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allisonwonderlandreads 's review for:
The Rebel and the Rake
by Emily Sullivan
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the first in this series, and the sequel found new ways to amp up the intrigue and excitement. Here, we don't have enemies by personality. However, Sylvia and Rafe have accidentally landed on different sides of a bit of light espionage. Rafe's been called in to use his skills as an agent of the Crown to uncover the thief who stole an envelope containing "highly sensitive" political documents from a powerful man in Scotland during his house party. Sylvia was blackmailed into taking the envelope lest her past as a radical women's rights agitator ruin her much-needed position as a lady's companion, and worse, tarnish the reputation of her friend, who will answer to a wrathful husband. As Rafe hunts a thief, Sylvia fears exposure, and an attraction grows between them somewhere in the space that isn't taken up by all their secrets.
This book offers the anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist atmosphere I demand from all books. I would like to send Sylvia to coach several more lukewarm feminist heroines until they also come out raging socialists with several cogent, accurate critiques of government, class systems, and gender roles. The way Sylvia challenges Rafe is top tier, and I like the way she sets clear expectations for what she wants in a partner.
Despite my firm support for the messaging of this book, I didn't find the romance as magical as its predecessor. For Rafe, it's love/attraction at first sight, a concept that baffles this ace reader whenever it comes up. For Sylvia, the attraction's there, if not the heart-eyes. While I anticipated a huge fallout from the revelation of their roles in the current drama and the deeper secrets of their pasts, it came earlier than I expected, ushering in a full-blown emotional disaster between them for the latter portion of the book. Much angst. I found I lost a lot of interest once that shift took place, which is just a matter of personal preference.
I highly recommend this series. While the tropes and pacing of this one weren't my exact cup of tea, I still appreciated what it had to say and eagerly await the next installment. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!
This book offers the anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist atmosphere I demand from all books. I would like to send Sylvia to coach several more lukewarm feminist heroines until they also come out raging socialists with several cogent, accurate critiques of government, class systems, and gender roles. The way Sylvia challenges Rafe is top tier, and I like the way she sets clear expectations for what she wants in a partner.
Despite my firm support for the messaging of this book, I didn't find the romance as magical as its predecessor. For Rafe, it's love/attraction at first sight, a concept that baffles this ace reader whenever it comes up. For Sylvia, the attraction's there, if not the heart-eyes. While I anticipated a huge fallout from the revelation of their roles in the current drama and the deeper secrets of their pasts, it came earlier than I expected, ushering in a full-blown emotional disaster between them for the latter portion of the book. Much angst. I found I lost a lot of interest once that shift took place, which is just a matter of personal preference.
I highly recommend this series. While the tropes and pacing of this one weren't my exact cup of tea, I still appreciated what it had to say and eagerly await the next installment. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!