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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
LOVED this narration. Hamish is perfection.
The story is still amazing. Good lord, the way Balfour just wants David and can't figure out why. Simply stunning.
The story is still amazing. Good lord, the way Balfour just wants David and can't figure out why. Simply stunning.
Good enough plot, but I felt like I was reading an m/f the whole way though, I didn't like either of the MCs
Was this all there was? A few brief moments of connection, the grasp of another’s hand on the scaffold, and then you were cast out, alone, into the great universe?
Really promising and engaging start to a new series, about a lawyer from humble roots and a suave aristocrat, set in the aftermath of the Scottish Insurrection of 1820. I love a good class difference romance, especially when it digs deep into inequality and injustice, like I'm hoping this will. I thought this was a standalone, but I'm real glad the series will follow the same couple, given their current personalities and dispositions. David is brimming with shame and self-recrimination, but in a way that felt authentic, rather than played for drama. I really want to see him come into himself! This got super intense, especially on Murdoch's end, which was surprising and gratifying. I love when the charming, seemingly aloof cynic also evinces a lot of genuine emotion. There's a sort of mystery that drives the plot, and even though it doesn't feel very urgent, it sets up some good stuff and gets the job done.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Hamish McKinlay and utterly loved it. I loved all his voices, especially the difference between David's accent, which has been smoothed and polished, and Murdoch's, which was almost non-existent, and Euan's, which was a bit thicker. Really convincing emotion, as well.
Very intrigued to see how this will turn out.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
alcohol (and addiction?), violence
ehhh. this gay romance could have had a lot less gay angst and alot more gay sex.
Oooooh really nice writing, evocative imagery, and high sexual tension. What a strong and curious opening of a series (especially the opening scene being an execution!)... This prose was felt deeply.
Review half done.
Really needed to know where it was going so I abandoned review until the morning.
Merged review:
1st read - 26 October 2014
2nd read - 27 September 2016
____________________
"Just because you lose a battle, doesn't mean it was never worth fighting."
Goodness but I love this series. I loved it even more on the second read because now I KNOW!!!! I know what's to come. I know Murdo and I know David and I know that all is not lost. For me the Enlightenment series is just one big book. I first read it after all three were released and I'm not gonna lie, I would have a conniption if I'd had to wait for any of them. I'm not at all patient and I'm certainly not patient when it comes to David and Murdo. Even rereading them I just want to devour them so I can see what happens.
I love me an historical and I especially love them when they are set in places I adore and I adore Edinburgh, to be honest I just love Scotland in general but Edinburgh has a very special feel to it. It's just dripping in history and it's really easy to picture David walking about the streets. I really want to organise a weekend and read these again while I'm there. Reading is dangerous for my bank account!!
Seriously, I love this series. It is pure comfort even when it's breaking my heart. It is beautifully written and a joy to read and it is just a wonderful and poignant love story.
"That night - that moment - had been the sweetest of all David's life. And if thinking that made him wicked and bound for hell, he wasn't sure he had it in him to repent. But Christ, it was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, truth to tell. Sweet to know that for once in his life, he'd known such tenderness, but oh so bitter to know it would never come again."
Really needed to know where it was going so I abandoned review until the morning.
Merged review:
1st read - 26 October 2014
2nd read - 27 September 2016
____________________
"Just because you lose a battle, doesn't mean it was never worth fighting."
Goodness but I love this series. I loved it even more on the second read because now I KNOW!!!! I know what's to come. I know Murdo and I know David and I know that all is not lost. For me the Enlightenment series is just one big book. I first read it after all three were released and I'm not gonna lie, I would have a conniption if I'd had to wait for any of them. I'm not at all patient and I'm certainly not patient when it comes to David and Murdo. Even rereading them I just want to devour them so I can see what happens.
I love me an historical and I especially love them when they are set in places I adore and I adore Edinburgh, to be honest I just love Scotland in general but Edinburgh has a very special feel to it. It's just dripping in history and it's really easy to picture David walking about the streets. I really want to organise a weekend and read these again while I'm there. Reading is dangerous for my bank account!!
Seriously, I love this series. It is pure comfort even when it's breaking my heart. It is beautifully written and a joy to read and it is just a wonderful and poignant love story.
"That night - that moment - had been the sweetest of all David's life. And if thinking that made him wicked and bound for hell, he wasn't sure he had it in him to repent. But Christ, it was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, truth to tell. Sweet to know that for once in his life, he'd known such tenderness, but oh so bitter to know it would never come again."
I absolutely loved the setting (regency britain is my jam and the fact it's set in Scotland is even better) and the lawyer angle of the story, but the romance left me feeling pretty cold (it didn't help that I kept giggling at the sexy manly character being named Mundo) if a bit intrigued. Friends tell me the rest of the series is good, so I'll be checking out the rest of the books, if only for the setting :D
Review half done.
Really needed to know where it was going so I abandoned review until the morning.
Merged review:
1st read - 26 October 2014
2nd read - 27 September 2016
3rd read - 30 October to 1 November 2019 {Finally got the paperbacks so that means a reread. I still adore these books.}
4th read - 19 September 2021
____________________
"Just because you lose a battle, doesn't mean it was never worth fighting."
Goodness but I love this series. I loved it even more on the second read because now I KNOW!!!! I know what's to come. I know Murdo and I know David and I know that all is not lost. For me the Enlightenment series is just one big book. I first read it after all three were released and I'm not gonna lie, I would have a conniption if I'd had to wait for any of them. I'm not at all patient and I'm certainly not patient when it comes to David and Murdo. Even rereading them I just want to devour them so I can see what happens.
I love me an historical and I especially love them when they are set in places I adore and I adore Edinburgh, to be honest I just love Scotland in general but Edinburgh has a very special feel to it. It's just dripping in history and it's really easy to picture David walking about the streets. I really want to organise a weekend and read these again while I'm there. Reading is dangerous for my bank account!!
Seriously, I love this series. It is pure comfort even when it's breaking my heart. It is beautifully written and a joy to read and it is just a wonderful and poignant love story.
"That night - that moment - had been the sweetest of all David's life. And if thinking that made him wicked and bound for hell, he wasn't sure he had it in him to repent. But Christ, it was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, truth to tell. Sweet to know that for once in his life, he'd known such tenderness, but oh so bitter to know it would never come again."
Really needed to know where it was going so I abandoned review until the morning.
Merged review:
1st read - 26 October 2014
2nd read - 27 September 2016
3rd read - 30 October to 1 November 2019 {Finally got the paperbacks so that means a reread. I still adore these books.}
4th read - 19 September 2021
____________________
"Just because you lose a battle, doesn't mean it was never worth fighting."
Goodness but I love this series. I loved it even more on the second read because now I KNOW!!!! I know what's to come. I know Murdo and I know David and I know that all is not lost. For me the Enlightenment series is just one big book. I first read it after all three were released and I'm not gonna lie, I would have a conniption if I'd had to wait for any of them. I'm not at all patient and I'm certainly not patient when it comes to David and Murdo. Even rereading them I just want to devour them so I can see what happens.
I love me an historical and I especially love them when they are set in places I adore and I adore Edinburgh, to be honest I just love Scotland in general but Edinburgh has a very special feel to it. It's just dripping in history and it's really easy to picture David walking about the streets. I really want to organise a weekend and read these again while I'm there. Reading is dangerous for my bank account!!
Seriously, I love this series. It is pure comfort even when it's breaking my heart. It is beautifully written and a joy to read and it is just a wonderful and poignant love story.
"That night - that moment - had been the sweetest of all David's life. And if thinking that made him wicked and bound for hell, he wasn't sure he had it in him to repent. But Christ, it was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, truth to tell. Sweet to know that for once in his life, he'd known such tenderness, but oh so bitter to know it would never come again."
These two knuckleheads are going to be the death of me.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated