- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Want a NOOK? Explore Now
The fantasy novel you’ve always wished Jane Austen had written
Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.
Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane’s skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody’s suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right—and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
“Readers will be disappointed only when they finish this enchanting story, which is suffused with genteel charm… With the grace of Sense and Sensibility, a touch of classic fairy tale magic, and an action-packed ending, this debut novel by an award-winning fantasy short story writer will appeal to fans of Jane Austen, Jane Yolen, Patricia Wrede, Susannah Clarke, and even Jasper Fforde.” —Library Journal
“Cliché as it might sound, if Jane Austen had sat down to pen a fantasy, this is the book she would have written. The tone, the cadence, the sweep, every bow and curtsey of the language is woven into Shades of Milk and Honey… Kowal’s mastery is the art of the Austenite nuance… When I reached the last page I just wanted to start it all over again. It left me craving nothing but a cup of Constant Comment...and the sequel.” —Intergalactic Medicine Show
“A beautiful, lyrical, tightly-woven meld of Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, and Beauty and the Beast—I couldn't put it down!” —Lilith Saintcrow
"Simply enchanting, and another great advance in an already impressive literary career. You're going to love this." —John Scalzi
"Shades of Milk and Honey is a lovely, smart, strange novel with everything on earth (and elsewhere) to recommend it. Smoothly crafted with a flair for romance and mystery, this story is one part meticulous manners and one part wild magic — composing a whole that's utterly irresistible." —Cherie Priest
“Kowal's first novel is a beautifully told story of being true: true to love, true to family, and true to art, even when it seems that one of them must give. It's a marvelous and promising debut, and hints at more wonders to come.” —Cory Doctorow
In England, plain-looking twenty-eight years old Jane Ellsworth is jealous of her beautiful sister Melody's looks. On the other hand, although she has some talent Melody is envious of Jane's magical glamour ability.
Vulgar glamour artist Mr. Vincent is commissioned to create living murals in a nearby mansion. Reticent when it comes to males, Jane wants Mr. Vincent to mentor her in glamour usage; she also is attracted to him and wishes he would reciprocate. However, she has a minor hope he will tutor her and no hope he will desire her as men want Melody. On the other hand she is concerned with one of Melody's myriad of admirers who seems nasty with a personal agenda that she fears will harm her sibling.
This is an interesting ironic look at Regency-like England ( for that matter it could be any society in which the aristocracy eats cake and everyone else battle over their crumbs) through a fantasy lens. The characterization is solid and the sense of being there is strong as the descriptions are vivid. The key to the story line is the ironic use of glamour by the aristocracy not to improve society but for selfish cosmetic use. Although the story line at times slows down with the excesses of the affluent, readers will enjoy what happened to Jane as she seeks her glamour groove.
Harriet Klausner
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MirandaMayer
Posted December 25, 2011
I will begin by saying that when it comes to Austen-sequels and other such fiction, I am not even the slightest-bit interested. I will read Georgette Heyer sometimes, but as a mean, I am not interested in imitators.
Mary Robinette Kowal is no imitator. Her style and voice brought me right back to that feeling I got when I first read Jane Austen's work long ago. It was like discovering another fantasy book by Jane that she'd kept secret from the world.
I fell in love with the characters as surely as I fell in love with Austen's. The story was engaging and quite clever and her gift of description pulled me right into the story, and whenever I was forced to put it down, I would spend the day wondering what was to come. I did not want this book to end! I'm so glad there's another! I'm off to buy it as we speak.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves Austen, but who also enjoys an imaginative tale with magic and mystery.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2012
A reviewer I know likes to ask if a book is someone's "cuppa"--by that she is asking if it is that reader's "cup of tea", something that he or she finds appealing in a general sort of way. This book is not my cuppa. I only occasionally enjoy Austen pastiches, and this book did not appeal to me. As a scholar of nineteenth-century British literature, I was most disappointed by the author's failure to capture the sharpness of Austen's prose. I read Austen for more than just romance--I read her for her words. This author cannot compare, and in writing a pastiche of Austen, she draws attention to that fact.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 5, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were engaging and the wit and cleverness of the story makes you feel like you have stepped into an Austen book. Very well done! I look forward to hopefully another regency style book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2010
If you've read a lot of Austen, this novel is the lightning bug to Austen's lightning. Some of Austen's characters are recognizable, but as traits, not as people. There is some awkward prose (and a lack of Austen's witty style). The story takes a very long time to get going. But about halfway it finds its feet, and though the villain is obvious from the start, it's fun to see how things resolve. If you like Regency romances, you should enjoy this book.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 16, 2013
Austen in a playful and whimsical voice
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 19, 2012
As someone who mainly reads fantasy and historical fiction/ romance...this was the perfect combination. I liked the mixture of the two worlds and they blended quite well. The magic was pretty well explained...but a bit confusing at times. It would have been nice to learn a bit more of how it all worked....but I always want more when it comes to magic and how it works. The underlying story and romance helped move things along and provided a bit of drama and danger...though I found the romance a bit rushed in the end. I like more build up to the romance and dont like it tied up too quickly. But all in all a good read and i just might pick up the next one.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 21, 2012
The book was mildly entertaining...but it's a mistake to try to tout this novel to Jane Austen lovers b/c we're bound to react, "It's nothing like her!"
The main Ellsworth family is an obvious but flat copy of the Bennetts (Pride & Prejudice) and the language never gets beyond feeling like a light imitation of Austen. The characters are flat and so are the relationships between them.
The idea of glamour is interesting, though, and it did remind me of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
A light read, best to get it used or from a library :)
Mary Robinette Kowal is a modern day Jane Austen with this book! It was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. I was so quick to lose myself within the pages and in the magical world Kowal created.
While the book definitely has similarities to some of Austen's stories, the author expertly made it her own and suitable for modern audiences. The unique introduction of glamour into this Victorian-like setting made the entire book dreamy and magical.
I loved the characters in the book, from Jane Ellsworth, our leading lady who despite her plain looks and having an angel face of a sister to compete with, is talented, witty, and alluring enough to catch the eye of the ever so proper gentlemen, Mr. Dunkirk, and the mysterious Mr. Vincent -- to Mrs. Ellsworth and Lady KirkCameron. Each reminded me of some of my favorite Jane Austen characters, but were still as much Kowal's characters as Jane's.
I would recommend this to any Jane Austen fan, the author does the style justice, but even if you aren't familiar with Austen's writings, this is a great read full of wit, magic, betrayal, and love - and I can't wait for the next book.
I don't think I'm in the target demographic for this book. But I enjoyed it, anyway. I bought it as a gift for my daughter with the degree in English Lit and read it before she could take it home. Since I don't have much background in historical romance, specifically Jane Austen, it's difficult for me to make comparisons in that realm. I just allowed the story to take me where it wanted. Where it took me was to a genteel world of preaning society, where appearances and reputations are put above personal needs and desires. It's a world where art and culture take precedence over doing real work and the magical art of glamour has been added to the mix. To my naive perceptions and untrained modern eye, the author does a fine job of bringing this world alive, weaving together the fantasy and romantic aspects of the novel in a way that kept me turning pages right through to the end. I wish a few more mysteries had been introduced sooner. It took a while for the tension to build, other than the romantic frustrations of the main character. Some reviewers argue that the impact of this magical art ought to have had a greater impact on society than what is depicted here. But since we are seeing only a small corner of the world, essentially a couple of country estates, I think it is difficult to make that judgement. And while the actual Jane Austen may have intended to make deeper commentary on her society, I don't think that's how this homage was intended at all. It's really just a light entertainment, and (to quote Mr. Vincent from the novel) "Illusions should be entrancing without someone looking behind the scenes to see how they are made."
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 2, 2013
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted March 1, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 9, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 28, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 23, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 11, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted August 12, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 20, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted August 21, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
The fantasy novel you’ve always wished Jane Austen had written
Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential ...