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deannah's review
3.0
This is like Twelfth Night but set in Regency time period. I lovely little romp. The father is ridiculous but that is part of the fun.
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
4.0
I admit it: I have a weakness for stories wherein the heroine dresses as a man. This was made even more delightful by way of having the heroine's younger brother dress as a lady at the same time.
This was an excellent romp- romantic and dashing and charming- and best of all, a book that maintained its sense of humor the whole way through. I would give a lot to see this as a BBC period piece miniseries.
I've been consuming Heyer at a rather alarming pace since discovering her, but after awhile, a lot of the books seem rather derivative. It was a joy to find one that was quite out of her usual style, but still containing the best of Heyer's style, her eye to detail, and her wit.
This was an excellent romp- romantic and dashing and charming- and best of all, a book that maintained its sense of humor the whole way through. I would give a lot to see this as a BBC period piece miniseries.
I've been consuming Heyer at a rather alarming pace since discovering her, but after awhile, a lot of the books seem rather derivative. It was a joy to find one that was quite out of her usual style, but still containing the best of Heyer's style, her eye to detail, and her wit.
barefootsong's review against another edition
4.0
(3.5 stars)
A good romp with some fun characters and quite interesting with some of the gender issues, but just a tad too long.
A good romp with some fun characters and quite interesting with some of the gender issues, but just a tad too long.
Spoiler
Also, I was slightly uncomfortable at the excitement with which one of the heroes set out to kill one of the villains. I know duels were a part of the culture and all, but having the hero so excited about killing the villain before the actual duel made it feel premeditated and therefore unheroic. Though of course the damsel-in-distress didn't think so.schomj's review
4.0
Summary: After participating in the Jacobite rebellion on the losing side, Robin and his sister Prue disguise themselves as Kate and Peter Merriot, respectively, to evade treason charges. While traveling to London to meet their father, they rescue Letty, an heiress questioning her decision to elope with the scheming Markham, as well as Tony, sent by Letty's father to retrieve her. Hijinks ensue.
This is an early Heyer and you can tell in the sense that the writing isn't quite as smooth as her later works are. But, oh, what fun!
I loved that Prue and Robin's cross-dressing adventure is presented in a way that's believable by the other characters and by the reader. Prue, who is larger than the average woman, is a sensible woman with a good sense of humor, and when she physically fights blackmailers and street toughs, she makes a good showing of herself. Robin, who is smaller than the average man, is able to take on the characteristics of a flighty young society woman in a way that's sympathetic. There is little-to-no mugging for laughs in this part of the story; the danger of being caught out is acknowledged, but there's no question that Prue and Robin are capable of pulling off the deception.
I also love that Prue and Robin, whose respective sizes fall outside the norm, are presented as admirable heroes in a romantic adventure. And the way they're portrayed kind of reminded me of Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series (which I haven't read since the '90s and now want to start again).
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Prue and Robin's father, who is a delightfully entertaining con-man.
I found Prue and Tony's romance more interesting than Robin and Letty's, primarily because, while Letty seemed a good match for Robin, her flightiness was a bit much for me at times.
So, this is from a passage featuring Prue and Tony:
This is an early Heyer and you can tell in the sense that the writing isn't quite as smooth as her later works are. But, oh, what fun!
I loved that Prue and Robin's cross-dressing adventure is presented in a way that's believable by the other characters and by the reader. Prue, who is larger than the average woman, is a sensible woman with a good sense of humor, and when she physically fights blackmailers and street toughs, she makes a good showing of herself. Robin, who is smaller than the average man, is able to take on the characteristics of a flighty young society woman in a way that's sympathetic. There is little-to-no mugging for laughs in this part of the story; the danger of being caught out is acknowledged, but there's no question that Prue and Robin are capable of pulling off the deception.
I also love that Prue and Robin, whose respective sizes fall outside the norm, are presented as admirable heroes in a romantic adventure. And the way they're portrayed kind of reminded me of Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series (which I haven't read since the '90s and now want to start again).
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Prue and Robin's father, who is a delightfully entertaining con-man.
I found Prue and Tony's romance more interesting than Robin and Letty's, primarily because, while Letty seemed a good match for Robin, her flightiness was a bit much for me at times.
So, this is from a passage featuring Prue and Tony:
She laughed. "You're infatuated, sir. But I'm not respectable, give you my word. In boy's clothes I've kept a gaming-house with my father; I've escaped out of windows and up chimneys; I've travelled in the tail of an army not English; I've played a dozen parts, and--well, it has been necessary for me often to carry a pistol in my pocket.
Sir Anthony's head was turned towards her. "My dear, will you never realize that I adore you?"
...
"You give me the happy ending I never thought to have," she said.
"I suppose you thought I was like to expose you in righteous wrath when I discovered the truth?"
"Something of the sort, sir," she admitted.
"You're an amazing woman, my dear," was all he said.
devafagan's review
5.0
Loved this! One of the more purely enjoyable books I've read (or in this case, listened to) recently. The characters and language sparkles, and I actually find myself wishing it could have gone on longer (unusual for me).
emlostinbooks's review
3.0
3.5*
Adventurous, humorous, scandalous, and a fantastic story that kept me bound to it until I finished it. I had a little hard time initially for grasping the direction of the story but once I got hang of it, it was a laughing riot.
Adventurous, humorous, scandalous, and a fantastic story that kept me bound to it until I finished it. I had a little hard time initially for grasping the direction of the story but once I got hang of it, it was a laughing riot.
the_daydreamologist's review
4.0
'Do not doubt that I shall contrive! I am a great man, Thérèse: I realize it at last. I am a very great man.’
And the Biggest Ego Award goes to........THE OLD GENTLMAN!!!
And the Biggest Ego Award goes to........THE OLD GENTLMAN!!!
mouseyhare's review
3.0
I enjoyed this! I thought the way the story came together at the end was really nice. I wish that Prudence and Robin had gotten more screentime together than they did though. I love sibling relationships a lot.
meera01's review
3.0
This was entertaining especially when the heroine and "the mountain" were on the scene.
spunkyferret's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75