That Which Shiri is Reading

image via maryrobinettekowal.com
This book is the best brain candy I’ve devoured since Sleep Hollow went on hiatus. I mean, for real, Jane Austen with magic. After a nerd-rage-filled month of liteary false starts (except for Chocolat which was absolutely lovely), I chewed Shades of Milk and Honey up in a couple of days and already have the rest of the series on request at the library. Except for the fourth one because IT JUST CAME OUT THIS PAST TUESDAY AND THE LIBRARY FAILED TO PRE-ORDER!
Bastards.
Ms. Robinette Kowles captures the Regency style impeccably, from sly wit to comedies of manners to dressing for dinner. Also swooning. And duels. And did I mention the magic. Perfect magic, subtle magic, the sort of magic that would have existed in the Regency period if magic were real and the local vicar wouldn’t dress you up in a pointy hat and drag you in front of the magistrate crying, “She’s a witch! Burn her!” if you performed a glamour.
After which they’d see if you floated.
You should read this book.
Put another way: I just finished night shift and I’ve been sick now (yes, again) for two weeks straight, first with the extendo-migraine and now with an horrific cold. I’m still twitching and checking my library account compulsively, trying to figure out when I can drag my sorry ass there to pick up books two and three.
Happy. Happy. Brain. Candy.
Happy. Happy. Nerd. Girl.
While I’m waiting for fifteen seconds of not being sick or at work or certifying for things, I do have ye olde library pile to get through. My next read will come from this slimmed-down selection:
Alt universe swords and sorcery? Creepy carnival? Time travel anthology? Or the rare non-fiction I think might hold my attention long enough for me to make a dent.
I simply cannot decide.
Help me, interwebs! You’re my only hope!
Mechanique was a fabulous steampunk. What steampunk should be, really.