Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's books

Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer have written a couple of rather light-weight books together. The first, Sorcery and Cecilia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, was better, as far as I'm concerned. It won an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. I read it, and liked it, but didn't find The Grand Tour or The Purloined Coronation Regalia to be quite as good.

In the first book, Cecelia and Kate fall in love. In the second, still teenagers, but married, they leave England for Europe, with their new husbands. Both books are set in the 18th century. There are some historical figures in both, especially the second. However, the setting has changed from the real 18th century in one significant aspect. Sorcery is everywhere.

One interesting aspect of both books is that the authors collaborated, in the sense that one of them wrote from the perspective of one of the protagonists, then the next section was written, from the perspective of the other girl, by the other author, without, as I understand it, any consultation on where the book was going. Interesting, but I don't expect this type of writing to change the face of fiction.

Thanks for reading.