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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This and For My Lady's Heart are the best romances I have ever read (and maybe will ever read). Both are masterpieces.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In a world of knights, castles and city states, a princess travel for marriage until she is kidnapped by an assassin. I mean... I had to pick it up, right?
I have not read the previous book, which I believe to be about Cara and which provides back story to this book, but I was fine with not having read it. I learned enough alongside Elena. I will also note that I read a copy that held both the original and revised edition of this book and elected to read the revised edition. Which, once I actually had time to read went fairly quickly.
This book includes rape as well as some other violence. So with that out of the way:
I really liked Elena, she grows as a character from being a young innocent maiden to reaching a different maturity. I also enjoyed that she was not one of these simpering maids gazing at the hero and being a doormat. I found it interesting to have a villainous, sort-of tortured hero, and I thought Allegretto was executed well. I really enjoyed the steamy sessions, but mostly I enjoyed the plot and the world building. This actually reminds me a lot of [b:The Kingmaker Chronicles Complete Set|44525525|The Kingmaker Chronicles Complete Set|Amanda Bouchet|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552950365l/44525525._SX50_.jpg|63616924], though there's no actual magic in this one.
I have not read the previous book, which I believe to be about Cara and which provides back story to this book, but I was fine with not having read it. I learned enough alongside Elena. I will also note that I read a copy that held both the original and revised edition of this book and elected to read the revised edition. Which, once I actually had time to read went fairly quickly.
This book includes rape as well as some other violence. So with that out of the way:
I really liked Elena, she grows as a character from being a young innocent maiden to reaching a different maturity. I also enjoyed that she was not one of these simpering maids gazing at the hero and being a doormat. I found it interesting to have a villainous, sort-of tortured hero, and I thought Allegretto was executed well. I really enjoyed the steamy sessions, but mostly I enjoyed the plot and the world building. This actually reminds me a lot of [b:The Kingmaker Chronicles Complete Set|44525525|The Kingmaker Chronicles Complete Set|Amanda Bouchet|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552950365l/44525525._SX50_.jpg|63616924], though there's no actual magic in this one.
adventurous
dark
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
DNF at 70%.
Laura Kinsale is so good in so many ways. She's a master of landscape and setting in particular, and I always highlight so many phrases in her books because they're so beautiful and interesting. Elena is fun and Allegreto is fascinating. We first meet Allegreto in For My Lady's Heart, and ever since then I've been on a deep and profound personal journey to determine whether or not Allegreto is valid. And he is, for a while!
But the rape sucks, and their S&M dynamic is kinda weird - not because it's S&M, but because it doesn't really seem all that earned. I buy it from Allegreto, but Elena? I don't see where her inclination towards sadism and dominance comes from, even though we spend the bulk of the book in her POV.
I also found the political intrigue difficult to keep track of, which is an issue I always have with Kinsale's work - this is probably just a fault of my own reading, though.
Laura Kinsale is so good in so many ways. She's a master of landscape and setting in particular, and I always highlight so many phrases in her books because they're so beautiful and interesting. Elena is fun and Allegreto is fascinating. We first meet Allegreto in For My Lady's Heart, and ever since then I've been on a deep and profound personal journey to determine whether or not Allegreto is valid. And he is, for a while!
But the rape sucks, and their S&M dynamic is kinda weird - not because it's S&M, but because it doesn't really seem all that earned. I buy it from Allegreto, but Elena? I don't see where her inclination towards sadism and dominance comes from, even though we spend the bulk of the book in her POV.
I also found the political intrigue difficult to keep track of, which is an issue I always have with Kinsale's work - this is probably just a fault of my own reading, though.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not one of my favorite LK reads but, given my adoration for For My Lady's Heart, I have to say I was pretty biased going into this story. The sequel and story of Allegreto was fine - even better than most storylines for books out there, let alone romance books --- but FMLH was just so over the top for me that this one had a hard time measuring up. It was good -- solidly good - just not great. Unfortunately I seem to expect greatness from Kinsale now ---- I am most sincerely spoiled by Flowers From The Storm and For My Lady's Heart, her two very best works (IMHO!).