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jenn_alwaysreading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At Your Pleasure is a stand-alone historical romance by Meredith Duran set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. Ultimately, I had to read this historical romance like historical fiction, because the romance is so fraught with political tension that I spent a LOT of the book raging. And while I think of Meredith Duran and Sherry Thomas as the two angstiest historical romance authors I've read, I'm realizing after finishing my second Duran (and after like seven from Thomas...) that their approaches to high-angst relationships are radically different. With Thomas, we get messy characters who suffer largely from their own machinations. The drama is intensely personal. With Duran, we get otherwise typical characters thrown into such horrifically messy situations that they are forced to make extreme decisions. Nora and Adrian, in and of themselves, aren't wholly remarkable characters, but their circumstances? WOOF. The things they do for each other - and TO each other - will make you weep, shudder, rage, weep again, and then, finally, THANK GOD, burn.
What worked for me: This is a fascinating and deeply insightful exploration of a woman's role during the early 18th century and how that role shifts during political instability. Nora is robbed of agency at every turn, and Duran's laser-focus on how she navigates a life of impossible choices is remarkably done. Our MMC actually reflects ON PAGE on the unequal burdens of intimacy (hissy bonus points!), and Nora stands up for herself again, and again, and again. And, of course, the writing is absolutely faultless.
What didn't work for me: I wanted MORE time with Nora and Adrian in their early relationship. It was hard for me to really root for this second-chance romance because we never get on-page time with their original relationship. šØ Also, this is HEAVY with significant CWs that could be deal breakers for some readers. I spent a lot of this book doing moral GYMNASTICS to somehow root for this couple. šØ
What worked for me: This is a fascinating and deeply insightful exploration of a woman's role during the early 18th century and how that role shifts during political instability. Nora is robbed of agency at every turn, and Duran's laser-focus on how she navigates a life of impossible choices is remarkably done. Our MMC actually reflects ON PAGE on the unequal burdens of intimacy (hissy bonus points!), and Nora stands up for herself again, and again, and again. And, of course, the writing is absolutely faultless.
What didn't work for me: I wanted MORE time with Nora and Adrian in their early relationship. It was hard for me to really root for this second-chance romance because we never get on-page time with their original relationship. šØ Also, this is HEAVY with significant CWs that could be deal breakers for some readers. I spent a lot of this book doing moral GYMNASTICS to somehow root for this couple. šØ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Torture, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, War, and Fire/Fire injury
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.5
I have a lot of emotions about this book: respect for the writing, frustration, a smidgeon of swoon, a lot of annoyance, also PAIN. Meredith really put me through something with this.
Meredith F***ing Duran (MFD), as Kelsey says. #DuranDuress, as I say.
In this stand-alone we have teenage lovers who were forced apart and then are enemies and then lovers again. The content is so realistic and by realistic I mean horrifying and often sad, but also very beautiful on occasion. We have a 1715 English setting, so the first Jacobite rebellion (sadly not JAMMF times, Outlander girlies). Wartime. Women have no agency whatsoever and that is repeatedly made CLEAR by MFD. š«
I justā¦ the writing is spectacular but these scenarios were hard for me to enjoy. The FMC, Nora, is forced to marry the MMC, Adrian (under extreme duress š
). This couple is one that likes to yell and fight and then make outā¦ and for me, that is a really tough dynamic to get behind. There were moments of absolutely soul-crushing tenderness followed by hair-raising violence and vice versa. The sex scenes were incredible, and maybe the sweetest moments in the book. But my god, the mess you have to endure to get them. Is it worth it? ā¦ maybe? Nora also has maybe the shittiest brother of all time, David. So horrible, in fact, that he gets two whole memes to himself!
š
What I have learned is that this book pushes some boundaries that are just Not My Thingā¢ļø and thatās ok! If this book sounds interesting, please check the CW - it covers a variety of topics intensely on page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Abortion, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Toxic relationship, War, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Infertility, and Pregnancy
fritopie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
ashsometimes's review against another edition
4.0
the cover and the title doesn't do justice to this story. i started reading this book, expecting it to be another mindless romance about court, but i didnāt expect it to be so intense. the reason why they were separated, and the current angst because of noraās jacobite brother and adrianās painful departure from his religion and family, loved the way ms duran fleshes out her characters. and her writing is practically flawless.
megatza's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The number of times I gasped or sighed out loud....Meredith Duran has incredible talent (I'd most compare her to Sherry Thomas in HR style) and I loved this book, even at its darker moments, I trusted Duran to get me there. Set with the political backdrop of the *first* Jacobite Rising in 1715, this 2nd chance romance was *chef's kiss*
33p3barpercent's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I've read a Meredith Duran novel so I can't honestly say if all her stories use such fabulous prose and historical framework, but I wouldn't be surprised. This story is rich and decadent in its layering. The prose is reminiscent of actual novels from this period: the way the characters talk to the way sentences are formed. It's beautiful and was such a pleasure to read something so well crafted.
As for the story, it's good. Against a backdrop of a brewing religious war, these two people with a fraught history meet again under intense circumstances. It's not the most modern of plots (feminist-wise) but I don't think it's supposed to be. I can easily see this storyline actually happening. It's believable. She's not an independent bluestocking who would fit in easily in this century. But she is a strong woman during that time period. I thought MD did a great job toeing that line. She is a bit of a martyr which usually drives me mad, but MD took the time to explain her reasons and somehow it didn't come out repetitive or stubborn (okay, maybe a little stubborn). I bought the Heroine's conflict. She had a hard choice: her family or the love of her life. I think that deserves at least 100 pages of conflicted feelings, yeah?
And as for the Hero, he's kind of a scary guy. Powerful, vengeful, not one to hesitate in drawing some blood... And yet I totally bought he loved her. I totally bought that his frustration with her stubbornness and his horror at her endangering herself would engender some serious rage in him. He's complicated and I like him. He seems real and flawed. And aren't those the best characters?
In short, this book's not light entertainment. It's not a rollicking fun time to enjoy at the beach. It's got a heavy prose style, lots of historical drama, but the love story's solid and the characters are compelling. Not something I'd pick up on a whim, but I'm glad I read it, and I'm definitely going to look into MD some more. Her writing style's pretty brill.
As for the story, it's good. Against a backdrop of a brewing religious war, these two people with a fraught history meet again under intense circumstances. It's not the most modern of plots (feminist-wise) but I don't think it's supposed to be. I can easily see this storyline actually happening. It's believable. She's not an independent bluestocking who would fit in easily in this century. But she is a strong woman during that time period. I thought MD did a great job toeing that line. She is a bit of a martyr which usually drives me mad, but MD took the time to explain her reasons and somehow it didn't come out repetitive or stubborn (okay, maybe a little stubborn). I bought the Heroine's conflict. She had a hard choice: her family or the love of her life. I think that deserves at least 100 pages of conflicted feelings, yeah?
And as for the Hero, he's kind of a scary guy. Powerful, vengeful, not one to hesitate in drawing some blood... And yet I totally bought he loved her. I totally bought that his frustration with her stubbornness and his horror at her endangering herself would engender some serious rage in him. He's complicated and I like him. He seems real and flawed. And aren't those the best characters?
In short, this book's not light entertainment. It's not a rollicking fun time to enjoy at the beach. It's got a heavy prose style, lots of historical drama, but the love story's solid and the characters are compelling. Not something I'd pick up on a whim, but I'm glad I read it, and I'm definitely going to look into MD some more. Her writing style's pretty brill.
petite_bumblebeebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Loved the writing. The main couple's chemistry was off the charts! Review coming soon
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse by the ex-husband, not on page, but in memory.ithiliens's review against another edition
4.0
I finished this a few days ago and have been thinking about it and what put me off. The rating is mostly for the quality of the writing and the maybe first 25-30 percent of the book. I didn't feel it did any of the things I need a romance to do other than the HEA which ultimately feels a little empty because I ended up HATING the hero. I really liked Nora but before half of the book had elapsed I wanted her to escape literally every single man in this book who is constantly strong-arming and micromanaging her life (this is even referred to IN the book!)
Also I realized that the reason I never read Georgians (or similar, like Outlander) is because the nature of the political climate etc is such that I think authors have a more difficult time papering over it than they do with Regencies and Victorians. This is also why you see fewer very late Victorian or Edwardian set romances because of the more immediate knowledge we have of the impending war. It's not that Regency or Victorian England WASN'T a horrorscape, it's that the formal structure of Romance (and I mean capital R romance, not historical fiction with romance) has more or less gotten all of this down pat. Like frankly when authors in romance try to bring in too much history the illusion is immediately shattered and I lose absolutely all interest and sympathy in the heroes, specifically. This is also what I heard about Devil in Spring (from S, ty for warning me!!!) about addressing inequality re: women's rights and like yeah! You can't really bring up the 1857 and 1870 marriage acts re: women losing all of their rights/property when entering a marriage if you want to have the romance angle feel authentic and, frankly, non-threatening. If all romance is fantasy you NEED to commit to the fantasy instead of trying to present to me a more "accurate" historical atmosphere. I don't mean to get too down on Duran for this because it's not her specifically, and I think she wrote a strikingly lush and thoughtful book that is unusual in the genre. I just don't think it was very Romantic in the end.
I also think there's something here about the idea that blank cruelty in men is considered more historical and realistic which I certainly don't want to get into that AT ALL but throwing in frankly a lot of unacceptable behavior from the hero does not endear me to him in any way. You can't pull back the curtain like this and expect me to keep my Romance glasses on! This stuff felt more like holdovers from 80s romance (again, see Outlander!) than something I expect to read. There's more to say about this and genre and outside-genre criticism probably but I really just came here to say that this book was extraordinarily written and I wish I hadn't wanted to kill Adrian with my bare hands at the end of it.
Also I realized that the reason I never read Georgians (or similar, like Outlander) is because the nature of the political climate etc is such that I think authors have a more difficult time papering over it than they do with Regencies and Victorians. This is also why you see fewer very late Victorian or Edwardian set romances because of the more immediate knowledge we have of the impending war. It's not that Regency or Victorian England WASN'T a horrorscape, it's that the formal structure of Romance (and I mean capital R romance, not historical fiction with romance) has more or less gotten all of this down pat. Like frankly when authors in romance try to bring in too much history the illusion is immediately shattered and I lose absolutely all interest and sympathy in the heroes, specifically. This is also what I heard about Devil in Spring (from S, ty for warning me!!!) about addressing inequality re: women's rights and like yeah! You can't really bring up the 1857 and 1870 marriage acts re: women losing all of their rights/property when entering a marriage if you want to have the romance angle feel authentic and, frankly, non-threatening. If all romance is fantasy you NEED to commit to the fantasy instead of trying to present to me a more "accurate" historical atmosphere. I don't mean to get too down on Duran for this because it's not her specifically, and I think she wrote a strikingly lush and thoughtful book that is unusual in the genre. I just don't think it was very Romantic in the end.
I also think there's something here about the idea that blank cruelty in men is considered more historical and realistic which I certainly don't want to get into that AT ALL but throwing in frankly a lot of unacceptable behavior from the hero does not endear me to him in any way. You can't pull back the curtain like this and expect me to keep my Romance glasses on! This stuff felt more like holdovers from 80s romance (again, see Outlander!) than something I expect to read. There's more to say about this and genre and outside-genre criticism probably but I really just came here to say that this book was extraordinarily written and I wish I hadn't wanted to kill Adrian with my bare hands at the end of it.
wearecompletelybooked's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.75