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katrindavidson 's review for:
The Duchess War
by Courtney Milan
“ Why would I take a conventional wife, when I could have an extraordinary one?”
As part of the "Romance Raiders" book group, in which I recently joined, this was the"oldie" book of the month. I also had an alternative motive and used it to finally read an author I have had on my want list for ages.
This book was simply superb. The writing, the plotting ( social classes etc), Milan's lyrical beautiful prose, characterisation and the romance were just perfect.The characters are the driving force in this novel, Milan's writing of Robert was simply marvellous. He was broken and so layered I just wanted to scream out loud about how accomplished his whole ( his fears, his broken childhood, his thoughts) were. Here was finally a male character that felt real.
" This was a man who wanted his wife to love him but who would not allow himself to hope for it"
"He had to laugh at what happened. If he didn't laugh, he would cry.She couldn't have understood it until just that moment- because, at that moment, she knew that she had to laugh, too, or burst into tears on his behalf"
This everything about the facets of this. This broken man just wanting to find love. I felt so keenly for him.
Minnie was everything in this novel, she was brave and strong, loyal and so layered as well.
" I was an unnatural child. That's what he said over ad over. I was an unnatural child...I was able to beat grown men at chess, some of the best in the world. I was quiet, always watching. It didn't help that everyone could see me at the trial, could see how strange I was. I had no idea how to move like a girl. my hair was short. Id spent the years of my childhood with dissolute men. I didn't know the first thing about proper behaviour"
I loved the way Minnie was handled. She was so powerful and I felt everything for her.
There were some sex scenes but the scenes I adored the mutual masturbation scenes. Done in separate chapters but real and so good. Thank you, Milan for doing this. I loved how unpractised ( almost a virgin) at sex Robert was.
Sebastien Lydia, Oliver and Violet were wonderful side characters and layered that I cannot wait to read their stories.
This was glorious and I can not wait to read the prequel and sequels.
5 stars
As part of the "Romance Raiders" book group, in which I recently joined, this was the"oldie" book of the month. I also had an alternative motive and used it to finally read an author I have had on my want list for ages.
This book was simply superb. The writing, the plotting ( social classes etc), Milan's lyrical beautiful prose, characterisation and the romance were just perfect.The characters are the driving force in this novel, Milan's writing of Robert was simply marvellous. He was broken and so layered I just wanted to scream out loud about how accomplished his whole ( his fears, his broken childhood, his thoughts) were. Here was finally a male character that felt real.
" This was a man who wanted his wife to love him but who would not allow himself to hope for it"
"He had to laugh at what happened. If he didn't laugh, he would cry.She couldn't have understood it until just that moment- because, at that moment, she knew that she had to laugh, too, or burst into tears on his behalf"
This everything about the facets of this. This broken man just wanting to find love. I felt so keenly for him.
Minnie was everything in this novel, she was brave and strong, loyal and so layered as well.
" I was an unnatural child. That's what he said over ad over. I was an unnatural child...I was able to beat grown men at chess, some of the best in the world. I was quiet, always watching. It didn't help that everyone could see me at the trial, could see how strange I was. I had no idea how to move like a girl. my hair was short. Id spent the years of my childhood with dissolute men. I didn't know the first thing about proper behaviour"
I loved the way Minnie was handled. She was so powerful and I felt everything for her.
There were some sex scenes but the scenes I adored the mutual masturbation scenes. Done in separate chapters but real and so good. Thank you, Milan for doing this. I loved how unpractised ( almost a virgin) at sex Robert was.
Sebastien Lydia, Oliver and Violet were wonderful side characters and layered that I cannot wait to read their stories.
This was glorious and I can not wait to read the prequel and sequels.
5 stars