I enjoyed this more than i thought, although I could also see the issues with it.

My biggest problem with Kowal's writing is that she's not so much evoking Austen as imitating her and it sounds just a bit off to my ear. Which makes me a pretentious little git, I realize, but part of the reason so many romance novels work is that they're not really trying to be 19th century writers, just to get the feeling of them. Kowal's trying and she's quite good, but it still feels off.

And this is clearly her first book. The plot occasionally runs away from her and she's trying to tell a regency romance, a world-focused fantasy and an adventure. So elements of each end up feeling rushed.

Having said all of that, I quite enjoyed it and look forward to the next books, which I hear are even better (which would make sense).