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subadubdub's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“Styled the Prince of Midnight, betimes in French, le Seigneur du Minuit. Passing Six Feet in height, Green Eye’d, his Brown Hair Gold Favour’d, a Gentlemanly Air, Excellent Address and Brows of Uncommon upward Curl. Mounted upon a Fine Black Stud, Sixteen hands, no Markings. Whoever can discover the Person aforesaid to His Majesty’s magistrates shall have three pounds reward.
“Three pounds?” S.T. said in shock. “Only three bloody pounds?”
--
The Prince of Midnight showcases Laura Kinsale’s writing skills and ability to shock and generally torture the reader (and I say this admiringly). It’s the story of Leigh Strachan, who has traveled to France from Northumberland dressed as a boy because she wants to be trained by the famous Prince of Midnight so she can exact revenge on the man who killed her whole family. There, she finds S.T. Maitland, the Seigneur du Minuit, but he is a shadow of his former self, having lost hearing in one ear and being afflicted by severe vertigo.
Thus begins the push and pull of this story—although it should really be “push and stay rigidly in one place,” given Leigh’s stoic demeanor due to the immense trauma she has suffered. S.T., on the other hand, falls madly in love with her almost immediately, which feels a little sudden but is also in keeping with his character: he’s a bad boy at heart, skilled yet reckless and always up for a good time. He is a wonderfully passionate character, down to the care he gives his pet wolf, Nemo, and his love of horses and art. He is a drama queen and I love him.
They journey to Leigh’s former home in Northumberland together, to unalive the Reverend Chilton, the man who killed Leigh’s family (if not directly, then by proxy) and who has set up an evangelical Christian cult in her hometown. This section is truly creepy and frightening, painting a picture of a master manipulator and the weak-willed yet dangerous acolytes who have been brainwashed into thinking Chilton is their savior. I adored the way S.T. dealt with the cult and its leader; he has no time for fake miracles or edicts from a man who claims to speak with God’s voice. S.T. is a man after my own heart.
This isn’t five stars for a couple of reasons. First, some real-life members of the Hellfire Club appear, such as the Marquis de Sade, and I’m not entirely sure it was necessary. Second, I found the back-and-forth between S.T. and Leigh to go on a little too long; I love an “unlikeable” woman, and she certainly had her reasons for remaining so closed off, but it felt frustrating after a while. It wasn’t a lack of communication, or miscommunication; they simply didn’t seem to understand each other at all. And that makes me question whether their relationship would last.
Finally, considering how much S.T.’s prowess with the ladies is mentioned, three of the five or so smex scenes are…not impressive. Let’s just say that in real life, it would be hard for Leigh to come so lavishly, as she does in the book. Smex rating: 3/5, Needs Work
This was going to be a straight four stars, but the epilogue deserves .25 stars all on its own (IYKYK).
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
Lady Leigh Strachan doesn’t realize how deadly a game she is playing. Leigh wants justice for her family’s killer, so she devises a plan to dress up as a boy and track down the killer herself.
S.T. Maitland is a very feared and dangerous man. Even his being a nobleman does not help as his other profession of highway man fall outweighs his status and gained him the nickname of the Prince of Midnight. You won’t know it by the way S.T. Maitland acts but he is disabled, he is deaf in one ear as well as coping with vertigo.
Lady Leigh Strachan crosses paths with S. T. Maitland. Leigh inquires to Maitland for his help and he agrees. The more time Maitland spends around Leigh, the stronger the attraction he feels towards her but wait till he finds out Leigh is a woman.
S.T. Maitland’s pet wolf made me think of a guide dog. This surprised me not because a wolf couldn’t be tamed but because this is the first book that I can remember where the use of a guide dog type was incorporated into the story. I really liked this fact, because I myself once raised a guide dog. The plot for this book intrigued me but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. I found it seemed to drag on at times. I did not let this fact though keep me from finishing the book. As far as historical romance novels go, The Prince of Midnight did turn out to be a pretty good book. I would gladly welcome the chance to try a Laura Kinsale book again.
S.T. Maitland is a very feared and dangerous man. Even his being a nobleman does not help as his other profession of highway man fall outweighs his status and gained him the nickname of the Prince of Midnight. You won’t know it by the way S.T. Maitland acts but he is disabled, he is deaf in one ear as well as coping with vertigo.
Lady Leigh Strachan crosses paths with S. T. Maitland. Leigh inquires to Maitland for his help and he agrees. The more time Maitland spends around Leigh, the stronger the attraction he feels towards her but wait till he finds out Leigh is a woman.
S.T. Maitland’s pet wolf made me think of a guide dog. This surprised me not because a wolf couldn’t be tamed but because this is the first book that I can remember where the use of a guide dog type was incorporated into the story. I really liked this fact, because I myself once raised a guide dog. The plot for this book intrigued me but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. I found it seemed to drag on at times. I did not let this fact though keep me from finishing the book. As far as historical romance novels go, The Prince of Midnight did turn out to be a pretty good book. I would gladly welcome the chance to try a Laura Kinsale book again.
riskyduck's review against another edition
3.0
Reverses most of the normal romance rules. ST falls in love instantly, and Leigh holds out/fights it tooth and nail until near the end.
Leigh is strong, proud, beautiful, and traumatized. She's seeking vengeance for her murdered family. For me, the cold bitch routine was used just a bit too long. I would've liked to see her do something besides just hurl out cruel rejections.
ST is what gives this book the flavor and memorability. He can tame wolves and horses. He paints. He's a masked highwayman and Robin Hood figure. He's half deaf, leading to equilibrium problems. And he bordered on being too pathetic in his devotion to Leigh for me.
Overall, there's an enjoyable story in here with strong emotions and unique elements. It's all pulled together well.
Leigh is strong, proud, beautiful, and traumatized. She's seeking vengeance for her murdered family. For me, the cold bitch routine was used just a bit too long. I would've liked to see her do something besides just hurl out cruel rejections.
ST is what gives this book the flavor and memorability. He can tame wolves and horses. He paints. He's a masked highwayman and Robin Hood figure. He's half deaf, leading to equilibrium problems. And he bordered on being too pathetic in his devotion to Leigh for me.
Overall, there's an enjoyable story in here with strong emotions and unique elements. It's all pulled together well.
pippimonster's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
abduck4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tlfuller13's review against another edition
1.0
Really, 2.5 stars.
It's truly not that I disliked this book. I found it a mixture of funny, adventurous, steamy and interesting. I only rated it low because I just couldn't find it in my heart to give it a better review. Perhaps it's because the woman, Leigh, was such a pain the entire time and completely un-relatable. Perhaps I thought her past, while awful was not enough to account for her closed-off attitude. Perhaps I was irritated that S.T. kept pursuing a brooding woman who kept insulting him. Perhaps romance just really isn't a genre I should read...
The tone of the book was great, the hero was interesting and was a stud-muffin in my mind, and overall I very much wanted to know how it ended.
It's truly not that I disliked this book. I found it a mixture of funny, adventurous, steamy and interesting. I only rated it low because I just couldn't find it in my heart to give it a better review. Perhaps it's because the woman, Leigh, was such a pain the entire time and completely un-relatable. Perhaps I thought her past, while awful was not enough to account for her closed-off attitude. Perhaps I was irritated that S.T. kept pursuing a brooding woman who kept insulting him. Perhaps romance just really isn't a genre I should read...
The tone of the book was great, the hero was interesting and was a stud-muffin in my mind, and overall I very much wanted to know how it ended.
aleksandra08's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alcalhou's review against another edition
2.0
Read to get out of a reading slump. It was okay. Not my style of historical romance. And the chemistry was not fully fleshed out