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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.
shilo1364's review against another edition
5.0
I find Heyer's Georgian romances harder to get into than her others, and this was no exception. I think it's partly the language that is so unfamiliar and requires a bit of a mental adjustment - rather like that required when one reads Shakespeare. Once I got into this one, however, I found that I enjoyed it immensely. Prue and Robin's father steals the show and is a very memorable character, though Prue and Robin themselves are vastly entertaining to read about in their adopted personas of Peter and Kate, and Sir Anthony is another fun to read character.
knitonepugtwo's review against another edition
3.0
The language in this book tripped me up a bit and caused me to read in waves. Slow to start, then a fast and furious first half, langquished in the middle, and roared through to the end.
lawrenceevalyn's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun and charming read — I can imagine reading more Heyer after this. It took a while to get the hang of this story— partly because of the audiobook; I thiiink the narrator was pronouncing “milady” like “my lady”, which made me think the book was narrated by a servant character. I had to listen to the first chapter three times before I was able to follow what was actually happening. Once I was in, though, it spoke directly to my id. Actually, at some points it was almost too exquisite— I kept thinking of Daniel Lavern’s newsletters. They’re what tempted me to try Heyer in the first place, but wow he did not exaggerate. Overall I’m glad I picked it up even if it will probably be a while before my next Heyer; I do think there will be a next Heyer eventually.
adoras's review against another edition
3.0
I've been meaning to read more (historical) romance, and decided to start with Georgette Heyer, who I've heard so many amazing things about. I really enjoyed this, but didn't LOVE it. The plot was a lot of fun, and I loved the writing style and witty dialogue, but I just didn't get as emotionally invested as I was hoping. I liked everyone well enough, but with this kind of book especially I feel like I need to really need to be desperate to see everyone get their happy endings, and I just wasn't here. That said, I will definitely try more Heyer in the future!
christinecc's review against another edition
4.0
If the first Heyer book I read seemed a bit flat, this one has changed my mind about her!
Basically this is a feel-good adventure with society balls, Jacobites in hiding, dashing masked men (and women), charming romance, and a cross-dressing pair of siblings trying to evade prosecution for the rebellion their father entangled them in before jumping ship.
Prudence and Robin switch genders in public, so that Prudence becomes Peter Merriott (a cool-handed dandy with great swordsmanship) and Robin has a blast flirting with everything that moves as Kate Merriott (coquette extraordinaire).
Honestly I love that both siblings really enjoyed the masquerade. No "ew, women's clothing, why do I have a skirt" dialogue here. Robin loves how good he is at fooling everyone, so of course he can't stop flirting with admiring old men at every turn. It's all Prudence can do to not sigh and pretend she doesn't know him (and the reader will basically have the same reaction). They're very close and affectionate, and you get a very vivid impression of their relationship because the author gives them a history. This isn't their first masquerade, and having grown up at the side of a con-artist/adventurer father, they've learned to see the fun side of living a lie to save their skins. Prudence plays her part just as adeptly, earning people's respect as a skilled swordsman and not being afraid to accept a duel or suffer some bad bruising in an ambush -- all while she finds herself very, very attracted to Sir Anthony (who keeps a veeeery close eye on her, I wonder why...) (unfortunately, he guesses what the Merriott siblings are up to immediately, so there weren't any Mulan-Ping-Shang interactions, much to my disappointment, ah well).
I can't recommend this enough if you like exciting but well-grounded stories with adventure, romance, and just a touch of intrigue. Georgette Heyer gives us a funny and suspenseful yarn, and I enjoyed every minute. It's all in good fun! I couldn't ask for more (but I WILL ask for more because I want to read more of her books now).
Basically this is a feel-good adventure with society balls, Jacobites in hiding, dashing masked men (and women), charming romance, and a cross-dressing pair of siblings trying to evade prosecution for the rebellion their father entangled them in before jumping ship.
Prudence and Robin switch genders in public, so that Prudence becomes Peter Merriott (a cool-handed dandy with great swordsmanship) and Robin has a blast flirting with everything that moves as Kate Merriott (coquette extraordinaire).
Honestly I love that both siblings really enjoyed the masquerade. No "ew, women's clothing, why do I have a skirt" dialogue here. Robin loves how good he is at fooling everyone, so of course he can't stop flirting with admiring old men at every turn. It's all Prudence can do to not sigh and pretend she doesn't know him (and the reader will basically have the same reaction). They're very close and affectionate, and you get a very vivid impression of their relationship because the author gives them a history. This isn't their first masquerade, and having grown up at the side of a con-artist/adventurer father, they've learned to see the fun side of living a lie to save their skins. Prudence plays her part just as adeptly, earning people's respect as a skilled swordsman and not being afraid to accept a duel or suffer some bad bruising in an ambush -- all while she finds herself very, very attracted to Sir Anthony (who keeps a veeeery close eye on her, I wonder why...) (unfortunately, he guesses what the Merriott siblings are up to immediately, so there weren't any Mulan-Ping-Shang interactions, much to my disappointment, ah well).
I can't recommend this enough if you like exciting but well-grounded stories with adventure, romance, and just a touch of intrigue. Georgette Heyer gives us a funny and suspenseful yarn, and I enjoyed every minute. It's all in good fun! I couldn't ask for more (but I WILL ask for more because I want to read more of her books now).
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
4.0
I'm starting to think that I enjoy Heyer's Georgian adventures, more than her regencies! They are so action-packed with sword fighting and disguises and the whole bit, that you can't be bored.
After reading Devil's Cub, I was in a bit of a Heyer slump. I didn't particularly enjoy that one, but it didn't last for long because after reading The Masqueraders, my faith was restored.
The Masqueraders are a tale of a brother and sister who find themselves on the wrong side of the Jacobian rebellion and are forced to go in to disguise. They each masquerade... as the opposite sex. Oh, what fun! However, it is not easy as each of them starts falling in love. Prudence with Sir Anthony Fanshawe and Robin with Letitia Grayson. They each stick to their false identities, though, and intend to see it out.
Just when you think it's getting good, their cunning father shows up. Without a doubt, he is my favorite character. He was utterly impossible and everything that came out of his mouth had me rolling.
Sword fighting, cross dressing, secret identities, abductions, people being thrown out of carriages - this book had it all. Good, good fun!
After reading Devil's Cub, I was in a bit of a Heyer slump. I didn't particularly enjoy that one, but it didn't last for long because after reading The Masqueraders, my faith was restored.
The Masqueraders are a tale of a brother and sister who find themselves on the wrong side of the Jacobian rebellion and are forced to go in to disguise. They each masquerade... as the opposite sex. Oh, what fun! However, it is not easy as each of them starts falling in love. Prudence with Sir Anthony Fanshawe and Robin with Letitia Grayson. They each stick to their false identities, though, and intend to see it out.
Just when you think it's getting good, their cunning father shows up. Without a doubt, he is my favorite character. He was utterly impossible and everything that came out of his mouth had me rolling.
Sword fighting, cross dressing, secret identities, abductions, people being thrown out of carriages - this book had it all. Good, good fun!