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mrswhiteinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mary Robinette Kowal shines in the third, and so far, strongest, entry in her delightful Glamourist Histories book. Where the second book jarred a bit with its departure from Austenian plots into more political territory, Without a Summer finds a great balance in returning to something a bit more Austen while expanding on the politics of the era. Weaving in the real world unrest at the industrial revolution with the conceits of magic in her world, Kowal creates a stellar narrative that is at once timeless and extremely timely at once. While Jane, Vincent, and Melody continue to play their roles admirably, all three leads have grown so much and expand so much throughout the narrative that you can't help but fall ever more in love with them. I particularly admire how Kowal effortlessly transformed Melody from an object of some scorn and derision to an admirable, strong character in her own right (which was only her due after her absence in the last book), while also expanding on Jane and Vincent as individuals and within their marriage . Austen--and those many authors who try to imitate her--ended her story on the marriage. It's so incredibly refreshing to see an author show one's story--and one's love story--doesn't end after the wedding bells ring. There's still much Jane and Vincent must learn about themselves and one another, whether it's their own prejudices or secrets or trauma, and no one shepherds us better into their inner lives and loves than Kowal. Brava!
marci_travels's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is my favorite of the Glamourist Histories, so far. I don't know if it is because I binge read them and have a solid understanding of Kowal's London and the tiny tiny worlds her characters are forced to live in or if the books are getting wider in scope. Probably both.
The weather is an all-encompassing topic in the summer of 1816 and the Coldmongers are blamed. No one takes the time to understand the science behind the glamourists and it is so much easier to blame other people rather than accepting responsibility for or taking the time to learn how external forces impact present behavior. The story paints a broad brush over the historical events of the early 1800's and skimming along the top, it's a light regency read with dashing heroes, delicate ladies, and women searching for husbands. The cringe worthy race, religion, and class faux pas committed in the book only added to the topics for a book club discussion.
Beyond the surface, I felt as if the book was a clarion call describing the political mess of the United States over the past few years. That a woman would be allowed to testify against her husband is not a construct I believed, but yet another reminder of how far women have come and yet how far we have to go.
The weather is an all-encompassing topic in the summer of 1816 and the Coldmongers are blamed. No one takes the time to understand the science behind the glamourists and it is so much easier to blame other people rather than accepting responsibility for or taking the time to learn how external forces impact present behavior. The story paints a broad brush over the historical events of the early 1800's and skimming along the top, it's a light regency read with dashing heroes, delicate ladies, and women searching for husbands. The cringe worthy race, religion, and class faux pas committed in the book only added to the topics for a book club discussion.
Beyond the surface, I felt as if the book was a clarion call describing the political mess of the United States over the past few years. That a woman would be allowed to testify against her husband is not a construct I believed, but yet another reminder of how far women have come and yet how far we have to go.
shomarq's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
therealsob's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
rosekk's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this instalment of the series. Melodies character has changed slightly, but not beyond the bounds of reason, so the character development, while not exactly the direction one might expect from the first book, works. Expanding the involvement of Vincent's family and past raised the stakes of the situation well and allowed us to expand our knowledge of a character we know well. Finally, the plight of the Coldmongers wove well into the regency setting while establishing more of the fantasy lore. The further into the series I get the more I appreciate the way the magical lore is woven into an otherwise recognisable society, and made to feel a natural extension of it.
gmvader's review against another edition
3.0
This is the third book in Kowal’s Glamorist Histories series and it increases the tension somewhat by taking place in the famous Year Without a Summer. Only in this world there are people who can use glamor to make things cold and they are being blamed for the cold weather.
Jane and Vincent spend much of the book moving from drama to drama that has little bearing on the plot and then finally focus in on the cold-mongers and their plight at the end. This seems to be the pattern for these books. There is a plot, in order for there to be a climax, however it seems of secondary import to the author who really just wants to explore the married relationship of her two main characters.
If you are reading these books for that relationship then that’s probably a good thing. If you’re reading it because you want to see what kinds of interesting things are happening in this world and how their new magical discoveries will affect history then it feels like a tax that must be paid to get the story.
You can probably guess which kind of reader I am.
I enjoyed the book. Kowal writes in a friendly manner that makes her work readable almost by nature. Even when the subject is not of interest the prose passes quickly and is enjoyable to read. The book is also quite short which helps a great deal because uninteresting subjects only last for a so long.
Over all I expect that if you have read either of the previous books you will find this one at least as good as those two.
Jane and Vincent spend much of the book moving from drama to drama that has little bearing on the plot and then finally focus in on the cold-mongers and their plight at the end. This seems to be the pattern for these books. There is a plot, in order for there to be a climax, however it seems of secondary import to the author who really just wants to explore the married relationship of her two main characters.
If you are reading these books for that relationship then that’s probably a good thing. If you’re reading it because you want to see what kinds of interesting things are happening in this world and how their new magical discoveries will affect history then it feels like a tax that must be paid to get the story.
You can probably guess which kind of reader I am.
I enjoyed the book. Kowal writes in a friendly manner that makes her work readable almost by nature. Even when the subject is not of interest the prose passes quickly and is enjoyable to read. The book is also quite short which helps a great deal because uninteresting subjects only last for a so long.
Over all I expect that if you have read either of the previous books you will find this one at least as good as those two.
thejestess's review against another edition
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Book 3 in a period urban fantasy series I read primarily for the Endeavour Award. Again it is clear that these books are referencing specific books of classic British Literature that I've not read. This one was nice, but not for me. Some minimal high society maneuverings around a thin patina of fantasy, most importantly finding the younger sister a husband. Whatever. 3.5 of 5 primarily because it was nicely written.