At a Glance: Author Mary Robinette Kowal’s debut novel is a loving homage to the works of Jane Austen. Set in the same Regency period, Kowal overlays the work with a limited magic system, introducing a fantasy element that is woven in so deftly that it feels a natural part of that world. Shades of Milk and Honey is a love story, true, and beyond that it is an examination of self-worth and of a woman trying to make a place for herself with her talent in a time when wealth and beauty are prized above all.
Pros: Richly textured world-building; enjoyable, familiar characters; imaginative magic system; skilled narrative.
Cons: One confusing sequence late in the book is a bump in an otherwise pleasant journey.
My Experience: Mary Robinette Kowal’s Nebula-nominated debut novel, Shades of Milk and Honey, had sat languishing on my shelves for so long I swear I could hear it sigh in relief when I retrieved it the other night (the night before Kowal’s birthday, oddly enough) to read aloud to my wife, Mary. We are both fond of the work of Jane Austen and the praise this novel has generated gave me hope of a satisfying reading experience. This novel was a great pleasure to read. The characters are engaging, the setting at once familiar and yet made new by Kowal’s introduction of magic, and the story flows beautifully. For readers of Stainless Steel Droppings who have been looking for a non-science-fictional offering from me for the past two months, I give you a novel that you must add to your to-read list.
My Rating: 9/10
Following the conventions of the Regency period, Shades of Milk and Honey tells the story of Jane Ellsworth, her sister Melody, and her father and mother as they navigate the pitfalls and perils of societal life. Jane is our guide, the focal point of our attention, and a more pleasant guide one could not expect. Both Jane and her sister Melody are of marital age, in fact Jane may be argued to be dangerously close to spinster age, and Mrs. Ellsworth would find no greater tonic to her ever-failing nerves than to see her daughters wed to eligible, wealthy men. In Jane’s eyes her sister Melody is sure to have no troubles in this arena as she is an avowed beauty who seems to be in no want of suitors. Jane, on the other hand, is not blessed with a countenance that would woo the hearts of men and yet she harbors the hope that her talent with glamour will, at the very least, open a door for her to achieve happiness.
In addition to music, painting and other acts of refinement, ladies of quality are expected to learn the art of glamour–manipulating the ether to enhance the way things look, to adjust temperatures, to create illusions and more. In Kowal’s world there is a limit to the use of glamour in that it exacts a physical toll while being used, weakening the practitioner in relation to the length of time working with it as well as the difficulty of the effect created. The use of glamour is not limited to females, there are also men who practice it, some as a trade skill, like the cold-mongers. I had previously noted the skill with which Kowal infuses her Regency world with magic and it bears repeating. From its first introduction this feels like such a natural part of the time period that you accept it without having to make a conscious effort at suspending disbelief.
We are first introduced to the use of glamour through Jane Ellsworth and we are given to understand that she is quite good at her craft. Miss Ellsworth is also quite aware of her physical limitations and yet she harbors a secret hope that her neighbor, Mr. Dunkirk, will see beyond that especially as he is very attentive to her use of glamour. However Jane’s beautiful younger sister Melody appears to have designs in that area and Jane, being the model of propriety, will do nothing to reveal her hopes, fears, or doubts to anyone. The social scene grows more complicated soon after the story begins when the Viscountess Lady FitzCameron’s nephew, Captain Livingston, comes to visit, Mr. Dunkirk’s younger sister arrives to spend time with her brother, and an extremely talented glamourist, Mr. Vincent, is hired by Lady FitzCameron to transform her dining room into a grand spectacle the likes of which have not been seen in this area of England. With the arrival of one so talented in glamour, Jane Ellsworth is challenged artistically by seeing what could be possible while simultaneously being made aware of her perceived inadequacies. This adds an intriguing facet to Jane’s character struggles while producing, for the reader, some of the most visually stimulating passages of literature one could hope for in a novel. It is meant as a mark of praise for Mary Robinette Kowal when I say that I would very much like to see a screen version of Shades of Milk and Honey just to see the glamour scenes rendered with today’s special effects wizardry. It would be…magical. (Yes, sorry, but it would be!)
Kowal’s characters owe a debt to the work of Miss Austen, as was the intent, and as such you can expect them to delight, annoy, frustrate, excite, and entertain you in the manner that Jane Austen’s characters do. You will find moments of humor, moments of reflection, moments of quiet hope and moments of passion. At times Jane Ellsworth can be frustrating in that you become invested in her journey so early that you want her to succeed. You want her to wake up and to notice more clearly what is going on around her, to take her eyes off of herself and truly see. Kowal honors the period by making Jane a model of all that is proper and it is that propriety that makes things so much more complicated in that era, but it is the complication that makes the story such a pleasure to read.
There is a thread of suspense woven through the story that brings the story to a particular climax late in the novel which is an exciting, page-turning affair that is also the source of my one main complaint regarding Shades of Milk and Honey. I can give no details without revealing story elements that are best experienced first-hand other than to say that there are is a convergence of several characters and events unfold very rapidly. As I read it to Mary and we got near the end of the scene she stopped me, asking to repeat what I had just read. I was grateful because I too had gotten confused about events and wanted to re-read that section as well. I re-read it twice and then when we finished the novel we went back and read it again. We were able to piece together what occurred, however it was a passage of the story that was far from as clear as it should have been for the reader. Confusion was a part of the scene, to be sure, but as the dust settled it should have been apparent exactly what had occurred with each character involved and it was not. Or at least it was not for the two of us. Let me state clearly that this is not the end scene of the book. I don’t want to give the impression that this is one of those novels that is fantastic and then falls apart at the end. Not so. This is merely one scene near the end that we felt derailed us briefly in a story that otherwise flows beautifully.
Shades of Milk and Honey should not be written off as a mere pastiche of Austen’s work. It pays homage while creating its own unique space and I believe that Mary Robinette Kowal’s skill as a writer is evident from the start. Though this is her debut novel she was already a multiple-award-winning short story author prior to setting out to create this novel. The novel functions well as a stand-alone work that will leave you feeling satisfied at the end. However, if you find yourself unwilling to let these characters go, a sequel, Glamour in Glass, awaits you on store shelves and in April a third book, Without a Summer, will be released. In a time in which the market may appear flooded with Jane Austen inspired works, Shades of Milk and Honey is a stand out work of fiction that I highly recommend.
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In addition to being an author, Mary Robinette Kowal is a puppeteer, has been an art director for Shimmer Magazine and Weird Tales, and has served as both Secretary and Vice-President for the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America). In 2008 she won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and in 2011 she won a Hugo Award for her short story “For Want of a Nail” and she has had multiple other award nominations for her short fiction as well as the Nebula nomination for Shades of Milk and Honey.
Mary Robinette Kowal is part of the team that brings you the weekly Writing Excuses podcast. This is a short, 15-18 minute podcast that focuses on a specific aspect of writing. It is a highly educational and highly entertaining podcast that you should add to your schedule even if you have no desire to be a writer.
I really enjoy this series. And I agree with you in that though this is an Austen inspired work, it stands on its own as something unique and original. The follow up, Glamour in Glass, is also good and has an added dose of adventure. 🙂
I went out and picked up Glamour in Glass right after finishing this and will start reading it to Mary this weekend. We intend to get to the new book right away when it is released. I’m looking forward to seeing the adventure elements you reference in the next book.
after all this work you did to write up a review on this book I have one thing to say: I want someone to read aloud to me!!!!
this sounds good .. i MIGHT put it on the wish list but am holding myself back on buying and find I am getting only dollar books at the moment..but as we know this can all change when I wake up tomorrow!
btw: I may not read sci fi nor know much to comment on your books.. but I do love seeing how much you enjoy them.. I hope you always read for your own enjoyment and not because others think something is better.. :o) thanks for the comments on my blog.. I think since FB and twitter that maybe 3 people even look at my blog anymore LOL.. but you will note I still post anyway!
I’m very fortunate that my wife and daughter enjoy having me read aloud to them because I enjoy doing it very much. A bonus is that it gives me a chance to expose them to things they might not normally read. Now this book isn’t a good example of that as it is right up my wife’s alley, but many of the other books I’ve read to her are things she would not have otherwise picked up. She leans more towards mysteries and YA fiction.
The nice thing about this, Pat, is that it has been out long enough that you may find yourself stumbling across a used copy somewhere.
Yes, FB and Twitter certainly take up a lot of time if you let them.
I’m definitely reading what I want, which is why things are so SF heavy right now as I’ve found myself being pulled back towards the stuff that I grew up reading. Still, there will be plenty of fantasy, some mystery, and some nonfiction present here throughout the year, rest assured. I’m gearing up for Once Upon a Time and it won’t be long before that announcement hits and then there will probably be more works of fantasy reviewed with SF still present.
I was watching a show today on a high odd number channel, anyway the program was called Prophets of Science Fiction. A number of sci fi authors were in the spot light, one was Heinlein and one book they talked about (and then compared to Nasa ) was The Moon is a Harsh Mistress have you ever read it?? ( http://www.amazon.com/The-Moon-Is-Harsh-Mistress/dp/0312863551/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360866485&sr=8-2&keywords=heinlein) it was really interesting..and what Nasa is doing to “live on the moon” was even more interesting. It all came down to how sci fi writers imagined things and years later many coming to pass… fyi :o)
No I haven’t but it is far and away many people’s favorite Heinlein novel. I do own it and need to get to it at some point. I do wish more was being done towards having an outpost on the moon but it doesn’t seem to have many practical applications.
I’ve read a bunch of her short fiction both online and in her Subterranean Press collection Scenting the Dark and have enjoyed it very much. I gave my copy of Shades of Milk and Honey to my sister to read as she is a fan of Regency style writing. She liked it and got Glamour in Glass from the library when it came out. Shades is on my list to get to this year, and I enjoy listening to her on the Writing Excuses podcast. I had already listened to it before she joined, but she adds a nice dimension to their conversations that was missing (which I believe they understood, which is why they went searching for another host).
She’s also hosting a Month of Letters this month, encouraging people to write physical letters to others, and respond to all who respond to you. I signed up for that, but alas, have not yet sent one out.
I’ve read some of her short fiction and remember liking what I read but when I looked at her list of short stories on Wikipedia I was struck by the fact that she has been much more prolific than I know and I need to track down more of her stuff. She has enough for a couple of collections to be put out, at least.
I saw that Month of Letters thing and thought it was a great idea but didn’t have the time…or more accurately have chosen not to take the time…to participate. I like the romance of writing letters but then never take the time to actually do the practical work of making it happen.
Yeah, I understand what you mean about the Month of Letters. I still plan to do a couple before the month’s out, but I gave up early on any hope of doing it daily.
Maybe I can do something like that this Spring or Summer? Hmmm…
I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. Wonderful review! Now if only I can find time to read the sequel… 😉
Thanks Ruth, it was a good book, wasn’t it? I’m glad that Mary got into it as that makes it easy for me to make time now to read the sequel and to read the new one right away when it comes out.
This one has been on my stack since I bought it and met the author exactly one year ago at LTUE. Alas, I STILL haven’t read it! But it has been calling to me quite loudly. Good to hear you enjoyed it so much.
I picked my copy up back when the Borders stores all closed. I had intended to get it all along and then jumped at the opportunity when I went crazy giving Borders my money as they bowed out.
If you enjoy novels set in the Regency period then I have little doubt that you’ll find this one a winner.
I have only read Pride and Prejudice by Austen but loved it so am happy to read books by authors who love Austen. Not to mention that a rating as high as this from you definitely piques my interest! And thanks for mentioning the podcast, I’ve been looking for interesting ones lately and there’s nothing better than a personal recommendation.
It is a good one Joanna. I really enjoy the addition of the fantasy element. Since you are familiar with Pride and Prejudice you will see a lot of Austen come out as you read this one.
Also, for anyone interested, I just listened to an interview with her on the SF Signal podcast. She talks about writing Shades of Milk and Honey and the sequels, among other things.
I do plan on listening to that myself. I held off because I had asked and was told that there was one spoiler to Shades in this one and I wanted to make sure I read the book first. Incidentally there is also a no-real-warning spoiler to this book in Writing Excuses #8.4 too.
How Mary takes this template and these characters and develops them further, and away from this model, is even more interesting. This stands alone nicely but ironically may not be indicative of the series.
(The drastic change in cover art ties into this too)
I was curious because the woman on the next two covers certainly looks nothing like the way in which Jane describes herself, assuming that is supposed to be her and not Melody or someone else on the covers. I’ve read the back cover of the second one and it sounds nicely adventurous. I’m actually glad that, since she decided to continue on with the characters, it isn’t another book in the same vein. I think that might diminish this work if she had done that.
This sounds exactly my cup of tea! Thank you for sharing, I’ve added it to my wishlist 🙂
You are welcome. I was hoping some people would see this who hadn’t heard of it because it is something I suspect the majority of readers I know would enjoy.
I hope to read all of Austen’s completed novels this year. I may want to read this one when I’m done. I love Austen and I love creative spins–sounds wonderful. I hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day Carl!
You should, I think you’d enjoy seeing which characters from which novels various inspirations are drawn in this book.
It was a very nice Valentine’s Day, thank you. Hope you guys did as well.
this sounds wonderful Carl. I am going to strongly encourage the daughter to read Jane Austen this summer and I think this will be a really nice addition to that endeavor (for myself included).
will be checking out that podcast, too.
It really was a nice change of pace, L, and one I’m sure you and the family would enjoy. It would make a great one for you to read while N is reading Jane Austen.
Ooh, I have heard mixed reviews of this one and it makes me nervous that it’s a homage to Austen in some ways. But some homages are fantastic, and I think this is a series I would enjoy if I would get over my reservations.
I think it just depends on what a person wants. If you are not wanting to read a very obvious homage to Austen’s work then there I think it will be hard to get past that this is what it is. If that isn’t an obstacle and one judges the book by what Kowal set out to do it is hard not to recognize the skill with which she accomplishes it. We started the second book today and other than the mother, who is very much like Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, I notice that I am no longer really thinking of Austen’s works but am seeing the characters, particularly Jane and (nope…spoilers) as their own creations and not stand-ins for Austen’s characters.
I love Austen so I think I would enjoy this. I’m going to keep my eye out for this one.
Thanks Carl.
Lynn 😀
This will be one you’ll really enjoy then, Lynn. 🙂
Thanks for that review. I’m definitely adding this book to my to-read list…as soon as I click away. I love Jane Austen as well, and this sounds delicious!
You are welcome Deb, thank you. I was very pleased with the story and it was a fun one to share with my wife. We are currently enjoying the sequel and it is equally as fun.
Thanks to alerting me to this title, Carl. It looks, and sounds from your most excellent review, fascinating. Right up my alley!
Hey Bellezza! This is a fun one. I’m enjoying the second book with Mary right now. Already wondering how I’m going to review it though because it is one of those instant spoiler books because revealing the characters in it essentially spoils this book. So don’t go read a synopsis! 🙂
I got the sequel for Christmas and am looking forward to reading it!
I sent you a surprise in the mail. I hope you like it!