Member Review
Review by
Fantasy Book Nerd M, Reviewer
Set against the backdrop of Georgian England, Radical Magic manages to deal with some weighty themes in a light and cosy way.
After the death of his mother, Sir Auberon Le Faye sets about changing fairy society by demolishing the tradition of keeping human slaves. This sets him on a journey of understanding as he becomes involved in the abolitionist movement that is gaining a foothold in the human world. A kind of fairy William Wilberforce, if you will.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to him, newlyweds Constanta Priddy and her husband Edward are torn apart after Edward is forcibly taken into servitude following his investigation of a fairy mound at the bottom of his garden.
According to the write-up, the story is described as a blend of Sylvia Townsend Warner’s Kingdoms of Elfin and Georgette Heyer’s Regency manners. Two authors that I am totally unfamiliar with.
Right, from the outset, I have to say that this book was not for me. However, that does not make it a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, quite the opposite. The book is well written and has a certain amount of charm that you can’t help but like.
McDonald also tackles some weighty subjects, showing that historically the period in which she has set the story was not all about debutantes and balls, but was also a fertile period of social change.
McDonald also centres her story on the unlikeliest of heroes. Instead of choosing the type of character you might normally expect, the blushing pretty face wrapped in a ringlet of curls, she gives the characters who would usually lurk in the background a chance to shine. And shine they do!
Constanta Priddy is a fabulous hero who oozes grit and determination. Rather than focusing on her looks, she uses her brains, determination and unconventionality to carve out a character that you cannot help but believe in.
There is also the fact that McDonald is willing to try new things in what can be a particularly rulebound genre, chucking in elements that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see in this type of novel. It is great to see someone willing to play with the genre and push at its boundaries.
As I said, whilst this book was not for me, I am sure there is a readership out there that will find this book.
And I hope they do.
After the death of his mother, Sir Auberon Le Faye sets about changing fairy society by demolishing the tradition of keeping human slaves. This sets him on a journey of understanding as he becomes involved in the abolitionist movement that is gaining a foothold in the human world. A kind of fairy William Wilberforce, if you will.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to him, newlyweds Constanta Priddy and her husband Edward are torn apart after Edward is forcibly taken into servitude following his investigation of a fairy mound at the bottom of his garden.
According to the write-up, the story is described as a blend of Sylvia Townsend Warner’s Kingdoms of Elfin and Georgette Heyer’s Regency manners. Two authors that I am totally unfamiliar with.
Right, from the outset, I have to say that this book was not for me. However, that does not make it a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, quite the opposite. The book is well written and has a certain amount of charm that you can’t help but like.
McDonald also tackles some weighty subjects, showing that historically the period in which she has set the story was not all about debutantes and balls, but was also a fertile period of social change.
McDonald also centres her story on the unlikeliest of heroes. Instead of choosing the type of character you might normally expect, the blushing pretty face wrapped in a ringlet of curls, she gives the characters who would usually lurk in the background a chance to shine. And shine they do!
Constanta Priddy is a fabulous hero who oozes grit and determination. Rather than focusing on her looks, she uses her brains, determination and unconventionality to carve out a character that you cannot help but believe in.
There is also the fact that McDonald is willing to try new things in what can be a particularly rulebound genre, chucking in elements that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see in this type of novel. It is great to see someone willing to play with the genre and push at its boundaries.
As I said, whilst this book was not for me, I am sure there is a readership out there that will find this book.
And I hope they do.
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