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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Artemis Greaves is the beleaguered companion of her high maintenance cousin, Lady Penelope, and has perfected the art of blending in. Artemis is used to being unseen and unnoticed. Not that Artemis expects life to suddenly become any different. She’s resigned herself to a life as a lady's companion after her brother, and twin, Apollo, was committed to Bedlam for murder. But change it suddenly does when a harebrained idea of Penelope's finds them set upon by a footpad in St. Giles.
Which means that Maximus Batten, Duke of Wakefield and the last remaining Ghost of St. Giles, has to save the silly chits. During the scuffle, Artemis accidentally pulls Max’s signet ring off his hand, which helps Artemis to quickly put two and two together. Now the icy Duke, who is trying to court Penelope, finds a fiery and feminine obstacle in his way. And with so much on his plate already—being a Duke, a vigilante, and a guardian to his younger sister Phoebe—Max will not let Artemis get in his way. Even if he can’t seem to control himself in her presence.
The more time spent with Wakefield, the more his chilliness got to me. He could be passionate and sweet one moment, then nearly totally devoid of feeling or compassion the next. And while I am a fan of the mixed social class trope—titled gentleman falls for his very own Cinderella—Artemis is a lady. Her dad was a Viscount. Wakefield simply didn't think her good enough. Good enough to kiss, and more, but not even a possibility for marriage. That... stung. And angered me. And annoyed me when that opinion didn't change for a long while. It just felt cruel and did not endear me to him.
Because Artemis is caring and kind and, though fierce when need be, a gentle soul. Compassionate and understanding. To see her settle, to accept his small offerings... I didn't want that for her. She deserved more. But, at the same time, love is love. We all make sacrifices. I can't deny the chemistry between the two because it lit the pages up. And the secretiveness of it all only made their passion burn hotter.
Duke of Midnight was full of blackmail, backstabbing, revenge and, of course, romance. I’ve been a big fan of Artemis since she first appeared, so it was beyond lovely to get an entire book in her point of view. I do wish, with the way Artemis and Max’s love story ends, that the epilogue would’ve been focused on them… but, I’ve got to say, it has me curious who the next couple could be. I’m thinking they might be very different from Miz Hoyt’s previous couples. (Can I put in a request for Phoebe Batten as a heroine? Please?)
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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I know I started the Maiden Lane books out of order by reading this one first, but I just knew from the summary that I would like it. And I did.
This book is basically the historical romance equivalent of Batman. I mean there, that's it. I would love this book based on that fact alone. But it has more going for it. I loved Artemis and how strong and kinda badass she was -- never afraid to go after what she wanted. And Maximus did not do things by half measures -- he was sure of himself, arrogant, passionate, and I always find that hot. I basically liked everything that happened in the book.
Alright, I think after I read a few interviews with the author referring to the Duke of Wakefield as Batman, I just can't get the imagery out of my head. I'm very impressionable.
But gadzooks! I loved it. I loved the facade Wakefield put up, the way Artemis slowly and rather unknowingly brought him to his knees (aka the scene at the pond). He realized early on that she would be dangerous in that she wasn't like her cousin Penelope and wasn't prone to simpering when his broodiness and scowls took over. Artemis was herself and never actively sought to bring him any feels.
And Artemis herself. I felt so bad for her. She was so upset at the fact that because of her father she was reduced to being a companion and all that came with that station. She wants to be a wife, she wants to be mother and have a household. Instead because of actions not in her power, she's reduced to living the life of a highly placed indentured servant. And Wakefield immediately picks up on it and feels bad, but doesn't show it. I think there were moments when he was more upset over her circumstances. What I liked about Artemis besides the fact that she spoke her mind was that she didn't have a pity party over her situation. She knew she was the only one that could make a difference in that of her brother's situation and her own.
And the thing with Maximus he deeply struggles with himself as a man and himself as the Duke/Batman. He has this idea that he must continue the dukedom as best as possible and that includes marrying the best possible candidate to continue his father's legacy. (So there were times I wanted to strangle him because of that.) But he struggles with that because he deeply wants what Maximus the man craves. I liked the fact that many times both characters thought that under different circumstances they could have been together with no obstacles. Had he been the son of a merchant or just a regular man there would be question that they could be together. Or he thinks if her family situation would be different if could have her completely.
And can I just say, the scene at the archery contest I was so hoping she was going to be the best archer and she was!
And Apollo :(
So when is the next book coming out!?!! It's going to be hard to wait. I read the first 4 back to back and only waited a week or so for the fifth and waited for this one and now for the next. There's not even a blurb or any info on it. (Or is there??!?!?! Do share, do share!) Eek!
The Skinny
Maximus is in the market for a wife and wants a perfect Duchess by his side. Pretty much his only criteria is that she is beautiful, a virgin and from a wealthy family. He doesn’t even care that his best prospect Penelope is known as not being particularly smart and something of a ninny.
Artemis is master of survival. Her brother is in an insane asylum for false reasons and she has nothing going for her except that she is from the gentry. She is Penelope’s
What was Great:
Artemis is fantastic. She has been dealt a certain hand in life and she doesn’t mope about it she just carries on and deals with it the best she can. She has a never give up never surrender attitude and keeps looking for a way to save her brother even when everyone else in the world is trying to make her act like she never even had one.
Artemis is a kind and caring person. You see it in the way that she chose to wear the same sent all the time so that Phoebe (who is practically blind) could tell who she was easily. It is also apparent in the love that she has for her brother and the lengths she is willing to go to save him. She is willing to take on and play games with a Duke in order to find an ally to get him out of the hell he is in.
The banter between Maximus and Artemis is pretty great and I felt like she came out ahead in most of it. She was smart and daring and never just gave into him like so many others had all of his life.
“She couldn’t very well get up and leave him without causing a scene, but she dearly wanted to. “Well, then, in the interests of fairness, perhaps you ought to know, Your Grace, that I have no intention of yielding the field to you.” Beside her he inclined his head a fraction of an inch. “Then en garde, Miss Greaves.”
The other notable things are Apollo. I’m very interesting in reading his story and we finally learn what Asa has been up to all these years he has been semi-estranged from his family.
Why Maximus Never Grew on Me
He is an ass. Okay it is more than that. I was already holding a grudge against him from book 2 when he was going to still make Hero marry Thomas even after Thomas had hit her (extenuating circumstances but still not okay). Then we come into this book and he has the stupidest criteria for a wife and even while he is trying to court Penelope you can tell that he isn’t really into it at all and could care less about her.
But this is where I get so mad at him. He has taken Artemis as a lover and he was very clear beforehand that he wasn’t going to offer her marriage so at least there is that. But then the entire time he is sleeping with her and thinking how he never wants to give her up he is still planning to marry Penelope (even if he hasn’t asked her yet) *throws hands in the air* the idiot.
“It would be the height of idiocy for the Duke of Wakefield to pursue the cousin of the woman he wanted as wife. And yet, for the first time in his life, Maximus wanted to let the man rule him instead of the title.”
I hated how he treated Apollo too. He didn’t’ trust Artemis to know her brother
“This is my brother we’re talking about, Maximus.”
“You’ll take his part before mine?” Oh, he knew it was a mistake even before the words left his lips.
Her shoulders squared. “If I must. We shared a womb. We’re flesh and blood, tied together forever, both physically and spiritually. I love my brother.”
“As you don’t me?”
She stopped, her chemise in her hands before her. For a moment her shoulders slumped and then she raised her head. His goddess. His Diana.
“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.”
“I’ll never tire of you,” he said, knowing with every thread of his soul that he spoke the absolute truth.”
There are so many moments when he has thoughts similar to this one but his plan is to still marry someone else and have Artemis on the side all of his life. *smacks Maximus upside the head* what the hell is he thinking. I guess I just thought that he’d figure it out sooner than he did and while it all works out in the end and he pulls his head out I still am holding a grudge even if Atremis isn’t.
Overall
After loving the last two books this was a little of a letdown in the Hero department for me. But Artemis makes the book well worth reading and she is my favorite Heroine of the series thus far.