Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian

5 reviews

analenegrace's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I read the first and third of this series before this one, so it was so nice to get an insight into Hartley and his life. I liked Sam, and I liked all of the side characters as well. I thought Sebastian did a decent job of handling an interracial gay relationship in the nineteenth century but in the end it still felt a bit fantastical simply due to the time period. 

Same as in Ben's book (the first in the series), I thought the characters moved to quickly in their relationship; I personally don't like books where they say I love you after a month of knowing each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Racism

Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism

Minor: Slavery

purplepenning's review

emotional hopeful

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Blood, Cursing, and Rape

Minor: Racial slurs, Slavery, Drug use, Addiction, and Animal cruelty

Police harassment

wilybooklover's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.5

It was such a delight to watch Sam and Hartley fall in love. Sam was a natural caretaker and Hartley needed to be shown that someone could really care for him. They were both such sweethearts and not to be dramatic or anything, but I would die for Hartley. His past was so heartbreaking and it was lovely to see him open up to Sam, who has the patience of a saint. Their story was healing and loving and so sexy.

It was also nice to not only read a historical featuring a working class character, but really delve into the obstacles and classism such characters would face (especially one who is black, like Sam). This level of class consciousness is a rare treat. The side characters were so well-drawn and added to the cosy, found family vibe of the book. Despite the serious topics covered the overall tone was just sweetly domestic and heartwarming. 

It wasn't a perfect book; there was a little too much time spent setting up the next book and the conclusion regarding the paintings seemed a little rushed. But I still adored every page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Racism, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Death

yellow_star's review

adventurous relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 It's a fun gay regency, but there's some emotional pain that is mentioned though not graphically. There's a wealth gap, one is a black british man which is hard, the other is a wealthy man who became that way through some sad childhood trauma(s).  Actually in a way the white guy receives the most prejudice, the black british man is a leader of a thriving minority community while his lover is an outcast both from being outed and from rumors of his childhood trauma circulating make him a scandal. Racism does exist though in this book. I always love that Cat Sebastian writes regency romances that have all the things I love about the genre but also reminds readers that England has never been the homogeneous place both many Britts and the authors of most books in this genre pretend it once was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing

Minor: Racial slurs, Trafficking, Slavery, Police brutality, and Sexual violence

emily_mh's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-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

4.5

I’m not surprised that I ended up enjoying this instalment in Seducing the Sedgwicks. This series is quickly becoming a comfort read of mine. I really appreciated that in this one, Sebastian didn’t shy away from the trauma and racism that the two main characters experienced. Also, ALL the characters felt wonderfully real. I particularly loved the sibling relationship between Hartley and Will. Finally, there was more of a plot in this book than in It Takes Two To Tumble, which I liked. My one criticism is that Sam deserved more of a character arc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Outing, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Abortion, Misogyny, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Ableism, Mental illness, Grief, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Slavery