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sarahsupastar's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
annakak's review against another edition
4.0
My only question after finishing this book is who the hell is that guy on the cover, because he's neither Fabio nor missing an arm.
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
5.0
All reviews in one place: NightMode Reading
A murderer continues to lurk in London’s toxic fog. Their goal is pretty clear to Mark, who is fully involved in the investigation of Clem’s brother’s death, marriages, and living heirs. The killer is surely after the next in line, and if Mark wasn’t motivated enough by what’s at stake already – Clem’s livelihood, for instance, then the deal was sealed by the heirs themselves. Twins. A male and a female in the most loose sense one can put genders into. Pen being the one murderer would want, with his beautiful long hair, well trained body of a trapeze artist, Mark’s dream, in other words.
Pen has absolutely no wish to be no damned heir. To be one would mean to be part of the gents society: cut your hair, wear a suit, contain yourself in a single shape and form forever now. Behave. His love for Mark is too strong to just toss it all away for a case of gold anyway. But then, if he does choose his freedom and Mark over the earldom, he will betray his sister. Sister, who wishes to stop being a trapeze artists, who wishes a calm and peaceful life, a home, a husband, on whom she already has an eye set.
The book was so very great. And while I’m aware someone gender fluid might not be defined by he/him pronouns, for most of the time Pen did refer to himself in such a manner, so I’ll just hope he wouldn’t mind if he read my review. For this was a fine end to a great series, with people getting what they deserved left and right! 5 out of 5, of course.
A murderer continues to lurk in London’s toxic fog. Their goal is pretty clear to Mark, who is fully involved in the investigation of Clem’s brother’s death, marriages, and living heirs. The killer is surely after the next in line, and if Mark wasn’t motivated enough by what’s at stake already – Clem’s livelihood, for instance, then the deal was sealed by the heirs themselves. Twins. A male and a female in the most loose sense one can put genders into. Pen being the one murderer would want, with his beautiful long hair, well trained body of a trapeze artist, Mark’s dream, in other words.
Pen has absolutely no wish to be no damned heir. To be one would mean to be part of the gents society: cut your hair, wear a suit, contain yourself in a single shape and form forever now. Behave. His love for Mark is too strong to just toss it all away for a case of gold anyway. But then, if he does choose his freedom and Mark over the earldom, he will betray his sister. Sister, who wishes to stop being a trapeze artists, who wishes a calm and peaceful life, a home, a husband, on whom she already has an eye set.
The book was so very great. And while I’m aware someone gender fluid might not be defined by he/him pronouns, for most of the time Pen did refer to himself in such a manner, so I’ll just hope he wouldn’t mind if he read my review. For this was a fine end to a great series, with people getting what they deserved left and right! 5 out of 5, of course.
annakak's review
4.0
My only question after finishing this book is who the hell is that guy on the cover, because he's neither Fabio nor missing an arm.
dutchtreat's review
5.0
I still love this series, each of these has been worth re-reading, which to me is the hallmark of a great book. For the “keeper” shelf!!
char_gadling's review
4.0
✨3.75 stars✨
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
I listened to this as an audio book and oh my gosh I was so so happy when I realised that Penn was genderfluid! The representation made my heart so happy.
tellingetienne's review
5.0
A stunning conclusion to an amazing trilogy. I can easily say this one of my favorite set of books by KJ Charles. An Unsuitable Heir was the historical gender queer romance of my dreams. The narrative wraps up the ongoing mystery in a way I didn't see coming, but that has nothing on how wonderful it was to see Pen as gender queer in a historical context. Charles, I believe, deftly handled the complicated feelings many gender queer people have about their identities (dysphoria, etc) without it being exploitative. As a genderqueer person myself, there were moments written about dysphoria and just existing as trans expressed in the novel ached they were so real. It pings back to Clem in the first novel, and how I identified so strongly with his learning disabilities. Charlies is a master at conveying difficulties of being as you are with a kind, compassionate tone.
Don't read this novel as a standalone, as it will be lacking in the context needed to really make it work.
Don't read this novel as a standalone, as it will be lacking in the context needed to really make it work.
teresab78's review
5.0
Something new
I had never read a book with a genderqueer protagonist before; it was markedly different than a transgender or cross dresser and I think KJ Charles did a marvellous job of bringing it across. I loved both main characters as well as all the intrigue. I was quite happy with how it all worked out in the end. Loved this series!!!
I had never read a book with a genderqueer protagonist before; it was markedly different than a transgender or cross dresser and I think KJ Charles did a marvellous job of bringing it across. I loved both main characters as well as all the intrigue. I was quite happy with how it all worked out in the end. Loved this series!!!
qalminator's review
4.0
Enjoyable conclusion, though a bit clunkier than its predecessors, imo. Partly I think this was because of the need to summarize what happened in the first two books at several points, and there was a LOT.
Still, it was very nice to see what felt like an honest depiction of a gender-fluid character, and the relationship was quite sweet. As for the conclusion, now that I've finished, parts of it feel inevitable, though I wouldn't have guessed how they might come about. I confess to having no clue who the murderer was before the big reveal.
Still, it was very nice to see what felt like an honest depiction of a gender-fluid character, and the relationship was quite sweet. As for the conclusion, now that I've finished, parts of it feel inevitable, though I wouldn't have guessed how they might come about. I confess to having no clue who the murderer was before the big reveal.