liber_aesthete's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
This book was incredible. I loved the characters and the story. The writing felt effortless. I heard about this book at StokerCon, where the author was speaking and I was so excited to get my hands on a copy. I look forward to reading her other work
shellroch285's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
A lovely debut! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Marian and Valentine are incredible, and I grew to love Mrs. Bornholdt as she grew to love Marian :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infertility
best_ending's review against another edition
5.0
Probably in the top 10 favorite books I've read this decade, possibly my entire life so far. Perfectly crafted, sensitive and hard hitting. It delivers both on suspense and substance. The erotic aspects that fade to black (my personal preference) are a thousand times more effective than actual erotica and yet handles its subject matter with grace and understanding.
This seems like a niche genre but I would recommend this to anyone who likes good books and good writing.
This seems like a niche genre but I would recommend this to anyone who likes good books and good writing.
britanielanea's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful victorian gothic suspense with mystery and romance eeriely wrapped up in one.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow. Briana Una Mcguckin's debut novel is worth the read. This story has wonderful bones and structure. The mysterious and eerie suspenseful theme is throughout the entire story..down to the last page.
The characters of Marian and Valentine were very likeable. The writer drew my attention to the master of the house the most. I enjoyed Mr.Bornholdt. This character is so well written and he's so good at manipulating and gaslighting everyone including me(a little tinsy tiny bit.)
Side note- I wish Marian's character had a bit more physical description like Valentine. I wanted to envision her as well as I could everyone else.
The books markets itself as "now tinged with BDSM" in the blurb. So, I did not expect fade to black scenes. However, it's not disappointing. The fade to black works well but I did find myself more invested in how/why(the excitement,the trauma bond, the control) they began incorporating as younger people. There was even more base story to tell that I was oh so ready to dive into.
In conclusion, I do wish it had more it. I feel there was so much that could have been told. Despite the story itself not being a long as I would prefer, the plot,suspense,and characters will be perfection to many readers.
Four Stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow. Briana Una Mcguckin's debut novel is worth the read. This story has wonderful bones and structure. The mysterious and eerie suspenseful theme is throughout the entire story..down to the last page.
The characters of Marian and Valentine were very likeable. The writer drew my attention to the master of the house the most. I enjoyed Mr.Bornholdt. This character is so well written and he's so good at manipulating and gaslighting everyone including me(a little tinsy tiny bit.)
Side note- I wish Marian's character had a bit more physical description like Valentine. I wanted to envision her as well as I could everyone else.
The books markets itself as "now tinged with BDSM" in the blurb. So, I did not expect fade to black scenes. However, it's not disappointing. The fade to black works well but I did find myself more invested in how/why(the excitement,the trauma bond, the control) they began incorporating as younger people. There was even more base story to tell that I was oh so ready to dive into.
In conclusion, I do wish it had more it. I feel there was so much that could have been told. Despite the story itself not being a long as I would prefer, the plot,suspense,and characters will be perfection to many readers.
Four Stars
whatandreawrote's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tova's review against another edition
5.0
So much to love about this book! Spicy, gripping, and made me scream repeatedly for various reasons.
Victorian society from the workers' perspectives; drama about fashion color theory; a brooding love interest with a heart of gold? A smart, brave heroine who also likes to be tied up? Honestly what more could you want?
Victorian society from the workers' perspectives; drama about fashion color theory; a brooding love interest with a heart of gold? A smart, brave heroine who also likes to be tied up? Honestly what more could you want?
lilibetbombshell's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book about bondage. Yes, it is somewhat about bondage like the cover shows, but it’s really about all sorts of bondage women could be bound in the time period this book is set in, especially when that bondage involves the will of men or the power of money.
The cover calls this “a novel of suspense”, but if you’re looking for some high-wire suspense thriller or suspense mystery, you’re looking in the wrong place. This is more of a low thrumming, steadily beating, pastoral sort of suspense novel. The gothic isolation and overall story of trying to undermine and find a way out of an untenable situation with an awful patriarchal overlord is a more quiet and furtive pursuit for a lady’s maid in the 1800s than in most other suspense novels you may read this year. And this is, indeed, a rather quiet book, despite its cover.
I like this book, though, because it’s so unassuming and has no pretenses. It simply is what it is: a historical fiction novel that brings us some suspense, some mystery, some romance, and lovely prose. The narrative isn’t heavy, which can be an issue with some historical novels set in this time period, nor is the dialogue melodramatic, which can also be an issue. The small details a frequent reader of historical fiction would notice have been neatly taken care of, as far as I can tell, which is something I always look at in reading HF. The characters are outstanding, and their moral dilemmas, as written, would be quite consistent with the social mores and conventions of the time. Sure, even the Victorians got a little spicy and liked more than a little slap and tickle, but only the rich and privileged would have had the freedom to express such feelings without consequence (because they would have been the only ones who could pay for loyal silence).
This book does have a non-linear timeline of sorts, too. The book has scenes set in the past, when two of the main characters are young and live in one of London’s workhouses, and then in the present as they work together at Valor Rise. There are also letters from the FMC to an anonymous receiver interspersed throughout the novel. I greatly enjoyed the scenes set at the workhouse, because I believe the past scenes greatly helped to inform the present scenes. In some books I believe a juxtaposed timeline like this is extraneous, but in this book I fully believe it works really well.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable page-turning novel. I greatly enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this novel.
File Under: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance/Historical Mystery/Historical Suspense/Romantic Suspense
The cover calls this “a novel of suspense”, but if you’re looking for some high-wire suspense thriller or suspense mystery, you’re looking in the wrong place. This is more of a low thrumming, steadily beating, pastoral sort of suspense novel. The gothic isolation and overall story of trying to undermine and find a way out of an untenable situation with an awful patriarchal overlord is a more quiet and furtive pursuit for a lady’s maid in the 1800s than in most other suspense novels you may read this year. And this is, indeed, a rather quiet book, despite its cover.
I like this book, though, because it’s so unassuming and has no pretenses. It simply is what it is: a historical fiction novel that brings us some suspense, some mystery, some romance, and lovely prose. The narrative isn’t heavy, which can be an issue with some historical novels set in this time period, nor is the dialogue melodramatic, which can also be an issue. The small details a frequent reader of historical fiction would notice have been neatly taken care of, as far as I can tell, which is something I always look at in reading HF. The characters are outstanding, and their moral dilemmas, as written, would be quite consistent with the social mores and conventions of the time. Sure, even the Victorians got a little spicy and liked more than a little slap and tickle, but only the rich and privileged would have had the freedom to express such feelings without consequence (because they would have been the only ones who could pay for loyal silence).
This book does have a non-linear timeline of sorts, too. The book has scenes set in the past, when two of the main characters are young and live in one of London’s workhouses, and then in the present as they work together at Valor Rise. There are also letters from the FMC to an anonymous receiver interspersed throughout the novel. I greatly enjoyed the scenes set at the workhouse, because I believe the past scenes greatly helped to inform the present scenes. In some books I believe a juxtaposed timeline like this is extraneous, but in this book I fully believe it works really well.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable page-turning novel. I greatly enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this novel.
File Under: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance/Historical Mystery/Historical Suspense/Romantic Suspense
kasdaye's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a bit to get into this novel, but once it hooked me, I couldn't put it down! The characters are compelling, as is the central slow-burn suspense. The romance element is handled fantastically, it's seductive without having a ton of actual on-page steam, which is a difficult blend to pull off! Definitely a captivating story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical suspense with a side of longing and maybe just a sprinkle of BDSM 👀
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Infertility, and Sexual assault
inkychaotics's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
On Good Authority swept me up into its story, and I was happily captured there. The pacing was great and kept me hooked throughout each chapter. Briana Una McGuckin has succeeded in creating a strong novel with compelling characters, interesting dynamics and relationships, and some nicely plotted twists along the way. I loved going back at the ending and rereading the letters once I learned for sure who they were to. Highly recommend!