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A review by maplessence
The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
4.0
I think this particular Heyer improves on rereading.
My earlier reads found it confused & confusing. This time I remembered enough of the plot from previous reads to keep up with the fast pace & all the twists & turns. GH has a lot of balls in the air with this one - & she doesn't drop a single one.
I find GH's Georgians a lot more romantic than her Regencies - certainly in their language & declarations of love;
What can one do but swoon!
However, there is still her trademark humour;
But as much as I did enjoy this read, this book will never be a 5★ Heyer for me, as there is an important plot point I can't get past.
But an engaging romp & The Old Gentleman is one of Heyer's great characters. This is one of the Heyer's that is just begging to be filmed.
Just be careful reading the descriptions on GR. I've edited a couple of the worst, but quite a few give away plot points I would rather be surprised about if I was a first time reader!
My earlier reads found it confused & confusing. This time I remembered enough of the plot from previous reads to keep up with the fast pace & all the twists & turns. GH has a lot of balls in the air with this one - & she doesn't drop a single one.
I find GH's Georgians a lot more romantic than her Regencies - certainly in their language & declarations of love;
"I am to wait then! You deny me the right to protect you now?"
"You have me at your feet, sir," she said unsteadily,"but I do deny you. I must."
What can one do but swoon!
However, there is still her trademark humour;
Sir Anthony had risen at his entrance, and bowed now. "You stand in no danger from me, sir."
My lord surveyed him haughtily. "I stand in no danger from anyone, my dear Sir Anthony. You have no knowledge of me. You are to be pitied."
"Envied, more like," said his undutiful son.
But as much as I did enjoy this read, this book will never be a 5★ Heyer for me, as there is an important plot point I can't get past.
Spoiler
Call me a Female Chauvinist Sow, but I can't enjoy even a secondary male romantic lead in a dress & the scene where Robin is pacing in his skirts makes me want to giggle. I can swallow the idea of a male with a smooth enough chest to wear the low cut dresses of the mid eighteenth century, because my own son at 24 (Robin's probable age) has no chest hair. I find it harder to believe that a male voice & the arms of a physically active male could keep up such a sustained ruse.But an engaging romp & The Old Gentleman is one of Heyer's great characters. This is one of the Heyer's that is just begging to be filmed.
Spoiler
The Old Gentleman's big scene would be awesome on film!Just be careful reading the descriptions on GR. I've edited a couple of the worst, but quite a few give away plot points I would rather be surprised about if I was a first time reader!