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anna_brawn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Rape
overthinkereading's review against another edition
Picked up Nobleman’s Guide after reading The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, and definitely recommend reading that one first, as there is important backstory there that plays a major part in this follow up novel.
Similarly to Secret Lives, I found the characters compelling and the story engaging. I did not dislike reading this book.
However, there are two BIG drawbacks for me: 1) the author is not a queer male and I am a strong advocate for queer stories being written by queer authors (Own Voices); 2) there is a decision that occurs in the epilogue that utterly destroys all character growth for one of the MCs. Incredibly disappointing, to the point it made the story feel like it isn’t *actually* ending on a HEA.
Similarly to Secret Lives, I found the characters compelling and the story engaging. I did not dislike reading this book.
However, there are two BIG drawbacks for me: 1) the author is not a queer male and I am a strong advocate for queer stories being written by queer authors (Own Voices); 2) there is a decision that occurs in the epilogue that utterly destroys all character growth for one of the MCs. Incredibly disappointing, to the point it made the story feel like it isn’t *actually* ending on a HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Torture and Violence
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A NOBLEMAN'S GUIDE TO SEDUCING A SCOUNDREL is tense, witty, and very sexy, existing as a sequel to wrap up few things left hanging from THE SECRET LIVES OF COUNTRY GENTLEMEN while delivering a full story in its own right. I won't be more specific in this review, because it it's pretty far into the book before this is stated explicitly and it operates on several levels. The biggest thing that's continued is that Luke, who was a child in the first book, is a main character now as an adult and is half of the romantic pair at the center of the story. It's interesting because as I was reading the first one I thought that it was a complete story, and then this sequel makes it feel more like the two books are halves of a whole. The weird part for me, when trying to assess whether this can stand on its own, is that if taken from Rufus's perspective, it really does. He doesn't know any of the previous events, and so someone who read this book without reading the first one would have an experience closer to Rufus, and anyone who has read the first one would be closer to Luke's understanding of the situation.
I love Luke as a secretary, the characterization is so precise that it firmly establishes his adult self in this new story on his own terms. Rufus fits him well, and I like them as a pair. The worldbuilding is consistent with the first book, but it assumes a familiarity with the Marsh and takes for granted that either the reader won't need a great deal of explanations, or is satisfied with the level of information which Rufus acquires.
I love Luke as a secretary, the characterization is so precise that it firmly establishes his adult self in this new story on his own terms. Rufus fits him well, and I like them as a pair. The worldbuilding is consistent with the first book, but it assumes a familiarity with the Marsh and takes for granted that either the reader won't need a great deal of explanations, or is satisfied with the level of information which Rufus acquires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Cursing
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Torture, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Murder, and Abandonment
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