A review by amywong
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

fast-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.0

If I can give negative stars I would. I didn't even bother to review this when I read it but given the new show is a massive hit I need to rant. I'm disappointed in the double standard of women being assaulted or abused and men being assaulted or abused. You do not retaliate against lying or withholding information by raping them back. What's worse than mishandling rape in any form of media is not portraying the rapist as one. I'm sorry I do not enjoy rape let alone the dismissal/warped portrayal of it. Rape is rape, regardless of gender. The amount of defending that this was not rape is also astounding. He was raped. It doesn't matter if he CANNOT or WILL NOT have kids, he DOES NOT want kids. Period. She mounted him to force him to come in her, that is rape. It was also described that while he was drunk, he "pleaded" against what's happening. Say he couldn't understand what was happening fully that means he could NOT consent to ejaculate inside of her. So she had either no way of getting consent because he was drunk AND/or he "pleaded" to not do so. She basically violated him sexually and in fatherhood. 

Outside of all this, say the scene didn't exist, the story is still lackluster and pretentiously British. Simon's stutter didn't feel consistent enough. When he and Daphne were arguing he was absolutely feeling enough emotions to have his stutter come out strongly as Quinn described in the beginning that it would but it didn't. The way it's described in the beginning I would imagine it impeding in arguments much more. Other characters, already forgotten. I hate this book. 
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