I didn't like it as much as Band Sinister or the Charm of Magpie series, but it was a lovely romance nevertheless with 2 very like3,5 stars upped to 4
I didn't like it as much as Band Sinister or the Charm of Magpie series, but it was a lovely romance nevertheless with 2 very likeable and relatable MCs. ...more
A hilarious, lovely and touching LGBTQ "retelling" of Georgette Heyer's Venetia.
I did not much care about the original book (it is the one I like the A hilarious, lovely and touching LGBTQ "retelling" of Georgette Heyer's Venetia.
I did not much care about the original book (it is the one I like the least among GH's novels, though I will eventually give it another chance) and I enjoyed this rendition much better. The "sinister" bunch were all loveable (very much in the vein of Regency Oscar Wildes) and had a great sense of humour. While Guy was a bit so-and-so, Sir Philip was marvelous (thankfully not resembling Damerel at all, meaning that I did not find him repulsive at all) and Amanda was also a great character. The consequences of her becoming an author of Gothic novels made me laugh and laugh....more
I loved the idea of this book, but unfortunately not the actual one.
After a promising beginning and despite very strong secondary characters2,5 stars
I loved the idea of this book, but unfortunately not the actual one.
After a promising beginning and despite very strong secondary characters who easily stole the show from the main ones, I ended up being bored and could not wait to finish the story....more
Me and the young-adult genre have had an ambivalent and stormy relationship. And I totally acknowledge the "it's not you, it's me" factor.
[im4,5 stars
Me and the young-adult genre have had an ambivalent and stormy relationship. And I totally acknowledge the "it's not you, it's me" factor.
[image]
In the majority of cases I did not like the books I tried, but from time to time I found novels that started talking to me on so many levels and I ended up cherishing them.
The cover blurb prompted me to check out GR opinions for this book and after reading the great reviews by Jennifer and Sherwood Smith, I just went and purchased it on Audible and I loved it!
The MC Darcy was such a fantastic, flawed, but nice, strong and amazingly courageous person! I also loved Brougham and the diverse, supporting characters: Darcy's mum, her sister Ainsley, the members of the Q & Q Club.
The author managed to create a book with an interesting and challenging plot and some very valid moral questions about confidentiality, discretion, love, support and trust. She also successfully lead her characters through the complicated issues of how people can screw up despite the best of intentions, then face the music afterwards and grow in the process.
The romance was incredibly sweet in the best of sense and the friendships and the sisterly relationship were a joy (and sometimes sorrow) to read about....more
Great fun, loveable, flawed MCs with great chemistry, a fantastic set of secondary characters & solid writing with humour.
Excitement, magic, laugh ouGreat fun, loveable, flawed MCs with great chemistry, a fantastic set of secondary characters & solid writing with humour.
Excitement, magic, laugh out loud moments and romance just in the write mixture, none of them overwhelming.
The story is quite rickety with some really stupid & dumb moves on the part of Stephen, unnecessarily endangering people that could have been avoided, hence it's only 3 stars eventually....more
Still fun and the exciting little magical investigation story ads lots of spice to the romance.
Loved the cast of secondary characters, starti3,6 stars
Still fun and the exciting little magical investigation story ads lots of spice to the romance.
Loved the cast of secondary characters, starting with Lord Crane's valet/henchman Merrick and Esther, Stephen's partner in magical crime investigation.
M/M romance is not a genre I usually read, but a lot of my GR friends praised this book PLUS I could borrow it for free froThis has been so much FUN!!
M/M romance is not a genre I usually read, but a lot of my GR friends praised this book PLUS I could borrow it for free from Audible, so I thought: whyever not?
And I liked it. Thankfully it's not an angsty will-they/won't-they/why-don't they kind of stuff.
It was a lovely mash of Victorian steampunk-gothic-magical fantasy with an M/M romance which was no way overwhelming, but added definite spice to it all.
The writing is very good, full of humour, there is a solid and exciting background story of magic and intrigue and the main characters are utterly likeable.
The length was also just-so! Anything longer might have felt drawn out; this way it was compact without unnecessary details, but still enough for an interesting worldbuilding.
The narrator, Cornell Collins, is also great. I enjoyed his style and the different accents he gave to his characters.
I will definitely go on with this series.
PLUS, I just checked and currently this is free on kindle....more
Final Verdict: it was OK, but did not exactly blow my socks off.
The author did a thorough research on The Iliad and Greek Mythology,OK, so...
3 stars
Final Verdict: it was OK, but did not exactly blow my socks off.
The author did a thorough research on The Iliad and Greek Mythology, but very much takes the readers' knowledge of these for granted. She also managed to draw a good political and historical background to place the mythology in and it fits well.
She does not shy away to show you that the whole "let's revenge the abduction of Helen of Troy" was basically a bullshit excuse for the Greek tribes to expand their territories and increase their wealth by war, looting & what-not. Blame the blood-thirstiness of some men on a woman (BAH)!
Personally, I have my problems with how she (mis)interpreted/represented some (most?) of the characters, their motivation and actions, but as this is more romantic YA (fan)fiction than anything else, so it's her prerogative.
It was Achilles & Patroclus' story and characters that I found the most wanting. They were nicely whitewashed and disinfected (castrated?) to fit 21st century style and sensibilities & all that jazz, and it was why I felt unmoved by it all. They were incongrous and unreal.
Or maybe all the themes of Fate / Glory / Pride / Hybris / Honour / Fury / Divine Intervention / Heroism sounds much more appealing in dactylic hexameter than in prose.
I listened to the audiobook & my compliments to the narrator, Frazer Douglas. He did a great job and helped me through bits that I would have found boring otherwise....more
It was interesting enough to make me want to finish and was also for a challenge, but not my glass of cocktail altogether.
Still, kudo3 stars, I guess.
It was interesting enough to make me want to finish and was also for a challenge, but not my glass of cocktail altogether.
Still, kudos to Sierra Simone. She writes really well and managed to pull off a more or less convincing (yeah,yeah, OK) "retelling" of the alleged love triangle between Arthur, Guinevere & Lancelot, dressed up in some imaginary US political lingerie. So yes, it's frilly and transparent as hell, But never mind, she still did it well. Can't say that I care about any of the characters, though (maybe Lancelot-Embry is an exception). And we get a Merlin & Morgan figure as well into the bargain (though thankfully, not joining in the menage).
However, I don't think I'm invested enough to read the next 2 books....more
The 75,000 USD Question is: what happens when the First Son & a Royal Prince of the British Realm, between them & in front of flashing cameras manage The 75,000 USD Question is: what happens when the First Son & a Royal Prince of the British Realm, between them & in front of flashing cameras manage to destroy an effing expensive wedding cake (yep, the 75K-one) b/c of an altercation?
Well, everything is allowed in LOVE and WAR. OR? Maybe not.
“Sugar, I cannot express to you how much the press does not give a fuck about who started what,” Ellen says. “As your mother, I can appreciate that maybe this isn’t your fault, but as the president, all I want is to have the CIA fake your death and ride the dead-kid sympathy into a second term.”
“You,” she says, “are going to make nice with Henry. You’re leaving Saturday and spending Sunday in England.” Alex blinks. “Is it too late to take the faking-my-death option?”
4 WELL-DESERVED STARS for one of the most delightful, hilarious & clever romantic comedies I've read in ... well ...ages?
No matter how unrealistically wish-fulfillment the set-up is, there is something refreshingly believable and hopeful in the story as a whole and the set of characters were lovable, not just the main ones, but supporting cast as well.
And honestly, who wouldn't love a prince, especially after he confessed that his favourite British author is JANE AUSTEN. Right? Right.
The way Alex & Henry are developing feelings for each other is totally plausible, because there's nothing insta about it. It goes gradually from seeming animosity (hiding attraction, of course) to friendship / flirting / sex and then love. It also helps that the story is not only about this, but has the convincing backdrop of a re-election campaign for Alex's mother, the President of the US which gives space to growth of character, the excitement of some political intrigue and lots of laughter.
And the characters.... I loved Alex & Henry, of course, as well as their friends & family, but my shining star was Zahra, the long-suffering Head of HR for Madam President and how she terrorizes (=successfully manages) everyone around her including Alex. I enjoyed each & every one of their exchanges.
“This has been going on for seven months? That’s why you—Oh my God, I thought you were getting into international relations or something.” “I mean, technically—” “If you finish that sentence, I’m gonna spend tonight in jail.” And you”—she rounds on Henry—“you need to get back to fucking England now, and if anyone sees you leave, I will personally end you. Ask me if I’m afraid of the crown.”
PLUS, Zahra also gets her HEA, which I totally loved. I kind of hoped for this, without actually expecting that to happen, so I was very positively surprised by it.
OH & let's not forget about when Alex comes clean about his relationship with Henry to his mother:
"CALENDAR REQUEST FROM MOM: 2 P.M. WEST WING FIRST FLOOR, INTERNATIONAL ETHICS & SEXUAL IDENTITY DEBRIEF. An hour later, there are several cartons of Chinese food and a PowerPoint cued up. The first slide says: SEXUAL EXPERIMENTATION WITH FOREIGN MONARCHS: A GRAY AREA. "
PRICELESS.
SO, if you are in need of some light, funny, exciting, moving & romantic entertainment, I encourage you to choose this book.
(And this is only in brackets, but the minus 1 star is for the sex scenes. Boy, were they awkward & tiresome! They were the proverbial "neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring" It was this kind of, let's see, how should sex scenes be included that go on for pages and pages and pages, but at the same time not describing anything that may be construed by the readers as concrete sexual acts. All the time I kept wondering: Ummm, are they doing something/anything? They should have been avoided altogether and the story would have been none the worse for it.)...more
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