A staggering, extraordinary debut.

Jonathan Clarke & Mr Norrell, Bloomsbury

I’m usually wary of first-time novelists. Having trudged through a considerable amount of puerile fiction (I’m cursed with the inability to leave a novel midway) and wishing several years of my life back, I’d rather wait till someone else tests the waters first.

Still, I hopped on the Susanna Clarke bandwagon awfully late, despite gushing recommendations from Sandman word-sorcerer Neil Gaiman himself, largely because the beautiful black tome was too big to even consider a flippant read. Now, available in condensed deep-red paperback, it’s conveniently smaller but a 1006-page book always remains a project.

Ms Clarke, however, makes it an immensely pleasurable task. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is an astounding debut, proving to be more realistic magic than magic realism. Crafting her own magical mythology, with exhaustive footnotes to a fabricated bibliography, the author succeeds in immersing you in this fantastic magical world.

It is a tale of two magicians, England at war and on the cusp of a revolution in the early 19th century, and of a destiny foretold. It’s gripping, clever, reverential, and constantly enjoyable — you never want the book to end. One of the finest fantasy novels over the last few decades (Sorry Mr Pratchett, she really is better) and definitely a remarkable literary debut.

Do not be deterred by the thickness of the volume; Read this book. You’ll wish it hadn’t ended. All you Harry Potter fans, move on from occasionally funny (albeit soap-operatic) to brilliant. This might just be your best read this year. I know it’s a contender for mine.

– Raja Sen