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storiesbysusannah's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
There are other Heyer novels that are “better,” but this one to me is the classic, most typical one of all the Heyers I’ve read. Funny, absorbing, and great character building, but deeply, offensively snobbish. Pure Heyer. You just kind of have to go with it.
(That was the review I wrote last time I read Frederica, and it’s pretty much the same way I feel now. But last time I read the print version, this time I listened to the audio, which is terrific. There are a couple of brief moments that are offensive to modern ears- a young woman in hysterics gets slapped across the face, for example. But overall, fun and heartwarming. Four and a half stars rounded up to five.)
(That was the review I wrote last time I read Frederica, and it’s pretty much the same way I feel now. But last time I read the print version, this time I listened to the audio, which is terrific. There are a couple of brief moments that are offensive to modern ears- a young woman in hysterics gets slapped across the face, for example. But overall, fun and heartwarming. Four and a half stars rounded up to five.)
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Another one of my Heyer Regency romance favorites. The Marquis of Alverstoke never knew what hit him when he encountered the Merrivilles when they requested his sponsorship into the Ton. One of the sisters, Charis, is an incomparable Beauty causing quizzing glasses and jaws alike to drop while the other sister, Frederica, considers herself past a marriageable age. The two brothers with them are too young to be bothered about going into Society and just young enough to engage in all sorts of mischief from which Alverstoke finds himself rescuing them.
You can’t help but love the boys. Felix, the youngest, is absolutely fascinated by machinery of any kind and, after having been abjured from plaguing Cousin Alverstoke into taking him to see pneumatic lifts at the foundry, promises that he is only asking. As for Jessamy, torn between his books and not wanting to be outdone in the fearless stakes by his little brother, Jessamy gets pulled into the disaster of the Pedestrian Curricle. Alverstoke assures him that getting into scrapes will make him a much more understanding cleric than if he were to be a saint by 16. Frederica has dragged them all to London as she can’t bear the idea of Charis not having a London season; she’s too beautiful to waste on a country lad and Frederica wants her to marry someone warm enough to ensure she doesn’t have to make and scrape. Unfortunately, Charis has no ambition and too much modesty to understand the draw of her beauty besides being a beautiful peagoose. Alverstoke is bored with life and has undertaken the sponsorship simply to annoy his sisters but soon finds himself caught up in their lives; he particularly wants to remove all cares from Frederica’s shoulders.
It’s a lively story with terrific characters and the opportunity to explore the state of the science and medicine in the early 1800s in England. Needless to say, Heyer is brilliant in imbuing her characters with personality with both dialog and content accurate for the time period while her descriptions of the mores, styles, and culture of Regency England are also true to form.
You can’t help but love the boys. Felix, the youngest, is absolutely fascinated by machinery of any kind and, after having been abjured from plaguing Cousin Alverstoke into taking him to see pneumatic lifts at the foundry, promises that he is only asking. As for Jessamy, torn between his books and not wanting to be outdone in the fearless stakes by his little brother, Jessamy gets pulled into the disaster of the Pedestrian Curricle. Alverstoke assures him that getting into scrapes will make him a much more understanding cleric than if he were to be a saint by 16. Frederica has dragged them all to London as she can’t bear the idea of Charis not having a London season; she’s too beautiful to waste on a country lad and Frederica wants her to marry someone warm enough to ensure she doesn’t have to make and scrape. Unfortunately, Charis has no ambition and too much modesty to understand the draw of her beauty besides being a beautiful peagoose. Alverstoke is bored with life and has undertaken the sponsorship simply to annoy his sisters but soon finds himself caught up in their lives; he particularly wants to remove all cares from Frederica’s shoulders.
It’s a lively story with terrific characters and the opportunity to explore the state of the science and medicine in the early 1800s in England. Needless to say, Heyer is brilliant in imbuing her characters with personality with both dialog and content accurate for the time period while her descriptions of the mores, styles, and culture of Regency England are also true to form.
morganp22's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to read more by this author! I loved the regency setting and the characters were well built out. I was surprised by the banter and sarcasm between some characters and i actually laughed at parts. This was a great book for springtime and I found it easy to read.
keirahowie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annashiv's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. I've decided that Heyer just isn't for me. I don't care for the characters too deeply or how the relationships 'develope' but most of all I can't stand how entire conversations are repeated over and over and how there is too much unnecessary detail. It just drags on for me, in every book of hers I've tried. This shall sadly be the last. I really did want to like them but alas twas not to be
drgonbody's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
steffski's review against another edition
4.0
Very pride and prejudice-esque with a predictable story that I still found myself enjoying. Slow start, and quick ending.
kynikoskyon's review against another edition
DNF @ 73%
No puedo creer que este libro sea el segundo mejor valorado de los libros de Heyer, cuando el primero es "The Grand Sophy" y ese sí que es una obra maestra po!
La novela había comenzado bien, pero a medida que avanzaba la historia, la narración divagaba cada vez más, entregando detalles sobre personajes sin importancia para la trama. Al final sentía que estaba leyendo puro relleno no ma y más encima, las conversaciones entre los personajes eran una lata, eran puro cantinfleo no ma xd
Lo otro que me dejó chata, fue que el foco de la novela empezó a centrarse demasiado en los hermanos de Frederica, y lo siento pero me cayeron como saco de plomo los 2 hermanos pequeños, sobre todo el menor, Felix... Csmm que cabro chico más insoportable, ojalá se lo hubiera llevado bien lejos el globo aerostático, a otro continente ojalá
No puedo creer que este libro sea el segundo mejor valorado de los libros de Heyer, cuando el primero es "The Grand Sophy" y ese sí que es una obra maestra po!
La novela había comenzado bien, pero a medida que avanzaba la historia, la narración divagaba cada vez más, entregando detalles sobre personajes sin importancia para la trama. Al final sentía que estaba leyendo puro relleno no ma y más encima, las conversaciones entre los personajes eran una lata, eran puro cantinfleo no ma xd
Lo otro que me dejó chata, fue que el foco de la novela empezó a centrarse demasiado en los hermanos de Frederica, y lo siento pero me cayeron como saco de plomo los 2 hermanos pequeños, sobre todo el menor, Felix... Csmm que cabro chico más insoportable, ojalá se lo hubiera llevado bien lejos el globo aerostático, a otro continente ojalá
debralewi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0