4.07.2022

BOOK REVIEW: Changeling {Sorcery and Society # 1} by Molly Harper



Ages ago I read Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's Cecelia and Kate Novels - a trilogy about magic in high society Victorian London. My fondness for those books has remained with me to this day; so when I spotted Molly Harper's Changeling {Sorcery and Society # 1} I surmised that it would enchant me in much the same way as the former. While the time periods are practically spot on, and there is magic involved; I found this one to be lackluster in comparison, and quite trying to make my way through. Though it picked up towards the end; it failed to do so enough for me to be interested in continuing on with the series in Book 2. Womp womp.

Fourteen-year-old Cassandra Reed wasn't born into glamorous Guardian society; rather, she was strategically placed there by one Mrs. Winters following an incident wherein she accidentally displayed her long-dormant {and unbeknownst to her} magical abilities.

Born to a family of {supposed} non-magical Snipes as Sarah Smith; Cassandra has lived her entire life in the Warren serving the magical Winters family as all Snipes do. You see, as per law, Snipes are to pander to Guardians as servants, completely powerless; while Guardians provide them with shelter. A Snipe displaying magical abilities, like Sarah, is taboo, and must be concealed. Thus, Cassandra is born. Though Sarah's family is none to pleased to see their child ripped from their arms; creating a new identity for her in the form of Cassandra Reed is the only way to keep her family, and herself, not to mention the Winters family, safe.

While most young women in Guardian society have trained their entire lives on the ins and outs of society, etiquette, magic, and magical families, Cassandra is given a crash course in all of the above by Mrs. Winters just weeks before her admission to Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies. It is here that Cassandra must be on her guard - proving to her classmates that she is every bit as posh and well-trained as the rest; while at the very same time working to uncover how, exactly, an ordinary girl such as she became the host of such strong magic.

Le sigh...all of the rave reviews of Changeling have left me dumbfounded, because I felt the complete opposite. In fact, I contemplated returning it a few times, but elected not to as I paid only $0.99 for it on Kindle. This book was a chore to get through. For one, the Harry Potter comparisons have got to stop, because they are false. Two, the extremely poor editing needs to be corrected as it completely disrupts the flow of the story and stifles fluency. And three, the characters are positively boring. Though I had a slight soft spot for Cassandra's friends, Alicia McCray and Ivy Cowel; their presence wasn't enough to keep me engaged. While I applaud any author for being able to pen a novel; I can 100% guarantee that I will not be returning for the sequel, and will likely not try Molly Harper's work again.


Star Rating: **1/2


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5 comments

ellie said...

Thanks so much for this honest review. I so appreciate it. Although, this trend might always be the way to go in the current reads..sometimes, I find it a tired subject.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to get through The Paris Apartment and I have found it more generic and not quite satisfyingly French..as I had hope for.

Ivy's Closet said...

Good to know. I'm glad you reviewed it. It was great to read your review.

Caitlin&Megan said...

I had seen it, but kept thinking..I dunno. So glad to read your review. Thanks for touching on all these topics.

Hollyn'Stevie said...

I don't know how you finished it. But thanks for the review. It was good to hear about this book. I wasn't sure what it was about.

R's Rue said...

Thank you for the honest review. I hope you had a wonderful day my friend.

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