📖 Overview
Zen Cho is a Malaysian fantasy author based in Birmingham, UK, who has gained recognition for her Sorcerer to the Crown series and short fiction works. She combines elements of historical fantasy with Malaysian folklore and contemporary themes in her writing.
A Cambridge-educated lawyer by profession, Cho's literary career took off with her debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown in 2015, which earned her the British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer. Her short story collection Spirits Abroad was also recognized with the Crawford Award that same year.
Cho's achievements include the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novelette for "If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again." Her work often explores themes of identity, power, and social hierarchy while incorporating elements of both Eastern and Western magical traditions.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Cho's blend of Malaysian folklore with British fantasy elements and her exploration of colonialism themes. Many note her wit and humor, particularly in "Sorcerer to the Crown." Reviews highlight her character development and dialogue that captures both Regency manners and modern sensibilities.
Common criticisms include pacing issues, with some finding her novels slow to start before picking up in later chapters. A portion of readers say the romance elements overshadow the fantasy plots. Some mention difficulty following multiple plotlines, particularly in "Black Water Sister."
Ratings:
Goodreads:
- Sorcerer to the Crown: 3.83/5 (24,000+ ratings)
- The True Queen: 3.92/5 (8,000+ ratings)
- Black Water Sister: 3.95/5 (9,000+ ratings)
Amazon averages range from 4.1-4.4/5 stars across titles.
Notable reader comment: "She writes like Jane Austen with magic and a postcolonial perspective" - top Goodreads review for Sorcerer to the Crown.
📚 Books by Zen Cho
Sorcerer to the Crown (2015)
In an alternate Regency England, the first African Sorcerer Royal and a mysterious Malaysian witch navigate magic, politics, and prejudice while trying to restore Britain's declining magical resources.
The True Queen (2019) Two sisters from Malacca find themselves entangled in fairy politics and English magic when one loses her memories after crossing a magical barrier.
Black Water Sister (2021) A young Malaysian-American woman returns to Penang and becomes unwillingly involved with her grandmother's vengeful ghost and local gods.
Spirits Abroad (2014) A collection of short stories blending Malaysian mythology with contemporary settings and themes.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water (2020) A wuxia-inspired fantasy novella following a former nun who joins a group of bandits in a martial arts world.
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo (2012) A historical romantic comedy novella about a Malaysian writer navigating love and society in 1920s London.
If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again (2018) A Hugo Award-winning novelette about an imugi (Korean dragon) attempting to ascend to dragon-hood while falling in love with a human.
The True Queen (2019) Two sisters from Malacca find themselves entangled in fairy politics and English magic when one loses her memories after crossing a magical barrier.
Black Water Sister (2021) A young Malaysian-American woman returns to Penang and becomes unwillingly involved with her grandmother's vengeful ghost and local gods.
Spirits Abroad (2014) A collection of short stories blending Malaysian mythology with contemporary settings and themes.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water (2020) A wuxia-inspired fantasy novella following a former nun who joins a group of bandits in a martial arts world.
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo (2012) A historical romantic comedy novella about a Malaysian writer navigating love and society in 1920s London.
If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again (2018) A Hugo Award-winning novelette about an imugi (Korean dragon) attempting to ascend to dragon-hood while falling in love with a human.
👥 Similar authors
Susanna Clarke writes historical fantasy set in alternate versions of England that blend magic with social commentary and political intrigue. Her novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell shares similar themes of class, power dynamics and magical systems with Cho's work.
Yangsze Choo combines Malaysian folklore with historical fiction in her novels The Ghost Bride and The Night Tiger. Her work explores similar cultural elements and supernatural themes within colonial-era Malaya.
Mary Robinette Kowal created the Glamourist Histories series set in an alternate Regency England with magic. Her focus on social etiquette, gender roles, and magical systems in historical settings parallels Cho's approach.
Aliette de Bodard writes fantasy that blends Vietnamese mythology with other genres and settings. Her work shares Cho's interest in exploring colonialism, cultural identity, and non-Western magical traditions.
Katherine Addison creates fantasy worlds that examine social hierarchies and political systems through a magical lens. Her novels The Goblin Emperor and The Witness for the Dead deal with similar themes of outsiders navigating complex social structures.
Yangsze Choo combines Malaysian folklore with historical fiction in her novels The Ghost Bride and The Night Tiger. Her work explores similar cultural elements and supernatural themes within colonial-era Malaya.
Mary Robinette Kowal created the Glamourist Histories series set in an alternate Regency England with magic. Her focus on social etiquette, gender roles, and magical systems in historical settings parallels Cho's approach.
Aliette de Bodard writes fantasy that blends Vietnamese mythology with other genres and settings. Her work shares Cho's interest in exploring colonialism, cultural identity, and non-Western magical traditions.
Katherine Addison creates fantasy worlds that examine social hierarchies and political systems through a magical lens. Her novels The Goblin Emperor and The Witness for the Dead deal with similar themes of outsiders navigating complex social structures.