tThis book was cumbersome. Again, the authors engaged in the Letter Game, but this time the main characters, Kate and Cecily were side by side, involved in the same plot. It was interesting to see the different points of view with which they approached each event, but the way the story was set up, it was fraught with problems that plagued the plot and made the story drag. tCousins Kate and Cecy are on their honeymoons – touring Europe with their husbands, who are best of friends. They stumble across international intrigue that suggests someone is trying to use magic to bring Napoleon Bonaparte back to power. Kate writes the events of a day or two in her commonplace book (diary), then we read an excerpt from Cecily’s deposition to the British Ministry of Magic, the War Office, and the Foreign Office, which covers the next day or days. Thus, the characters leapfrog in their explanation of events. It is interesting to note Cecy’s direct development of plot, twists, and forthright telling of events. Kate is much better at creating atmosphere, developing relationships, and adding the personal touch with an occasional and usually humorous ‘note bene’. tBeyond that, the story has problems. If both authors are writing about the same characters in the same rooms, the characters never develop completely. When Cecy’s narrative involves Kate’s husband, Thomas, as it naturally must, we see a different Thomas than the one that Kate writes about. Instead of lending richness to his character, his personality becomes so blurred that he becomes more of a bland pawn of the plot, than the unpredictable rascal with the stinging retorts that we came to love in the first book. The same is true for Cecy’s husband, James when Kate is writing. Each author writes not only about her own character, but tells what the others are saying and doing at any moment, and the essential nuances that help the reader visualize setting and personality are lost.tThe plot also suffers. The pace drags. (This book is half again as long as the first book, but develops only one storyline instead of two.) It is clear the authors are not discussing the plot, as the rules of the Letter Game dictate, so each advances the action just so much, then leaves hints for the other to pick up and develop. The hints are sometimes ignored, sometimes dwelt on too deeply, and often lead nowhere important. It was much more interesting in the last book when each character had her own adventure to relate – the other could comment, sympathize, offer advice, but couldn’t actually act in such a way to significantly redirect the plot. Here it seems that each author has an idea about what could happen, but doesn’t want to take the action too far – so as not to overshadow each other. After all, though there are many opportunities for extreme suspense (i.e. James is shot and Cecy nearly blows herself up), the characters recover in a matter of hours or days, all along assuring everyone that they are perfectly fine. It’s as if one author doesn’t dare put the other author’s character into anything resembling real danger. The reader senses this polite restraint, and wishes they would actually do something! When there is actual suspense, in the last sixty pages, I finally couldn’t put the book down. tThere are far too many loose ends and sudden character entrances and exits. Why does Lady Sylvia play such a prominent part in the first sections, then suddenly have so little influence in the rest? After all, much is made of her extensive network – why does it really not come to any significant purpose? Are there only a wizards in Britain? Apart from a select few characters, positioned as authorities on the clues they seek, why do our couples not encounter any other normal, magical folk like themselves?tI’m looking forward, with some reservation, to the next book. The dust jacket suggests that the authors return to the successful formula of the first book, in which the characters don’t actually meet during the course of events. That story takes place ten years later – will it be written from the point of view of their daughters?
Newly (and very happily) married, cousins Kate and Cecy are ready to make their shared wedding journey on the Continent with their estimable husbands, Thomas and James. Both young ladies have romantic and exciting plans for their tour - shopping expeditions in Paris, viewing historical antiquities, visiting the opera - and it's not as if their expectations won't be met. Most assuredly, they will be. But the double-honeymoon will also include magic, intrigue, kidnapping and peril, Kate and Cecy just don't know it yet.Almost from the very minute the traveling party lands in Calais, events of a magical persuasion threaten to overtake them. A mysterious lady in blue leaves a package meant for Thomas' mother with Cecy and when it's opened the object turns out to be a magical artifact of great age and power. Then a midnight thief attempts to steal the parcel. The would-be robber is foiled, but he manages to escape - leaving only a Turkish slipper behind. Soon the newlyweds learn of several more successful thefts from various sites across Europe. In each case, an important antiquity tied to various coronation rituals is stolen. Clearly, something devious and threatening is afoot.In this adventurous sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia, authors Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer have sent their young heroines (and heroes, of course) to explore the European Continent just two years after the final defeat of Napoleon. Once again, the combination of Regency manners, romance, magic and dastardly deeds is used to great effect. Clearly Ms. Wrede and Ms. Stevermer (both of whom are capable of magic with their pens) had a great deal of fun writing this novel. Cecy, Kate, James and Thomas are all extremely likable and the plot is full of action and derring-do, with a few tender moments thrown in for good measure. In Sorcery and Cecelia, Kate and Cecy were separated (one in London, one in Essex), and the novel was written as a series of letters between the two. This time around the cousins are together throughout, so the use of letters was impracticable. Instead, Cecy's voice is heard through her sworn deposition to various members of His Majesty's Government, while Kate relates the more personal details in the diary she received as a wedding present from her uncle. Once again, the combination of the two points of view adds depth and color to the narrative. Given the fabulous plot and the high quality of the writing, this book is both a pleasure to read on every level.
What do You think about The Grand Tour (2006)?
The Grand Tour continues the fun of Sorcery & Cecelia, with even more intrigue, danger, and adventure. While I’m unsure of how, exactly, magic works in this world, Cecelia and Thomas do and experience some awesome things with it, and Kate has a particularly awesome moment in the end, as well. I also love the concept of knitting letters to other people.Stevermer and Wrede do a really good job with the plot, building it up with little mysteries and hints and then bringing it all together in the end neatly. I know that in Sorcery & Cecelia they did not know what the other person was doing in terms of plot, and I wonder if it was the same, here. It seemed a bit too unified within the two viewpoints for that, but perhaps they’re just very good.My one complaint is that the book seemed unbalanced between Kate and Cecelia’s viewpoints. Kate seemed to have much more frequent narrations than Cecelia; no sooner did we get one Cecelia entry than two or three Kate entries followed. In addition, Cecelia’s entries were very technical and focused on magic, whereas Kate’s actually delved into her love for Thomas a little bit. Kate and Thomas were very affectionate and loving, but Cecelia and James may as well not even have been married for all the attention they showed each other during her narrations.Overall, The Grand Tour continues the high fun and adventure of Sorcery & Cecelia on an even grander scale, and the two authors manage the plot really well between the two of them. The book seemed a bit unbalanced between the two viewpoints, however, and Kate was the only one who acted married.
—Elizabeth
Cecy and Kate are off on another magical adventure. This time they're on their honeymoon traveling around Europe. What should be a relaxing trip turns into something more when Thomas' mother is roped back into helping her old friends. Somebody drops off a magical package that someone else promptly tries to steal. It turns out that there are forces that seem to be agitating for the return of Napoleon to the throne and they are turning to magical means to do it.A nice addition to the series. I'd be interested to see how this was shelved/categorized because this is a series about Young People but there are some more adult themes. My own inclination would be more toward the young adult but who knows?
—Jessi
very engaging read about travelling around Europe, which what I really love about. Besides, there were a lot of tourist attractions about the historical ruins explained as the main characters ventured from one place to another, which included Milan, Rome, Paris, Venice, etc. Surprisingly, there were some influence of the Rome and Greek history which contributed to the development of the conflicts, magically. And it was nice reading about both newly wed couples on their non-so-typical honeymoon trips. But the only weakness of this book is the final battle conflict, which I think quite sudden and I felt like the author unable to come out with more complicated and hardcore final battle to beat the main villain. at least that was what i felt. However, the plot of this book on the journeys were really good, along with the mysteries. I felt like I was reading Agatha cristie cross-matched with magical world when the couples were investigating the missing historical treasures. I enjoyed this book as much as I did with the first book.
—Azmylle H
