Up-and-coming fantasist Mary Robinette Kowal enchanted fans with her
novels Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass, which
introduced Regency glamourists Jane and David Vincent. In Without a
Summer, Jane and Vincent take a break from their international travels.
But in a world where magic is real, nothing--even the domestic
sphere--is quite what it seems.
After a dramatic trip to Belgium, Jane and Vincent go to Long Parkmeade
to spend time with Jane's family, but quickly turn restless. The spring
is unseasonably cold, and no one wants to be outside. Mr. Ellsworth is
concerned about the harvest, since a poor one may imperil Melody's
dowry. And Melody has concerns of her own, given the inadequate
selection of local eligible bachelors.
When Jane and Vincent receive a commission from a prominent London
family, they take it, and bring Melody with them. They hope the change
of scenery will do her good, and her marriage prospects--and mood--will
be brighter in London. Talk here frequently turns to increased
unemployment of coldmongers and riots in nearby villages by Luddites
concerned that their way of life is becoming untenable. With each
passing day, it's more difficult to avoid getting embroiled in the
intrigue, which does not really help Melody's chances for romance. It
doesn't take long for Jane and Vincent to realize that in addition to
arranging a wedding, they must take on one small task: solving a crisis
of national proportions.
