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thoughtsstained's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Full review posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
We are making progress!! I still don't know this woman before you, who is actually reading the books she set out to read at the beginning of the year. (Sorta š ). I had To Catch a Rogue on my bedside table for a few weeks, wanting it to be my next romance read, but never picking it up. Then, I just opened it one night before bed to finally just "read a few chapters".
1am and almost 300 pages later, there I was, almost finished with it. š«
To Catch a Rogue was a bit different from some of the others in this series, but I still liked it.
I enjoyed To Catch A Rogue, even if Charlie wasn't my favorite member of the Company of Rogues. I am super curious to see what happens in the final book of the series, Dukes Are Forever. I admit: I am sorta less interested in Malloryn than I was Charlie. BUT I just have no idea how she's going to pull this enemies-to-lovers romance off. Plus, I'll FINALLY be finishing this series, after starting it years ago.
We are making progress!! I still don't know this woman before you, who is actually reading the books she set out to read at the beginning of the year. (Sorta š ). I had To Catch a Rogue on my bedside table for a few weeks, wanting it to be my next romance read, but never picking it up. Then, I just opened it one night before bed to finally just "read a few chapters".
1am and almost 300 pages later, there I was, almost finished with it. š«
To Catch a Rogue was a bit different from some of the others in this series, but I still liked it.
I enjoyed To Catch A Rogue, even if Charlie wasn't my favorite member of the Company of Rogues. I am super curious to see what happens in the final book of the series, Dukes Are Forever. I admit: I am sorta less interested in Malloryn than I was Charlie. BUT I just have no idea how she's going to pull this enemies-to-lovers romance off. Plus, I'll FINALLY be finishing this series, after starting it years ago.
labyrinth_witch's review against another edition
4.0
This story was perhaps the sweetest of the 5 books- following Charlie Todd āsugarplumā and Lark. These two characters were childhood sweethearts. As such, they faced the challenge of who they were as kids contrasting who they became as adults in a time of revolution. Both familiar and strange, they have to work to becomes friends and lovers on this new level. While there was still a focus on Larkās virginity in this narrative (and I despise this trope) it was offset mildly by the male character having also āsavedā himself for her.
More importantly, Lark has to face her past in order to forge this future. One gets a first person look at what estrangement from oneās home country feels like and what happens to a person when their family is shattered by civil violence. In the midst, Lark has to learn she canāt carry this burden alone.
We also get glimpses of Malloryn as he is tortured by the enemy, and the book has an overall sense of urgency as the characters try to get to him before the enemy ābreaksā him. And who will Malloryn be on the other side of this? Well, that takes us to the next book.
More importantly, Lark has to face her past in order to forge this future. One gets a first person look at what estrangement from oneās home country feels like and what happens to a person when their family is shattered by civil violence. In the midst, Lark has to learn she canāt carry this burden alone.
We also get glimpses of Malloryn as he is tortured by the enemy, and the book has an overall sense of urgency as the characters try to get to him before the enemy ābreaksā him. And who will Malloryn be on the other side of this? Well, that takes us to the next book.
renpuspita's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
I just want to said to my dear friend Ami, whom like me, a fans of London Steampunk series that "Hey, Ami, I know why you enjoy this book and your favorite couple is Charlie and Lark because...I LOVED IT TOO!!!". Gah, I almost afraid that I will not found my favorite from the second arc, but To Catch a Rogue hit all the right notes. No wonder this book get its nomination on Paranormal Romance category in RITA ~that until now is controversial. I get it~. You love a friend to lover trope? You got this. You like your story full with action, twist and intrigue? You GOT this. Like its previous books, it will never be a dull moment with the Company of Rogues. Enemy pulled the strings to London's rebellion schemes? They banish them all. But to the bloody court of Russian to save their leader after the event in You Only Love Twice? Well..
Charlie and Lark... ah, young love. I remember back then, they both still a teenager in Kiss of Steel, with Charlie just in verge of being blue blood, and Lark is still under protection of Blade and Tin Man, also she looks like a boy. Then, their fates changed after the revolution in Of Silks and Steams with Lark become blue blood and Charlie thought she still mad with him. 6-7 years later after their first fated meeting, they are now adult and I'm very glad that McMaster did them justice. She already have a friend-to-lover trope before in Garrett and Perry (Forged by Desire), but I always feels something lacking from theirs (beside I got annoyed with Perry's martyrdom tendencies). With Charlie and Lark, this is what a friend to lover means. And why the condition "friend" and "lover" can't go hand to hand? It's so nice to see Charlie still as sweet as he is, despite his manliness, he never act overbearing alpha to Lark (actually Charlie is a delicious mix of alpha and beta hero!). I liked that the consent part still there, whether inside or outside bedroom. Also,the battle of wits between Charlie and Lark is entertaining to read, even until the end. I like that Charlie always prioritize Lark first, and how both are first love to each other. The part when Charlie finally realized Lark is woman was hilarious, like how dense he can be, haha. But that what make theirs relationship work much much better compared to Garrett-Perry's.
Since both Charlie and Lark is young (but already in their twenties), this book's smexiness is not too over the top, even though the sexual tension is so thick (gah, the scene in the bathing chamber between them!). But, another plus moment again that I liked is when Charlie insist that his and Lark's first time must be in bed. OMG...HOW REALLY SWEET OF YOU, CHARLIE, I can't even, lol. Add it with the fact that both are still virgin, both are first love to each other, the sweetness factor almost get me a diabetes, lol. Anyway, that's a compliment, hahaha.
Like You Only Love Twice, this book didn't just focused to Charlie and Lark, but another characters as well. Malloryn's fate was...awful. Read about his torture was AWFUL I cringed so hard,. I worried about Malloryn's state and I hope he will get better in his own book, Dukes are Forever. Another character also get spotlight, and it's Obsidian's turn. I always think that his arc is not done yet, and now his past getting unraveled. Of course . As for Lark,
The story now near the ending, with it's now Malloryn's chance to get his vengeance against his old nemesis..and who know that maybe he will someday loved his wife, Adele despite their cold marriage? If there's one thing that I know for sure, McMaster always have something in her sleeve. I hardly can't wait! :)
I just want to said to my dear friend Ami, whom like me, a fans of London Steampunk series that "Hey, Ami, I know why you enjoy this book and your favorite couple is Charlie and Lark because...I LOVED IT TOO!!!". Gah, I almost afraid that I will not found my favorite from the second arc, but To Catch a Rogue hit all the right notes. No wonder this book get its nomination on Paranormal Romance category in RITA ~that until now is controversial. I get it~. You love a friend to lover trope? You got this. You like your story full with action, twist and intrigue? You GOT this. Like its previous books, it will never be a dull moment with the Company of Rogues. Enemy pulled the strings to London's rebellion schemes? They banish them all. But to the bloody court of Russian to save their leader after the event in You Only Love Twice? Well..
Charlie and Lark... ah, young love. I remember back then, they both still a teenager in Kiss of Steel, with Charlie just in verge of being blue blood, and Lark is still under protection of Blade and Tin Man, also she looks like a boy. Then, their fates changed after the revolution in Of Silks and Steams with Lark become blue blood and Charlie thought she still mad with him. 6-7 years later after their first fated meeting, they are now adult and I'm very glad that McMaster did them justice. She already have a friend-to-lover trope before in Garrett and Perry (Forged by Desire), but I always feels something lacking from theirs (beside I got annoyed with Perry's martyrdom tendencies). With Charlie and Lark, this is what a friend to lover means. And why the condition "friend" and "lover" can't go hand to hand? It's so nice to see Charlie still as sweet as he is, despite his manliness, he never act overbearing alpha to Lark (actually Charlie is a delicious mix of alpha and beta hero!). I liked that the consent part still there, whether inside or outside bedroom. Also,the battle of wits between Charlie and Lark is entertaining to read, even until the end. I like that Charlie always prioritize Lark first, and how both are first love to each other. The part when Charlie finally realized Lark is woman was hilarious, like how dense he can be, haha. But that what make theirs relationship work much much better compared to Garrett-Perry's.
Since both Charlie and Lark is young (but already in their twenties), this book's smexiness is not too over the top, even though the sexual tension is so thick (gah, the scene in the bathing chamber between them!). But, another plus moment again that I liked is when Charlie insist that his and Lark's first time must be in bed. OMG...HOW REALLY SWEET OF YOU, CHARLIE, I can't even, lol. Add it with the fact that both are still virgin, both are first love to each other, the sweetness factor almost get me a diabetes, lol. Anyway, that's a compliment, hahaha.
Like You Only Love Twice, this book didn't just focused to Charlie and Lark, but another characters as well. Malloryn's fate was...awful. Read about his torture was AWFUL I cringed so hard,
Spoiler
and one of them is the iron maiden scene. OMG, how can he endure it? Even though he is a blue blood through and through, the amount of pain is too muchSpoiler
his real identity is really Dmitri Grigoriev, therefore make him as Lark's real brother and also the real heir presumptive to the Tsaritsyn, the Russian dynasties. But I like what McMaster did here. No deus ex machinae. No a shocking revelation about Obsidian is Dmitri in the front of the Russian Crimson Court and therefore he got his throne or whatever it is. If that happen, it will make Gemma feel devastated, and I'm sure Gemma will follow Obsidian to anywhere. With making Obsidian still with the Company of Rogues, and make Lark's other brother, Nikolai Grigoriev to hold the responsibility as Tsaritsyn prince, this is the real deal. Lark and Obsidian had go through many things, tortured beyond others and finally get their HEA. I like how McMaster write theirs arc conclusionSpoiler
her secret remind me so much of Anastasia Romanov's fate, especially Anastasia animation movie. Well, McMaster already stated that indeed, Anastasia is her inspiration to this book when she talk about it in her newsletter. I just don't paid attention, lol!The story now near the ending, with it's now Malloryn's chance to get his vengeance against his old nemesis..and who know that maybe he will someday loved his wife, Adele despite their cold marriage? If there's one thing that I know for sure, McMaster always have something in her sleeve. I hardly can't wait! :)
plottrysts's review against another edition
5.0
This is the fourth in her Blueblood Conspiracy series, and features childhood friends Charlie and Lark. The book feels like a bit of a departure for McMaster because her characters are on the younger side and have been in love since they were both about 17 (but never admitted it, of course!)ā
ā
Charlie is traveling to Russia with his spy buddies to rescue one of their co-conspirators. He figures that he can always use more backup and asks Lark to come along. Little does he know that she has ties to the brutal Russian aristocracy.ā
ā
Oh, and in case you were wondering why this classifies as a Spooky Season read, you should know that both the British and Russian aristocracy are made up of vampires. Charlie and Lark are also illicit vampires, so you know there's a bunch of blood sucking going on!ā
12-Word Summaries:
ā
Laine: Charlie and Lark, jumping over rooftops, j-u-m-p-i-n-g, first to come wins (her)ā
ā
Meg: When your childhood crush and current obsession heads into danger, you follow.ā
ā
Charlie is traveling to Russia with his spy buddies to rescue one of their co-conspirators. He figures that he can always use more backup and asks Lark to come along. Little does he know that she has ties to the brutal Russian aristocracy.ā
ā
Oh, and in case you were wondering why this classifies as a Spooky Season read, you should know that both the British and Russian aristocracy are made up of vampires. Charlie and Lark are also illicit vampires, so you know there's a bunch of blood sucking going on!ā
12-Word Summaries:
ā
Laine: Charlie and Lark, jumping over rooftops, j-u-m-p-i-n-g, first to come wins (her)ā
ā
Meg: When your childhood crush and current obsession heads into danger, you follow.ā
nelsonseye's review against another edition
4.0
To Catch A Rogue was incredibly action packed and suspenseful. Lark and Charlie were a great couple, and Larkās past was really well done. Off to read Dukes Are Forever.
samantha_reads_more's review against another edition
4.0
This was still a good story, but there were some flat points in it for me.
I've always loved Charlie and Lark, I was honestly looking forward to this book maybe the most out of the bunch. I just didn't love how their relationship finally built out. There was a lot of mixed relationships in here. Between Obsidian and Gemma and Kincaid and Ava... I just didn't love the what felt like a lack of focus on the main relationship.
I honestly cannot wait to read Maloryns story. As the final full novel of the series it's going to be awesome I'm sure!
I've always loved Charlie and Lark, I was honestly looking forward to this book maybe the most out of the bunch. I just didn't love how their relationship finally built out. There was a lot of mixed relationships in here. Between Obsidian and Gemma and Kincaid and Ava... I just didn't love the what felt like a lack of focus on the main relationship.
I honestly cannot wait to read Maloryns story. As the final full novel of the series it's going to be awesome I'm sure!
lisajo85's review against another edition
5.0
OMG! This was fantastic! Finally Charlie and Lark's story! LOVED. IT.
madrona's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
saffire_sky's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0