Title: Glamour in Glass
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
First published April 10, 2012
331 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780765325570 (ISBN10: 0765325578)
Rating: 3.76
Overview
In Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal enchanted readers with a magical world where glamour was the norm and Jane Austen’s influence was felt in every page. Now, in the eagerly-awaited sequel Glamour in Glass, Jane and Vincent’s story continues with even more drama and twists.
Set in the aftermath of Napoleon’s downfall, the couple’s honeymoon in Belgium becomes a race against time as the deposed emperor escapes and chaos reigns. With danger at every turn and no way back to England, Jane must use her glamour to save her husband from imprisonment and keep their marriage afloat amidst the turmoil of war.
Kowal’s masterful storytelling will leave readers spellbound until the very end.
About the Author
Mary Robinette Kowal is a renowned author, known for her Lady Astronaut Universe series and historical fantasy novels, including The Glamourist Histories and Ghost Talkers. She’s also a member of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the RT Reviews award for Best Fantasy Novel, the Nebula, and Locus awards.
Her stories have been published in several anthologies, including Strange Horizons and Asimov’s, as well as her collections Word Puppets and Scenting the Dark and Other Stories.
In fact, her novel Calculating Stars is one of only eighteen books to win the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in a single year, a remarkable achievement.
However, writing is not her only talent. Mary Robinette is also a professional puppeteer and voice actor with SAG/AFTRA credentials.
She’s performed for prestigious organizations like the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jim Henson Pictures, and even CBS’s LazyTown. Her puppet designs have won two UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence, the highest honor an American puppeteer can receive.
Additionally, she records fiction for notable authors like Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and John Scalzi.
Mary Robinette resides in Nashville with her husband Rob and a collection of over a dozen manual typewriters.
Editoral Review
Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamour in Glass transports readers to a fantastical world where magic is woven into the fabric of society. Published on April 10, 2012, the book is a sequel to her previous novel, Shades of Milk and Honey.
Kowal is an accomplished writer and puppeteer, having previously won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Short Story. Glamour in Glass is a historical fantasy novel set in the early 19th century, with magical illusions known as “glamour” used as a tool for social and political manipulation.
The story follows the newlywed couple of Jane and Vincent, who are talented glamourists and continue to explore the limits of their magical abilities. They travel to France, where they become embroiled in a dangerous political situation involving the powerful Napoleon Bonaparte.
Kowal’s writing is characterized by her attention to historical detail and her use of language. Her prose is elegant and evocative, transporting readers to a bygone era with her descriptions of the fashion, manners, and customs of the time.
The magical elements of the story are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of society, creating a world that feels rich and fully realized. One of the strengths of the book is Kowal’s skill at character development.
Jane and Vincent are complex and engaging protagonists, with a dynamic and loving relationship that feels both realistic and romantic. The supporting cast of characters, including their friend Melody and the enigmatic Mr. O’Neill, are equally well-drawn and memorable.
The pacing of the novel is one of its weaknesses, however, as the plot moves slowly at times and can get bogged down in minutiae. The conflict involving Napoleon Bonaparte feels somewhat tangential to the central story of Jane and Vincent’s marriage, and the resolution of the political intrigue feels rushed and anticlimactic.
Despite these flaws, Glamour in Glass is an engaging and immersive read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike. Kowal’s exploration of the themes of identity, agency, and power adds depth to what could have been a standard period romance.
Her use of glamour as a metaphor for the illusions of society adds a layer of commentary that feels relevant and thought-provoking. Overall, I would highly recommend Glamour in Glass to readers looking for a beautifully crafted historical fantasy novel that offers a fresh perspective on familiar tropes.
My rating for this book would be four out of five stars.
