A review by laurjs
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I quite quickly reached a point with this book where I couldn’t read it as a romance. This relationship is so unhealthy. Daphne is awful, one of the most unlikeable female characters I have read. The way she treats Simon is mentally (and physically at one point) abusive.  I actually found this quite dark. Moral of the story: If they don’t do what you want them to, just keep grinding them down (literally) until they do. 

Daphne’s desperation to change Simon’s mind about marriage was the first big red flag. He said no. She wore him down until she got her own way. How romantic! Then things got really ugly. When her naivety (which I found silly and didn’t buy for a second) finally left the building and she figured out how babies are made, she tried to convince her husband of a whole fortnight that he wanted to have children despite him repeatedly making it very clear that he did not. He actually respected her enough to make this one of his reasons for not wanting to marry her in the first place but she wanted her man and that pretty ring (and title) anyway. Unsatisfied with his reasons for not wanting kids, she tried just about every trick in the book to manipulate the man she supposedly loves; ultimatums, tantrums, low blows, the good old silent treatment… She wanted a child so badly that she started to behave like one. Admirably, Simon stuck to his guns and then one evening when he was intoxicated, emotional and vulnerable Daphne spotted her opportunity and, shamelessly, took what she wanted. In what world is that okay? He had went to some effort not take that choice from her yet she couldn’t respect his decision. Actually, she couldn’t respect a single one of this poor guy’s decisions unless they suited her. Just imagine that the other way around. Understandably, Simon was disgusted by her and left her. It’s a real shame that he didn’t keep running. Poor Daff, full of self pity, went crying to her family and either imagined or feigned a pregnancy to coax him back to her. Cue an injury the second her beloved hubby returned (believing her to be with child) and a few more mind games thrown in for good measure. He even had to be coerced into telling her that he loved her. Ultimately, she gets what she wants (obviously) and they all lived happily ever after because, apparently, a happy wife really does make for a happy life.
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