Reviews

Valour and Vanity by Mary Robinette Kowal

daffz's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like I enjoyed this book most out of the series so far. I usually have a bit of a problem with the pacing at the start of these books, but this time that was not the case. The story was compelling from the start, and had a few very nice twists and turns. I felt like I grew closer to the characters in a way, even if they frustrated me at times. I enjoyed seeing their struggles in this book, and seeing how they dealt with it. It was also a very clever book, especially the last part.

I really appreciated that there were some issues in the relationship between Jane and Vincent. It felt very realistic and almost refreshing to see relationship problems that had nothing to do with a love triangle or anything like that. I'm still often a bit confused when it comes to the specifics of glamour, but that doesn't hinder in my enjoyment of the book. I am more interested in the characters, relationships and plot. Sometimes the descriptions of specifics of glamour bored me a little, but I can appreciate the thought and detail the author put in it.

maria_pulver's review against another edition

4.0

This one is almost as good as the first book in the series.

msnyderk's review against another edition

4.0

Id honestly forgotten how much I love this series! It's been a while since I read book three so book four was such a refreshing read! I love the uniqueness of Jane and Vincent and the world they live in. The writing is perfect for the story. I highly recommend this series if you need something a little different...

groveperson's review against another edition

4.0

"One does not simply walk into Murano." Teeheehee

mdunnbass's review against another edition

5.0

Regency Drama set in 1816 Venice, with Magic.

How can I not give this five stars? Heist. Magic. Layers of deception. Feisty Nuns. Two words: Gondola Chase. Yeah, it's 5 stars.

lissajean7's review against another edition

5.0

I highly recommend this book. I considered giving it four stars instead of five, but mostly because of a difference in expectation and somewhat because the subject matter was difficult for me. I opened the book, expecting a heist novel, but it didn't start out that way - or rather it did, but took a detour into surviving for a little while first. I love the backstory and rode the roller coaster with them through the emotional ups and downs during the first 2/3s of the story, but it was harder to get through than I wanted it to be. Probably a big part of that is that I've lived with my hubby struggling through difficult days with his job, and I've see the depression that comes from that...and it was so very real that I found it difficult to read at times. As always, the story is rich and beautiful and layered and evocative. Ms. Kowal's writing is captivating and honest - I love that about her. And once the heist planning kicks in, it's all fun and exciting and everything I wanted. You should read it...and the others as well. :)

clkipp103's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

marci_travels's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 I found the first three books enjoyable and loved the concept of the magic within the Regency period. But this one just wasn't for me.
Jane talks about how wonderful her husband is and tells him to his face how much she cares for him, but she never listens to anything he says, does not acknowledge that his ideas are better than hers to the point where she will actually follow them, and when there is a problem that she has created by her indiscretion, she brushes it off. She's either gaslighting her husband, or generally acting like a Ugly American Tourist (even though she is British - Colonialism at its finest, TYVM).

I read it to the end to see if this was part of the heist, hidden plan within the visible plan, but no.

Content warnings: Miscarriage, subtle racism, moderate colonialism, violence.

I LOVED The Calculating Stars, and highly recommend the GhostTalkers, but for the Glamourist Histories? I'm done. 

shomarq's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

therealsob's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75