A review by kristinhunziker
The Lady Hellion by Joanna Shupe

lighthearted medium-paced

• 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

4.0

Shupe continues to have very good characterization, much more complex than many romance novels. The FMC is headstrong/obstinate/mulish, an affectionate friend, rebellious/reckless/careless, an inquisitive amateur sleuth, and very altruistic/social justice warrior for marginalized, poorer women. She doesn't want to marry, but of course finds herself conflicted wanting to marry the MMC as the plot progresses. The MMC is disabled, dealing with both a serious psychiatric condition and also agoraphobia, a genius cryptographer/code-breaker, grumpy, and private/solitary/reserved. He wants to marry the FMC, but fears passing his psychiatric problems on to any children.

So many books' protagonists are one-dimensional, merely reasonable, perhaps quirky, or worse, a bland reader self-insert. Joanna Shupe has never been interested in that; her characters are always three-dimensional and have serious but relatable flaws.

This book's only potential flaw is that all the primary and secondary characters have very twenty-first century morals and are mostly cosplaying as Regency era beings. This didn't bother me at all; sometimes it's a pleasant suspension of disbelief, especially when Shupe's character development and prose are so elevated.

Also the final villain is kind of corny.