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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Wow. I was curious how MacLean would redeem the hero, who had been framed as the villain in the last two books, and heck did she deliver.
This trilogy has been just what I needed this year, and I've enjoyed every step of the journey. I loved this as a conclusion and I definitely felt like Ewan got the redemption that they all deserved.
The Bareknuckle Bastards was my first time reading Sarah MacLean, but it won't be my last.
The Bareknuckle Bastards was my first time reading Sarah MacLean, but it won't be my last.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had to sit on this review until the book hangover passed enough for me to make sense.
Not sure if enough time will ever pass. This series has simply become an instant classic and favourite and I might re-read them forever.
Sarah MacLean does something very difficult here with a control of the craft that is some next level flex.
She has built a villain for 2 books only to destroy him and pull him apart in the third, but not only using the well know device of showing the other point of view, but by him actually working towards listening, changing and for once doing what it's being asked of him.
It's a very difficult thing to pull off, because if we don't believe he's earn forgiveness we won't find the ending satisfying and a satisfying ending is a cardinal rule of romance.
Instead MacLean pulls all the stops and subverses most of the cliches of the genre, by also not making the book about Ewan, or his journey, but undeniably about Grace, what she wants, what she needs, what she deserves. And finally, when that proves to be Ewan, as a reader you are so on board.
Somebody said that we believe that Moriarty is genius because Sherlock tells us so, and through the eyes of Ewan the only thing left to do is to fall madly in love with the goddess that is Grace. Which I did, wholeheartedly. Grace is the force behind the entire series, the power in the shadows, the Queen of Covent Garden, a magnificent character so nuanced, so complex, strength and sweetness all carefully woven together. Of course Ewan loves her, who could avoid it?
So instead of wallowing in him not deserving her (a trope I find truly exhausting) he goes away and becomes somebody who does. And then lays himself at her feet. What else could you possibly want out of a romance book?
As a cherry on top, in case we needed even more, this finalises and arc in which all 4 Bareknuckle Bastards find love and reunite family. Their reunion can only come at the very end, when both Devil and Whit have had their own reckonings with what they would do for love.
Now, I want a Christmas novella special about all 4 of them and their partners and their kids because I NEED IT.
Not sure if enough time will ever pass. This series has simply become an instant classic and favourite and I might re-read them forever.
Sarah MacLean does something very difficult here with a control of the craft that is some next level flex.
She has built a villain for 2 books only to destroy him and pull him apart in the third, but not only using the well know device of showing the other point of view, but by him actually working towards listening, changing and for once doing what it's being asked of him.
It's a very difficult thing to pull off, because if we don't believe he's earn forgiveness we won't find the ending satisfying and a satisfying ending is a cardinal rule of romance.
Instead MacLean pulls all the stops and subverses most of the cliches of the genre, by also not making the book about Ewan, or his journey, but undeniably about Grace, what she wants, what she needs, what she deserves. And finally, when that proves to be Ewan, as a reader you are so on board.
Somebody said that we believe that Moriarty is genius because Sherlock tells us so, and through the eyes of Ewan the only thing left to do is to fall madly in love with the goddess that is Grace. Which I did, wholeheartedly. Grace is the force behind the entire series, the power in the shadows, the Queen of Covent Garden, a magnificent character so nuanced, so complex, strength and sweetness all carefully woven together. Of course Ewan loves her, who could avoid it?
So instead of wallowing in him not deserving her (a trope I find truly exhausting) he goes away and becomes somebody who does. And then lays himself at her feet. What else could you possibly want out of a romance book?
As a cherry on top, in case we needed even more, this finalises and arc in which all 4 Bareknuckle Bastards find love and reunite family. Their reunion can only come at the very end, when both Devil and Whit have had their own reckonings with what they would do for love.
Now, I want a Christmas novella special about all 4 of them and their partners and their kids because I NEED IT.
And thus concludes The Bareknuckle Bastards series!
Even though I've 3-starred every single one of them, I keep coming back to MacLean's books. There's always something intriguing about her characters. Strong, kickass female leads, paired with swoony and complex heroes, are what I've come to expect from this author. She does a lovely job with her character work, and I appreciate the progressive nature of her historicals.
Time and time again, however, the pacing seems to be the downfall of her stories. There were so many scenes that felt overly long, and for no real reason. Most of the subplots felt like filler versus something crucial to the main romance.
Idk, I think this would've been better if the story was centered mainly on the club Grace ran instead of all the other miscellaneous Covent Garden happenings.
Overall, this was fine. Sure, it had some boring moments, but the story did pick up eventually. It is also worth mentioning that we had some really fun steamy scenes thrown in. Those were well-written, as per usual with this author.
This book might not have been my favorite historical romance, but it passed the time well enough.
Even though I've 3-starred every single one of them, I keep coming back to MacLean's books. There's always something intriguing about her characters. Strong, kickass female leads, paired with swoony and complex heroes, are what I've come to expect from this author. She does a lovely job with her character work, and I appreciate the progressive nature of her historicals.
Time and time again, however, the pacing seems to be the downfall of her stories. There were so many scenes that felt overly long, and for no real reason. Most of the subplots felt like filler versus something crucial to the main romance.
Idk, I think this would've been better if the story was centered mainly on the club Grace ran instead of all the other miscellaneous Covent Garden happenings.
Overall, this was fine. Sure, it had some boring moments, but the story did pick up eventually. It is also worth mentioning that we had some really fun steamy scenes thrown in. Those were well-written, as per usual with this author.
This book might not have been my favorite historical romance, but it passed the time well enough.
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The third and final book of the Bareknuckle Bastards is finally here and does not disappoint. It's full of angst, sensuality, tension, action, revelations and of course an awesome HEA. This book was different of the first two of the series, more serious. Ewan and Grace had a past, a tragic one. There aren't many funny scenes, but we have more sensual ones. The big scene towards the end (not this one, the other one) is so amazing and we see just how much (if we had any reservations left after all) Ewan loves Grace.. The Duke of Marwick must be rolling in his grave. I'm looking forward for Hell's Bells next year.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Grudgingly giving this three stars. This didn’t work for me. There was way too much dwelling in the past and other than pining for each other I didn’t think they had anything in common as adults.
I’ve read the other two books in the series and I had trouble remembering enough for this book to make much narrative sense, so I don’t think it could stand alone.
Grace was dope as hell and I wish she hadn’t gotten saddled with a dude with that much baggage. They were pretty hot together at least. Sarah MacLean knows how to write a sex scene. “You are a queen and I am your throne.” Hot af.
I’ve read the other two books in the series and I had trouble remembering enough for this book to make much narrative sense, so I don’t think it could stand alone.
Grace was dope as hell and I wish she hadn’t gotten saddled with a dude with that much baggage. They were pretty hot together at least. Sarah MacLean knows how to write a sex scene. “You are a queen and I am your throne.” Hot af.