Glamour in Glass

I really enjoyed 'Shades of Milk and Honey', the first in this series when I read it a year or two ago and I always intended to return to the series at a later date.

I'm fond of a Comedy of Manners and enjoyed the Regency setting of the first book. I am partial to groups of ladies with little better to do other than be horrified at some inadvertent failure to follow social convention. Then enter a dark, dashing stranger. The first book was a light, engaging read and was lot's of fun for those who appreciate an Austen-influenced magical alternative history novel.

I suppose the biggest challenge with this book is Kowal can't just go back to Austen as she did that in the first book - therefore Jane and her husband Vincent must tread their own ground so to speak. The author can't get away with revisiting Austen and since we've seen all the 'nods and winks' in the first novel this novel loses some of it's charm. The novel is weaker for NOT being an Austen pastiche and just being a Regency-era novel with Glamour.

One of the things I enjoyed about the first book and this one is that not a whole lot happens. I kind of like spending an inordinate time on who said what and who did this at a dinner party. It's cute. I think I was over halfway through this book before I realised not a lot of interest has happened. Although this would normally be a criticism, in the context of this book it doesn't detract. I enjoyed the meandering way of getting anywhere. Sadly, once the plot kicks in I found the story to be not strong enough to hold up and I found my interest wavering.

The novel turns from a romance novel where newlywed wife feels her husband is up to something into some kind of military espionage novel. I don't really want to see the central characters go in that direction. I also don't really like to see 'Glamour' going this way either. If 'Glamour' is a form of magic where scent, sound and vision can be manipulated then it is kind of inevitable that it could be used for military or even nefarious means. In this world I'd like Glamour to be kept for the beautification of people and things. I know this sounds a little sexist but I think Glamour works as 'an art for ladies' in the context of this series. Once the door has been opened to military application then it seems inevitable we will have military generals using Glamour and what next in the series? 'Evil Wizards??' I think I'd prefer the world of Jane Ellsworth to be a less dangerous place and less gritty.

All that said, I did enjoy reading this book and I've not given up on the series. I suppose my expectations of where the series could go will need to be adjusted. The book is fun, I quite like Jane and Vincent and I like the setting and the magic system Kowal has created. I note there is another three books in this series and part of me is wondering where another three books are going to come from but at the same time I'm intrigued.