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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
livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
It presents itself as Bridgerton meets Peaky Blinders which makes it sound like it’s about to be a whole lot grittier than it is. I’d say this is closer to Bridgerton meets Pirates of the Caribbean but with houses. It’s silly and camp, so why is it trying to distance itself from that silliness by dragging PB into it?
In addition to this none of the supposed danger feels real. It’s all extremely surface level. I am supposed to believe that both Cecilia and Ned are super dangerous pirates who can kill you quickly and easily, without so much as a second thought, but at no point in the entire book do they do anything to back up their claims of villainy?
It’s a fine book if you’re after some silliness that doesn’t take itself (or history) too seriously, but don’t expect anything life changing.
ETA: it feels like a book written about twenty years ago. Had it come out then I’m 78% sure it would have had a film adaptation, as it leans towards the kind of adventure film that was available in the early aughts
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, Colonisation, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
mariahmmm'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
What a chaotic story! Nothing makes sense, and that is part of the book's charm. Filled with quirky characters with a strange set of morals and values, this was mostly a fun epic adventure. The book was a 4/5 until the (literal) climax of the slow-burn romance, with the experienced Ned seemingly taking advantage of naive Cecilia that left a sour taste.
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Cursing, Misogyny, Murder, Drug use, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment
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
puddleshoes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
sweetchocolatez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Drug use, Gun violence, and Cursing
franzi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Minor: Sexism, Drug use, Alcohol, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Death of parent
buttermellow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Moderate: Murder and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
a_novi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
persephonefoxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It is violence that best overcomes hate, vengeance that most certainly heals injury, and a good cup of tea that soothes the most anguished soul
All in the best ways of course. Flying houses, pirates, badass (but still proper) ladies, and a fun romance to boot. Sometimes all you need is a fun book that takes you on a wild ride, and yep. That’s this.
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol