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Shades of Milk and Honey

Written by Mary Robinette Kowal

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Average Score: 68⁽⁸⁾

The fantasy novel you’ve always wished Jane Austen had written

Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane’s skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody’s suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right?and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

Book Details

Fantasy
Hardcover, 304 Pages
Published by Tor Books on August 03, 2010
ISBN-10 076532556X
ISBN-13 978-0765325563

Reviews
Fantasy Book Critic \| Liviu Suciu	Review Rating: 80
...very well written and the narrative flows well keeping one turning pages to see what happens. Full Review Link



Grasping for the Wind \| John Ottinger III	Review Rating: 80
Highly recommended reading for everyone and one I suspect will garner award nominations from several genres. Full Review Link



Library Journal \| Stacey Hayman	Review Rating: 80
...the grace of Sense and Sensibility, a touch of classic fairy tale magic, and an action-packed ending... Full Review Link



SF Signal \| Jessica Strider	Review Rating: 80
A fun, quick read for lovers of pre-Victorian literature who like a little magic in their lives. Full Review Link



SFRevu \| Cathy Green	Review Rating: 80
Shades of Milk and Honey is a beautifully written fantasy of manners that should appeal to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre. Full Review Link



SF Reviews \| Thomas M. Wagner	Review Rating: 70
It's never less than delightful, and is surprisingly effective in the way MaryRob's fantasy elements convey themes consistent with those of Austen herself. Full Review Link



Boomtron \| C.N. Rivera	Review Rating: 60
The story was engaging and easy to read, the use of magic was enjoyable and entertaining, and for someone who's a bit of a romantic (even a closet romantic, like myself), the ending will leave you with a generally pleasant feeling. Full Review Link



Publishers Weekly	Review Rating: 20
The story plods at a wooden pace until the climax, which achieves a sprightly comedy-of-errors froth. Full Review Link

Shades of Milk and Honey

Reviews