Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Shades of Milk and Honey
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
60 posts | 90 read | 131 to read
The fantasy novel you've always wished Jane Austen had writtenShades 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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Clare-Dragonfly
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

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.

Clare-Dragonfly This was my March #doublespin and means I‘m caught up! Just in time 😆 @TheAromaofBooks 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2mo
28 likes2 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

blurb
BookNAround
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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.

Cupcake12 Love the sound of these. How did they turn out? Xx 1y
Bookzombie Love that there are whole peanuts in them. Are they yummy? (edited) 1y
BookNAround @Cupcake12 Unfortunately I over baked them so they were drier than they should have been. 1y
BookNAround @Bookzombie They called for chunky peanut butter but also I roasted some additional raw peanuts to add to that texture. I think they would have been yummy if I hadn‘t over baked them. To be fair, the book distracted me. 😂 (edited) 1y
68 likes5 comments
blurb
Lucy_Anywhere
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

blurb
BarbaraJean
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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. 😆

Laughterhp Shades of milk and honey is really good! I hope you like it! 2y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
SayersLover
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

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.

review
LeticiaToraci
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

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.

BehindthePages Beautiful cover. Not one I would read though. I'm in the same boat and prefer more fantasy. 3y
LeticiaToraci I don't regret reading it because I like all things that remind me of Jane Austen, but it wrapped up eeso well that I am not sure I'll be continuing the series. Let's see, there are worse cozy series out there. 3y
11 likes2 comments
blurb
Laughterhp
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

#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.

Andrew65 Look good. 3y
57 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
mariaku21
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

review
Christyco125
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

Magical realism and Jane Austen - an interesting mix

blurb
StaceyKondla
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

MsMelissa This is also on my very large TBR ☺️ 3y
Lucy_Anywhere I have this one too! 3y
MeganAnn This looks fascinating! Stacked! 📚😊❤️ 3y
StaceyKondla @Book_Fiend_Melissa @Lucy_Anywhere @MeganAnn - we all must have very good taste 😉❤️ 3y
51 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

rockpools Thanks Jenny - this is great. The only ones I‘ve read are Persuasion and some of the Famous Five - I hadn‘t made that connection! The tagged one looks really fun. #WestcountryReads 3y
jenniferw88 @TheAromaofBooks here are some - my favourite is the Hardy! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Thank you!! And I had kind of forgotten that Persuasion takes place in Dorset! 3y
85 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Meglet
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

review
Gdsjenny
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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

blurb
AutumnRLS
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

Scifi/fantasy J-Mc

blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

Cinfhen Yay for 5 Star reads!!!! 4y
85 likes1 comment
review
shanaqui
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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).

15 likes1 stack add
blurb
MaGoose
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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.

Tanisha_A Love that artwork 4y
Chrissyreadit I am definitely interested in this one! 4y
tournevis I love this one so much! 4y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

BookwormM Sounds intriguing stacked 4y
OrangeMooseReads Sounds like a mix of Jane Austen and some of the elements from the Cinder series by Marissa Meyer 4y
68 likes11 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Laughterhp
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

#ManicMonday #letterS

JoScho 🧡🧡🧡 5y
Sharpeipup We need more Sherlock! 5y
35 likes2 comments
review
ablachly
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

blurb
silentrequiem
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

review
Dragon
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

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.

Reviewsbylola Sometimes I get really stuck with only three choices as well. 5y
Dragon Thanks @Reviewsbylola I‘m glad I‘m not the only one 👍🐉😀 5y
ladyonequestion Yeah, hate to so-so things I think are well written but just don't really float my boat! 5y
Dragon Exactly! Thanks @ladyonequestion 😀🐉👍 5y
52 likes4 comments
blurb
Dragon
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

Zelma That sound delicious! 5y
Dragon It is definitely light and refreshing! Thanks @Zelma 😀🐉 5y
Soubhiville Mmmm, that sounds nice. 5y
See All 6 Comments
Dragon Thanks @Soubhiville it is. 👍🐉 5y
wanderinglynn I love the cool lime refreshers! 5y
Dragon Thanks @wanderinglynn me too! 🍋💚 5y
63 likes6 comments
review
LadyZircon
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Mehso-so

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.

review
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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 Yay!! Glad you loved it! 😊 5y
jenniferw88 @Laughterhp I doubt I would have ever found this book on my own, so thank you so much for introducing me to a new author to look out for! 5y
91 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal

@Laughterhp @monalyisha @Clwojick #FreakyFriday

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

Celeste57 Just finished reading this. I thought it was delightful!! 5y
81 likes6 stack adds1 comment
blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

#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.

jenniferw88 This post might help with #FFTheMaddingCrowd @Cathythoughts - I live in Hardy's #Wessex, so if you have any questions about the setting I may be the Litten to ask! 5y
Cathythoughts Thankyou so much. You will be our go to person 👍🏻. And thanks for reminding me I‘m meant to be reading it , instead of chilling out on Litsy & drinking coffee! OK... that‘s it I‘m going reading #FFTheMaddingCrowd now. I love your pics , they are setting the mood 🙏🏻❤️ 5y
batsy Awesome, that's great to know about Dorchester/Casterbridge! 5y
jenniferw88 @Cathythoughts I forgot to mention that I used the book for a presentation at uni (my degree was English Literature) so know quite a bit about it. My presentation was for a module called "Literature of Sexuality" and my work partner and I presented it in "Blind Date" style - I even got the music off YouTube! ? 5y
108 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

@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!

monalyisha Oh, we knew. We know all. 5y
monalyisha Just kidding! We had no idea. 😂😂😂 Have fun! 🙌🏻 5y
Laughterhp I‘m glad you are excited for this book! I obviously really liked it! 5y
102 likes4 stack adds3 comments
review
ElizabethAndino
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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!

blurb
jenniferw88
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
monalyisha Me too! Hell yeah! 5y
Clwojick I have to pick mine up this week. 😏 the time is near. 🤓 5y
EnglishLove I absolutely loved Shades of Mill and Honey!! 4y
91 likes3 comments
blurb
ElizabethAndino
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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!

rubyslippersreads I've had this in my Nook app for ages. It sounds wonderful! 5y
6 likes1 comment
review
KCorter
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

Clare-Dragonfly That's how the author describes it! 5y
85 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
annahenke
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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

Melissa_J I have that exact same bottle of Bath Waters on one of my bookshelves 😊 5y
ralexist Love this series! 5y
The_Heeler_Booklife I have the same Barnes and Noble Jane Austen collection. 😊 5y
See All 6 Comments
BluestockingDuchess @annahenke @Melissa_J where to you guys find the bottle at? It is so adorable! 5y
annahenke @GeorgiaPeach at the Roman baths in Bath, England. 😀 5y
BluestockingDuchess @annahenke lol I better start saving up for a visit 5y
114 likes8 stack adds6 comments
blurb
parasolofdoom
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

blurb
parasolofdoom
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal

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.

blurb
annahenke
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

staceyfilak Such a great story! 5y
Eyelit Ooh, I liked that one! 5y
Zelma Added this based on just your description. 😍 (edited) 5y
Suetara That‘s a great book! I need to read the rest of the series. 5y
101 likes8 stack adds4 comments
review
Beholderess
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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

blurb
Beholderess
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

blurb
KerriNTurner
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

#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).

23 likes1 stack add
review
BookAngel1
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

Lovely book! I greatly enjoyed reading it!!

RaimeyGallant A belated welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon And here's a compilation of Litsy tips that some of us put together:
https://raimeygallant.com/2017/10/31/litsytips/
6y
BookAngel1 Thank you! Good tips! 6y
3 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
AmberJoy
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
This post contains spoilers
show me

Melody is kind of a beeyotch

blurb
geekybookgirl2
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

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

11 likes2 stack adds
review
Laughterhp
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

7 likes1 stack add
review
Grrlbrarian
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

37 likes3 stack adds
review
Kryckett
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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.

review
Pagedeep
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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

blurb
Lylah
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image

Cute little display in one of the university libraries.

review
LazyOwl
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
post image
Pickpick

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

12 likes1 stack add