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brianneh's review
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
3.5
This sequel to The Wisteria Society for Lady Scoundrels is very similar to its predecessor. It’s light and funny, with a slight tendency to overdo it on the amount of innuendo used. It’s Austen-esque, and definitely means to invoke Jane Austen’s style as the main character Charlotte makes a ton of references to Austen’s characters. Charlotte views many of them, particularly Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, as role models. As a big fan of Jane Austen, I liked this aspect of it, but I can also see where it gets to be a bit too much at times.
Like the first novel in this series, the women are in charge here. The League is very similar to the Wisteria Society, in that the women lead both groups and there’s magic present in all of them. It’s a very feminist take on the time period and just like in the first book, I really like that about it.
I appreciated that we were given a list of characters at the beginning of the book, because we meet quite a few people throughout the book (maybe a few more than are completely necessary). While I enjoyed the different personalities for the most part, we also met many of the eccentric ladies who make up the different societies in the last book, so this felt a little repetitive.
Overall, I did like this sequel, but not as much as I enjoyed the first one. They are very similar in many ways, which can get a little annoying, but to me it worked since I really liked the first book. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first book, anyone who likes Jane Austen or anyone who needs a light read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Pregnancy
meecespieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is based on Charlotte Pettifer and she belongs to a secret society skilled in a very particular art. That is to say, although she can’t say it too loudly, witchcraft. The League of Gentlewomen Witches strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely the pirates in the Wisteria Society. When the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O’Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the words scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex’s not careful, he might just steal something else – like Charlotte’s heart. This book is a romance historical fiction.
Okay, if you are wanting a pirate, action-packed feminist book, don’t read this book. It’s a romance book with a bit of action. Not saying that I didn’t enjoy this book, I just didn’t expect it to be all romance and a bit of action. I wanted it the other way around. After I read the new book in the series, I knew what I was getting into, but I still really wanted a more action-packed novel. I liked Charlotte and Alex’s relationship. I loved Alex in the first book so seeing him as the main character in this book was funny as. He sort of reminds of Damon Salvatore as a private. I think this book would have been better if it was a slow burn as both books sort of have an insta love trope in it which I'm not really enjoying in this series. It could have been 100 more pages for the slow burn and I would have liked it more. I liked the multiple POVs during this book.
I just was expecting more and wanting more from this book and it just never happened. Hopefully the next book in this series is better.
Okay, if you are wanting a pirate, action-packed feminist book, don’t read this book. It’s a romance book with a bit of action. Not saying that I didn’t enjoy this book, I just didn’t expect it to be all romance and a bit of action. I wanted it the other way around. After I read the new book in the series, I knew what I was getting into, but I still really wanted a more action-packed novel. I liked Charlotte and Alex’s relationship. I loved Alex in the first book so seeing him as the main character in this book was funny as. He sort of reminds of Damon Salvatore as a private. I think this book would have been better if it was a slow burn as both books sort of have an insta love trope in it which I'm not really enjoying in this series. It could have been 100 more pages for the slow burn and I would have liked it more. I liked the multiple POVs during this book.
I just was expecting more and wanting more from this book and it just never happened. Hopefully the next book in this series is better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Confinement, Pregnancy, Blood, and Kidnapping
zeldamazzy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
sydapel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
The quirky and whimsical style isn't for everyone, but all I could think about was how much Jane Austen would have loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Torture, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Classism
bthrds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
onthesamepage's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
Tropes: enemies to lovers
Steam level: 🌶🌶
Much like the first book in this series, this was such a fun ride. I love the world and the humor in the writing, and I think I liked Charlotte and Alex just a bit more than Ned and Cecilia. Charlotte being a witch, and witches and pirates being sworn enemies, makes the dynamics more interesting to me. I loved how much bickering they did. If you enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I think this has similar vibes. But even with all the laughter and the steam, the romance is incredibly sweet. I loved the way Charlotte and Alex slowly grew closer and learned to slip behind each other's walls, while always being supportive of the other's needs.
One of the best things about this book is how the author subverts the standard romance tropes, in a really delightful way. I kept thinking I knew how a chapter would play out, only to be surprised by how things actually happened. Highly recommend this series if you're in the mood for something light, fun, but still steamy and tender enough to cause butterflies.
Steam level: 🌶🌶
Much like the first book in this series, this was such a fun ride. I love the world and the humor in the writing, and I think I liked Charlotte and Alex just a bit more than Ned and Cecilia. Charlotte being a witch, and witches and pirates being sworn enemies, makes the dynamics more interesting to me. I loved how much bickering they did. If you enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I think this has similar vibes. But even with all the laughter and the steam, the romance is incredibly sweet. I loved the way Charlotte and Alex slowly grew closer and learned to slip behind each other's walls, while always being supportive of the other's needs.
One of the best things about this book is how the author subverts the standard romance tropes, in a really delightful way. I kept thinking I knew how a chapter would play out, only to be surprised by how things actually happened. Highly recommend this series if you're in the mood for something light, fun, but still steamy and tender enough to cause butterflies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
aromarrie's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
the author quotes jane austen at the end in her vision for charlotte pettifer’s story and it was this: “I’m going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” which just absolutely baffled me because what do you mean “no one but myself” will like her?? i love her, i loved charlotte’s pov and seeing her embrace her magic in a way that made her fellow witches gasp in horror at such lack of decorum and yet—she was so free & buoyant with the energy that flowed through her that it made this story all the more thrilling.
even more so was seeing her make as many leaps as she did falling, sometimes letting her insecurities wrap around her in her worries that she’s too different; that no one could possibly stand to be near her without her trying to diminish herself. seeing the way that alex made her literally feel like she could fly just from their first meeting alone, and then in all the soft & chaotic moments they share afterward, to see charlotte express herself with such fervor and bare nakedness as she & alex spark an intimacy with each other like no other, it was romantic as hell. it was everything to see how charlotte made alex feel like he could let his own barriers down due to his own traumatic history with a witch from his past; to have that history not be swept away amongst all the chaos that does reign in this story (it’s absolute madness) but rather actually get explored as he & charlotte grow closer to each other, charlotte’s own fears being shed in light—it added such unmistakable depth to both of these characters and made their relationship one to be written in the stars and stretches across water.
for the author to be able to write such an achingly sweet romance and balance it so well with cheeky humor & explosive action between pirates & witches—it’s an adventure i should’ve expected from my positive reading experience with the first book and yet in this one, it just felt like it was on a whole other level. there were just as many new characters as there were old, and the ones i was already familiar with fueled the heart of this story even more, making me feel so swept up in all this drama that at its core, was exploring a love story between a pirate & witch, two people who should strictly be known as enemies and yet they can’t seem to let go of their grip onto each other’s hands at any moment.
i adore charlotte & alex so much, and i adore how much excitement this story gave me; it was really fun, and i’ll always remember this for that.
even more so was seeing her make as many leaps as she did falling, sometimes letting her insecurities wrap around her in her worries that she’s too different; that no one could possibly stand to be near her without her trying to diminish herself. seeing the way that alex made her literally feel like she could fly just from their first meeting alone, and then in all the soft & chaotic moments they share afterward, to see charlotte express herself with such fervor and bare nakedness as she & alex spark an intimacy with each other like no other, it was romantic as hell. it was everything to see how charlotte made alex feel like he could let his own barriers down due to his own traumatic history with a witch from his past; to have that history not be swept away amongst all the chaos that does reign in this story (it’s absolute madness) but rather actually get explored as he & charlotte grow closer to each other, charlotte’s own fears being shed in light—it added such unmistakable depth to both of these characters and made their relationship one to be written in the stars and stretches across water.
for the author to be able to write such an achingly sweet romance and balance it so well with cheeky humor & explosive action between pirates & witches—it’s an adventure i should’ve expected from my positive reading experience with the first book and yet in this one, it just felt like it was on a whole other level. there were just as many new characters as there were old, and the ones i was already familiar with fueled the heart of this story even more, making me feel so swept up in all this drama that at its core, was exploring a love story between a pirate & witch, two people who should strictly be known as enemies and yet they can’t seem to let go of their grip onto each other’s hands at any moment.
i adore charlotte & alex so much, and i adore how much excitement this story gave me; it was really fun, and i’ll always remember this for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
jelavision's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
A wonderful book filled with adventure, humor, passion and heart. The chemistry and banter between Alex and Charlotte was top tier. They made me laugh more than once. Such a great written enemies-to-lovers trope that has a great progression in their relationship. I even enjoyed a lot of the supporting characters, especially Bixby. The book has such interesting world building with their focus on witches and pirates. Would totally recommend this book to others 🔮⚔️
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement and Child abuse
middle_name_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Edit 11/29/22:
Have I now read this twice in the span of mere months? Yes, yes, I have.
What a romp!
Have I now read this twice in the span of mere months? Yes, yes, I have.
What a romp!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse