Kowal, Mary Robinette. Without a Summer. New York: TOR, 2013.
Call No.: F KOW
Publisher's Description: Up-and-coming fantasist Mary Robinette Kowal enchanted fans with her novels
Shades of Milk and Honey and
Glamour in Glass, which introduced Regency glamourists Jane and David Vincent. In
Without a Summer,
Jane and Vincent take a break from their international travels. But in a
world where magic is real, nothing—even the domestic sphere—is quite
what it seems.
After a dramatic trip to Belgium, Jane and
Vincent go to Long Parkmeade to spend time with Jane’s family, but
quickly turn restless. The spring is unseasonably cold, and no one wants
to be outside. Mr. Ellsworth is concerned by the harvest, since a poor
one may imperil Melody’s dowry. And Melody has concerns of her own,
given an inadequate selection of eligible bachelors locally.
When
Jane and Vincent receive a commission from a prominent London family,
they take it, and bring Melody with them. They hope the change of
scenery will do her good and her marriage prospects—and mood—will be
brighter in London. Talk here frequently turns to increased unemployment
of coldmongers and riots in nearby villages by Luddites concerned that
their way of life is becoming untenable. With each passing day, it’s
more difficult to avoid getting embroiled in the intrigue, which does
not really help Melody’s chances for romance. It doesn’t take long for
Jane to Vincent realize that in addition to arranging a wedding, they
must take on one small task: solving a crisis of national proportions.
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