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megatza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Duke of Shadows was my first Duran a couple of years ago, and it's really interesting to revisit after reading more of her work. She tackles themes of colonialism on a larger scale than most authors are willing to attempt. It's through the lens of a 2008 writer, of course, but she gives the character's nuanced opinions, particularly Julian, who lives in two worlds. I had forgotten that basically all the angst is in the London half of the book.
bookslovereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
booketofbooks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
allireadsmke's review
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I cannot give this book a proper review. I have not yet finished taking it all in. There's a lot of trauma and longing. And I loved every minute. I stayed up until 2 am two times in a row reading this. I was upset I needed to do work and fun things all week because I wanted to read it.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely transfixed reading this!!...I COULD NOT stop...It was a beautiful, epic romance...it was also dark, witty and intense...I sat on the edge of my seat, and fell in love with 2 strong characters across India..and then in London..OMG my heart stopped reading that scene ...Loved it!!!
Spoiler
in the gallery when he first sees her againdelaneyyyw's review
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
rellwood74's review against another edition
4.0
Although I really liked this book, I was not prepared for it to be so tame, seeing as how it's listed with some of the other more explicit historical romance books in the "people who like this book also like..." list.
awishman's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
This book was utterly engrossing to me. Something about the characters was really magnetic, and even when I had to step away from the book, it remained on my mind.
I loved the character of Emma. This book really is her story - her journey, her survival. Honestly, this book felt more to me like the story of a woman's fight for survival than even a love story. Julian was something so much more than her lover - he became her center. I think that's why, even after she escapes London, Emma is still lost because she has lost that center. But Emma is a fighter. Even when her conscious mind is unable to take any more, she continues to fight to survive. But her despair really ... soaks through the pages. Emma tries to shut down her emotions, to preserve her sanity, and it is like she builds a wall of despair around herself. Even in the middle of a reunion with Julian, even in a love scene, she is choking on the despair. You can feel her unconscious terror at the idea of allowing this reconnection. I think Emma knows that if the waves pull her under for a third time, she won't come back up. And so, because she is a survivor, she fights to maintain the cold distance from the world.
The scenes where Julian patiently rebuilds the bridge to Emma... they are really just beautiful. And when I say that this is Emma's story, please do not discount Julian. To me, Julian's journey in this book is... one of a man looking for his home. He's an outcast to both of the bloodlines he was born into, and so he has chosen to live his life apart from the world. Like Emma, he has withdrawn. I think, in Emma, he sees a kindred soul - when he meets her, she has just survived the shipwreck, and as a result, is largely adrift in her life. She can't make sense of the world around her anymore, and he understands. They connect as two outsiders, observing the world from a perspective that no one else shares.
And so Emma becomes Julian's center too, because he had, I think, resigned himself to being alone. In London, when he rediscovers Emma, he struggles to show her that she's not alone on the outside - that he's there too, has always been there.
Ugh, I feel like I am rambling. It is hard to express how touching this book was. The story of two utterly lost souls finding each other on the outside is really a powerful one, and I imagine it resonates with a lot of people. If you have any interest in this genre, you really should pick this book up. You won't be disappointed.
I loved the character of Emma. This book really is her story - her journey, her survival. Honestly, this book felt more to me like the story of a woman's fight for survival than even a love story. Julian was something so much more than her lover - he became her center. I think that's why, even after she escapes London, Emma is still lost because she has lost that center. But Emma is a fighter. Even when her conscious mind is unable to take any more, she continues to fight to survive. But her despair really ... soaks through the pages. Emma tries to shut down her emotions, to preserve her sanity, and it is like she builds a wall of despair around herself. Even in the middle of a reunion with Julian, even in a love scene, she is choking on the despair. You can feel her unconscious terror at the idea of allowing this reconnection. I think Emma knows that if the waves pull her under for a third time, she won't come back up. And so, because she is a survivor, she fights to maintain the cold distance from the world.
The scenes where Julian patiently rebuilds the bridge to Emma... they are really just beautiful. And when I say that this is Emma's story, please do not discount Julian. To me, Julian's journey in this book is... one of a man looking for his home. He's an outcast to both of the bloodlines he was born into, and so he has chosen to live his life apart from the world. Like Emma, he has withdrawn. I think, in Emma, he sees a kindred soul - when he meets her, she has just survived the shipwreck, and as a result, is largely adrift in her life. She can't make sense of the world around her anymore, and he understands. They connect as two outsiders, observing the world from a perspective that no one else shares.
And so Emma becomes Julian's center too, because he had, I think, resigned himself to being alone. In London, when he rediscovers Emma, he struggles to show her that she's not alone on the outside - that he's there too, has always been there.
Ugh, I feel like I am rambling. It is hard to express how touching this book was. The story of two utterly lost souls finding each other on the outside is really a powerful one, and I imagine it resonates with a lot of people. If you have any interest in this genre, you really should pick this book up. You won't be disappointed.