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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
A good ending to a good series. I must say my favourite is the first one but they all have something different about them and this one didn’t disappoint.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's just kind of eh. It read very much like fanservice because it's pretty short, and the entire time you're basically just going around with Adrian and meeting all the other characters from the other books. Also the characters from the previous books have aged but don't actually feel that old outside of physical description. More mature? Not really. The whole concept and message of the book was pretty nice though.
I think it's just that I waited so long for this book because its release date was pushed back by quite a bit and quite a few times, so the anticipation and hopes were high. I liked the first two books because they were fun, and this one still was, but just...not as much. It's still an enjoyable read. I think this book did what it set out to do and it did it pretty well. I just kind of wish it had set out to do more.
I think it's just that I waited so long for this book because its release date was pushed back by quite a bit and quite a few times, so the anticipation and hopes were high. I liked the first two books because they were fun, and this one still was, but just...not as much. It's still an enjoyable read. I think this book did what it set out to do and it did it pretty well. I just kind of wish it had set out to do more.
Plot 4,75
Characters 5
Writing 5
World-building 5
Enjoyment 5
Characters 5
Writing 5
World-building 5
Enjoyment 5
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first read "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" when I was 18 and it hit all the right spots back then. Just the perfect queer adventure story with the right amount of serious undertones and important discussions. So, I already loved this book for nostalgic purposes and for the dynamics of the Montague Siblings, who I all adore in their own way. Plot-wise I think it was the weakest out of the series, but I loved the discussion of mental health, which really was the focus of this book more than in the other ones. Adrian and his anxiety struggles really spoke to me, as well as the message of not needing fixing and just trying to get through life as best as you can with the cards you've been dealt. And of course seeing Monty and Percy again and how much in love they still were absolutely warmed my heart. There just is something about seeing queer characters in a historical setting, who are striving and happy nonetheless.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure how I feel about the plot itself, but Mackenzi Lee is very talented with character development. I didn't need the plot when I got to read about Adrian and his newly discovered siblings bonding together. I also adore how she writes about chronic illness and injuries, with characters discovering that there isn't a magic cure and everything might not be easy every day but that's life and they'll live with their new reality.
Anyways, read this if you want great anxiety rep and sibling love and don't mind some fantastical elements in your historical fiction
Anyways, read this if you want great anxiety rep and sibling love and don't mind some fantastical elements in your historical fiction
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I came into this expecting a nice fluffy and fun adventurous read much like the first two books. And there was adventure and sarcasm and witty humor and crazy antics, but this book also deeply features the main character's anxiety and OCD, which made this surprisingly hard to read - especially if you deal with similar thoughts and difficulties.
We're reading the book from Adrian's perspective and Mackenzie Lee does such a good job at putting his character into the narration and really putting you into his mind, to the point that you feel everything he does. His anxious narration drives up your own anxiety, and I found myself needing to put down the book every now and then to take a break from his thinking. I was really glad to see him get the development and arc that he did - after so much anxiety and obsession, we get a hopeful ending that really represents that idea of 'there is life after survival'.
This was also a fun adventurous read of course, I just focused on the mental health aspects of it because that's what was most personal to me. We do get a fun plot that perhaps lacks a little in complexity but is made up for with the well-developed characters. Overall, the book made for a satisfying and sweet end to the series.
We're reading the book from Adrian's perspective and Mackenzie Lee does such a good job at putting his character into the narration and really putting you into his mind, to the point that you feel everything he does. His anxious narration drives up your own anxiety, and I found myself needing to put down the book every now and then to take a break from his thinking. I was really glad to see him get the development and arc that he did - after so much anxiety and obsession, we get a hopeful ending that really represents that idea of 'there is life after survival'.
This was also a fun adventurous read of course, I just focused on the mental health aspects of it because that's what was most personal to me. We do get a fun plot that perhaps lacks a little in complexity but is made up for with the well-developed characters. Overall, the book made for a satisfying and sweet end to the series.