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elzap's review
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alice_gibson's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Excrement, Drug abuse, Medical content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Blood, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Medical trauma
ellie_murdock's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Child death, and Physical abuse
thiefofcamorr's review
4.0
‘The Spice Merchant’s Wife’ by Charlotte Betts is a historical fiction romance novel, set in 1666 which follows Kate Finche who is newly married and hopeful for her future, before the Great Fire of London changes everything.
Kate hasn’t had an easy life, and it doesn’t get any easier from here on in. The city is devastated and times are hard, and then things take a turn for the worse once again. Kate is a reliable and strong lead character, and it’s inspiring to see how she handles what is thrown at her, and how she makes the best of a bad and desperate situation.
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Kate hasn’t had an easy life, and it doesn’t get any easier from here on in. The city is devastated and times are hard, and then things take a turn for the worse once again. Kate is a reliable and strong lead character, and it’s inspiring to see how she handles what is thrown at her, and how she makes the best of a bad and desperate situation.
To continue reading this review, please click here.
krisrid's review
2.0
I didn't end up finishing this, and I'm not exactly sure why it didn't resonate for me.
Part of the problem certainly was that there was much more description of nearly everything than I needed or wanted. I don't mind a little description to help me visualize the scene, but I don't need every chair, tree, smell and bit of grass described in detail. It distracts me and takes me out of the story.
Also, I found this story very heavy and depressing. I made it to about the 40% point, and up to then virtually nothing good happened to our main character Kate. It felt like the author wanted to pile on every hardship that time period could possibly have. I liked Kate and was engaged with her determination, kindness and fortitude. But eventually it just became too much for me to watch her be battered over and over. Perhaps there is a happy ending for Kate by the end of this book - I certainly hope there is, but I didn't have the fortitude to watch her take pages and pages more of abuse before she got there (assuming she eventually does). I need something a bit more upbeat so I will be moving on to something lighter.
Part of the problem certainly was that there was much more description of nearly everything than I needed or wanted. I don't mind a little description to help me visualize the scene, but I don't need every chair, tree, smell and bit of grass described in detail. It distracts me and takes me out of the story.
Also, I found this story very heavy and depressing. I made it to about the 40% point, and up to then virtually nothing good happened to our main character Kate. It felt like the author wanted to pile on every hardship that time period could possibly have. I liked Kate and was engaged with her determination, kindness and fortitude. But eventually it just became too much for me to watch her be battered over and over. Perhaps there is a happy ending for Kate by the end of this book - I certainly hope there is, but I didn't have the fortitude to watch her take pages and pages more of abuse before she got there (assuming she eventually does). I need something a bit more upbeat so I will be moving on to something lighter.
emmatesting's review
1.0
Although I try to get through books in one go, even if I dislike them, I found I was uncharacteristically able to finish two other books before I'd even finished this one just because of how boring it was.
It's a bit odd that the synopsis for the book mentions her husband being murdered despite it not happening early in the book. It happens about halfway through, which only makes the synopsis seem like a spoiler. I kept waiting and waiting for it to happen so I could actually feel like the plot would finally be taking place but alas he died in an underwhelming way far too late.
Categorizing this book as a romance is a bit generous. There's romance in it, yes, but barely any and it occurs near the end. Honestly, the bit of romance you do get isn't even all that interesting: you get to witness someone cheat on their wife with their wife's best friend, and then you're supposed to believe she's not only okay with it she orchestrated it herself which makes it all fine in the end!
The ending is also beyond predictable.
It's a bit odd that the synopsis for the book mentions her husband being murdered despite it not happening early in the book. It happens about halfway through, which only makes the synopsis seem like a spoiler. I kept waiting and waiting for it to happen so I could actually feel like the plot would finally be taking place but alas he died in an underwhelming way far too late.
Categorizing this book as a romance is a bit generous. There's romance in it, yes, but barely any and it occurs near the end. Honestly, the bit of romance you do get isn't even all that interesting:
The ending is also beyond predictable.
kiwicoral's review
2.0
The Restoration period and the Great Fire of London should be featured more in historical fiction ([b:The Pirate and the Pagan|886620|The Pirate and the Pagan|Virginia Henley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1326218933l/886620._SY75_.jpg|871879] is my favourite), but this one fell flat for me. The heroine was first a Mary Sue, then was Too Stupid to Live. Her plan to trap the villain was straight up suicide. Frustrating because the story did have potential.
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