Without a Summer

By: Mary Robinette Kowal

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Up-and-coming fantasist Mary Robinette Kowal enchanted fans with award-winning short stories and beloved novels featuring Regency pair Jane and Vincent Ellsworth. In Without a Summer the master glamourists return home, but in a world where magic is real, nothing - even the domestic sphere - is quite what it seems.

Jane and Vincent go to Long Parkmeade to spend time with Jane’s family, but quickly turn restless. The year is unseasonably cold. No one wants to be outside and Mr. Ellsworth is concerned by the harvest, since a bad one may imperil Melody’s dowry. And Melody has concerns of her own, given the inadequate selection of eligible bachelors. When Jane and Vincent receive a commission from a prominent family in London, they decide to take it, and take Melody with them. They hope the change of scenery will do her good and her marriage prospects - and mood - will be brighter in London.

Once there, talk is of nothing but the crop failures caused by the cold and increased unemployment of the coldmongers, which have provoked riots in several cities to the north. With each passing day, it’s more difficult to avoid getting embroiled in the intrigue, none of which really helps Melody’s chances for romance. It’s not long before Jane and Vincent realize that in addition to getting Melody to the church on time, they must take on one small task: solving a crisis of international proportions.

©2013 Mary Robinette Kowal (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Another fabulous story!

I love this genre and the addition of glamour makes this series magical! As the author took us through another great adventure with Jane and Vincent, this time was a bit more intense. I highly recommend this series and I'm ready to dive into the next book already!

3 books, 3 genres

Every Jane & Vincent novel is a whole new genre within historical fantasy. It's actually rather incredible on its own. This time it's a political thriller with a courtroom cross-examination scene worthy of a good (but not great) Ace Attorney trial. Because that's what pops into my head when I think, "Jane Austen with magic, book 3".

The Best of This Series So Far

The first book had atrocious narration, and the second was too violent. I liked this book the best in the series so far.

A well-woven, engrossing story

This series only improves with age. I enjoyed the first, liked the second even more, and was engrossed by the third. I really appreciated the chance to get to know Jane, Vincent, and now Melody better. Like a glamorist, the author keeps weaving layers that reveal more and more nuance in each of them and their relationships with each other. But don’t think this is just a story about characters. The events are full of nuance and unexpected, satisfying twists. The mystery connecting Mr. O’Brian, the coldmongers, and Vincent’s father is well worth following to the end. Well done, Ms. Kowal. I look forward to book four!

My Favorite in the series

Ive changed my mind. Kowal's style is more like Dumas than Austin or Bronte. And it ought to fit on the adventure section. This book in the series had the least interesting summary to me but is most definately my favorite.