ktbeth143 's review for:

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

5.0

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5 ⭐️ // I couldn’t put this down. I’m OBSESSED! 

 

The last thing Annabelle Archer, although headstrong, smarter than her peers, and passionate about women’s rights, wants is scandal. She’s been there, done that, and barely came out of it with her head held high. She has secured her place as one of the first women to be accepted at Oxford, and she’s determined to keep it. All she has to do is avoid scandal and help the growing suffragette movement recruit influential men for the cause—which she finds is easier said than done since many consider the Women’s Rights movement to be scandalous. And then there’s the Duke of Montgomery, one of the most influential men in parliament. Also someone marked by past scandal, he lives his life trying to avoid what society deems as improper. But he’s mesmerized by Annabelle’s green eyes and sharp wit. She’s drawn to his integrity and the way he listens to her like her opinions are of utmost importance even when he disagrees with them. Society deems the only way they can be together is scandal, but their growing feelings for each other keep bringing them back together like magnets. 

  

I couldn’t put this book down. It was incredibly engaging. From the Victorian setting, to the the complexity of all the characters, to the immediate chemistry between Annabelle and Sebastian—this story completely captivated me!

It’s the perfect example of both a romance with a strong female lead and a historically accurate tale. I love how the women’s movement isn’t just part of the setting, but something that deeply affects both of our main characters. As these two characters grow, we get to see logic and love motivate their change in perceptions both of the political issue and of each other.

It’s also a novel with top-tier side characters. Annabelle’s bluestocking friends and Perigan are great examples of entertaining support cast with depth, but I also loved the flatter characters who don’t play as big of a role like the staff at Claremont. 

Fans of Bridgerton will enjoy this just as much as fans of historical fiction novels that serve as a commentary to the story’s  place in history. This work satisfies both the reader who enjoys accurate historical fiction that tackles the complexity of the time period in which it’s set, as well as the reader who craves for romance to drive the plot.