First things first, Kowal is no Austen; and, short of some occult resurrection ritual, nor should she be. I say this not in complaint, but I cannot abide modern authors being touted a equivalent to age old classics. (Yes, Petrefund, I’m looking at you – even though your story was lots of fun to read.) Nonetheless, Kowal’s book is well written, very well written. It’s not just a borrowed plot or retelling, but rather a highly researched historical novel with exciting, yet entirely appropriate, paranormal elements. As she says (albeit in a different book), it is a “miracle of charm.” The way glamour, the “magic”, is explained as having elements of different real life arts makes it completely believable.
“Astonished, Jane could only stare at her husband. He had long professed that his art was more important than his life, and she could not understand how he could now show so little care about accepting an obviously poor suggestion.”
GiG is so interesting because it served as something of a travelog. The descriptions were precise enough that the change of scenery, the pacing and time were able to orient the story (like I was watching a picture in my head) Yet not so over detailed as to be cumbersome or tiring.
On her blog, Kowal mentions her effort to avoid anachronisms and her
This was a particularly heartwarming (spoiler) heart wrenching) story from Jane’s perspective. Don’t read further unless you are spoiler proof:
I felt heartbroken for Jane because she had to make very difficult choices in this book, for which I sort of fault Vincent. But I thought the Vincents were a balanced and loving couple.
I was frustrated with Jane’s attitude towards her husband. She is supposed to be a sensible “modern” woman with progressive ideas. Yet, Jane is so very enamored of her husband that she, IMHO, accepts blame and responsibility for burdens that should not be hers. By that I mean, Vincent seems so good and reasonable, because the narrative presents him as doing little wrong. But some unfortunate circumstances occur which are directly a result of his insensibility. On the other hand, Jane does get an opportunity to show her strength here, so maybe that was just a narrative necessity. Kowal’s characterizations are remarkably consistent; as you read future books, you will grow to love both Vincent and Jane. A 4.5* star rating is a little high, but- this book is definitely more than four stars, so there you go.