What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal -- Fantasy Regency Romance

This book is the tale of two sisters : one extremely pretty and the other very accomplished in the womanly arts. In the world of this novel, womanly accomplishments include pulling strands of glamour from the ether and stitching and weaving them together to create artistic illusions. Jane Ellsworth loves creating beauty for she lacks all the physical beauty that attracts men to her sister Melody. Melody is much younger and far more sentimental than Jane. Melody dreams of marriage and a comfortable home, preferably with their neighbor Mr. Dunkirk. Mr. Dunkirk also dreams of a comfortable home and greatly admires Jane's accomplishments with glamour. His attentions bring out a rivalry between the two sisters, one that intensifies once their wealthy neighbor Lady FitzCameron invites her attractive nephew Captain Livingston and an itinerant artist, Mr. Vincent to stay. While Jane befriends Mr. Dunkirk's young sister Beth, she ignores her own sister possibly to the peril of  both young ladies or at least their reputations. Jane wars with insecurity and jealously versus doing the right thing. She also struggles with her relationships with the male characters and finding her passion.This is a very quiet book along the lines of Sense and Sensibility. Readers of Jane Austen's novels will recognize characters and situations, but in this book there is a much more realistic undercurrent of jealously between the two sisters. Plain Jane thinks she is ugly and will never attract a husband. She's extremely self-deprecating which made me wants to slap her at times. She is almost too good yet I cared for her and wanted her to be happy. I could relate to Jane more than Melody. Melody is young and a bit foolish but she has depth, more than Marianne Dashwood. I didn't much like her though, she reminded me too much of my own younger sister. Most of the characters in the novel are taken from Jane Austen or are typical of period novels. The male characters are better developed and more original for the most part. The lack of original characterization makes the finale of the plot predictable but also frustrating because there's little development between two characters who come together at the end. The plot is interesting though I wish the author had explained the glamour better. It's a bit murky, especially in the beginning, but more explanation is given as the novel progresses. It would be nice to know from whence the glamour comes and how exactly one pulls it out of the ether, how it is used and why women seem to have more education in glamour than men. The romance is quiet - more of a meeting of true minds than a grand sweeping passion, which I really liked. The characters share a passion which brings them together. I wish that the romance had developed a bit more and wasn't so rushed though. The author writes (and spells) in the manner of Jane Austen. I liked the writing style a lot but it does make the story slow and novices may have a hard time getting into the book because of the structure. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by this author. I would recommend this book to Janeites and those who frequently read Victorian and Edwardian novels. Those looking for high fantasy or passion will be disappointed. This book may also appeal to a young adult bluestockings and Janeites.

The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett -- Historical Fantasy

The Quents and the Lockwells are settling in to the old house on Durrow Street but it is a bit eerie and unsettling. Ivy is fascinated by the mysterious old house and the history behind some of the hidden wonders which have been uncovered during renovation. When she discovers her father's journal, she relishes the chance to learn more about him and his magickal studies. The days are growing shorter and the mysterious new red planet is coming ever closer. Ivy learns that her father left more clues for her to follow to unlock the secrets of the unusual astrographical events in order to prevent Altania from falling into permanent darkness. Ivy also enters Society and makes friends in high places who encourage her to think about power and position. The young Miss Lockwells look forward to their coming out and Lily hopes Eldyn Garritt will be at her party. Eldyn is busy trying to provide for himself and his sister by clerking for the church. Sashie grows ever pious but Eldyn is torn. By day he works hard tallying numbers but at night he's drawn to the glittering world of the illusionists, particularly his friend Dercy. As Dercy tries to teach Eldyn to create illusions, Eldyn discovers some surprising truths about himself. Eldyn remains determined to bring himself and his sister into the light and everyone knows the theater is full of sin and corruption, not to mention the unusual proclivities of the illusionists. Can something so beautiful be so wrong even if it makes Eldyn happy? Does it matter what the church thinks? Someone seems to think it matters for illusionists have been turning up dead and blinded. Meanwhile Rafferdy is busy avoiding his duties and avoiding Ivy. His father is gravely ill and so Mr. Rafferdy takes his father's seat in Assembly. The Magnates are divided over the issue of succession and what to do about the Wyrdword Risings. At first Rafferdy wants nothing to do with any of it but then he is befriended other frivolous young Magnates who invite him to participate in a secret magickal society. He isn't sure what to make of the society but when he uncovers dangerous secrets he doesn't understand he may have need of magick after all. The author borrows elements of 16th-19th century English history in order to create this unique world. The plot hinges on politics and power as well as the teachings of the church which strongly resembles the Catholic Church. The unusual solar system of Altania is a bit complicated and difficult to understand but I was drawn to Ivy's journey of discovery and the mysteries she has to solve. This part of the book is the most unique and the strongest plot. I saw things that Ivy didn't and I couldn't care for her as much in this novel because she had less reason to be so naive and trusting. Eldyn's plot bored me. I've heard the same debate played out endlessly in real life. It got very repetitive reading about it in fiction. I felt Eldyn was a bit too whiny and stupid to really feel sorry for. Again I figured out things he didn't and wondered why it took him so long to see what he didn't want to see all along. It also took way too long for his plot to intersect with the main magical mystery. It almost seemed like an entirely different story set in the same world. Rafferdy's plot is also interesting because it parallels British history and politics but with a magical twist. His plot is intertwined with Ivy's for most of the book and secrets are revealed and more questions raised. I also found the idea of unrequited love of a man unusual and interesting. I quite like Rafferdy and his coming-of-age story. I would recommend this book to grown-up Harry Potter fans and Lord of the Rings fans. It works OK as a stand alone but better as a sequel.