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adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Annique Villiers is a French spy, but she now carries a secret that could harm the fragile balance of the Napoleonic Wars. But will she turn this information over to the English? She's captured by the French, who don't trust her, and while imprisoned she meets Grey, chief spy for the English. She craves him, even as she knows she can't have him and her blindness prevents her from seeing his face. She escapes to England, regains her vision, and when Grey comes to her rescue, she doesn't recognize him. So he conceals his identity from her as part of a ploy to turn her over to his own boss. Will he torture her for secrets? Or make passionate love to her?
This series has been on my TBR for a few years, and I'm glad I finally started it. I love spies and intrigue, and the first half of the book takes place outside of England. I thought Joanna Bourne used Annique's blindness effectively, and it only builds her persona as a remarkable spy. The romance between Grey and Amnique does start as instalusty, even if she cannot see him at first, but I think that's also effective as Bourne builds the believability of the love story the more time Grey and Annique appear on page together.
This series has been on my TBR for a few years, and I'm glad I finally started it. I love spies and intrigue, and the first half of the book takes place outside of England. I thought Joanna Bourne used Annique's blindness effectively, and it only builds her persona as a remarkable spy. The romance between Grey and Amnique does start as instalusty, even if she cannot see him at first, but I think that's also effective as Bourne builds the believability of the love story the more time Grey and Annique appear on page together.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Since this was a romance novel, the part of this book that should have been most compelling was the romance, right? Well, the part I ended feeling most repulsed by and want to move past in this book was the romance. A little more than halfway through the book, I was just pushing myself to finish because I tend to a need to complete most books unless I really don't like it, and I was kind of curious how the heroine would solve all her problems.
The reason I felt turned off by the romance was due to the weird power imbalance between the main characters. The heroine was much younger, much less experienced, and a prisoner of the male lead. He was constantly manipulating her to get her more at ease around him, and because they are spies, of course he wanted information as well. It doesn't matter that he was violently attracted to her from the moment he set eyes on her, and that she was incredibly attracted as well. It doesn't matter that she knew he was trying to manipulate her. It doesn't matter that he technically didn't force her to have sex with him. She was trapped with him and constantly trying to escape before he basically tamed her. Not to mention the gross part where she was high off opium that he drugged her with and wasn't able to stop her from throwing herself on him. It was weird and very icky.
The inner monologue and dialogue of the heroine was kind of weird too because it was like it was written as if she was speaking slightly awkward English as a Frenchwomen the whole time, when for half of the book, it should have flowed naturally like everyone else speaking French in the book.
I just wanted the heroine to go off by herself to have the nice life in a small village she dreamed of without being dependent on a man. She started off as so intelligent and capable, but she just kept letting herself fall into the stupidest traps (when she is supposed to be such an amazing spy).
The reason I felt turned off by the romance was due to the weird power imbalance between the main characters. The heroine was much younger, much less experienced, and a prisoner of the male lead. He was constantly manipulating her to get her more at ease around him, and because they are spies, of course he wanted information as well. It doesn't matter that he was violently attracted to her from the moment he set eyes on her, and that she was incredibly attracted as well. It doesn't matter that she knew he was trying to manipulate her. It doesn't matter that he technically didn't force her to have sex with him. She was trapped with him and constantly trying to escape before he basically tamed her. Not to mention the gross part where she was high off opium that he drugged her with and wasn't able to stop her from throwing herself on him. It was weird and very icky.
The inner monologue and dialogue of the heroine was kind of weird too because it was like it was written as if she was speaking slightly awkward English as a Frenchwomen the whole time, when for half of the book, it should have flowed naturally like everyone else speaking French in the book.
I just wanted the heroine to go off by herself to have the nice life in a small village she dreamed of without being dependent on a man. She started off as so intelligent and capable, but she just kept letting herself fall into the stupidest traps (when she is supposed to be such an amazing spy).
DNF. Stockholm syndrome, basically sexual assault of the heroine while she’s drugged. Heroine had so much potential, too.
adventurous
funny
tense
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
So good! Exciting, interesting plot that kept me surprised again and again. Complex and yet lovable characters with unique voices and clear motivations behind their choices. The setting felt very real, not just set dressing like many historical romances.
I feel I HAVE to give it 5 stars bc this was the best of these kinds of books I’ve yet to read….. the plot was actually interesting & the characters well written :-0 I’m also learning so many new & useless old-timey words throughout my reading, which is pretty cool.
Love you Jaymsie , this is for you <3
Love you Jaymsie , this is for you <3