In the spring of 1817, two young ladies of Quality exchange a series of letters between Essex and London, recounting their separate and intertwined adventures. Kate, who’s been taken to London with her sister Georgina and Aunt Charlotte, so that she may experience a proper social Season. Cecilia’s been forced to stay behind with Aunt Elizabeth in Essex, where she has to find her own amusements. And somehow, the two get mixed up in the affairs of wizards, as Kate gets the attention of the mysterious Marquis of Schofield and his enemies, while Cecilia discovers that the enigmatic Sir Hilary may be practicing foul magics of his own. What does an enchanted blue hot chocolate pot have to do with all of this, where has Kate’s brother Oliver gone to, why does the Marquis need a faux engagement to Kate so badly, and what has James Tarleton snooping in Sir Hilary’s bushes?

Magical hijinks and social tomfoolery are in full swing in this lively tale of an alternate England where magic is common and Young Ladies of Quality get involved in things they should best leave alone. Written through alternating letters from their respective viewpoints, with each of the two authors focusing on one of the two girls, Sorcery and Cecilia is a clever, dazzlingly charming story. It starts off a little slow, as the authors lay down the rules of the world and the theme of the story and get into the voices of their characters, but once things get rolling, it’s hard to slow down. Mysteries compound on one another, and the end result is quite satisfying, even in its predictability. I’m already looking forward to the announced sequel.