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jwolflink3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars, really.
Plain-looking Jane Ellsworth has resigned herself to being a spinster. Well, almost resigned. She plans to help her beautiful younger sister marry well so that she might live in her sister's household someday after their father dies. Melody is eighteen and has let her beauty carry her through life, never working to cultivate lady-like accomplishments such as those in which her elder sister excels. Friction begins to creep in to their relationship when both women develop crushes on the same man, and their mutual jealousy creates a painful barrier between the sisters. When Jane attracts the attention of not one but two eligible gentlemen in the neighborhood, Melody seeks solace in the arms of a man who is neither available nor honorable. Jane must use all her skills to keep the situation from exploding into a full-blown disaster.
I received a copy of this book from a good friend, and I was really excited to read it. There are a number of very positive reviews. I think, though, that it would have been better had I not been under the impression the author was "Austenesque." Yes, the setting is roughly like that of Jane Austen's novels, magic notwithstanding, but the comparison of the two authors isn't all that apt. Kowal has none of Austen's biting wit nor social satire. The characters felt like she'd taken Austen's originals, put them in a blender, and came out with an odd mish-mash of personalities and flaws. I kept getting flashes of scenes or situations, and then was confused or reminded to reign in my imagination when what actually happened was different.
Melody really was just a pretty face hiding an immature, selfish temperament. Captain Livingston is Wickham, Frank Churchill, and Willoughby all rolled into one--how did no one predict his bad behavior? The neighbor's 16-year-old sister whom Jane befriends (and whose name escapes me at the moment, as I left the book at home) starts out sweet and reminiscent of Georgiana Darcy but then turns into an irrational shrew by the end. Likewise, the girl's older brother begins as a mixture of Mr. Darcy, Col. Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Knightley and then devolves into impetuous behavior that feels inconsistent with his character. I'm all for character development...but this didn't come across as creating depth.
Since I read for character as well as story, it didn't help matters that I found the budding relationships to be...thin? Weak? I wanted there to be more of a foundation for Jane to fall in love--with either of her suitors, both of whom seemed interested in (or hostile towards!) her merely for her skills at "glamour" (i.e. magical illusions).
I am still debating whether to read the next two books in this series. There is potential for a lovely historical fantasy series, if only Kowal can break free of Austen's shadow and just focus on doing her own thing.
For readers' advisors: setting and character doorways. It's a pretty slow-moving story until the very end. No sex, and I can't recall any real swearing.
Plain-looking Jane Ellsworth has resigned herself to being a spinster. Well, almost resigned. She plans to help her beautiful younger sister marry well so that she might live in her sister's household someday after their father dies. Melody is eighteen and has let her beauty carry her through life, never working to cultivate lady-like accomplishments such as those in which her elder sister excels. Friction begins to creep in to their relationship when both women develop crushes on the same man, and their mutual jealousy creates a painful barrier between the sisters. When Jane attracts the attention of not one but two eligible gentlemen in the neighborhood, Melody seeks solace in the arms of a man who is neither available nor honorable. Jane must use all her skills to keep the situation from exploding into a full-blown disaster.
I received a copy of this book from a good friend, and I was really excited to read it. There are a number of very positive reviews. I think, though, that it would have been better had I not been under the impression the author was "Austenesque." Yes, the setting is roughly like that of Jane Austen's novels, magic notwithstanding, but the comparison of the two authors isn't all that apt. Kowal has none of Austen's biting wit nor social satire. The characters felt like she'd taken Austen's originals, put them in a blender, and came out with an odd mish-mash of personalities and flaws. I kept getting flashes of scenes or situations, and then was confused or reminded to reign in my imagination when what actually happened was different.
Melody really was just a pretty face hiding an immature, selfish temperament. Captain Livingston is Wickham, Frank Churchill, and Willoughby all rolled into one--how did no one predict his bad behavior? The neighbor's 16-year-old sister whom Jane befriends (and whose name escapes me at the moment, as I left the book at home) starts out sweet and reminiscent of Georgiana Darcy but then turns into an irrational shrew by the end. Likewise, the girl's older brother begins as a mixture of Mr. Darcy, Col. Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Knightley and then devolves into impetuous behavior that feels inconsistent with his character. I'm all for character development...but this didn't come across as creating depth.
Since I read for character as well as story, it didn't help matters that I found the budding relationships to be...thin? Weak? I wanted there to be more of a foundation for Jane to fall in love--with either of her suitors, both of whom seemed interested in (or hostile towards!) her merely for her skills at "glamour" (i.e. magical illusions).
I am still debating whether to read the next two books in this series. There is potential for a lovely historical fantasy series, if only Kowal can break free of Austen's shadow and just focus on doing her own thing.
For readers' advisors: setting and character doorways. It's a pretty slow-moving story until the very end. No sex, and I can't recall any real swearing.
tomasthanes's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The level of courtesy that each of the characters in the story displayed to the others is something I miss in our culture.
I like the juxtaposition of Jane Austen's Regency England with a "glamour" magical system that, in general, was the realm of woman and part of the arts of making a home. Mr. Vincent was a vast exception to that general rule.
The story was nicely wrapped up at the end as Jane and her husband grow old together. The only people who didn't seem to be part of the conclusion were the Dunkirks. I would've like to have known what happened to them.
Again, this is the second eBook in a month that I was not able to find a single typo, grammar problem, or mis-placed punctuation mark. How pleasant.
I like the juxtaposition of Jane Austen's Regency England with a "glamour" magical system that, in general, was the realm of woman and part of the arts of making a home. Mr. Vincent was a vast exception to that general rule.
The story was nicely wrapped up at the end as Jane and her husband grow old together. The only people who didn't seem to be part of the conclusion were the Dunkirks. I would've like to have known what happened to them.
Again, this is the second eBook in a month that I was not able to find a single typo, grammar problem, or mis-placed punctuation mark. How pleasant.
nancyboy's review against another edition
3.0
3 to 3.5 stars
I understand why someone hate this book and some love it. Pretty much this is pride and prejudice with magic. I don’t get my wrong I love Pride and Prejudice, it’s one of my favourites and I literally re-watched the bbc miniseries this morning! So I was pretty excited to read this book, and overall I did quite enjoy it.
What I did really like about Shades of Milk and Honey was the writing Kowal wonderfully captures Jane Austen style of writing, but still added her own personality to it. I also loved the magic, glamour, and how it played a big part of the characters lives. I did overall like the characters, but at times I think Kowal tried to mirror the characters of pride and prejudice a bit too much, when they are really very different people.
My main problem with Shades of Milk and Honey is that romance is way too underdeveloped and so the ending, even though predictable, kinda of comes out of no where.
I would say that the strongest parts of the novel are when the plot lines, events and characters deviate from pride and prejudice. I wish there was just a bit more originality in the novel, and I didn’t have to compare it heavily to pride and prejudice. Some people have also compared to to Jane Eyre, but I haven’t read Jane Eyre so I can’t speak on that front.
But in saying all that there is a lot to like in Shades of Milk and Honey, if the novel does interest you I would say you should give it a shot, it only took me a few hours to read. And I will definitely be continuing on with the series and definitely reading more of Kowal’s novels.
I understand why someone hate this book and some love it. Pretty much this is pride and prejudice with magic. I don’t get my wrong I love Pride and Prejudice, it’s one of my favourites and I literally re-watched the bbc miniseries this morning! So I was pretty excited to read this book, and overall I did quite enjoy it.
What I did really like about Shades of Milk and Honey was the writing Kowal wonderfully captures Jane Austen style of writing, but still added her own personality to it. I also loved the magic, glamour, and how it played a big part of the characters lives. I did overall like the characters, but at times I think Kowal tried to mirror the characters of pride and prejudice a bit too much, when they are really very different people.
My main problem with Shades of Milk and Honey is that romance is way too underdeveloped and so the ending, even though predictable, kinda of comes out of no where.
I would say that the strongest parts of the novel are when the plot lines, events and characters deviate from pride and prejudice. I wish there was just a bit more originality in the novel, and I didn’t have to compare it heavily to pride and prejudice. Some people have also compared to to Jane Eyre, but I haven’t read Jane Eyre so I can’t speak on that front.
But in saying all that there is a lot to like in Shades of Milk and Honey, if the novel does interest you I would say you should give it a shot, it only took me a few hours to read. And I will definitely be continuing on with the series and definitely reading more of Kowal’s novels.
nancyboy56's review against another edition
3.0
3 to 3.5 stars
I understand why someone hate this book and some love it. Pretty much this is pride and prejudice with magic. I don’t get my wrong I love Pride and Prejudice, it’s one of my favourites and I literally re-watched the bbc miniseries this morning! So I was pretty excited to read this book, and overall I did quite enjoy it.
What I did really like about Shades of Milk and Honey was the writing Kowal wonderfully captures Jane Austen style of writing, but still added her own personality to it. I also loved the magic, glamour, and how it played a big part of the characters lives. I did overall like the characters, but at times I think Kowal tried to mirror the characters of pride and prejudice a bit too much, when they are really very different people.
My main problem with Shades of Milk and Honey is that romance is way too underdeveloped and so the ending, even though predictable, kinda of comes out of no where.
I would say that the strongest parts of the novel are when the plot lines, events and characters deviate from pride and prejudice. I wish there was just a bit more originality in the novel, and I didn’t have to compare it heavily to pride and prejudice. Some people have also compared to to Jane Eyre, but I haven’t read Jane Eyre so I can’t speak on that front.
But in saying all that there is a lot to like in Shades of Milk and Honey, if the novel does interest you I would say you should give it a shot, it only took me a few hours to read. And I will definitely be continuing on with the series and definitely reading more of Kowal’s novels.
I understand why someone hate this book and some love it. Pretty much this is pride and prejudice with magic. I don’t get my wrong I love Pride and Prejudice, it’s one of my favourites and I literally re-watched the bbc miniseries this morning! So I was pretty excited to read this book, and overall I did quite enjoy it.
What I did really like about Shades of Milk and Honey was the writing Kowal wonderfully captures Jane Austen style of writing, but still added her own personality to it. I also loved the magic, glamour, and how it played a big part of the characters lives. I did overall like the characters, but at times I think Kowal tried to mirror the characters of pride and prejudice a bit too much, when they are really very different people.
My main problem with Shades of Milk and Honey is that romance is way too underdeveloped and so the ending, even though predictable, kinda of comes out of no where.
I would say that the strongest parts of the novel are when the plot lines, events and characters deviate from pride and prejudice. I wish there was just a bit more originality in the novel, and I didn’t have to compare it heavily to pride and prejudice. Some people have also compared to to Jane Eyre, but I haven’t read Jane Eyre so I can’t speak on that front.
But in saying all that there is a lot to like in Shades of Milk and Honey, if the novel does interest you I would say you should give it a shot, it only took me a few hours to read. And I will definitely be continuing on with the series and definitely reading more of Kowal’s novels.
ev_asive's review against another edition
3.0
regency era magical realism romance! great beach read and world-building but ends wayyy too quickly. not enough pining.
libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
3.0
This was cheesy but just the sort of light read I needed right now. I wish the romance had been a little more developed but maybe the sequel will help with that.
hunnyontoast's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable light read, and with this as her first novel I look forward to more from Kowal.
I want to award her points for daring to write a Jane-Austen-like novel, knowing that a certain percentage of readers would be all over it like ugly on an ape, complaining that it isn't up to Austen's standard. Pfui, of course it isn't. I wouldn't have enjoyed it if it had been. I don't WANT to read Lit'r'ture in my spare time, I want a good story; and this is one.
Many reviewers here note that some of the characters are stupid, and one-dimensional, and predictable. Well, boy howdy, I guess those are the people who have never read anything set in the Regency era, where those characteristic are almost compulsory.
The magic is a nice touch, not overdone. The main plotline is predictable at the broad level but not in detail, and Kowal keeps us guessing about how it wil play out.
I want to award her points for daring to write a Jane-Austen-like novel, knowing that a certain percentage of readers would be all over it like ugly on an ape, complaining that it isn't up to Austen's standard. Pfui, of course it isn't. I wouldn't have enjoyed it if it had been. I don't WANT to read Lit'r'ture in my spare time, I want a good story; and this is one.
Many reviewers here note that some of the characters are stupid, and one-dimensional, and predictable. Well, boy howdy, I guess those are the people who have never read anything set in the Regency era, where those characteristic are almost compulsory.
The magic is a nice touch, not overdone. The main plotline is predictable at the broad level but not in detail, and Kowal keeps us guessing about how it wil play out.