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A review by obr
Grave Expectations by C.J. Archer
2.0
I'm getting really torn about this series. It takes two steps forwards, but then all the steps back. The "romance" is getting to me and leaving me increasingly frustrated and troubled. I'm still engrossed by the paranormal mystery side of things, but Lincoln... Ladies, if a guy treats you like this, get out of there.
(Mild spoilers ahoy for anyone not caught up on the romantic antics)
After Charlie's ultimatum at the end of book 3, I had higher hopes for how things would develop. She seemed to want to make a mature decision, forcing Lincoln to decide if he was happiest being either hot or cold, not this emotional switcheroo rubbish he's been pulling so far. And lo, he decided she was worth it. Hot all the way!
Except it couldn't last. Of course. Because he has ~issues~ and unintentionally lives for the ~drama~. I've seen other people upset by how needy Charlie is, but I sympathised with her even at the end. She's a teenage character head over heals crazy about the first man to show her even a modicum of kindness. Plus being, y'know, tall, dark and brooding. Her desperation was understandable (though her creepy "lie with me" demands? Not so much; totally unVictorian and contrary to everything she believes about Lincoln being a gentleman.)
Lincoln grows increasingly vile as the book goes on, and as in previous cases of hot-n-cold with him, there's no explanation offered at the time. By the end, I actually loathed his character for being such a flip-floppy >insert unmentionable words here<. He is a terrible love interest, and I wish that Charlie would break free from him. They surely can't get together because it'd be a train wreck. I felt it had gotten to the level where any happily ever after between the two of them would sound so false and unbelievable.
Romance-rant aside, I still really like the main necromancer-sleuthing thing going on. Charlie finds out about her mother and the magic she left behind, Seth and Gus play it both straight and as comic relief, Lady Harcourt is a caricature Queen B as ever (she could do with a few more dimensions - her backstory was pretty cool, I just wish she had more purpose that just to provoke catty thoughts in Charlie), we get a cameo from our favourite member of the recently deceased, and naturally there are murders and kidnappings aplenty.
If it weren't for the troubling "I can change him with my love!1!!" type of "romance", I would absolutely love this story and shout it from the rooftops. As far as I understand, this isn't meant to be some psychologically twisted "dark" gothic romance, so I'm finding it increasingly off-putting (and a minor bugbear being there's an increasing number of typos and odd references to period clothing that just don't quite add up). I'm still interested in the series because the writing is engaging and while "romance" features heavily it doesn't overwhelm the action side of things, but... I'm torn and troubled by it. It's not what I expected or hoped for.
(Mild spoilers ahoy for anyone not caught up on the romantic antics)
After Charlie's ultimatum at the end of book 3, I had higher hopes for how things would develop. She seemed to want to make a mature decision, forcing Lincoln to decide if he was happiest being either hot or cold, not this emotional switcheroo rubbish he's been pulling so far. And lo, he decided she was worth it. Hot all the way!
Except it couldn't last. Of course. Because he has ~issues~ and unintentionally lives for the ~drama~. I've seen other people upset by how needy Charlie is, but I sympathised with her even at the end. She's a teenage character head over heals crazy about the first man to show her even a modicum of kindness. Plus being, y'know, tall, dark and brooding. Her desperation was understandable (though her creepy "lie with me" demands? Not so much; totally unVictorian and contrary to everything she believes about Lincoln being a gentleman.)
Lincoln grows increasingly vile as the book goes on, and as in previous cases of hot-n-cold with him, there's no explanation offered at the time. By the end, I actually loathed his character for being such a flip-floppy >insert unmentionable words here<. He is a terrible love interest, and I wish that Charlie would break free from him. They surely can't get together because it'd be a train wreck. I felt it had gotten to the level where any happily ever after between the two of them would sound so false and unbelievable.
Romance-rant aside, I still really like the main necromancer-sleuthing thing going on. Charlie finds out about her mother and the magic she left behind, Seth and Gus play it both straight and as comic relief, Lady Harcourt is a caricature Queen B as ever (she could do with a few more dimensions - her backstory was pretty cool, I just wish she had more purpose that just to provoke catty thoughts in Charlie), we get a cameo from our favourite member of the recently deceased, and naturally there are murders and kidnappings aplenty.
If it weren't for the troubling "I can change him with my love!1!!" type of "romance", I would absolutely love this story and shout it from the rooftops. As far as I understand, this isn't meant to be some psychologically twisted "dark" gothic romance, so I'm finding it increasingly off-putting (and a minor bugbear being there's an increasing number of typos and odd references to period clothing that just don't quite add up). I'm still interested in the series because the writing is engaging and while "romance" features heavily it doesn't overwhelm the action side of things, but... I'm torn and troubled by it. It's not what I expected or hoped for.