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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Really enjoyable! Interesting to read this so soon after [b:Scandal in the Night|16045009|Scandal in the Night (The Reckless Brides, #3)|Elizabeth Essex|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353992135s/16045009.jpg|21823223] as they both rely heavily on flashbacks to explain the connection between the hero and heroine, and have characters involved in the expansion of the British Empire into India and the Far East. I felt that Thomas did a better job of integrating the flashbacks into the story and had more action going on overall in the present. The descriptions of the land and culture were fascinating and I will definitely read more of her books!
3.5 since I really enjoyed the prose even if the plot wasn't quite what I wished for.
This is a star-crossed lovers trope, separated by the Milky Way only to be reunited by a bridge of magpies sent by fate. They had crossed each other's paths through a mutual old friend, had met again and fell in love on the dusty road of Chinese Turmekistan (?), and reunite in England with an ocean of unspoken words and misunderstandings between them. Each had betrayed the other, and I delighted that Ying-ying had such a direct hand in it since many FMCs that I've read typically tread a more passive route and with less chronic results. We need more willful and daring FMCs; it feels like authors these days are afraid to write a story in which the FMC dares to be anything less than perfectly wholesome. But we need more dynamic and interesting FMCs to steer us into stories that are not safe remixes of tried and true classics which results in just more of the same blandness.
The story was quite enjoyable, but I felt that my suspension of disbelief was tested. Two spies on different sides is a wonderful trope, but both being masters in multiple languages, history, subterfuge, martial arts, AND having multiple points of contact throughout their childhoods and personal lives? But it was still an enjoyable story in the end.
This is a star-crossed lovers trope, separated by the Milky Way only to be reunited by a bridge of magpies sent by fate. They had crossed each other's paths through a mutual old friend, had met again and fell in love on the dusty road of Chinese Turmekistan (?), and reunite in England with an ocean of unspoken words and misunderstandings between them. Each had betrayed the other, and I delighted that Ying-ying had such a direct hand in it since many FMCs that I've read typically tread a more passive route and with less chronic results. We need more willful and daring FMCs; it feels like authors these days are afraid to write a story in which the FMC dares to be anything less than perfectly wholesome. But we need more dynamic and interesting FMCs to steer us into stories that are not safe remixes of tried and true classics which results in just more of the same blandness.
The story was quite enjoyable, but I felt that my suspension of disbelief was tested. Two spies on different sides is a wonderful trope, but both being masters in multiple languages, history, subterfuge, martial arts, AND having multiple points of contact throughout their childhoods and personal lives? But it was still an enjoyable story in the end.
I like other romances by this author, but this one jumped around too much with POV, and was too oblique and angsty. DNF.
The beautiful–and deadly–Catherine Blade has a clear mission: recover the jade tablets her stepfather is searching for and finally earn the kind of freedom she has long craved. Still shaken from an encounter with a would-be assassin aboard her ship from France to England, Catherine is shocked to discover that the only person who may be able to keep her safe is the man who betrayed her and broke her heart eight years ago, a man she has long believed to be dead by her hand. Captain Leighton Atwood has never been able to forget the enigmatic woman who captivated his heart, despite the scars–physical and emotional–she left him with. Suddenly faced with her unexpected arrival back in his life, he is determined not to succumb to her a second time and strives to keep his distance But for both Catherine and Leighton, it feels like powerful forces beyond their control keep bringing them together, and now their once unimaginable reunion threatens to upend their lives, reignite long suppressed feelings, and reveal both the secrets and connections that tie them together.
My initial reaction upon reading this was that I really liked, but did not love, this story. But it's now been several days since I finished reading it and I cannot get Leighton and Cathrine and their story out of my mind, so I think I need to upgrade this review to a solid five star love. Told through mostly alternating chapters set in different timelines, Sherry Thomas brings to life these two characters both as themselves and as the assumed identities they first meet under. Mixing traditional western romance with wuxia themes and elements makes for some interesting plot points, exciting fight scenes, and unexpected magic, while never sacrificing the deep longing and
emotional depth of character that she is so well known for. I have a feel I will keep thinking about this for weeks to come...it is the Sherry Thomas way.
My initial reaction upon reading this was that I really liked, but did not love, this story. But it's now been several days since I finished reading it and I cannot get Leighton and Cathrine and their story out of my mind, so I think I need to upgrade this review to a solid five star love. Told through mostly alternating chapters set in different timelines, Sherry Thomas brings to life these two characters both as themselves and as the assumed identities they first meet under. Mixing traditional western romance with wuxia themes and elements makes for some interesting plot points, exciting fight scenes, and unexpected magic, while never sacrificing the deep longing and
emotional depth of character that she is so well known for. I have a feel I will keep thinking about this for weeks to come...it is the Sherry Thomas way.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was different from other historical romances I've read by Sherry Thomas, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the multicultural elements, and I liked learning a little about Chinese history.
This book is basically about a man and woman who are spies for different governments (Leighton is a spy for the British government in Chinese Turkestan and Catherine is working for her step-father, the Chinese governor of the province) and embark on a doomed love affair. They meet almost a decade later in England and are immediately drawn to one another again, but to truly be together they will have to work through the trauma and secrets of the past.
My main criticism is that the story was too sweeping in its scope. There was too much going on, and not enough catharsis at the end.
Still, I can never resist a tale of two lovers who are fated to be together, despite the odds. And there are some beautiful lines: "I will look after you, for as long as we both live. And there will never be anyone else but you." :swoon:
This book is basically about a man and woman who are spies for different governments (Leighton is a spy for the British government in Chinese Turkestan and Catherine is working for her step-father, the Chinese governor of the province) and embark on a doomed love affair. They meet almost a decade later in England and are immediately drawn to one another again, but to truly be together they will have to work through the trauma and secrets of the past.
My main criticism is that the story was too sweeping in its scope. There was too much going on, and not enough catharsis at the end.
Still, I can never resist a tale of two lovers who are fated to be together, despite the odds. And there are some beautiful lines: "I will look after you, for as long as we both live. And there will never be anyone else but you." :swoon:
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Two spies have a liaison in China, but spies are not very good at dating, so they break each other's hearts. To make things worse, Ying Ying has a murderous stepbrother (who was easily the most confusing part of the book). She goes to England and has the great/terrible luck of running into her paramour, Leighton, who is engaged to another woman. Things are awkward!
The flashbacks worked really well; the characters felt like their most pure selves, despite their secrets, and Leighton's caretaking is top-tier, because how many wealthy gentleman can act as cook and medic generally anticipate their lady's needs without staff?
There is a lot of intrigue and some really brutal scenes in this book. It's never easy to balance plot with romance, and both are a bit weak, but it's strong in angst and atmosphere. Different, but I liked it.
The flashbacks worked really well; the characters felt like their most pure selves, despite their secrets, and Leighton's caretaking is top-tier, because how many wealthy gentleman can act as cook and medic generally anticipate their lady's needs without staff?
There is a lot of intrigue and some really brutal scenes in this book. It's never easy to balance plot with romance, and both are a bit weak, but it's strong in angst and atmosphere. Different, but I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Wow, Sherry Thomas is a great author. Which I already knew from the Lady Sherlock novels, but it's great to read such elegant writing in a romance novel. I found out about this book from https://bookriot.com/wuxia-novels.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No