Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

4 reviews

cashmereweekend's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was my first Georgette Heyer experience, and I found it got off to a slow start. The characters are engaging, though, and I was surprised by the tone of the writing. It's very 'of its era' - and by that I mean you can tell exactly when it was written. A lot of effort clearly went into researching the period in which it's set, but this slows the pace down a bit. As a scholar of Regency and Georgian literature I was surprised at how much language was shoe-horned in here that the likes of Jane Austen weren't using in their writing. At times that could get a bit repetitive. 

About two thirds of the way through the pace definitely picked up, and the plot thickened as it became a lot more twisty and turny. It's definitely more Bridgerton than Austen.

I'm not sure I felt satisfied by the ending - it was fine but I think I needed more. I often do with more contemporary novels so maybe that's just me! 

Overall, an unexpected read but I'm glad I did dip by toe into Georgette's world. 
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lil_bookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I can’t believe I heard many good reviews about this book. The relationship between Venetia and his brother and Venetia despising etiquette are the only really good outstanding elements
The romance begins with Damerel literally assaulting her and they dismiss it saying both « he is a  man after all » and « he didn’t know she wasn’t just a farm girl » like these are good excuses ??!
The novel is also sprinkled with misogyny and fatphobia and the constant repetition of how astonishingly beautiful Venetia is compared to any other woman grew tiresome after the 50eth time !
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babudarabu's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

How is everyone in this book so selfish, and yet I am utterly charmed by it?  I think it's the recognition of the character flaws themselves and everyone just owning it as part of who they are.

This book was honestly so wild because it felt like it could get wrapped up around the 50% mark but a new wrench was introduced and shook everything up.

And we never even met the asshole brother that also abandoned them and his other responsibilities and then dumped his new pregnant wife and shitty MIL on them!!!
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