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claire_loves_books's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this- the scene bits worked well (I don't know much about the specifics but it all sounds reasonable) I did like the way that it looked out how outrageously women have been treated by the scientific community- having their work attributed to male colleagues or being overlooked was common- so common in fact that the suppression of women's contribution to science has even got it's own name The Matilda Effect.
I liked Sebastian, it took a while to come round to Violet but once I got to know a bit more about her I began to understand her and could like her more. Again the other characters were great- I was surprised by Violet's mum- no spoilers but you'll know what I mean by the end of the book.
I liked Sebastian, it took a while to come round to Violet but once I got to know a bit more about her I began to understand her and could like her more. Again the other characters were great- I was surprised by Violet's mum- no spoilers but you'll know what I mean by the end of the book.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Finally! So this one I actually really really liked. That's a relief to me as I wanted to like it so much. Violet and Sebastian were my favorite parts of books 1 and 2. It was nice to have their story live up to my expectations. They're relationship is amazing, built on years of experiences, but due to both of their insecurities far from perfect. Watching them both grow as individuals and together was a truly wonderful experience and I didn't have a problem with the boredom I've had in the others.
mcklockhart's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
ameretet's review against another edition
4.0
Violet is amazing.
2nd reading: i almost dnf'ed this book :(((
2nd reading: i almost dnf'ed this book :(((
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
The Countess Conspiracy was a good read, though it took me a while to get into it. I loved the first two books in this series from the start, but this one took some time. Why? Well because I didn't really like Violet that much. She took a long while to grow on me.
Violet and Sebastian have been friends forever. Sebastian is the lovable, funny guy who is also the guy lots of people love to hate for his scientific theories. He gives lectures about inherited trains and in doing so he must talk about some not appropriate topics. People are outraged, but he has been doing this for a few years and seemed to be fine with everything. Until he isn't. Until he wants to give up the charade that these theories are his. He just gets to the point where he can't go on anymore and it was really sad. You see in this book how much he cares for Violet, how careful he is with her and how he just wants to be with her. He was amazing. It was sad how people never take him seriously even when he is being serious. They all think he is just fun loving Sebastian and nothing ever gets to him, but it does. His friends and family are just awful to him sometimes and you just can't help but love him. You can't help but want things to work out for him. You want people to see there is more to Sebastian than his jokes that help smooth everything over and help everyone get along.
Violet was married at one point, but her husband passed away. Since then she has been this rock, not feeling anything or being warm at all. Yet Sebastian still loves her. The first part of the book I just kept getting angry with her as she kept hurting Sebastian and I couldn't understand why. You know there was something wrong with her marriage, but you don't find out what until later. Once you do then it is easier to see why she would be the way she is, but it was still hard for me to warm up to her. I guess that makes her a good character now that I think about it. She is supposed to be this cold, hard, spiky person and that is what she was for me for the longest time. So that was actually a good job by the author getting her to come across that way, but it was still hard to read. Eventually though she starts to break down and become softer and you can't help but love her by the end.
So Violet is the scientific mind behind all of Sebastian's talks. I loved that. I love that the women in Courtney Milan's books are so smart. Sure I am not sure this is exactly how some things were discovered, but it is a fun story. I did love how Violet would get so caught up in her work, or her reading or whatever that she would just completely shut out everything else. She could sit for hours reading and it doesn't really matter what is going on around her she will not notice it. It was great and Sebastian was amazing with her. Really the way he treats her and their situation is just perfect. He is such a gentleman and so perfect for Violet that I loved it. Sure it took me a while to get past Violet's cold exterior, but once I did I loved it all. Another great read by this author.
The Countess Conspiracy was a good read, though it took me a while to get into it. I loved the first two books in this series from the start, but this one took some time. Why? Well because I didn't really like Violet that much. She took a long while to grow on me.
Violet and Sebastian have been friends forever. Sebastian is the lovable, funny guy who is also the guy lots of people love to hate for his scientific theories. He gives lectures about inherited trains and in doing so he must talk about some not appropriate topics. People are outraged, but he has been doing this for a few years and seemed to be fine with everything. Until he isn't. Until he wants to give up the charade that these theories are his. He just gets to the point where he can't go on anymore and it was really sad. You see in this book how much he cares for Violet, how careful he is with her and how he just wants to be with her. He was amazing. It was sad how people never take him seriously even when he is being serious. They all think he is just fun loving Sebastian and nothing ever gets to him, but it does. His friends and family are just awful to him sometimes and you just can't help but love him. You can't help but want things to work out for him. You want people to see there is more to Sebastian than his jokes that help smooth everything over and help everyone get along.
Violet was married at one point, but her husband passed away. Since then she has been this rock, not feeling anything or being warm at all. Yet Sebastian still loves her. The first part of the book I just kept getting angry with her as she kept hurting Sebastian and I couldn't understand why. You know there was something wrong with her marriage, but you don't find out what until later. Once you do then it is easier to see why she would be the way she is, but it was still hard for me to warm up to her. I guess that makes her a good character now that I think about it. She is supposed to be this cold, hard, spiky person and that is what she was for me for the longest time. So that was actually a good job by the author getting her to come across that way, but it was still hard to read. Eventually though she starts to break down and become softer and you can't help but love her by the end.
So Violet is the scientific mind behind all of Sebastian's talks. I loved that. I love that the women in Courtney Milan's books are so smart. Sure I am not sure this is exactly how some things were discovered, but it is a fun story. I did love how Violet would get so caught up in her work, or her reading or whatever that she would just completely shut out everything else. She could sit for hours reading and it doesn't really matter what is going on around her she will not notice it. It was great and Sebastian was amazing with her. Really the way he treats her and their situation is just perfect. He is such a gentleman and so perfect for Violet that I loved it. Sure it took me a while to get past Violet's cold exterior, but once I did I loved it all. Another great read by this author.
sharonwb's review against another edition
4.0
I will round up to 4 stars mainly based on the subject of women in science. Ms Milan did an excellent job writing the story and describing the science which I enjoyed. The romance was very secondary to the science.
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
Violet and Sebastian have been scamming everyone for years with her being the brilliant scientist and him presenting her work because no one will listen to a woman, but Sebastian has finally hit his limit and he refuses to do it anymore which Violet originally takes as they aren't even friends anymore.
They've been friends since they were about 5 and Sebastian has been in love with her for at least the last 16 years, but Violet's marriage was not a good one and her former husband basically tried to erase/kill her making her believe she isn't worthy of hope, love, or affection of any kind.
He slowly peels her out of her shell and makes her feel safe enough to try and feel emotions again. The friendship was sweet and his patience was amazing. Not my fave from the series but I enjoyed to lady scientist aspect of this quite a bit.
TW: miscarriages(a lot of them but not on page)
They've been friends since they were about 5 and Sebastian has been in love with her for at least the last 16 years, but Violet's marriage was not a good one and her former husband basically tried to erase/kill her making her believe she isn't worthy of hope, love, or affection of any kind.
He slowly peels her out of her shell and makes her feel safe enough to try and feel emotions again. The friendship was sweet and his patience was amazing. Not my fave from the series but I enjoyed to lady scientist aspect of this quite a bit.
TW: miscarriages(a lot of them but not on page)