A review by reka111
A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

one must never begin a game by conceding, play to win, my dear, always

The review contains spoilers!!!


Come and reach me and take my soul, because I am so kind-hearted with this book too, but I can't help myself.  Maybe it's the thought of the new year, maybe it's just because it was the last book of my year 2022, either way I really liked it.  Looking back, maybe the 4.75 rating would be more appropriate for it, but I don't want to change that in this lifetime, because I really liked it when I finished it.

I'm not selling a cat in a bag when I say that the 19th century is everything to me, because it really is, so there was no question that I would read this book as well, and I admit that I was pleasantly disappointed, because despite how slow the beginning was, by the end  the story really captivated me.

Regarding the location itself, I would like to say that it was very modern, but it still lacked a bit of the atmosphere of the 1800s, in some places I felt it was too modern.  Well, I don't want to spoil this wonderful review with such negative problems right at the beginning, so let's travel back to 19th century London.

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Basically, as always, we go through the characters. So let's start with everyone's favorite Kitty.

Kitty won my heart immediately, but also my soul by the end of the book.  I loved that she was so strong, very independent, persistent and purposeful.  It was seriously refreshing to read about a female character who is so purposeful (like Rin from the Poppy War, my unbreakable queen.) And regardless of how much, how much I love her, I also admire her for having the guts to marry anyone at one point to save her siblings, I fully understand her ambition and her motives, but at the same time I was terribly sorry that she was forced into such a situation.

Radcliffe (James, whose first name I really don't like for some reason - but it's probably just me - so I'll just refer to him by his last name) is the center of my heart.  My heart ached because he had to go through the horrors of war at such a young age, I would have liked to have read more about his past.  I loved it so much that he was so patient (despite the fact that sometimes his glass was full) with Kitty and that at first he was forced to help her, but then he helped her voluntarily.

I also really liked the other characters, but Cecily was really annoying by the end, I literally scratched the wall every time she spoke (and at first I liked her the way she was, but after she ran away I couldn't forgive her, although in the end, thanks to her, Kitty & James found each other, so maybe  I should be grateful).  Aunt Dorothy is the tip of my heart, she carried it all on her back for sure.

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The plot itself was obviously really predictable, I don't think it will surprise anyone, but it was all well presented and it didn't bother me. Basically, I definitely don't recommend it to anyone who doesn't enjoy historical fiction, but anyone who does should definitely read it and give it a chance.  I'll be honest, it's been a long, long time since I've read a book like this (it also takes place a century earlier) and it was a serious refresher, but really.  There were indeed parts, I won't lie, when they followed each other either too quickly or too badly, but in the end it was followable.  Although I still can't put the Archies rescue at the end where to put it, if you play your money like that, you have to learn something from it.