andra_mihaela_s's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Medical trauma
now_booking's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
One thing I’m realizing in my re-read of this series is how much this author can make me accept even my least favourite tropes. This book features the revenge seduction trope where Gervase seeks revenge against his mortal enemy Wulfric, the Duke of Bewcastle, by trying to compromise his youngest sister and Bedwyn sibling favourite, Morgan.
I really enjoyed this for the strength of its main character. Many regency heroines are so young and thus, sometimes lacking in agency. But not Morgan. I love how this book very much deromanticized the Napoleonic wars and kind of showed a very good glimpse of the period and the awful realities. Like previous books in the series gender and women’s agency or lack thereof was a major theme, classism and social norms around class was another, forgiveness also was a surprisingly significant theme in this. This book had me questioning my own relationship with forgiveness being a person of faith, compared with the forgiveness these characters in this book were able to find. This book featured some of the extremes that girls who feel powerless and backed into a corner might take to ensure their freedom, which might have severely tragic consequences. It was hard to read and feel okay with what the hero went through without feeling his bitterness. Yet, it was really emotionally compelling reading the bits about forgiveness and rebuilding trust and considering them from my own perspective. I enjoyed how pragmatic Morgan was and I’m just almost bursting with anticipation for Wulfric’s book which was always my favourite. Watch out for grief and death content as well as betrayal, those might be potentially triggering for a sensitive reader.
I really enjoyed this for the strength of its main character. Many regency heroines are so young and thus, sometimes lacking in agency. But not Morgan. I love how this book very much deromanticized the Napoleonic wars and kind of showed a very good glimpse of the period and the awful realities. Like previous books in the series gender and women’s agency or lack thereof was a major theme, classism and social norms around class was another, forgiveness also was a surprisingly significant theme in this. This book had me questioning my own relationship with forgiveness being a person of faith, compared with the forgiveness these characters in this book were able to find. This book featured some of the extremes that girls who feel powerless and backed into a corner might take to ensure their freedom, which might have severely tragic consequences. It was hard to read and feel okay with what the hero went through without feeling his bitterness. Yet, it was really emotionally compelling reading the bits about forgiveness and rebuilding trust and considering them from my own perspective. I enjoyed how pragmatic Morgan was and I’m just almost bursting with anticipation for Wulfric’s book which was always my favourite. Watch out for grief and death content as well as betrayal, those might be potentially triggering for a sensitive reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia and Rape
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