Wow! I realize I'm late on the bandwagon and that people have been saying for more than a year that this book is fresh and different, but I only just...moreWow! I realize I'm late on the bandwagon and that people have been saying for more than a year that this book is fresh and different, but I only just got around to reading it. I loved this book. I love how different it is from the standard Regency. There are no balls in this book, no talk of the Season. There's no drawn-out courtship or blushing virgin or Big Misunderstanding.
Instead, we have a cold, stoic woman, Martha, who I found really unlikable at first, and she's enlisted the help of Theo, who I absolutely adored. I think we, the readers, fall for Martha as Theo does, as she thaws and changes her perceptions. So, too, does Theo grow over the course of the novel, and eventually, it feels like Martha and Theo meet in the middle and are better people for it. This coupled with the bad sex for most of the book, a daring choice on Grant's part but one that is especially effective in showing how these characters relate to each other and how their relationship changes over time.
The book should not have worked and yet totally does, to the point where it's wrenching when Martha and Theo are briefly separated at the end of the novel because by then the reader is so convinced that they should be together despite everything that it almost doesn't make logical sense for them to be apart.
This book is lovely. Kushner has such a lyrical style, but what I really loved was how the details unfold slowly as the plot moves along; it's not a t...moreThis book is lovely. Kushner has such a lyrical style, but what I really loved was how the details unfold slowly as the plot moves along; it's not a traditional storytelling structure and I found it really pulled me into the story because I had to know how everything fit together. It's a subtle book, too, full of intrigue and complex relationships. The only thing I thought was heavy-handed in spots was Alec—I had him pegged early in the book, so when his real identity was revealed, I think I was supposed to be surprised but I wasn't; this lessened the impact of the twist at the end, because I saw the story's resolution coming. Michael Godwin also seems like a dropped thread (more of a pawn in the machinations of the characters than a fully realized character himself, so in retrospect it is odd to me that he is such a strong character in the first half of the book). But overall, these are not the characters you typically find in fiction, and I particularly enjoyed Richard. I didn't always understand what drew him to Alec, but I totally bought their relationship by the end of the novel.
Anyway, I loved it. Highly recommended.
Note: I listened to the audiobook, the Neil Gaiman Presents version which I think is just the original recording with Ellen Kushner narrating and a cast of actors doing some of the voices. If you're an audiobook fan at all, it's a very entertaining listen, with lots of sound effects and music and flourishes and some quite good acting.(less)
Funny story: I saw Cara Elliot read a few weeks ago without having any familiarity with her books. I liked her reading so much that I decided to buy t...moreFunny story: I saw Cara Elliot read a few weeks ago without having any familiarity with her books. I liked her reading so much that I decided to buy this one. The book is definitely entertaining. There are some great scenes in which the banter between Eliza and Gryff is witty and very well done. It's got one of my favorite historical romance pairings: the bluestocking (sort of, in this case) and the rake, although Gryff's reputation doesn't seem to match up with the man so much. Overall, I enjoyed the book despite some minor flaws (the characters both talk to themselves a lot; there's not enough tension created by the external conflict for the stakes to ever feel very high).(less)
Great book. It's not really a romance. There's certainly a romantic plot and the relationship between Thomas-Edward and Matthew is definitely a key el...moreGreat book. It's not really a romance. There's certainly a romantic plot and the relationship between Thomas-Edward and Matthew is definitely a key element, but for me, this book is about Dondi. He's the character the whole book is structured around. That's not a problem for me at all; the book is great and the writing is really lovely. I thought about the characters for a while after I put the book down, which is the mark of an excellent read as far as I'm concerned. (Also, I seriously wept at the end. This book has some really emotionally intense moments.)(less)
The novel gets off to a slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it, because it definitely picks up. Ms. Allen does an excellent job drawing late 19...moreThe novel gets off to a slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it, because it definitely picks up. Ms. Allen does an excellent job drawing late 19th Century New York, with a lot of detail that makes the setting really vivid, and that is, I think, the book's strength. (less)
This was a really lovely book. It deals a lot with the fallout from WWI, events that you often see juxtaposed against the excess of the roaring twenti...moreThis was a really lovely book. It deals a lot with the fallout from WWI, events that you often see juxtaposed against the excess of the roaring twenties, but this is a much quieter novel, about a masseuse who takes a gardening job at the home of a wealthy man whose body was destroyed by the war. There are gothic romance elements here, which I thought was especially interesting; for the first half of the novel, John plays the role of the mysterious, brooding owner of the great estate on the Hudson. That is contrasted against the time period, with lots of period-specific New York City detail as well. I'm normally reluctant to read novels that take place during historical periods I know a great deal about, but the historical detail in this book is very well done, clearly researched. The book is told entirely from Michael's third-person POV, which I liked because it showed us first how Michael worked to heal John, and then how he had to turn around and heal himself. The second half of the book is pretty angsty, but not excessively so, and I really enjoyed that element of the story anyway.
Also, the cover is an odd one for a romance novel, but I really like it, I think it's evocative and also shows the importance of Michael's hands to the story. (less)
Everyone in this novel is broken, and the journey toward healing is a compelling one. Which sounds like a dry assessment, but I really loved this book...moreEveryone in this novel is broken, and the journey toward healing is a compelling one. Which sounds like a dry assessment, but I really loved this book. I loved Wes and Michael and their pain felt real to me. I like that these heroes were not so traditional: a socially ostracized stammerer and a whore. I like that the narrative doesn't make moral judgments on anyone except the villain. I loved Penny and wished there'd been more of her in the book. I wished there'd been more book, because I wasn't ready to say good-bye to the characters when it ended. Very highly recommended. (less)
I was in the mood for a good historical, and this one really delivered. In some ways, it's a traditional Regency, with a rakish hero and the associate...moreI was in the mood for a good historical, and this one really delivered. In some ways, it's a traditional Regency, with a rakish hero and the associated angst involving fancy parties and rich peerage problems. There's even a clever woman. Our hero Tristan has pissed off his father one time too many and the consequence is that his father forces him to marry a spinster named Charlotte, who turns out to be quite delightful. Tristan isn't actually a particularly good rake; he never deflowers the innocent, most of his paramours are bored married ladies, he's responsible about birth control, and he always sees to the woman's pleasure first. He seems to have sex out of some kind of social obligation and not because of any especially strong desire. (Or, he's garnered a reputation for himself mostly to piss off his stern, disapproving father.) He makes it clear to his new wife that he doesn't intend to change his ways. His wife is cool with that, because she doesn't especially enjoy sex.
I'd feel bad with her if she weren't such a saint. She gives a speech to her brother Charlie later on in the novel in which she suggests that her husband might be into "your kind of love," because Tristan is clearly someone who needs to love and be loved. Charlotte is not especially interested in love and is perfectly happy staying home with her needlepoint while her husband boinks her brother. See? Saint. (Although, it's kind of refreshing for there to be a woman who is genuinely likable, as well as wise-cracking and funny, rather than a harpy, in an m/m novel. Still, she's perfectly okay with everything that happens between her husband and her brother and never bats an eyelash, which I found... unlikely?)
Because the novel's twist, of course, is that Charlie comes back from fighting against Napoleon in France, and he's a dashing war hero. His twin sister Charlotte knows perfectly well that he prefers the company of men in that way, and she doesn't have a problem with it. The first moment Charlie and Tristan set eyes on each other, it's over for both of them.
That's about when the book stops being a traditional Regency, and not just because there are two heroes. Charlie intends to remain a bachelor and go to medical school. And Tristan, by the time he meets Charlie, is despondent and suicidal, mostly because he feels useless and like he has no appreciable skills; he relies on alcohol to sleep every night. Charlie essentially rescues him and encourages Tristan to study medicine as well, which is how Tristan finds his calling as a surgeon. But not all is well, as Charlie gets called back to the front, and a good deal of the second half of the book deals with our heroes mired in the Battle of Waterloo. (The attention to historical detail—which I'm assuming is accurate, because my knowledge of the era is lacking—is wonderful here, with a lot of gruesome battlefield moments that, to me, elevate the book above being a mere polite comedy of errors, as most Regencies are, and turn it into a nice, angsty drama, which worked really well for me.
The foreshadowing before the second half of the book is a little heavy handed. That and Charlotte's saintliness prevent it from being a perfect novel. It's also long, and therefore was impossible to read in one sitting (which did not stop me from trying; I basically lost a whole day to this book). Still, it was a really fantastic read. Recommended to Regency fans. (less)
I wish I could remember who recommended this book to me, because I want to thank them! This was a new-to-me author, and the premise had me hooked righ...moreI wish I could remember who recommended this book to me, because I want to thank them! This was a new-to-me author, and the premise had me hooked right away—Ms. Winters had me at "violin" basically, but I'm also enchanted by the idea of reincarnated lovers, and the book had just enough angst to satisfy me. Well-drawn characters that you root for, some excellent writing, and a premise I hadn't really seen before made this an excellent read for me. I had a few niggles (namely that my background knowledge as a violinist myself made me a little overcritical of the passages about music, but I'm definitely not a composer nor any good at improvising, so I raised an eyebrow at some of those bits but let it go). I only wish the second half of the book had been a little more developed; the historical section, really the first half of the novel, is fantastic, but the second half loses some momentum, and we hardly spend any time at all with the characters once they find each other again, which I would have liked to have seen. (less)
The main thing keeping this from getting all five stars is that I wish there had been more! Cochrane has a witty and subtle style, and I really enjoye...moreThe main thing keeping this from getting all five stars is that I wish there had been more! Cochrane has a witty and subtle style, and I really enjoyed this little story, but I wanted more time with the characters, more time spent on the development of their relationship, more time spent with them as they figure out their place int he world. It is, however, a fine little historical romance and an enjoyable read. (less)
I really loved this book. It starts off quiet, the pacing is a little slow, but the second half of the novel really packs an emotional wallop—I cried...moreI really loved this book. It starts off quiet, the pacing is a little slow, but the second half of the novel really packs an emotional wallop—I cried while reading, which I don't do often. (less)
So... Josh Lanyon, the 1920s, and a really interesting set-up means I bought this book the minute it came out. And it was really not what I expected,...moreSo... Josh Lanyon, the 1920s, and a really interesting set-up means I bought this book the minute it came out. And it was really not what I expected, but I enjoyed the surprise, particularly the way Flynn was so intrigued by Julian, although the ending is kind of a punch in the face (in the good way, if you get what I mean). (less)
Probably the strongest book in the series so far: the outcome of the mystery has high stakes for Jonty, it's got enough of a twist in it that I didn't...moreProbably the strongest book in the series so far: the outcome of the mystery has high stakes for Jonty, it's got enough of a twist in it that I didn't put the whodunnit together until the end, and I appreciate that Orlando is really coming into his own. Very fun read over all. (less)
There's a silly amnesia plot, but it works here as it, in essence, puts Jonty and Orlando back at Square One in the romance department, so we get to s...moreThere's a silly amnesia plot, but it works here as it, in essence, puts Jonty and Orlando back at Square One in the romance department, so we get to see Orlando fall in love all over again. I was thinking as I read that they'd get on just fine in the event Orlando never recovered his memories -- y'all will have to read it to find out if he does. (less)
I have some niggles, but for the most part, I'm really enjoying this series (as evidenced by the fact that I've been devouring it so rapidly). I'm not...moreI have some niggles, but for the most part, I'm really enjoying this series (as evidenced by the fact that I've been devouring it so rapidly). I'm not sure Orlando's naivete is plausible, I solved the mystery before the characters did, so those things are not as successful, but I love the period detail, a lot of the dialogue between Jonty and Orlando is really wonderful, and most of this story is told with a wink. Very enjoyable over all. I'm already a chunk of the way into the next book.(less)
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