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informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Siren of Sussex was not as tempting as I hoped it would be. First, it should be said that while this is marketed as a romance, it is a closed-door romance. Second, it felt much more like historical fiction than historical romance. And third, listening to this as an audiobook was not the right move.
If you go into this book expecting a historical romance novel, this book probably won’t be for you. I knew going in it was closed door, yet I was still bummed by how lacking the romance felt. I wanted so much more from Evelyn and Ahmed’s “relationship.” While they spent a lot of time together, I didn’t see any chemistry between them. No sparks, no banter, no wistful gazing. Nothing. I need that to keep invested in a romance, especially when it’s closed door. I think this book did suffer from being closed door as it was hard to buy Ahmed and Evelyn were so madly in love that they were willing to get married at the end and screw society’s expectations. This made the characters feel much younger than they are – the romance would have felt more fitting in a YA romance than an adult romance.
However, that’s not to say it’s all bad. I did appreciate that the obstacles in their relationship were real obstacles. He’s half-Indian and a tailor; she’s a white, wealthy woman. Their being together was not something that would be easy or accepted by society. As a result, the romance was relatively low-angst as it was external pressures on them, so if you like that, you might enjoy this book more than me.
When it comes to the characters, I’ll have to be honest, Ahmed is the only one who left an impression on me. I’m reviewing this book a few months after reading it, and Evelyn just didn’t leave a mark. Her whole personality felt wrapped up in being a horsebreaker, and I didn’t get to know her beyond that. Meanwhile, with Ahmed, he felt like a more nuanced and richly complex character with a fully fleshed-out backstory. I liked how Matthews handled Ahmed’s complicated feelings about being biracial – he’s half-Indian and half-British and feels like an outsider amongst both people. In my opinion, he had more motivation and drive behind his actions than Evelyn.
If I had to sum up the plot, it would be that Evelyn needs eye-catching clothing worthy of a horsebreaker to attract a suitable suitor. She partners up with Ahmed as he has a skill for designing fetching gowns for women, plus her wearing his designs will help him generate business. It’s a relatively straightforward plot, and I found it a bit boring, to be honest. There were also a TON of random side plots that didn’t necessarily go anywhere of importance or contribute to the main plot, so the book did feel like it dragged at points.
Now, I won’t say this book is all bad. I loved all the historical information in it! Matthews has crafted a vibrant and detailed look at Victorian England. I loved learning about the Pretty Horsebreakers, as I had never heard about them before. You can tell Matthews has done a lot of research on the topic, and I think that pays off in helping you feel immersed in the time and setting. This is why this book is a great historical fiction story, but not a great historical romance. And while not everything about this book worked for me, I enjoyed Matthews’ writing style.
Finally, as I listened to this as an audiobook, I have to talk about the choices made with the narration. I am still BAFFLED why this book needed two narrators. Yes, I know the book does technically have two points of view, but the execution could have been better. It was so, so, so jarring when the narrator would switch in the middle of a scene. I get it may have been written with breaks in the books to indicate a POV switch, but every time it happened with the narration, it threw me for a loop and took me out of the scene, sometimes at pivotal emotional moments. As for the narrators, I did think their performance was quite good, though I enjoyed Lydia Hanman’s narration a bit more than Vidish Athavale’s (his female voices weren’t great). If I could read this book again, I would pick it up in print over audio.
There isn’t anything egregiously wrong with this book, but all the little things made it hard for it to capture my attention the way I hoped. I do think there are readers, particularly those who don’t like a lot of spice, who will enjoy this as a romance. But I like my historical romances to have a bit more chemistry between the leads, especially if it’s closed-door. I’m on the fence if I’ll pick up the next book in the series – I liked the couple it was hinting at for the next book, but I’m not sure I’m invested enough in the series to spend the time reading it. I guess time will tell if I continue on or not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Colonisation
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Abandonment
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Suicide
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Followed the thing I did as a kid where I picked up a book entirely for the horse on the cover, but I despite a lackluster start and the lack of steam, I liked this! It's clearly setting up an entire series, so there's quite a bit going on, but I liked the central relationship a lot, especially Evie's determination to create a life for herself and Ahmad. I feel a bit weird about a white woman writing from the perspective of a half Indian person, but I can't speak to how well or badly it's handled. I wish that there had been less focus on side plots so that we could dedicate a little more time to Evie and Ahmad's physical relationship, but this is a good entry into historicals if that's what you're looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Classism
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
hopeful
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:
No
This was a very pleasant surprise. Never in my life did I think I'd enjoy a romance story about horses (well, amongst other things), but here we are!
The scope was rather ambitious; addressing race, colonization, women's rights, and spiritualism all in one text is probably never easy, but to do so within the constraints of a Victorian romance novel—and to do it well!—feels like quite an impressive accomplishment. (As is keeping the reader engaged during what might otherwise be tedious discussions and details of equine breeding and dressmaking, but the author delivered on those counts, too.)
My favorite part about this was how well-seated it was within the actual historical context of 1860s London. Some other reviews said it seemed like it tackled too much or too many subjects, but as a former student (and participant!) of history, this is exactly how history works—there ARE a lot of moving parts, many diverse social and economic elements converging at once to create tension that ultimately catalyzes change in society. I admit that there were times while reading that I thought, "Why are we spending time on this (seemingly tangential) plot point?" but ultimately, the author wove them together with precision and purpose that any previously held doubts were thoroughly debunked by the conclusion.
My only complaint might have to do with some of the side characters—though it's more of a complaint of the genre than of this work specifically—as some of those who were less-developed will likely be given their own novels later in the series. The bit about Julia and her anxiety, for example, felt out of place or an after-thought added in later to set-up her story. (I understand why that has to be done, but it was one of the only times I was really pulled out of the world. With that said, I will be reading on in the series!)
This story might not be for those readers who want spice (the book is definitely G/PG, but with no small dose of yearning and tension), but it is for those among us who want to learn about the time period and, for a couple hundred pages, journey with the characters through their lived experiences. To tackle race, especially, realistically and without being heavy-handed or unconvincingly imposing a 21st century mindset onto 19th century people is a difficult task and Mimi really nailed it.
The scope was rather ambitious; addressing race, colonization, women's rights, and spiritualism all in one text is probably never easy, but to do so within the constraints of a Victorian romance novel—and to do it well!—feels like quite an impressive accomplishment. (As is keeping the reader engaged during what might otherwise be tedious discussions and details of equine breeding and dressmaking, but the author delivered on those counts, too.)
My favorite part about this was how well-seated it was within the actual historical context of 1860s London. Some other reviews said it seemed like it tackled too much or too many subjects, but as a former student (and participant!) of history, this is exactly how history works—there ARE a lot of moving parts, many diverse social and economic elements converging at once to create tension that ultimately catalyzes change in society. I admit that there were times while reading that I thought, "Why are we spending time on this (seemingly tangential) plot point?" but ultimately, the author wove them together with precision and purpose that any previously held doubts were thoroughly debunked by the conclusion.
My only complaint might have to do with some of the side characters—though it's more of a complaint of the genre than of this work specifically—as some of those who were less-developed will likely be given their own novels later in the series. The bit about Julia and her anxiety, for example, felt out of place or an after-thought added in later to set-up her story. (I understand why that has to be done, but it was one of the only times I was really pulled out of the world. With that said, I will be reading on in the series!)
This story might not be for those readers who want spice (the book is definitely G/PG, but with no small dose of yearning and tension), but it is for those among us who want to learn about the time period and, for a couple hundred pages, journey with the characters through their lived experiences. To tackle race, especially, realistically and without being heavy-handed or unconvincingly imposing a 21st century mindset onto 19th century people is a difficult task and Mimi really nailed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Death of parent
hopeful
slow-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:
No
This historical romance is one of those majestic finds that puts the "historical" part first. While you won't find me casting stones at lovely fluff, I'm so impressed at works in the genre that dig into the meat of the time period and lead readers on a journey that feels more tangible and has the gravitas of real life.
The story takes us to 1860s London, where sensible Evelyn is conducting her one and only season for the future benefit of her younger sisters. Orphaned, haunted by a scandal brought on by her older sister, and staying with an absent uncle more interested in antiquities and spiritualism than society, Evelyn has only herself to rely on. She's an athletic equestrienne with a great appreciation for fashion, and she sets out to use her strengths to get ahead on the marriage mart rather than relying on tried and true methods that don't suit her skillset. She sets out to hire a tailor to make her a riding habit that will be the talk of the town. Ahmad Malik is the best at what he does, but he's itching to follow his passion as a dressmaker rather than working as a men's tailor. A partnership forms between them that will benefit Evelyn's husband hunt and Ahmad's need to have his designs seen and coveted by society. An inconvenient attraction brews between them that could derail both of their plans.
The historical detail covers a broad range of topics from the obvious fashion and tailoring to horsemanship and social expectations. There are also unexpected layers including the spiritualism fad sweeping through the aristocracy. As is typical for me, it's the social commentary I appreciated most. Ahmad's identity as both Indian and English is an important component of the story, which the author notes is informed by her own experiences. This necessitates conversations between the characters about the intersections between colonialism, race, and class. The approach is nuanced and shown on the page with both feeling and careful thought.
In terms of romance, I would categorize it as low-level tension in terms of pining, steam (closed door), and drama. Evelyn is a very determined character, equipping herself with multistep plans and consulting her conscience more than social expectation. Ahmad has very reasonable reservations about pursuing a relationship given the social barriers, but he is largely upfront with Evelyn about his concerns rather than hiding away in toxic masculinity to avoid his feelings. I appreciate that upper class courting habits are in no way romanticized here. The genre often falls into an interesting tension whereby these practices are largely portrayed as mercenary while still managing to tell all manner of stories that rely on them for a happily ever after. This one discards the whole experience of a season as stressful and unromantic as Evelyn and her friends fend off all manner of sexist aristocratic men, and Evelyn ultimately finds love not only outside the expected system but actually in defiance of those constraints and rules.
I admire everything this book sets out to accomplish. The lack of motion and excitement in the romance kept me from being fully enamored with the love story itself, but I enjoyed the historical-heavy components very much. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review!
The story takes us to 1860s London, where sensible Evelyn is conducting her one and only season for the future benefit of her younger sisters. Orphaned, haunted by a scandal brought on by her older sister, and staying with an absent uncle more interested in antiquities and spiritualism than society, Evelyn has only herself to rely on. She's an athletic equestrienne with a great appreciation for fashion, and she sets out to use her strengths to get ahead on the marriage mart rather than relying on tried and true methods that don't suit her skillset. She sets out to hire a tailor to make her a riding habit that will be the talk of the town. Ahmad Malik is the best at what he does, but he's itching to follow his passion as a dressmaker rather than working as a men's tailor. A partnership forms between them that will benefit Evelyn's husband hunt and Ahmad's need to have his designs seen and coveted by society. An inconvenient attraction brews between them that could derail both of their plans.
The historical detail covers a broad range of topics from the obvious fashion and tailoring to horsemanship and social expectations. There are also unexpected layers including the spiritualism fad sweeping through the aristocracy. As is typical for me, it's the social commentary I appreciated most. Ahmad's identity as both Indian and English is an important component of the story, which the author notes is informed by her own experiences. This necessitates conversations between the characters about the intersections between colonialism, race, and class. The approach is nuanced and shown on the page with both feeling and careful thought.
In terms of romance, I would categorize it as low-level tension in terms of pining, steam (closed door), and drama. Evelyn is a very determined character, equipping herself with multistep plans and consulting her conscience more than social expectation. Ahmad has very reasonable reservations about pursuing a relationship given the social barriers, but he is largely upfront with Evelyn about his concerns rather than hiding away in toxic masculinity to avoid his feelings. I appreciate that upper class courting habits are in no way romanticized here. The genre often falls into an interesting tension whereby these practices are largely portrayed as mercenary while still managing to tell all manner of stories that rely on them for a happily ever after. This one discards the whole experience of a season as stressful and unromantic as Evelyn and her friends fend off all manner of sexist aristocratic men, and Evelyn ultimately finds love not only outside the expected system but actually in defiance of those constraints and rules.
I admire everything this book sets out to accomplish. The lack of motion and excitement in the romance kept me from being fully enamored with the love story itself, but I enjoyed the historical-heavy components very much. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Although I asked myself why I was reading about the romance between an equestrian and a dressmaker, I really enjoyed this book. So many important topics were picked up, and beautifully dissected. Evelyn herself even saying “it is who has the ignorance, that has the task of curing it” (paraphrased).
Mental health was also a brief topic, but so well executed. I truly cared about the characters, even while wondering why I was reading the book, and I so much appreciate the research put into historical novels particularly. I would actually recommend this book, which is a big deal.
Mental health was also a brief topic, but so well executed. I truly cared about the characters, even while wondering why I was reading the book, and I so much appreciate the research put into historical novels particularly. I would actually recommend this book, which is a big deal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs