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eastofreality 's review for:
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith
by Rebecca Ide
A murder mystery with a dash of classism, forbidden romance, generational trauma, a combative relationship between Nic and his father, a mother disassociating from reality, a forced marriage, a long-lost love, a second chance romance, an interesting magic system all set in a crumbling, gothic manner where the doors are locked and no one can leave.
This book had a great deal going for it. The plot, the betrayals, the secrets were all very nicely strung together into a complex tangle; the magic system isn’t explained, just there in the background but given just enough depth to hint at a greater complexity, and the vaguely Victorian society where rank, class, money and power keep the rich rich and the poor … not so rich. However, it also has a few areas that, I felt, were a bit lacking.
The world building, like the magic, is very soft. Instead the book relies on vibes and the reader’s familiarity — however small or great — with the idea of a queer normative world of English manors and manners and waistcoats and carriages to fill in the gaps. Personally, I think with a little more attention paid to the societal issues, one scene in particular at the end would have had a greater punch. As it is that moment when one of the reasons behind so many events is suddenly revealed, it was a little confusing and a bit anti-climactic, especially since it came on the heels of several other reveals, most of which were done with greater pageantry.
Nic, as a character, is fine for a “poor little rich boy” vibe, locked away in the country where he by turns ignores his father and dances attendance on his mother who is suffering from the emotional neglect and betrayal of her husband. However, he doesn’t exactly have that much character growth. He has some, don't get me wrong, but personally — and this is just my nitpick, not a comment on the book — I wanted either more emotion in the first half, or more in the second. He felt rather … whelming as a character, as if he didn’t really care about anything or anyone beyond getting back with and back at Dashiell, his first love who abandoned him.
Dashiell is a little unformed; he reacts to Nic as appropriately as any love interest would; hurt when Nic rebuffs him (this after Dashiell’s asshole moment where he fucks Nic, and calls it “closure” before walking away), angry when Nic insults him, protective when Nic is threatened, and amorous when Nic wants to sleep with him. If Dash had been stronger, and if Nic had shown a less passive personality, I think I might have given this book five stars. Instead, it’s a paltry four.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, and do recommend it. It’s just, as someone who reads more for characters than plot, I think this book could have done more to please me. (I’m sure the author will get right on that, haha.) Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC of this book!
This book had a great deal going for it. The plot, the betrayals, the secrets were all very nicely strung together into a complex tangle; the magic system isn’t explained, just there in the background but given just enough depth to hint at a greater complexity, and the vaguely Victorian society where rank, class, money and power keep the rich rich and the poor … not so rich. However, it also has a few areas that, I felt, were a bit lacking.
The world building, like the magic, is very soft. Instead the book relies on vibes and the reader’s familiarity — however small or great — with the idea of a queer normative world of English manors and manners and waistcoats and carriages to fill in the gaps. Personally, I think with a little more attention paid to the societal issues, one scene in particular at the end would have had a greater punch. As it is that moment when one of the reasons behind so many events is suddenly revealed, it was a little confusing and a bit anti-climactic, especially since it came on the heels of several other reveals, most of which were done with greater pageantry.
Nic, as a character, is fine for a “poor little rich boy” vibe, locked away in the country where he by turns ignores his father and dances attendance on his mother who is suffering from the emotional neglect and betrayal of her husband. However, he doesn’t exactly have that much character growth. He has some, don't get me wrong, but personally — and this is just my nitpick, not a comment on the book — I wanted either more emotion in the first half, or more in the second. He felt rather … whelming as a character, as if he didn’t really care about anything or anyone beyond getting back with and back at Dashiell, his first love who abandoned him.
Dashiell is a little unformed; he reacts to Nic as appropriately as any love interest would; hurt when Nic rebuffs him (this after Dashiell’s asshole moment where he fucks Nic, and calls it “closure” before walking away), angry when Nic insults him, protective when Nic is threatened, and amorous when Nic wants to sleep with him. If Dash had been stronger, and if Nic had shown a less passive personality, I think I might have given this book five stars. Instead, it’s a paltry four.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, and do recommend it. It’s just, as someone who reads more for characters than plot, I think this book could have done more to please me. (I’m sure the author will get right on that, haha.) Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC of this book!