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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Justice for Mara! This is clearly a divisive MacLean, and there are moments I was genuinely stressed that we might make a misstep in a very risky storyline, but I should have trusted. The backstory is harsh for our female main character - she leaves the male main character with the blame for her supposed murder (for a decade), and, tangentially, drugs him... twice. We see these kinds of redemption arcs a lot in historical romance, but almost always for a male main character. To position a female main character as the architect of her own escape, as the one to take advantage of an innocent bystander (a la St. Vincent in It Happens One Autumn), is a risky subversion for the sub-genre actually. There is one element of this backstory that was particularly tough for me - his lack of memory of the night and her unwillingness to divulge - and this may be (understandably!) very triggering for some readers.
That said, MacLean is navigating a lot of power imbalance - he is the progeny of a Duke and a landed aristocrat, no matter his reputation, and he is physically capable of (and notorious for) intimidation and harm (which is important to note when we consider their reunion). She was forced into marriage at 16 to a man three times her age, has significant childhood trauma, and is forced to rebuild her life with no advantages of station, wealth, gender, etc.
Ultimately, MacLean pulls off the character arcs I needed to make this one work, and it will be one of my more memorable of her backlist, I know. It also has the most stunning epilogue to ever epilogue and has given me one of the most satisfying moments I have ever had while reading. This is a series that absolutely MUST be read in order!
That said, MacLean is navigating a lot of power imbalance - he is the progeny of a Duke and a landed aristocrat, no matter his reputation, and he is physically capable of (and notorious for) intimidation and harm (which is important to note when we consider their reunion). She was forced into marriage at 16 to a man three times her age, has significant childhood trauma, and is forced to rebuild her life with no advantages of station, wealth, gender, etc.
Ultimately, MacLean pulls off the character arcs I needed to make this one work, and it will be one of my more memorable of her backlist, I know. It also has the most stunning epilogue to ever epilogue and has given me one of the most satisfying moments I have ever had while reading. This is a series that absolutely MUST be read in order!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault
note on sexual assault: attempted sexual assault of the FMC depicted on page (MMC saves her from attack by strangers)
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