Reviews

An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles

fainting_couch's review

I like this series quite a lot. There’s a fun mystery element threaded throughout and I did enjoy the mild discussion of class here. It’s not nearly as stark as gaffney’s wickerley trilogy but it’s got a similar dose of reality I appreciate. The key here is that I understand who these people are, the cjaracfers are well fleshed out. 

ufcasey's review

4.0

This was my first MM romance (we'll I've read ones that included MM but it wasn't the central focus or it also included a woman thrown into the mix). I enjoyed this quite a bit! Nicholas was perhaps a little flat minus his grief for Tony, but Justin was a much more nuanced character that I was fully into. The background mystery didn't interest me as much, perhaps because I missed the first book. I'd definitely read another book by this author but not one from this particular series I think.

misssusan's review

4.0

oh man, i don't normally regret not being a person who goes in for galleys often -- i read what i want free of feelings of external pressure or obligation!!!! -- but WOW do i want the arc for an unsuitable heir, please have mercy on me netgalley, i swear i'll actually read and review it before the release date

like god, kj charles' romance game is TOO strong, i died approximately 5038 times over how badly nathaniel and justin wanted each other

somebody stop her, she was already great at setting and character and plot, if i have to start dying over her ships i will not survive

remember the magpie lord series? remember how i was like hmm yes very talented writer, enjoyed quite a bit, don't actively care for the couple much but she is good enough that i'll read on regardless

the good old days of a normal level of investment

4.5 stars

wardenred's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I asked for a floor to sleep on, that’s all. You set off to save my life, and now you’re taking me to the family home. Why?

My favorite installment in this series, and the whole reason I've decided to re-read it. Perhaps it would even be fair to say this is one of my favorite romances, period. I love stories where there are very real barriers between the romantic leads, and they still gravitate toward each other and then work—on their relationship, but especially on themselves—to dismantle those barriers. I love seeing people change their lives for the better, not for somebody, but for themselves first; making changes to include the other person because being together makes them happier, but not overhauling their lives for the sake of a relationship. Because there's a line there, not even a particularly fine one where I'm concerned, but it so often gets blurred. Not in this book, there. Here, it's acknowledged and placed front and center and I'm very much here for it. 

Also, Nathaniel and Justin's enemies-to-lovers dynamic and chemistry are just so well done altogether, outside of all those other aspects. The way they both really see each other, underneath all the incompatible values; the way what they're seeing becomes more important than the incompatibilities; the way Nathaniel does his best to understand; the way Justin discovers safe ways to be vulnerable—I loved reading all of this.

Also, unlike the first book in the series, the next part of the overarching mystery that unfolds here blends beautifully with the romantic storyline. The two plots are constantly interwoven, all the mystery developments pushing the romance forward, and all the romance changes affecting how the mystery/intrigue plot plays out directly. Absolutely a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence

Moderate: Murder and Mental illness

Minor: Ableism and Child abuse

thechaoticreader's review

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

toeffy's review

4.0

A strong second of the trilogy

Usually its the other way around, isn't it? The first of three starts of strong, the second kinda drags through, and the third wraps the whole thing up (sometimes successful, sometimes less so). With this series, after the lukewarm first book I was unsure if I should continue at all, but it seems the story and its characters did grab me after all.

In short, it was good. The story continued from another perspective, the new couple was easier to connect to than Clem and Rowley in book one, and I really liked the conflict between Nathaniel and Justin.

In general, I like how K. J. Charles handles interpersonal conflict without offering easy salvation to her characters and instead letting them work out their issues with each other. It's refreshing to see protagonists actually talking to each other, not always understanding immediately, but giving their best. It's my third book by this author and of course there is a clearly recognizable theme to her novels, but it usually doesn't disappoint.

Therefore, I'd recommend this book to all those who struggled through book one to give this series another chance. Solid good novel, in my opinion.
4/5

mommasaystoread's review

4.0

This Victorian, enemies to lovers romance was very well written with a good plot and such interesting characters. The dialogue was witty and often humorous. I absolutely loved the interactions between Justin and Nathaniel, especially when what starts as slinging insults becomes fun banter. While it is a romance, it's also so much more. There's Nathaniel's stubborn refusal to give up on figuring out Justin's secrets and the intrigue surrounding the aristocracy. The story is full of murder, mayhem, kidnapping, the search for a lost heir, a bit of trickery, and some sexy between our main characters - most of which takes place in the London fog. Charles' descriptive prose pulled me in and I felt like I could see it all playing out. I haven't read the first one in this series (yet), but I had no problem following the story in this one and I'm looking forward to the next.

yalomi's review against another edition

5.0

As was expected the events of the first book bleed into this one and now a new character is affected by them, THE fraudulent spiritualist, Justin Lazarus, THAT AFTER BEING approached by two strangers looking for the Taillefer twins, gets curious and involves himself IN THE DRAMA when he reads ON THE Newspaper that There’s a reward for finding them.

NATHANIEL ROY (CLEM'S FRIEND, WE MET ON BOOK 1) WAS THE WRITTER OF THE ARTICLE OFFERING A Reward FOR INFO. ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE Taillefer TWINS, JUSTIN AND HIM HAD MET EARLIER IN A SEANCE WHERE JUSTIN READ HIM TO FILTH AND NOW THAT HE'S INVOLVED THE BOTH OF THEM BECOME a TARGET FOR THE MURDERER so now they HAVE TO FEND FOR THEIR LIVES.

-TROPES:
♥M/M
♥

slee907's review

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

kay_slayerofbooks's review

5.0

The plot gets creepier and creepier

But it is such fun! Minus the the level of creepy lol. I did enjoy this more than book 1. And I am excited to get into book 3.

4.5 stars