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kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore is the first book in the A League of Extraordinary Women series. Annabelle finally gets the chance to study at Oxford. During her help for the women's suffrage movement she meets Sebastian, a powerful duke in England. In the efforts to win him for their cause, Annabelle is falling for him. And even though it is socially not acceptable, Sebastian falls for the country woman as well.
I've had this book on my to-read list for over three years. When a friend of mine said she had it at home, I was really excited to finally read it. However, I am a little disappointed. This book was not really my cup of tea. The characters are all rather cold and distant. None of them really appealed to me. I just didn't get warm with them. Sebastian was the coldest of them all. I did not really see his charm. He is abrupt and demanding, but he never did anything against Annabelle's wishes. All the aristocratic and misogynistic thinking made me mad. I was constantly annoyed and just did not really enjoy the writing style of this book. The sex scenes were steamy and okayish.
There was nothing extraordinary or exciting in this book. It was an okay read. Sadly, I don't want to read the other books in the series. I expected something different.
I've had this book on my to-read list for over three years. When a friend of mine said she had it at home, I was really excited to finally read it. However, I am a little disappointed. This book was not really my cup of tea. The characters are all rather cold and distant. None of them really appealed to me. I just didn't get warm with them. Sebastian was the coldest of them all. I did not really see his charm. He is abrupt and demanding, but he never did anything against Annabelle's wishes. All the aristocratic and misogynistic thinking made me mad. I was constantly annoyed and just did not really enjoy the writing style of this book. The sex scenes were steamy and okayish.
There was nothing extraordinary or exciting in this book. It was an okay read. Sadly, I don't want to read the other books in the series. I expected something different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Infidelity
endlesssky's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While I like the grand gesture of the hero at the end, I just hated his first proposition to the heroine. She was a suffragist for heaven's sake! His proposal goes against what she is fighting for. If he had any respect for her, he would not even dare ask! He was an AH for this. I know that this was realistic at this time period, but I just hated it. I liked the friendship between the heroine and her fellow suffragists. I enjoyed reading most of the banters. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing extraordinary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
connerme's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Police brutality, Addiction, Sexual assault, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and War
undecidedpersonality's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Medical content, Miscarriage, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Grief, and Violence
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
The tenderness. The sensual tension. (Yes, sensual, not sexual). And the emotional intimacy as they developed affection for each other. It wasn’t just beautiful horny adults.
Almost flawless. I loved so so much of this.
Two scenes disappointed me in the final 20% - for the miscommunication plot device and for the grand gesture in the HoL.
Almost flawless. I loved so so much of this.
Two scenes disappointed me in the final 20% - for the miscommunication plot device and for the grand gesture in the HoL.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Death of parent
agw622's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such an amazing read. The time period chosen was such a unique background for a romance book. I love how the line between being strong in yourself and finding love was managed so well. The charecters had depth, and I'm excited to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Infidelity
emmablast's review
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
caelfind's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
unsweetener's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
What can I say? This one hooked me, and I loved it more the further I got into it.
Annabelle is a broke, overeducated, and slightly jaded vicar's daughter who becomes one of the first women admitted to Oxford; Sebastian is your prototypical tightly wound, super rich, hyper competent Duke (we all love a Duke named Sebastian; there's nothing for it).
There's a real class difference to contend with, and the late Victorian setting is well researched, lived in, and unglamorous. Annabelle's involvement with the suffragists offers both personal and plot development for both main characters; no 90% mark crisis to add drama here! The external conflict builds gradually, comes to a head with real consequences, and the fallout carries the rest of the book. It's definitely not a downer; there's some really excellent angst, though, and the historical grounding makes the class difference a meaningful obstacle and source of conflict. Since these characters have experience working through difficulties with high stakes, it only enhances the happy ending.
All told, this felt like an original, meaty approach to familiar tropes, and it ended so strongly that I forgot my minor critiques. Read it!
As a final note, I tried and failed to listen to a later audiobook in the series first, and I'd recommend against both (audiobook and skipping this one). Start here; the supporting characters get really excellent introductions (hope to see you again someday, Peregrine).
Annabelle is a broke, overeducated, and slightly jaded vicar's daughter who becomes one of the first women admitted to Oxford; Sebastian is your prototypical tightly wound, super rich, hyper competent Duke (we all love a Duke named Sebastian; there's nothing for it).
There's a real class difference to contend with, and the late Victorian setting is well researched, lived in, and unglamorous. Annabelle's involvement with the suffragists offers both personal and plot development for both main characters; no 90% mark crisis to add drama here! The external conflict builds gradually, comes to a head with real consequences, and the fallout carries the rest of the book. It's definitely not a downer; there's some really excellent angst, though, and the historical grounding makes the class difference a meaningful obstacle and source of conflict. Since these characters have experience working through difficulties with high stakes, it only enhances the happy ending.
All told, this felt like an original, meaty approach to familiar tropes, and it ended so strongly that I forgot my minor critiques. Read it!
As a final note, I tried and failed to listen to a later audiobook in the series first, and I'd recommend against both (audiobook and skipping this one). Start here; the supporting characters get really excellent introductions (hope to see you again someday, Peregrine).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
baearles's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, and Sexual content