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ashleylynnreads's review against another edition
2.0
It was cute it was your typical regency romance with a little dash of powerful female character but I felt like there could have been much more feminism in it I guess. I love the fact that it had people of color in it and adoption that was great just me on the storyline I guess.
max_the_lesbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Ridley's previous two books in the series about the Wynchester siblings, I was so excited to read about Graham - information gathering and acrobatics extraordinaire. This book follows him and Kuni - an aspiring Balcovian Royal Guard visiting England on an intelligence gathering mission with the hopes of impressing the king enough to let her become the first Balcovian woman to be in the Royal Guard.
Overall, the book was an absolute blast. Ridley's books are always of a mix of over-the-top antics and adventure, mixed with a tenderness between the love interests and the Wynchester family - and this book exemplifies it. Graham's background as a circus performer very much so into play (I don't want to spoil anything too much but let's just say there's a quite hilarious scene involving a robbery and two trick horses), and it was fantastic to see his character and back story expanded on, and Kuni was such an interesting character to bring into the fold as someone completely outside both the story, and the country it takes place in.
This book didn't totally click for me in every aspect though, and I think the core of my struggle with it is that the conflict over why Kuni couldn't stay - she wanted to become a Balcovian guard - got a bit tedious after a while. I get it, obviously, life's passion and all that, but between that and royals-worship on behalf of Graham was just not something I could buy into - full disclosure, I say this as someone who is decidedly anti-monarchist and not exactly pro-military (do I love regency romance? Yes, but I prefer mine where I can kind of imagine the aristocracy as some sort of fantasy world, not real life). Like, I understood where Kuni was coming from, but the more she kept talking about her brothers and her what her job as a guard would entail, I just wasn't buying it, so it kind of made that aspect a drag.
Despite this, I still really loved reading their story and spending more time with the Wynchester siblings. I'm fairly certain I've said this before, but this is one fictional family I wish I could step into.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, the book was an absolute blast. Ridley's books are always of a mix of over-the-top antics and adventure, mixed with a tenderness between the love interests and the Wynchester family - and this book exemplifies it. Graham's background as a circus performer very much so into play (I don't want to spoil anything too much but let's just say there's a quite hilarious scene involving a robbery and two trick horses), and it was fantastic to see his character and back story expanded on, and Kuni was such an interesting character to bring into the fold as someone completely outside both the story, and the country it takes place in.
This book didn't totally click for me in every aspect though, and I think the core of my struggle with it is that the conflict over why Kuni couldn't stay - she wanted to become a Balcovian guard - got a bit tedious after a while. I get it, obviously, life's passion and all that, but between that and royals-worship on behalf of Graham was just not something I could buy into - full disclosure, I say this as someone who is decidedly anti-monarchist and not exactly pro-military (do I love regency romance? Yes, but I prefer mine where I can kind of imagine the aristocracy as some sort of fantasy world, not real life). Like, I understood where Kuni was coming from, but the more she kept talking about her brothers and her what her job as a guard would entail, I just wasn't buying it, so it kind of made that aspect a drag.
Despite this, I still really loved reading their story and spending more time with the Wynchester siblings. I'm fairly certain I've said this before, but this is one fictional family I wish I could step into.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
webbsusa's review against another edition
5.0
This was yet another wonderful Wynchesters novel! I had a more difficult time getting into this one at first, I think because Graham was a character we didn’t get to know well in the previous books and Kuni was brand new. But before long, I was sucked into the story. I’m so glad we got to know Graham, who was an outstanding hero; I wanted to knock Kuni over the head a few times for taking so long to realize what she had with Graham, but I loved her as well. And this one was one of my favorite Wynchester adventures yet. Well done!
spellboundchapters's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jasmine567's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
notbrhymes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I typed a whole long review of this and storygraph just exited the review page before the changes saved 😭
moral of the story I felt this was just too much insta love for my taste. Kuni and Graham had just about 0 conversation before Graham left town and somehow Kuni was still thinking about marriage with him? Girl yall haven't even really had a one on one conversation.
The family, once again, was a shining beacon of light that caused me to bump my rating up to a 3 bc I just adore them.
moral of the story I felt this was just too much insta love for my taste. Kuni and Graham had just about 0 conversation before Graham left town and somehow Kuni was still thinking about marriage with him? Girl yall haven't even really had a one on one conversation.
The family, once again, was a shining beacon of light that caused me to bump my rating up to a 3 bc I just adore them.
ericas_bookshelf's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was so unique honestly, I loved. The pacing is a bit on the slower side at times and the spice is a bit lower than I was expecting, but overall? I had the a lot of fun reading it!
P. S. Highly recommend the audiobooks for this entire series!!
P. S. Highly recommend the audiobooks for this entire series!!
shoversten's review against another edition
4.0
I really like this book but I also didn’t feel the romance was the main plot. I still really liked it as a historical adventure fiction book with a romance subplot.