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A review by sugarloaf
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
4.0
I wasn't in the mood for this book when I started reading it, but by page 50 I'd changed my tune. Of course it is a little eccentric and some of the sensibilities and language is on the modern side, but that's the kind of book this is.
I didn't entirely click with Augusta as the protagonist, who was just a tad too unlikely and stereotypical for me to suspend my disbelief, but I certainly enjoyed the many side characters in this book, particularly Lord Evan, and I liked the relationship between Julia and Augusta. It was a very good portrayal of two people who are quite different to each other, but their bond and willingness to fight for the other strengthens both of them.
The plot was good fun. I liked that Augusta and Julia were definitely amateurs and went into things with half formed plans or without having accounted for most scenarios; it was very realistic for their station and added to the hijinks and stakes. It also gets into the dark underbelly of regency England with domestic abuse, child sex trafficking and "madhouses" and the torture within them all examined. It did a good job balancing the horror and gravitas with the humour.
We are clearly set up for another book and I hope Goodman delivers. Also, side note, this is the same author that wrote Eon and Eona? I don't remember much of them except enjoying them a lot, but they're very different books to this. Goodman clearly has range.
I didn't entirely click with Augusta as the protagonist, who was just a tad too unlikely and stereotypical for me to suspend my disbelief, but I certainly enjoyed the many side characters in this book, particularly Lord Evan, and I liked the relationship between Julia and Augusta. It was a very good portrayal of two people who are quite different to each other, but their bond and willingness to fight for the other strengthens both of them.
The plot was good fun. I liked that Augusta and Julia were definitely amateurs and went into things with half formed plans or without having accounted for most scenarios; it was very realistic for their station and added to the hijinks and stakes. It also gets into the dark underbelly of regency England with domestic abuse, child sex trafficking and "madhouses" and the torture within them all examined. It did a good job balancing the horror and gravitas with the humour.
We are clearly set up for another book and I hope Goodman delivers. Also, side note, this is the same author that wrote Eon and Eona? I don't remember much of them except enjoying them a lot, but they're very different books to this. Goodman clearly has range.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Medical content, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cancer