[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/milk-and-honey_2305.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:What is talent without beauty?]]
''Shades of Milk and Honey'' is a Regency Fantasy novel by Creator/MaryRobinetteKowal, written as a loving {{Homage}} to Creator/JaneAusten. Its only fantasy element is the ability to create "folds" of illusion, at the expense of some exhaustion. It tells the story of Jane Ellsworth, a young woman in the mold of a sensible Austen heroine, who possesses a high degree of skill in illusion, as well as music and the other "accomplishments" of RegencyEngland. Her sister, a specimen of much less maturity (both in years and wisdom) provides much conflict, of the familial and romantic variety, as suitors dance about both girls. The plot thickens when certain secrets come to light...and when certain emotions come into play.

First in The "Glamourist Histories" series, ''Shades'' (2011) is followed by ''Glamour in Glass'' (2012) which delves into Napoleonic intrigue, marital tension and reconciliation; ''Without a Summer'' (2013), mixing ''{{Literature/Emma}}'' with Industrial Revolution riots; ''Valour and Vanity'' (2014), a Jane Austen caper yarn in the vein of the ''Film/OceansEleven'' series and ''Of Noble Family,'' (2015), dealing with race relations and slavery.

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!!This work includes examples of:

* AwesomeButImpractical: It's explained to Captain Livingstone that the Navy can't use glamour to hide its ships because folds are tied up to a specific place, and ships need to move. Hence, glamour is only used for art.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Downplayed version with Jane and Mr. Vincent.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[spoiler: Henry Livingston]] seems like a nice young gentleman, but is actually a two-timing ManipulativeBastard who tries to [[spoiler: kill his debtor and frame Jane for it.]]
* BrainlessBeauty: Melody very much believes herself to be this, and that there is nothing to her but her beauty.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Paralleling Creator/JaneAusten's ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'', Jane is an {{Expy}} for Elinor, the responsible elder sister, while Melody fills the role of occasionally foolish Marianne.
* FunctionalMagic: Glamour is a form of Rule Magic.
* GaslampFantasy: Of the Regency variety.
* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Jane is plain, but accomplished. She wishes she were as beautiful as her sister Melody. Melody is beautiful. She wishes she were anywhere near as talented in anything as her sister Jane. This causes more than a little conflict between them as they try to settle which one of them is better or worse off in the game of getting a husband.
* IAmNotPretty: Jane is adamant about this. Strange, because the only obvious flaw seems to be a larger than usual nose. Although having a drop-dead gorgeous sister probably has something to do with this, as Jane can't help constantly comparing them.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: Despite protesting that it's too much effort and dishonest, Jane does play with glamouring herself to be more attractive.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Both Jane and Melody do this for different reasons.
* ImpoverishedPatrician: A few remarks imply this to be the case for viscountess Fitz-Cameron. [[spoiler: It's confirmed in the last chapter of the novel that her estate is nearly bankrupt and she is barely managing a pretense of wealth, dashing Mr. Livingston's plan to use her niece's dowry to pay off his gambling debts.]]
* InSPACE: It's Creator/JaneAusten with [[{{Fantasy}} Magic!]].
* [[GentlemanWizard Lady Wizard]]: A young lady of breeding is expected to have some talent with glamour as one of her accomplishments.
* OldMaid: Jane is fairly certain this will be her fate as she feels she is not attractive enough to marry.
* ProperLady: Jane.
* RegencyEngland: Unlike ''Literature/JonathanStrangeAndMrNorrell'' or the ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}'' series, the history and structure of this era aren't dramatically changed by the existence of functional magic, as that magic is a decorative and beautifying art, rather than reality-altering or easily weaponized. Though Jane does give a demonstration of possible combat uses... [[note]]Future books in the series establish that the army does employ "combat glamourists", both to camouflage their positions and to disrupt the enemy with bursts of light and noise.[[/note]]
* RomanticFalseLead: [[spoiler: Mr. Dunkirk]] is one.
* ShoutOut:
** [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing One does not simply walk into Murano.]]
** It's be subtle, but [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]] makes a cameo. [[note]]He does so in each of the sequels, and most of Mary Robinette Kowal's other works[[/note]]
* SpiritedYoungLady: Jane develops into this over the course of the book, going from painfully proper to galloping after her family and intervening in a duel with her magic.
* TechnicianVersusPerformer: The bulk of Jane's and Vincent's interactions fall under this, with Jane portrayed as the technician with the performer's natural talent, and Vincent portrayed the performer with the technician's drive. In an interesting subversion, the sympathy's with the technician rather than the performer.
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