This book shattered my heartstrings. The first few hundred pages built up to a ferocious ending. This book has been on my TBR list forever and I'm so glad that I dedicated the time to enjoy it. The characters all felt real and the magic described was fascinating. Susanna Clarke's alternate universe is one that I want to visit, though I wouldn't want to meet Norrell or Strange! They both leave disasters in their wake. However I would love to spend an afternoon in Norrell's London library. Clarke beautifully blends history and myths in this story with epic spells. The last sentences got to me and I had no idea how the book would end. It was a fantastical journey.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was ultimately marvelous in writing and world-building. After I finished the book I went to find out anything I could about the author. Sadly she's only written a few books and just these short stories about the magicians' world. I hope she writes more! I listened to the audiobook version by Davina Porter and Simon Prebble, who were enchanting narrators. They were able to bring all of the different characters to life in a smooth flow of story. The only reason that I didn't give this book five stars was because it wasn't longer! It would have been great to hear more about Strange and Norrell, but learning about their mystical world was equally as interesting. It was such a fun read! It's definitely a must-read for fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

Thanks to the @whatshouldireadnext podcast and Anne Bogel for talking about this book endlessly. It gave me the boost I needed to read it with a friend. We would gab about it at night instead of binging Netflix. The story is compelling enough to forget all else. My only problem: there are too many characters that I like. You side with them and feel like their struggles are your own. The letters they exchange are more than letters, they are stories with rich visuals. I was sucked in almost immediately. I can't review this book properly without mentioning Juliet's spunkiness, Isola's lovable weirdness, and Elizabeth's unbelievable bravery. There was one part of the ending that was very sad, but the rest ended the story in a good place. Now that I've read the book, I'm excited to relive the story again when the movie comes out this April.