A review by onegalonelife27
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

 
Life’s been down recently, so I decided to re-read a book to bring me up. And it’s hard to not enjoy Evie’s Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Ladies series. This first book in the series sets up the Victorian era with its highs of elegant balls and its lows of poverty. We are introduced to Annabelle Archer-a highly educated vicar’s daughter forced to work for her cousin as maid and nanny until she manages to convince him to let her go to Oxford as one of the first female students. What she doesn’t mention is she got a scholarship to go, so long as she supports the local suffrage chapter. And it’s during one event that she meets the Duke of Montgomery, Sebastian. Sebastian works hard to restore the family’s honor and claim his ancestral seat that his father lost. Queen Victoria herself promises to give him back the seat, if he is able to help her party win the upcoming elections. And her party does not like suffragettes trying to spread their cause around, especially inside their own homes. Yet when a political strategy sends Annabelle into Sebastian’s home, the sparks fly, and leads to sizzling, emotional romance. 

One aspect of this I liked is how Annabelle is a sadder, wiser girl. She’s loved and lost before and now is on a path of self-reliance and staying safe. She’s learned how to manage men but knows she can’t rely on them for too much. Sebastian is also heavily self-reliant, since he had to take over the dukedom at a young age. He could indulge in all the sins of fellow nobles and not have a care in the world for others, but he works hard to sustain his estates and those who rely on him. Both feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, but find comfort and a fellow companion in one another. 

I feel like this book also makes a statement about how wealthy and political activism are intertwined. The only reason that Annabelle gets involved and keeps being involved is because of the stipend that gets involved. The rest of the ladies involved in the suffrage cause are referred to as ladies or come from families like Annabelle’s friend Hattie who is a banker’s daughter. Annabelle runs herself ragged trying to keep up with the obligations of activism, school, and a deal with her cousin to send money to cover for her labor at his place-the jerk. Yet the rest of the ladies can just go about their days and attend meetings and protests without worry, well without too much worry. If Annabelle didn’t have to focus on survival and self-reliance, Sebastian’s offer wouldn’t be half as tempting. 

Overall, if you like a series that portrays interesting heroines, great relationship dynamics, and a realistic setting, I highly recommend A League of Extraordinary Ladies, starting with this one! Happy Reading! 
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