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debralewi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cooperc879's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
mstufail19's review against another edition
4.0
This had everything - evil dukes, scandal, highwaymen, lies, redemption. I loved it. And apparently, Georgette Heyer was only 19 when she wrote this! I loved the ending so much I wanted there to be another book. I hate when I love a book and then find out that it ISN'T an established series of 27 books. I want the Duke to have a book!
This book is number 6 on my self-imposed curriculum of chronological Romance History, written in 1921.
This book is number 6 on my self-imposed curriculum of chronological Romance History, written in 1921.
roseice's review against another edition
4.0
This was... kind of delightful. Unexpectedly delightful. My first impression was this: This writing style is so strange. One thing I dislike is how the narrative constantly uses different titles to refer to characters, and then other characters do as well. So Richard Carstares is Carstares, Richard, and Dick. At least for the narrative keep things consistent! But alas, mid-paragraph we're constantly switching between povs, so you're never 100% sure whose head we're in, and usually this annoys me, but the narrative is so distant to begin with it isn't a huge problem here.
Fortunately, my early hesitations didn't bear the dry and slow book I was expecting. This book is delightful. Charming dialogue makes for colourful and interesting characters. There's basically no story here; it's just the characters. Just the sort of thing I love. The dynamic between characters is flawless executed, and almost all the interactions are interesting, if not ridiculous and thus entertaining. I love well-written dialogue, and even if they're just talking, I found the way things were worded so clever and enjoyable that I got lost in the conversations all the same. Cripes, I love the way the characters speak here. And in many historical novels.
I liked how the character interactions came together, too. At first, Lavinia and Richard are nauseating, but they come to such a satisfying end that I found myself falling in love with them. Oh, man. Jack and Diana are as cliched a couple as they come, but I didn't hate them. Don't get me started on Tracy. He was a super cheesy villain, but he spoke so well that I found myself forgiving all that.
Yes, this was a ridiculously delightful read.
It always frustrates me when I hear an author wrote a book like this when she was in her teens. Fifteen! Wow. Compared to what *I* was writing at fifteen, this is a masterpiece. How decidedly irritating.
Fortunately, my early hesitations didn't bear the dry and slow book I was expecting. This book is delightful. Charming dialogue makes for colourful and interesting characters. There's basically no story here; it's just the characters. Just the sort of thing I love. The dynamic between characters is flawless executed, and almost all the interactions are interesting, if not ridiculous and thus entertaining. I love well-written dialogue, and even if they're just talking, I found the way things were worded so clever and enjoyable that I got lost in the conversations all the same. Cripes, I love the way the characters speak here. And in many historical novels.
I liked how the character interactions came together, too. At first, Lavinia and Richard are nauseating, but they come to such a satisfying end that I found myself falling in love with them. Oh, man. Jack and Diana are as cliched a couple as they come, but I didn't hate them. Don't get me started on Tracy. He was a super cheesy villain, but he spoke so well that I found myself forgiving all that.
Yes, this was a ridiculously delightful read.
It always frustrates me when I hear an author wrote a book like this when she was in her teens. Fifteen! Wow. Compared to what *I* was writing at fifteen, this is a masterpiece. How decidedly irritating.
al27caro's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not quite as good as some of her romances, but still good.
aminowrimo's review against another edition
3.0
This read… like a NaNoWriMo novel. Crazy ladies, funny villains, high-flown language, out-of-this-world situations…
I loved it.
Seriously. Even though I don't think there's one psecific plot that anyone can exactly nail down, this is a really funny, interesting, immersive sort of book.
That said, only three stars, because it's not, I think, her best.
I loved it.
Seriously. Even though I don't think there's one psecific plot that anyone can exactly nail down, this is a really funny, interesting, immersive sort of book.
That said, only three stars, because it's not, I think, her best.
tanya_the_spack's review against another edition
1.0
This is the worst book I have ever finished, and it ranks somewhere in the top five or so worst books I have ever read.
eb00kie's review against another edition
3.0
Read this book at the end.
As Heyer’s first attempt, it’s not the best introduction, but having read ‘These Old Shades’ and ‘The Talisman Ring’, this makes for an amazing prequel. Black Moth is disjointed, but the seeds of great potential are there.
It is melodrama in the highest degree, but also with a strong villain, that never comes up again. Black Moth is a bit like seeing ‘The Lion King’ from Scar’s perspective. Following from that, Scar cannot be redeemed, but that flair and Jeremy Irons’ voice become an old character with a new name, they all do, and this is what Heyer does with ‘These Old Shades’.
Whereas ‘The Talisman Ring’ takes the accused brother plot and refines it for humor and fun.
Sadly, I’ve never read the like of Molly O’Hara and her cousin Harry, and even for that scene, how fun it was.
As Heyer’s first attempt, it’s not the best introduction, but having read ‘These Old Shades’ and ‘The Talisman Ring’, this makes for an amazing prequel. Black Moth is disjointed, but the seeds of great potential are there.
It is melodrama in the highest degree, but also with a strong villain, that never comes up again. Black Moth is a bit like seeing ‘The Lion King’ from Scar’s perspective. Following from that, Scar cannot be redeemed, but that flair and Jeremy Irons’ voice become an old character with a new name, they all do, and this is what Heyer does with ‘These Old Shades’.
Whereas ‘The Talisman Ring’ takes the accused brother plot and refines it for humor and fun.
Sadly, I’ve never read the like of Molly O’Hara and her cousin Harry, and even for that scene, how fun it was.
maplessence's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhhh, reading my sentimental favourite!
This is the first of GH's novels I read in it's entirety. & wasn't I lucky starting with GH's first book, written when she was only seventeen. I still have my original copy, although the cover fell off on this reading! [bc:The Black Moth|13488637|The Black Moth|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329471051l/13488637._SY75_.jpg|2651650]
According to Jane Aiken Hodge, GH said she had two hero types
The Mark I hero, who is “The brusque, savage sort with a foul temper” (Vidal from Devils Cub, Max from Faro's Daughter)
The Mark II hero, who is “Suave, well-dressed, rich, and a famous whip” (Robert Beaumaris from Arabella and Lord Alverstoke from Frederica.) But she had two more.
1/ the affable blonde giant (Hugo from The Unknown Ajax and Captain Jack Staples from The Unknown Ajax.)
2/ The sweet hero- Gilly from The Foundling, Phillip from Powder & Patch & the quixotic Jack Carstares from this book.
& then there is Freddy Stanton from Cotillion who is impossible to categorise! I have to say I do have a fondness for the sweet heroes & I like it that nice guys don't always finish last.
Diana is also a different heroine – I loved the description of her beauty. She isn't as resourceful as the usual Heyer heroine – more a traditional damsel in distress.
But this book differs from most Heyer's & indeed from most romances. Jack & Diana are both absent from a good part of the book. The villain is the titular character (I think Devil Belmanoir would have been a better title) and it is also the story of Jack's brother Richard & his troubled marriage.
Richard's weak character & passion for the lovely but spoilt Lavinia and her diabolical brother's pulling the strings are important plot points. Add GH's gift for creating engaging & memorable secondary characters and you have an engaging, fast paced romp.
GH herself had a fondness for these characters and many of them are renamed & reworked in These Old Shades. & duh,it was only on this reading that I realised Andrew becomes Rupert in These Old Shades.
If you have never read a Heyer start with this one. Lucky you if you can read them in the order written & trace this wonderful writer's development.
Edit; After chatting with GR friend Andrea, I realise I should have said read in order, but skip the titles the formidable GH had suppressed other than maybe Footsteps in the Dark. GH hated those books for a reason.
You can read it for free online at http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/heyer/moth/moth.html
September 2020. My Second Read Since being on Goodreads and a very necessary diversion in a world that has become scary and deadly
I know a few people who have been rereading their Heyer romances in these troubled times.
On to my review. I realise last time I was way too hard on Diana. And I don't agree with reviewers who thought their were too many characters. I love GH's gift for making even minor characters come to life. However, Belmanoir's brother Bob could be dispensed with. The plot point he was needed for could have been handled another way & he is very similar to his elder brother in character.
The ending - well it isn't GH's best work & I have the same problems I have to a similar ending in and why was it such a terrible sin for
Still a remarkable book for a seventeen year old.
I'll make a small correction to my previous review. [b:Footsteps in the Dark|311123|Footsteps in the Dark|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320460143l/311123._SY75_.jpg|1055239] isn't one of the titles GH had suppressed. It was just reprinted less often because, well, it isn't that good.
This is the first of GH's novels I read in it's entirety. & wasn't I lucky starting with GH's first book, written when she was only seventeen. I still have my original copy, although the cover fell off on this reading! [bc:The Black Moth|13488637|The Black Moth|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329471051l/13488637._SY75_.jpg|2651650]
According to Jane Aiken Hodge, GH said she had two hero types
The Mark I hero, who is “The brusque, savage sort with a foul temper” (Vidal from Devils Cub, Max from Faro's Daughter)
The Mark II hero, who is “Suave, well-dressed, rich, and a famous whip” (Robert Beaumaris from Arabella and Lord Alverstoke from Frederica.) But she had two more.
1/ the affable blonde giant (Hugo from The Unknown Ajax and Captain Jack Staples from The Unknown Ajax.)
2/ The sweet hero- Gilly from The Foundling, Phillip from Powder & Patch & the quixotic Jack Carstares from this book.
& then there is Freddy Stanton from Cotillion who is impossible to categorise! I have to say I do have a fondness for the sweet heroes & I like it that nice guys don't always finish last.
Diana is also a different heroine – I loved the description of her beauty. She isn't as resourceful as the usual Heyer heroine – more a traditional damsel in distress.
But this book differs from most Heyer's & indeed from most romances. Jack & Diana are both absent from a good part of the book. The villain is the titular character (I think Devil Belmanoir would have been a better title) and it is also the story of Jack's brother Richard & his troubled marriage.
Richard's weak character & passion for the lovely but spoilt Lavinia and her diabolical brother's pulling the strings are important plot points. Add GH's gift for creating engaging & memorable secondary characters and you have an engaging, fast paced romp.
GH herself had a fondness for these characters and many of them are renamed & reworked in These Old Shades. & duh,it was only on this reading that I realised Andrew becomes Rupert in These Old Shades.
If you have never read a Heyer start with this one. Lucky you if you can read them in the order written & trace this wonderful writer's development.
Edit; After chatting with GR friend Andrea, I realise I should have said read in order, but skip the titles the formidable GH had suppressed other than maybe Footsteps in the Dark. GH hated those books for a reason.
You can read it for free online at http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/heyer/moth/moth.html
September 2020. My Second Read Since being on Goodreads and a very necessary diversion in a world that has become scary and deadly
I know a few people who have been rereading their Heyer romances in these troubled times.
On to my review. I realise last time I was way too hard on Diana.
Spoiler
She fights Jack hard for both their happiness and uses strategy against the evil Devil BelmanoirThe ending - well it isn't GH's best work & I have the same problems I have to a similar ending in
Spoiler
[b:The Convenient Marriage|32106|The Convenient Marriage|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386919934l/32106._SY75_.jpg|3183163]Spoiler
Jack to have cheated at cards, but not so terrible when the cheat turned out to be Richard, who while tormented, left his elder brother living in poverty and disgrace for seven years!Still a remarkable book for a seventeen year old.
I'll make a small correction to my previous review. [b:Footsteps in the Dark|311123|Footsteps in the Dark|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320460143l/311123._SY75_.jpg|1055239] isn't one of the titles GH had suppressed. It was just reprinted less often because, well, it isn't that good.