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suriel_of_book_knowledge's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sabrams_010's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
3.5
ljhaynes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
fancytoast's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
booklovejess's review against another edition
3.0
Delightfully absurd. I started getting bored about 80% through because the climax and the climax has already happened. Might read the next to see if it gets any better.
formidabletrick's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
cinnamonrollxthundercloud's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Literally the most funny book I’ve ever read.
alongm3240's review against another edition
4.5
What a whimsical and outlandish adventure this one was...one that I was totally on board for!!! While it started out a lil slow, the Wisteria Society, pirates, assassins, scoundrels, and royalty totally made up for it!!! If you are up for an absolute humorous fantasy/romance, you will have so much fun with this one!!! 4.5 STARS and much excitement to read book two!!!
livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
This book unfortunately suffers from a case of overpromising and under delivering.
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
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, Colonisation, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
millysreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
So I loved this book. The writing was excellent, the characters brilliantly written, and the plot was both kind of insane but also wildly entertaining. My only issue is, as someone who lives spitting distance from where a large chunk of this book is written, the hills are called The Blackdown Hills (or The Blackdowns if you want to short-hand it). I know on maps they don't have the article, so I can forgive it, but we locals definitely use it. The missing article really bothered me, but did make me chuckle every time it was mentioned because such a small detail annoyed me each time.