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A review by turnerjoylynch
The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne by Elisa Braden
2.0
The premise of this book is flimsy, as other reviewers have aptly pointed out. The male MC is stuck on a poorly thought though plan for revenge, confused by his inability to fully carry it out because of emerging feelings for the heroine, blah blah. The characters are flat, mostly. What makes this book interesting is the stage it sets for the following books of the series — books with better premises and more ground for believable attractions and motivations, and to varying degrees, better characters.
The sex is exciting and passionate. It’s hard to believe that with absolutely no previous encouragement, experience, intoxication, or literally even a conversation that Victoria would have a passionate encounter on an open terrace with a man she’s never met before. There are some interesting conversations regarding the Viscount’s circumstances and loss and grief that sort of explain the flimsiness of his plan for revenge. It’s touching to see him move through the stages of grief. It’s all very readable, if a touch unbelievable. You get frustrated. I believe that’s the point.
What the author does well is establish the influence of the connecting character of the (9?) book series — Lady Wallingham, a diminutive woman of great social stature who only gets details of her past disclosed in the 9th book of the series. I very much enjoyed Lady Wallingham’s insistent correspondence or comments in the beginning of every chapter, especially as plot points are foreshadowed or explained across the series. At first they seem inconsequential except to establish her as society’s most interfering dowager; then you notice the tidbits relate to the network of relationships between characters, and you dismiss them less and less with every chapter. Soon, they become a welcome friend.
The sex is exciting and passionate. It’s hard to believe that with absolutely no previous encouragement, experience, intoxication, or literally even a conversation that Victoria would have a passionate encounter on an open terrace with a man she’s never met before. There are some interesting conversations regarding the Viscount’s circumstances and loss and grief that sort of explain the flimsiness of his plan for revenge. It’s touching to see him move through the stages of grief. It’s all very readable, if a touch unbelievable. You get frustrated. I believe that’s the point.
What the author does well is establish the influence of the connecting character of the (9?) book series — Lady Wallingham, a diminutive woman of great social stature who only gets details of her past disclosed in the 9th book of the series. I very much enjoyed Lady Wallingham’s insistent correspondence or comments in the beginning of every chapter, especially as plot points are foreshadowed or explained across the series. At first they seem inconsequential except to establish her as society’s most interfering dowager; then you notice the tidbits relate to the network of relationships between characters, and you dismiss them less and less with every chapter. Soon, they become a welcome friend.