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tshepiso's review against another edition
3.5
I'm of two minds about An Unsuitable Heir. At this point I can say with confidence I could never hate a KJ Charles book, her writing is just too charming to ever hate. But I can't deny there was something missing about this final installment in the Sins of the Cities series.
But let's start with the positives. Pen and Mark were as charming as any KJ Charles couple. I appreciated Charles' exploration of disability and especially gender identity through their love story. Charles detailed exploration of non-binary identity and the complexities of gender fluidity through Pen was much appreciated. Seeing someone find an affirming community and express the truest version of themself proudly is always heartwarming to see. And I think the framework of a romance is especially meaningful avenue for this story because we get to see Pen find someone who affirms their gender unconditionally.
My big problem with this story was that Pen and Mark's romance felt secondary to the mystery plot. Our two leads spend significant chunks of the novel in completely different locations and much of our page time was dedicated to either unravelling the tangled web of this inheritance plot or exploring Pen's relationship to the prospect of becoming an earl.
Foregrounding the mystery plot in this book only really served to highlight the weaknesses of its construction. To be fair these weaknesses, like an excessive convolution and being generally unsuspenseful, were present in previous installments. But because those novels were primarily romances I wasn't really bothered by their meh mysteries. An Unsuitable heir in contrast heavily leans on its mystery so its anti-climactic resolution left me cold.
Honestly I don't want to rag on An Unsuitable Heir too much. It honestly had some lovely moments. Pen and Mark were cute. And outside of some minor plot holes that irked me(If all the evidence that Edmund married Emmaline and had a son with her were destroyed wouldn't Edmund's son with his second wife regain his inheritance as the earl rather than Tim) . But outside of that I had fun.
But let's start with the positives. Pen and Mark were as charming as any KJ Charles couple. I appreciated Charles' exploration of disability and especially gender identity through their love story. Charles detailed exploration of non-binary identity and the complexities of gender fluidity through Pen was much appreciated. Seeing someone find an affirming community and express the truest version of themself proudly is always heartwarming to see. And I think the framework of a romance is especially meaningful avenue for this story because we get to see Pen find someone who affirms their gender unconditionally.
My big problem with this story was that Pen and Mark's romance felt secondary to the mystery plot. Our two leads spend significant chunks of the novel in completely different locations and much of our page time was dedicated to either unravelling the tangled web of this inheritance plot or exploring Pen's relationship to the prospect of becoming an earl.
Foregrounding the mystery plot in this book only really served to highlight the weaknesses of its construction. To be fair these weaknesses, like an excessive convolution and being generally unsuspenseful, were present in previous installments. But because those novels were primarily romances I wasn't really bothered by their meh mysteries. An Unsuitable heir in contrast heavily leans on its mystery so its anti-climactic resolution left me cold.
Honestly I don't want to rag on An Unsuitable Heir too much. It honestly had some lovely moments. Pen and Mark were cute. And outside of some minor plot holes that irked me
sarahsupastar's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
annakak's review against another edition
4.0
My only question after finishing this book is who the hell is that guy on the cover, because he's neither Fabio nor missing an arm.
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
5.0
All reviews in one place: NightMode Reading
A murderer continues to lurk in London’s toxic fog. Their goal is pretty clear to Mark, who is fully involved in the investigation of Clem’s brother’s death, marriages, and living heirs. The killer is surely after the next in line, and if Mark wasn’t motivated enough by what’s at stake already – Clem’s livelihood, for instance, then the deal was sealed by the heirs themselves. Twins. A male and a female in the most loose sense one can put genders into. Pen being the one murderer would want, with his beautiful long hair, well trained body of a trapeze artist, Mark’s dream, in other words.
Pen has absolutely no wish to be no damned heir. To be one would mean to be part of the gents society: cut your hair, wear a suit, contain yourself in a single shape and form forever now. Behave. His love for Mark is too strong to just toss it all away for a case of gold anyway. But then, if he does choose his freedom and Mark over the earldom, he will betray his sister. Sister, who wishes to stop being a trapeze artists, who wishes a calm and peaceful life, a home, a husband, on whom she already has an eye set.
The book was so very great. And while I’m aware someone gender fluid might not be defined by he/him pronouns, for most of the time Pen did refer to himself in such a manner, so I’ll just hope he wouldn’t mind if he read my review. For this was a fine end to a great series, with people getting what they deserved left and right! 5 out of 5, of course.
A murderer continues to lurk in London’s toxic fog. Their goal is pretty clear to Mark, who is fully involved in the investigation of Clem’s brother’s death, marriages, and living heirs. The killer is surely after the next in line, and if Mark wasn’t motivated enough by what’s at stake already – Clem’s livelihood, for instance, then the deal was sealed by the heirs themselves. Twins. A male and a female in the most loose sense one can put genders into. Pen being the one murderer would want, with his beautiful long hair, well trained body of a trapeze artist, Mark’s dream, in other words.
Pen has absolutely no wish to be no damned heir. To be one would mean to be part of the gents society: cut your hair, wear a suit, contain yourself in a single shape and form forever now. Behave. His love for Mark is too strong to just toss it all away for a case of gold anyway. But then, if he does choose his freedom and Mark over the earldom, he will betray his sister. Sister, who wishes to stop being a trapeze artists, who wishes a calm and peaceful life, a home, a husband, on whom she already has an eye set.
The book was so very great. And while I’m aware someone gender fluid might not be defined by he/him pronouns, for most of the time Pen did refer to himself in such a manner, so I’ll just hope he wouldn’t mind if he read my review. For this was a fine end to a great series, with people getting what they deserved left and right! 5 out of 5, of course.
annakak's review against another edition
4.0
My only question after finishing this book is who the hell is that guy on the cover, because he's neither Fabio nor missing an arm.
dutchtreat's review against another edition
5.0
I still love this series, each of these has been worth re-reading, which to me is the hallmark of a great book. For the “keeper” shelf!!
char_gadling's review against another edition
4.0
✨3.75 stars✨
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
tellingetienne's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning conclusion to an amazing trilogy. I can easily say this one of my favorite set of books by KJ Charles. An Unsuitable Heir was the historical gender queer romance of my dreams. The narrative wraps up the ongoing mystery in a way I didn't see coming, but that has nothing on how wonderful it was to see Pen as gender queer in a historical context. Charles, I believe, deftly handled the complicated feelings many gender queer people have about their identities (dysphoria, etc) without it being exploitative. As a genderqueer person myself, there were moments written about dysphoria and just existing as trans expressed in the novel ached they were so real. It pings back to Clem in the first novel, and how I identified so strongly with his learning disabilities. Charlies is a master at conveying difficulties of being as you are with a kind, compassionate tone.
Don't read this novel as a standalone, as it will be lacking in the context needed to really make it work.
Don't read this novel as a standalone, as it will be lacking in the context needed to really make it work.
teresab78's review against another edition
5.0
Something new
I had never read a book with a genderqueer protagonist before; it was markedly different than a transgender or cross dresser and I think KJ Charles did a marvellous job of bringing it across. I loved both main characters as well as all the intrigue. I was quite happy with how it all worked out in the end. Loved this series!!!
I had never read a book with a genderqueer protagonist before; it was markedly different than a transgender or cross dresser and I think KJ Charles did a marvellous job of bringing it across. I loved both main characters as well as all the intrigue. I was quite happy with how it all worked out in the end. Loved this series!!!