caseythebookwitch's review against another edition
5.0
Duran at her finest from the very start. This was excellent, moody, dramatic and melancholy. singular and plural believable yet meek. I couldnt ask for a better historical.
bookishromance's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is the only thing good about this book. The author really does do an amazing job of describing all new places.
However, I didn’t like the romance and I absolutely detested the heroine. She was selfish in every way possible. I understood her grief and trauma but I still didn’t end up liking her. I loved the scenes where Julian set her straight.
The romance felt a bit lacking too.
Also justifying colonialism as an act of war between two countries is just wrong. Hard to sympathize with an h who thinks along those lines, even if you consider brainwashing.
However, I didn’t like the romance and I absolutely detested the heroine. She was selfish in every way possible. I understood her grief and trauma but I still didn’t end up liking her. I loved the scenes where Julian set her straight.
The romance felt a bit lacking too.
Also justifying colonialism as an act of war between two countries is just wrong. Hard to sympathize with an h who thinks along those lines, even if you consider brainwashing.
jenfosty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was a little nervous for this one because of the setting in India, but I think the author showed the negative side of colonialism very well.
Well I loved both of these characters more than I expected. The beginning was great to establish their relationship, similarities, trust in each other. I enjoyed the beginning more than the 2nd half, mostly because I wanted to see more honesty between Julian and Emma earlier. Their rekindling and confessions came a little too late in the book and I wanted to see more of the "after". I did love that in the 2nd half the familiarity between them didn't waiver - even though they were estranged, there was still this underlying understanding of each other that others didn't share.
Spoilers to come: I thought the handling of PTSD and trauma was thoughtful and seemed to be realistic. I specifically enjoyed Julian's conversation with Lady Chad where he said "What would he see in [Emma]? Fatique, yes. Fear. And a failure of hope. Those are not attractive features..... the stranger might detect a touch of mania as well. Those paintings are not the work of restful mind.... But to answer your question, yes [I love her]". Julian doesn't romanticize Emma or her trauma but sees her as she is and loves her regardless. He meets her where she is and tries desperately to bring some of the spirit, openness and honesty back. Emma is slow to come around but being around Julian does bring her out of the numbness she has been protecting herself with - by being with Julian she feels the amazing emotions and deals with the terrible ones.
Well I loved both of these characters more than I expected. The beginning was great to establish their relationship, similarities, trust in each other. I enjoyed the beginning more than the 2nd half, mostly because I wanted to see more honesty between Julian and Emma earlier. Their rekindling and confessions came a little too late in the book and I wanted to see more of the "after". I did love that in the 2nd half the familiarity between them didn't waiver - even though they were estranged, there was still this underlying understanding of each other that others didn't share.
Spoilers to come: I thought the handling of PTSD and trauma was thoughtful and seemed to be realistic. I specifically enjoyed Julian's conversation with Lady Chad where he said "What would he see in [Emma]? Fatique, yes. Fear. And a failure of hope. Those are not attractive features..... the stranger might detect a touch of mania as well. Those paintings are not the work of restful mind.... But to answer your question, yes [I love her]". Julian doesn't romanticize Emma or her trauma but sees her as she is and loves her regardless. He meets her where she is and tries desperately to bring some of the spirit, openness and honesty back. Emma is slow to come around but being around Julian does bring her out of the numbness she has been protecting herself with - by being with Julian she feels the amazing emotions and deals with the terrible ones.
ashleystoeberl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readsbynush's review against another edition
4.0
pretty bloody fantastic for a debut novel - and the bloody is literal
as an Indian, some of the scenes set in India were not very palatable to me. But otherwise, very well researched, and oh god the ANGST and the PAIN and the ANGUISH and the TRAUMA
i was crying through the last 15% of the book
as an Indian, some of the scenes set in India were not very palatable to me. But otherwise, very well researched, and oh god the ANGST and the PAIN and the ANGUISH and the TRAUMA
i was crying through the last 15% of the book
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I would recommend this primarily for lovers of historical fiction. While a romance (HEA!), this is a heavy historical that explores a volatile and violent uprising in India in the mid-19th century. Know before starting that it graphically depicts war, PTSD, racism and violence of all kinds.
Duran, who studied for a PhD in cultural anthropology, examines the seismic Indian Rebellion of 1857 through our MMC, Julian Sinclair, soon-to-be Duke of Auburn. Born in India, but heir to an English Dukedom, his relationship to both his Indian and English heritage is complex and fraught with personal and political tension. He is often seen as inherently disloyal to both sides, and for the reader, he is our window into the overwhelming violence of British colonial rule in India and the days leading up to the rebellion.
It's shortly before this fracture that he first meets our FMC, Emma Martin, who arrived miraculously alive in India after her parents and every single shipmate drowned at sea (welcome to the prologue, readers). Emma's character, for lovers of Babel, reminded me of an *early* Letty (thankfully, with actual, substantial personal growth and a developing awareness of the inherent and explicit violence of British imperialism). Emma can be challenging for the reader and for Julian at the start, as she struggles to understand the complexities of the political turmoil she's landed in.
This is an agonizing second-chance romance that bridges a significant time jump (four years) and doesn't shy away from the resulting personal and communal trauma of war. I loved it, but it HURT.
Duran, who studied for a PhD in cultural anthropology, examines the seismic Indian Rebellion of 1857 through our MMC, Julian Sinclair, soon-to-be Duke of Auburn. Born in India, but heir to an English Dukedom, his relationship to both his Indian and English heritage is complex and fraught with personal and political tension. He is often seen as inherently disloyal to both sides, and for the reader, he is our window into the overwhelming violence of British colonial rule in India and the days leading up to the rebellion.
It's shortly before this fracture that he first meets our FMC, Emma Martin, who arrived miraculously alive in India after her parents and every single shipmate drowned at sea (welcome to the prologue, readers). Emma's character, for lovers of Babel, reminded me of an *early* Letty (thankfully, with actual, substantial personal growth and a developing awareness of the inherent and explicit violence of British imperialism). Emma can be challenging for the reader and for Julian at the start, as she struggles to understand the complexities of the political turmoil she's landed in.
This is an agonizing second-chance romance that bridges a significant time jump (four years) and doesn't shy away from the resulting personal and communal trauma of war. I loved it, but it HURT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racism, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Abandonment, War, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child death, Animal death, Injury/injury detail, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide
selazem's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lme417's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and War
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, and Kidnapping
ikepauh's review against another edition
4.0
5 stars to 4 stars after second re-read. Their relationship is intense.