Glamour in Glass

Newly married Jane and Vincent continue their work as professional glamourists in Regency England. The couple travels to Belgium to study a unique form of glassblowing that may enhance their magical creations. Their artistic endeavors become complicated by political tensions as Napoleon's forces threaten the region. Jane must navigate both her marriage and her magical practice while living in a foreign land during a volatile time. Beyond the historical fantasy elements, the novel explores themes of partnership, gender roles, and the relationship between art and power. The story raises questions about how magic and creativity function within the constraints of early 19th century society.

Readers found this second book in the series more serious in tone than the first, with deeper character development and higher stakes. The historical fantasy elements focus more on magic and less on Regency manners. Liked: - Integration of real Napoleonic War history with fantasy elements - Growth of Jane and Vincent's marriage relationship - Technical details about glassmaking and glamour - Strong female protagonist who defies period conventions Disliked: - Slower pacing in first third of book - Less witty banter and humor than Book 1 - Some found Jane's pregnancy subplot tedious - French dialogue not translated in text As one reader noted: "The stakes feel more real and dangerous than the first book's drawing room conflicts." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.84/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (450+ ratings) The book received RT Book Reviews' Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel 2012.

Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer. This epistolary novel blends Regency romance with magic through letters between two cousins who navigate social expectations while uncovering magical conspiracies in 1817 England.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. This tale follows two rival magicians who restore practical magic to England during the Napoleonic Wars while dealing with the complexities of Georgian society.

The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. A student of magic and a nobleman's daughter uncover political plots in an alternate Georgian-era Britain where magic forms part of university studies.

A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer. A young duchess learns magic at a prestigious European school while navigating political intrigue in an alternate Edwardian-era world.

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker, Kelly Zekas. A Victorian-era young woman discovers she has supernatural healing powers while searching for her missing sister among London's high society.

🎭 The book is set during the Napoleonic Wars and blends historical events with a unique magical system called "glamour," where practitioners weave strands of ethereal matter to create illusions and effects. 🖋️ Author Mary Robinette Kowal is also a professional puppeteer and voice actor, lending her talents to audiobook narration, including her own works. ✨ "Glamour in Glass" is the second book in the Glamourist Histories series, which was partly inspired by Jane Austen's works but with the addition of magic as a refined artistic practice. 🏆 The first book in the series, "Shades of Milk and Honey," was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Novel. 📚 To create authentic dialogue for the period, Kowal developed a specialized glossary of Georgian-era terms and studied early 19th-century letter-writing conventions to capture the appropriate voice and tone.