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christinereads1823's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
carlyoc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Valentine, Duke of Malvern, is a stuffy and proper young man determined to do what is expected of him in society, even if it means marrying the childhood friend he has no true feelings for.
Arabella Tarleton is an overdramatic woman who reacts like a gothic novel heroine to Valentine's lackluster proposal by promptly fleeing into the night with her gender fluid friend Peggy.
Her equally overdramatic twin brother Bonaventure "Bonny" Tarleton ropes Valentine into chasing her down and apologizing before she can catch a ship to America.
During the chase, Bonny shows Valentine that there can be more to life than the narrow future laid out for him and they fall in love.
Always on the lookout for demisexual representation, I got some vibes from Valentine who says he had never truly experienced attraction before Bonny, although that may be largely because he didn't realize attraction to men was an option and suppressed or didn't recognize any such previous feelings. But it is only once he gets to know Bonny on an emotional level that he finds he has feelings for him whether he would like them or not.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence and Homophobia
thepictureofromance's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent
kangaroo1990's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Homophobia
beepbeep101's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
No dragons but plenty of fun ~spicyness~
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Favorite Moments: Jealous Valentine, Valentine being tied to a chair, Bonny
Least Favorite: Belle doesn't learn
Don't go into this expecting a serious book, I think the most apt word I would use is campy. It is clear this book was a delight for Alexis Hall to write, for it is just as whimsical as it is warm.
I recommend this book, though the characters might not be for everyone.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Injury/Injury detail
jjjreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
galleytrot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I’ll be honest, I’m more inclined to categorize this ‘historical fiction’ as a fantasy instead. Hall notes at the beginning of the book that linguistic liberties are taken, and just about everyone in the book is queer. This is not an exaggeration. Valentine leaves his comfortable world that operates precisely as one would expect a gray-and-drab-1800’s-England to operate, and he stumbles into this explosive, colorful, high-octane alternate reality that shakes the foundation of everything he thought he knew to be true.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny and Death of parent
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Violence, and Death of parent
kaitlinnoodles's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence and Gaslighting
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism