algorithms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roseybot's review against another edition
3.0
There wasn't a lot of tension in this book to draw you into the world and make you wonder what was going to happen next, but it was quite well done and I want to read more by Charles, cause I'm fairly sure that in a different relationship, there'd be more tension.
ginfizz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
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
ruthlessly's review against another edition
4.0
i really, REALLY liked this! i loooooved all the political stuff and i thought it was genuinely interesting and deft with the way it wove that through. i loved silas!!! and i liked dominic a lot. i thought the cast of characters here was excellent and i super enjoyed all of them. i think there was some really funny moments here and i liked the feeling of that small community. also i luv radicals yk.
i will say: this was just way more porny than i was expecting it to be. ik ik look at the cover but i've been reading regency stuff ok they all have weirdly horny covers and then sometimes just aren't! so i was a little surprised by this! i did my victorian esque pearl clutching, but this was still such a good time. once again, i have no idea why i've read book two of a series and not started from the beginning. i read someone said that you needed to read the first one but i kinda feel like you def don't to understand this. i didn't! i'm sure there's subtleties you miss but ehhh. i'll prob go back when i can find it, but this was what was available to me!!!
i will say: this was just way more porny than i was expecting it to be. ik ik look at the cover but i've been reading regency stuff ok they all have weirdly horny covers and then sometimes just aren't! so i was a little surprised by this! i did my victorian esque pearl clutching, but this was still such a good time. once again, i have no idea why i've read book two of a series and not started from the beginning. i read someone said that you needed to read the first one but i kinda feel like you def don't to understand this. i didn't! i'm sure there's subtleties you miss but ehhh. i'll prob go back when i can find it, but this was what was available to me!!!
amberdbailey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sarful's review against another edition
5.0
She does such a fine job of atmosphere and ambiance. I could easily picture each moment with how perfectly described it all was, without going into too much detail. I felt like I was right there with the characters. I loved how much history and politics permeated this romance. So rich a time period and one I’m not as versed in as I would like.
And what fascinating characters there were. I thought the first book in the series presented a tough pairing for a happily, this book seemed insurmountable. But, I’m sure Charles relishes these types of challenges.
I felt Dominic and Silas were so supremely spectacular of characters. Dom, the high Tory of the Home Office, who also loves to be dominated in bed. And dominated, no less, than to a seditionist who preaches overthrowing the monarchy. Hot. The way these two understand each other intellectually and physically was so wonderful and beautiful yet frustrating. They were so their time and place, yet progressive at the same time. Job well done of a book.
And what fascinating characters there were. I thought the first book in the series presented a tough pairing for a happily, this book seemed insurmountable. But, I’m sure Charles relishes these types of challenges.
I felt Dominic and Silas were so supremely spectacular of characters. Dom, the high Tory of the Home Office, who also loves to be dominated in bed. And dominated, no less, than to a seditionist who preaches overthrowing the monarchy. Hot. The way these two understand each other intellectually and physically was so wonderful and beautiful yet frustrating. They were so their time and place, yet progressive at the same time. Job well done of a book.
jessica_flower's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warning for : hard BDSM, CNC, Dom/Sub roleplay, humiliation/degradation kink, pain kink, bondage, sensory play, BDSM negotiations, some violence, murder off page, physical assault, threats to out a trans side character by extortion and blackmail
This book is essentially kinky stuff between two middle aged men with a background of early 19th century political shenanigans.
This was an okay continuation of the series and a lot more than I bargained for in some areas. Part of me is surprised that I finished it, considering the type of BDSM displayed in this novel is very much not to my taste. This book literally opens up with a hard scene with CNC and a humiliation/degradation kink. Like, it happened right in the first chapter.
In writing, I get that the first chapter is meant to act as a hook of some sort to introduce the characters, or at least the setting and some base foundation of the narrative to get the reader interested, but damn! That was less a hook and more like an anchor knocking into you. At the end of the chapter I realised it was consensual for both partners, and then I breathed a sigh of relief.
This couple are the literal definition of "opposites attract". Seriously, at one point one of them says, "We disagree without hatred and fuck as we choose."
Dominic is a privileged Tory gentleman working in some office of the British government (can't remember which), and Silas is a poor London bookshop owner who's secretly a political activist in a time where being anything other than a monarchist could get you arrested or worse. Dominic is supposed to arrest Silas' alter ego (name I can't remember, but it's the name he uses to write his political pamphlets under), except he doesn't know that it is Silas, because even though they've been fucking for almost a year (under an arrangement set up by mutual acquaintances) they still haven't told each other their real names. Until one day Dominic's buddies go to raid a bookshop and guess who's the owner? Silas. And everything else starts happening from there.
(Silas and Dominic are both very politically opinionated and they're both kinky freaks. They're really good at being freaks for each other. The book could be summed up in these 2 sentences, I think.)
There's a lot of early 19th century politics and early 19th century literature. Frankenstein makes an appearance, but by its original title The Modern Prometheus. Basically, all the books and politics are a backdrop for the battle of wills/beliefs between Silas and Dom throughout the book. They love to argue almost as much as they like rough fucking.
There's also a lot of scheming from both Dom's coworkers in the government and from Silas' poor friends in the neighborhoods of London. Scheming that leads to a shittily constructed conspiracy plot, Silas getting arrested when he didn't actually do the wrong shit they think he did, Officer Julian Norhys showing up and pulling rank (you go, my man), and then the Ricardian society pulling together to save Dominic and his boyfriend.
Also ft. cameos from Harry and Julius, seeing Julius from Silas' perspective (that sure was something), the longstanding friendship between all the Ricardians, Richard and Dominic finally processing their past shit, Cyprian the excellent manservant and his excellent mastermind planning, and Richard still being the stiff upper lip, at least for now. Because the next couple's gonna be Richard and Cyprian and not gonna lie, I'm curious enough to see how Cyprian pulls it off.
This book is essentially kinky stuff between two middle aged men with a background of early 19th century political shenanigans.
This was an okay continuation of the series and a lot more than I bargained for in some areas. Part of me is surprised that I finished it, considering the type of BDSM displayed in this novel is very much not to my taste. This book literally opens up with a hard scene with CNC and a humiliation/degradation kink. Like, it happened right in the first chapter.
In writing, I get that the first chapter is meant to act as a hook of some sort to introduce the characters, or at least the setting and some base foundation of the narrative to get the reader interested, but damn! That was less a hook and more like an anchor knocking into you. At the end of the chapter I realised it was consensual for both partners, and then I breathed a sigh of relief.
This couple are the literal definition of "opposites attract". Seriously, at one point one of them says, "We disagree without hatred and fuck as we choose."
Dominic is a privileged Tory gentleman working in some office of the British government (can't remember which), and Silas is a poor London bookshop owner who's secretly a political activist in a time where being anything other than a monarchist could get you arrested or worse. Dominic is supposed to arrest Silas' alter ego (name I can't remember, but it's the name he uses to write his political pamphlets under), except he doesn't know that it is Silas, because even though they've been fucking for almost a year (under an arrangement set up by mutual acquaintances) they still haven't told each other their real names. Until one day Dominic's buddies go to raid a bookshop and guess who's the owner? Silas. And everything else starts happening from there.
(Silas and Dominic are both very politically opinionated and they're both kinky freaks. They're really good at being freaks for each other. The book could be summed up in these 2 sentences, I think.)
There's a lot of early 19th century politics and early 19th century literature. Frankenstein makes an appearance, but by its original title The Modern Prometheus. Basically, all the books and politics are a backdrop for the battle of wills/beliefs between Silas and Dom throughout the book. They love to argue almost as much as they like rough fucking.
There's also a lot of scheming from both Dom's coworkers in the government and from Silas' poor friends in the neighborhoods of London. Scheming that leads to a shittily constructed conspiracy plot, Silas getting arrested when he didn't actually do the wrong shit they think he did, Officer Julian Norhys showing up and pulling rank (you go, my man), and then the Ricardian society pulling together to save Dominic and his boyfriend.
Also ft. cameos from Harry and Julius, seeing Julius from Silas' perspective (that sure was something), the longstanding friendship between all the Ricardians, Richard and Dominic finally processing their past shit, Cyprian the excellent manservant and his excellent mastermind planning, and Richard still being the stiff upper lip, at least for now. Because the next couple's gonna be Richard and Cyprian and not gonna lie, I'm curious enough to see how Cyprian pulls it off.
scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Mmm... the story thickens, and more is at risk. Had a better sense of Dominic and Silas that I had of Henry and Julius and of course they had more to try to figure out. So a more satisfying story for me.