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ccgwalt's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars for both the story and the narration by Matthew Lloyd Davies
This is a wonderful conclusion to the Sins in the City trilogy. We finally get answers to questions that started in book one, and get to see characters from both previous books again. It's been a marvelous ride. We start in An Unseen Attraction with the quiet proprietor of a boarding house,Clem, and his attraction to one of his lodgers. The two of them are swept up in murder and intrigue that is somehow connected to Clem's family (he's the by-blow of an Earl). Clem's love story and part of the mystery is solved in that book, but the search for the missing heir and the identity of a murderer is still ongoing. In An Unnatural Vice Clem's friend Nathaniel gets involved in his capacity as a lawyer and journalist to find answers. But Nathaniel is also doing an expose on spiritualist mediums in the city, hoping to shut down one in particular. As a spiritualist, Justin is the best, but when he is threatened over some information he has on some missing persons, he runs straight to Nathaniel for help. Nathaniel realizes his case for Clem is mixed up with these missing persons, and Nate and Justin dodge killers in the inky London fog to find answers, while also finding love.
In this book KJ Charles spends less time on the gothic-y Victorian atmosphere and more time on some very complex character building. Mark, and inquiry agent and friend of Nate's, is looking for the lost heir and finds Pen and Greta. I won't say much about the plot because it's worth coming to that without spoilers, but I will say the book contains one of the best representations of a nonbinary person I've ever read.
I couldn't see how this story was going to work out,but KJ Charles uses her magic to weave a wonderful, emotional, and satisfying tale.
Matthew Lloyd Davies was next to perfect for the entire series, and more so in this book when he keeps all the new characters as well as all the previous characters voiced consistently and well. There is not much to say about his narrative skills except, "Wow!" It's such a pleasure to listen to him.
This is a wonderful conclusion to the Sins in the City trilogy. We finally get answers to questions that started in book one, and get to see characters from both previous books again. It's been a marvelous ride. We start in An Unseen Attraction with the quiet proprietor of a boarding house,Clem, and his attraction to one of his lodgers. The two of them are swept up in murder and intrigue that is somehow connected to Clem's family (he's the by-blow of an Earl). Clem's love story and part of the mystery is solved in that book, but the search for the missing heir and the identity of a murderer is still ongoing. In An Unnatural Vice Clem's friend Nathaniel gets involved in his capacity as a lawyer and journalist to find answers. But Nathaniel is also doing an expose on spiritualist mediums in the city, hoping to shut down one in particular. As a spiritualist, Justin is the best, but when he is threatened over some information he has on some missing persons, he runs straight to Nathaniel for help. Nathaniel realizes his case for Clem is mixed up with these missing persons, and Nate and Justin dodge killers in the inky London fog to find answers, while also finding love.
In this book KJ Charles spends less time on the gothic-y Victorian atmosphere and more time on some very complex character building. Mark, and inquiry agent and friend of Nate's, is looking for the lost heir and finds Pen and Greta. I won't say much about the plot because it's worth coming to that without spoilers, but I will say the book contains one of the best representations of a nonbinary person I've ever read.
I couldn't see how this story was going to work out,but KJ Charles uses her magic to weave a wonderful, emotional, and satisfying tale.
Matthew Lloyd Davies was next to perfect for the entire series, and more so in this book when he keeps all the new characters as well as all the previous characters voiced consistently and well. There is not much to say about his narrative skills except, "Wow!" It's such a pleasure to listen to him.
novel_nomad's review
4.0
Still, by far my favourite of the trilogy, as KJ Charles brings the tumultuous plot to a close and introduces a unique and beautiful romance. Mark is penny-plain, but he accepts people for who they are and who they want to be, and he very much accepts Pen, tuppence-coloured, trans-person who lives for the stage and always is restless in his body. The romance is open and a deep understanding is formed, making this the perfect HEA for two unlikely lovers.
batyarivkaaa's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
rachelini's review against another edition
4.0
As the climax of the trilogy, this was great. Both Pen and Mark are compelling characters, and it was exciting to see the non-binary representation, although I can't speak to how well done it was. Mark made one very hurtful decision, and I can't decide if that was worked through enough for the HEA to feel earned, but it sure made for a story.
ramintah's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? No
4.75
tiasclockworkprincess's review against another edition
3.0
This felt a teensy bit rushed but I wasn’t too bothered. The romance was quite insta-lovey which I’m not a fan of but other than that it was a decent end to this series!
cleo_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is 3.5 stars. This is absolutely not a stand alone. It wraps up the Sins of the Cities trilogy nicely. I still had at least one small unanswered question but the mystery is pretty satisfactorily solved. The final resolution to everything was a little pat and unrealistic but that fits with the Victorian gothic vibe.
I wanted more romance - that part felt a bit rushed.
One of the main characters is genderqueer / non-binary. As a bi, cis woman I don't feel at all qualified to talk about the genderqueer / nb rep. I will say that I felt like some of it read like "genderqueer 101" to me, and that surprised me and kind of took me out of the story.
I wanted more romance - that part felt a bit rushed.
One of the main characters is genderqueer / non-binary. As a bi, cis woman I don't feel at all qualified to talk about the genderqueer / nb rep. I will say that I felt like some of it read like "genderqueer 101" to me, and that surprised me and kind of took me out of the story.
meli_thebookworm16's review against another edition
4.0
He wanted to live in a world where people didn’t make a great stupid fuss about what other people wore or who they kissed, and he wasn’t sure how that made him the unreasonable one.
Another solid 4.5⭐
If you asked me if this one was the best out of all the three books in the series, I would say not really. I mean, it is pretty hard to top that brilliant enemies to lovers that was An Unnatural Vice. However, it is, without a shred of doubt, the one I personally LOVED THE MOST!! I loved Mark and Pen to pieces. Particularly, Pen. I would give my life for Pen. No questions asked. I simply would give my life in a heatbeat for their happiness.
A great finale to this amazing series!!
Another solid 4.5⭐
If you asked me if this one was the best out of all the three books in the series, I would say not really. I mean, it is pretty hard to top that brilliant enemies to lovers that was An Unnatural Vice. However, it is, without a shred of doubt, the one I personally LOVED THE MOST!! I loved Mark and Pen to pieces. Particularly, Pen. I would give my life for Pen. No questions asked. I simply would give my life in a heatbeat for their happiness.
A great finale to this amazing series!!
liacooper's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4
the ending was a bit mushy for me...idk it has good rep in it but it never quite gripped me like some of KJ Charles books do.
the ending was a bit mushy for me...idk it has good rep in it but it never quite gripped me like some of KJ Charles books do.