BOOK REVIEW: SORCERER TO THE CROWN BY ZEN CHO

3.5 stars 

Hmm...this is a tough one. 

I liked certain aspects of this: Zacharias and Prunella (PRUNELLA IS GREAT—she just doesn't give a single shit), the focus on marginalized identities in the face of a discriminatory magical community, the polished writing style, the general setting, the world-building.


(the most Prunella gif you will ever find)

However, what I didn't like was just how plot-heavy this book was. I know plot doesn't preclude character development; really, I'm fine with a heavy plot, so long as it's balanced by slower, more quiet scenes where the characters just get to TALK. A great example of this would be Six of Crows: sure, the plot plays a big part in the story, but the characters get ample time to breathe and interact and develop dynamics between each other. But the Sorcerer to the Crown just didn't have that. What particularly bogged it down for me was that I barely got the intimate character moments I was hoping to see, platonic or romantic*. Every single time two or more characters would sit down to talk it would ALWAYS be about some convoluted scheme or plot revelation or what have you. By the end of the book, I was frankly flat out irritated because I was just so TIRED—tired of having to keep up with plot developments that never seemed to end, of feeling disappointed every time a seemingly quiet scene turned into yet another springboard for the plot. I don't mean to say that these characters weren't developed, they were, but I feel like the story could've had so much more heart had there been less emphasis on plot. 

The crux of the matter is this: my enjoyment of the story felt completely superficial. I could describe these characters to you, give you some of their traits, tell you which ones I liked, but I'd be lying if I told you that I had truly felt attached to them in any way. Harsh truth, I know, but what can you do?