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pattyblom's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A murder at a ball and a case to solve it with many twists. Also funny bits and an interesting main character. And a very long epilogue, which is nice. Also the recipes at the end were a nice touch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death of parent
vireogirl's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Camping book #3. Weirdly odd, with strange characters, jarring footnotes. If you can consider it a farce, it does move along and pull you in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gold_star_reader's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Fun satire of the period dramas. It spoofs the historical romance mysteries and keeps an enticing mystery. Silly little descriptions that play on manners and genteel society. I loved that one character could accompany herself on the piano and piano Forte and that her scones were the best because of their moistness. I especially enjoyed the subplot with Mary and no one noticed how odd she was. Fun little mystery that references many classic Brit Lit stories from Pride and Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes, and Jane Eyre to name a few.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
shinypurplepants's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
5.0
Genuinely fun and silly mystery that lies somewhere between The Princess Bride and Clue (1985). Beatrice has fully won me over and I love Swampshire in all its chaotic decorum. This is fully a farce but it's searing in its critique of women's roles in conservative societies like the Regency.
I called many but not all twists in the mystery and loved the eventual reveal. Absolutely favorite read of the year so far! Cannot wait for book two???
I called many but not all twists in the mystery and loved the eventual reveal. Absolutely favorite read of the year so far! Cannot wait for book two???
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lauramcc7's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
aria_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Classism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
beccasherman's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
bessadams's review
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Classism
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Confinement and Pregnancy
silver_valkyrie_reads's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was only mostly agreeable for me.
It started off strong, with clear homages to Jane Austen, without trying to replicate her style. (I could have imagine Austen reading this book with chuckle, in fact.)
My usual annoyance with complaints about the harsh social restrictions of the Regency world was abrogated by clearly making these harsh restrictions in an alternate history and so over the top as to be amusing.
Things started to peter out toward the end though... The societal complaints took on a more generic feminist flavor, and in general the characters devolved a bit towards being just the usual you'd expect from any Regency knockoff.
I found the character arcs to be completely predictable (including who must turn out to be the murderer) but found the other mysterious elements actually baffling until revealed, which was rather fun.
Overall, worth reading if you love good writing and witty humor, as long as you don't mind a weak ending.
(Also, this is probably just a personal thing, but I found the references to snot and saliva needlessly icky and gross.)
It started off strong, with clear homages to Jane Austen, without trying to replicate her style. (I could have imagine Austen reading this book with chuckle, in fact.)
My usual annoyance with complaints about the harsh social restrictions of the Regency world was abrogated by clearly making these harsh restrictions in an alternate history and so over the top as to be amusing.
Things started to peter out toward the end though... The societal complaints took on a more generic feminist flavor, and in general the characters devolved a bit towards being just the usual you'd expect from any Regency knockoff.
I found the character arcs to be completely predictable (including who must turn out to be the murderer) but found the other mysterious elements actually baffling until revealed, which was rather fun.
Overall, worth reading if you love good writing and witty humor, as long as you don't mind a weak ending.
(Also, this is probably just a personal thing, but I found the references to snot and saliva needlessly icky and gross.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy