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akswhy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
2.5
An interesting concept that turned surprisingly soapy by halfway through. I think there needed to be a little bit more plot that did not involve the love interest aspect of things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism
celery's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
⭐ 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?
🌶️ 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?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement and Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
jelkebooks's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Honestly, this book's biggest crime is that it just is extremely boring. Oh my god, I was so bored while reading this book. It's almost unbelievable. I do think this book does try interesting things but everything is just so dragged out and slow paced that it just made me want to bash my head in.
Anyway, I did quite like Annabelle. I thought she was a very interesting character with very strong ambitions, and I love how passionate she could be about things. It's just that towards the end I felt like she lost her determination a little bit. She lost her personality a bit in favor of just being obsessed with the love interest. Talking about Sebastian, gods I did not like him. His only personality trait is that he's an ass. Truly, he is an incredibly awful person, and besides being mean to everyone in his life he has no other personality traits. Blergh!
I also wasn't a big fan of the romance. I just thought there was no chemistry between the characters at all. They had barely any moments together before they already started risking it all. They became such wet rags for each other while there was just nothing there. It became a bit annoying. Sebastian also became so obsessive over Annabelle, that he came so incredibly close to crossing her boundaries almost every time they were together. I'm still not entirely convinced Annabelle even got with him out of of pure guilt shaming. I don't know. This book just didn't work for me.
Anyway, I did quite like Annabelle. I thought she was a very interesting character with very strong ambitions, and I love how passionate she could be about things. It's just that towards the end I felt like she lost her determination a little bit. She lost her personality a bit in favor of just being obsessed with the love interest. Talking about Sebastian, gods I did not like him. His only personality trait is that he's an ass. Truly, he is an incredibly awful person, and besides being mean to everyone in his life he has no other personality traits. Blergh!
I also wasn't a big fan of the romance. I just thought there was no chemistry between the characters at all. They had barely any moments together before they already started risking it all. They became such wet rags for each other while there was just nothing there. It became a bit annoying. Sebastian also became so obsessive over Annabelle, that he came so incredibly close to crossing her boundaries almost every time they were together. I'm still not entirely convinced Annabelle even got with him out of of pure guilt shaming. I don't know. This book just didn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexual assault
undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kschmaltz's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
annick's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
agw622's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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
5.0
This was such an amazing read. The time period chosen was such a unique background for a romance book. I love how the line between being strong in yourself and finding love was managed so well. The charecters had depth, and I'm excited to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Colonisation
caelfind's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism