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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
I was told I should read this since I am on a rare romance kick.
There was no romance.
The dude is awful.
I only finished it to see when the actual romance WOULD start, and it never did.
It was everything I hate in most romances. 0/5.
There was no romance.
The dude is awful.
I only finished it to see when the actual romance WOULD start, and it never did.
It was everything I hate in most romances. 0/5.
*2.5 stars*
I'm actually prepared to let the rape go as part of bodice-ripper/historical accuracy/misjudged plot point/whatever. Don't get me wrong; I'm not thrilled by it, but I can understand the context/era and keep reading the story so long as it there is something else in the narrative that's worth it.
This book is compelling in many ways. It has an excellently sociopathic antagonist (I DO love my weaponized-femininity villains), a vividly drawn world full of castles and knights, and a supporting cast comprised of interesting people/caricatures. I appreciated all the soap opera-ish levels of plotting by the villains, so sue me. It added a quality of brutality to the story that I quite like. I might have stuck around if only there was more of all the above and less of the romance- which is a strange demand to make of a romance novel, I know.
But the romance was so bloody boring. It was based entirely on the same old song and dance of "YOUR SEXINESS MAKES ME WEAK!"/"AWAY, VILE HARLOT/BEAST!", with Gavin having a firm hold on the idiot ball (this guy ruled a keep since he was sixteen? how is it not in flames yet HOW?) because (presumably) he's so in love that he can't think straight. Judith, on the other hand is a woman who is (of course) passionate, virtuous and oh so beautiful. A woman whose has been hidden from the world all her life, whose waist is described as being tinier than Gavin's thigh but also one who is athletic enough to take a running leap at a tree and pull herself up by the strength of her arms.
Such wow. I'm amaze.
Look. I can only roll my eyes so much, and even the interesting subplots of all the shit that's going on in Chatworth Manor (aka the villain enclosure) is not enough to keep me reading this. I may go back at some point when I'm less irritated to finish them, but it will not be now.
I'm actually prepared to let the rape go as part of bodice-ripper/historical accuracy/misjudged plot point/whatever. Don't get me wrong; I'm not thrilled by it, but I can understand the context/era and keep reading the story so long as it there is something else in the narrative that's worth it.
This book is compelling in many ways. It has an excellently sociopathic antagonist (I DO love my weaponized-femininity villains), a vividly drawn world full of castles and knights, and a supporting cast comprised of interesting people/caricatures. I appreciated all the soap opera-ish levels of plotting by the villains, so sue me. It added a quality of brutality to the story that I quite like. I might have stuck around if only there was more of all the above and less of the romance- which is a strange demand to make of a romance novel, I know.
But the romance was so bloody boring. It was based entirely on the same old song and dance of "YOUR SEXINESS MAKES ME WEAK!"/"AWAY, VILE HARLOT/BEAST!", with Gavin having a firm hold on the idiot ball (this guy ruled a keep since he was sixteen? how is it not in flames yet HOW?) because (presumably) he's so in love that he can't think straight. Judith, on the other hand is a woman who is (of course) passionate, virtuous and oh so beautiful. A woman whose has been hidden from the world all her life, whose waist is described as being tinier than Gavin's thigh but also one who is athletic enough to take a running leap at a tree and pull herself up by the strength of her arms.
Such wow. I'm amaze.
Look. I can only roll my eyes so much, and even the interesting subplots of all the shit that's going on in Chatworth Manor (aka the villain enclosure) is not enough to keep me reading this. I may go back at some point when I'm less irritated to finish them, but it will not be now.
Its hard to describe this book. I enjoyed the drama aspect, however I did not appreciate all the RAPE! Alright, even taking into account when this book was published, and the setting, it was mildly disturbing that the H seemingly has no remorse for his actions. Also, he is a gigantic dick. Huge, sweaty sack of nuts. And while he was a jerk, I did enjoy how h chose to compose herself *most* of the time.
I liked it just as much as I did the first time I read it. I like books that get me in the feels, whether they're sad, happy, or angry feels. This book succeeded. Off to read the rest of the series!
I has been a good 25 years since I last read this book. I had forgotten how much casual violence against women it had. I remember really liking it but had to down grade my rating because of Gavin's treatment of Judith in the beginning.
Pure smut. I read it for the sex scenes. :p Her characters are what I'd call Twinkies - too perfect and too beautiful. Totally gross. (Sex wasn't bad. ;) )
This is the 2nd Deveraux I have ever read. It was head and shoulders above Black Lyon. If not for the rape at the beginning, what felt like some disjointed storytelling at times, and an ending so abrupt I got whiplash, I really enjoyed this one.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes