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dmrains's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
This was exactly the right level of "spice" for me: not too explicit with descriptions for my ace brain & didn't feel like porn. Very sweet couple the way they both save each other and have complementary childhood trauma . Felt very late bloomer coming-of-age to me which I loved. I really identified with Charlotte 💙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Classism and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
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
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
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
gimmiiie'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Cursing, Grief, and Death
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I loved this book so much 😠mostly for the characters, let's be real. A badass witch subverting what is expected of her as the "good and proper girl"? Oof I feel that. Annnddd an Irish rogue pirate with a heart!? I CAN'T. The adventures were fantastic, I loved having characters from Wisteria show up. And there were SO MANY quotes from Austen and Shakespeare that I adored!
This is NOT an Austen retelling for anyone who thinks this BUT there are so many Austen lines reworked to fit this story and it is amazing and so much fun to keep an eye out for them! Plus Charlotte references Austen characters and books throughout which was so much fun!
I'm excited to see if there will be another spinoff!
This is NOT an Austen retelling for anyone who thinks this BUT there are so many Austen lines reworked to fit this story and it is amazing and so much fun to keep an eye out for them! Plus Charlotte references Austen characters and books throughout which was so much fun!
I'm excited to see if there will be another spinoff!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Kidnapping is more mentioned jokingly - as an excuse. It's not a violent or traumatic kidnapping. But the word is thrown around. The child abuse is brief mentions from the past of a character.purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
"I beg your pardon," [Bixby] said without the least hint of apology in his voice, "but is this a romance or is it an adventure? For I will remind you, we are missing the ongoing action."
Charlotte and Alex exchanged a smiling glance.
"I think what this is defies definition," Charlotte said.
India Holton is back with another definition-defying historical fantasy romance farce — now with more magic! more derring-do! more iron-spined maiden aunts! more innuendo! more rogues and rakes! more petticoats and pilfering! and (to my great enjoyment) more skillfully bastardized classic prose (mostly Austen, with a bit of the Bard thrown in)!
Charlotte and Alex exchanged a smiling glance.
"I think what this is defies definition," Charlotte said.
India Holton is back with another definition-defying historical fantasy romance farce — now with more magic! more derring-do! more iron-spined maiden aunts! more innuendo! more rogues and rakes! more petticoats and pilfering! and (to my great enjoyment) more skillfully bastardized classic prose (mostly Austen, with a bit of the Bard thrown in)!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, and Sexual content
Minor: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Violence
kayteslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Pregnancy
allisonwonderlandreads's review
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? No
4.0
The League of Gentlewomen Witches follows in the footsteps of its fun predecessor with absurd humor and satire, great one-liners, and an eye for delightful phrasing when calling up relatable hilarities. What most impressed me with this sequel was the way it upped the ante emotionally. The romance was just as cheerful while allowing personal growth, vulnerability, and swoony adoration to still make it onto the page. The enemies-to-lovers trajectory was a delight, shifting from attraction and battle of wills in the first half to something heartwarming in the end without me noticing the transition in progress. I simply went along with it, completely convinced and entranced.
The series relies on a topsy-turvy bit of world-building that transposes a society of pirates (complete with flying houses) and now a league of witches onto historical romance. The witches rely on more subtle methods of magic, carefully aimed passive aggression, and battles of philanthropy to achieve their aims. Natural enemies of the pirates, it's no wonder that sparks fly and battle lines are drawn at the first meeting between pirate Alex O'Riley and witch Charlotte Pettifer. As they race to steal a powerful amulet that once belonged to the founder of both their groups, a reluctant alliance (or potential mutual kidnapping) may lead to something more.
Besides the humor and romance, I enjoyed the message in Charlotte's story. While the entire world is subversive in piratical fashion, Charlotte's rebellion went a step further and brought me a lot of joy. Diminished by years of training as heir apparent, Charlotte is a model witch. Her unscheduled, airborne adventures with a pirate unlock her personal agency and show her the unfettered freedom of loud feelings and life lived expansively. By the end of the book, she is practically unrecognizable after her transformative journey. Hers is a story of finding your own path, even outside the shadow of beloved heroines like Elizabeth Bennet, who it could be argued didn't have enough fun or adventure despite her great romance, anyway.
I had such a good time with this book, and it's truly one of a kind. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!
The series relies on a topsy-turvy bit of world-building that transposes a society of pirates (complete with flying houses) and now a league of witches onto historical romance. The witches rely on more subtle methods of magic, carefully aimed passive aggression, and battles of philanthropy to achieve their aims. Natural enemies of the pirates, it's no wonder that sparks fly and battle lines are drawn at the first meeting between pirate Alex O'Riley and witch Charlotte Pettifer. As they race to steal a powerful amulet that once belonged to the founder of both their groups, a reluctant alliance (or potential mutual kidnapping) may lead to something more.
Besides the humor and romance, I enjoyed the message in Charlotte's story. While the entire world is subversive in piratical fashion, Charlotte's rebellion went a step further and brought me a lot of joy. Diminished by years of training as heir apparent, Charlotte is a model witch. Her unscheduled, airborne adventures with a pirate unlock her personal agency and show her the unfettered freedom of loud feelings and life lived expansively. By the end of the book, she is practically unrecognizable after her transformative journey. Hers is a story of finding your own path, even outside the shadow of beloved heroines like Elizabeth Bennet, who it could be argued didn't have enough fun or adventure despite her great romance, anyway.
I had such a good time with this book, and it's truly one of a kind. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
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