3.5 stars; rounding to 4 for nostalgia.

I didn't realize until I read the back of this edition that it's technically a Regency romance. It is, but the romance takes a backseat to the more interesting stuff, like magic and mystery.

Many thoughts about Kim's easy acceptance that there's nothing to be done about systematic poverty. And then there's the argument that magic is often deployed in fantasy in classist ways---the first book definitely has this when Kim's ticket out of poverty is her inborn talent, but does the second one manage to subvert it? I would have been interested to know more about how the poorer wizards operated, their teachers and their social sphere.

I'm a sucker for anything that mentions Jews, especially historically, and I like the idea that Mairelon sketches. Unfortunately, I don't think it's accurate to say that they would have spoken Hebrew fluently, especially not classical Hebrew---it didn't begin to be revived as a spoken language until towards the end of the 19th century. That raises some questions about whether Ladino, Yiddish, and the local approximation of Hebrew are close enough to the written form, and whether Greek wizards have the same problem or if classical and modern Greek are also different enough.

Also, I did not understand when I was 13 how weird it is that Kim keeps calling him Mairelon even after she knows better. ( )

I kept trying to describe this book as a read it. I've settled on My Fair Lady meets Sherlock Holmes, with magic. It was a fun and easy read, where nothing too traumatizing happened, which is what I need lately. The first book mostly focused on the mystery they were solving, while the second book expanded more into Kim coming into her own, which I enjoyed more—I enjoyed the very subtle romance that develops, and I especially liked Mrs. Lowe's role in the story.

Re: my cozy rating... It's set in England (not a fantasy world) and there's barely a romance (it reads more like a mystery), but nothing bad happens for very long. ( )

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and if Mairelon is a bit reminiscent of The Odious Marquis (from Sorcery and Cecilia) or if the two men’s lady mothers are a bit alike, who really cares? I love this book, and the world it’s set in. Ms. Wrede has definitely got tastes like mine in mind when she writes, because I’ve not read anything of hers I didn’t enjoy. ( )

This book is light and entertaining. Some of the scenes could be looked at as a little ridiculous because so many characters get involved, but as for me, I like a good farce. Intriguing, comical, and romantic (although more so in the second half). And besides all of that it take place in one of my favorite periods, Regency. ( )

Delightful Regency urban fantasy fluff, compleat with whodunnits and sparkling banter and society shenanigans and thieves cant. The ending of the second book teetered on the verge of twee, but it was all very entertaining in a light-hearted fashion. ( )