A review by theaceofpages
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • 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 admit that I don't read a massive amount of historical fiction. But I've heard about this one a few times so I thought I'd give it a try. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would! Monty is sent for a tour across Europe (under the watch of a chauffer of course!) after he is expelled from Eaton. While he is delighted to be joined by his long time friend (and more recent love interest) Percy (a black son of a duke who is heading off to Holland afterwards), he is less happy that his sister Felicity is being sent along before she goes to finishing school (although she would really rather be a doctor). They manage to lose their chauffer after being attacked by highwaymen and go on their own adventure, chasing the secrets hidden by an artifact Monty stole in France.  The plot felt a bit convoluted at times but overall I enjoyed the journey 

Diverse historical fiction is rare. At least in mainstream spaces. It was delightful to see some broader representation than is common. This one tackles race, sexuality, sexism and the way disorders like epilepsy were treated. I absolutely loved Felicity and her spirit. While there are definitely similarities between her and Monty, she has a compassion he lacks. Monty however... Yeah. He was a bit of a self centred jerk. I do appreciate that he started to mature towards the end and look beyond his own feelings and desires. 


Expand filter menu Content Warnings