Reviews - Bringing Down the Duke

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7.14k reviews for:

Bringing Down the Duke

Evie Dunmore

3.89 AVERAGE

bl4ck's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional informative inspiring 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: No

im_karen's review against another edition

4.0

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: No

hooliaquoolia's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional 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

Exceeded expectations! I tend to read trashy romance novels as an escape, not expecting much substance even from those that claim to be "feminist." This offers that escape while at the same time a subtle commentary on the genre: how can the heroines of these Regency/Victorian bodice-rippers truly be considered to be exercising free will in a society that denies them basic rights and freedoms granted to the lowest of men? Is it really a happy ending if the heroine just accepts a marriage to a baron/viscount/earl/marquis/duke without addressing the limitations of the institution of marriage? While there's nothing truly hard-hitting or intellectual about this romp, it is a breath of fresh air in a claustrophobic genre whose cognitive dissonance is perhaps second only to the current Tory Party.

Of course, this didn't have my preferred ending of burning down the patriarchy and instituting government by coven, but it did have: (view spoiler) Bottom line is that I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I'll definitely be reading more in the series.

I listened to portions of this on audiobook and found the narrator to be very good, but ultimately some of the scenes were so riveting that I wanted to read it instead so as to formulate a better mental picture (some of the sex scenes were pretty hot).

Reread #3: ladies, if a man doesn’t throw the entire political status quo into upheaval for you, he’s not worth it.

torigottlieb's review against another edition

4.0

Slow to start, but overall charming.

It took me a solid 100 pages to really get into this book (I’ve never been much for romance), but it turned out to be a quick and delightful read. The characters are interesting and fun to spend time with, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.