Welcome to Litsy!

I‘ve now read four books by Mary Robinette Kowal: I adored two, and found the other two interesting in concept, well-written but lacking. The ones I loved are standalones 🤷🏻‍♀️ This was a romance set in an interesting Regency England with magic. I wasn‘t compelled by any of the characters and found Jane‘s sister especially annoying, plus the central drama hit too close to home and gave me anxiety. The romance, though, is quite satisfying.

This book has tempted me over the years and turned out to be a delight. Regency romance with magic. Cool magic system and characters that will remind you of various Jane Austen characters - many of the the annoying ones 🤦🏼‍♀️
This was her debut novel so I am looking forward to it getting even better and have already ordered book 2…though it does wrap up nicely enough to standalone.

I‘m reading this one while I bake peanut butter cookies. The book is delightful. Hopefully the cookies will be good too; it‘s a new to me recipe.

#TBRPile 📚 “The Ellsworths of Long Parkmead had the regard of their neighbors in every respect.”

My neighborhood little free library‘s game has been strong lately. I‘d never heard of the tagged book (although I‘ve read two of her Lady Astronaut series)—it‘s described as Pride & Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and I immediately said “Yes, please” and took it home with me. I shall have to read it while sipping a “Rye and Prejudice” from Tequila Mockingbird. 😆

A quick, pleasant and fanciful read if you like Austen tributes. The magic was underdeveloped, but the characters provided plenty of clean drama and romance to make up for it. Definitely not my usual pick, but I enjoyed escaping from the real world for awhile.

I liked this, for me though it was romance with light touches of fantasy. I usually like when there is more fantasy involved and its elements have greater repercussions in the story world.

#20Series20Days #Top20Series - Day 8

If Jane Austen wrote fantasy novels.

That is how these books are advertised. So I obviously had to give it a try. I loved the first 2 books and have the 3rd on my TBR. There are 5 books in the series and I don‘t know if they follow the same characters. I know the first 2 do.

This was interesting.

I enjoyed the book and the writing was really well done but I can't help but wonder why this felt like a mash-up of all of some of my favorite books, taken and re-worked and added with a pinch of magic?

I wish that there was a bit more of world building that answered the questions regarding the magic or as they call it "glamour" but overall I really enjoyed this. A solid read.

Magical realism and Jane Austen - an interesting mix

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 41 #bookstoread #tbrpile

Here you go @RachelO - some #Dorset settings for you. I've only pictured books I've read above but there's also:

📚 The French Lieutenant's Woman - John Fowles
📚 Many of the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, and
📚 On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

Definitely interesting. Very Jane Austen-ish. The ending was a mess. Maybe intentionally so - very climactic - but didn‘t seem to fit the rest of the book. Hard to fully comprehend the ‘glamour,‘ and while not necessary to follow plot, I‘m like Jane - I wanted to understand more. Nonetheless, not wasted time, and kudos to the author for the concept.

I‘m not normally one for romances or Jane Austen, but Kowal had me glued to my seat.

Scifi/fantasy J-Mc

Some 5 🌟 books that take place in #imaginaryplaces #wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Reread! I did not love this book the first time, the second time I mildly enjoyed it, and truly it remains a 3-4 star book for me this third time, but there's something about it I come back to. Twice now!

#bookblanket motif: bright pink (romance), turquoise (fantasy) and emperor (reread).

For those Littens who enjoy Jane Austen and/or fantasy, check out the author of the tagged book or maybe the book in the photo. I just happened to come across her when researching something else on the internet (you know what a rabbit hole the internet is, right?). I'll be putting some of Kowal's works on my TBR list since I haven't read any of her work, yet.

Another recommendation from @Laughterhp for #freakyfriday and it makes my #adventrecommends list! @emilyrose_x

Book: Tagged
Author: LJ Smith
Movie: She‘s The Man
TV: Sherlock
Food: Snacks

#ManicMonday #letterS

If Jane Austen wrote in a world where magic (glamour) were just another art to master, alongside the pianoforte, but the book was still a tale of sisters and suitors and finding love along the way.

The Mary Robinette Kowal and John Scalzi show is hilarious and super fun. #Bubonicon

I found this story very slow to start. I only started enjoying it during the final third of the book. So I wish there was a choice between Pick and So-so. The magic in the story was very interesting and well done, but the characters were a bit dull.

I‘m on holidays so reading my lunch/work novel at the mall. Using my points to get a giant lime refresher!

I‘m trying out audiobooks while I crochet and it was much easier to visualize the scenes in my head than I was expecting. Though this is more of a read my mother would enjoy rather than I, I did enjoy it for what it is. Some of the characters were annoying though, and I thought a snippet of the ending was a bit melodramatic for my tastes. Overall, it was ok.

Thanks @Laughterhp for bringing this book to my attention! I'm definitely going to read the next book in the series as I love the setting, time period and references to Jane Austen's novels.

First book for #freakyfriday completed & 5 ⭐

@Clwojick @monalyisha

@Laughterhp @monalyisha @Clwojick #FreakyFriday

Impressions so far:
⚀ The strawberry picking trip reminds me of Emma by Jane Austen
⚁ Mr Vincent reminds me of Snape! 🤣🤣🤣

#FreakyFriday @Laughterhp @monalyisha @Clwojick

I read the first 2 chapters last night, and I can already see the comparison to Jane Austen! ❤

The above photos show 1) Kingston Maurwood, an estate near Dorchester which could act as Jane's home, and 2) Dorchester high street during the 19th century.

If you've chosen Far From the Madding Crowd as your first book, Dorchester is the basis for #Casterbridge and Puddletown is #Weatherbury.

@Laughterhp This is probably going to be my first book for #FreakyFriday!

Reasons I'm excited for this book:
🏡 New to me author!
🏡 New to me series!
🏡 Set in my home county - I doubt @monalyisha & @Clwojick knew this when we got matched!
🏡 Goodread blurb says 'If Jane Austen wrote fantasy' - one of my favourite authors & genres!
🏡 Set in a period I know a lot about!

Overall I really enjoyed this one! The overall tone of the book was so gentle that a scene towards the end containing some violence felt abrupt and unexpected to me. I‘m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Just placed my reservations for #freakyfriday @Laughterhp @Clwojick @monalyisha

Got this recommendation from a fellow reader on the Happier in Hollywood FB Page . It‘s mixes regency England with magic. The perfect pick for me!

Authors must walk a fine line when retelling the stories that have inspired them. If you approach Shades of Milk and Honey as an homage to Jane Austen, the similarities between these narratives are charming. If you are expecting to read a completely original work of fiction, this story seems to border on plagiarism. Just imagine this as "Jane Austen, but with magic".

Full review on #Goodreads.

First finished book of #litsypartyofone (I didn‘t start until this afternoon).
This is a wonderful book inspired by the works of Jane Austen but with magic! I was a bit surprised by the ending. Very enjoyable read. #inspiredbyaclassic #fantasy #properromance

Sigh. Trying to decide if it's worth sticking with despite irritation with how the MC acts or not.

Just started this -- I was in the mood for something lighter with a bit of romance tonight before I hit The Immortalists again so a fantasy Austenesque book it is. I loved Kowal's story collection Word Puppets.

I'm guessing this Dunkirk fellow won't turn out so amiable as our heroine first perceives.

#amreading tonight. It‘s Jane Austen-esque polite magic and romance. Yes, please. #readalikes #janeausten #twistonaclassic

Loved this book, and the author's own performance of the audiobook is very pleasant. She gives her women a lot of character, although her male voice are very, very strange. Overall, a pleasant, sweet, relaxing read for a quiet summer evening. I really liked how the romance was based on mutual interest in art and magic
#romance #regency #audiobook

Regency novel with some added magic. Along with drawing, needlework and housekeeping, a skill in illusion magic - glamour - is essential for a lady. The audiobook is read by the author, and she is wonderful with the heroine, although her male voices are odd
#audiobook #romance #fantasy #regency

#AugustGrrrl Jane Austen with added magic. In this book 'glamour' is a type of magic used to create a #perfectillusion when required (such as decorating one's party to impress the guests, or hiding from a man with less-than-honourable intentions).

Lovely book! I greatly enjoyed reading it!!

These books have beautiful cover models. This is a great series. They have described as Jane Austin with magic.

This book was so great! Anyone who likes magic and Jane Austen will love this book! It was fun, a very compelling story that I just couldn't put down! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Took a break from wretched chores to finish this Austen-infused fantasy. Jane, plain spinster, shows considerable talent as a glamourist (magic weaver); beautiful sister Melody needs no magic to ensnare the man in Jane's heart and others as well. The magic system is fascinating, and this does feel authentically Regency until its melodramatic, too-rushed ending. Still, those readers who love fantasy and Austen will enjoy most of it.

It is what it promises to be. I found it a quick, light and enjoyable story. Not sure I need to continue the series, though.

I loved Shades of Milk and Honey so much I've already moved onto the sequel! It's a fascinating, subtle series and a great genre read. #fantasy #romance #RegencyOutTheButt

Cute little display in one of the university libraries.

An enjoyable and easy read. Just what I needed for the homerun of #readathon. Definitely Jane Eyre inspired with a dash of magic.