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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Liked the concept but it didn’t hit perfectly for me
Also I feel like the title didn’t match the book
Also I feel like the title didn’t match the book
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Fun scarlet pimpernel trope that I had a good time with. Didn't feel too rushed and was a bit camp with the angst but honestly what else are you here for. The consent stuff between the couple gets weird in certain parts but I think it was meant to be hot and it's fiction so if thats your fantasy have fun.
The writing is nothing to complain about with the rare absolutely baller quote- examples provided below.
"And it honors me that when I bring myself, I seem to have brought enough for you."
"He used to believe that to forgive was to allow an offense to go unpunished. Now he finally understood that forgiveness was not about the past, but the future."
The writing is nothing to complain about with the rare absolutely baller quote- examples provided below.
"And it honors me that when I bring myself, I seem to have brought enough for you."
"He used to believe that to forgive was to allow an offense to go unpunished. Now he finally understood that forgiveness was not about the past, but the future."
mysterious
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:
Complicated
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
He was so mean to her, especially when he was acting out of character. [Not being stupid, as was his act as a spy.]
Ellisande is such a strong character, in that she did her best to survive in an abusive environment and never lost her hope. She also did everything she could to escape the environment and in the end she won!
Ellisande knows and understands Vere, but he desperately doesn't want to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known, something he doesn't even allow his brother, Frederick, to have from him.
Frederick and their childhood friend, Angelica, provide the perfect backdrop and now I have to read from the beginning of the series to get more of them.
It felt like this one was very plot heavy and I enjoyed that! The villain got exactly what they deserved.
Ellisande is such a strong character, in that she did her best to survive in an abusive environment and never lost her hope. She also did everything she could to escape the environment and in the end she won!
Ellisande knows and understands Vere, but he desperately doesn't want to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known, something he doesn't even allow his brother, Frederick, to have from him.
Frederick and their childhood friend, Angelica, provide the perfect backdrop and now I have to read from the beginning of the series to get more of them.
It felt like this one was very plot heavy and I enjoyed that! The villain got exactly what they deserved.
Based on storytelling ability and writing quality, this is a solid four and maybe five stars. For repeatedly using emotional and sexual manipulation and cruelty against an abuse victim, one star. There’s my average .
Parts of this book made me angry and tense, not in a good way. It was written ten years ago, and I don’t think she’d write this as is today. At least I hope not. We know now that violence isn’t sexy, right? We know rape fantasies are a thing society has tricked us into thinking are healthy and okay. We know you don’t manipulate a woman into sex with your power after she was literally beaten up earlier that day by a male family member who imprisoned and mentally tortured her for years.
I wish she could rewrite this one because it has so much potential.
Parts of this book made me angry and tense, not in a good way. It was written ten years ago, and I don’t think she’d write this as is today. At least I hope not. We know now that violence isn’t sexy, right? We know rape fantasies are a thing society has tricked us into thinking are healthy and okay. We know you don’t manipulate a woman into sex with your power after she was literally beaten up earlier that day by a male family member who imprisoned and mentally tortured her for years.
I wish she could rewrite this one because it has so much potential.
This book had it's funny moments, but the plot involving the uncle didn't hold my attention as much as it probably should have.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
I love the character development, I adore Thomas' writing, and there were so many moments I alternately laughed and teared up. My reservations are with the lack of consent in one scene (due to intoxication) and the coerciveness of the encounter in a second scene. I understand the intention in each scene and the context, but want to note these two instances for other readers (they occur between the main characters). I would also note that this is an incredibly dark story and both main characters have experienced substantial trauma - please check content warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Antisemitism
Sherry Thomas’ characters and storylines are never cookie cutter. Unique, angsty and interesting.
mysterious
medium-paced
“Her joy had unsettled him: It was a flame, a dangerous flame that he feared would burn him if he were foolish enough to embrace it. He had not known until this moment how beautiful he thought it. How much he cherished it.” —Lord Vere
this reread was such good fun!!! yet again, i will always always always love media that plays with identity and performance, and picking this up again was so yummy because i forgot the minutiae of it and it was like experiencing all the mystery again. this time around, i appreciated freddie’s b-plot a little more, and just vere and freddie’s relationship in general (brothers . . . wailing) which i know in my balls i did not enjoy as much during my first read through because i was focused on ellisande and vere fr. all right, guys, love n light.
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02/06/23: oh my god. oh my god ? HELLO ‼️ u know after reading like 3 sherry thomas histroms i thought i was in for your standard romance but i was WRONG and i’m HAPPY ABOUT IT!!! this book focuses less on the romance than her other ones and more on the plot (which is a delicious spy mystery) and i ate that shit up! one thing about me is that i will gobble up any and every secret identity trope and this had it in SPADES. like vere acting the idiot despite his deep intelligence in service to justice or elissande acting the perfect, happy woman while hiding her deep despair . . . DELICIOUS. other people may not like this because it does focus more on the plot than the characters but it was fun for Me!
this reread was such good fun!!! yet again, i will always always always love media that plays with identity and performance, and picking this up again was so yummy because i forgot the minutiae of it and it was like experiencing all the mystery again. this time around, i appreciated freddie’s b-plot a little more, and just vere and freddie’s relationship in general (brothers . . . wailing) which i know in my balls i did not enjoy as much during my first read through because i was focused on ellisande and vere fr. all right, guys, love n light.
══════════════════
02/06/23: oh my god. oh my god ? HELLO ‼️ u know after reading like 3 sherry thomas histroms i thought i was in for your standard romance but i was WRONG and i’m HAPPY ABOUT IT!!! this book focuses less on the romance than her other ones and more on the plot (which is a delicious spy mystery) and i ate that shit up! one thing about me is that i will gobble up any and every secret identity trope and this had it in SPADES. like vere acting the idiot despite his deep intelligence in service to justice or elissande acting the perfect, happy woman while hiding her deep despair . . . DELICIOUS. other people may not like this because it does focus more on the plot than the characters but it was fun for Me!