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iamnotclara's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Set in Regency England, Infamous follows Eddie and her relationships with a wildly unique and diverse group of friends. Eddie is a wonderful delight and oblivious main character. She's actively the picture of a young twenty-something trying to make herself in a world, where women aren't allowed to be writers or truly members of society. Her best friend, Rose, decides she has to get married and this absolutely sends Eddie into a tizzy, for what appears to be no reason. Eddie goes on to meet the infamous and charming poet Nash Nicholson, and is persuaded by his charm that he will help Eddie break through in the publishing world. It's a tale of trust and failure, love and chosen families. In the end, there is only one infamous author and a queer love story.
Lex Croucher has such a way of writing that the audiobook narrator is truly phenomenal. Croucher's ability to tell these stories keeps having me come back to read every one of their novels. Their delight and style is unique and honestly one of my favorite authors of the decade. I hope that one day Croucher is beyond infamous for their writing and is acknowledged and supported across the world.
Lex Croucher has such a way of writing that the audiobook narrator is truly phenomenal. Croucher's ability to tell these stories keeps having me come back to read every one of their novels. Their delight and style is unique and honestly one of my favorite authors of the decade. I hope that one day Croucher is beyond infamous for their writing and is acknowledged and supported across the world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Murder
quinn22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Classism
sauvageloup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
a brilliant romp, feeling new and fresh even when treading on well worn paths, and with emotional depth.
pros:
- the writing flows well, is light and amusing and plows along with all Eddie' eagerness. I liked the banter and the dialogue, the descriptions were visual and conjured up vivid scenes, especially Saint Bede's island in the dark, Rose's appearance, the clothing, the crumbling house, etc.
- I really liked Eddie and Rose as main characters, and all the side characters are fleshed out and real, with all their depths and foibles. Eddie is very much an unreliable narrator and its through her eyes we get to realise that Albert is a decent guy and Nash is the worst. Though the signs for the reader are all there, it's still gripping to see how itll unfold and satisfying when Eddie realises.
- the characters of Kitty, Valentine, Dayo, Liza, Albert, etc. all had their own motivations and quirks, and their own relationship with the other characters, including Nash. Dayo's campaign to bring about abolition was a good inclusion, and we got to hear about Kitty's passion for painting, Albert's rabbits (a reoccurring joke that I nonetheless thought wholesome). Juno the dog was even a fun character in herself, though I rather expected her to dig up some ominous bone or get stuck or find a ghost in the forest.
- I liked the setting and the Regency time period, with the contrasts of different levels of proprietary and the dropping in of real historical people, like Shelley and Byron.
- Even though I feel most twists were fairly evident: that Nash only wanted to have sex with Eddie, that she and rose were in love, that Nash had stolen the manuscript, the maid being murdered by Nash's father, etc.. I still managed to be surprised by others, like Albert being gay (which I really should have seen coming), the murdered maid being Henry's mother, Nash publishing Eddie's manuscript, etc. which were fun to discover.
- I liked Eddie and Rose's different journeys and how they found themselves at different times. their friendship/budding romance was so well written, i loved the ebb and flow and the depiction of their tension, quarrels, intimacy, sexual attraction, forgiveness, etc. That was so well done.
cons:
- the start felt slow and a bit shallow. I didnt much like Eddie at all and it was all too Brigerton at that point. it really picked up for me as Eddie got drawn in and the stakes went up, with more dark edges to Nash and debauchery.
- I thought there was a real lack of resolution with Henry and Nash both. I wish Henry could have challenged Nate about the locket, his mother, and the assault. I felt it was glossed over that Nash sexually assaulted Henry, though that threat lingers in the latter half of the book against Eddie. It was left unclear whether anyone got shot with the pistol and I'm not sure Eddie got to see Henry after that. that was a bit of hanging loose end unless we're meant to think that Nash murdered Henry and just cleared him away, which doesn't seem likely, but if it was then....
- it's frustrating that Nash never got any more severe punishment for stealing Eddie's manuscript, lying, cheating on Liza, verbally abusing Eddie, nonconsensually kissing her, and force feeding her drugs... she should have slapped him at least, and then got him denounced in the papers. instead we get a lacklustre end note. guess I'm more vengeful but I definitely didnt feel he got taught any lesson!
but overall, this was a thrilling and gripping ride with great writing and I enjoyed it :)
pros:
- the writing flows well, is light and amusing and plows along with all Eddie' eagerness. I liked the banter and the dialogue, the descriptions were visual and conjured up vivid scenes, especially Saint Bede's island in the dark, Rose's appearance, the clothing, the crumbling house, etc.
- I really liked Eddie and Rose as main characters, and all the side characters are fleshed out and real, with all their depths and foibles.
- the characters of Kitty, Valentine, Dayo, Liza, Albert, etc. all had their own motivations and quirks, and their own relationship with the other characters, including Nash. Dayo's campaign to bring about abolition was a good inclusion, and we got to hear about Kitty's passion for painting, Albert's rabbits (a reoccurring joke that I nonetheless thought wholesome). Juno the dog was even a fun character in herself, though I rather expected her to dig up some ominous bone or get stuck or find a ghost in the forest.
- I liked the setting and the Regency time period, with the contrasts of different levels of proprietary and the dropping in of real historical people, like Shelley and Byron.
-
- I liked Eddie and Rose's different journeys and how they found themselves at different times. their friendship/budding romance was so well written, i loved the ebb and flow and the depiction of their tension, quarrels, intimacy, sexual attraction, forgiveness, etc. That was so well done.
cons:
- the start felt slow and a bit shallow. I didnt much like Eddie at all and it was all too Brigerton at that point. it really picked up for me as Eddie got drawn in and the stakes went up, with more dark edges to Nash and debauchery.
- I thought there was a real lack of resolution with Henry and Nash both. I wish Henry could have challenged Nate about the locket, his mother, and the assault. I felt it was glossed over that Nash sexually assaulted Henry, though that threat lingers in the latter half of the book against Eddie. It was left unclear whether anyone got shot with the pistol and I'm not sure Eddie got to see Henry after that. that was a bit of hanging loose end unless we're meant to think that Nash murdered Henry and just cleared him away, which doesn't seem likely, but if it was then....
- it's frustrating that Nash never got any more severe punishment for stealing Eddie's manuscript, lying, cheating on Liza, verbally abusing Eddie, nonconsensually kissing her, and force feeding her drugs... she should have slapped him at least, and then got him denounced in the papers. instead we get a lacklustre end note. guess I'm more vengeful but I definitely didnt feel he got taught any lesson!
but overall, this was a thrilling and gripping ride with great writing and I enjoyed it :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
near drowningmegangrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
bek_p87's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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? Yes
3.25
I enjoyed this, but not as much as I thought I would. It was slow to get started, and while I empathised with Eddie, I was a little annoyed with her naïvety and lack of insight at times. I had also expected - or hoped for - more spice. It was pleasant, but not groundbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Violence
enchantedsleeper's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
This was a light and enjoyable read, with some reassuringly fanficcy tropes. The main character is a lot like Lizzie Bennett meets Jo March, if Lizzie/Jo were bi and SUPER DENSE about it. But she and her romantic interest are a lovely combo. Albert was also a joy and a really nice supportive beard to Rose :D I wouldn't have minded lots more of him. The only thing that bothered me was that Eddie didn't fight for ownership of her novel at the end, considering that she had part of the manuscript and could prove it was by her! Even if Nash never went on to publish another novel, he still got the credit and acclaim. And everything was a Done Deal extremely quickly, somehow. I also wanted to know exactly what happened with Henry...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
Multiple scenes of dubious sexual consent and/or sexual consent under the influence of alcohol or drugs.vrhayes08's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Slavery, Colonisation, and Classism
samvansam's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death