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lanidacey's review against another edition
2.0
God, Pen was annoying af. Mark was pretty interesting and the plot as a whole could have been a lot more interesting, but murder brings out the worst in people. I wasn't very sympathetic to Pen when his refusal to accept the earldom meant that people would kept getting tortured and murdered.
The whole series ranks at about a 3.5. If that second book hadn't been so good, I wouldn't even have put in the trouble to continue it.
Spoiler
ESPECIALLY SINCE HE WAS ABLE TO JUST RELINQUISH THE DAMN THING WITH JUST A FEW WORDS? WHAT WAS THE POINT???The whole series ranks at about a 3.5. If that second book hadn't been so good, I wouldn't even have put in the trouble to continue it.
thosemedalingkidsss's review against another edition
4.0
Solid ending to the series. I wish there was more explanation and exploration of the hero born without an arm, as that disability was underdeveloped. On the other end, the gender discussions in this were excellent, along with body dysmorphia and not fitting into the gender binary. We don't know how Pen identifies - agender, non binary, gender nonconforming, etc. And that's OK! Pen's still figuring it out as well. I loved the gender expression and playfulness in this, and loved the leads. The mystery plot was also very satisfying.
cyberhavok's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria and Murder
adelaidebijou's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ramakn22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Violence, Sexism, and Outing
booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
AN UNSUITABLE HEIR follows Pen, the newly discovered heir to the fortune so contested in AN UNNATURAL VICE, and Mark, the one-armed investigator who has been trying to keep his friends and new acquaintances from getting killed as they attract the ire of the high and mighty.
Closing out the trilogy, AN UNSUITABLE HEIR expertly weaves together the remaining story threads left open from AN UNNATURAL VICE. Pen and Greta are twins, trapeze artists, and most commonly known as the "Flying Starlings", present since the beginning of the series. The timeline overlaps between scenes are artfully done, giving new context and perspective to the exact same events by showing them through a different character’s perspective. Even reading the whole trilogy in two days, the repetitions of some scenes felt poignant and fresh at the same time. The trilogy as a whole (and this book in particular) have many discussion of class, privilege, and the ways that bigotries have similar echoes, even when shaped to hit different targets. Pen is some variety of genderqueer by modern standards, the historical setting means he doesn’t have access to that specific language. Pen's pronouns are the best he can get as both "she" and "it" are wholly unsuitable, and "he" works well enough when necessary. Mark is generally described as one armed, with one full arm and another that ends in a stump at the elbow. It’s a congenital limb difference, not something he lost, and he and Penn have several long conversations about the weight of social expectations and the dissonance that’s caused when other people are upset that their bodies are not what was assumed.
I love AN UNSUITABLE HEIR as an end of the trilogy. There’s genuine tension in what Pen will choose, hemmed in by inheritance laws, the desire to do what’s best for his sister, and the need to be himself. Mark is caught between promises already made, and his growing attraction to Pen and care for Pen's wellbeing.
Closing out the trilogy, AN UNSUITABLE HEIR expertly weaves together the remaining story threads left open from AN UNNATURAL VICE. Pen and Greta are twins, trapeze artists, and most commonly known as the "Flying Starlings", present since the beginning of the series. The timeline overlaps between scenes are artfully done, giving new context and perspective to the exact same events by showing them through a different character’s perspective. Even reading the whole trilogy in two days, the repetitions of some scenes felt poignant and fresh at the same time. The trilogy as a whole (and this book in particular) have many discussion of class, privilege, and the ways that bigotries have similar echoes, even when shaped to hit different targets. Pen is some variety of genderqueer by modern standards, the historical setting means he doesn’t have access to that specific language. Pen's pronouns are the best he can get as both "she" and "it" are wholly unsuitable, and "he" works well enough when necessary. Mark is generally described as one armed, with one full arm and another that ends in a stump at the elbow. It’s a congenital limb difference, not something he lost, and he and Penn have several long conversations about the weight of social expectations and the dissonance that’s caused when other people are upset that their bodies are not what was assumed.
I love AN UNSUITABLE HEIR as an end of the trilogy. There’s genuine tension in what Pen will choose, hemmed in by inheritance laws, the desire to do what’s best for his sister, and the need to be himself. Mark is caught between promises already made, and his growing attraction to Pen and care for Pen's wellbeing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
Minor: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Child death, and Transphobia
elm's review against another edition
4.0
HECK!!!! I had such a good time reading this series! Anyway, excuse me while I go add Clem, Justin and Pen to my 'characters I would die for' list.
charinabook's review against another edition
4.0
✨3.75 stars✨
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
sarful's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 A great conclusion to a great series.
In this final book, we finally meet the heir to the Morton estate and Pen is definitely not a “suitable” heir, indeed. In the previous book we see Mark handling finding the rightful heir and stopping the murders connected to it. In this book Mark meets Pen and the two form a friendship that turns to love.
Pen and his sister Greta are trapeze artists. Pen is as beautiful as they are handsome. Manly and yet feminine. A perfect blend of neither sex and both. They’ve found a way to be themselves and make a living, and his sister is his greatest support. However, once it’s out that he’s the legitimate son of the previous Earl of Morton, the life he’s known comes into danger of slipping away. Now, not only is their life in danger, but their lifestyle is in danger.
Mark has always enjoyed people, men, women, it’s never mattered over the person. But, with Pen he’s found all he’s ever wanted and more. However, with Pen’s claim to the Earl estate, the two have a bit of rough beginning.
I loved this mystery of a series. I loved Pen and Mark. I loved how the two make it work. And I love this series.
In this final book, we finally meet the heir to the Morton estate and Pen is definitely not a “suitable” heir, indeed. In the previous book we see Mark handling finding the rightful heir and stopping the murders connected to it. In this book Mark meets Pen and the two form a friendship that turns to love.
Pen and his sister Greta are trapeze artists. Pen is as beautiful as they are handsome. Manly and yet feminine. A perfect blend of neither sex and both. They’ve found a way to be themselves and make a living, and his sister is his greatest support. However, once it’s out that he’s the legitimate son of the previous Earl of Morton, the life he’s known comes into danger of slipping away. Now, not only is their life in danger, but their lifestyle is in danger.
Mark has always enjoyed people, men, women, it’s never mattered over the person. But, with Pen he’s found all he’s ever wanted and more. However, with Pen’s claim to the Earl estate, the two have a bit of rough beginning.
I loved this mystery of a series. I loved Pen and Mark. I loved how the two make it work. And I love this series.