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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Ewan betrayed his brothers and Grace all those years ago. He became the Duke and she forged herself a new identity as the head of a very successful (not wholy legal) business.
I feel like I enjoyed the idea of this book more than my actual reading of it. The beginning was exactly what I wanted, full of angst and drama, same as the ending. But, the in-between felt a bit underwhelming. I wanted more groveling, more fights, more everything. Maybe I just picked this one at the wrong time because I really enjoyed the first two books in the barenuckle bastards series.
I feel like I enjoyed the idea of this book more than my actual reading of it. The beginning was exactly what I wanted, full of angst and drama, same as the ending. But, the in-between felt a bit underwhelming. I wanted more groveling, more fights, more everything. Maybe I just picked this one at the wrong time because I really enjoyed the first two books in the barenuckle bastards series.
While I enjoyed the series, something about this book fell flat for me. May take a reread to figure out why.
I love me a good anti-hero. I waited with bated breath for how SM would pull this off. I loved the first two books in the series.
I was disappointed. The writing felt repetitive and the plot was missing the usual magic. And I don’t feel Ewan groveled enough as most of it was done off page with a year later time jump. It was told he changed but not shown. The character development was lacking. He is sorry to have caused Grace pain but no *true remorse* for his own actions. Grace was a badass but her weakness was Ewan and I felt that clouded her vision. The killing of five boys required more than manual labor.
Things Ewan has done:
-killed 5 young boys
-left Devil to freeze to death
-tried to kill Hattie
Things Ewan has done to repent:
-gone away for 1 year
-manual labor in Convent Garden.
****SPOILER****
That doesn’t equate at all. And it’s 2020. We know by now that true change is caused by those in power and those who wield that power. Although Ewan burning/giving up the dukedom was symbolic, I thought it was over the top. He or Grace could have passed bills that could affect true change for betterment. The ultimate fuck you to the old Duke would have been if the estate facilitated bastards education and his Dukedom causing real change.
I was disappointed. The writing felt repetitive and the plot was missing the usual magic. And I don’t feel Ewan groveled enough as most of it was done off page with a year later time jump. It was told he changed but not shown. The character development was lacking. He is sorry to have caused Grace pain but no *true remorse* for his own actions. Grace was a badass but her weakness was Ewan and I felt that clouded her vision. The killing of five boys required more than manual labor.
Things Ewan has done:
-killed 5 young boys
-left Devil to freeze to death
-tried to kill Hattie
Things Ewan has done to repent:
-gone away for 1 year
-manual labor in Convent Garden.
****SPOILER****
That doesn’t equate at all. And it’s 2020. We know by now that true change is caused by those in power and those who wield that power. Although Ewan burning/giving up the dukedom was symbolic, I thought it was over the top. He or Grace could have passed bills that could affect true change for betterment. The ultimate fuck you to the old Duke would have been if the estate facilitated bastards education and his Dukedom causing real change.
We spent the first 2 books in the series loathing the hero but if anyone can turn it around, Sarah can. A great read.
I have been (not so) patiently waiting for this book since I raved about Brazen and the Beast. This book wraps up the series and I both couldn't wait to get my hands on it and almost didn't want to read it because I hate for this series to end. I've come to love these characters and I it's hard to see their stories come to a close.
But WOW, what an ending! This book brings out all the punches and explains what happened all those years ago on the night the Bareknuckle Bastards had to make a run for it. And Grace, well, she's just as amazing as we all knew she would be. Bravo, Sarah MacLean, you never cease to amaze me.
But WOW, what an ending! This book brings out all the punches and explains what happened all those years ago on the night the Bareknuckle Bastards had to make a run for it. And Grace, well, she's just as amazing as we all knew she would be. Bravo, Sarah MacLean, you never cease to amaze me.
Okay, I'll admit, I went into this expecting to be kind of meh about things. Ewan has been kind of a butt from the beginning and while I'll admit to thinking he wasn't exactly behind Hattie's almost exploding (I honestly thought he was actually trying to save her back in [b:Brazen and the Beast|40221961|Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards, #2)|Sarah MacLean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543966730l/40221961._SY75_.jpg|57373068], rather than more of an attack thing), I just wasn't fully convinced about him, I guess. That being said, WOW was I wrong!
Grace was amazing. I loved that she knew how to kick ass and take names and yet she also cared for the Garden. I loved her clothing choices and how she worked the pops of color into things (not going to lie, I would have loved a pair of her boots. And maybe one or two of the corsets). I loved her relationship with Whit and Devil and the way that they could tease each other but still had their backs. Their past was sad and I do kind of wish they'd somehow been able to get the old Duke back but at the same time, I think Ewan's action were a great way to handle things.
And Ewan was just...yeah, boy was I wrong about him! I loved (is that the right word?) how he worked to make himself worthy of the Grace now. Rather than the Grace he'd been remembering for twenty years (granted, he'd thought she was dead for twenty years but still). I also liked how he started trying to make amends in the Rookery. Loved how he was with Alice and the way he started washing like he did it every day. And I will admit to wishing I could have seen the ballroom at his masque (granted there would be some interesting logistics involved but still would love to have seen that!)
Again, I loved the relationship between the siblings. I did wish that things had been resolved a little sooner because it would have been entertaining to see Ewan pulled into the Devil/Whit/Grace banter. There was some light Devil/Whit/Ewan banter when they showed up at his house and had the conversation about making amends but I still kind of wanted more.
Grace was amazing. I loved that she knew how to kick ass and take names and yet she also cared for the Garden. I loved her clothing choices and how she worked the pops of color into things (not going to lie, I would have loved a pair of her boots. And maybe one or two of the corsets). I loved her relationship with Whit and Devil and the way that they could tease each other but still had their backs. Their past was sad and I do kind of wish they'd somehow been able to get the old Duke back but at the same time, I think Ewan's action were a great way to handle things.
And Ewan was just...yeah, boy was I wrong about him! I loved (is that the right word?) how he worked to make himself worthy of the Grace now. Rather than the Grace he'd been remembering for twenty years (granted, he'd thought she was dead for twenty years but still). I also liked how he started trying to make amends in the Rookery. Loved how he was with Alice and the way he started washing like he did it every day. And I will admit to wishing I could have seen the ballroom at his masque (granted there would be some interesting logistics involved but still would love to have seen that!)
Again, I loved the relationship between the siblings. I did wish that things had been resolved a little sooner because it would have been entertaining to see Ewan pulled into the Devil/Whit/Grace banter. There was some light Devil/Whit/Ewan banter when they showed up at his house and had the conversation about making amends but I still kind of wanted more.
The journey I’ve been on, from hating Ewan in the first two books to loving him now.