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booksbagsandbadideas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Racism
Minor: Vomit and Slavery
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Blood, Death, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, and Racism
marmillade's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Alcoholism
marmaladereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Racism
meliflowers's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
A well written book and a good story but it was a bit too predictable and cliché at times. I loved the characterisations and setting.
It's a good story but I couldn't really get into it or enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Racism, Homophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Outing, Islamophobia, Slavery, and Forced institutionalization
andyourstruly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The author studied history in university, so a lot of the historical details of events and cultural norms are more accurate than your average YA novel, but there are still glaring blind spots, like the author not being well-versed in clothing culture or that almost every educated person would have been fluent in French in the early 1700s, particularly if they had a French parent.
My biggest takeaway with it was that, as fantastical as so many elements were, it seems strange that the author didn't just ... write an adventure where people happened to be queer or black or women. It felt like a strange decision to hand-wave away a lot of actual problems they may have encountered but to really spend a lot of time projecting modern-day feminism onto a character from the era and bringing up homophobia and racism that wasn't even always period-accurate. Fun book, may read the sequels, not so invested that I'm prioritizing it.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Ableism, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
theultimatebooknerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, and Outing
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Confinement, Vomit, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Racism, Death, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
Use of the word n*gro multiple times, epilepsymothfemme's review against another edition
- 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
The story takes off running immediately with its sarcastic humor and gay yearning, placing us in the perspective of Henry “Monty” Montague, one of the most real and lovable characters I’ve encountered in a long time. Monty is a total slut (affectionate) and always the life of the party, covering up his problems with humor, charm, and alcohol…so much alcohol. He is hopelessly in love with his childhood best friend, Percy, and the boys venture on a tour of Europe to have one last adventure before Percy goes off to law school.
After a social faux pas at Versailles and a petty theft gone wrong, Percy, Monty, and Monty’s younger sister Felicity are caught up in the reluctant adventure of a lifetime, featuring highway men, pirates, a sinking island, and evil noblemen. The delicate exploration of Monty’s trauma surrounding his father and how it has led to his avoidance and various addictions was weaved throughout the plot seamlessly, and added so much depth to this story. No matter how hard you try to run from yourself, your problems will always be right behind you, which Monty learns the hard way.
It really says something about the overall quality of the writing that I’m talking about the romance this far down in the review, but to nobody’s surprise, Monty and Percy’s connection was also phenomenal. Their chemistry was so sweet and so tangible, and never forced or rushed.
Exciting, endearing, and emotional, this book effortlessly delivers a story that has something for everyone. I will carry these characters in my heart forever, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
epeolatrist's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Slavery