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alexiachantel's review against another edition
3.0
Valour and Vanity is an interesting mix of fantasy and Regency. The magic system is clever and the two main characters wield it well, while maintaining their good manners.
An easy read, lots of descriptions with fun magic.
An easy read, lots of descriptions with fun magic.
annasirius's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite what I signed up for but still good.
I have thought several times while reading MRK's works that it would be nice to see a more realistic portrayal of marriage that includes conflicts. While I'm not going to call anything in this book realistic, it does contain the most friction in the lives of marital partners that I have so far come across in her books. Typically, any misunderstandings are easily resolved, but there was a longer period of lingering disconnection in this volume.
Considering that I had been looking for a light read, this made me in fact skip over the main argument. Despite that, the long period of difficulties and the whole heist plot provided a fresh breeze to the series. I still wish Jane were not quite such a Sissy when discussing her husband's past - since the previous book, that is what intrigues me most/what I find most relatable.
I have thought several times while reading MRK's works that it would be nice to see a more realistic portrayal of marriage that includes conflicts. While I'm not going to call anything in this book realistic, it does contain the most friction in the lives of marital partners that I have so far come across in her books. Typically, any misunderstandings are easily resolved, but there was a longer period of lingering disconnection in this volume.
Considering that I had been looking for a light read, this made me in fact skip over the main argument. Despite that, the long period of difficulties and the whole heist plot provided a fresh breeze to the series. I still wish Jane were not quite such a Sissy when discussing her husband's past - since the previous book, that is what intrigues me most/what I find most relatable.
tita_noir's review against another edition
4.0
Exciting installment. Jane and Vincent are off to Italy to hang out with Byron and work with glassmakers to perfect their technique of recording glamour in glass.
But they become the victims of a very elaborate con. Honestly, it was very well done.
After grappling with their victimhood for a bit, the married pair decide to fight back. They gather a group of comrades and co-conspirators and turn their own hands to creating a clever con of their own to turn the tables on their enemies.
Very well done. I love caper and long-con stories. Especially when the good guys are the ones doing the swindling for justice. In this case it to so Jane and Vincent can repair their reputation and their lost money. And remain a loving supportive couple to boot.
Very satisfying.
But they become the victims of a very elaborate con. Honestly, it was very well done.
After grappling with their victimhood for a bit, the married pair decide to fight back. They gather a group of comrades and co-conspirators and turn their own hands to creating a clever con of their own to turn the tables on their enemies.
Very well done. I love caper and long-con stories. Especially when the good guys are the ones doing the swindling for justice. In this case it to so Jane and Vincent can repair their reputation and their lost money. And remain a loving supportive couple to boot.
Very satisfying.
chukg's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this one were quite uncomfortable for me to read because of unpleasant things that happen to the characters. The format of the story ended up working out in the end and I'm looking forward to the next one.
cygni's review against another edition
3.0
Aunque me ha gustado, el argumento de este me ha parecido más aburrido que el de los anteriores. La narración resulta un poco confusa en algunas partes porque hay cosas que los personajes saben, pero tú no, y el golpe de efecto cuando te enteras se queda un poco corto.
ajwentz's review against another edition
5.0
An Austen-inspired heist novel—what more could a reader want?
There is very little I can say about Valour and Vanity that will not spoil the book, since there are a number of twists and turns in the plot. Suffice it to say that this was an enjoyable read that continued Kowal's trend of making each book in the series a different genre while keeping the core of the story—Jane's growth and her relationship with Vincent. Several of the overarching plots resolved in the last book, Without a Summer, so Kowal was free to leave much of the series' baggage behind and go on a romp in Venice with Lord Byron.
I do feel that this book could have used another round of edits—it was longer than the others, but much of that length seemed unnecessary, and there were entire paragraphs that could have been cut without losing anything. Trimming the prose would have sped up the pace, which is desirable in a heist novel. Even so, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it.
There is very little I can say about Valour and Vanity that will not spoil the book, since there are a number of twists and turns in the plot. Suffice it to say that this was an enjoyable read that continued Kowal's trend of making each book in the series a different genre while keeping the core of the story—Jane's growth and her relationship with Vincent. Several of the overarching plots resolved in the last book, Without a Summer, so Kowal was free to leave much of the series' baggage behind and go on a romp in Venice with Lord Byron.
I do feel that this book could have used another round of edits—it was longer than the others, but much of that length seemed unnecessary, and there were entire paragraphs that could have been cut without losing anything. Trimming the prose would have sped up the pace, which is desirable in a heist novel. Even so, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
Jane and Vincent David are currently headed to Venice to meet with Lord Byron and find a glassblower to work with. They have an idea to make a sphere obscurcie by putting glamour(magic) inside a glass ball which would render anything around it invisible. The Prince Regent could use something like this in the war against the French. However, for Jane and Vincent, nothing is ever as simple as it should be. They run into all sorts of issues that put the glamourists at their lowest ebb.
This is the fourth book in the series, and it's a bit different than the previous books. Jane and Vincent have been married for three years now and are still adjusting to the miscarriage Jane suffered in an earlier book. Their marriage is tested here as Jane becomes the breadwinner in the family. Vincent is a typical male of the Regency period, and while he respects her abilities as a glamourist, he chafes at not supporting the two of them. I don't want to give too much away, but the resulting escapades are worthy of Mission Impossible.
I really like how Ms. Kowal incorporates real history into her books. Her research is impeccable, and inserting Lord Byron into the story adds a fun aspect. Of course, these books are more alternate history because glamour is used to affect outcomes. The books contain all the rules of Regency society and where they are changed, it is for a purpose. For example, both Jane and Vincent are nobility and should wear gloves, but can't because of the glamours they conjure. This is explained to the Regency reader's satisfaction which is important to most Regency readers.
This has been a great series, and I really enjoyed Valour and Vanity. I'm looking forward to the next, and last, book.
This is the fourth book in the series, and it's a bit different than the previous books. Jane and Vincent have been married for three years now and are still adjusting to the miscarriage Jane suffered in an earlier book. Their marriage is tested here as Jane becomes the breadwinner in the family. Vincent is a typical male of the Regency period, and while he respects her abilities as a glamourist, he chafes at not supporting the two of them. I don't want to give too much away, but the resulting escapades are worthy of Mission Impossible.
I really like how Ms. Kowal incorporates real history into her books. Her research is impeccable, and inserting Lord Byron into the story adds a fun aspect. Of course, these books are more alternate history because glamour is used to affect outcomes. The books contain all the rules of Regency society and where they are changed, it is for a purpose. For example, both Jane and Vincent are nobility and should wear gloves, but can't because of the glamours they conjure. This is explained to the Regency reader's satisfaction which is important to most Regency readers.
This has been a great series, and I really enjoyed Valour and Vanity. I'm looking forward to the next, and last, book.
voiddragon117's review against another edition
5.0
this series just gets better and better. this book series really rewards readers who do not mind waiting for stuff to happen to get a big payoff. I love Jane and Vincent and love the feminist and class discussions in this book. Im so sad the next book is the last one.