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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!!!
qalminator's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable conclusion, though a bit clunkier than its predecessors, imo. Partly I think this was because of the need to summarize what happened in the first two books at several points, and there was a LOT.
Still, it was very nice to see what felt like an honest depiction of a gender-fluid character, and the relationship was quite sweet. As for the conclusion, now that I've finished, parts of it feel inevitable, though I wouldn't have guessed how they might come about. I confess to having no clue who the murderer was before the big reveal.
Still, it was very nice to see what felt like an honest depiction of a gender-fluid character, and the relationship was quite sweet. As for the conclusion, now that I've finished, parts of it feel inevitable, though I wouldn't have guessed how they might come about. I confess to having no clue who the murderer was before the big reveal.
waclements7's review against another edition
5.0
Fabulously fun with the Flying Starlings and appearances from the previous two books in the series, nicely wrapping up the mystery that threaded through the series. Really well done. Pen and Greta are both wonderful characters, but I especially like Pen, who’s complex and thoroughly interesting. He and Mark make a good couple.
I would definitely read this series in order, as they build on each other. Highly recommend the whole series.
I would definitely read this series in order, as they build on each other. Highly recommend the whole series.
lanidacey's review against another edition
2.0
God, Pen was annoying af. Mark was pretty interesting and the plot as a whole could have been a lot more interesting, but murder brings out the worst in people. I wasn't very sympathetic to Pen when his refusal to accept the earldom meant that people would kept getting tortured and murdered.
The whole series ranks at about a 3.5. If that second book hadn't been so good, I wouldn't even have put in the trouble to continue it.
Spoiler
ESPECIALLY SINCE HE WAS ABLE TO JUST RELINQUISH THE DAMN THING WITH JUST A FEW WORDS? WHAT WAS THE POINT???The whole series ranks at about a 3.5. If that second book hadn't been so good, I wouldn't even have put in the trouble to continue it.
thosemedalingkidsss's review against another edition
4.0
Solid ending to the series. I wish there was more explanation and exploration of the hero born without an arm, as that disability was underdeveloped. On the other end, the gender discussions in this were excellent, along with body dysmorphia and not fitting into the gender binary. We don't know how Pen identifies - agender, non binary, gender nonconforming, etc. And that's OK! Pen's still figuring it out as well. I loved the gender expression and playfulness in this, and loved the leads. The mystery plot was also very satisfying.
cyberhavok's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria and Murder