mallorypen's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
3.25
This was an enjoyable read for what it was, and the sweetness of Harper Fox writing a character in love is always delightful. I also enjoyed a break from mysticism with Fox’s writing, and her efforts into a somewhat gothic novel played well. The jungle house, the hunting trophies, the boy so innocently naive and utterly debauched at the same time … my horror mounted along with Frank’s as he kept learning each new layer of abuse.
I liked Frank as a character - his disability wasn’t miraculously cured, or forgotten in any of the physical activities in the book, but he also had more to him than just a man with a war wound. Fox always writes her ex soldiers with sympathy and understanding, and Frank was no exception. He was a noble character but aware of his own faults, and I was cheering for him the entire time.
That said, there were some parts of this novel that didn’t rub me the right way. Gracie’s transformation from wild innocent boy to grown man with principles and true love took … just over two weeks? After a lifetime of being coddled and physically and emotionally abused by every adult in his life aside from serving staff? The development of the relationship and strength of feeling was wildly unrealistic to me. I could have used another two chapters detailing maybe several months where Gracie actually acts as his upbringing intended and THEN softens and learns there is a person he can trust in Frank.
The whole arc with Cyril was … something. I like him as a foil for Frank to show what money can do to a person (which Frank notes himself) as well as demonstrating that the wounds one takes home from war aren’t all physical, like Frank’s was. Having Cyril commit suicide and leave Frank his fortune felt like a cheap and convenient waste of Cyril’s life, and suicide being used as a plot device always squicks me just a little.
Martin and Rose kick ass, through. And Manning should have his own entire novel.
I liked Frank as a character - his disability wasn’t miraculously cured, or forgotten in any of the physical activities in the book, but he also had more to him than just a man with a war wound. Fox always writes her ex soldiers with sympathy and understanding, and Frank was no exception. He was a noble character but aware of his own faults, and I was cheering for him the entire time.
That said, there were some parts of this novel that didn’t rub me the right way. Gracie’s transformation from wild innocent boy to grown man with principles and true love took … just over two weeks? After a lifetime of being coddled and
Martin and Rose kick ass, through. And Manning should have his own entire novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual violence, and Rape
moooonchild_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lolatarantula's review
3.0
This one really didn't hit the spot as well as Harper Fox has in the past. Not a bad novel by far, but doesn't stand up to the others I've read. Fox yet again falls into the Fox has so many strengths when it comes to writing and they were all there, so I honestly can't tell you why I didn't enjoy this one as much. I think the mains just didn't spark anything in me, and her usual mystery just wasn't as nuanced as usual. Anyway, I still recommend you get this and support Fox, but ultimately its a 3.5 stars from me.
Spoiler
'at the end their disabilities are gone forever and they can be happy' thing which is always a little strange to me, but I did appreciate the inclusion of a trans character.ellie705's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
suze_1624's review
4.0
4/4.5*
It’s Harper Fox, so I am predisposed to like!
The first part of the book outlines the haves and have not, how impoverished folks could be, the moral issues of the times, and we still have the upper class and servants - though these ones seemed to be staging their own revolution quietly below stairs.
Gracie is a very complex character - appearing naive and childlike but actually surviving a lot.
Dickson is all things wrong with society, and the Earl with his grand house but no money (and let’s not speak of the other madnesses).
I found the second part went a bit more lyrical than gritty, with the odd political treatise in there. Although it was poor Cyril who gave them the greatest gift.
It’s Harper Fox, so I am predisposed to like!
The first part of the book outlines the haves and have not, how impoverished folks could be, the moral issues of the times, and we still have the upper class and servants - though these ones seemed to be staging their own revolution quietly below stairs.
Gracie is a very complex character - appearing naive and childlike but actually surviving a lot.
Dickson is all things wrong with society, and the Earl with his grand house but no money (and let’s not speak of the other madnesses).
I found the second part went a bit more lyrical than gritty, with the odd political treatise in there. Although it was poor Cyril who gave them the greatest gift.
cronchbonch's review
1.0
Cw for the book. its got abuse in it.
physical abuse and i would say sexual.
maybe my experiences are different then the writers but the abuse seems to be for the narrative only and doesn't read as real. using trauma for your story is weak and unnecessary.
physical abuse and i would say sexual.
maybe my experiences are different then the writers but the abuse seems to be for the narrative only and doesn't read as real. using trauma for your story is weak and unnecessary.
veethorn's review
2.0
Harper Fox is an excellent writer. But she can’t, in some of her books, resist the over-drawn trauma when half or less would suffice. Don’t read this one, read Seven Summer Nights.
madelegg's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was, in a word, frustrating. The concept was great and the writing was phenomenal, but the believability of the characters felt so lacking that it really hampered my ability to enjoy the book. While some characters' strange actions were explained later in the book, others very much were not. The development of the relationship between the two main characters was a bit jarring; the jump from the main character liking his love interest to full on cheering because he was in love felt wildly out of character. The main character often seemed to flip flop between being cold and subdued and being overly enthusiastic and animated. It seemed as though he existed not as a complex character but as a stand in cut out to fill in the reactions that the author wanted in each moment.
On the other hand, the worldbuilding is exquisite and the plot twist was very well done! The romance was sweet enough that it kept me rooting for the characters, and the villains were quite entertaining.
Last point, small nitpick, I still can't figure out if the love interest's name is actually "Gracie," or worse "Scapegrace" or if it was a nickname on his last name "Gracewater." He was never given a name outside of Gracie, andthe fact that Frank would call him his Scapegrace despite the fact that his horribly abusive father and abusive ex lover called him that felt very off the mark and uncomfortable.
On the other hand, the worldbuilding is exquisite and the plot twist was very well done! The romance was sweet enough that it kept me rooting for the characters, and the villains were quite entertaining.
Last point, small nitpick, I still can't figure out if the love interest's name is actually "Gracie," or worse "Scapegrace" or if it was a nickname on his last name "Gracewater." He was never given a name outside of Gracie, and
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Physical abuse
brittaniethekid's review
2.0
This was a bit of a disappointment after all the good reviews. A lot of the writing is overly flowery or obtuse that it was sometimes hard to understand what the author or the main character, Frank/Francis, was trying to say. Something like the nature of his injury, as a major plot point, needs to be more clear - I wasn't even sure if he was partially or fully castrated or not until the salve rubdown scene and even then I wasn't at 100%.
Most importantly, the relationship between Frank and Gracie didn't feel like it had a natural progression, going from 0 to 60 very unnaturally and making me uncomfortable. Mid-book, we have Frank laughing to himself that he's in love with his student a mere week or two after they've first met and have hardly spoken about anything other than geography or Gracie's very unhealthy relationship with Dixie, when ever since returning from the war Frank was of the mind that he'd never be able to love a man as a man (due to his at-this-point-unclear groin injury plus the laws of the era). This "revelation" of his also comes after he walks in on Dixie and Gracie in very brutal and very public S&M session in the front hall, while the Lord (Gracie's dad) is actually home. Frank saves them from the Lord's discovery with what reads like a slapstick comedy scene but that is so poorly written that it's hard to follow.
Frank's various lectures in colonialism was definitely the author trying to get a point across and didn't seem like something a 25 year old Regency ex-soldier would choose as his first (and seemingly only) lesson nor that a spoiled 20 year old viscount would be particularly interested in, enough to kick out his best friend/lover over the tutor's hurt feelings. Dixie's attitude, while grating, was much more realistic as opposed to Gracie's wide-eyed innocent interest. Gracie was also written ridiculously child-like even as well-travelled, sexually experienced, and just as old as he is - another reason this relationship was uncomfortable to read.
Overall, this book feels wholly unrealistic and doesn't have enough smut to make it a pulp romance though the writing is at that level. This is one you can skip.
Most importantly, the relationship between Frank and Gracie didn't feel like it had a natural progression, going from 0 to 60 very unnaturally and making me uncomfortable. Mid-book, we have Frank laughing to himself that he's in love with his student a mere week or two after they've first met and have hardly spoken about anything other than geography or Gracie's very unhealthy relationship with Dixie, when ever since returning from the war Frank was of the mind that he'd never be able to love a man as a man (due to his at-this-point-unclear groin injury plus the laws of the era). This "revelation" of his also comes after he walks in on Dixie and Gracie in very brutal and very public S&M session in the front hall, while the Lord (Gracie's dad) is actually home. Frank saves them from the Lord's discovery with what reads like a slapstick comedy scene but that is so poorly written that it's hard to follow.
Frank's various lectures in colonialism was definitely the author trying to get a point across and didn't seem like something a 25 year old Regency ex-soldier would choose as his first (and seemingly only) lesson nor that a spoiled 20 year old viscount would be particularly interested in, enough to kick out his best friend/lover over the tutor's hurt feelings. Dixie's attitude, while grating, was much more realistic as opposed to Gracie's wide-eyed innocent interest. Gracie was also written ridiculously child-like even as well-travelled, sexually experienced, and just as old as he is - another reason this relationship was uncomfortable to read.
Overall, this book feels wholly unrealistic and doesn't have enough smut to make it a pulp romance though the writing is at that level. This is one you can skip.
walford's review
1.0
DNF 40% I usually don't review or even rate books I don't finish, but I'm so disappointed and... I guess resentful about this one that I'm going to vent a little. The setup is so completely improbable I don't know where to start. 1) NONE of this could have happened in the late Victorian era IN LONDON, especially right after the Oscar Wilde trial ratcheted up the homophobia to fascist levels. If Fox wanted to write a Gothic she could have at least set it in a remote Country House where the shenanigans could have been kept under wraps, maybe. 2) I won't bore you with all the plot developments I found unbelievable; other reviewers whose opinion I have great respect for really appreciate how the story plays out, and maybe the improbabilities are addressed by the Great Reveal, but I just couldn't go on suspending disbelief any longer. This pains me because Harper Fox was my first great love in the m/m genre, but maybe I just can't accept the liberties she takes with period (and plot) in a historical.