Trials of Artemis
Trials of Artemis by Sue London 2013 Graythorn Publishing
Most Regency romances have plucky heroines and disreputable rakes thrown together against their wills to salvage her reputation or provide an heir. After a series of events including balls, carriage races, smugglers and more, the two share a chaste kiss.
This is not that type of Regency romance but a more modern version which develops the characters and has points of view from the hero and the heroine to show how they perceive the situation. Writers need to become familiar with POV and use it wisely to show the development of their characters and develop the plot.
Sue London is able to take a predictable genre and breathe new life into it with a plucky heroine whose honesty and intelligence challenges the hero, who is good and kind but has a tradition idea of the role of women. London adds humor with logic and I recommend her books.
Jacqueline Walters is not wealthy but part of the ton. She is unfortunately a bluestocking and likes reading books instead of flirting with gentlemen like her younger sister, Samantha. In fact Jacqueline (Jack) has formed a group called the Haberdashers with her two best friends, who will be featured in future books. They have spent their teens racing horses and battling with weapons and go by boys’ names because “boys have more fun.”
Jacqueline goes into the library to read a rare Greek book during a ball and his seduced by Gideon, the Earl of Harington. He realizes she is not the woman he thought just as they are discovered by the host, and they are forced to announce their engagement. This is a typical plot for most Regency novels but London takes it beyond the normal misunderstandings. Both admit they don’t want to marry and search for replacements, but the marriage is forced to avoid a scandal and ruin Samantha’s chance of making a good match.
The reactions of the two characters to each other is dealt with logic and humor. She is overwhelmed by his wealth and her new responsibilities and he is shocked by her collection of weapons and inquisitive mind.
London subtly reveals the class barriers and roles of men and women in the very structured Regency times but also shows Jaqueline and Gideon’s challenging the roles of what is expected of them.
Sex is rarely shown in a Regency novels but London doesn’t follow this rule and many modern writers ignore it as well. Gideon gives Jacqueline a book on sex and is descriptive in their lovemaking but in a tasteful way.
Their marriage has its ups and downs. Gideon cannot say “I love you” and Jaqueline is shocked to find out Gideon is Lord Lucifer, a man who showed her friend’s brothers around London’s brothels before settling down to Parliament work. Their differences on women’s rights and other politically-charged topics nearly ends their marriage. They work through their differences as adults, which I enjoyed better than misunderstandings or lies that keep a couple apart until the final chapter.
In true Regency fashion, smugglers are part of the plot, but London provides a twist that sets this story apart from being predictable. Writers need to provide new and interesting characters, plots, and surprises to entice readers to their stories.
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