Title: Shades of Milk and Honey

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: August 2010

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Series or Stand Alone: Series, Book One

Synopsis can be found here.
I purchased this book.

Review:

Jane Ellsworth is a bright, smart yet plain girl. But while her sister has all the beauty, Jane has a clever wit and amazing talent with magic. Twenty eight years old, and sadly resigned to becoming a spinster, Jane is surprised when their sleepy town encounters some major changes, thrusting Jane into the forefront. She makes new friends, comes into secrets and perhaps, perhaps, may just get her heart stolen!


I’m sorry, what? Jane Austen’s world with some magic woven in? Sign me up!

This was a book club book and I’m so happy it was! I had been planning to read it for a while now but with my ever growing pile of books, it was down on the list.

What struck me most was the language. The author does such a fantastic job of paying homage to that brand of writing, without it becoming too cheesy or dated. It flows naturally on the page and the beautiful scenes with Glamour and magic woven in are effortless. I love this England.

Jane is sensible, humble but clear headed. Of course, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Lizzie Bennett! And her sister Melody is a dreadful combination of immature, selfish and hopeless romantic. A few different characters spring to mind from Austen books, but you get the picture. While Melody is my least favorite character in the story, she does a wonderful job of bringing Jane out, causing tension and misunderstandings!


I loved the writing, I loved the magic. 
A quick and stylized historical fiction that remakes Austen’s England into something still charming but fantastically different!

If you love Jane Austen and love magic, give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Rating 8 Cookie Worthy