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Valour and Vanity
- Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
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Publisher's summary
Acclaimed fantasist Mary Robinette Kowal has enchanted many fans with her beloved novels featuring a Regency setting in which magic--known here as glamour--is real. In Valour and Vanity, master glamourists Jane and Vincent find themselves in the sort of a magical adventure that might result if Jane Austen wrote Ocean's Eleven.
After Melody's wedding, the Ellsworths and Vincents accompany the young couple on their tour of the continent. Jane and Vincent plan to separate from the party and travel to Murano to study with glassblowers there, but their ship is set upon by Barbary corsairs while en route. It is their good fortune that they are not enslaved, but they lose everything to the pirates and arrive in Murano destitute.
Jane and Vincent are helped by a kind local they meet en route, but Vincent is determined to become self-reliant and get their money back, and hatches a plan to do so. But when so many things are not what they seem, even the best laid plans conceal a few pitfalls. The ensuing adventure is a combination of the best parts of magical fantasy and heist novels, set against a glorious Regency backdrop.
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The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston's position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland. With two months to devise a better plan, Julia's first choice - to marry her childhood sweetheart - is denied. Then, a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, opening a realm of possibilities.
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Debut Book in Series
- By Carrie Fancett Pagels on 10-31-13
By: Jessica Dotta
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The Inventor's Secret
- By: Andrea Cremer
- Narrated by: Leslie Bellair
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In this world, sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth, they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.
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Devolved into a 16 year old girls' love triangle
- By Amazon Customer on 06-17-21
By: Andrea Cremer
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No Safe Harbor
- Edge of Freedom, Book 1
- By: Elizabeth Ludwig
- Narrated by: Eleni Pappageorge
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend - Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother’s warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York. She’s then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge.
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Historical Romance 1897 New York
- By Debbie on 06-01-15
By: Elizabeth Ludwig
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At the Sign of the Crow and Moon
- A Sorcery Ascendant Prequel Novella
- By: Mitchell Hogan
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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In the bustling capital city of the Mahruse Empire, Felicienne Shyrise spends her days as a talented investigator, taking on stolen goods and missing person cases and the occasional murder the city guard are too incompetent - or too lazy - to resolve. During the nights she hones her skills playing Dominion, a board game almost as complicated as life itself. She dreams of making a name for herself and becoming the richest woman in the Empire.
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Worth It
- By Gaia on 09-23-19
By: Mitchell Hogan
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The Untamed Bride
- Black Cobra Quartet
- By: Stephanie Laurens
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Laurens presents a brash, bold new series. They're battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable - and all male: Four officers of the Crown, fighting against a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra.
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Don't waste your credits or your time.
- By Cynthia Franks on 10-21-11
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The Shipbuilder’s Wife
- By: Jennifer Moore
- Narrated by: Luone Ingram
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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The day of her parents’ garden party dawns bright as Lydia Prescott eagerly anticipates a marriage proposal from a handsome and wealthy plantation owner. The lovely debutante plans to steal a moment away with her beau, but her plans go terribly awry. Instead of her intended, she is joined by a stranger - the largest man she’s ever laid eyes on. And it is clear Jacob Steele is there for reasons far more sober than the party. With British raids erupting all around them, it is his job to reassure plantation owners of their safety.
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Not my favorite
- By MelMom on 01-11-19
By: Jennifer Moore
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The Noble Smuggler
- By: Sian Ann Bessey
- Narrated by: Noah Wall
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Despite living at her father’s inn her entire life, Elizabeth Doyle has always managed to avoid involvement with the smugglers who frequently gather there. Until now. When a handsome smuggler is brought to her with dire injuries, Elizabeth risks everything to hide him - completely unaware that the wounded man is not who he appears to be. When an opportunity arises to infiltrate the notorious smuggling gang he believes caused his father’s death, Jonas Ainsworth, the Viscount Langton, pretends to be one of them.
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Captivating clean romance with a mystery to be solved
- By Fleur-de-lis on 10-06-20
By: Sian Ann Bessey
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Revealed
- By: Kate Noble
- Narrated by: Alison Larkin
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Phillippa Benning is the unrivaled beauty of the Season. But when another lady challenges her for a marquis's attentions, Phillippa entices him to a secret rendezvous only to stumble upon The Blue Raven, England's most famous spy, lurking at the site of her planned tryst. The Blue Raven has uncovered an enemy plot directed at upcoming society functions, but he's unable to infiltrate London society.
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Really enjoyed this one — terrific listen — ignore the negative reviews
- By Pamela on 08-31-20
By: Kate Noble
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The Affair of the Porcelain Dog
- By: Jess Faraday
- Narrated by: Philip Battley
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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London, 1889. For Ira Adler, former rent-boy and present plaything of crime lord Cain Goddard, stealing back the statue from Goddard's blackmailer should have been a doddle. But inside the statue is evidence that could put Goddard away for a long time under the sodomy laws, and everyone's after it, including Ira's bitter ex, Dr. Timothy Lazarus.
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Brilliant book, Phenomenal audio experience!
- By 'Nathan on 04-24-13
By: Jess Faraday
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Duke of My Heart
- By: Kelly Bowen
- Narrated by: Ashford McNab
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Captain Maximus Harcourt, the unconventional tenth Duke of Alderidge, can deal with tropical storms, raging seas, and the fiercest of pirates. But he's returned home from his latest voyage to find a naked earl - quite inconveniently deceased - tied to his missing sister's bed. And he has only one place to turn. Now he's at the mercy of the captivating Miss Ivory Moore of Chegarre & Associates, known throughout London for smoothing over the most dire of scandals.
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Awesome read..
- By Trish R. on 01-28-16
By: Kelly Bowen
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Newton and Polly
- A Novel of Amazing Grace
- By: Jody Hedlund
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Now remembered as the author of the world's most famous hymn, in the mid-18th century, as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton was a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty was to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father - until the night he heard Polly Catlett's enchanting voice caroling. He was immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
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Seriously wonderful! I couldn't stop listening!
- By Mary :) on 09-27-16
By: Jody Hedlund
What listeners say about Valour and Vanity
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- MOMof14
- 07-30-20
Captivating!
I didn’t want to put this book down, but instead to keep reading all the way through.
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- Anne Newman
- 08-11-14
Great Story, Performance Issue..
What made the experience of listening to Valour and Vanity the most enjoyable?
This is a fun read. So far, my favorite of the series.
How could the performance have been better?
However, the reader CANNOT do accents. She's great at the uppercrust brit accent, but they encounter Italians and Venetians, and she tries to do an accent. It's terrible.
Any additional comments?
This is a great book, but better read than listened to.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Hope Johnston
- 05-22-14
Author narrates a great tale
Mary Robinette Kowal is an experienced audiobook narrator as well as a gifted writer. She also works another of her creative talents, as a puppeteer, into the novel's plot. The storyline is built on the witty premise that two highly skilled illusionists find themselves cozened by con artists who excel at making people believe in false appearances. The Vincents quickly find themselves far from home in Italy with no funds at hand and no fortune at all after the thieves clean out their bank accounts. Yet not all hope is lost: Jane finds help at a local convent among nuns who are indignant when they learn of the couple's plight, and several plucky characters prove to be capable allies when the illusionists undertake a daring plan to trick the tricksters and bring them to justice. Reading the previous books would be advisable to understand references made in the novel to past events. This is another enjoyable addition to the series.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Sandra Young
- 04-14-15
Intriguing series!
This is book 4 in a series of 5 (so far). Definitely start from book 1. The series follows Jane and Vincent's lives (the main characters). When I read the first book, I thought it was just a spoofl on J. Austin's books. This series is much more than that. I've thoroughly enjoyed the series. Ms. Kowal has gone past the Austen reference and created a wonderful series all her own. There's romance, plot twists, and intrigue. Even though some spots are irksome, on the whole, the series is great and I'm looking forward to the next book.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Silas
- 06-18-14
Better as author than reader
I read and liked the first three books in this series, and was pleased to buy the fourth. I liked the story, but I kinda wish I'd read it rather than listened. Mary is a great writer, and has a good voice, but I came out liking this a little less than previous books. I think its simply the change in format: I got used to the experience of reading, so switching to listening made me dislike it. Also, she reads a little slower than I prefer, which can be slightly annoying.
Summary: listen if you listened to the previous ones and liked them. Don't switch from reading to listening halfway through the series.
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1 person found this helpful
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- CL
- 02-17-23
Weird…I like that!
Odd magic with a not-so usual storyline really pulled me in and kept my attention even through the slower parts. As much as I like the author’s writing I didn’t like the narration at all. The character voices were stiff and annoying.
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- Tammie
- 12-30-14
Best book so far!
Valour and Vanity is the best book in the Glamourist Histories. Each book is better than the previous one. Can't wait for the next book by Mary Robinette Kowal!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Nancy A.
- 03-07-21
A little something...
This book in the series wasn't quite as enjoyable for me until the end. I was in it for the entertainment, not to be stressed out by the character's circumstances. Vincent seemed like a whiney boy, not Jane's hero. The ending didn't quite make sense, as if the whole story was written one way, and then turned out to be another way. Kind of a poor execution imho. I had also figured out who the villan was within the first 2 chapters.
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