Welcome to Litsy!

I had read some of Kowal‘s Lady Astronaut books, so when I saw this in a LFL a couple years ago, I snatched it up! I was interested to see what Kowal did with a completely different genre than the Lady Astronaut series. So when #JaneAdjacent planned this for their April book, I was excited to tag along! It sounded right up my alley—Austen-esque with a touch of magic—and was definitely as advertised, with a delightfully familiar Jane Austen feel.⤵️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLobe2024 #AwesomeApril #readathon

Read along with #Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent I‘m giving it a soft pick. It was enjoyable & I liked the MC Jane & also Mr. Vincent, but the other characters not so much & while I enjoyed the magical elements, I felt like the world-building around them wasn‘t deep enough. But, overall, it was a nice nod to Jane Austen while still maintaining its own story. I may read more in the series if it ⬇️

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.25-26: Chaos ensues. I hope everyone realizes Livingston‘s treachery and stops blaming Jane. She was only trying to stop Dunkirk. I‘m glad Melody and Jane made up - even though I still don‘t like Melody. I hold a grudge longer than Jane apparently. Too bad Livingston escaped to America. I would have liked him to have gotten his comeuppance.⬇️

Nearly a pan read for me, but nudged up to a so-so, as I was curious how this would end. Think Austen with magic…in this case, skilled artisans practice glamours to manipulate the setting. I felt so bad for Jane, the MC, but at times her nearly martyr stance got on my nerves. Nearly everyone else was horrid.

I‘ve had this for years on my Nook app; thanks to #PemberLittens #JaneAdjacent for finally getting me to read this.

#Xander #CatsOfLitsy

Final #pemberlittens #janeadjacent read ( maybe? 🙏🏻) was a treat - felt like reading Jane herself but with a sprinkling of magic ❤️❤️❤️ I still don‘t understand the title though 🤷🏻‍♀️I have the second in the series to see what happens next altho‘ this ended as if it was a stand alone ( I was seriously worried about a cliffhanger and that is not JA approved)

Glamour.
This was a pleasant twist to a regency type story I've read. I enjoyed the Jane Austen type of world but with it's own originality.

#BookspinBingo #2 #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks
#buddyread

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.23-24: Boy, those Dunkirks are…passionate people. They are both set to do something rash. And Jane is determined to stop them. Too bad she runs into that jerk Buffington on the way. I can‘t believe he stands up for Livingston and lies about Jane‘s honour. He and Livingston can go to where the sun doesn‘t shine. How will she get out of this scrape she finds herself in?

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent ch.21-22: well, things are certainly coming to light now! First the sketches of Jane by Vincent and the revelation that she‘s his muse (oh my!) and then we find out who Melody‘s lover is. We also see that Jane is getting stronger in her glamour powers - she‘s a rare talent to only have to read instructions to be able to do it so quickly.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.19-20: So Mr. Dunkirk actually killed the man that married his (14!) yr old sister - that‘s a bit crazy. Do you guys feel this was a protection of his sister and family‘s honour, or should this be considered murder? An interesting dilemma. And Melody - Oy. What a jealous cow. Sorry for those of you who like cows 🐮

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.17-18: Oy, we find out that Beth is a mix between Lydia and Marianne. To run off at 14 though - that‘s scandalous! And now she‘s heartbroken over Livingston and showing it. How Jane can deal with her I‘ll never know haha. I don‘t have a lot of sympathy - can you tell?

#JaneAdjacent #BuddyRead #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I wanted to love this. But I didn‘t. It was boring. #HailTheBail!

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.15-16: so glamour is used to hide - certainly in the case of Lady Fitzcameron. It hides her true financial status and in the case of her daughter hides her physical flaws. It‘s clear that Mr. Vincent hates working for her - having to use his art for her gains. What a shame. But I think that has often been the case for artists and their patrons. ⬇️

Sadly, I think I‘m going to have to admit that I‘m not in a place where I can stick to a CAD pace for retellings and make this my last #janeadjacent read. I finished all of the last 4 or 5 books I‘ve joined the group for early for one reason or another. I never quite got on board with any of the romances in this one, but I really liked the unique take on magic and that was definitely enough to make this a low pick for me. @StayCurious

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.13-14:
Poor Mr. Vincent, to feel obliged to his patroness Lady FitzCameron so that he overtaxed himself nearly to the point of death. And to think she won‘t feel even a glimmer of guilt over it. And then, there‘s Melody. It‘s obvious she‘s talking of captain Livingston. Ooh, what a pig he is! He‘s probably got all sorts of secret engagements with all sorts of girls.

Our last day in Disney, and our flight doesn‘t leave until tonight. So I‘m sitting in the lobby with a stack of books. Life is good. I‘ve finished this one, and I‘m moving on to the Robe for a little while 🤣 #austenadjacent I‘m giving this a soft pick #pemberlittens #janeadjacent @StayCurious

If only Jane could maintain this mantra… #Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent @StayCurious

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Sorry for the late post! Ch.9-12: what an interesting character Vincent is! I‘m not quite sure what to think of him - and neither is Jane. I worry about Captain Livingston and Melody doing something silly. Not sure what yet…but he spends more time with her then is proper I think and Melody loves the attention. And then to find out he is secretly engaged to Beth! What a cad! ⬇️

Finished the books in the top row.

Currently reading:
~read of 56% of Some Of Us Are Looking -#readyourkindle #serieslove2024
~Past Lying ch. 35/49 #karenpairie #audible #serieslove2024
~Zorrie- starting section due tomorrow #sundaybuddyread #literaryfiction
~A Stolen Child- p.86/339 #librarybook #maggiedarcymystery #Dublin #serieslove2024
~Call Us What We carry- #amandagorman #poetry- choosing one poem per day.

Jane is thoughtful and kind; yet, she can‘t seem to love herself. #Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent

I am loving the latest #janeadjacent #buddyread and so impatient to discuss our 2 chapters everyday 🤣 Melody makes my blood boil, I wish she‘d really twist her damn ankle #karma

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.7-8: there is nothing worse than a girl who fakes injury to get attention from a guy. IMO - Melody is very immature. I‘m finding her annoying. But I was pleasantly surprised at Mr. Vincent - he didn‘t do anything to take away from Jane‘s skill, which was decent of him. I can definitely see him as a love interest for her. She just needs to soften him up a bit.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent @StayCurious Oh my! This is me…the more I learn about something/someone, the more I appreciate. At work on Tuesday, I told my Lt. thank you after he shared the historical practice of a procedure. He really did help me.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.5-6: I worry that Jane and Mr.Vincent will butt heads and try to outdo the other. Do you think he‘s set on embarrassing her while they do the tableau vivante? If she can‘t keep up with him she might look foolish. This is after all his livelihood he‘s protecting. He needs patrons as his bread and butter whereas - in his opinion - Jane is just having fun. Melody shouldn‘t have suggested it without checking with Jane.

#SpringSkies #MagicalElement #day17

This scene was hilarious to me as I imagined these fancy women rushing to gawk at one of their own as if she was practically naked without her glamour.
#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent @StayCurious Thanks for hosting; this book has me giggling.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.3-4: We are seeing more jealousy and competition between Jane and her sister. Jane is finding it a chore now to soothe Melody‘s hurt feelings. I wonder what the age difference is between them. Melody seems very young. I think Dunkirk is definitely looking for an accomplished bride. Someone to make his home a happy one - or so he hopes. I get the impression that his and his sister‘s upbringing wasn‘t happy.

Thank you @Eggs for the #MotivationalMonday tag! 🤗

1️⃣ Flying to Hilo Friday for a meeting I‘m presenting at, good-bye party for boss😢&👶🏼shower for one of my direct reports. Lots to do for it!

2️⃣ Clouds from the skylight by my desk (I work from home). The other day a large male 🦆was up there tapping on it.

3️⃣ East Honolulu Hawaii —we‘ve had it all today🌧️⛅️& wind gusts. My neighbor‘s patio umbrella just sailed into my yard! 😱

4️⃣ ✔️

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.1-2: how interesting! In a world where so many have magical abilities and for it to be deemed an accomplishment! I wonder if glamour is only for simple things or if it can be used for bigger things, or for good and evil? I already appreciate the world building here. We‘re in familiar yet unfamiliar regency territory here.

By page 11, I was happy that I had joined in on this group read. When I read this quote, I was baffled. Found this article online and now I adore the intentionality of the author. https://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/08/03/the-big-idea-mary-robinette-kowal/ I was able to read both chapters & enjoy the beauty of the glamour.
#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent

Suggested to my daughter that she read along with me the tagged book while I join #JaneAdjacent. She has had the book a few years and hasn‘t read it yet. She agreed! Don‘t you love this pillow she made? 🌻

I‘m so thankful for the Litsy community. As you can see, I set my reading goal low this year. After rejoining Litsy, I look forward to reading my usual choices and even eager to join in on #JaneAdjacent to read books like the tagged one here.

#Pemberlittens for our next #JaneAdjacent read, here is the reading pace - there are 26 chapters so we'll read 2 chapters a day starting April 15.
Looking forward to reading with you all! And all are welcome to join!
Via @StayCurious

#Pemberlittens for our next #JaneAdjacent read, here is the reading pace - there are 26 chapters so we‘ll read 2 chapters a day starting April 15. Looking forward to reading with you all! And all are welcome to join!

Book mail ~ ready for #JaneAdjacent @StayCurious

#Pemberlittens our April #JaneAdjacent read has been chosen and we will start mid month. I will provide the exact date and reading pace when I get my copy of the book. This one has a bit of a fantasy magic element which will be interesting for sure and is book one of a series. Funnily enough I own book 2 and never realized (I bought it for the pretty cover). Let me know if you'd like to join in with me in April!
Via @Staycurious

#Pemberlittens our April #JaneAdjacent read has been chosen and we will start mid month. I will provide the exact date and reading pace when I get my copy of the book. This one has a bit of a fantasy magic element which will be interesting for sure and is book one of a series. Funnily enough I own book 2 and never realized (I bought it for the pretty cover). Let me know if you‘d like to join in with me in April!

I‘ve now read four books by Mary Robinette Kowal: I adored two, and found the other two interesting in concept, well-written but lacking. The ones I loved are standalones 🤷🏻‍♀️ This was a romance set in an interesting Regency England with magic. I wasn‘t compelled by any of the characters and found Jane‘s sister especially annoying, plus the central drama hit too close to home and gave me anxiety. The romance, though, is quite satisfying.

This book has tempted me over the years and turned out to be a delight. Regency romance with magic. Cool magic system and characters that will remind you of various Jane Austen characters - many of the the annoying ones 🤦🏼‍♀️
This was her debut novel so I am looking forward to it getting even better and have already ordered book 2…though it does wrap up nicely enough to standalone.

I‘m reading this one while I bake peanut butter cookies. The book is delightful. Hopefully the cookies will be good too; it‘s a new to me recipe.

#TBRPile 📚 “The Ellsworths of Long Parkmead had the regard of their neighbors in every respect.”

My neighborhood little free library‘s game has been strong lately. I‘d never heard of the tagged book (although I‘ve read two of her Lady Astronaut series)—it‘s described as Pride & Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and I immediately said “Yes, please” and took it home with me. I shall have to read it while sipping a “Rye and Prejudice” from Tequila Mockingbird. 😆

A quick, pleasant and fanciful read if you like Austen tributes. The magic was underdeveloped, but the characters provided plenty of clean drama and romance to make up for it. Definitely not my usual pick, but I enjoyed escaping from the real world for awhile.

I liked this, for me though it was romance with light touches of fantasy. I usually like when there is more fantasy involved and its elements have greater repercussions in the story world.

#20Series20Days #Top20Series - Day 8

If Jane Austen wrote fantasy novels.

That is how these books are advertised. So I obviously had to give it a try. I loved the first 2 books and have the 3rd on my TBR. There are 5 books in the series and I don‘t know if they follow the same characters. I know the first 2 do.

This was interesting.

I enjoyed the book and the writing was really well done but I can't help but wonder why this felt like a mash-up of all of some of my favorite books, taken and re-worked and added with a pinch of magic?

I wish that there was a bit more of world building that answered the questions regarding the magic or as they call it "glamour" but overall I really enjoyed this. A solid read.

Magical realism and Jane Austen - an interesting mix

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 41 #bookstoread #tbrpile

Here you go @RachelO - some #Dorset settings for you. I've only pictured books I've read above but there's also:

📚 The French Lieutenant's Woman - John Fowles
📚 Many of the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, and
📚 On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

Definitely interesting. Very Jane Austen-ish. The ending was a mess. Maybe intentionally so - very climactic - but didn‘t seem to fit the rest of the book. Hard to fully comprehend the ‘glamour,‘ and while not necessary to follow plot, I‘m like Jane - I wanted to understand more. Nonetheless, not wasted time, and kudos to the author for the concept.