendships were built through scrapes as well as proximity, politics is messy, and rushing to the rescue requires both planning and patience as well as support. The combination of magic, history and realism made it a winner.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
Two years after the events of THE MIDNIGHT QUEEN, Sophie and Gray Marshall are studying hard at Merlin College of Magick in Oxford. But while Sophie is clearly a brilliant mind, there are many who believe that “females” should never have been granted admittance to the College, regardless of their royal status. Side note: why is it that only sexist people refer to women as females in casual conversation? Does anyone else’s skin crawl when people use that word? “Females.” Ugh.
Needless to say, the sexist collegiate culture makes life in Oxford difficult for Sophie – and by extension, Gray is feeling pretty miserable as well. So it’s little wonder that the Marshalls jump at the chance to spend a year abroad in Alba (aka Scotland) at their magickal University where Gray will take a post as a teaching fellow and Sophie will complete her undergraduate studies. Many women attend university in Alba so Sophie can blend in, and few people know her parentage there…which is how she likes it. But secrets – especially royal secrets – never stay secret for long.
Meanwhile Sophie’s younger sister Joanna remains in London, under the care of her Lord and Lady Kergabet. At fifteen, Joanne is starting to come into her own and has changed considerably since we last saw her. She still loves to bound about outdoors and get into scrapes, but her position as Lord Kergabet’s assistant/protégé at court requires her to keep up appearances. Joanna becomes very involved in politics and is sworn to keep the court’s secrets, but can she really keep Sophie in the dark when she learns of unrest in Alba? Seeing Joanna all grown up and making some (slightly) more rational decisions was a treat, although I confess that I did miss her sass a bit.
LADY OF MAGICK introduces a new kingdom in the Noctis Magicae world, and does a wonderful job of expanding the alternate UK that Sylvia Izzo Hunter established in the first book. I especially loved how she develops the political tensions between England and Alba, and how those tensions impact Sophie and Gray’s new friendships. I’ve always been really interested in Scottish history and I was very impressed by the amount of research that went into writing this. If you have even a passing interest in Regency era Scotland, I promise you’ll find Alba and its people absolutely riveting.
Another thing that I loved about LADY OF MAGICK is the emphasis placed on scholarship. Let’s be real: most books that take place at university conveniently exclude all of the studying and reading and essay writing that is entailed. Not so in this series! Not only is Sophie studying for her undergrad, she’s also struggling to learn Gaelic so she can participate more fully in Alban society. Talk about having a lot of homework!
Although it shares many characteristics with England, Alban society is considerably more relaxed in terms of etiquette and its clan royalty. I really loved that because people were more open about difference, most notably people in queer romantic relationships. There’s a super adorable queer ship in LADY OF MAGICK that I was cheering for every step of the way, which made me happy because 1) diversity in historical SFF and 2) SFF needs more queer ships! This relationship was very well done and pretty subtly wrought, definitely a treat to read.
If you enjoyed Sylvia Izzo Hunter’s debut novel QUEEN OF MIDNIGHT then you won’t be disappointed with LADY OF MAGICK. It is just as well written and atmospheric, and expands on world building and characters alike. If you’re not reading this series and you like historical fantasy, I highly recommend it!
Needless to say, the sexist collegiate culture makes life in Oxford difficult for Sophie – and by extension, Gray is feeling pretty miserable as well. So it’s little wonder that the Marshalls jump at the chance to spend a year abroad in Alba (aka Scotland) at their magickal University where Gray will take a post as a teaching fellow and Sophie will complete her undergraduate studies. Many women attend university in Alba so Sophie can blend in, and few people know her parentage there…which is how she likes it. But secrets – especially royal secrets – never stay secret for long.
Meanwhile Sophie’s younger sister Joanna remains in London, under the care of her Lord and Lady Kergabet. At fifteen, Joanne is starting to come into her own and has changed considerably since we last saw her. She still loves to bound about outdoors and get into scrapes, but her position as Lord Kergabet’s assistant/protégé at court requires her to keep up appearances. Joanna becomes very involved in politics and is sworn to keep the court’s secrets, but can she really keep Sophie in the dark when she learns of unrest in Alba? Seeing Joanna all grown up and making some (slightly) more rational decisions was a treat, although I confess that I did miss her sass a bit.
LADY OF MAGICK introduces a new kingdom in the Noctis Magicae world, and does a wonderful job of expanding the alternate UK that Sylvia Izzo Hunter established in the first book. I especially loved how she develops the political tensions between England and Alba, and how those tensions impact Sophie and Gray’s new friendships. I’ve always been really interested in Scottish history and I was very impressed by the amount of research that went into writing this. If you have even a passing interest in Regency era Scotland, I promise you’ll find Alba and its people absolutely riveting.
Another thing that I loved about LADY OF MAGICK is the emphasis placed on scholarship. Let’s be real: most books that take place at university conveniently exclude all of the studying and reading and essay writing that is entailed. Not so in this series! Not only is Sophie studying for her undergrad, she’s also struggling to learn Gaelic so she can participate more fully in Alban society. Talk about having a lot of homework!
Although it shares many characteristics with England, Alban society is considerably more relaxed in terms of etiquette and its clan royalty. I really loved that because people were more open about difference, most notably people in queer romantic relationships. There’s a super adorable queer ship in LADY OF MAGICK that I was cheering for every step of the way, which made me happy because 1) diversity in historical SFF and 2) SFF needs more queer ships! This relationship was very well done and pretty subtly wrought, definitely a treat to read.
If you enjoyed Sylvia Izzo Hunter’s debut novel QUEEN OF MIDNIGHT then you won’t be disappointed with LADY OF MAGICK. It is just as well written and atmospheric, and expands on world building and characters alike. If you’re not reading this series and you like historical fantasy, I highly recommend it!
May 11, 2016
It fell short of the first book, but it wasn't so terrible that I wouldn't read the third.
Lady of Magick actually felt like 2 separate books to me... The part where they journey to and find their place in Din Edin and the part where people go missing and there's a mystery to solve. This isn't to say that there wasn't some build up and allusions to some mysteries to be solved in the first half, but the plots felt disconnected to a certain extent (probably just to me, maybe I'm weird). Also, some of the wonderful in the first book was watching Sophie come into her magical abilities, but a lot of this book seemed centered around Joanna and was frankly a little boring.
I enjoyed taking the historical fiction meets magical feeling to another place with different customs/traditions/etc... but I think there was a real missed opportunity to explore the depth Sophie's magical abilities when unencumbered by a sexist or closed-minded university.
Now for my biggest pet peeve (Spoiler ahead)...
I do not understand Joanna's "unexpected romance". Not because I don't accept or value homosexual relationships, but because there was no build up in Joanna's POV chapters. She never expressed anything other than platonic feelings in, what we can assume to be, honest narrative. Just because she is irritated by the advances of one particular male suitor doesn't mean she's not attracted to men, it means she's not attracted to that particular man. Also, I sort of resent that Hunter had to make Gwen a tomboy... you're making a statement here and part of your statement seems to be that you can't be totally feminine and gay. Also, that even if you don't realize you're gay, when your friend makes advances, you'll roll with it. I realize that Gray and Sophie had discussed other gay women, but the whole thing felt forced, like a poorly-executed social statement.
Summary: slow plot, shabbily thrown together social statement, inadequate coverage of Gray and Sophie's growth, weaker protagonist, seemed more sexist even though the majority of the book occurs in a more open place.
Lady of Magick actually felt like 2 separate books to me... The part where they journey to and find their place in Din Edin and the part where people go missing and there's a mystery to solve. This isn't to say that there wasn't some build up and allusions to some mysteries to be solved in the first half, but the plots felt disconnected to a certain extent (probably just to me, maybe I'm weird). Also, some of the wonderful in the first book was watching Sophie come into her magical abilities, but a lot of this book seemed centered around Joanna and was frankly a little boring.
I enjoyed taking the historical fiction meets magical feeling to another place with different customs/traditions/etc... but I think there was a real missed opportunity to explore the depth Sophie's magical abilities when unencumbered by a sexist or closed-minded university.
Now for my biggest pet peeve (Spoiler ahead)...
I do not understand Joanna's "unexpected romance". Not because I don't accept or value homosexual relationships, but because there was no build up in Joanna's POV chapters. She never expressed anything other than platonic feelings in, what we can assume to be, honest narrative. Just because she is irritated by the advances of one particular male suitor doesn't mean she's not attracted to men, it means she's not attracted to that particular man. Also, I sort of resent that Hunter had to make Gwen a tomboy... you're making a statement here and part of your statement seems to be that you can't be totally feminine and gay. Also, that even if you don't realize you're gay, when your friend makes advances, you'll roll with it. I realize that Gray and Sophie had discussed other gay women, but the whole thing felt forced, like a poorly-executed social statement.
Summary: slow plot, shabbily thrown together social statement, inadequate coverage of Gray and Sophie's growth, weaker protagonist, seemed more sexist even though the majority of the book occurs in a more open place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 20, 2015Another netgalley :D Check me out? RIGHT?
November 22, 2016
3.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been two years since Sophie and Gray Marshall thwarted a plot to kill the King, and along the way revealed Sophie as the long lost Princess of the crown.
Sophie has been diligently pursuing her studies at Merlin College, while Gray has been teaching. Being the only female student has not been easy on Sophie. Despite all her hard work, genuine desire to learn and be at the college, many regard her as an interloper. Her royal status also doesn’t help with those who view it as more of a means for Sophie to gain special treatment, however much this is untrue.
So when Gray is invited to teach at the university in Din Edin in the Kingdom of Alba, Sophie is excited to go to a place where female scholars are treated as equal to male. But once they arrive it seems that things in Alba are not as peaceful as they thought, and when certain clans voice discord in an apparent marriage alliance between Alba and Britain, Sophie and Gray find they might be in danger.
When I started reading Lady of Magick and realized that Sylvia Izzo Hunter had picked up a couple of years after the first book, I was happy she decided to do this because the image that readers get of the characters is one of growth. All of the characters have grown up and had more experiences (whether good or bad) separate from that of the conspiracy plot in the first book, and I rather liked seeing where everyone found themselves this time around.
Of course, it’s not long before Gray and Sophie, along with Sophie’s sister Joanna and Joanna’s friend Gwen, find themselves in an equally messy situation.
I’d say that the complaints I had about the first book pretty much stand the same for this second book. The progression is pretty slow. It takes quite awhile to understand the overlying conflict of the book and from there the action tends to ebb and flow. Once the path is known I kind of wish it would have kept the faster pace, but alas it was not to be so.
I also found myself never really warming up to Alba, which is the reason why this book got a lower rating from me than The Midnight Queen. For all that Sophie and Gray are there for months, I felt like I never really got to know their acquaintances or friends in the way I should have. They form relationships with people but that verifiable connection was never there for me. I’m thinking this is a result of the fact that most often a month’s time would pass in the change of each chapter.
What doesn’t disappoint of course are Sophie and Gray. Their sweet relationship has only grown stronger in the intervening years, and though they are not ones to overtly show their affection, I find I like the small subtle way they do show it. I also liked when seemingly inconsequential occurrences from the first book would pop up again and actually have an effect on what was happening in the storyline. Based on the blurb, I think we’re going to be in for more of the same in A Season of Spells.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been two years since Sophie and Gray Marshall thwarted a plot to kill the King, and along the way revealed Sophie as the long lost Princess of the crown.
Sophie has been diligently pursuing her studies at Merlin College, while Gray has been teaching. Being the only female student has not been easy on Sophie. Despite all her hard work, genuine desire to learn and be at the college, many regard her as an interloper. Her royal status also doesn’t help with those who view it as more of a means for Sophie to gain special treatment, however much this is untrue.
So when Gray is invited to teach at the university in Din Edin in the Kingdom of Alba, Sophie is excited to go to a place where female scholars are treated as equal to male. But once they arrive it seems that things in Alba are not as peaceful as they thought, and when certain clans voice discord in an apparent marriage alliance between Alba and Britain, Sophie and Gray find they might be in danger.
When I started reading Lady of Magick and realized that Sylvia Izzo Hunter had picked up a couple of years after the first book, I was happy she decided to do this because the image that readers get of the characters is one of growth. All of the characters have grown up and had more experiences (whether good or bad) separate from that of the conspiracy plot in the first book, and I rather liked seeing where everyone found themselves this time around.
Of course, it’s not long before Gray and Sophie, along with Sophie’s sister Joanna and Joanna’s friend Gwen, find themselves in an equally messy situation.
I’d say that the complaints I had about the first book pretty much stand the same for this second book. The progression is pretty slow. It takes quite awhile to understand the overlying conflict of the book and from there the action tends to ebb and flow. Once the path is known I kind of wish it would have kept the faster pace, but alas it was not to be so.
I also found myself never really warming up to Alba, which is the reason why this book got a lower rating from me than The Midnight Queen. For all that Sophie and Gray are there for months, I felt like I never really got to know their acquaintances or friends in the way I should have. They form relationships with people but that verifiable connection was never there for me. I’m thinking this is a result of the fact that most often a month’s time would pass in the change of each chapter.
What doesn’t disappoint of course are Sophie and Gray. Their sweet relationship has only grown stronger in the intervening years, and though they are not ones to overtly show their affection, I find I like the small subtle way they do show it. I also liked when seemingly inconsequential occurrences from the first book would pop up again and actually have an effect on what was happening in the storyline. Based on the blurb, I think we’re going to be in for more of the same in A Season of Spells.
April 2, 2022
This second book had its ups and downs for me. It started off very slow; in fact, not much happens in the first half other than several confusing hints that leave the reader puzzled and the characters oblivious. It picks up and gets very interesting about halfway, and I was eager to see where it was all going…
And then the book ended. The plot was neatly resolved and then it just… ended. It felt like there was a chapter missing at the end, so we can see the characters wrap up their adventures and feel some sense of denouement, but that’s entirely lacking. I had a vague hope that it would pick up immediately in the next book but that’s not the case…
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I had to revise my overall rating because the ending was just such a huge disappointment.
And then the book ended. The plot was neatly resolved and then it just… ended. It felt like there was a chapter missing at the end, so we can see the characters wrap up their adventures and feel some sense of denouement, but that’s entirely lacking. I had a vague hope that it would pick up immediately in the next book but that’s not the case…
Overall, I enjoyed it, but I had to revise my overall rating because the ending was just such a huge disappointment.
July 14, 2019
🥰 Another fun adventure with Sofie and Gray. This time they are in Alba which is based on Scotland.
May 1, 2017
Love this series. Excellent second installment.
March 11, 2017
Overall an intriguing mystery with elements of magic, romance, betrayal and, of course, magical universities with Dumbledore-like wizards and mages. It was an exciting fantasy that somehow wrapped up in the last few pages. This was not your fairy tale ending, but rather a truer ending that was faithful to the main characters of Sophie, Gray and Joanna. At times I was distracted by the many Gaelic, Latin, Cyrmic and other languages that cropped up from time to time. However, I think this added to the authenticity of the story and perhaps it was my failing that I stumbled over unfamiliar words, places and names. Regardless, I recommend this book to anyone with a post-Harry Potter dearth of magical novels as this one nicely offers you magic and mystery in a believable Regency England setting.
October 10, 2015
I'm sorry to say I did not enjoy Lady of Magick as much as the first book, The Midnight Queen. There was a lot less of Gray and Sophia and much more of Joanna and her new friend Gwendolen, which I did not find very interesting.
The book takes place in an alternate world Scotland of the past, and the place and people names were all so similar I had a hard time keeping things straight. A lot of the "action" revolves around politics, which also did not capture my attention. The plot really dragged for me, and I had to force myself to keep going. There wasn't much character development for me to focus on instead.
I did enjoy having the Ross of Mull be a key location, as I spent two weeks there 20 years ago, and the cover is gorgeous. I will probably pick up a sequel if there is one, but I hope the focus shifts back to Sophie and Gray.
The book takes place in an alternate world Scotland of the past, and the place and people names were all so similar I had a hard time keeping things straight. A lot of the "action" revolves around politics, which also did not capture my attention. The plot really dragged for me, and I had to force myself to keep going. There wasn't much character development for me to focus on instead.
I did enjoy having the Ross of Mull be a key location, as I spent two weeks there 20 years ago, and the cover is gorgeous. I will probably pick up a sequel if there is one, but I hope the focus shifts back to Sophie and Gray.
January 7, 2016
Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter: I kinda wanna say this will appeal to fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and of Naomi Novak. There's a ton of romance in it which I love and Sophie and Gray are the type of couple that will set readers swooning. I also have to confess that I read this sequence out of order , but am going back to the Midnight Queen.
Just to throw in another comparison: Hunter's golden-spired Oxford will put readers in mind of The Golden Compass.
[Review copy: Penguin/NAL]
from blog: http://a-fair-substitute-for-heaven.b...
Just to throw in another comparison: Hunter's golden-spired Oxford will put readers in mind of The Golden Compass.
[Review copy: Penguin/NAL]
from blog: http://a-fair-substitute-for-heaven.b...
December 20, 2016
The first book was a 3.5; this one is a solid 4 stars. I enjoy the worldbuilding and characters and good period language, and the pacing was better in this book. I look forward to the next one.
January 5, 2025
A strong second book in the trilogy, the more so because it has a self-contained story and isn't just a transitional book in a three-book story arc.
The first book was well done apart from the use of coincidence, fate, and prophecy to help the plot along and make the protagonist more Special. This book doesn't repeat those mistakes, making it even stronger. Sophie is still overpowered, but she does have fit opposition, and her overpowered abilities give her chances to make good moral choices and reveal her character in so doing.
I like books which extend a relationship beyond the wedding day and show us the couple navigating marriage, and this is one. And I like to see a marriage in which there's mutual respect and support, too.
The setup is that Sophie is studying, and Gray teaching, in the neighbouring country of Alba (= Scotland), where they have to learn Gaelic because, since it's separate from the Kingdom of Britain, the people there have not adopted English. They make a number of friends there, some of whom turn out to have agendas. Meanwhile, Sophie's sister Joanna, now in her mid-teens, is assisting with Gray's brother-in-law's important government work, and eventually she visits her sister in Alba and becomes involved in those events. There's also a quiet romance bubbling below the surface.
But it's not all university study and government work; there's a sinister plot, and the characters get involved in attempting to foil it because the plotters make the mistake of involving them. In both books, and also in the third book which I'm now reading, the rulers are just and wise, though human, and the traitors against them are clearly villainous and self-interested.
The worldbuilding has a couple of small cheats in it. This is a kind of alternate-history fantasy world, in which the influence of the Roman Empire and its gods persisted and Christianity never took off, and in which, of course, there is magic. There was still an Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain and a Norman conquest, but the Normans retained holdings in France (which isn't united as a single kingdom, as far as I can tell), and the people of Cornwall (Kernow) and Bretagne retained their language and culture into what's roughly equivalent to the Regency period (early 19th century) in our world. There was still a Tudor dynasty, and Henry Tudor "the Great" still had multiple wives, but better luck in ensuring his succession; it seems Edward VI lived to have sons, after growing up under the regency of his sisters, and there is still a Tudor - Henry XII - on the throne of Britain. The author throws in a couple of real 18th-century Scottish songs, and cheekily repurposes a verse of a very Christian hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, as a pagan hymn at one point. So, while the departure from our history is very early and has a lot of impact, if she wants a piece of actual history for whatever reason she just drops it in there. This is what I mean by "cheats". It wasn't fatal to my suspension of disbelief, but it did take me out of the narrative a bit when it occurred.
What didn't disrupt my enjoyment of the story was the editing, which was close to impeccable; definitely once, and possibly twice, there are a couple of words in the wrong order, but that's it. And the Regency-era language is beautifully and, as far as I can tell, flawlessly done, as is the use of names. I rarely see a book in which these things are done so well.
Combine that with a more than solid story and good-hearted characters, and this first read of 2025 makes it into the Gold tier of my annual Best of the Year list.
The first book was well done apart from the use of coincidence, fate, and prophecy to help the plot along and make the protagonist more Special. This book doesn't repeat those mistakes, making it even stronger. Sophie is still overpowered, but she does have fit opposition, and her overpowered abilities give her chances to make good moral choices and reveal her character in so doing.
I like books which extend a relationship beyond the wedding day and show us the couple navigating marriage, and this is one. And I like to see a marriage in which there's mutual respect and support, too.
The setup is that Sophie is studying, and Gray teaching, in the neighbouring country of Alba (= Scotland), where they have to learn Gaelic because, since it's separate from the Kingdom of Britain, the people there have not adopted English. They make a number of friends there, some of whom turn out to have agendas. Meanwhile, Sophie's sister Joanna, now in her mid-teens, is assisting with Gray's brother-in-law's important government work, and eventually she visits her sister in Alba and becomes involved in those events. There's also a quiet romance bubbling below the surface.
But it's not all university study and government work; there's a sinister plot, and the characters get involved in attempting to foil it because the plotters make the mistake of involving them. In both books, and also in the third book which I'm now reading, the rulers are just and wise, though human, and the traitors against them are clearly villainous and self-interested.
The worldbuilding has a couple of small cheats in it. This is a kind of alternate-history fantasy world, in which the influence of the Roman Empire and its gods persisted and Christianity never took off, and in which, of course, there is magic. There was still an Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain and a Norman conquest, but the Normans retained holdings in France (which isn't united as a single kingdom, as far as I can tell), and the people of Cornwall (Kernow) and Bretagne retained their language and culture into what's roughly equivalent to the Regency period (early 19th century) in our world. There was still a Tudor dynasty, and Henry Tudor "the Great" still had multiple wives, but better luck in ensuring his succession; it seems Edward VI lived to have sons, after growing up under the regency of his sisters, and there is still a Tudor - Henry XII - on the throne of Britain. The author throws in a couple of real 18th-century Scottish songs, and cheekily repurposes a verse of a very Christian hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, as a pagan hymn at one point. So, while the departure from our history is very early and has a lot of impact, if she wants a piece of actual history for whatever reason she just drops it in there. This is what I mean by "cheats". It wasn't fatal to my suspension of disbelief, but it did take me out of the narrative a bit when it occurred.
What didn't disrupt my enjoyment of the story was the editing, which was close to impeccable; definitely once, and possibly twice, there are a couple of words in the wrong order, but that's it. And the Regency-era language is beautifully and, as far as I can tell, flawlessly done, as is the use of names. I rarely see a book in which these things are done so well.
Combine that with a more than solid story and good-hearted characters, and this first read of 2025 makes it into the Gold tier of my annual Best of the Year list.
October 19, 2019
Hunter does a good job of depicting a world where Christianity didn’t gain ascendancy, so there are a variety of religions, including some of the Roman deities and a lot more, besides. Latin is the lingua franca and magic is part of the everyday, though not everyone has magical ability and as we are in an alternate Regency period, women don’t have much agency, though if they are particularly magically gifted they do have more opportunities.
Hunter is a beguiling author – when I’m in the middle of her tales, I find I’m swept along by the intensity of her writing and the nuanced characterisation. It wasn’t until I put this one down with a sad sigh and had cleared my head a little, I realised that the lassitude that afflicted two of the main characters did flatten the pace of the story at times – and I’m not sure how that could have been avoided.
I did thoroughly enjoy watching Joanne coming into her own and finding her feet, after all the hardship and emotional turbulence of the last couple of years. I do like the spiky relationship she has with her sister, and also the sense of loss she feels now that Sophie is no longer there. She is the character who comes to the fore and is by far the most successfully depicted in this book, I think. Not that any of the characters fail to convince – apart from her portrayal of a complex, conflicted world, Hunter’s strength is her characterisation.
While I don’t agree that the pace drags during the first half, I do think that the game-changing climactic scene in the grove near the end is a tad rushed. But I am definitely going to continue reading this enjoyable, engrossing series – it’s worth it for the worldbuilding alone… Recommended for fans of Brit-based fantasy with roots in our rich, historical past.
8/10
Hunter is a beguiling author – when I’m in the middle of her tales, I find I’m swept along by the intensity of her writing and the nuanced characterisation. It wasn’t until I put this one down with a sad sigh and had cleared my head a little, I realised that the lassitude that afflicted two of the main characters did flatten the pace of the story at times – and I’m not sure how that could have been avoided.
I did thoroughly enjoy watching Joanne coming into her own and finding her feet, after all the hardship and emotional turbulence of the last couple of years. I do like the spiky relationship she has with her sister, and also the sense of loss she feels now that Sophie is no longer there. She is the character who comes to the fore and is by far the most successfully depicted in this book, I think. Not that any of the characters fail to convince – apart from her portrayal of a complex, conflicted world, Hunter’s strength is her characterisation.
While I don’t agree that the pace drags during the first half, I do think that the game-changing climactic scene in the grove near the end is a tad rushed. But I am definitely going to continue reading this enjoyable, engrossing series – it’s worth it for the worldbuilding alone… Recommended for fans of Brit-based fantasy with roots in our rich, historical past.
8/10
July 15, 2017
Well.
I must preface this by saying that I'm not really a great fan of straight romance. I don't mind it, if it's not too much, and I might even enjoy it if it's well done and fits with the rest of the narrative (or if I'm in a particularly romantic mood), but, most of the time, I just find it boring.
So, you might imagine that this book was quite boring for me. I feel a bit bad for saying so, and for giving it a relatively low rating, since I'm not sure if it's actually badly written or if it's just a question of personal preference.
The first third of the book was astoundingly boring. Many times, I found myself dreading the prospect of reading -- I almost abandoned the book because of it. It did pick up at the end, but it hardly made me feel like it was worth the effort. The last chapter was very good, but the book ends as soon as it begins to get interesting.
Other than the romance, the language used by the narrator feels stuffy and artificial. And there are way more words than necessary. I'm only giving it 3 stars, instead of 2, because what I was sure would turn out to be queerbaiting actually did come to fruition in the end. But, once again, the book ends as soon as it gets interesting. I would have much preferred more development on that relationship than endless paragraphs on how Sophie feels about Gray (I mean, I already know they love each other, I read the first book, and you don't have to tell me that constantly).
I must preface this by saying that I'm not really a great fan of straight romance. I don't mind it, if it's not too much, and I might even enjoy it if it's well done and fits with the rest of the narrative (or if I'm in a particularly romantic mood), but, most of the time, I just find it boring.
So, you might imagine that this book was quite boring for me. I feel a bit bad for saying so, and for giving it a relatively low rating, since I'm not sure if it's actually badly written or if it's just a question of personal preference.
The first third of the book was astoundingly boring. Many times, I found myself dreading the prospect of reading -- I almost abandoned the book because of it. It did pick up at the end, but it hardly made me feel like it was worth the effort. The last chapter was very good, but the book ends as soon as it begins to get interesting.
Other than the romance, the language used by the narrator feels stuffy and artificial. And there are way more words than necessary. I'm only giving it 3 stars, instead of 2, because what I was sure would turn out to be queerbaiting actually did come to fruition in the end. But, once again, the book ends as soon as it gets interesting. I would have much preferred more development on that relationship than endless paragraphs on how Sophie feels about Gray (I mean, I already know they love each other, I read the first book, and you don't have to tell me that constantly).
February 12, 2019
I love Hunter's mix of alternate history, Roman and Celtic religion, and magic. Also romance. Some have said this story starts slowly, but I enjoyed every minute of it. In our last book Sophie Marshall was revealed as the Lost Princess of Britain whose mother ran away from the palace rather than have her baby sent to the Iberian Court and reared as a bride for their prince. Sophie married her best friend and fellow mage, Graham Marshall, so she could not be compelled to take her place as a royal. Now she's living the life of a "scholar of magick" at Merlin College, Oxford. But as a woman student she is unusual and not much liked. She jumps at the chance to be unremarkable when Graham is offered a place at Din Eidin university in Alba (Scotland) where women study magic openly, including the female heir to the kingdom. But Alba is not exactly paradise; there is a blight on crops and foreign mages are going missing. There's trouble afoot and naturally Sophie and her sister Joanna finds themselves in the middle of it.
November 5, 2017
3.5. I still like the setting and style very much, and there were some elements of interest in this volume's new setting and (slow-to-develop) action. Sophie is kind of pathologically averse to being the center of attention, though; one of the people involved in the eventually-revealed Alban (Scottish) conspiracy was pretty obvious to me; and the subtext of a potential F/F attraction between Joanna and her friend Gwen is only addressed in the very end. I do plan to continue with the series; I'm sorry to sound negative, because I don't want to discourage those who like a quieter, period-flavored tale from reading it. Was it worth buying the (beautiful) TPB at only a moderate discount? Maybe — I'm just a cheapskate, partly because of how much I read. (Not available via my library system, and not found over several trips to my used-books store, so ...)
July 28, 2022
What a wonderful romp through an alternate and magickal version of England and Scotland! The story is set in around the time of Regency England, although since England’s history is completely different there not actually a crazy George III but a reasonable Henry XII. The heroine, Sophie, and hero, Gray, of the first book are married and spending a year in Din Edin (Edinburgh) as student and guest lecturer at the university. Midway through the novel, Gray is kidnapped, and the rest is the quest of Sophie, her sister Joanna, and friends to find him. Sophie’s magick and Joanna’s knowledge of English politics are both critical to the plot. This story is a feminist dream, in that most of the rescuing and planning is done by women. There is even a touch of queerness in the story, which I liked.
July 23, 2017
There are things I really enjoyed about this book--everything I liked about the first book was evident in this one and if anything better than before. I really appreciate that Gray and Sophie are continuing to have their story told, because their story isn't done. Just because you get married, doesn't mean the adventure has to end . . .
But I didn't care for Joanna's part nearly as well in this book. I've noticed a trend in fiction lately where girls can't just have close girlfriends anymore--if they're too close, then it must be something romantic. And I'm not looking for romance between women, I'm looking for true friendship--the kind you can turn to whatever the pain, whatever the problem.
But I didn't care for Joanna's part nearly as well in this book. I've noticed a trend in fiction lately where girls can't just have close girlfriends anymore--if they're too close, then it must be something romantic. And I'm not looking for romance between women, I'm looking for true friendship--the kind you can turn to whatever the pain, whatever the problem.
October 27, 2017
Compared to book one this is a poor successor.
Compared to book one this is a poor successor having, for want of a better phrase too much waffle before getting the interesting part of the story, which is the last third of the book. Book one was full of interest that made you want to finish it in one go and then go onto book two. Book two I finished just to find out how it panned out. Another comment is the use of commas at the end of long statements within extremely long sentences. Not sure how this book was transposed into Kindle format but owing to strange word layout, making it difficult to read in places, it appears to require further proof reading is required.
In view of my experience with this book not sure if I will bother with the third one.
Compared to book one this is a poor successor having, for want of a better phrase too much waffle before getting the interesting part of the story, which is the last third of the book. Book one was full of interest that made you want to finish it in one go and then go onto book two. Book two I finished just to find out how it panned out. Another comment is the use of commas at the end of long statements within extremely long sentences. Not sure how this book was transposed into Kindle format but owing to strange word layout, making it difficult to read in places, it appears to require further proof reading is required.
In view of my experience with this book not sure if I will bother with the third one.
August 9, 2019
Loving this series although probably meant as a teen read.
We follow Gray and Sophie to Scotland. They have been invited to teach (Gray) and learn (Sophie). Whilst Sophie finds Gaelic hard to learn at times, she find she has a facility with it. She is also amongst many other female students as Din Edin (Edinbugh) University has a policy of teaching those with talent, whether male or female. They both make many friends, one of which can see the joint magic of Gray and Sophie. One night Gray disappears, leaving behind a letter saying his father is unwell and he is going to visit. Sophie becomes distressed when he does not return. He sister, Joanna, arrives on a visit and takes the reins.
We follow Gray and Sophie to Scotland. They have been invited to teach (Gray) and learn (Sophie). Whilst Sophie finds Gaelic hard to learn at times, she find she has a facility with it. She is also amongst many other female students as Din Edin (Edinbugh) University has a policy of teaching those with talent, whether male or female. They both make many friends, one of which can see the joint magic of Gray and Sophie. One night Gray disappears, leaving behind a letter saying his father is unwell and he is going to visit. Sophie becomes distressed when he does not return. He sister, Joanna, arrives on a visit and takes the reins.
June 19, 2020
I didn't like this as much as the first one, which I really enjoyed. The premise wasn't captivating for me until near the end, Sophie was a less-likeable character, her sister Joanna had changed as well (as far as I could remember) into someone also not very likeable, and there was a lesbian attraction story between Joanna and a random girl which felt contrived and awkward. The last is also something I don't want to have in all the stories I read and watch (but seemingly impossible to avoid now), so it annoyed me and cast a shadow over the book. In general, it felt like quite a different book to the first, and I was disappointed - although it was good enough to still enjoy it a decent amount. I really like the cover, too.
March 23, 2019
very enjoyable! - especially towards the end
Pros:
- I love the complexities of the world Hunter creates and the wonderful mingling of language, culture, history, music and scholarship
- the characters are not perfect but eminently sympathetic
- the plot of this one moves along better than book #1 I think, especially at the end, which was esp. gripping
- its very original
cons:
- like book #1 I did find the start somewhat slow, but that is likely my own impatience
- I did think there were some inconsistences/things not made clear with the plot but I can't remember them rn :/
but overall, very enjoyable - looking forward to reading the next one!
Pros:
- I love the complexities of the world Hunter creates and the wonderful mingling of language, culture, history, music and scholarship
- the characters are not perfect but eminently sympathetic
- the plot of this one moves along better than book #1 I think, especially at the end, which was esp. gripping
- its very original
cons:
- like book #1 I did find the start somewhat slow, but that is likely my own impatience
- I did think there were some inconsistences/things not made clear with the plot but I can't remember them rn :/
but overall, very enjoyable - looking forward to reading the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2024
It was great to finally step back into this world again. i will say this one was a lot slower for me than the first and took a while to get me invested. I was really hoping for more Roland than we got in this and hoenstly thought he'd have more involvement given the circumstances and while I'm not upset about the actual pairing that happened in this, I'm sad about how that worked out for him. As for Sophie and Gray, I still love them a lot and am eager to see their story continue in the third book. If you like books with the feel of a classic regency but with magic then this is definitely for you.
February 1, 2018
I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book during the first 100 pages BUT THOSE LAST 300. OH MAN.
This story really expands the world that the story takes place. I really enjoyed the characters and politics throughout the book. I found that there wasn’t a lot added to the magical system in this book, though there was opportunity to do that.
I loved this book as much as the first and can not wait for book depository to FINALLY deliver the final book in the series that I ordered at the same time 😒
This story really expands the world that the story takes place. I really enjoyed the characters and politics throughout the book. I found that there wasn’t a lot added to the magical system in this book, though there was opportunity to do that.
I loved this book as much as the first and can not wait for book depository to FINALLY deliver the final book in the series that I ordered at the same time 😒
February 18, 2018
This tale starts off slowly. It takes time, about half of the book, to set up the main conflict of the plot, but if you power through that (and pay attention to the clues dropped along the way), you will be rewarded with a fast-paced adventure in the second half. Hunter sheds more light on the powerful magick binding Sophie and Gray, and introduces more myths, some of which are found to be true. The conclusion is satisfying, though the end comes rather abruptly; I'd have preferred a bit more of a denouement, but perhaps that just what's the reader's appetite for the next book in the series.
December 16, 2020
This is the second in the YA fantasy series and there's plenty to find praiseworthy in it. It takes Gray & Sophie Marshall away from their Oxford studies to Alba and Dun Edin University ( i.e. Scotland and Edinburgh) where they become involved in conspiracy, kidnapping and other criminal activity, all within the context of magic. There are new characters which are developed and plenty of action - and tea-drinking! It's exciting in the second half after the Alban element is fully introduced. It's enjoyable and well worth a look but it would help to read the first in the series beforehand.
December 3, 2023
Finally finished this last night. Feels like it took me forever 😭 it wasn't badly written. I love Sophie and Gray❤️ but flip it dragged on. The action was all right at the end. So many unnecessary descriptions and things included. And all the Macs🙈 since when do we address people by first name and surname? Like every time we address them in a single conversation? That was strange. I'm giving this a break for now. Really wanted to finish the series but I also don't want it to be the last book I read this year.
August 30, 2018
It took a really long time for this book to get going. In fact just over half the book felt really slow and struggled to hold my attention. The second half was great with a web of enchantment, mystery and a coup against the kingdom it just took a really long time to get there
Some of the characters didn't feel as well rounded out as I would like either. I still enjoyed this just nowhere near as much as the first one
Some of the characters didn't feel as well rounded out as I would like either. I still enjoyed this just nowhere near as much as the first one
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