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Band Sinister
Sir Philip Rookwood is the disgrace of the county. He’s a rake and an atheist, and the rumours about his hellfire club, the Murder, can only be spoken in whispers. (Orgies. It’s orgies.)
Guy Frisby and his sister Amanda live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she’s forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder.
Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren’t what he expects. They’re educated, fascinating people, and the notorious Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind—and dangerously attractive.
In this private space where anything goes, the longings Guy has stifled all his life are impossible to resist...and so is Philip. But all too soon the rural rumour mill threatens both Guy and Amanda. The innocent country gentleman has lost his heart to the bastard baronet—but does he dare lose his reputation too?
Guy Frisby and his sister Amanda live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she’s forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder.
Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren’t what he expects. They’re educated, fascinating people, and the notorious Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind—and dangerously attractive.
In this private space where anything goes, the longings Guy has stifled all his life are impossible to resist...and so is Philip. But all too soon the rural rumour mill threatens both Guy and Amanda. The innocent country gentleman has lost his heart to the bastard baronet—but does he dare lose his reputation too?
224 pages, ebook
First published October 11, 2018
About the author
K.J. Charles
57 books7,651 followersKJ is a writer of romance, mostly m/m, historical or fantasy or both. She blogs about writing and editing at http://kjcharleswriter.com.
She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.
Twitter https://twitter.com/kj_charles
Join the lively Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/13876...
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She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.
Twitter https://twitter.com/kj_charles
Join the lively Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/13876...
Sign up to the (infrequent) newsletter at http://kjcharleswriter.com/newsletter
Please **do not** message me on Goodreads as I no longer check the inbox due to unwanted messages.
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July 21, 2018I went Full Heyer on this one. This is as near as I'm likely to get to a light-hearted romcom, which is to say it has an official body count of zero. (I'm pretty sure this is my first book in which nobody dies, which is impressive considering I'm supposed to write romance.) There is a scene where someone gets a bad scratch on his Hessians, but it's only his second-best pair, so don't panic.
Also, tropes. We have rakes! Enemies to lovers! Virgin hero!
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Philip the bastard baronet beet farmer, his disreputable set of friends, and his country innocent Guy. I hope it's as much fun to read!
Also, tropes. We have rakes! Enemies to lovers! Virgin hero!
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Philip the bastard baronet beet farmer, his disreputable set of friends, and his country innocent Guy. I hope it's as much fun to read!
March 26, 2021
This book was an utter delight and I can’t believe I’ve never heard much about it??? It’s so sweet, so funny and smart. The found family elements? So wonderful, so fun, so queer, and everything I could possibly want from a regency romance
November 3, 2018
Band Sinister is a strangely sexy romp through the English countryside that explores how an infamous heathen and uptight gentleman come together against all odds.
I didn’t love this book as much as my peeps did, and I feel kind of guilty about that.
I really like K.J. Charles’ writing style and enjoyed the banter and enemies-to-lovers relationship between Phillip and his, uh, “plank.” Amanda, Guy’s sister, was absolutely badass, and I got a kick out of Phillip’s “Murder” gang.
But I had a hell of a time keeping track of the secondary characters. They were all introduced in the first couple of chapters and referred to interchangeably by both their first and last names, seemingly at random, which I found confusing. It didn't help that everyone seemed to be sleeping with everyone else.
This doesn’t appear to be a common complaint, so I’m convinced that either A. I’ve lost a few IQ points since graduate school or B. the wine and candy (undoubtedly a lethal combination) did me in.
Nevertheless, I persisted. And the romantic ending was worth it.
I didn’t love this book as much as my peeps did, and I feel kind of guilty about that.
I really like K.J. Charles’ writing style and enjoyed the banter and enemies-to-lovers relationship between Phillip and his, uh, “plank.” Amanda, Guy’s sister, was absolutely badass, and I got a kick out of Phillip’s “Murder” gang.
But I had a hell of a time keeping track of the secondary characters. They were all introduced in the first couple of chapters and referred to interchangeably by both their first and last names, seemingly at random, which I found confusing. It didn't help that everyone seemed to be sleeping with everyone else.
This doesn’t appear to be a common complaint, so I’m convinced that either A. I’ve lost a few IQ points since graduate school or B. the wine and candy (undoubtedly a lethal combination) did me in.
Nevertheless, I persisted. And the romantic ending was worth it.
October 18, 2020
You know those yaoi manga, where one guy basically strong-arms the other one into a relationship? How most of their early sex scenes seem alarmingly close to rape? And how the fandom at large still elects the aggressor as the no #1 hottie of the genre, for several years running? For shame! Also, I think I just described my all time favorite yaoi manga series...
This book however, is nothing like that, though it manages to fling an impressive amount of cliches your way. There's the mysterious nobleman with a dubious reputation, the innocent damsel in distress getting stuck at said nobleman's house for several days (weeks?), lots and lots of gossip about past, present and future compromising, and of course the absolutely adorable, stomach-butterfly-inducing romance that had me squeal throughout most of the book.
I generally avoid cutesy and fluffy stories, since they tend to veer either into a 1-0-1, or some sort of patronizing message. This story however, is the romance that would make you want to have a textbook relationship, because you just know it'll be so much better this time around. Bottom line: I want to go back in time, and have Sir Philip Rockwood be my first boyfriend.
Every review made this story out to be such a cheesy little sap-fest, that my mind rebelled against it on pure principle. Also, I have a firm policy on reading realistic fiction: avoid it like the plague, escapism all the way. But then the author wrote this hilarious yet very accurate article on consent in romance novels with plenty of relevant excerpts, which had me all but rush out to the Interwebs and buy three of the books quoted.
Score: 4/5 stars
Despite my aforementioned eagerness, I wasn't expecting to like it quite as much as I did. Nor the part of me that started scrutinizing the degree of consent in every new manga I read after finishing it. Or even to get downright disgusted at some rather mainstream shoujo manga. Just what kind of crap have I been enjoying all these years?!
Here's to the cheesiest romance, that nobody asked for, yet clearly needed to read.
This book however, is nothing like that, though it manages to fling an impressive amount of cliches your way. There's the mysterious nobleman with a dubious reputation, the innocent damsel in distress getting stuck at said nobleman's house for several days (weeks?), lots and lots of gossip about past, present and future compromising, and of course the absolutely adorable, stomach-butterfly-inducing romance that had me squeal throughout most of the book.
I generally avoid cutesy and fluffy stories, since they tend to veer either into a 1-0-1, or some sort of patronizing message. This story however, is the romance that would make you want to have a textbook relationship, because you just know it'll be so much better this time around. Bottom line: I want to go back in time, and have Sir Philip Rockwood be my first boyfriend.
Every review made this story out to be such a cheesy little sap-fest, that my mind rebelled against it on pure principle. Also, I have a firm policy on reading realistic fiction: avoid it like the plague, escapism all the way. But then the author wrote this hilarious yet very accurate article on consent in romance novels with plenty of relevant excerpts, which had me all but rush out to the Interwebs and buy three of the books quoted.
Score: 4/5 stars
Despite my aforementioned eagerness, I wasn't expecting to like it quite as much as I did. Nor the part of me that started scrutinizing the degree of consent in every new manga I read after finishing it. Or even to get downright disgusted at some rather mainstream shoujo manga. Just what kind of crap have I been enjoying all these years?!
Here's to the cheesiest romance, that nobody asked for, yet clearly needed to read.
October 17, 2020
3.5 Stars
This was quite the pleasant surprise as I had no expectations, so if you’d like a nice laid back MM historical, I don’t think it will disappoint.
As per the blurb, past family scandal has basically left siblings Guy and Amanda Frisby pretty much ostracized. They live mostly a quiet life of contemplation and monotony, dependent on their aunt’s charity, but when Amanda’s curiosity regarding her infamous bad boy neighbor Sir Phillip of Rookwood, causes her to trespass, her nosiness results in a terrible life threatening broken leg. To remove Amanda from Rookwood could very well kill her, and her brother Guy, has no choice but to stay and be her chaperone for the next few weeks, hoping to avoid scandal and gossip.
To make matters worse, both parties are tied together by a past transgression made by their relatives that irrevocably changed all their lives, and it seriously complicates things. Also, what Guy discovers at Rookwood Manor is that the rumor mill is not entirely unfounded. Sir Phillip uses his infamous Murder club as a front to hide free thinking, varied religious beliefs, and hedonistic goings on. This “club” is no club Guy has ever imagined if you catch my drift. What ensues is quite the eye opener as Phillip entices and educates Guy in all the things. All. The. Things.
This had some fun and funny as well as marvelous UST and quite a few very hot scenes depicting Phillip slowly unraveling Guy bit by bit by bit. My only niggle (which is kinda a big one) is that one too many authors often fail on delivering the ultimate prize, and this was no different which was frustrating and incongruent because of all the torturously delicious detail that came before it. Why is that? Why take the time and care for the buildup and various deeds prior but leave the penultimate act to only a few measley sentences? I don’t get it. I feel robbed.
However, I digress…
What’s important is that I was still entertained. Admittedly, the love progression was a bit quick, but I fancied the repartee, the slow dismantling of Guy’s preconceived notions, his world upended and irrevocably changed. There's also a great supporting cast that could do with getting their own stories that I wouldn't ignore, and Amanda is a fantastic spitfire despite the times she lives in. Overall, with minimal angst wrought (which I wholly appreciate), this had a wonderful win for everyone involved! Cheers!
This was quite the pleasant surprise as I had no expectations, so if you’d like a nice laid back MM historical, I don’t think it will disappoint.
As per the blurb, past family scandal has basically left siblings Guy and Amanda Frisby pretty much ostracized. They live mostly a quiet life of contemplation and monotony, dependent on their aunt’s charity, but when Amanda’s curiosity regarding her infamous bad boy neighbor Sir Phillip of Rookwood, causes her to trespass, her nosiness results in a terrible life threatening broken leg. To remove Amanda from Rookwood could very well kill her, and her brother Guy, has no choice but to stay and be her chaperone for the next few weeks, hoping to avoid scandal and gossip.
To make matters worse, both parties are tied together by a past transgression made by their relatives that irrevocably changed all their lives, and it seriously complicates things. Also, what Guy discovers at Rookwood Manor is that the rumor mill is not entirely unfounded. Sir Phillip uses his infamous Murder club as a front to hide free thinking, varied religious beliefs, and hedonistic goings on. This “club” is no club Guy has ever imagined if you catch my drift. What ensues is quite the eye opener as Phillip entices and educates Guy in all the things. All. The. Things.
This had some fun and funny as well as marvelous UST and quite a few very hot scenes depicting Phillip slowly unraveling Guy bit by bit by bit. My only niggle (which is kinda a big one) is that one too many authors often fail on delivering the ultimate prize, and this was no different which was frustrating and incongruent because of all the torturously delicious detail that came before it. Why is that? Why take the time and care for the buildup and various deeds prior but leave the penultimate act to only a few measley sentences? I don’t get it. I feel robbed.
However, I digress…
What’s important is that I was still entertained. Admittedly, the love progression was a bit quick, but I fancied the repartee, the slow dismantling of Guy’s preconceived notions, his world upended and irrevocably changed. There's also a great supporting cast that could do with getting their own stories that I wouldn't ignore, and Amanda is a fantastic spitfire despite the times she lives in. Overall, with minimal angst wrought (which I wholly appreciate), this had a wonderful win for everyone involved! Cheers!
May 7, 2020
This is NOT KJ Charles' best work. I'd even go as far as saying it's probably her most disappointing book by her high standards. I am so disappointed in it I may as well have gotten a personality transplant.
Not only was this book poor, it was also just boring and dull. My favourite book of Charles', The Magpie Lord starts with an attempted murder. Much like a great movie, you're thrown right into the action. No exposition, no monologue, no Dear Reader wink wink nudge nudge- just smack right into the middle of a conflict.
I didn't expect this to have that level of action what with this meant to be a fluffy regency romance where nobody even sheds blood- at least onpage- but dear me was it so lacklustre.
We're introduced to one of the protagonists reading out loud, I guess, from his sister's torrid novel about their neighbour. Guy is worried that Amanda's novel could bring trouble for them because their family has a bit of a crazy history with the neighbours, the Rookwoods. Of all the things, the book basically starts with an argument between brother and sister about propriety.
Eventually, Amanda decides to defy her brother's sensibilities and goes off to spy on Philip Rookwwod at Rookwood Hall and ends up breaking her femur. Her drumstick. Which happened offscreen and is explained in an offhand fashion by one of the millions of secondary characters that we meet barely ten pages in.
When Amanda was late getting home, Guy starts to worry and the person who had given her the horse showed up worried. This builds up some tension as we expect Guy to go looking for her or at least tracing her steps to the pseudonemesis' house and that would have been the reward for all the fright. But no. A servant from Rookwood Hall instantly shows up with a letter from Philip explaining that Amanda is an invalid and is being taken care of at the Hall.
The Hall is a house of horrors, according to Guy. A place where all manner of debauchery and nihilism is indulged upon to levels that would make the Devil blush. It would ruin them even more than they already are. Now can you see how rewarding it would have been if this had been revealed progressively? By storytelling rather than clunky exposition and ditzy dialogue? It happens a lot in the novel too. Parts of the book that would have made for great storytelling are rushed over through a shortened discussion to make way for Guy and Phil to make moon eyes and wax lyrically at each other about consent and truth. Like, seriously?
Within the first few pages a barrage of names are dropped as heavily as a Mary Calmes novel. Amanda [Manda], Guy, Philip, Lord Corvin, Aunt Beatrice, Sir James Rookwood, Mr Peyton, Mrs Harbottle, Mr Welland, Bluebell, Daffodil [ok, those two are horses but still], Mr Raven, Corvin's servant, Dr Martelo, Jane, Dr Bewdley, Sheridan, Harry, Eleanor, George Penn, Ned Caulfield... And all these names are just in Chapter Two.
Honestly when Romeo and Juliet were mentioned I briefly wondered if they were also another set of new characters. Considering the main players are Guy and Philip- I didn't see the need to be knocked over the head with a dictionary of Regency names.
This book was infuriating and for a book that was as predictable as it was entertaining, I don't even know how I feel about it. I am honestly going to reread Jackdaw to purge this out of my mind.
The cover design is also iffy and gives the impression that the lady has a lot more importance to the plot but it honestly gets to a point where it seems as though Amanda is forgotten.
Maybe this was all me as I have been in a big slump and under a lot of stress lately but come on, can't I be spared a fishy book from such a great author?
Not only was this book poor, it was also just boring and dull. My favourite book of Charles', The Magpie Lord starts with an attempted murder. Much like a great movie, you're thrown right into the action. No exposition, no monologue, no Dear Reader wink wink nudge nudge- just smack right into the middle of a conflict.
I didn't expect this to have that level of action what with this meant to be a fluffy regency romance where nobody even sheds blood- at least onpage- but dear me was it so lacklustre.
We're introduced to one of the protagonists reading out loud, I guess, from his sister's torrid novel about their neighbour. Guy is worried that Amanda's novel could bring trouble for them because their family has a bit of a crazy history with the neighbours, the Rookwoods. Of all the things, the book basically starts with an argument between brother and sister about propriety.
Eventually, Amanda decides to defy her brother's sensibilities and goes off to spy on Philip Rookwwod at Rookwood Hall and ends up breaking her femur. Her drumstick. Which happened offscreen and is explained in an offhand fashion by one of the millions of secondary characters that we meet barely ten pages in.
When Amanda was late getting home, Guy starts to worry and the person who had given her the horse showed up worried. This builds up some tension as we expect Guy to go looking for her or at least tracing her steps to the pseudonemesis' house and that would have been the reward for all the fright. But no. A servant from Rookwood Hall instantly shows up with a letter from Philip explaining that Amanda is an invalid and is being taken care of at the Hall.
The Hall is a house of horrors, according to Guy. A place where all manner of debauchery and nihilism is indulged upon to levels that would make the Devil blush. It would ruin them even more than they already are. Now can you see how rewarding it would have been if this had been revealed progressively? By storytelling rather than clunky exposition and ditzy dialogue? It happens a lot in the novel too. Parts of the book that would have made for great storytelling are rushed over through a shortened discussion to make way for Guy and Phil to make moon eyes and wax lyrically at each other about consent and truth. Like, seriously?
Within the first few pages a barrage of names are dropped as heavily as a Mary Calmes novel. Amanda [Manda], Guy, Philip, Lord Corvin, Aunt Beatrice, Sir James Rookwood, Mr Peyton, Mrs Harbottle, Mr Welland, Bluebell, Daffodil [ok, those two are horses but still], Mr Raven, Corvin's servant, Dr Martelo, Jane, Dr Bewdley, Sheridan, Harry, Eleanor, George Penn, Ned Caulfield... And all these names are just in Chapter Two.
Honestly when Romeo and Juliet were mentioned I briefly wondered if they were also another set of new characters. Considering the main players are Guy and Philip- I didn't see the need to be knocked over the head with a dictionary of Regency names.
This book was infuriating and for a book that was as predictable as it was entertaining, I don't even know how I feel about it. I am honestly going to reread Jackdaw to purge this out of my mind.
The cover design is also iffy and gives the impression that the lady has a lot more importance to the plot but it honestly gets to a point where it seems as though Amanda is forgotten.
Maybe this was all me as I have been in a big slump and under a lot of stress lately but come on, can't I be spared a fishy book from such a great author?
November 30, 2018
I'm feeling marvelously debauched now...
Umm, no, it's not what you think, so you should probably pull your mind out of the gutter. ;-)
Band Sinister is a nice little romcom about Guy Frisby, a bit naive but endearing local yokel coming to the rescue of his sister...
... in order to retrieve her out of the clutches of Sir Philip Rookwood, a deliciously notorious bastard baronet and his fellow notorious outcasts of society and realizes slowly but surely that said baronet is about to run not only his worldview but his whole life off the rails...
You can expect a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance with the burn turning into quite the wildfire, some steamy debauchery, a lot of banter and KJ Charles's typical dry sense of humor...
... but also a good portion of questioning of moral standards - or rather double moral standards of society - and people's inability to look beyond their own noses and therefore their tendency to judge others too readily.
It's different as it can get from The Magpie Lord, so if you expect to see people die left, right and center or want to read about unhinged mutant rodents, you should look elsewhere. ;-)
What threw me a bit was the beginning and I felt a bit like...
... because of quite the info dump of names on me.
At once, at least. ;-) Overall this was a quite enjoyable read and I recommend it to all fans of romcoms set in the Regency period. :)
Umm, no, it's not what you think, so you should probably pull your mind out of the gutter. ;-)
Band Sinister is a nice little romcom about Guy Frisby, a bit naive but endearing local yokel coming to the rescue of his sister...
... in order to retrieve her out of the clutches of Sir Philip Rookwood, a deliciously notorious bastard baronet and his fellow notorious outcasts of society and realizes slowly but surely that said baronet is about to run not only his worldview but his whole life off the rails...
You can expect a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance with the burn turning into quite the wildfire, some steamy debauchery, a lot of banter and KJ Charles's typical dry sense of humor...
"I have never in my life forced myself on the unwilling. It's not my fault if the willing aren't willing to admit they were willing."
... but also a good portion of questioning of moral standards - or rather double moral standards of society - and people's inability to look beyond their own noses and therefore their tendency to judge others too readily.
It's different as it can get from The Magpie Lord, so if you expect to see people die left, right and center or want to read about unhinged mutant rodents, you should look elsewhere. ;-)
What threw me a bit was the beginning and I felt a bit like...
... because of quite the info dump of names on me.
At once, at least. ;-) Overall this was a quite enjoyable read and I recommend it to all fans of romcoms set in the Regency period. :)
April 5, 2019
All the LOVE and all the STARS!!!!!
(Edited to add AUDIOBOOK: The narration made this book far less engaging, enjoyable, and funny than reading it. Cornell Collins brought too much propriety and took away the lightness I felt whilst reading. My suggestion: skip the audio.)
Original review:
What a wickedly, salacious country romp in Recency England!!! KJ Charles latest recency romance is pure heart and comedy!! 💓💓💓
I think I fell in love with every single crazy character Charles created!!
Guy and Philip, our two MCs make a delicious pair together. Philip, a libertine of the worst sort and a family enemy, to boot, has set his sights on the virginal Guy. His plans to debauch the young man go astray as he finds himself caring for Guy.
Guy, brought by circumstance of his sister's near fatal accident to the home of Sir Phillip, soon realized that his host is not as scandalous as rumours have made him out to be. He also realizes that he very much likes being debauched by Philip whilst his sister convalesces in his drawing room.
The DEBAUCHING of Guy is a joy to read and see!!! This has to be one of my favorite debauching books EVER!!! Why? Because it took more than one scene to debauch our young hero. Because he loved every second of it. Because he threw himself into learning with such gusto. Because Guy is one of the dearest characters I have ever encountered!
Ok, ill stop rhapsodizing about the DEBAUCHING of GUY and move on. The rest of the story was simply lovely!! 💓💓 We meet the notorious Murder hellfire club and it's wonderful members--all notorious in their own way, yet all .....you know what? I'll leave the mystery to what they are to the book...it's just more fun without spoilers!!
I so so so so so so HOPE there is another book in the making. This cast of characters cannot disappear! I need more of my notorious rake, Corvin and more of the irascible artist, John. And then there's a part of me that want to see all four in bed together at the same time. It's a hellfire club, after all and isn't orgies what they do?!
Read this book, you'll love it!! There are a lot of characters I introduced at the beginning, but hold out because you'll soon keep them straight (ha ha) in your head!
Ahhh, now I want to read it again and take my time to savor the humor and the LOVE!!! Thanks the gods for this book that catapulted me out of a major book slump!!🙌🙌
Super highly recommended with fireworks and laughs!!
(Edited to add AUDIOBOOK: The narration made this book far less engaging, enjoyable, and funny than reading it. Cornell Collins brought too much propriety and took away the lightness I felt whilst reading. My suggestion: skip the audio.)
Original review:
What a wickedly, salacious country romp in Recency England!!! KJ Charles latest recency romance is pure heart and comedy!! 💓💓💓
I think I fell in love with every single crazy character Charles created!!
Guy and Philip, our two MCs make a delicious pair together. Philip, a libertine of the worst sort and a family enemy, to boot, has set his sights on the virginal Guy. His plans to debauch the young man go astray as he finds himself caring for Guy.
Guy, brought by circumstance of his sister's near fatal accident to the home of Sir Phillip, soon realized that his host is not as scandalous as rumours have made him out to be. He also realizes that he very much likes being debauched by Philip whilst his sister convalesces in his drawing room.
The DEBAUCHING of Guy is a joy to read and see!!! This has to be one of my favorite debauching books EVER!!! Why? Because it took more than one scene to debauch our young hero. Because he loved every second of it. Because he threw himself into learning with such gusto. Because Guy is one of the dearest characters I have ever encountered!
Ok, ill stop rhapsodizing about the DEBAUCHING of GUY and move on. The rest of the story was simply lovely!! 💓💓 We meet the notorious Murder hellfire club and it's wonderful members--all notorious in their own way, yet all .....you know what? I'll leave the mystery to what they are to the book...it's just more fun without spoilers!!
I so so so so so so HOPE there is another book in the making. This cast of characters cannot disappear! I need more of my notorious rake, Corvin and more of the irascible artist, John. And then there's a part of me that want to see all four in bed together at the same time. It's a hellfire club, after all and isn't orgies what they do?!
Read this book, you'll love it!! There are a lot of characters I introduced at the beginning, but hold out because you'll soon keep them straight (ha ha) in your head!
Ahhh, now I want to read it again and take my time to savor the humor and the LOVE!!! Thanks the gods for this book that catapulted me out of a major book slump!!🙌🙌
Super highly recommended with fireworks and laughs!!
October 13, 2018
This is great fun, a classic historical romance in the tradition of Heyer et al (were they allowed to see past the bedroom door, and were they fans of love in all its forms.) There is the rake with the heart of gold, the severe family holding the purse-strings, the virgin swiftly falling in love with the "wrong" man, the whispers of the ton with their dire effect on marriageability of young women.
But all those familiar elements become something delightful in this author's hands. This is a fun romp with a few tender moments, as a young man who was barely aware of his own nature learns to accept and enjoy who he is. Guy is well-meaning, innocent but not prudish, and so starved for affirmation you can see him open like a flower to the sun around Sir Philip Rookwood. His sister, Amanda, is a delight - self-aware, creative, and unwilling to be constrained to a silent, faultless exile by the severe aunt who holds the purse strings. And I was particularly taken, almost more than with the central romance, by the deep and long-standing love between the members of the Murder threesome in residence at the Hall, who truly care about each other in non-traditional ways.
There is less social commentary and less emotional range than in some of Charles's other historicals, but that doesn't mean it's less entertaining. If you ever read a Regency and yearned to see the rake go off with his handsome secretary or country neighbor instead of the beautiful girl, this book is everything you were waiting for.
But all those familiar elements become something delightful in this author's hands. This is a fun romp with a few tender moments, as a young man who was barely aware of his own nature learns to accept and enjoy who he is. Guy is well-meaning, innocent but not prudish, and so starved for affirmation you can see him open like a flower to the sun around Sir Philip Rookwood. His sister, Amanda, is a delight - self-aware, creative, and unwilling to be constrained to a silent, faultless exile by the severe aunt who holds the purse strings. And I was particularly taken, almost more than with the central romance, by the deep and long-standing love between the members of the Murder threesome in residence at the Hall, who truly care about each other in non-traditional ways.
There is less social commentary and less emotional range than in some of Charles's other historicals, but that doesn't mean it's less entertaining. If you ever read a Regency and yearned to see the rake go off with his handsome secretary or country neighbor instead of the beautiful girl, this book is everything you were waiting for.
November 9, 2018
I read this delightful fluff in a sitting. (A lying, to be more precise.) I'm pretty sure I was expecting the chuckles I got, but not the lesson in how to make explicit consent offered by the debauchee to the debaucher so well-integrated and even steamy. I've always contended that the largest sex organ is the brain, so really all it took was a bit of imaginative effort to make consent part of seduction and foreplay. Author Charles did this deftly, erotically, and satisfyingly.
I liked Guy, our virginal debauchee, more and more as time went by. He annoyed me to no end at first. I think he was expected to. His deep devotion to his younger sister was disarmingly sweet, so he wasn't one of those characters one wants to smack in the occiput with a niblick, but he did try my not-legendary (lack of) patience to its uttermost extent.
Rookwood is, not to put too fine a point on it, too good to be true. Beautiful, rich, thoughtful...*sigh*repine* (Speaking of rePineing, have y'all piped Chris Pine's lovely genitalia in Outlaw King? If not, get thee hence to Netflix! I suppose he had lines and stuff, but ya couldn't prove it by me.) So, Rookwood. Yes. Lovely man, his past is very deftly integrated into his present-day actions, as is Guy's; this being a KJ Charles book, that is unsurprising. She just does that. Part of the service. So why mention it? Because it's both satisfying and anachronistic for men to reveal their hurts and scars to...anyone, really...and Rookwood is an aristocrat, so his upbringing is simply not going to include emotional honesty. How Author Charles side-steps that issue is one of my great pleasures taken from this story.
Lord Corvin and John Raven, well, window dressing has never looked so good. Heh. Read the Society of Gentlemen books, y'all. Read KJ Charles. This is escapism done well.
I liked Guy, our virginal debauchee, more and more as time went by. He annoyed me to no end at first. I think he was expected to. His deep devotion to his younger sister was disarmingly sweet, so he wasn't one of those characters one wants to smack in the occiput with a niblick, but he did try my not-legendary (lack of) patience to its uttermost extent.
Rookwood is, not to put too fine a point on it, too good to be true. Beautiful, rich, thoughtful...*sigh*repine* (Speaking of rePineing, have y'all piped Chris Pine's lovely genitalia in Outlaw King? If not, get thee hence to Netflix! I suppose he had lines and stuff, but ya couldn't prove it by me.) So, Rookwood. Yes. Lovely man, his past is very deftly integrated into his present-day actions, as is Guy's; this being a KJ Charles book, that is unsurprising. She just does that. Part of the service. So why mention it? Because it's both satisfying and anachronistic for men to reveal their hurts and scars to...anyone, really...and Rookwood is an aristocrat, so his upbringing is simply not going to include emotional honesty. How Author Charles side-steps that issue is one of my great pleasures taken from this story.
Lord Corvin and John Raven, well, window dressing has never looked so good. Heh. Read the Society of Gentlemen books, y'all. Read KJ Charles. This is escapism done well.
November 26, 2018
After a string of meh m/ms (you won't find them in my feed as I didn't bother to review so don't go looking for them), diving into a KJ Charles book was a breath of fresh, fabulous, funny, fucktastic, air. The fact that this particular KJC is basically her take on a rom-com makes it even better. What can't this author do.
BAND SINISTER was lighthearted but not overly silly, dramatic but not OTT, emotional without leaving my feels black and blue, and sensual af. I went into this completely blind (#noblurbsclub) and I don't regret it. Nor do I regret the time I spent totally lost and wrapped up in it. Nor do I regret it's over, really, because I am absolutely going to reread this on a rainy day. Or a sunny one. The weather will not determine my rereading, really. But you get the idea.
Highly recommend.
BAND SINISTER was lighthearted but not overly silly, dramatic but not OTT, emotional without leaving my feels black and blue, and sensual af. I went into this completely blind (#noblurbsclub) and I don't regret it. Nor do I regret the time I spent totally lost and wrapped up in it. Nor do I regret it's over, really, because I am absolutely going to reread this on a rainy day. Or a sunny one. The weather will not determine my rereading, really. But you get the idea.
Highly recommend.
October 10, 2018
4.5 stars rounded up
K.J. Charles has made no secret of the fact that her latest book, Band Sinister, is an homage to the works of Georgette Heyer, and in it she has great fun playing in the trope-pit of regency romance and turning quite a few of them on their heads. We’ve got the stranded-injured-sibling trope; the man-of-the-world-falls-for-country-innocent trope; the oops-I-(not so)-accidentally-wrote-you-as-the-villain-in-my-racy-book trope – and those are just the ones I can remember of the top of my head. I’m sure I’ve missed some.
But trope-tastic as it is, Band Sinister still manages to delight, breathing life into the tried-and-tested by virtue of Ms. Charles’ sharp wit, deft hand and obvious love for the genre.
The storyline is a simple one. Siblings Guy and Amanda Frisby live a secluded life in the village of Yarlcote, just a few miles from Rookwood Hall, the country estate of Sir Philip Rookwood. The Frisbys and the Rookwoods are all but mortal enemies, owing to the fact that Sir James Rookwood (elder and now deceased brother of the present holder of the title) ran off with Guy and Amanda’s mother some years earlier, driving their father to drink and an early grave. He left them completely dependent on their aunt, a dictatorial and unsympathetic woman who supports them for the sake of appearances rather than because she has any love or affection for them.
When the story opens, Guy is reading the manuscript of the gothic novel Amanda has just had published – and is rather appalled to discover that she has modelled her villain – in physical appearance anyway - on Sir Philip Rookwood, and some of the other characters in the book on his friends. Sir Philip and his set have the most dreadful reputations as degenerates and rumour has it that the ‘Murder’ - as the group is known - is a kind of hellfire club that engages in orgies, satanic rituals and other reprehensible activities. When Amanda expresses the wish that they might actually visit to find out for themselves, Guy is appalled. He wants nothing to do with Rookwood, but circumstances conspire against him when Amanda is thrown from her horse while riding on Sir Philip’s land, and badly injured – which means Amanda gets her wish to visit the hall, although under less pleasing circumstances than she would have liked.
When Guy receives the news of Amanda's situation, he’s doubly panicked - terrified because she’s been hurt and worried for her reputation, which has already got a few dents in it courtesy of their mother’s exploits and a youthful indiscretion. Guy goes to the hall with the intention of taking her home immediately, but is dissuaded by the doctor attending on her – a friend of Sir Philip’s – who explains that her injury is such that moving her could prove fatal. Guy accepts the wisdom of that, but he’s not happy, especially as it’s impossible to persuade any woman of suitable consequence to come to the hall to act as chaperone.
Given the bad blood between their families, Guy is torn between gratitude to his host for allowing Amanda to remain at his home, and determination to remain aloof and retain his animosity. That, however, soon becomes difficult when Guy comes to realise that Philip and his friends are nowhere near as black as they are painted and have in fact encouraged the gossip about them that has given them all such tarnished reputations. (Especially Lord Corvin who lives to be talked about!) The Murder (and once we learn the names of Philip’s friends, it’s easy to work out the reason behind that appellation) is actually a group of free-thinking, like-minded friends who gather to engage in spirited (and to Guy’s tender ears, alarming) debate, enjoy each other’s company and love who they wish without having to continually look over their shoulders. It’s a real eye-opener for Guy, who at first isn’t sure how to take anything he sees or hears; dinner table discussions are about anything and everything from art and literature to science and the newly emerging theories which seem to disprove the Bible’s account of creation (shocking!) and are stimulating and fascinating - and he can’t help but be drawn in by the liveliness of the discussion and by the conviviality of his surroundings.
He also can’t help being drawn to Philip, whose kindness and generosity are completely unexpected, and whose attractiveness and desire for Guy are equally so.
Philip holds these gatherings for his friends in order to give them all a safe haven from the strict conventions of society. He met his two closest friends, Lord Corvin and John Raven, when they were all unwanted or forgotten ten-year-olds and the three of them forged lifelong bonds. Friends – and friends-with-benefits when they want to be – they love each other deeply, and the openness and honesty of their relationship is superbly conveyed, teasingly affectionate and full of the perfect amount of snark.
I really enjoyed all the characters, a disparate group that encompasses a diversity of racial and sexual orientation – a former slave, a bisexual viscount, a Jewish doctor, a married couple in which ‘Mrs.’ is trans FtM, a black composer and his violinist lover – even those we meet only briefly add richness and colour to the story and are beautifully crafted. Amanda Frisby is wonderfully bright and spirited and I was so glad that she got her own happy ending, too. Philip is intelligent, charming, kind, and forward-thinking, with a well-developed conscience that owes nothing to society and everything to his own inner compass. He is turning over much of his land to the production of sugar beet with a view to creating a home-grown sugar industry which will remove the necessity for importing so much sugar produced by slave labour – a laudable ambition but an uphill struggle given that his tenant farmers are resistant to change. Guy is perhaps a little passive at times, but he’s far from being the “plank” Philip originally believes him to be; he’s quiet and unassuming, but ferocious and passionate in defence of the things that are important to him. My heart broke for him a bit when it became clear how lonely he was and had always been, and I loved watching him gradually break out of his shell and begin to truly live.
The romance between Philip and Guy is sweetly sensual, and witnessing the development of their mutual attraction as they navigate the waters of their new relationship was a complete delight. And it’s not just about the physical; Guy is seduced as much by the new ideas to which he is exposed and to the new experience of acceptance and being part of a friendship as he is by Philip’s more sensual approaches, which are heartfelt and honest, with an explicit focus on consent. Their romance is also conducted within the parameters of their other important relationships; in Philip’s case, with Corvin and Raven, in Guy’s with Amanda – and the fact that they both understood and accepted those relationships made their HEA that much stronger.
Band Sinister is a wonderfully entertaining read that, for all its light-heartedness, nonetheless manages to convey a number of important ideas about love, friendship, social responsibility and the importance of living according to one’s lights. It’s a sexy, warm, witty trope-fest and works brilliantly as an homage to the traditional regency and a tribute to those who dared to think enlightened ideas in a time of entrenched views. It’s not often you get impassioned debate about geology, women’s rights and religion, dirty talk derived from Latin, and information about the ins-and-outs of sugar beet farming in the same book, but Ms. Charles incorporates everything quite naturally and with great aplomb – and I loved it from start to finish. Brava!
K.J. Charles has made no secret of the fact that her latest book, Band Sinister, is an homage to the works of Georgette Heyer, and in it she has great fun playing in the trope-pit of regency romance and turning quite a few of them on their heads. We’ve got the stranded-injured-sibling trope; the man-of-the-world-falls-for-country-innocent trope; the oops-I-(not so)-accidentally-wrote-you-as-the-villain-in-my-racy-book trope – and those are just the ones I can remember of the top of my head. I’m sure I’ve missed some.
But trope-tastic as it is, Band Sinister still manages to delight, breathing life into the tried-and-tested by virtue of Ms. Charles’ sharp wit, deft hand and obvious love for the genre.
The storyline is a simple one. Siblings Guy and Amanda Frisby live a secluded life in the village of Yarlcote, just a few miles from Rookwood Hall, the country estate of Sir Philip Rookwood. The Frisbys and the Rookwoods are all but mortal enemies, owing to the fact that Sir James Rookwood (elder and now deceased brother of the present holder of the title) ran off with Guy and Amanda’s mother some years earlier, driving their father to drink and an early grave. He left them completely dependent on their aunt, a dictatorial and unsympathetic woman who supports them for the sake of appearances rather than because she has any love or affection for them.
When the story opens, Guy is reading the manuscript of the gothic novel Amanda has just had published – and is rather appalled to discover that she has modelled her villain – in physical appearance anyway - on Sir Philip Rookwood, and some of the other characters in the book on his friends. Sir Philip and his set have the most dreadful reputations as degenerates and rumour has it that the ‘Murder’ - as the group is known - is a kind of hellfire club that engages in orgies, satanic rituals and other reprehensible activities. When Amanda expresses the wish that they might actually visit to find out for themselves, Guy is appalled. He wants nothing to do with Rookwood, but circumstances conspire against him when Amanda is thrown from her horse while riding on Sir Philip’s land, and badly injured – which means Amanda gets her wish to visit the hall, although under less pleasing circumstances than she would have liked.
When Guy receives the news of Amanda's situation, he’s doubly panicked - terrified because she’s been hurt and worried for her reputation, which has already got a few dents in it courtesy of their mother’s exploits and a youthful indiscretion. Guy goes to the hall with the intention of taking her home immediately, but is dissuaded by the doctor attending on her – a friend of Sir Philip’s – who explains that her injury is such that moving her could prove fatal. Guy accepts the wisdom of that, but he’s not happy, especially as it’s impossible to persuade any woman of suitable consequence to come to the hall to act as chaperone.
Given the bad blood between their families, Guy is torn between gratitude to his host for allowing Amanda to remain at his home, and determination to remain aloof and retain his animosity. That, however, soon becomes difficult when Guy comes to realise that Philip and his friends are nowhere near as black as they are painted and have in fact encouraged the gossip about them that has given them all such tarnished reputations. (Especially Lord Corvin who lives to be talked about!) The Murder (and once we learn the names of Philip’s friends, it’s easy to work out the reason behind that appellation) is actually a group of free-thinking, like-minded friends who gather to engage in spirited (and to Guy’s tender ears, alarming) debate, enjoy each other’s company and love who they wish without having to continually look over their shoulders. It’s a real eye-opener for Guy, who at first isn’t sure how to take anything he sees or hears; dinner table discussions are about anything and everything from art and literature to science and the newly emerging theories which seem to disprove the Bible’s account of creation (shocking!) and are stimulating and fascinating - and he can’t help but be drawn in by the liveliness of the discussion and by the conviviality of his surroundings.
He also can’t help being drawn to Philip, whose kindness and generosity are completely unexpected, and whose attractiveness and desire for Guy are equally so.
Philip holds these gatherings for his friends in order to give them all a safe haven from the strict conventions of society. He met his two closest friends, Lord Corvin and John Raven, when they were all unwanted or forgotten ten-year-olds and the three of them forged lifelong bonds. Friends – and friends-with-benefits when they want to be – they love each other deeply, and the openness and honesty of their relationship is superbly conveyed, teasingly affectionate and full of the perfect amount of snark.
I really enjoyed all the characters, a disparate group that encompasses a diversity of racial and sexual orientation – a former slave, a bisexual viscount, a Jewish doctor, a married couple in which ‘Mrs.’ is trans FtM, a black composer and his violinist lover – even those we meet only briefly add richness and colour to the story and are beautifully crafted. Amanda Frisby is wonderfully bright and spirited and I was so glad that she got her own happy ending, too. Philip is intelligent, charming, kind, and forward-thinking, with a well-developed conscience that owes nothing to society and everything to his own inner compass. He is turning over much of his land to the production of sugar beet with a view to creating a home-grown sugar industry which will remove the necessity for importing so much sugar produced by slave labour – a laudable ambition but an uphill struggle given that his tenant farmers are resistant to change. Guy is perhaps a little passive at times, but he’s far from being the “plank” Philip originally believes him to be; he’s quiet and unassuming, but ferocious and passionate in defence of the things that are important to him. My heart broke for him a bit when it became clear how lonely he was and had always been, and I loved watching him gradually break out of his shell and begin to truly live.
The romance between Philip and Guy is sweetly sensual, and witnessing the development of their mutual attraction as they navigate the waters of their new relationship was a complete delight. And it’s not just about the physical; Guy is seduced as much by the new ideas to which he is exposed and to the new experience of acceptance and being part of a friendship as he is by Philip’s more sensual approaches, which are heartfelt and honest, with an explicit focus on consent. Their romance is also conducted within the parameters of their other important relationships; in Philip’s case, with Corvin and Raven, in Guy’s with Amanda – and the fact that they both understood and accepted those relationships made their HEA that much stronger.
Band Sinister is a wonderfully entertaining read that, for all its light-heartedness, nonetheless manages to convey a number of important ideas about love, friendship, social responsibility and the importance of living according to one’s lights. It’s a sexy, warm, witty trope-fest and works brilliantly as an homage to the traditional regency and a tribute to those who dared to think enlightened ideas in a time of entrenched views. It’s not often you get impassioned debate about geology, women’s rights and religion, dirty talk derived from Latin, and information about the ins-and-outs of sugar beet farming in the same book, but Ms. Charles incorporates everything quite naturally and with great aplomb – and I loved it from start to finish. Brava!
August 27, 2022
Hilarious, sexy, [insert a bunch of complimentary adjectives here], and without a doubt my favorite K. J. Charles right now. 😍 Look how overjoyed Amanda is on that cover — that’s exactly how I felt reading this amazing book.
P.S. I won’t lie, I’d kill for even one short Corvin/John/Philip/Guy scene. 😈🤤
P.S. I won’t lie, I’d kill for even one short Corvin/John/Philip/Guy scene. 😈🤤
October 18, 2021
this book has the perfect amount of heart-rending drama and romantic upset I look for in a novel: zero
edit 2021: I WANT A BIRDBRAIN TRIO PREQUEL SO BADLYYYYYYY
edit 2021: I WANT A BIRDBRAIN TRIO PREQUEL SO BADLYYYYYYY
March 11, 2020
I am going to keep rereading this until I work out how KJ Charles is able to wreak such MAGIC in the field of bringing you into a group of friends and making you feel, within about five pages, that a) you know them all personally and want to be their friend too, and b) the weight of history between them is a joyous, palpable thing. She's done it with her previous group-of-friends series, but never to such instant and devastating effect as here.
I did enjoy the central romance in this book; a bit fluffier than my usual tastes, but the thoughtful exploration of poly dynamics was exactly up my alley, and the two very different protagonists had believable and interesting journeys from antagonism to love.
Mostly, though, I just LOVED the chance to sink into a Heyeresque rom-com peopled by a found family of vivid, enjoyable, queer, hilarious people.
I did enjoy the central romance in this book; a bit fluffier than my usual tastes, but the thoughtful exploration of poly dynamics was exactly up my alley, and the two very different protagonists had believable and interesting journeys from antagonism to love.
Mostly, though, I just LOVED the chance to sink into a Heyeresque rom-com peopled by a found family of vivid, enjoyable, queer, hilarious people.
December 1, 2018
kj charles hasn’t quite been her usual stellar self these past few releases, but i still thought this book was tremendous fun.
January 26, 2021
Reread - Jan 2021 - still fabulous, as always though I just want more and more!
5 hearts
Magical. Charles can do no wrong, seriously! Sweet, sexy, and beautifully romantic, this book had me doing nothing for a whole day until I'd completely devoured it.
I've never read a book by Georgette heyer but from what I hear people will be very excited to hear Band Sinister was inspired by Heyer’s writing. I obviously can't compare but all I know is every single character in this book was wonderfully crafted and that was KJ Charles and her alone (with the help of editors of course :-P). Once again the Charles writes amazing female characters and Amanda is one of my most favourite female characters ever! I would loooove to see a short story revolving around her love story.
Guy has not admitted his attraction to other men, therefore when Phillip starts revealing truths and demanding honesty, Guy finds his virginity in a somewhat shaky state.
Let's just say I love a good deflowering and the build-up between Philip and Guy was superb. Slowly getting to know Phillip and his Murder was engaging and so much damn fun as well!!
The tension, ridiculously sexy climax and heart melting happily ever after has this book being an all time favourite and will definitely be reread many times in the future.
5 hearts
Magical. Charles can do no wrong, seriously! Sweet, sexy, and beautifully romantic, this book had me doing nothing for a whole day until I'd completely devoured it.
I've never read a book by Georgette heyer but from what I hear people will be very excited to hear Band Sinister was inspired by Heyer’s writing. I obviously can't compare but all I know is every single character in this book was wonderfully crafted and that was KJ Charles and her alone (with the help of editors of course :-P). Once again the Charles writes amazing female characters and Amanda is one of my most favourite female characters ever! I would loooove to see a short story revolving around her love story.
Guy has not admitted his attraction to other men, therefore when Phillip starts revealing truths and demanding honesty, Guy finds his virginity in a somewhat shaky state.
“But, well. Would I like sodomy?”
“That is without a doubt the best question that has ever been asked . English was invented purely so that you could ask that.”
Let's just say I love a good deflowering and the build-up between Philip and Guy was superb. Slowly getting to know Phillip and his Murder was engaging and so much damn fun as well!!
The tension, ridiculously sexy climax and heart melting happily ever after has this book being an all time favourite and will definitely be reread many times in the future.
December 10, 2018
This was quite entertaining but a little uneven. I was delighted with the language and humor. The main problem I had was the plot was a bit meandering with too many characters for my wee brain to keep track of without strain. Still, it's K.J. Charles, so it's a very good book and worth your time.
April 5, 2021
Homosexual Heyer homage? Hellyeah.
July 21, 2020
Just take all my stars and leave me here to die with this book.
November 21, 2021
***re-listen November 2021. I really do think that this is one of my most favourite KJ stories, the characters are superb and the story is utterly charming IMHO of course 😉***
Well done Cornell Collins aka Matthew Lloyd Davies for restoring my faith in narrators. I loved this story so much, and to be honest, was quite annoyed when I saw who was narrating it BUT pulled up my big girl pants and decided to take a chance on it. Fab-u-lous!! I particularly liked his voice for Lord Corvin, although his West Indian accent for John Raven could certainly do with some work [sounded more Welsh than anything, and I've actually decided that he just can't 'do' accents 😕]. Aunt Beatrice was suitably awful...as was her dreadful husband, and the Reverend whatever his name was, predictably boring. I absolutely adore Guy, Sir Philip and especially that little strumpet of a sister Amanda. Fantastic.
Book Review
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me...oh, and 5 💜💛💙💚💟 too for Philip and Guy's lovely, gentle romance.
The laughs, the sarcasm, the naughty Latin words [former bored Latin scholar here hehe], the comeuppance for the dreadful Aunt Beatrice 😝, but most of all the brilliant Murder [read the story, you'll then understand the reference] Hellfire Club and more importantly its witty members, who were supportive of Philip to a man.
Lots of authors try to imitate KJ Charles, but she reigns supreme as far as this reader is concerned for her marvellous wit and delicious characters. Bravo!!
November 14, 2018
The word DELIGHTFUL was invented specifically for this book. That is all.
Bullet points!
Hero: notorious, wonderfully self-aware, hilarious, fab found family
Other Hero: SO SWEET WOW JUST SWEET AT EVERY TURN LET ME CUDDLE
Side Characters: I mention them because I am absolutely in love
Vibes: sparkling, merry, ACHINGLY ROMANTIC, witty & ironic, thoughtful, wow so hot, sweetly romantic
Notable details: literally everything about this book is notable tbh
Bullet points!
Hero: notorious, wonderfully self-aware, hilarious, fab found family
Other Hero: SO SWEET WOW JUST SWEET AT EVERY TURN LET ME CUDDLE
Side Characters: I mention them because I am absolutely in love
Vibes: sparkling, merry, ACHINGLY ROMANTIC, witty & ironic, thoughtful, wow so hot, sweetly romantic
Notable details: literally everything about this book is notable tbh
March 21, 2021
one of the best romances I’ve ever read like?!? Gay historical romance hell yeah hell yeah. Plays off lots of tropes and talks about a lot of things and is very adorable and sweet and wholesome but also there’s smut ⁉️I was very hesitant coming into it but like it was done well and exceeded all my expectations!!
September 2, 2018
Y’all. This book has etymology, Latin conjugations, and Catullus references in its delightful sex scenes, and there’s loving, healthy polyamory in the story! What more could you want from a book?
A sweet, shy virgin hero? Got it. A debauched rake who doesn’t give a care what anyone thinks (but who is also very invested in creating a domestic sugar industry so Britain won’t have to be reliant on slave sugar)? Check. A mysterious, disreputable hellfire club who may or may not be having orgies at a secluded country house? Absolutely. A smart, independent young woman who has written a Gothic novel that might just happen to be based on said hellfire club? She’s in there too and I adore her.
I love how this book plays with tropes, like the rake seducing the virgin, but it’s consensual from the very beginning. (They talk about it!) And there were some moments that might have been classic romance novel Big Misunderstandings in the hands of other writers, but the characters mostly talked their way out and behaved like adults! And when they did screw up (it happens), they apologized to each other. The whole thing is so sweet and loving. And it’s a ton of fun.
A sweet, shy virgin hero? Got it. A debauched rake who doesn’t give a care what anyone thinks (but who is also very invested in creating a domestic sugar industry so Britain won’t have to be reliant on slave sugar)? Check. A mysterious, disreputable hellfire club who may or may not be having orgies at a secluded country house? Absolutely. A smart, independent young woman who has written a Gothic novel that might just happen to be based on said hellfire club? She’s in there too and I adore her.
I love how this book plays with tropes, like the rake seducing the virgin, but it’s consensual from the very beginning. (They talk about it!) And there were some moments that might have been classic romance novel Big Misunderstandings in the hands of other writers, but the characters mostly talked their way out and behaved like adults! And when they did screw up (it happens), they apologized to each other. The whole thing is so sweet and loving. And it’s a ton of fun.
September 1, 2018
This is a deliciously tropetastic homage to the works of Georgette Heyer (particularly Venetia and Sylvester), albeit considerably more x-rated and much less heterosexual.
It presents us with an earnest country virgin and his spinster sister (and closeted budding gothic novelist) and their encounters with the wicked, misbegotten aristocrat next door and his “hellfire club” friends; but, this being KJ Charles, it’s also an exploration of the intersections of class, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and power. The Hellfire Club is not so much a den of vice and iniquity as it is a group of open minded and artistically inclined free-thinkers with a fondness for science and social justice - with, admittedly, an array of sexual orientations which would NOT meet the approval of your average dowager about town. One finds oneself wishing for a “murder” of one’s own - and not so much for the orgies as for the impassioned debates over dinner, the sense of having found one’s tribe.
The fair country mouse’s seduction is as much about his introduction to trilobites, Jews, former slaves and atheists as it is about the finer points of sex or love, and the wicked aristocratic next door is very different from the rakish figure local gossip depicts.
It’s lovely; very much like reading a Heyer, but without that whole “problematic fave” thing. (Well, and of course WITH lgbtq protagonists, and characters who are neither white nor Christian.)
I believe this is a standalone book, but like many of the best books it is blessed with a supporting cast of sufficient variety and interest that I find myself wishing wistfully for sequels, or companion volumes, to unpack the back stories of the other characters. I should love to know more about Corvin’s hinted-at past, or how the improbable Mrs Salcombe came to woo and wed her spouse while digging for fossils, or about the besotted musicians, or indeed the absent Isabella and Marianne. Their half-glimpsed stories fill the text with life and depth and interest above and beyond the charming romantic entanglements of the young Frisbys.
...it’s perhaps a curious thing to say about romantic fiction- gleefully tropetastic and explicitly sexual romantic fiction, at that - but one of my favourite things about this book (and this is true of all the rest of KJ Charles’s work, I think) is its focus on what real connections people form beyond the stock-in-trade elements of sexual and romantic desire. Philip’s relationship with John and Corvin is as important to him as his new relationship with Guy, and it is depicted just as sympathetically, even though it isn’t the focus of the story; Guy’s fraternal love for his younger sister is the foundation stone of his life, and his romance with Philip must be built around this understanding that her safety and happiness will always be his first priority - just as single parents must navigate romances around the reality that their child will always come first.
There are a lot of people out there writing romances, and a lot writing LGBTQ romances, but not so many of them eschew the titillating “zipless fuck” and place awkward, nuanced human connections front and centre. She does not objectify her characters any more than she tries to crowbar them into familiar cis-het relationships - they are always uniquely themselves, with their own truths and fears and desires.
They’re also operating within this real, imperfect world; even when writing what is more or less a fluffy queer mashup of Venetia and Sylvester, Charles doesn’t let her readers forget about what else was happening in the world at this time: that the sugar sweetening all those cups of chocolate and jams and trifles that characters nibble in Regency novels was the product of slave labour.
And another feature which is reliably front and centre is consent. It’s an unfortunate fact that romance fiction (like TV and cinema) tends towards the romanticisation of rape culture; this is particularly prevalent with this particular trope of the experienced rake and wide-eyed virgin. Charles, however, makes no bones about considering communication and active!enthusiastic consent to be vital in a healthy relationship, and she consistently makes consent sexy AF.
TL;DR - this is very much what one would expect from a KJ Charles-penned Heyer novel. It’s got less in the way of murder and machiavellian plotting than most of her other books, but delivers a thoroughly enjoyable comfort read Of the sort that I know I’ll return to rereading time and again in the future.
(The above is based on reading an ARC copy which I received from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
It presents us with an earnest country virgin and his spinster sister (and closeted budding gothic novelist) and their encounters with the wicked, misbegotten aristocrat next door and his “hellfire club” friends; but, this being KJ Charles, it’s also an exploration of the intersections of class, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and power. The Hellfire Club is not so much a den of vice and iniquity as it is a group of open minded and artistically inclined free-thinkers with a fondness for science and social justice - with, admittedly, an array of sexual orientations which would NOT meet the approval of your average dowager about town. One finds oneself wishing for a “murder” of one’s own - and not so much for the orgies as for the impassioned debates over dinner, the sense of having found one’s tribe.
The fair country mouse’s seduction is as much about his introduction to trilobites, Jews, former slaves and atheists as it is about the finer points of sex or love, and the wicked aristocratic next door is very different from the rakish figure local gossip depicts.
It’s lovely; very much like reading a Heyer, but without that whole “problematic fave” thing. (Well, and of course WITH lgbtq protagonists, and characters who are neither white nor Christian.)
I believe this is a standalone book, but like many of the best books it is blessed with a supporting cast of sufficient variety and interest that I find myself wishing wistfully for sequels, or companion volumes, to unpack the back stories of the other characters. I should love to know more about Corvin’s hinted-at past, or how the improbable Mrs Salcombe came to woo and wed her spouse while digging for fossils, or about the besotted musicians, or indeed the absent Isabella and Marianne. Their half-glimpsed stories fill the text with life and depth and interest above and beyond the charming romantic entanglements of the young Frisbys.
...it’s perhaps a curious thing to say about romantic fiction- gleefully tropetastic and explicitly sexual romantic fiction, at that - but one of my favourite things about this book (and this is true of all the rest of KJ Charles’s work, I think) is its focus on what real connections people form beyond the stock-in-trade elements of sexual and romantic desire. Philip’s relationship with John and Corvin is as important to him as his new relationship with Guy, and it is depicted just as sympathetically, even though it isn’t the focus of the story; Guy’s fraternal love for his younger sister is the foundation stone of his life, and his romance with Philip must be built around this understanding that her safety and happiness will always be his first priority - just as single parents must navigate romances around the reality that their child will always come first.
There are a lot of people out there writing romances, and a lot writing LGBTQ romances, but not so many of them eschew the titillating “zipless fuck” and place awkward, nuanced human connections front and centre. She does not objectify her characters any more than she tries to crowbar them into familiar cis-het relationships - they are always uniquely themselves, with their own truths and fears and desires.
They’re also operating within this real, imperfect world; even when writing what is more or less a fluffy queer mashup of Venetia and Sylvester, Charles doesn’t let her readers forget about what else was happening in the world at this time: that the sugar sweetening all those cups of chocolate and jams and trifles that characters nibble in Regency novels was the product of slave labour.
And another feature which is reliably front and centre is consent. It’s an unfortunate fact that romance fiction (like TV and cinema) tends towards the romanticisation of rape culture; this is particularly prevalent with this particular trope of the experienced rake and wide-eyed virgin. Charles, however, makes no bones about considering communication and active!enthusiastic consent to be vital in a healthy relationship, and she consistently makes consent sexy AF.
TL;DR - this is very much what one would expect from a KJ Charles-penned Heyer novel. It’s got less in the way of murder and machiavellian plotting than most of her other books, but delivers a thoroughly enjoyable comfort read Of the sort that I know I’ll return to rereading time and again in the future.
(The above is based on reading an ARC copy which I received from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
October 13, 2020
Just as delightful as everyone says! KJ Charles is always clever, but Philip is one of her best. Great chemistry between him and Guy and their exchanges are so funny and often poignant.
Friends have suggested that Cornell Collins' performance in the audio version is a bit too formal and staid. I can see that and I'll bet reading it would be twice as good. Hopefully I'll be able to make the time soon.
Friends have suggested that Cornell Collins' performance in the audio version is a bit too formal and staid. I can see that and I'll bet reading it would be twice as good. Hopefully I'll be able to make the time soon.
April 12, 2019
I've given this an A- for narration and an A for content at AudioGals
Another 2018 favourite lately come to audio, K.J. Charles’ Band Sinister is, quite simply, a total delight. The author made no secret of the fact that it’s an homage to the works of Georgette Heyer, who practically invented the ‘modern’ Regency Romance single-handed, or that she employed a number of favourite tropes in terms of the characterisation and plot – and yet in spite of all that, there is no doubt whatsoever that this is a K.J. Charles book, through and through. On the surface, it’s the story of the country innocent seduced by the wicked lord, but in reality, it’s so much more than that, conveying important ideas about the nature of love and friendship, social responsibility and the importance of being true to oneself and of living as one’s conscience dictates.
Guy and Amanda Frisby were born into the landed gentry but have come down in the world. When their mother ran off with her much younger lover, their father took to heavy gambling and heavy drinking and died leaving them with nothing but scandal to their name. When the story opens, Guy is reading – somewhat apprehensively – the gothic novel Amanda has written and sent to a publisher, and in which she has modelled her villains on their near-neighbour, Sir Philip Rookwood (whose older brother was the man with whom their mother ran away), and his close friend, the devilish Lord Corvin, a man with quite possibly the blackest reputation in England.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
Another 2018 favourite lately come to audio, K.J. Charles’ Band Sinister is, quite simply, a total delight. The author made no secret of the fact that it’s an homage to the works of Georgette Heyer, who practically invented the ‘modern’ Regency Romance single-handed, or that she employed a number of favourite tropes in terms of the characterisation and plot – and yet in spite of all that, there is no doubt whatsoever that this is a K.J. Charles book, through and through. On the surface, it’s the story of the country innocent seduced by the wicked lord, but in reality, it’s so much more than that, conveying important ideas about the nature of love and friendship, social responsibility and the importance of being true to oneself and of living as one’s conscience dictates.
Guy and Amanda Frisby were born into the landed gentry but have come down in the world. When their mother ran off with her much younger lover, their father took to heavy gambling and heavy drinking and died leaving them with nothing but scandal to their name. When the story opens, Guy is reading – somewhat apprehensively – the gothic novel Amanda has written and sent to a publisher, and in which she has modelled her villains on their near-neighbour, Sir Philip Rookwood (whose older brother was the man with whom their mother ran away), and his close friend, the devilish Lord Corvin, a man with quite possibly the blackest reputation in England.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
March 9, 2021
Updated for audio review
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Wow, so Band Sinister was such a lot of fun, I really loved it! Author K.J. Charles describes the book as “Full Heyer” (as in author Georgette Heyer of old-school romance fame) and has modeled the cover off her style as well. I will admit that I have never read any of Heyer’s work, so I can’t attest to whether it works as an homage to her writing, but as a modern reader, I found this one fabulous.
There is so much here to like, I feel like I could write on and on and still not scratch the surface, but let me highlight a few of the areas that really worked for me. First off, I absolutely adored the members of the “Murder,” a group consisting of Phillip’s best friends John and Corvin, along with others. I loved that these men are a mix of races and classes and professions. They are comfortable together and all just so incredibly fun and charming, as they bicker and banter and yet so clearly all love and respect one another.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Wow, so Band Sinister was such a lot of fun, I really loved it! Author K.J. Charles describes the book as “Full Heyer” (as in author Georgette Heyer of old-school romance fame) and has modeled the cover off her style as well. I will admit that I have never read any of Heyer’s work, so I can’t attest to whether it works as an homage to her writing, but as a modern reader, I found this one fabulous.
There is so much here to like, I feel like I could write on and on and still not scratch the surface, but let me highlight a few of the areas that really worked for me. First off, I absolutely adored the members of the “Murder,” a group consisting of Phillip’s best friends John and Corvin, along with others. I loved that these men are a mix of races and classes and professions. They are comfortable together and all just so incredibly fun and charming, as they bicker and banter and yet so clearly all love and respect one another.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
February 9, 2019
K.J. Charles out-Heyers Georgette Heyer--because her version is fabulously gay, features a fantastic heroine who doesn't simper, and isn't antisemitic. In fact, the secondary hero is Jewish -- be still my heart!
Sir Philip Rookwood's hellfire club of the notorious reputation is actually a group of people who would normally be ostracized because they refuse to play by society's intolerant and ignorant rules, and the society they have instead made for each other is my favorite thing about this book. I would happily read several more novels with these characters, set in this world. Philip and Guy go from enemies to in love a little too quickly and unconvincingly, but the spritely energy that pervades the story more than made up for it.
I can't think of the last time I read a book like this in one sitting, purely because I didn't wish to stop, but that is precisely what happened here.
Sir Philip Rookwood's hellfire club of the notorious reputation is actually a group of people who would normally be ostracized because they refuse to play by society's intolerant and ignorant rules, and the society they have instead made for each other is my favorite thing about this book. I would happily read several more novels with these characters, set in this world. Philip and Guy go from enemies to in love a little too quickly and unconvincingly, but the spritely energy that pervades the story more than made up for it.
I can't think of the last time I read a book like this in one sitting, purely because I didn't wish to stop, but that is precisely what happened here.
October 25, 2018
4.5
So much fun!
So much fun!
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