A review by amywrites
Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

emotional relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 

The author is the creator of Downton Abbey, so you know it's going to be good!

It starts off the night of the famous Duchess of Richmond's Ball in Brussels. We meet the Trenchards, a merchant family working with the army, and their lovely daughter, and the Brockenhursts, members of the peerage, and their charming son. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes both families and they are tied together in ways they would never imagine with secrets that don't emerge until twenty-five years later.

I LOVED the drama of this book. It was so good, but not over the top. The characters were a perfect mixture of lovable and hateable with some in between. I actually really enjoyed the character of Susan when we got her POV, though I didn't at first (as we met her from her mother-in-law's POV). The entire time I was rooting for Charles and Maria, they were both so sweet.

Of course, this was very well researched and each scene painted so clearly.

I can't wait to watch the show to see how that holds up!