Changeling: A Novel of Sorcery and Society by Molly Harper is a delight from first word to last. Set in England with a magician class in charge, a girls’ school for magic, and an alternative history, this isn’t ground-breaking plot and premise material, but oh, how satisfying it is. This is due largely to some first-rate writing, sparkling and witty dialogue, and a protagonist, Sarah aka Cassandra, who has the perfect blend of charm, dry wit, and self-awareness. Mrs. Winter is equally brilliantly written. Readers who like Sorcery and Cecelia or Etiquette and Espionage will find this book to be right up their alley. Fabulously fun young adult fantasy! This is a highly recommended read and book one in a series.
Review of the unabridged audiobook
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 2 religious exclamations.
Violence/Gore: Characters collide resulting in bruises and bloody hands; verbal threats; character shocked by magic; magic throws a character onto their back; character receives light burns from magic; extended scene in which someone tries to kill a character by strangulation with a violent struggle and stabbing of attacker; extended scene of draining magic from another with intent to kill; book with frightening images of dead people; dreams about dead people; explanation about the undead and related magical powers/history; extended scene where multiple young characters are taken captive with intent to kill/sacrifice in the service of dark arts, characters are bound and rendered unconscious, battle with magic ensues, death of an individual by magical means; report that children/individuals have been eliminated (implied death).
Sex/Nudity: Character finds another handsome; character obsesses over a member of the opposite sex on multiple occasions; character wonders about her birth and speculates (in general) if her mother had an affair and was unfaithful to her father; characters like each other and indicate they want to see more of each other; arm around waist; a kiss.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death, discrimination, societal inequities, bullying, servant class.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Character wonders if someone is drunk; reference to a character’s parent often being drunk, his whisky flask, etc.; medicine used to suppress powers.
