I like books that are unabashed in their sense of self. Books that own their voice and maintain themselves with consistency and veracity. Sorcerer to the Crown is very much this. 

In the first few chapters the world presented, though familiar in its points, immediately sets it's tone and voice with astounding detail and purpose. It's of the fine caliber of world building where everything that exists is both grounded and fantastic. Though the magic systems presented and the "rules" are not something to be treated with the implied academia of the setting, the description and emotion of the fantastical elements are woven in the story with narrative skill if not an educational one.

The great characters introduced in the first few chapters are true to themselves and determinedly consistent throughout. That includes both good and bad, for though the characters stretch themselves somewhat in minor areas and subplots, the story doesn't perturb and demand much of the characters while spending most of it's energy on condemning it's setting and history it's twisting to tell it's story. It's not done without merit and mostly succeeds, but by leaving out the personal growth of the primary concerns it seems like a missed opportunity in a book that wrings the most from almost all the other literary elements it presents. 

An excellent story, whose flaws only allow for improvement with sequels I hope are on the way, Sorcerer to the Crown receives four out of five stars.