Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn

5 reviews

angelfireeast24's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book started out good. I love Lady D and Elizabeth but than it turned BAD
Elizabeth is almost raped which James saves her from. He then kisses her as she is traumatized. Next he grabs her on the way to a dancs jumps knowing it would scare her but enjoying her 'fear turn to joy' at seeing him. That isn't even the bad part. 

3/4 through the book the lies come out & James treats Elizabeth horribly. Yelling at her, grabbing her and physically hurting her a number of times as he's forcing her to stay with him as she wants to escape. For a man who's father physically abused his mother which he hated James forces Elizabet  to do things physically and emotionally against her will & he hurt her as forces his will on her using his size to his advance. He seems to have a lot of father in him with how to treats her. Yelling that she 'will listen to her & marry him' repeatedly states she wants to leave & won't marry him. This is all treated as if it's romantic passion as if he's in the right. That he has the "right" to man handle her, hurt her, yell at her, hold her against her will. Other characters all treat it like he's in the right too & it's no big deal Elizabeth isn't allowed to leave & treated badly.

This all misses the mark of passion and comes off as WRONG. Not the sort I can get over due to the period setting.


Quinn either writes fun leading men or asshole abustive men that are played off as romantic. This sadly isn't the fun kind.

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mudevaca's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75


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amavi's review against another edition

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funny 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? Yes

3.75

A cute romance. I was laughing at some parts and that is something that i really valued. I didn't really like them as a couple particularly him- especially with the whole virginity take, later they grew on me. Overall something to relax and unwind to. Loved Lady D and Malcolm and the kids

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hannahkiwi's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

Not one of her best. It started off on but a bit dull - there doesn't seem to be much tension or reason the characters shouldn't be together.
I had a problem when we reached the scene where she is attacked. After she is rescued, she reflects on her father's suicide, during which her father's depression is presented as selfish. Yes, the family were put in a horrible position, and it might be a more appropriate for the period, but to modern ears it's a terrible presentation of mental illness. Them, following that scene, there are multiple times when the hero physically moves the heroine (or the classic interpreting kissing by) without any acknowledgement by characters or narrative choice that she has recently been subject to traumatic, physical sexualities violence.

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naa2804's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

De forma geral eu gostei bastante do livro, o ritmo é bem rápido e o humor ajuda a tornar a experiência mais gostosa.
Os personagens são bem desenvolvidos e seus problemas são bem estabelecidos e desenvolvidos, principalmente a personagem Elizabeth, com seus problemas familiares e pessoais. As personalidades dos protagonistas são agradáveis e os personagens secundários são muito bons e ajudam a dar mais dimensão ao livro, em especial a Lady Danbury e o Malcon.
Foi muito interessante ver a Lady Danbury ter um papel mais central na estória e ver um lado um pouco diferente dela. Ela foi muito bem utilizada para tanto alívio cômico como para mover a narrativa.
A dinâmica familiar da Elizabeth é muito interessante observar os paralelos com a família do James.
O James, apesar de ser um personagem que eu gosto bastante, teve seus altos e baixos em relação as suas atitudes um tanto quanto agressivas e controladoras. Em alguns pontos da estória, ele deixa de levar em consideração o que a protagonista está dizendo e continua a insistir mesmo que ela se negue a conversar sobre o assunto. Esses atitudes em alguns momentos parecem fora de personagem para ele e isso é apontado pela protagonista como uma hipocrisia e incoerência da parte dele. Por mais que isso não seja um comportamento aceitável eu acho que isso pode se explicar pelo período retratado e a época em que o livro foi escrito.
De forma geral, o relacionamento entre os personagens foi bem desenvolvidos, apenas um pouco rápido devido ao tempo que a estória se passa. Ele é desenvolvido com base no diálogo e admiração mútua, apesar do curto período de tempo. O fato da Elizabeth não saber a real identidade do James não é exatamente a melhor base para um relacionamento com confiança mas no final da tudo certo.

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