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thesincoucher's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a romp - I completely fell in love with it!
At the beginning I was very confused. Heyer's narrator only tells you what they want you to know and I felt like I was trying to read a play without any previous information. This lasted ten pages and then everything was crystal clear. I loved mainly three things, and the rest was awesome:
- Fat representation: English confuses me sometimes so it took me awhile if large meant tall or fat but yes, it means fat. And the heroine is also 'stolid' that after again a bit of confusion, I very cleverly deduced means fat. Amazing.
- The love interest: I don't know how she does it, but I completely adore her pairings. They are so interesting and original (on some things, on some others it's your regular male love interest in a heterosexual couple (I did it want it queerer but this is Heyer)).
- The heroine being a part of the guys: as she dresses up to pass as a man, she has to go to clubs and hang out almost exclusively with men so you get to get an insight of how men behaved and I find it so interesting (reminded me of The Convenient Marriage, which I also loved). (Also I would have loved to see the hero's conversations and just more of him with the ladies).
Bonus: the dad was a riot. I completely love his character - completely adore him. I laughed a whole lot.
To sum it up, this was amazingly great.
At the beginning I was very confused. Heyer's narrator only tells you what they want you to know and I felt like I was trying to read a play without any previous information. This lasted ten pages and then everything was crystal clear. I loved mainly three things, and the rest was awesome:
- Fat representation: English confuses me sometimes so it took me awhile if large meant tall or fat but yes, it means fat. And the heroine is also 'stolid' that after again a bit of confusion, I very cleverly deduced means fat. Amazing.
- The love interest: I don't know how she does it, but I completely adore her pairings. They are so interesting and original (on some things, on some others it's your regular male love interest in a heterosexual couple (I did it want it queerer but this is Heyer)).
- The heroine being a part of the guys: as she dresses up to pass as a man, she has to go to clubs and hang out almost exclusively with men so you get to get an insight of how men behaved and I find it so interesting (reminded me of The Convenient Marriage, which I also loved). (Also I would have loved to see the hero's conversations and just more of him with the ladies).
Bonus: the dad was a riot. I completely love his character - completely adore him. I laughed a whole lot.
To sum it up, this was amazingly great.
jcdfrog's review against another edition
3.0
Georgette Heyer was an English historical romance novelist, writing from 1925 until her death in 1974. Many of her “regency novels” were inspired by Jane Austen.
I enjoyed reading this particular regency novel, “The Masqueraders”—at least the later half. Prior to the halfway point, I struggled to stay interested. Yet I read on, finding a funny, romantic, entertaining conclusion.
If you enjoy Georgette Heyer, stick with this novel. If you are new to Georgette Heyer, I would better recommend “Cotillion” or “A Reluctant Widow”—my two favorite Heyer novels.
I enjoyed reading this particular regency novel, “The Masqueraders”—at least the later half. Prior to the halfway point, I struggled to stay interested. Yet I read on, finding a funny, romantic, entertaining conclusion.
If you enjoy Georgette Heyer, stick with this novel. If you are new to Georgette Heyer, I would better recommend “Cotillion” or “A Reluctant Widow”—my two favorite Heyer novels.
ellenw's review against another edition
4.0
I seem to have reached the section of Georgette Heyer canon that involves crossdressing. And I'm kind of fine with that.
This could well be my second favorite after Cotillion; like that one, it starts off slowly, but ends well.
This could well be my second favorite after Cotillion; like that one, it starts off slowly, but ends well.
lilith_elinor's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Heyer I've been able to really enjoy without it being somewhat ruined by reservations. The sexism isn't completely absent but has faded enough into the background that I can enjoy the story.
I feel like Heyer has also improved vastly as an author. The pacing here is extremely tight, there is not a single slow moment. Her narration has improved, the information is no longer provided in a stilted manner but flows more naturally, and we are allowed a glimpse into the thoughts of our heroes which helps me care more about what happens to them. Characterisation has been further refined, and the ridiculous young woman character was toned down enough to be palatable. Her trademark wit has been honed to perfection. There were many moments that had me chuckling at the characters' impertinence.
I really enjoyed this storyline and these characters. Each was fun and endearing in their own way. The couples made sense and you could see them be happy together. Prudence was a favourite of mine, I loved how unflappable she was, how she took everything in stride, and her calm dignity and frankness. She was confident and intelligent and Anthony loved and admired her for it, which I almost didn't expect after seeing so many stupid heroines in the other books of Heyer's I'd read. Anthony was also clever and honourable, and I appreciated how protective he was of his young friend. He is definitely an alpha type of hero, but he respected his heroine and was neither vindictive, unfair or cruel to her the way alphas can sometimes be. He was able to tease Prudence and he genuinely cared for her a lot, which was touching. I also like that he wasn't a flashy, attention seeking type, he was happy doing his own thing, staying on the sidelines and being underestimated a bit, unless he needed to defend his friends and then he came through with calm self-assurance. He was a good surprise, from previous experience I was almost expecting him to be an ass and he wasn't.
Robin was cheeky and witty, he and Letty added a little levity to the story, but they were definitely a secondary couple here and I didn't love them as much as our primary couple. Probably also because I still can't say I like Heyer's brand of vapid, silly young heroine. I hope she stays away from the airheads in her next books.
Robert their father was hilarious in an outrageous sort of way. He definitely brought the absurd and dramatic to the story and absolutely leapt off the page. He is quite a unique sort of character and has to be read to be believed! I liked the dynamic of the family, they are a team and help each other out in their unconventional endeavours, their loyalty is complete, and they always tease each other mercilessly and don't take each other seriously.
Crossdressing heroine is a favourite trope for a reason and I liked how Heyer handled it. Of course a hefty pinch of suspension of disbelief is necessary but with that firmly in place, I think she got the ambiguous relationship between "Peter" and Anthony down well, it was very compelling. I was on tenterhooks imagining how the discovery would go and it didn't disappoint.
And once again we have a lot of action with kidnappings, attacks, duels, masked balls, secret identities, long lost noblemen, false highwaymen... never a dull moment! It's a sparkling, amusing and funny story. This book makes me see why Heyer is so popular.
I feel like Heyer has also improved vastly as an author. The pacing here is extremely tight, there is not a single slow moment. Her narration has improved, the information is no longer provided in a stilted manner but flows more naturally, and we are allowed a glimpse into the thoughts of our heroes which helps me care more about what happens to them. Characterisation has been further refined, and the ridiculous young woman character was toned down enough to be palatable. Her trademark wit has been honed to perfection. There were many moments that had me chuckling at the characters' impertinence.
I really enjoyed this storyline and these characters. Each was fun and endearing in their own way. The couples made sense and you could see them be happy together. Prudence was a favourite of mine, I loved how unflappable she was, how she took everything in stride, and her calm dignity and frankness. She was confident and intelligent and Anthony loved and admired her for it, which I almost didn't expect after seeing so many stupid heroines in the other books of Heyer's I'd read. Anthony was also clever and honourable, and I appreciated how protective he was of his young friend. He is definitely an alpha type of hero, but he respected his heroine and was neither vindictive, unfair or cruel to her the way alphas can sometimes be. He was able to tease Prudence and he genuinely cared for her a lot, which was touching. I also like that he wasn't a flashy, attention seeking type, he was happy doing his own thing, staying on the sidelines and being underestimated a bit, unless he needed to defend his friends and then he came through with calm self-assurance. He was a good surprise, from previous experience I was almost expecting him to be an ass and he wasn't.
Robin was cheeky and witty, he and Letty added a little levity to the story, but they were definitely a secondary couple here and I didn't love them as much as our primary couple. Probably also because I still can't say I like Heyer's brand of vapid, silly young heroine. I hope she stays away from the airheads in her next books.
Robert their father was hilarious in an outrageous sort of way. He definitely brought the absurd and dramatic to the story and absolutely leapt off the page. He is quite a unique sort of character and has to be read to be believed! I liked the dynamic of the family, they are a team and help each other out in their unconventional endeavours, their loyalty is complete, and they always tease each other mercilessly and don't take each other seriously.
Crossdressing heroine is a favourite trope for a reason and I liked how Heyer handled it. Of course a hefty pinch of suspension of disbelief is necessary but with that firmly in place, I think she got the ambiguous relationship between "Peter" and Anthony down well, it was very compelling. I was on tenterhooks imagining how the discovery would go and it didn't disappoint.
And once again we have a lot of action with kidnappings, attacks, duels, masked balls, secret identities, long lost noblemen, false highwaymen... never a dull moment! It's a sparkling, amusing and funny story. This book makes me see why Heyer is so popular.
emyzig's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
howjessicareads's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably the 5th or 6th time I've read this Heyer, and it's as delightful as ever. "I contrive!" (Last read April 2013.)
madanburg's review against another edition
4.0
ROFLOL! Oh, Heyer, such genius wit and bonkers fun times. Prue and Tony are my favorite, followed so closely by my lord Robert, that incorrigible mastermind. It's just plain smile-inducing to witness their adventures.
thesecrethistory24's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
justabean_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I thought I'd read this before, but I'm sure now I only read part of it. Good silly fun with a lot of gender play that keeps feeling like it should be queer without every quite openly getting there (possibly because it was written in 1928).
(It's set in the 1750s, but until lavishly described clothes popped up or names were checked, I kept forgetting it wasn't a Regency. It definitely didn't feel like mid-Georgian in terms of tone of society.)
A pair of sibling con-artists escape the fall out of the Jacobite rebellion by disguising themselves as the opposite gender and hitting high society in London. The sister spends her time playing cards in a gentlemen's club and dashing about on horseback, the brother is in full skirts flirting like mad with all the boys for most of the book. There's a plot, they both fall in love, sadly no one murders their father.
The romances were lightly drawn with a lot more attention paid to banter, swashbuckling and con games than to building up sexual tension. I kept getting hints of same-gender attraction (especially between Robin and Tony), but never quite getting there. I'd love a version with bisexual siblings, but I suppose that's what fic is for.
The second Heyer I've read, and enjoyed this slightly more than Friday's Child.
(It's set in the 1750s, but until lavishly described clothes popped up or names were checked, I kept forgetting it wasn't a Regency. It definitely didn't feel like mid-Georgian in terms of tone of society.)
A pair of sibling con-artists escape the fall out of the Jacobite rebellion by disguising themselves as the opposite gender and hitting high society in London. The sister spends her time playing cards in a gentlemen's club and dashing about on horseback, the brother is in full skirts flirting like mad with all the boys for most of the book. There's a plot, they both fall in love, sadly no one murders their father.
The romances were lightly drawn with a lot more attention paid to banter, swashbuckling and con games than to building up sexual tension. I kept getting hints of same-gender attraction (especially between Robin and Tony), but never quite getting there. I'd love a version with bisexual siblings, but I suppose that's what fic is for.
The second Heyer I've read, and enjoyed this slightly more than Friday's Child.
keu482's review against another edition
5.0
New favorite romance writer (tied with Crusie's contemporaries), thanks Corpse!
I liked how characters seemed to have depth and subtlety, something that is usually missing from romances (IMHO) in favour of MOAR ROMANCE!!! This book was so easy to read, I'd pick it up for fifteen minutes and devour about a hundred pages. The book lost me a bit around the the time where Robin murdered someone. I get that it's period and such, but cold blooded murder makes you a bad guy in my modern viewpoint.
Sir Anthony is still teh awesome though, lets have more of him and Prudence.
I liked how characters seemed to have depth and subtlety, something that is usually missing from romances (IMHO) in favour of MOAR ROMANCE!!! This book was so easy to read, I'd pick it up for fifteen minutes and devour about a hundred pages. The book lost me a bit around the the time where Robin murdered someone. I get that it's period and such, but cold blooded murder makes you a bad guy in my modern viewpoint.
Sir Anthony is still teh awesome though, lets have more of him and Prudence.