Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

An instant favourite. Susanna Clarke has mastered the English language, crafting her prose so that it straddles Gothic literature and modern-day fantasy, retaining the best features of both, and diluting neither. The foundation of the magic in believable folklore, the eccentricities of the rituals, the fantastic meta-commentary on books... it's as if this book was designed to tick every one of my boxes.

I only have one critique and it's a weak one—some footnotes felt superfluous. However, others felt essential, so I don't have the first idea how one would decide what to include or not.

Also how refreshing to read a long story that begins and concludes within the same boards! No slight on trilogies, but I am predisposed to like a book that stands alone.