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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I thought that I might like this with a second read, years later.
Imogene is so willfully stupid. I cannot help.but dislike her.
Imogene is so willfully stupid. I cannot help.but dislike her.
Impressions play a large part of this novel. What one person sees or hears can be much different than what the truth really is. It also is a novel about how truly dysfunctional families can be and their aftermath. A most interesting read.
I liked the story, and I liked Colchester.
I didn't like Imogen. There was so much not to like about her. If someone disagreed with her or asked her to slow down, she considered them weak, or delicate, or not athletic, and she had no spacial or self awareness. She was always flailing her arms about whenever she spoke of anything with some level of passion. She took no responsibility for it if she hit someone in the process. I suppose this flaw is countered by the fact she assists those she smacked afterward, but I don't think that makes it okay, especially when she never seems to learn from her clumsiness. That's only a minor example, though. She did this even around fragile archeological artifacts, cheap or expensive, it made no difference. She made no effort to avoid it. For someone who supposedly loved and cared about the artifacts on a professional level, you would think she would have been more careful. I don't understand how Colchester didn't seem to care about her destructiveness.
Imogen also came across as the type of character that thinks her opinion was always the right one, even when it's obviously not. She does whatever mental gymnastics it takes to make herself believe whatever it is she wants to believe about anything. Everyone can know one thing is fact, but she'll insist they are all wrong and that her warped view is the correct one.
She was kind, but I think her flaws vastly outweighed her positive traits. I get that she was raised unconventionally for her time, but she lacked some things that were just common decency. Example: You don't have to be raised in high society to know that if someone asks you to dance, you're supposed to walk to the floor together, not take off in a speed walk leaving them in the dust.
I didn't like Imogen. There was so much not to like about her. If someone disagreed with her or asked her to slow down, she considered them weak, or delicate, or not athletic, and she had no spacial or self awareness. She was always flailing her arms about whenever she spoke of anything with some level of passion. She took no responsibility for it if she hit someone in the process. I suppose this flaw is countered by the fact she assists those she smacked afterward, but I don't think that makes it okay, especially when she never seems to learn from her clumsiness. That's only a minor example, though. She did this even around fragile archeological artifacts, cheap or expensive, it made no difference. She made no effort to avoid it. For someone who supposedly loved and cared about the artifacts on a professional level, you would think she would have been more careful. I don't understand how Colchester didn't seem to care about her destructiveness.
Imogen also came across as the type of character that thinks her opinion was always the right one, even when it's obviously not. She does whatever mental gymnastics it takes to make herself believe whatever it is she wants to believe about anything. Everyone can know one thing is fact, but she'll insist they are all wrong and that her warped view is the correct one.
She was kind, but I think her flaws vastly outweighed her positive traits. I get that she was raised unconventionally for her time, but she lacked some things that were just common decency. Example: You don't have to be raised in high society to know that if someone asks you to dance, you're supposed to walk to the floor together, not take off in a speed walk leaving them in the dust.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good, not great. Fun and quirky. Firmly in line with the other Amanda Quicks I have read: the FMC is VERY QUIRKY and the MMC is hyper competent. Funny! The audio book is also really great if you can get your hands on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While a fun installment in her slightly alternative universe with the finding of a mysterious island called Zamar, which has captivated the historical period (which feels more victorian than regency), this somehow just didn't quite do it for me. I think that the pacing was a little off for me and I really didn't feel a sense of menace from the major bad character.
Imogen Waterstone has a plan to get her revenge on Vanneck, a man who married a friend and then broke her heart. Who also was involved in getting Imogen in disgrace. She turns to Matthias Marshall the Earl of Colchester for help and finds herself more involved than maybe she should.
It's fun, light and interesting but the characters never really came to life for me. Still it's a good one to borrow.
Imogen Waterstone has a plan to get her revenge on Vanneck, a man who married a friend and then broke her heart. Who also was involved in getting Imogen in disgrace. She turns to Matthias Marshall the Earl of Colchester for help and finds herself more involved than maybe she should.
It's fun, light and interesting but the characters never really came to life for me. Still it's a good one to borrow.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
good book that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
adventurous
emotional
funny
adventurous
lighthearted
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