A multitalented authoress, Patricia Wrede is also known for her Sword and Sorcery, as well as her delightful Young Adult novels. However, some of her best and most ambitious work has been in the area of Alternate Reality, most noticeably, in her Regency Fantasies.

Another book (unread), Snow White and Rose Red is a widely acclaimed Alternate Reality, setting the well-known Fairy Tale into Elizabethan England! Alas, like all good books, Snow White and Rose Red is incredibly difficult to find. Ailanna has this to say about it:

"I did like her version of Snow White and Rose Red set in Elizabethan England, though. (It does encourage witchcraft and has a favorable attitude towards the Fey, however.)"

Mairelon the Magician

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Pre-Teen

If you're interested in fantasy with a dash of mystery and an incredible dollop of English philology, this is the book for you. Don't feel intimidated, however, Mairelon the Magician is also a quick, easy read. The cast, although fairly huge for such a relatively short novel, is well drawn and generally hilarious (the fainting over the platter scene is an especial favorite) and the plot exciting (even if the whole thing is over magic silverware).

Magician's Ward

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Pre-Teen

The sequel to Mairelon the Magician, Wrede continues the story of Kim the ex-streetrat now unwillingly thrown into the London Season where mystery as well as romance is in the air! In this book, Kim does make a cursory study of wizardry, which was some little cause for concern on rereading it (spells are done in foreign languages merely, and two are explained in semi-how-to-style - see Harry Potter reviews, or, even better, Steven Greydanus' Magic, Middle-earth, Merlin, Muggles, and Meaning essay for a fuller analysis of the dangers of plots including the study of magic). However, this study is secondary to the plot, the target audience is older, the characters are generally moral, and the language and tone so superior that one can "forgive" the study of wizardry here more than one can in, e.g., Rowling's books.

Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

This particular genre seems to attract writing partnerships - perhaps for one to write and the other to research. Whatever the reason, these two authoresses' - both known in their own right in this genre and others - should be highly commended for their ground-breaking novel in this subgenre. Alas and alack, this book is, like the Ordinary Princess woefully overpriced. A link to Bibliofind has been included, below, but you might do well to periodically check Amazon's or E-Bay's auctions, as well as the smaller but more sophisicated Advanced Book Exchange.

Sorcery and Cecelia

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager

Modified from E. Snyder's Amazon review.

"Sorcery and Cecelia," an epistolary Fantasy Regency Romance (*phew!*), has quickly joined the ranks of my "novels to read when you want to stay up all night and languish all morning." Quite simply, the book is charming. Rarely do collaborative efforts seem to work, but "Sorcery and Cecelia" most assuredly does! Following the adventures of two cousins - the inept Kate in her first season in London, and the headstrong Cecelia as she discovers her sorcerous abilities - the reader is swept into a world of danger, mystery and intrigue (and the never fully explained story of WHAT in the world that adventure with the goat was about) that makes the pages turn of their own accord! The historical research is solid, the content wholesome and exciting, and the romances (Kate's especially) to sigh for. In short, as the others have said before me, this is *fun*.

Unfortunately, good novels seems to be out of vogue today, and you'll have an either difficult or exorbitant time buying it. For those who have read Wrede's other two Fantasy Regencies, "Mairelon the Magician" and "Magician's Ward," "Sorcery and Cecelia" is a must-read. For those with slim purses, interlibrary loan is a beautiful thing.

Again, however, Cecelia does dabble in spells (making charm-bags to break hexes, if I recall), which may cause some discomfort for the discerning reader. Please see the above links for more information on the Christian view of this plot-dilemma.

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Updated 22 July, 2007
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