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pammie823's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Top read of 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death
ana27734's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, and Body shaming
Moderate: Death
fethiye's review against another edition
3.0
Rating 2.97
Actually i dont know it took me forever to get through it. It wasn't bad ( i think?) But it didn't grip me entirely either
Actually i dont know it took me forever to get through it. It wasn't bad ( i think?) But it didn't grip me entirely either
sugarandeverythingspice's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
proteinchemist's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
brianne_k's review against another edition
4.0
*4/5*
My favourite of the series. I loved Avendale and Rose. Harry was the star for me. Really liked all the side characters too.
I didn't really care for Avendale's darks secret and why he didn't get along with his mom so I am glad that was cleared up easily.
Spoilers.. seriously.. about a certain side character.
My favourite of the series. I loved Avendale and Rose. Harry was the star for me. Really liked all the side characters too.
I didn't really care for Avendale's darks secret and why he didn't get along with his mom so I am glad that was cleared up easily.
Spoilers.. seriously.. about a certain side character.
Spoiler
Harry was too good for this world. I loved everything that Avendale did for him, to make his remaining days memorable. The world was so cruel to him, I loved that he got some moments of lightness and levity. The Duke showed him kindness and friendship. I really loved their scenes.mmcginnis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 One of Heath's stronger efforts of late, telling the story of a female con artist who sets her sights on a debauched yet attractive duke. In typical romance novel fashion, Rosalind Sharpe (echoes of Thackeray's Becky Sharpe) and the Duke of Avendale have secret reasons, of course, for their less-than-moral behaviors, reasons that make readers feel sympathy with, rather than disgust for, their characters and the choices they've made. Though the two feel insta-lust for one another, deeper feelings develop more slowly, making for a satisfying romance.
Readers with some historical knowledge will guess Rosalind's secret, though Heath does good narrative work to hide it in plain sight. Readers of past Heath books might recall the story of Avendale's parents (in The Last Wicked Scoundrel) and suspect his. Guessing is one pleasure, but being surprised is another, for those who don't pick up on the clues Heath scatters.
The duke's torment gets resolved too expeditiously for deep reader satisfaction, I felt. Rosalind's takes far longer to work out, and forms the greater part of the second half of the book. The conclusion of the latter is bittersweet, hence many Goodreads readers' comments about tears; I personally found it a bit sappy and hard to believe.
Readers with some historical knowledge will guess Rosalind's secret, though Heath does good narrative work to hide it in plain sight. Readers of past Heath books might recall the story of Avendale's parents (in The Last Wicked Scoundrel) and suspect his. Guessing is one pleasure, but being surprised is another, for those who don't pick up on the clues Heath scatters.
The duke's torment gets resolved too expeditiously for deep reader satisfaction, I felt. Rosalind's takes far longer to work out, and forms the greater part of the second half of the book. The conclusion of the latter is bittersweet, hence many Goodreads readers' comments about tears; I personally found it a bit sappy and hard to believe.
Spoiler
Far more moving to see a production of Bernard Pomerance's play, or David Lynch's film, about the real-life Joseph Merrick...greylandreviews's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
First favorite book of this year! It made me cry (oh how the tears were running down my cheeks) and smile with all the happy moments that happened in this. I can definitely see why this a crowd and I'm glad I started Heath backlist chronologically and not by popularity. But why oh why does there always have to be a third act breakup?!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief