Shades of Milk and Honey

Shades of Milk and Honey (2010) Mary Robinette Kowal

Set in Alternate Regency England ~1814.

The first time I read this, it was immediately following a Guy Gavriel Kay book, and so this story suffered in comparison. Nothing against Mary Robinette Kowal, it’s just that Guy Gavriel Kay is that good.

So searching for something to read, I decided to give it another try, and was glad I did.

Magic, or Glamour, exists but is frequently the purview of Ladies, seen as one of the arts acceptable to them, like painting and music. And a skilled Glamourist would be expected to combine glamour and music.

But Glamour is also used to “enhance” the home, creating amazing scenes in ballrooms for the delight of visitors.

Jane is quite on the shelf. She may be accomplished in music and painting and glamour, but she is quite plain looking, and so has resigned herself to being a spinster. Jane’s sister Melody, however, is beautiful and impetuous, and somehow the two manage to be jealous of each other.

I have often thought that the juxtaposition of the perfect with the flawed is the only thing which allows us to appreciate perfection.”

Although I didn’t like the magic quite as well as I did in Magic and Manners, it was an enjoyable story, and I’m glad I re-read it.
Rating: 7.5/10

Published by Tor

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