Without a Summer

Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal
4/5 stars
Tor Books, 2013
364 pages
Adult Fantasy Historical Austen

Source: Library

This is the third book in the Glamourist Histories series following the adventures of Sir and Lady Vincent in Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass during Regency times. Although the first book drew heavily on the works of Jane Austen, the second moved away and this third book continues the trend expanding on the historical and magical foundations of this world.

The year is 1816 and it seems like the winter will never end with crops failing and increasing unemployment with returning soldiers from the Napoleonic wars.  A convenient target is the coldmongers who, in small doses can manipulate glamour to keep things cold; the general public considers them the reason between the freezing and the situation gets tense. On a more personal level, Jane and her husband have a commission in London and they take this opportunity to bring Jane's sister Melody along so she can potentially acquire a husband. But her number one choice seems very unsuitable especially as he may be involved with something very shady.

My favorite aspect of this book is actually one I didn't mention above: Sir Vincent has been estranged from his family ever since he pursued glamour as a profession but the possibility of reconciliation is dangled, introducing many new characters including his cold and cruel father. I also really liked the historical elements-I didn't even know about this cold summer until I read this book.

The part I didn't really like was the romantic subplot-I didn't think much of Melody's suitor, which coincides with Jane's assessment of his character. When the main character is so anti-someone, it is hard to persevere in liking him. Luckily Jane and Vincent have some really cute moments as they fight for their marriage despite many challenges. They are starting to know each other so well and have great banter.

Overall: Fun magical world incorporating lesser-known historical facts (there's a fun discussion guide at the end to peruse) and ever deepening its characterization.

Glamour in Glass

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal
4/5 stars
Tor, 2012
331 pages
Historical Fantasy

Source: Picked up from library for review.

Light spoilers for first book

Not too long ago I read Shades of Milk and Honey and enjoyed its very Jane Austen-esque plot points along with the addition of magic in the form of glamours. That book concluded with the marriage of heroine Jane to a professional glamourist David Vincent. This sequel promised to expand the magic and test the young marriage, both of which turned out to be true.

The book opens with a high point-Jane and Vincent have worked together to create for the Prince Regent, lifting their profile immeasurably. Furthermore the monstrous Napoleon has been exiled to Elba allowing the pair to journey to Belgium for both professional and personal enjoyment. However no sooner have they arrived then Jane receives news that threatens her future using glamour, Vincent draws away leaving Jane to fear he does not care for her, and Napoleon escapes his prison and rallies his troops as they march on Belgium.

I had mixed feelings about the plot. I was happy that the author drew away from the very over Austen overtones from the first book, which allows her more leeway for future stories, but I was also sad because I love Austen and I want more than six completed novels. But it is mostly for the good as that means this reader got more surprises. There is even more information about the magic and of course politics and war. Napoleon is supposed to be confined to Elba but he still has a lot of support casting a pall over much of the cheeriness.

While I liked a lot, I have to say I didn't think this book was perfect. As Vincent draws away, we don't get nearly enough of him in the book. I love their partnership and was looking forward to more of that. The reason why Vincent pulls away makes sense and is somewhat rectified within the course of the novel but I still want more. The other is the grand climax with Jane doing some extraordinary things that left me a bit skeptical. I think she is very smart and could have come up with such a plan but I just don't know about implementing every element as it actually played out. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read this book.

Overall: Another enchanting story with the bold and brave Jane Vincent; excited for the third book, which looks like it will be drawing on Emma-I can definitely see Jane as a meddling matchmaker!

Cover: Very pretty-I love the dress although this lady is much prettier than Jane thinks herself to be.

Article 5

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Tor Teen, 2012
362 pages
YA; Dystopia
3.5/5 stars

Source: Received an ARC from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

I was pretty excited about this book going in to it, having seen much positive buzz. I would definitely agree that this is well-written and gripping. I moved through it very quickly as the suspense was maintained and I was fascinated with the changing rules of the government, exemplified by the implementation of Article 5, condemning single mothers such as the mother of our main character Ember. When the soldiers come for them, it sets off the whole story.

But I am discovering what I do and do not like in dystopias although I suppose this is more accurately a post-apocalyptic as the government is strengthening its control rather than already firmly in power. I like believability and I feel like the governmental control over sex and women's bodies is frighteningly believable. I'm not entirely sure about the separation of mothers from their children though. That is a bond that is generally respected and extolled in American society. At the least, I would have imagined that Ember would have been placed in a nuclear family so that she could learn the "right" way instead of attending a reformatory school.

A second element I don't like is when the main character(s) is/are on the run. Obviously you need movement in a story but it seems as if I prefer emotional movement instead of characters fleeing. I just got tired of all of these new locations and the fact that they're never able to rest.  I don't know if that's just my taste in books (I mean, my favorite series growing up was the Baby-Sitter's Club and they stay pretty close to home although they do get to have adventures in new places) or if it's because I'm a homebody whose thoughts of home keep her going through the day. But the parts I liked most were the extended periods of Ember at the school and Ember in prison, movement within a more confined space. Of course there is another potential reason.

In neither of those examples was she with Chase. Now I am happy that there was not a love triangle. And Chase seems like a pretty decent guy, albeit one with significant issues stemming from the death of his family and time in the army. I found him inscrutable and not very swoonworthy-he doesn't have much of a sense of humor.  I bought that Ember was super in to him but I wasn't and as the reader, I feel like my opinion is pretty important too ;)

Not that I liked Ember all that much. I found her inconstant. She loves him, she hates him, she wants this, she wants that. I understand that Ember is under intense emotional pressure and maybe not thinking clearly but it came off as weak characterization in my opinion.  I was actually keeping track (in my head) of whenever she contradicted herself, which is not something I usually do despite the ability to do so frequently in YA books.

Overall: My indifference to the characters prevents me from loving this book despite its interesting concept and compelling writing. I am currently undecided as to whether or not I will want to read the next book.

Shades of Milk and Honey

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
Tor, 2010
302 pages
Fantasy; Jane
4/5 stars

Source: Library

For some reason I kept getting this mixed up with Between Shades of Gray (link), which I've heard great things about but is really quite different. This is the one I really wanted to read as it was supposed to be like Jane Austen...with Magic! Doesn't that sound right up my alley?

And boy, did I feel that Austen influence. Especially strong examples include the couple with prejudices against each other that ends up becoming love; an emotional, indiscreet younger sister and her more prim older sister; a somewhat priggish heroine a la Fanny from Mansfield Park; a young girl overstimulated by romantic literature; and a secret engagement stemming from Emma.  This all had the effect of making everything very predictable for me (especially in that last case) but that didn't diminish my joy in that regard.

What did diminish my pleasure was a feeling that something was missing in regards to the magic. Young ladies of a certain social status are expected to have some skill in glamour. Our main character Jane does have it and expands her ability through some inspiration. Other characters have varying skill levels. And yet, this book did not satisfy me in this regard. I think I just expected something more, to grab me and not let go and I didn't get that.

Still this is a charming debut that leaves me excited for the sequel which will follow the same characters during the end of the Napoleonic Wars; Austen never wrote explicitly about war so this will allow for more departures and hopefully more depth in the magic.

After the Golden Age

After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn
Tor, 2011
304 pages
Fantasy
3.5/5 stars

Source: Library

Genre is a little tricky for me to define here as in many ways main character Celia still acts like a petulant teenager yet she is supposed to be in her mid-twenties.  Of course, her life has been difficult in that she's the only child of two of the greatest superheroes yet is completely without superpowers and is the favorite hostage of villains.

I thought this concept was fantastic and that's why I picked this book up. I continued reading because it was pretty easy reading and there were some cool ideas about the nature of superheroes: born or made?  The information about their powers and how they strove to serve the city was very interesting. I always wanted more about them as well as the villains menacing the city. Additionally there's a bit of a mystery as Celia uses her accountant skills to investigate money and paper trails to uncover secrets, which was pretty cool.

However I didn't much like Celia, who whined A LOT. I had some sympathy for her at the beginning but she grew on my nerves even as she worked out some of her issues and matured.  Her relationship with her parents was incredibly strained as she always felt less important than the city and that she was a huge disappointment.  I also didn't really like her romance; there were some elements that skeeved me out but apparently it works for her.

Overall: Great concept, pretty good writing but altogether it didn't quite cohere for me.