Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This novel is over thirty years old and it does show. I had a few issues with it, and didn’t gel very well with the writing style. It was very simplistic and a drag at times. The characters felt quite flat and all over the place. Their erratic behaviour was giving me whiplash. However, the second half was admittedly better (after they married) and I found the love and trust between Duncan and Madelyne very sweet and satisfying. With better storytelling this would have been an amazing romance.
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyable read, although the misogyny (while period accurate) was difficult to stomach at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault
Julie Garwood takes you back into the dangerous yet adventurous time of the Middle Ages, with amazing bouts of battle, love, sadness, and a deserved happily ever after. From the dangers and and courage the heroine Madylene must muster through the bloody clashes of blades, to falling in love with the barbaric yet protective baron Duncan, you get to see through the lease of time how no matter what they face or go through, love is always found in the end. I highly recommend reading this wonderful love story by Garwood; you will not be disappointed!
DNF @ 25%. Madelyne’s character was wildly inconsistent. People shouted and whispered at the strangest times. The constant (constant) POV switches were distracting. This whole book (what I read of it) annoyed me.
It's really badly written. The main characters are so damn confusing!!! Their emotions vary from one extreme to the other just in a span of few seconds .The overall writing is also very confusing. I couldn't finish it (read 70% ).
I've read this book probably 10 times, I love it so much.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
Honor’s Splendour-Julie Garwood
If you’re looking for a steamy historical romance that will keep you on your toes, then “Honor’s Splendour” is the book for you. Julie writes rich characters in this clever tale, with a dynamite scene of how/when Madelyne and the Wolf first meet. I have reread this book a couple of times, and writing this review now has me thinking about reading it again! I love this book! FIVE STARS!
If you’re looking for a steamy historical romance that will keep you on your toes, then “Honor’s Splendour” is the book for you. Julie writes rich characters in this clever tale, with a dynamite scene of how/when Madelyne and the Wolf first meet. I have reread this book a couple of times, and writing this review now has me thinking about reading it again! I love this book! FIVE STARS!
3.5 stars
i will remember that it was kind of cute and sweet, but that there was also an inordinate amount of shouting - seemingly for no reason.
i will remember that it was kind of cute and sweet, but that there was also an inordinate amount of shouting - seemingly for no reason.
0 stars - strongly considering DNFing all of Julie's misogynistic books
Something I've started to realise from reading more of Julie Garwood's books is that they're all the same and not the least bit believable. A common theme in all of these book is deeply rooted misogyny. Let me preface this by saying: yes, I do know that these are historical romances and so there will inherently be a level of patriarchy that should be 'ignored' to make the book seem like it reflects the time period better. But that doesn't excuse the offensive way she portrays women.
Julie teaches us:
1. Women screech and overreact to every little inconvenience.
2. Women are emotionally unstable and insecure.
3. Women cannot protect themselves in the slightest and must have a big, strong man to protect them.
Madelyne and Adela are prime examples of women in Julie's stories that reflect these damaging and unrealistic characteristics. The plot is constructed in such a way that random unbelievable events result in these women being vulnerable and relying on a man to either tell them what to do or save them. That doesn't make these women likeable in the slightest.
I won't even bother going into details about the rest of this dumpster fire - which was the entire book - like the fact that there's no plot or world building or anything that makes this book even the slightest bit interesting. Don't read this or 99% of Julie's books if you want to stay sane.
Something I've started to realise from reading more of Julie Garwood's books is that they're all the same and not the least bit believable. A common theme in all of these book is deeply rooted misogyny. Let me preface this by saying: yes, I do know that these are historical romances and so there will inherently be a level of patriarchy that should be 'ignored' to make the book seem like it reflects the time period better. But that doesn't excuse the offensive way she portrays women.
Julie teaches us:
1. Women screech and overreact to every little inconvenience.
2. Women are emotionally unstable and insecure.
3. Women cannot protect themselves in the slightest and must have a big, strong man to protect them.
Madelyne and Adela are prime examples of women in Julie's stories that reflect these damaging and unrealistic characteristics. The plot is constructed in such a way that random unbelievable events result in these women being vulnerable and relying on a man to either tell them what to do or save them. That doesn't make these women likeable in the slightest.
I won't even bother going into details about the rest of this dumpster fire - which was the entire book - like the fact that there's no plot or world building or anything that makes this book even the slightest bit interesting. Don't read this or 99% of Julie's books if you want to stay sane.