thenextbookdilemma's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
This is another great historical romance but the setting is unique: 1880s Vienna! It was such a refreshing change from the usual regency/Victorian England setting and let me tell you, the excitement does not stop there! This book includes:
-spies!
-family secrets!
-ball season!
-sabotage!
-a plethora of assassination attempts
-how-to erotic texts
-a starchy American MMC who is very…competent
-*coughs* a competency kink
-an eccentric FMC who finds herself in the path of danger over and over.
Maria. I loved Maria! She is ambitious, practical, and diligent while also frivolous. Reader, you might ask how one can be both practical and frivolous and all I will say is linen closets and secret trysts. It’s hot. It’s a balance. She is fiercely independent and determined not to repeat the mistake of the women in her family of choosing terrible men to fall in love with.
The solution is to not fall in love and simply enjoy the occasionally casual lover….until she meets Eli.
Eli. Oh Eli. Reader, the *undoing* of Eli was exquisite. Eli is the sort of character who keeps all emotions locked down. He is dedicated to his work and finds emotions to be impractical. He is sent to Vienna to discover who is selling American codes but instead, he discovers Maria and suddenly, his emotions are a little too hard to lock down ….and he begins to come undone. Y’all Eli is so sweet and so….competent (when he sets his mind to learn something new, he LEARNS it *loud whispers* via erotic manuals!!). He is earnest and sweet and believes he is undeserving of love and I adored the development of his and Maria’s intimacy.
This book was so fun! There are several underlying mysteries that were highly enjoyable and I failed to guess any of them. And while the assassins and spies are fun, this book also touches on some pretty dark themes (check your CWs!) and also gives a truly lovely example of consent, intimacy, and communication. The chemistry was superb.
I mostly read this via audiobook and I definitely recommend it!
-spies!
-family secrets!
-ball season!
-sabotage!
-a plethora of assassination attempts
-how-to erotic texts
-a starchy American MMC who is very…competent
-*coughs* a competency kink
-an eccentric FMC who finds herself in the path of danger over and over.
Maria. I loved Maria! She is ambitious, practical, and diligent while also frivolous. Reader, you might ask how one can be both practical and frivolous and all I will say is linen closets and secret trysts. It’s hot. It’s a balance. She is fiercely independent and determined not to repeat the mistake of the women in her family of choosing terrible men to fall in love with.
The solution is to not fall in love and simply enjoy the occasionally casual lover….until she meets Eli.
Eli. Oh Eli. Reader, the *undoing* of Eli was exquisite. Eli is the sort of character who keeps all emotions locked down. He is dedicated to his work and finds emotions to be impractical. He is sent to Vienna to discover who is selling American codes but instead, he discovers Maria and suddenly, his emotions are a little too hard to lock down ….and he begins to come undone. Y’all Eli is so sweet and so….competent (when he sets his mind to learn something new, he LEARNS it *loud whispers* via erotic manuals!!). He is earnest and sweet and believes he is undeserving of love and I adored the development of his and Maria’s intimacy.
This book was so fun! There are several underlying mysteries that were highly enjoyable and I failed to guess any of them. And while the assassins and spies are fun, this book also touches on some pretty dark themes (check your CWs!) and also gives a truly lovely example of consent, intimacy, and communication. The chemistry was superb.
I mostly read this via audiobook and I definitely recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence and Murder
mairead_parade's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Adored this. Imperial Vienna is a fun, vibrant setting for a very deeply felt romance (and a solid mystery) with strong character development and growth. Eli and Maria are so likable and well-matched, and I loved the Wallner matriarchy. I’m not sure a series is planned, but there were so many other rich stories among the secondary characters that I’d absolutely read more in this universe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
naomi_k's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Classism, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Religious bigotry
barefootbetsy's review
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Classism, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
caramiaculpa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
emilylovesgoodbooks's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Gun violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Violence, Child abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Blood
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! At first I wasn't sure if I'd love the writing, but by about a quarter of the way in I found myself too caught up in the story and characters to mind anymore. I found it really engaging and was very invested in what would happen, and in the romance. Slightly more spoilery/specific notes below:
(Also I normally wouldn't comment on the sex scenes specifically, good or bad, because that's embarrassing to me lmao. I would prefer to not acknowledge that when idk who will read this. So it's a mark of just how good they were that I feel the need to at least mention it in my review!)
Sometimes I start a (straight) romance and the male lead is described as so rude and humorless that I have no idea how they're going to bring me around to liking him by the end, or thinking he's a good fit for the female lead. This was one of those, but Biller did indeed end up putting me firmly on the side of the relationship! I love them together and really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this ARC.
(Also I normally wouldn't comment on the sex scenes specifically, good or bad, because that's embarrassing to me lmao. I would prefer to not acknowledge that when idk who will read this. So it's a mark of just how good they were that I feel the need to at least mention it in my review!)
Sometimes I start a (straight) romance and the male lead is described as so rude and humorless that I have no idea how they're going to bring me around to liking him by the end, or thinking he's a good fit for the female lead. This was one of those, but Biller did indeed end up putting me firmly on the side of the relationship! I love them together and really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, Child abuse, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Vomit, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse
Content warnings from author's website:Spoiler
Gunplay Attempted murder Murder Killing in self-defense Assault Bad parents Animal attacks General violence Government corruption and injustice Discussion of past spousal and child abuse
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