This book was very much in the style of Jane Austen...except for the addition of magic. It was totally Regency England but in this take on it, high-born ladies are expected to be able to "use glamour" to enhance their surroundings, in addition to everything else it takes to be accomplished. (Mr D...
I think this book's biggest problem is that it's being marketing as "just like Jane Austen but with magic." It has an alternative Regency setting and is clearly influenced by her, but it's not Jane Austen. Only Jane Austen is Jane Austen. After the first couple of pages, I set aside any compariso...
This book was better than the first, in my opinion. The magic system is better explained, and Kowal really expanded on her world rather than keeping with Austen's. Of course, Austen never went past the happy couple becoming engaged/married. I adored Jane's development over the book. She starte...
Imagine if AI were real? Now imagine that one AI could interface with every police officer on an investigation. Instant records checks, complete maps and analysis of every crime scene. A genius researcher at your fingertips. Now, what would happen if the criminals got ahold of the AI?I don't ...
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Regency Magic (March & April 2015)After their ordeals in Italy, Jane and Vincent are enjoying their time in Vienna. They are catching up with Vincent's old mentor, Herr Scholes, as well as enjoying becoming acquainted with J...
There was scant room to get the flexible shaft of a mono-lens and her hand through the access hatch in the AI’s chassis. From the next compartment, drums and laughter bled through the plastic walls of the ship, indicating her sister’s conception party was still in full swing. With only a single c...
It was about the size of an outhouse, but without a bench or windows. She clutched her cane with one hand and her handbag with the other. It felt like the scan was taking far too long, but she was fairly certain that was her nerves talking. Her corset made her ribs creak w...
She met me, she went on to say, when I was working next door to their farm under the shadow of the rocket gantry for the First Mars Expedition. I have no memory of this. She would have been a little girl and, oh lord, there were so many little kids hanging around outside the Fence watching us w...
As you’ve requested, to guarantee this is a unique document, I’m typing it on the 1918 Corona 3 typewriter that I had in my bicycle cart when I was abducted by the man known as Johnny. You will receive both these pages and the tyepwriter. And all of the typos that accompan...
Decorated in blue and gold, designed to flatter, the ballroom did have a lustre of elegance, but the tall ceiling only served to allow the noise to echo around and become somehow louder.Vincent’s arm had tightened the moment they entered the room.By contrast, Melody was in a state of rapture. She...
She hasn’t seen one of those since she was a little girl. The waves are muted by the structure so there is only the barest tug at the pantaloons of her bathing costume. The ocean is cool, but a welcome relief from the summer heat. Thank heavens Ben suggested a trip to Brighton. The stony shore is...
Turned to the service of God, Jane thought that it would be difficult for anyone to deny a divine hand at work, but the little gardener nun seemed blissfully unaware of the exceptional quality of her voice. With such an example, Jane confined her role, at first, to accompanying her lessons on the...