Reviews with content warning for Classism - Bringing Down the Duke

⭐ 4.25/5
🌶️ 3.25/5

📝 I really enjoyed this story. I think both FMC Annabelle's and MMC Sebastian's viewpoints were valid considering their backgrounds, and the things keeping them apart made sense to them. I loved Annabelle overall, being such a smart and resourceful and self possessed woman. And Sebastian's deep well of feelings beneath his stony exterior.

I liked that there were lots of political details (re: suffragists, and Tories v Liberals, and Queen Victoria). I really love a historical that's not afraid to take a side in favor of basic human rights/dignity, and shows some progressive views, however anachronistic that may make it.

🎧 This was dual POV but a single (female) narrator, Elizabeth Jasicki. She did a good job with the voices and intonations so that most of the time it was easy to tell, for example, when someone was thinking something versus saying it aloud (this is a constant peril of audiobooks), or which character was speaking at any time.

🌶️ There were a handful of steamy scenes with a medium level of detail. And there was great chemistry between these two.

🏳️‍🌈✊ There wasn't really any traditional diversity to speak of in the book. No mention of race or ethnicity or sexual orientation that differed from "the norm" (white, English, straight). And I would've expected at least one or two bi or lesbian characters in a story centered around the women's rights movement. There were different social classes represented, which kinda counts as a type of diversity, when we're talking British historicals?

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condls27's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring fast-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

5.0

I am so mad I waited so long to read this series! I knew almost instantly this was going to be a 5 star read. The yearning alone just impaled my heart and that was before I got to the spice. Excuse me while I immediately purchase and devour the rest of the series…

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tannerlauren's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

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ohshebookish's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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kathis_wonderland's review against another edition

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emotional 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

2.75

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore is the first book in the A League of Extraordinary Women series. Annabelle finally gets the chance to study at Oxford. During her help for the women's suffrage movement she meets Sebastian, a powerful duke in England. In the efforts to win him for their cause, Annabelle is falling for him. And even though it is socially not acceptable, Sebastian falls for the country woman as well.

I've had this book on my to-read list for over three years. When a friend of mine said she had it at home, I was really excited to finally read it. However, I am a little disappointed. This book was not really my cup of tea. The characters are all rather cold and distant. None of them really appealed to me. I just didn't get warm with them. Sebastian was the coldest of them all. I did not really see his charm. He is abrupt and demanding, but he never did anything against Annabelle's wishes. All the aristocratic and misogynistic thinking made me mad. I was constantly annoyed and just did not really enjoy the writing style of this book. The sex scenes were steamy and okayish.

There was nothing extraordinary or exciting in this book. It was an okay read. Sadly, I don't want to read the other books in the series. I expected something different.

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kbookish's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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jencolumb0's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative 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

4.25

I initially struggled to get into this book but am glad I gave it a second try. It’s a delightfully spicy (Victorian) pass at the Duke trope that also serves as the best articulation I have read to date of the experience of being an intelligent woman in the patriarchy. So, in that sense, it is not the most escapist of books but is a validating, enjoyable read.

Guys, particularly those looking to Do Better, put this one at the top of your TBR.

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annick's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

The tenderness. The sensual tension. (Yes, sensual, not sexual). And the emotional intimacy as they developed affection for each other. It wasn’t just beautiful horny adults.

Almost flawless. I loved so so much of this.

Two scenes disappointed me in the final 20% - for the miscommunication plot device and for the grand gesture in the HoL.

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