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extracelestial's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The premise of the book was promising (solving a mystery! secret feminist organizations! unrequited childhood love!) but ultimately this wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped it be. The plot is interesting but I didn’t fall in love with the characters and I’m not sure their chemistry was really there for me.
My biggest pet peeve about this book, though, is that the MC’s name is Danielle which historically isn’t really accurate for when that name became popular but that’s probably just me!!
My biggest pet peeve about this book, though, is that the MC’s name is Danielle which historically isn’t really accurate for when that name became popular but that’s probably just me!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An Inconvenient Duke attempts to mesh several story lines together to create one coherent story. The first is the budding relationship between the brand-new Duke (Marcus) and his late sister's best friend (Danielle). Then there's the murder mystery surrounding the death of his sister (Elise). And then there's the Nightingale plot, where Danielle "vanishes" women who are trapped in abusive marriages, without a cent to their name. And it mostly works. The three plots wouldn't stand on their own, but work together for a better whole. Much like other books with multiple plot lines, they compete for which is the most important aspect of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Trafficking, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, Blood, and Body shaming
cvcreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Good pacing, didn’t get too angsty, good communication between couple (no “misunderstandings” that could be solved with a simple conversation). Hero could have groveled a bit more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape
joonlily's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I loved that Danielle was working (successfully) to help women escape abusive situations. I loved the bond between Marcus and his friends.
But a) I felt like the passion ramped up way too fast, when I would have rather had more character and relationship development, especially given that
b) I hated that Marcus continually insisted Danielle's work was too dangerous, while he was doing equally dangerous work himself. It's a consistent and important plot element that makes no sense for either character, and it just makes Marcus seem controlling. And the fact that Danielle ends up giving up on Nightingale to engage in making political change instead makes NO SENSE. (why not fight politically and still help individual women? Why not have Marcus, with his vast power, influence and money, help with the vanishings to make them safer?),
It belittled and minimized Danielle's work, and gave it so much more of a white savior feel than it should have had. Marcus never even addresses the double standard and inequity between her work and his, and Danielle spends the whole book INSISTING that what she does is important for the women that she helps, that she won't give it up for anything, only to capitulate suddenly when she grows a random interest in politics (even while recognizing that any real change will take years, and that there are no other resources for women trying to leave abusive environments).
It was infuriating.
c) Can we please, for the love of all that is holy, stop using hot sex as a replacement for characters actually dealing with their relationship problems? Especially when EVERY argument gets dropped in the middle because they "are so angry but they just can't keep it in their pants". Stop it.
I'll read more in the series but with a wary eye.
Part of my reaction is because it's touted as a "feminist"romance, but in the end the men were the ones doing the saving and starting the Armory, and the women were given the less "scary" jobs and it all just felt icky. <\spoiler>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Domestic abuse
The heroine runs a secret organization that helps women escape domestic abuse. There is one scene where a family member's abuse is described from the heroine's memory. The hero tends to be controlling.
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