Book Review: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

 

Imagine Jane Austen’s novels.  Then imagine Jane Austen’s novels with magic.  Are you imagining it?  It would be pretty cool, right?  You’re right. It’s pretty cool.  Also, you can stop imagining now because you can read it instead.

Mary Robinette Kowal wrote a little book called Shades of Milk and Honey.  It is written in the style of a Jane Austen story, but don’t get scared.  It’s great, I promise.  It’s also about magic and the people who utilize it.  In the book, magic is referred to as “glamour” and is absolutely mundane. (It’s mundane in the everyday, usual, utilitarian sense.)  Glamour is easy to learn, and young women are expected to learn it as part of their education. 

Glamour is used by housewives and artists, and the main character of Shades of Milk and Honey is adept in its uses.  Unfortunately, she is not quite so adept at courtship, and has resigned herself to the life of a spinster.

Now I’m going to have to ask you to imagine again.  Stay with me; we’re almost to the end.

Imagine reading about boring dinner parties, and visitors coming a-calling, and walks in a boxwood maze, and strawberry picking parties.  Then imagine an element of drama that can only be resolved by using magic.  Imagining?  Add in lots of ladies in dresses and dashing young men.  Still with me?  Add in some magical artwork and entertainment.  Got it? 

Good.  Now go read Shades of Milk and Honey, because that’s what it’s like.