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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this primarily because I wanted to see Pat and Fen again and was thus a bit disappointed buy their lack of involvement in the story. It was still an engaging mysterie and a good romance.
turns out i eat up misunderstandings and miscommunication when kj charles is the one writing it
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Reader, I doubt he was thinking of England.
Yep, you can add one more to the K.J. Charles fan list. I adored this. I liked that you really felt the time it was set in. Yes, it was unpleasant to read the slurs and class snobbery, but it also really brought home that THIS IS NOT THE 21ST CENTURY. And it was all very, very English; with the language and the food and the folly and the accepted Summer House rules. All very enjoyable.
I also very much enjoyed Archie and Daniel; Archie's straight forward, what he would call unimaginative honesty with himself and those around him, Daniel's masks and attitude and sharp tongue. I liked that Archie was just figuring a lot of stuff out about himself for the first time and refused to run from it. I loved the internal debates about if there is a difference between tossing a mate off and actually preferring men and what that means for an individual. (Sorry the whole 'everyone does it in school/college/army' trope is a little bit of a kink for me, I think. I ALWAYS wonder if it's true and if so, what the etiquette around that would be.) I loved the subversion of the idea of prim, sexually repressed Brits of the time.
The writing is sharp and well edited (no surprise there) and it wraps up nicely in a stand-alone story.
I also very much enjoyed Archie and Daniel; Archie's straight forward, what he would call unimaginative honesty with himself and those around him, Daniel's masks and attitude and sharp tongue. I liked that Archie was just figuring a lot of stuff out about himself for the first time and refused to run from it. I loved the internal debates about if there is a difference between tossing a mate off and actually preferring men and what that means for an individual. (Sorry the whole 'everyone does it in school/college/army' trope is a little bit of a kink for me, I think. I ALWAYS wonder if it's true and if so, what the etiquette around that would be.) I loved the subversion of the idea of prim, sexually repressed Brits of the time.
The writing is sharp and well edited (no surprise there) and it wraps up nicely in a stand-alone story.
I enjoyed this and I really like the characters but I had more trouble reading the bad guys' prejudiced awfulness in this one.
Archie and Daniel were worth it still, and I loved the ladies. Also the house set-up was kind of fascinating to think about, and every single scene between these two men was captivating.
Archie and Daniel were worth it still, and I loved the ladies. Also the house set-up was kind of fascinating to think about, and every single scene between these two men was captivating.
KJ Charles doesn’t miss!! It was punchy! It was realizing you’ve been gay this whole time! There’s suspense, kidnapping, blackmail… what more can you want??
Potential TW:it did have a moment that could be dub con but I really read it as part of “aw shit yall I think I am actually one of those queers,” and it didn’t bother me. I would understand why it might bother others.
.
Potential TW:
I read this once in a single day ... even though it was an audiobook.
The next day, I listened to it again. It did not diminish at all in the second reading, and honestly, was a bit better the second time around.
Gah, this was amazing. I love KJ Charles so much.
I am definitely buying this and reading it again. And again.
(This reminded me a bit of [b:Spectred Isle|35118935|Spectred Isle (Green Men, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498437700l/35118935._SX50_.jpg|56433653], especially the types of characters and the setting, although clearly this is not the same. I was extremely excited to find out that [b:Proper English|44420645|Proper English (England World, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554298689l/44420645._SY75_.jpg|68974183] is the prequel to this!!! And also, I hope that KJ Charles does more with these two -- I'd love a proper trilogy, with some of the shenanigans we only see a bit of in this one.
And the relationship was not unlike that in [b:The Magpie Lord|34715150|The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490703800l/34715150._SY75_.jpg|24803707], as the two MCs come together for physical pleasure and then realise they like eachother, but it took Lucien and Stephen like three books to admit their feelings, and I feel like Archie and Daniel will take a similar length of time...)
Read again in one day on the 4th of July. Not on purpose, but it's making me giggle.
Surprise! I read this again, and it's still REALLY GOOD. I needed something to distract me from a 2.5 hour drive alone and this book was calling my name (again) so I figured I'd re-read since my brain weasels were like "no surprises! only re-reads!" and I loved this the first three times. IT WAS STILL REALLY GOOD. I was planning to save this for the drive back but that didn't happen. ^^;
The next day, I listened to it again. It did not diminish at all in the second reading, and honestly, was a bit better the second time around.
Gah, this was amazing. I love KJ Charles so much.
I am definitely buying this and reading it again. And again.
(This reminded me a bit of [b:Spectred Isle|35118935|Spectred Isle (Green Men, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498437700l/35118935._SX50_.jpg|56433653], especially the types of characters and the setting, although clearly this is not the same. I was extremely excited to find out that [b:Proper English|44420645|Proper English (England World, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554298689l/44420645._SY75_.jpg|68974183] is the prequel to this!!! And also, I hope that KJ Charles does more with these two -- I'd love a proper trilogy, with some of the
Spoiler
spyAnd the relationship was not unlike that in [b:The Magpie Lord|34715150|The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490703800l/34715150._SY75_.jpg|24803707], as the two MCs come together for physical pleasure and then realise they like eachother, but it took Lucien and Stephen like three books to admit their feelings, and I feel like Archie and Daniel will take a similar length of time...)
Read again in one day on the 4th of July. Not on purpose, but it's making me giggle.
Surprise! I read this again, and it's still REALLY GOOD. I needed something to distract me from a 2.5 hour drive alone and this book was calling my name (again) so I figured I'd re-read since my brain weasels were like "no surprises! only re-reads!" and I loved this the first three times. IT WAS STILL REALLY GOOD. I was planning to save this for the drive back but that didn't happen. ^^;