Shades of Milk and Honey

Women of Genre Fiction – Book 2

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

If you like Jane Austen's books, you will like this book. Set in the same time period as Pride and Prejudice and very similar in plot, the story follows Jane, the plain oldest daughter gifted in the art of glamour and Melody, the younger sister gifted with beauty. Glamour, the magical talent which makes the book fall into the fantasy genre, is woven into the story in such a way that it is not considered extraordinary. It is a part of everyday life and is considered a skill like sewing or playing the piano for women and a profession for men. The author was definitely influenced by Austen as plot elements are reminiscent of Austen's stories, with finding a husband for Jane the main focus. This book is very predictable, but is a quick and entertaining read and is perfectly suitable for that cold rainy day where sitting curled up on the couch with the dogs is the perfect way to while away the afternoon.