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passionatereader78's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book more than I loved the Netflix series and I LOVE that series! The beautifully written details in this story of love no matter what! It definitely is a turn lemons into lemonade themed book. Queen Charlotte knows that there is something wrong in her marriage to King George, but she can't figure out what. George stays away from her most of the time and he refuses to tell the truth when she asks him why. George loves Charlotte but he cannot let her know his secret. He is the King and has to make sacrifices for the crown. This is definitely a reread!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual content
mrsmishler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
rhiannon814r's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Racism, Mental illness, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
onefineelephant's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.5
7/10. I'm glad I read this book because I appreciated some of the parts that we didn't get to see in the show and I liked getting to know the intimate thoughts of the characters (especially Brimsley). However, there were certain (small) parts of the book that differed from the show which really irked me. Also, the book completely erases the whole Lord Ledger plot line which I think completely changes Lady Danbury's character. I was really looking forward to getting to know Lady Danbury's thoughts and feelings about her illicit affair and then there was not even a hint of it in the book which was incredibly disappointing. Overall, I'm glad I read it but I doubt I will read it again and I much prefer the show to the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Ableism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Dementia
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
"The choice is entirely up to her."
The upcoming nuptials of King George have sent the palace ablaze. Princess Charlotte of Germany is... darker than any of the palace expected, leading to The Great Experiment and whether or not the ton can be united as one, regardless of skin color. But despite the social shifting occuring, the new King and Queen are at odds with one another as George struggles to hide his own secrets from his new bride.
Oof. Total honesty - I read up to 50% and skimmed the rest. This just wasn't it for me. The magic of Julia Quinn's other novels just wasn't in this one. I found it really hard to connect to Charlotte as a character because she genuinely felt like she didn't have much of a personality other than being brash and blunt. I would have adored to see the backstory of her leading up to her arrival in London, being told she had to have a marriage of convenience and setting up her and George. The other aspects of the novel just seemed to happen to her, instead of her having an active part in her own story. George was also the kind of love interest I just... didn't like. Coupled with the fact there is so much torture and horrific depictions of mental healthcare via him, it just became too much to read about.
On a technical level this novel is really poorly done. I wish I had understood it's a straight to page adaption from the show (which I've not watched yet - maybe the actors can sell this plot) but Quinn's magic of the Ton and the way London society works is all gone. It's dreadfully bland, with paragraphs and paragraphs of just pure dialogue moving the book forward. It almost reads like a script, which is maybe some of Shonda Rhimes' input, but it felt off. It was all just so bizzare? The sex scenes (that I got to) were also really awkwardly written and I couldn't help but be painfully aware that Charlotte is seventeen in this (unlike Quinn's other heroines who are at least legal). It just missed the mark entirely for me and I feel icky and don't want to waste anymore time on it.
Content warnings: Mental illness (George's mental illness is very present), Physical abuse/Torture (via medical doctor, it's so uncomfortable and graphic), rape/sexual content (via marriage bonds), racism (via skin color descriptions/society)
The upcoming nuptials of King George have sent the palace ablaze. Princess Charlotte of Germany is... darker than any of the palace expected, leading to The Great Experiment and whether or not the ton can be united as one, regardless of skin color. But despite the social shifting occuring, the new King and Queen are at odds with one another as George struggles to hide his own secrets from his new bride.
Oof. Total honesty - I read up to 50% and skimmed the rest. This just wasn't it for me. The magic of Julia Quinn's other novels just wasn't in this one. I found it really hard to connect to Charlotte as a character because she genuinely felt like she didn't have much of a personality other than being brash and blunt. I would have adored to see the backstory of her leading up to her arrival in London, being told she had to have a marriage of convenience and setting up her and George. The other aspects of the novel just seemed to happen to her, instead of her having an active part in her own story. George was also the kind of love interest I just... didn't like. Coupled with the fact there is so much torture and horrific depictions of mental healthcare via him, it just became too much to read about.
On a technical level this novel is really poorly done. I wish I had understood it's a straight to page adaption from the show (which I've not watched yet - maybe the actors can sell this plot) but Quinn's magic of the Ton and the way London society works is all gone. It's dreadfully bland, with paragraphs and paragraphs of just pure dialogue moving the book forward. It almost reads like a script, which is maybe some of Shonda Rhimes' input, but it felt off. It was all just so bizzare? The sex scenes (that I got to) were also really awkwardly written and I couldn't help but be painfully aware that Charlotte is seventeen in this (unlike Quinn's other heroines who are at least legal). It just missed the mark entirely for me and I feel icky and don't want to waste anymore time on it.
Content warnings: Mental illness (George's mental illness is very present), Physical abuse/Torture (via medical doctor, it's so uncomfortable and graphic), rape/sexual content (via marriage bonds), racism (via skin color descriptions/society)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
theinkedpath's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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? No
3.25
ES:
Interesante precuela de los Bridgerton (la he leído habiendo empezado la serie, con dos episodios vistos). En esta historia se nos cuenta la historia de la Reina Carlota de joven.
Inciso: No he leído los Bridgerton para leer esta novela, y no creo que haga falta para leer este libro (aunque sí he visto la serie).
La historia que se presenta aquí me ha parecido bonita y romántica, aunque trata temas complejos como la enfermedad mental, el racismo y la integración. Quizá por estos temas, los que me han llamado la atención, he sentido que la historia fuera a veces tan superflua, y que se resolviese tan pronto. La reina Carlota y George podían haber sido más.
A pesar de esto, lo he pasado bien con el audiolibro.
EN:
Before talking about the book I must say I listened to this story after watching two episodes of the show 'Queen Charlotte' of Netflix. I decided to stop and read the story first as soon as I discovered it was a book. I have also seen the Bridgerton series (although I do not think it is necessary to enjoy this story).
This is the story of how, in this world, when Queen Charlotte married King George of England the noble court added black members into the aristocracy. But this is also about a young foreign woman entering a new society...and falling in love with her husband (who hides more than he shows).
I enjoyed this romantic and sweet story. Specially the development of the young queen as a person and her relationship with King George, which is very sweet.
However, I must say that my favourite part of the story is the importance of race and integration, the inclusion of black members of aristocracy and what means for this version of England, as well as the references to mental health issues and how to live with a person who suffers it. Unfortunately, all these aspects are barely brushed in the story, that sometimes feels too easy and superfluous (I do not know if the TV adaptation does the same, I have not finished it yet). Despite my need for more complexity in the plot, I enjoyed the audiobook version of the story.
Interesante precuela de los Bridgerton (la he leído habiendo empezado la serie, con dos episodios vistos). En esta historia se nos cuenta la historia de la Reina Carlota de joven.
Inciso: No he leído los Bridgerton para leer esta novela, y no creo que haga falta para leer este libro (aunque sí he visto la serie).
La historia que se presenta aquí me ha parecido bonita y romántica, aunque trata temas complejos como la enfermedad mental, el racismo y la integración. Quizá por estos temas, los que me han llamado la atención, he sentido que la historia fuera a veces tan superflua, y que se resolviese tan pronto. La reina Carlota y George podían haber sido más.
A pesar de esto, lo he pasado bien con el audiolibro.
EN:
Before talking about the book I must say I listened to this story after watching two episodes of the show 'Queen Charlotte' of Netflix. I decided to stop and read the story first as soon as I discovered it was a book. I have also seen the Bridgerton series (although I do not think it is necessary to enjoy this story).
This is the story of how, in this world, when Queen Charlotte married King George of England the noble court added black members into the aristocracy. But this is also about a young foreign woman entering a new society...and falling in love with her husband (who hides more than he shows).
I enjoyed this romantic and sweet story. Specially the development of the young queen as a person and her relationship with King George, which is very sweet.
However, I must say that my favourite part of the story is the importance of race and integration, the inclusion of black members of aristocracy and what means for this version of England, as well as the references to mental health issues and how to live with a person who suffers it. Unfortunately, all these aspects are barely brushed in the story, that sometimes feels too easy and superfluous (I do not know if the TV adaptation does the same, I have not finished it yet). Despite my need for more complexity in the plot, I enjoyed the audiobook version of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism
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