Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

As the Napoleonic Wars run rampant across land and sea, two men emerge in 1806 England wielding magic long thought to be lost. Mr. Norrell weaves amazing illusions to try and turn the tide of the war against France, and his young understudy, Jonathan Strange, is equally as powerful. Soon, however, master and apprentice develop a rift, and the future of England is in the balance. Susanna Clarke's debut is magnificent. It is full of great historical tone and filled out with footnotes that immerse one in the world she is crafting. Magic and politics seem so well suited as companions that a reader will not find the more fantastical elements to be distracting. A sensational read from beginning to end.