Reviews

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee

readingsitaaras's review

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I came into this expecting a nice fluffy and fun adventurous read much like the first two books. And there was adventure and sarcasm and witty humor and crazy antics, but this book also deeply features the main character's anxiety and OCD, which made this surprisingly hard to read - especially if you deal with similar thoughts and difficulties. 

We're reading the book from Adrian's perspective and Mackenzie Lee does such a good job at putting his character into the narration and really putting you into his mind, to the point that you feel everything he does. His anxious narration drives up your own anxiety, and I found myself needing to put down the book every now and then to take a break from his thinking. I was really glad to see him get the development and arc that he did - after so much anxiety and obsession, we get a hopeful ending that really represents that idea of 'there is life after survival'.

This was also a fun adventurous read of course, I just focused on the mental health aspects of it because that's what was most personal to me. We do get a fun plot that perhaps lacks a little in complexity but is made up for with the well-developed characters. Overall, the book made for a satisfying and sweet end to the series. 

bassoonerfortip's review

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adventurous funny fast-paced

4.0

Fun fast paced read, I really identified with the MC anxiety sorta made me feel not alone. I don't have the same racing thoughts but it happens to me too. 

roolookingatstars's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

netflix_and_lil's review

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2.0

Did she... plagiarise the last sentences of this book from Rainer Maria Rilke? I'm genuinely asking.

'Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.' - Rilke

'I will let it all happen to me, beauty and terror... I know that no feeling is final.' - Lee

It was the end card for JoJo Rabbit for Christ's sake. It's also one of my favourite quotes. I have a mug with it printed on it I'm drinking from right now. What is happening??

Other than that, The Nobleman's Guide was. I thought it was a bit long and a bit rambly, and what could have been a fun reunion for favourite characters quickly turned into me being sad because my favourite characters had backslid into the teenage versions of themselves and a book with 'shipwreck' in the title failed to produce ANY actual shipwrecks. And also very little scandal. Unbelievable. It teases many things - a ghost ship, a pirate queen villain with a grudge, a marooning island... and complete brushes aside each of these morsels for more A to B historically accurate long-ass travel time. And in a series that never shied away from the fantastical, suddenly everyone is a sceptic!

This book is very much a character study. I'd recommend anyone interested in the story read a hundred or so pages and if you don't click with Adrian Montague as a protagonist, you don't need to bother with the rest. Things don't really get better as you go. If you do click with him, you may very well get something out of this trilogy closer - but I just feel a little robbed.

clover_jean's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

msbe_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

turnergrzegorczyk's review

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4.0

I loved reading all the siblings interacting together and any scene with Monty in it in general. They played so well off of each other’s quirks and the support they all had for each other’s flaws made me want to go hug my brothers and tell them I love them.

I will say the big “mystery” part of the plot was a little underwhelming for the conclusion.
But if I had to pick between great characters with a mediocre plot versus great plot with mediocre characters, great characters would win every time.

animelanie's review

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5.0

Loved this series, full of humour and heart.

glychee's review

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5.0

I didnt think it was possible for me to like this more than the 1st two books, which were already two of my favorite reads of all time, but here we are. The best book out of this excellent series. And I'm very grateful for the journey ❤

dumpsterc0rpse's review

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5