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kb33's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Strong themes of misogyny, infidelity, and miscommunication. Ends on a cliffhanger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Racism
Minor: Child death, Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Slavery, Violence, Mental illness, War, and Death of parent
chai_latte_auroras's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The first half of this book was slow and had me concerned I wouldn’t like it. By page 150 the main love interests hadn’t said two nice words to each other, just constant fighting. I also didn’t know how to feel about Gabriel because he was kind of misogynistic. I feel like we get all these little facts sprinkled throughout about Gabriel’s past that gives us a bit of insight as to why he is the way he is, but we don’t get the same for Drusilla. She mostly just sits around crushing on Gabriel and frowning at her own reflection. The girl has no self esteem.
After page 200 the book’s pacing picks up and Gabriel and Drusilla start acting more like lovers, giving me something to root for. The plot also gets interesting and the book leaves off at a point that made me want to read the second book.
This book is kind of like if Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and Hooked by Emily McIntire had a baby.
After page 200 the book’s pacing picks up and Gabriel and Drusilla start acting more like lovers, giving me something to root for. The plot also gets interesting and the book leaves off at a point that made me want to read the second book.
This book is kind of like if Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and Hooked by Emily McIntire had a baby.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Kidnapping, Islamophobia, Death, War, Violence, and Addiction
claireroad's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
readwithde's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexism, Stalking, and War
abookandaspotoftea's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, Racism, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Slavery and Mental illness
mo13's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
ashlightgrayson's review
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
This was an incredibly enjoyable read. The story has a lot of diversity with representation of a Muslim man of color, queer women, and polyamorous relationships. Themes such as discrimination and social stigma are explored very well. I was quite impressed.
Gabriel and Drusilla are the main characters forced into an arranged marriage by circumstance. Drusilla has a long lasting crush (for the past 5 years) on Gabriel (he is the step brother of her best friend Eva). They agree to give their marriage the college try and make the best of it. It takes time for them to open up to each other, but when they do it is rewarding and they are compatible. Gabriel has a very interesting history that involves sexism, but by the time we meet him in the present he has resolved a lot of this as a teenager. Drusilla has a strong sense of morality and is a feminist who works with related charities to help further the rights of women and the disenfranchised. After she gets married to Gabriel there is less of a focus on this, but she does express a strong interest in continuing her work. Gabriel is open with Drusilla about his past which allows them both to love each other for who they are, flaws and all. They do have misunderstandings, but they are minimal and easily resolved. The sex scenes were also written well with a strong emphasis on consent and communication about what each party wants in the bedroom.
Eva and Drusilla have an argument at the beginning of the book, which sours their relationship for the majority of the story. They do eventually reconcile, but I feel like there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Eva.She kidnaps Lord Visel for unknown reasons after all I'll have to keep reading to find out more about that.
All in all, this was a great historical romance with strong character backstories involving a lot of diversity. There is a large discussion to be had in this book about cultural assimilation and what it was like for a Muslim man to integrate into English society in the 19th century. In addition, the social constraints of women and what life was like for women who did fit into stereotypical relationship expectations such as monogamy and heterosexuality are also explored. I highly recommend for anyone looking for diverse historical fiction.
ADDENDUM: There are points in the book when Gabriel is described as exotic, which is problematic at best, so keep that in mind when reading.
Gabriel and Drusilla are the main characters forced into an arranged marriage by circumstance. Drusilla has a long lasting crush (for the past 5 years) on Gabriel (he is the step brother of her best friend Eva). They agree to give their marriage the college try and make the best of it. It takes time for them to open up to each other, but when they do it is rewarding and they are compatible. Gabriel has a very interesting history that involves sexism, but by the time we meet him in the present he has resolved a lot of this as a teenager. Drusilla has a strong sense of morality and is a feminist who works with related charities to help further the rights of women and the disenfranchised. After she gets married to Gabriel there is less of a focus on this, but she does express a strong interest in continuing her work. Gabriel is open with Drusilla about his past which allows them both to love each other for who they are, flaws and all. They do have misunderstandings, but they are minimal and easily resolved. The sex scenes were also written well with a strong emphasis on consent and communication about what each party wants in the bedroom.
Eva and Drusilla have an argument at the beginning of the book, which sours their relationship for the majority of the story. They do eventually reconcile, but I feel like there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Eva.
All in all, this was a great historical romance with strong character backstories involving a lot of diversity. There is a large discussion to be had in this book about cultural assimilation and what it was like for a Muslim man to integrate into English society in the 19th century. In addition, the social constraints of women and what life was like for women who did fit into stereotypical relationship expectations such as monogamy and heterosexuality are also explored. I highly recommend for anyone looking for diverse historical fiction.
ADDENDUM: There are points in the book when Gabriel is described as exotic, which is problematic at best, so keep that in mind when reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
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