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lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I loved the first half, was a bit bored in the middle and the ending was fine.
The premise was interesting and I liked the characters. The whole flipped-patriarchy thing was interesting at first but wasn't explained and justified enough for my liking. (Especially because of the time it seems to be set in.) You definitely need your suspension of disbelieve for this books but I think it can be a fun time if you manage to do that. It was a great simple summer book but no literary masterpiece.
The best thing for me personally was the relationship between Cecilia and Ned. I really liked their dynamic of being soo into each other but also trying to kill the other. But the smut scene was weird and I didn't like it. This was one of those books I didn't think would have a smut scene and it just doesn't work in the context imo. It seemed like a huge switch in character and I hate the whole "trying to stay modest" bit that Cecilia did. The backstory was interesting but I wish we got a bit more. Morvath was a villainous patriarchal villain to the point of actually being a caricature that seems almost non threatening even though he is constantly described as being dangerous. His motives are basically just "my mum doesn't love me so now I hate all women"!?
The society was basically all powerful and everything always went in their favour. They are always in control. Even when the battle broke out and the readers are supposed to be scared for them (like Cecilia is) everyone gets out fine. Or gets hurt really badly but someone still can pretend to be fine and it isn't brought up for the rest of the book. There are no stakes because you know that the main characters are going to be fine anyways. Also I wish they were a bit more in favour of murder. For supposed pirates they were quite harmless. The whole "being really proper but also badass" was interesting for sure but I just wish that at least when we get a book about "villains"(I use that term very lightly for obvious reasons) they would be able to actually defend themselves against the bad guys - and by that I don't only mean kick them and maybe sometimes stab someone in the arm..
But for what it was I think it was interesting. I have to say that Cecilias happy ending definitely would be my perfect happy ending as well (20,000 books!!) so I get it and I'm happy for her! I'm not sure if I will read any of the following books in the series though.
The premise was interesting and I liked the characters. The whole flipped-patriarchy thing was interesting at first but wasn't explained and justified enough for my liking. (Especially because of the time it seems to be set in.) You definitely need your suspension of disbelieve for this books but I think it can be a fun time if you manage to do that. It was a great simple summer book but no literary masterpiece.
The society was basically all powerful and everything always went in their favour. They are always in control. Even when the battle broke out and the readers are supposed to be scared for them (like Cecilia is) everyone gets out fine. Or gets hurt really badly but someone still can pretend to be fine and it isn't brought up for the rest of the book. There are no stakes because you know that the main characters are going to be fine anyways. Also I wish they were a bit more in favour of murder. For supposed pirates they were quite harmless. The whole "being really proper but also badass" was interesting for sure but I just wish that at least when we get a book about "villains"(I use that term very lightly for obvious reasons) they would be able to actually defend themselves against the bad guys - and by that I don't only mean kick them and maybe sometimes stab someone in the arm..
But for what it was I think it was interesting. I have to say that Cecilias happy ending definitely would be my perfect happy ending as well (20,000 books!!) so I get it and I'm happy for her! I'm not sure if I will read any of the following books in the series though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Gun violence, Sexism, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent, Incest, and Infidelity
emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
It took me quite a bit to get into this book (maybe like 75 pages) because the premise is so wacky and writing style is so different than what I’ve read before. But this ridiculously fantastical historical romance was such a fun trip that had me smiling the whole time. I adored the characters and their whimsy and sass. This story was fun and fluffy and yet my brain had to work to understand the satire and writing style, so it was an interesting mix. I definitely want to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
clairew97's review against another edition
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Sexism
rhi_'s review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, and Confinement
buildingtaste's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a 2020s novel with an excellent conceit must be deeply in want of better execution. I feel bad giving this such a low rating, as it is probably one of the better conceived 2020s novels of the ones I've tried, but once again, after the elevator pitch is over, the book collapses like an under-baked teacake. And under-baked is the overarching theme: we are given rather thin sketches of the titular society, a teeming cast of characters, an intergenerational revenge plot nodding heavily to the Brontes, and a requisite romance. All of them are glossed over in favour of comic asides which, after a few repetitions of (and that was rather a funny bit there, er, wasn't it?) seems more like an author's lack of faith in their own prose than a stylistic choice.
Most egregious here, though, is something I can't blame Holton for, because it seems to be more a convention of the historical fantasy-romance genre than anything: Cecilia is just the least interesting person in the bunch. And we have to stick with her a good 80% of the time. When your heroine sums up her role in the story with a glib "I'm afraid I've done nothing to advance the plot," and it's true, a good editor should perk up and recommend doing something about that. Cecilia, despite her bog-standard spunk, finds herself constantly outpaced and outsmarted, by the titular society, by the love interest, and by her villainous father. Not once does she get to be heroic on her own terms, and she's so baldly horny for Ned that her internal refrain of "well-I-never" gets dull.
So. Janky start. But I think the world of Wisteria has some real promise--I'd be interested in reading a short fiction anthology delving more into the lore of historical Lady Scoundrels and the senior ladies.
Most egregious here, though, is something I can't blame Holton for, because it seems to be more a convention of the historical fantasy-romance genre than anything: Cecilia is just the least interesting person in the bunch. And we have to stick with her a good 80% of the time. When your heroine sums up her role in the story with a glib "I'm afraid I've done nothing to advance the plot," and it's true, a good editor should perk up and recommend doing something about that. Cecilia, despite her bog-standard spunk, finds herself constantly outpaced and outsmarted, by the titular society, by the love interest, and by her villainous father. Not once does she get to be heroic on her own terms, and she's so baldly horny for Ned that her internal refrain of "well-I-never" gets dull.
So. Janky start. But I think the world of Wisteria has some real promise--I'd be interested in reading a short fiction anthology delving more into the lore of historical Lady Scoundrels and the senior ladies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, and Sexism
A teenaged character and young adult character have a sexual relationship. It is played for comedy, with the younger character repeatedly lying about her age and the adult acting distraught about the revelation. Characters drink on several occasions and a character gets drunk without real consent or awareness that alcohol will intoxicate her; this character vomits while drunk. The backstory of a character involves being abandoned by his parents. The lower class characters are usually fearful, superstitious, and deemed foolish. Most characters are kidnapped and imprisoned. The backstory of multiple characters involve their mothers being murdered in front of them. The main character's aunt is controlling and overbearing. Alcohol and cocaine pastilles are used by characters. A verbal spar of two characters involves multiple fatphobic remarks. Most characters have and use guns with murderous intent, though no one dies from a gunshot in the text. There is cousin marriage. The villain's primary motivation is named as misogyny. There is a chapter dedicated to a sex scene (Chapter 20).fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. I surprised me how much! I was trying to explain this book to some friends and the best I can come up with is a weird and wonderful romcom that feels like if you mashed together My Lady Jane and Pride and Prejudice or Bridgerton, but make it Victorian 😅
I absolutely loved the characters - obviously the two main characters but I also just found so many from the Wisteria Society hilarious!? And the quotes and misquotes from classic poets were so fun! Loved seeing a bit of Wordsworth and Byron mixed in with the Brönte quotes.
You definitely have to suspend reality but when don't we in books? Very enjoyable and I laughed out loud numerous times!
I absolutely loved the characters - obviously the two main characters but I also just found so many from the Wisteria Society hilarious!? And the quotes and misquotes from classic poets were so fun! Loved seeing a bit of Wordsworth and Byron mixed in with the Brönte quotes.
You definitely have to suspend reality but when don't we in books? Very enjoyable and I laughed out loud numerous times!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Cursing, Grief, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use
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