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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Misogyny, Classism, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Grief, Incest, Alcohol, and Confinement
Minor: Fatphobia, Vomit, Body shaming, Animal death, Infidelity, War, Terminal illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Pregnancy
ursa_arlo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Negatives. In spite of the great premise, I was left disappointed. The book had a flying start but by the end it had committed the greatest crime of all: it was boring. The story slowed down greatly near the middle of the book and never recovered. It's not a good sign when you're left wondering what could happen to draw out the story for another hundred pages. I was also disappointed in Cecilia's character development: she was a great main character with lots of agency but had accomplished little by the end. Instead of keeping an adventurous touch, this novel devolved into a cliché romance story and that was not a great choice in my opinion.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Blood
writteninmagic's review against another edition
3.0
The overuse of humor in the writing dragged down the story for me. The circumstances the main characters find themselves in get resolved quickly, so it didn't feel like there were real stakes involved for them. The characters also didn't really develop throughout the story, except maybe Cecilia's decision at the end. Of course, being a historical fiction book, it had to mention how tight and constricting corsets were—really, it's neither an original nor an accurate comment.
There were also some questionable scenes, like when Ned kept giving more wine to Cecilia to get her drunk, when it was her first time drinking, just because he thought it would be funny.... Another example was where three characters were dismissive of another character's outrage at being lied to about a serious problem.
Overall, the story had entertaining and silly moments, but there wasn't much substance to it. The writing also played off some serious offenses as being silly and harmless.
Minor: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Misogyny
clairew97's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Sexism
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, and Drug use
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In this, the first book in the Dangerous Damsels trilogy, we are introduced to a world of magical realism where aristocratic pirates pilot flying houses that are mounted with canon and guns. Raised to be a ladylike scoundrel, with savvy and decorum, our main character is a young woman who has not yet been accepted into her Society as an adult. This coming of age story deals with a woman facing her evil father, choosing her own path, engaging in the martial art of Polite Conversation, and facing the warring parts of her psyche, both emotional and rational.
Although not especially diverse in its lineup of characters, it is fiercely anti-Patriarchy.
Good fun if not very deep. Pass the popcorn, there's a love.
Graphic: Classism, Alcohol, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Drug use, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, and Stalking
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Gun violence, Murder, Misogyny, Death of parent, Violence, Grief, and Blood
saeruh's review against another edition
5.0
My only problem was that the end felt like a little weird. I personally thought it could have ended at the 80-85% mark since the story seemed pretty wrapped up by then.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Sexual content
aromarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Gun violence, Incest, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Death of parent
Despite the violence, no one really ends up murdered or brutally hurt in the novel. It is a comedy after all.