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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyed the character development in this. Some moments made me cringe because the characters had weaknesses. But they grow and change. Also, really fun to read about a female artist in a time that wasn’t common. Also, super careful about consent. Which I super appreciate!
I gave up at 75%—but that’s enough to take credit here, IMO. Frankly, I can’t believe I got that far. This was kind of a mess. At times, I am not sure that the book knew what it was supposed to be. Was it a light romance? A more serious story? Was there a mystery here or not? I don’t know. The author did not have a clear vision and I really felt the characters were not very likable. The writing was often quite confusing to me, and the story just didn’t flow well. The light hearted cover led me to expect something fun—this was not fun.
CW/TW: Alcoholism, gaslighting
The illustrated cover was definitely misdirecting because the story was dark as hell. The only reason why this didn't get a higher rating is because I didn't feel a connection to the main characters.
The illustrated cover was definitely misdirecting because the story was dark as hell. The only reason why this didn't get a higher rating is because I didn't feel a connection to the main characters.
emotional
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
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
The romance between the hero and heroine is good although I am not sure the hero fully redeems himself to deserve the heroine in the end. The secondary story of a familial mystery and betrayal takes up a lot of the plot and then twists itself up to end a little too tidily.
The Duke Undone matches up a young duke with a student of painting. Anthony is dealing with a lot of past trauma, including his mother's institutionalization and suicide, his own court martial, and a father who never approved of him while alive and is now posthumously controlling the dukedom through a codicil to the will. Lucy has her own issues to deal with: her education at the Royal Academy is hampered because the women students are not given the same access to classes as the men, and because she comes from a lower class than most of the other students. Under most circumstances, Lucy and Anthony would never meet... except for one early morning, Lucy comes across a completely unclothed man, dead drunk in the alley shortcut she uses to go to school. Since she has never been able to attend a "life class" where she could have drawn a nude model, she does what any ambitious artist would do: takes advantage of the situation to make several sketches and studies. Months later, Anthony discovers that he has been made the subject of a nude painting that he must do his best to suppress or risk losing his inheritance.
Full of period details on politics, society, world events, and art history, The Duke Undone is a lush romance. It is reminiscent of many Victorian novels, dealing with the characters' less-than-ideal behavior with compassion but without excuses. Lucy and Anthony's love story is hard-fought, and as the best romances do, there are moments when the reader can't imagine how they'll ever reach a happily ever after... but of course, they do!
7-Word Summaries:
Meg: Unlikely alcoholic heir becomes artist’s naked muse.
Laine: All great artists must draw a penis.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
Full of period details on politics, society, world events, and art history, The Duke Undone is a lush romance. It is reminiscent of many Victorian novels, dealing with the characters' less-than-ideal behavior with compassion but without excuses. Lucy and Anthony's love story is hard-fought, and as the best romances do, there are moments when the reader can't imagine how they'll ever reach a happily ever after... but of course, they do!
7-Word Summaries:
Meg: Unlikely alcoholic heir becomes artist’s naked muse.
Laine: All great artists must draw a penis.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
3.5 but good enough to rounded up
On her way home one evening, art student, Lucy, stumbles across an unconscious, drunk and extremely handsome naked man. She drapes her shawl over him and moves on. But his beauty haunts her and she finds herself using "Her Corpse" as muse for her art. Even managing to sell an oil painting of him to a member of the Tonne.
Anthony, second son of the family, has found himself Heir after his brother is killed and shortly upon returning from war, his father dies and he is now Duke. He goes on a heavy drinking binge in mourning before having to take up his new responsibilities. Then one day an associate accuses him of sleeping with his wife. His proof of his wife's infidelity with Anthony - an oil painting of him sleeping and naked.
Determined to save his not so great reputation, Anthony seeks out the artist and soon finds himself captivated. Unfortunately she is not of the nobility but the poor working class and he has to keep his reputation clear if he is to fully inherit and take control of his own fortune when he turns 30.
But Lucy haunts his thoughts all while he works to find out what happened to his disinherited sister and fight to legally have control of his life. Which is not easy to do when he has to remain an upstanding not to mention sober.
++++++
This was an enjoyable Regency Romance. It is not very thinky - which I never expect for the genre. The story was good and the sex scenes were not boring.
All and all a fun book.
On her way home one evening, art student, Lucy, stumbles across an unconscious, drunk and extremely handsome naked man. She drapes her shawl over him and moves on. But his beauty haunts her and she finds herself using "Her Corpse" as muse for her art. Even managing to sell an oil painting of him to a member of the Tonne.
Anthony, second son of the family, has found himself Heir after his brother is killed and shortly upon returning from war, his father dies and he is now Duke. He goes on a heavy drinking binge in mourning before having to take up his new responsibilities. Then one day an associate accuses him of sleeping with his wife. His proof of his wife's infidelity with Anthony - an oil painting of him sleeping and naked.
Determined to save his not so great reputation, Anthony seeks out the artist and soon finds himself captivated. Unfortunately she is not of the nobility but the poor working class and he has to keep his reputation clear if he is to fully inherit and take control of his own fortune when he turns 30.
But Lucy haunts his thoughts all while he works to find out what happened to his disinherited sister and fight to legally have control of his life. Which is not easy to do when he has to remain an upstanding not to mention sober.
++++++
This was an enjoyable Regency Romance. It is not very thinky - which I never expect for the genre. The story was good and the sex scenes were not boring.
All and all a fun book.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Historical romance with some intrigue built in. Lots of descriptions of art. Some spiciness too. And a great narrator of the audiobook version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide