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that1creativelady's review against another edition
4.0
The slowest burn I have ever read! But the storylines are good and contribute to the build-up of the relationship. I love a good double-trope (Marriage of convenience/Enemies to lovers) and the fact that it took 2 books to get to the first trope and another 2 books to get to the second and still manage to keep my attention just shows how good the writer is, the sneaky bastard. lol
greenhearted101's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful read! So entertaining and engaging and so easy to hook you. Probably my favorite in the series so far. This one really had a strong air of a Regency Era mystery novel. I love the development of the characters, and of course, the development between Hannah and Wycliff that really just made me smile so much. I also like the mention of serious issues faced by women in the Regency Era, and how unjust society was upon them. This was an excellent book, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
baya_111's review against another edition
5.0
Possibly my favorite so far of the serie, with Wycliff and Hannah just being adorable together in this. Can't wait to read more!
bookwormteacher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
anelya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This novel was my most favourite of the series so far, but also my least favourite in some aspects. I love how the relationship between Lord and Lady Wycliff evolved and deepened in this novel, and that definitely influences the very nice feeling that comes when I think about it. They grew together, opened up about secrets, had their first foray into society together, and the way they're slowly getting into patterns of working together is lovely. It's just so pleasant to see the changes, how they're both influencing each other for the better, and how Wycliff especially is learning to appreciate so much about her. Seeing Hannah through Wycliff's eyes is just honestly lovely for the most part, because it's like, "Yes! She's smart! And clever and likes researching and that's so cool!" This is a very nice change from Wycliff of the first novel who was very... Well, his perspective was grating to say the least... I also love how their relationship is slowly changing to be physically closer - those moments were written very well and was just so intriguing, amusing, and endearing to read Hannah's perspective on them. It's all so new to her, but she's enjoying it, and there's a bit of fire (which is lovely!) and a bit of awkwardness, just *chef's kiss* the perfect combination.
However this novel is my least favourite due to to the casual sexism (present in all these novels so far, at times better, at times worse), explicit and extreme sexism, the casual racism (descriptions of goblins, to be compounded in the 4th novel), and this particular mystery/murderer (why they did it, how they are punished, etc.), which were all points that felt most unlikeable to me in this novel out of all the novels so far.
Weirdly, it's the casual sexism that gets to me most, especially every time Lady Wycliff spouts some internalised rhetoric against women about herself or other women. Just with the way the character is made and how she's so supposedly tolerant of monsters and creatures many others in the novels would apparently be cruel to, it baffles me that she's so casually sexist and so far does not seem to be moving in any direction to not be so. Like, on top of that, she even explicitly will go into why women are the way their are in this society (preoccupied with their looks as the only "power" they have in a male-dominated society - the only thing they can do is look beautiful to try to get a decent match) and then she will follow that up by later condemning all women for being frivolous and only interested in petticoats and frocks (I understand the idea of a character having hypocrises, I'm just flummoxed by "why this one?" and can't help but wonder if it's purposeful on the author's part or not...). And she phrases these interests like they're inherently a bad thing!
Every time Lady Wycliff shows an interest in clothes, I'm always so happy! Like, "You go, girl! If you wanna look good in a pretty dress, feel free! You do you!" But she often chastises herself for being so vain, and anytime she does express a wish for pretty things that isn't condemned, it is of course immediately followed by many reassurances that she's "not like other women, though!" It's just like "AGH!" Why can't she be interested in clothes and fine with dead bodies, working, and autopsies? Or, why can't she be interested in those things without having to condemn all women who are interested in clothing or make-up?
Wycliff's perspectives are still very frustrating on this topic, as he especially will go "She's not like other women!" And then that's that, that's why she's okay, even if sometimes she does dress up. It's also just very frustrating because there's a very clear double-standard in the novel. The men's clothing will also be described in ways that demonstrate there was clear work put into how they look, how their clothes were made, and there are mentions of men using makeup. (In the fourth book we meet a very good tailor for men's clothes and the entire novel notes men's clothing and fineries multiple times). Yet not once (that I can recall, to be fair) are men called out in the novels as being overly vain or too interested in their clothing and fineries. Double-standard. (When men are spoken of negatively it is mostly of a drinking, gambling, sleeping around nature. Wastrels and the like. And then of course, being horribly sexually abusive and never having consequences for it. But that's a whole other thing, clearly also influenced by the author's interpretation of the era the novels are written in and her choice in how the society is built despite the fantastical elements.)
Anyhow, at this point I'm not necessarily annoyed at this novel in particular, but just all novels that go this route. Why can't we have a protagonist who is Just Like Other Girls and let that be okay, even celebrated? Why can't we have protagonists who like clothes and makeup and also books and medicine? They really don't have to be mutually exclusive...
I guess this review ends up having a longer negative part than a positive, but I will admit it has made me have this conversation with multiple people so I'm not surprised. I honestly don't quite know how to feel about the series. The characters are still growing with every novel, and I appreciate the overarching story bits that cross over the series. I think that's very well done. I also think the writing is quite wonderful and I love the mystery - I love mystery novels, but they were often far too gory and iffy for me, so this was nice at first. Ultimately, I have taken some issues with the mysteries beyond the first novel, so I'm unsure how I feel about that...
My opinion is just very, very mixed. I love the characters, you know? At least, I LOVE Hannah. I think Hannah is wonderful and it's a joy to read from her perspective. I think the world the author has created is also generally intriguing. I think the novels are well-written. But with every casually sexist comment, I keep wondering if it's all worth it to hear women disparaged so often with seemingly no notice of the fact that it's happening. I don't know! I will probably still finish the series, so we'll see how I feel after book six, I suppose. Right now, it's very, very mixed.
However this novel is my least favourite due to to the casual sexism (present in all these novels so far, at times better, at times worse), explicit and extreme sexism, the casual racism (descriptions of goblins, to be compounded in the 4th novel), and this particular mystery/murderer (why they did it, how they are punished, etc.), which were all points that felt most unlikeable to me in this novel out of all the novels so far.
Weirdly, it's the casual sexism that gets to me most, especially every time Lady Wycliff spouts some internalised rhetoric against women about herself or other women. Just with the way the character is made and how she's so supposedly tolerant of monsters and creatures many others in the novels would apparently be cruel to, it baffles me that she's so casually sexist and so far does not seem to be moving in any direction to not be so. Like, on top of that, she even explicitly will go into why women are the way their are in this society (preoccupied with their looks as the only "power" they have in a male-dominated society - the only thing they can do is look beautiful to try to get a decent match) and then she will follow that up by later condemning all women for being frivolous and only interested in petticoats and frocks (I understand the idea of a character having hypocrises, I'm just flummoxed by "why this one?" and can't help but wonder if it's purposeful on the author's part or not...). And she phrases these interests like they're inherently a bad thing!
Every time Lady Wycliff shows an interest in clothes, I'm always so happy! Like, "You go, girl! If you wanna look good in a pretty dress, feel free! You do you!" But she often chastises herself for being so vain, and anytime she does express a wish for pretty things that isn't condemned, it is of course immediately followed by many reassurances that she's "not like other women, though!" It's just like "AGH!" Why can't she be interested in clothes and fine with dead bodies, working, and autopsies? Or, why can't she be interested in those things without having to condemn all women who are interested in clothing or make-up?
Wycliff's perspectives are still very frustrating on this topic, as he especially will go "She's not like other women!" And then that's that, that's why she's okay, even if sometimes she does dress up. It's also just very frustrating because there's a very clear double-standard in the novel. The men's clothing will also be described in ways that demonstrate there was clear work put into how they look, how their clothes were made, and there are mentions of men using makeup. (In the fourth book we meet a very good tailor for men's clothes and the entire novel notes men's clothing and fineries multiple times). Yet not once (that I can recall, to be fair) are men called out in the novels as being overly vain or too interested in their clothing and fineries. Double-standard. (When men are spoken of negatively it is mostly of a drinking, gambling, sleeping around nature. Wastrels and the like. And then of course, being horribly sexually abusive and never having consequences for it. But that's a whole other thing, clearly also influenced by the author's interpretation of the era the novels are written in and her choice in how the society is built despite the fantastical elements.)
Anyhow, at this point I'm not necessarily annoyed at this novel in particular, but just all novels that go this route. Why can't we have a protagonist who is Just Like Other Girls and let that be okay, even celebrated? Why can't we have protagonists who like clothes and makeup and also books and medicine? They really don't have to be mutually exclusive...
I guess this review ends up having a longer negative part than a positive, but I will admit it has made me have this conversation with multiple people so I'm not surprised. I honestly don't quite know how to feel about the series. The characters are still growing with every novel, and I appreciate the overarching story bits that cross over the series. I think that's very well done. I also think the writing is quite wonderful and I love the mystery - I love mystery novels, but they were often far too gory and iffy for me, so this was nice at first. Ultimately, I have taken some issues with the mysteries beyond the first novel, so I'm unsure how I feel about that...
My opinion is just very, very mixed. I love the characters, you know? At least, I LOVE Hannah. I think Hannah is wonderful and it's a joy to read from her perspective. I think the world the author has created is also generally intriguing. I think the novels are well-written. But with every casually sexist comment, I keep wondering if it's all worth it to hear women disparaged so often with seemingly no notice of the fact that it's happening. I don't know! I will probably still finish the series, so we'll see how I feel after book six, I suppose. Right now, it's very, very mixed.
r3ader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
This is AMAZING. The series in general is, but this one was the best out of the three I have read now.
The slow burn between these two is starting to BURN.
The murder mystery was good, but a bit predictable. Also definitely check trigger warnings!
The slow burn between these two is starting to BURN.
The murder mystery was good, but a bit predictable. Also definitely check trigger warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Death
Minor: Suicide, War, Child death, and Pregnancy
starryeyedgirl's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bethrb's review against another edition
4.0
The resolution was like a punch to the gut but my goodness I loved this one.