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It looks as though 1816
is going to go down in history as the year without a summer.
Many people think that the reason for this lack is the work
of the Coldmongers, glamourists whose work involves making
things stay cold for longer. The crops are failing and the
unemployment situation has been the cause of riots, including
those of the Luddites. It is into this situation that the
Vincents find themselves when they take a house in London,
not for the Season but for work purposes. Jane’s sister
Melody has come with them to find a spouse, but soon they
all have far more to worry about.?
This is the third in the series about a parallel Regency time,
where people can tease magic out of the ether to create illusions.
As the author states at the end, many of the events are based
on real ones so it is fun to see them tweaked slightly into
how they might have been in such a world. As with all good
series much of the enjoyment derives from discovering more
about the characters. We get to see David’s family,
Melody falls in love and we learn more about different aspects
of glamor. Ms. Kowal’s Regency London contains all the
familiar elements including an evening at Almacks and the
Prince Regent but this is no typical Heyeresque romance. The
Vincents are thrown into a dangerous political situation and
this is very much an adventure story as well as being a fantasy,
a historical novel and a romance. Ms. Kowal continues to excel
at creating a curiously believable world, flawed but interesting
characters and involving plots. Long may this series
Glamour
in Glass - Mary Robinette Kowel
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