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booksthatburn's review against another edition
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
This was fun but weirdly forgettable. The story never stays tense for too long, and most of the stressful topics are handled as things that are at least partially processed or happened a while ago. Even Kitt's very tragic backstory isn't discussed fully until well into the book, and at a moment where it specifically matters to the story and isn't just tragedy for the sake of complexity.
I like that the book begins by establishing that Percy isn't going to be rich for very long, thus reducing the tension in the story. Even though Kitt doesn't learn this for a while, I was much happier knowing that the giant disparity between their stations wouldn't stay forever.
If you want a romance that has a bit of danger but usually keeps the stress low, try this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness
snowydaze's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Fantastic book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
What a delightful story! My first Cat Sebastian book but definitely not my last.
Kit is a grumpy-yet-softhearted retired highwayman, who is hired by spoilt aristocrat Percy to help him rob his own father. The heist set-up actually doesn’t take up much of the story — which I liked. It’s mostly about Kit and Percy coming to terms with their pasts and futures, and learning about each other, learning to like each other. And what I found particularly lovely is that each character retains their flaws at the end. Kit is still grumpy and suffering with chronic pain at the end; Percy is still a bratty snob. Often in romances the characters become less flawed when they find love, but in this they just love each other despite their flaws. Both of them are complex and vividly characterised on the page.
I love that this was set in the 1750s rather than the Regency/Victorian eras and how incredibly detailed the descriptions of Percy’s lavish clothes and makeup and wigs were; they really helped set the scene. The book itself is full of brilliant dialogue and sharp wit, interspersed with social commentary with strong ‘eat the rich’ vibes. The secondary characters were wonderful (well, except the Duke) and gave the story a proper ‘found family’ feel.
I wish some of the heist/blackmail plot had taken place a little earlier or been spaced out more because it felt a bit crammed in all together at the end. It does get a bit overly-complex and confusing. But I trust that the sequel (which I will definitely be reading) will elucidate a bit more on that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Alcoholism
valpuri's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Cursing, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexism, Cancer, Alcohol, and Ableism
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, Death, Sexual content, Gun violence, Blood, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Child death
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Colonisation, and Slavery
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I’m always here for anti-capitalist and anti-aristocracy sentiment in historical romance or anywhere else, and Cat Sebastian absolutely delivered on that front.
I liked both main characters, and I thought they had a good dynamic. I also really like the 18th century as a setting. I think it’s under-utilized in historical fiction, and this book fully took advantage of the time and place.
Also sidenote but yay lube!
Some of the plot twists felt simultaneously predictable and a bit clumsily executed, but I didn’t really mind.
The pacing was weirdly slow for a book with such an exciting plot, and I do wish that there had been literally any racial diversity, but overall I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the sequel when it comes out!
I liked both main characters, and I thought they had a good dynamic. I also really like the 18th century as a setting. I think it’s under-utilized in historical fiction, and this book fully took advantage of the time and place.
Also sidenote but yay lube!
Some of the plot twists felt simultaneously predictable and a bit clumsily executed, but I didn’t really mind.
The pacing was weirdly slow for a book with such an exciting plot, and I do wish that there had been literally any racial diversity, but overall I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the sequel when it comes out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Cancer, Child death, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
ashleycmms's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Cancer
quirkykayleetam's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
I wanted to read a fun, gay, period romance and this book fully delivered. It was lighthearted with characters I could root for, nicely steamy, and just perilous enough to be called an adventure.
I was happily surprised by the way the novel tackled chronic pain and disability. We watch Kit not only go through this, but learn how to adjust his life to it when it prevents him from doing his main business in life. The book also has complex discussions about the ethics of thievery, especially as it relates to violence and classism, letting each of its characters have their own take on the matter. This made the romance seem more dynamic and the side characters stand out more. While theft could be discussed, however, the novel drew a hard line at landowning aristocracy, describing the entire system as an inherent evil. If you do not want to face this subject in full, do not read this book. Likewise, it calls out laws against homosexuality. In this book, gay love is validated as a beautiful, life-affirming thing, no matter how many times the world may say otherwise.
The book's foibles lay mostly in its genre; towards the end the mystery of the plot begins to become predictable. The main character's lives and friend's are unrealistically connected. Did I want a bit more originality? Yes. Was I more invested in how Kit reacted to Percy in tight leather dueling pants? Also yes.
Points for period accuracy: Everyone has such common English names that they go by nicknames. There are literally two main characters named Elizabeth and I love it.
Points against period accuracy: BLACK PEOPLE EXISTED IN BRITAIN BEFORE THE 1950s. Betty may be described as "tawny," but that does not cut it. This is a harmful stereotype that I want stomped out of my period fiction as quickly and staunchly as possible.
I was happily surprised by the way the novel tackled chronic pain and disability. We watch Kit not only go through this, but learn how to adjust his life to it when it prevents him from doing his main business in life. The book also has complex discussions about the ethics of thievery, especially as it relates to violence and classism, letting each of its characters have their own take on the matter. This made the romance seem more dynamic and the side characters stand out more. While theft could be discussed, however, the novel drew a hard line at landowning aristocracy, describing the entire system as an inherent evil. If you do not want to face this subject in full, do not read this book. Likewise, it calls out laws against homosexuality. In this book, gay love is validated as a beautiful, life-affirming thing, no matter how many times the world may say otherwise.
The book's foibles lay mostly in its genre; towards the end the mystery of the plot begins to become predictable. The main character's lives and friend's are unrealistically connected. Did I want a bit more originality? Yes. Was I more invested in how Kit reacted to Percy in tight leather dueling pants? Also yes.
Points for period accuracy: Everyone has such common English names that they go by nicknames. There are literally two main characters named Elizabeth and I love it.
Points against period accuracy: BLACK PEOPLE EXISTED IN BRITAIN BEFORE THE 1950s. Betty may be described as "tawny," but that does not cut it. This is a harmful stereotype that I want stomped out of my period fiction as quickly and staunchly as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer
armontheroad's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was unable to get to this before the release date, however, that did not discourage my adoration for this novel! THE QUEER PRINCIPLES OF KIT WEBB is truly a masterpiece. This book had witty dialogue, a swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of characters you'll adore. I am very excited to read more of Cat Sebastian's works!
Dislikes: I do wish this had characters of color, as I am so tired of the "I can't add People Of Color in my historical fiction" discourse. We, POC, have been around since the beginning of time. There truly is no reason to exclude us from your pieces. ESPECIALLY fictional pieces! I also wish the robbery was a tad longer. We spent the entirety of the novel planning for this big event and it lasted two seconds.
Likes: This book is hilarious! The romance was perfectly executed. Watching Kit and Percy find their rhythm and grow to deeply love one another was utterly romantic. I was obsessed with the disability rep in this; Kit needs to use a cane to walk and seeing him slowly come to realize his disability is just a part of himself was so nice. Internalized ableism is very real and it's difficult to unlearn those biases.
Overall, 4.5!! I would recommend this to loads of people (queer people, romance readers, historical fiction lovers, etc).
TWs/CWs: Gun violence, death of a child (past tense), death of a parent/death of a parent to cancer (past tense), sexual content, alcohol consumption, ableism, etc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, Cancer, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Ableism
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