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Pryor Cousins #1
Octavius and the Perfect Governess
A governess in jeopardy . . . and the marquis’s son who goes undercover as a housemaid to protect her.
Lord Octavius Pryor leads a carefree and untroubled life, until the night he visits Vauxhall Gardens in the guise of a woman.
At Vauxhall, Octavius discovers that being a female is very different from being a man. Annoyingly different, unpleasantly different, and—when he encounters the lecherous Baron Rumpole—dangerously different.
Determined to teach the baron a lesson, Octavius infiltrates Rumpole’s household, where he meets the woman of his dreams: Miss Toogood, governess to the baron’s daughters.
Suddenly Octavius has three pressing tasks. 1) To teach the baron to keep his yardstick in his breeches. 2) To keep Miss Toogood safe. 3) To convince her to marry him.
A word of caution: This novel is a bodice ripper, and I mean that quite literally. Bodices are ripped in this book—and not in a playful or sexy way. However, I promise you that all rippers of bodices receive their just desserts.
Lord Octavius Pryor leads a carefree and untroubled life, until the night he visits Vauxhall Gardens in the guise of a woman.
At Vauxhall, Octavius discovers that being a female is very different from being a man. Annoyingly different, unpleasantly different, and—when he encounters the lecherous Baron Rumpole—dangerously different.
Determined to teach the baron a lesson, Octavius infiltrates Rumpole’s household, where he meets the woman of his dreams: Miss Toogood, governess to the baron’s daughters.
Suddenly Octavius has three pressing tasks. 1) To teach the baron to keep his yardstick in his breeches. 2) To keep Miss Toogood safe. 3) To convince her to marry him.
A word of caution: This novel is a bodice ripper, and I mean that quite literally. Bodices are ripped in this book—and not in a playful or sexy way. However, I promise you that all rippers of bodices receive their just desserts.
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First published June 1, 2020
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About the author
Emily Larkin
33 books371 followersEmily Larkin is the USA Today bestselling author of the Baleful Godmother historical romance series, a series that readers are calling “sexy, unusual and vastly entertaining,” and "ridiculously wonderful."
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 5, 2020
I've given this a C at AAR..
Emily Larkin is a favourite author and I’ve reviewed and awarded high grades to several of her historical romances. She’s a gifted storyteller with the ability to create interesting, three-dimensional characters, intriguing plots and sensual, well-developed romances, so I approached her new novel, Octavius and the Perfect Governess, eagerly anticipating more of the same. Unfortunately however, I came away from it disappointed, because most of the things I’ve loved about her other books are largely absent from this one. There’s a decent premise but as for the rest of it, the protagonists are bland, there is no chemistry between them and the romance takes a seat at the very back of the bus, the rest of which is filled with the machinations of the plot.
Octavius and the Perfect Governess is book one in the Pryor Cousins series, a spin-off from the author’s Baleful Godmother series, in which the heroines were given a magical gift by their faerie godmother when they reached a certain age (twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-five depending on which branch of the family they belonged to) to honour a bargain made centuries earlier by their ancestresses and the fae. In this series, however, the recipients of the magical gifts are all male, a group of cousins all descended from the Duke of Linwood, whose gift is that of being able to hear lies (like Letty in Trusting Miss Trentham). The story opens with the cousins – Octavius, Decimus (Dex) and Nonus (Ned) – wagering on a race across the ballroom in the duke’s house, which Octavius loses. Dex and Ned gleefully announce that his forfeit is to attend Vauxhall Gardens with them the following evening – but that he must go as a woman. Like Charlotte in Unmasking Miss Appleby, Octavius chose the gift of transformation, but while he’s been pretty much every animal he can think of and has even, on occasion taken the shape of another person, he’s never assumed the form of a woman. Why would he want to? He’s handsome, wealthy and well-born:
Why, when he had all those advantages, would he want to see what it was like to be a woman?
But a wager is a wager, so Octavius transforms into a woman and accompanies his cousins to the pleasure gardens. And it’s here that he discovers another reason he most definitely wouldn’t want to be a woman. When he is unintentionally separated from his cousins, he narrowly avoids being sexually assaulted by the loathesome Baron Rumpole, and it’s only the timely intervention of his cousin Sextus that saves him. Furious, disgusted – and more than a little rattled – the thought that a man like Rumpole, an obvious threat to women, is able to walk around with impunity angers him, and Octavius vows to teach the man a lesson. To this end, he adopts female form again and, garbed as a housemaid, enters the Baron’s house late the following evening, finds him in his study and, when ordered to ‘play his flute’ bloodies Rumpole’s nose before making his escape.
On his way out of the house, Octavius (still a housemaid) literally bumps into a young woman on the stairs, who introduces herself as the governess, Miss Toogood. Octavius is instantly smitten, and on learning that the Baron’s late wife had been the sister of his friend Lord Newingham (making Rumpole’s daughters Newingham’s nieces) he and Dex come up with a plan that will enable Octavius to spend some time with Miss Toogood, and for them to teach the lecherous Baron a lesson he’ll never forget.
All this set up takes place in the first few chapters, which should have allowed plenty of time for plot and romantic development in the rest of the book, but sadly while the former happens, not enough time is spent on the latter. Most of the story is devoted to working out how to deal with Rumpole, talking about how terrible it is that he practices ‘master’s rights’ (droit du seigneur) and gets away with it, and how disadvantaged women are compared to men; there’s a long discussion between the cousins during which they come to the conclusion that women have it pretty tough. These are all perfectly, one hundred percent valid points – but I felt as though I was being hit over the head with them. In Unmasking Miss Appleby, the author addressed the issue of female inequality in a more subtle manner that felt integral to the plot; here I felt the plot had been conceived purely to make those points, and the characters were little more than mouthpieces for those ideas. The entire Prior family is shown to be pretty progressive in fact, which… okay, all the male members of the family have magical gifts so they’re not exactly a conventional family, and Octavius does have first-hand experience of being a woman and, as Miss Toogood notes towards the end, he’s learned from it and allowed it to inform his outlook.
I liked the depiction of the relationship between Octavius and his cousins and the scenes which featured the two little girls (who are not your typical romance novel annoying plot moppets), but the characterisation of the two leads is fairly flat. Pip Toogood is, well, too good to be true; she believes a governess’ job should be teaching her charges confidence and self-worth as well as the normal academic subjects, she’s sweet and kind and clever… but is sadly rather dull. Octavius is handsome, charming and has a well-developed social conscience, but he’s very much in the same mold. There were flashes of the sort of insight displayed by the author in her other books towards the end, when Octavius questions his right to administer ‘justice’ but as I write this review less than an hour after finishing the book, I can’t remember much more about him.
You’ll notice I haven’t said very much about the romance; sadly there isn’t much to say because there isn’t much of a romance here. Octavius pretty much falls in love at first sight, and there’s no spark or sense of connection between him and Pip. I know this author can create wonderful romances and delicious sexual tension, but that just doesn’t happen here.
I’ve ended up going with a middling grade for this one. The writing is strong and the premise is intriguing, but sadly, the author got too bogged down in the message and somehow lost sight of the need to create interesting characters and an emotionally satisfying romance. Emily Larkin remains one of my go-to authors for historical romance, but sadly, Octavius and the Perfect Governess didn’t hit the spot.
Emily Larkin is a favourite author and I’ve reviewed and awarded high grades to several of her historical romances. She’s a gifted storyteller with the ability to create interesting, three-dimensional characters, intriguing plots and sensual, well-developed romances, so I approached her new novel, Octavius and the Perfect Governess, eagerly anticipating more of the same. Unfortunately however, I came away from it disappointed, because most of the things I’ve loved about her other books are largely absent from this one. There’s a decent premise but as for the rest of it, the protagonists are bland, there is no chemistry between them and the romance takes a seat at the very back of the bus, the rest of which is filled with the machinations of the plot.
Octavius and the Perfect Governess is book one in the Pryor Cousins series, a spin-off from the author’s Baleful Godmother series, in which the heroines were given a magical gift by their faerie godmother when they reached a certain age (twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-five depending on which branch of the family they belonged to) to honour a bargain made centuries earlier by their ancestresses and the fae. In this series, however, the recipients of the magical gifts are all male, a group of cousins all descended from the Duke of Linwood, whose gift is that of being able to hear lies (like Letty in Trusting Miss Trentham). The story opens with the cousins – Octavius, Decimus (Dex) and Nonus (Ned) – wagering on a race across the ballroom in the duke’s house, which Octavius loses. Dex and Ned gleefully announce that his forfeit is to attend Vauxhall Gardens with them the following evening – but that he must go as a woman. Like Charlotte in Unmasking Miss Appleby, Octavius chose the gift of transformation, but while he’s been pretty much every animal he can think of and has even, on occasion taken the shape of another person, he’s never assumed the form of a woman. Why would he want to? He’s handsome, wealthy and well-born:
Why, when he had all those advantages, would he want to see what it was like to be a woman?
But a wager is a wager, so Octavius transforms into a woman and accompanies his cousins to the pleasure gardens. And it’s here that he discovers another reason he most definitely wouldn’t want to be a woman. When he is unintentionally separated from his cousins, he narrowly avoids being sexually assaulted by the loathesome Baron Rumpole, and it’s only the timely intervention of his cousin Sextus that saves him. Furious, disgusted – and more than a little rattled – the thought that a man like Rumpole, an obvious threat to women, is able to walk around with impunity angers him, and Octavius vows to teach the man a lesson. To this end, he adopts female form again and, garbed as a housemaid, enters the Baron’s house late the following evening, finds him in his study and, when ordered to ‘play his flute’ bloodies Rumpole’s nose before making his escape.
On his way out of the house, Octavius (still a housemaid) literally bumps into a young woman on the stairs, who introduces herself as the governess, Miss Toogood. Octavius is instantly smitten, and on learning that the Baron’s late wife had been the sister of his friend Lord Newingham (making Rumpole’s daughters Newingham’s nieces) he and Dex come up with a plan that will enable Octavius to spend some time with Miss Toogood, and for them to teach the lecherous Baron a lesson he’ll never forget.
All this set up takes place in the first few chapters, which should have allowed plenty of time for plot and romantic development in the rest of the book, but sadly while the former happens, not enough time is spent on the latter. Most of the story is devoted to working out how to deal with Rumpole, talking about how terrible it is that he practices ‘master’s rights’ (droit du seigneur) and gets away with it, and how disadvantaged women are compared to men; there’s a long discussion between the cousins during which they come to the conclusion that women have it pretty tough. These are all perfectly, one hundred percent valid points – but I felt as though I was being hit over the head with them. In Unmasking Miss Appleby, the author addressed the issue of female inequality in a more subtle manner that felt integral to the plot; here I felt the plot had been conceived purely to make those points, and the characters were little more than mouthpieces for those ideas. The entire Prior family is shown to be pretty progressive in fact, which… okay, all the male members of the family have magical gifts so they’re not exactly a conventional family, and Octavius does have first-hand experience of being a woman and, as Miss Toogood notes towards the end, he’s learned from it and allowed it to inform his outlook.
I liked the depiction of the relationship between Octavius and his cousins and the scenes which featured the two little girls (who are not your typical romance novel annoying plot moppets), but the characterisation of the two leads is fairly flat. Pip Toogood is, well, too good to be true; she believes a governess’ job should be teaching her charges confidence and self-worth as well as the normal academic subjects, she’s sweet and kind and clever… but is sadly rather dull. Octavius is handsome, charming and has a well-developed social conscience, but he’s very much in the same mold. There were flashes of the sort of insight displayed by the author in her other books towards the end, when Octavius questions his right to administer ‘justice’ but as I write this review less than an hour after finishing the book, I can’t remember much more about him.
You’ll notice I haven’t said very much about the romance; sadly there isn’t much to say because there isn’t much of a romance here. Octavius pretty much falls in love at first sight, and there’s no spark or sense of connection between him and Pip. I know this author can create wonderful romances and delicious sexual tension, but that just doesn’t happen here.
I’ve ended up going with a middling grade for this one. The writing is strong and the premise is intriguing, but sadly, the author got too bogged down in the message and somehow lost sight of the need to create interesting characters and an emotionally satisfying romance. Emily Larkin remains one of my go-to authors for historical romance, but sadly, Octavius and the Perfect Governess didn’t hit the spot.
June 24, 2020
A cute and (almost) clean romance with the usual supernatural twist that marks Ms Larkin's Baleful Godmother's series, but here the Godchildren are males and the Godmother doesn't actually appear in person! :)
I like it, I really did even if the hero was a bit too much perfect! LOL
Still he was sweet and actually felt on his skin what it meant to be a woman in that period and changed his view and behaviour.
I like it, I really did even if the hero was a bit too much perfect! LOL
Still he was sweet and actually felt on his skin what it meant to be a woman in that period and changed his view and behaviour.
February 13, 2021
TW: rape, abuse
Tags: magical realism
It’s anachronistic with a contemporary writing voice but the novelty of a regency romance with magical elements makes it intriguing enough to finish.
Loved the concept but didnt really feel the romance between the couple. Its a looong novel that couldve afforded to add some detail to their actual relationship instead of the hand-wavy instalove.
Tags: magical realism
It’s anachronistic with a contemporary writing voice but the novelty of a regency romance with magical elements makes it intriguing enough to finish.
Loved the concept but didnt really feel the romance between the couple. Its a looong novel that couldve afforded to add some detail to their actual relationship instead of the hand-wavy instalove.
May 13, 2022
Not bad. I enjoy a little paranormal with my romance novels. There was a lot of molestation of women, which I didn't care too much for, but I was happy that the heroine was able to protect herself.
May 28, 2020
I read a lot of historical romance. I have enjoyed the mix of light magic and historical romance in Emily Larkin’s series. But, this book, THIS BOOK, goes way beyond light magic and romance. This book goes to the heart of the differences in the world for men and women.
Though the author cautions about the bodice ripping, it is not violent or overly descriptive. But, I would guess many women will relate to the experiences. I don’t like stories with detailed violence but this book does not have that. Emily Larkin treats the subject with care.
Don’t think this is a dark and brooding book, though. It’s not. There is happiness and joy and laughter in it throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the characters’ depth. I can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series.
Though the author cautions about the bodice ripping, it is not violent or overly descriptive. But, I would guess many women will relate to the experiences. I don’t like stories with detailed violence but this book does not have that. Emily Larkin treats the subject with care.
Don’t think this is a dark and brooding book, though. It’s not. There is happiness and joy and laughter in it throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the characters’ depth. I can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series.
July 15, 2020
What a lovely story. A very enjoyable read. Loved it! 5☆
May 29, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though I do feel it needs a bit more of a trigger warning for those who have been victims of domestic and sexual assault. There are no truly graphic scenes in the book, however, it can be extremely unsettling at times. A great depiction of the differences between men and women, both historically and extrapolated to current times.
Readers do not have to have read any of the previous books in the Fairie God Mother series to truly appreciate this book. Having read those previously, I enjoyed having the knowledge ahead of time as to where the magic came from, but the description given in the story was wonderful.
There is a great balance of looking at social issues while brining the romance, and of course HEA we all love to see! Definitely worth the read, but hold on to your seats for some bumps along the way!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Readers do not have to have read any of the previous books in the Fairie God Mother series to truly appreciate this book. Having read those previously, I enjoyed having the knowledge ahead of time as to where the magic came from, but the description given in the story was wonderful.
There is a great balance of looking at social issues while brining the romance, and of course HEA we all love to see! Definitely worth the read, but hold on to your seats for some bumps along the way!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
May 29, 2020
Finally a new book of the "Baleful Godmother" series!
I was looking forward to read it and it didn't disappoint. It is not the usual Regency romance, the main plot - h and H meet, fall in love, have a misunderstanding, reunite and live HEA- applies here like in every romance but there are some, I would call them, philosophical conversations and paragraphs with inner musings about the difference of men and women, goals in life, personal flaws, expectations of society and obstacles to overcome which set the book off the beaten track.
The book starts with a hilarious competition between two cousins who can run faster over 120 chairs. The loser is our hero and since he had a fairy godmother he has to use his gift of metamorphosis and change into a woman to accompagny his cousins to Vauxhall. Uncomfortable from the beginning to be a woman wearing clothes that hardly cover his breasts, no drawers (they were not common for ladies at that time) and a tight skirt that hinders from running he soon discovers other disadvantages: several men make lewd comments, pinch or grope him, and in the end he scarcely escapes being raped by Baron Rumpole.
This events sets in motion his quest to prevent the governess of the baron's daughters from such a fate. In the guise of a maid he entices the baron to seduce him and when he does Octavius metes out punishment, in the end together with his cousin. Those scenes are very funny.
Both cousins, and those who stayed in London as well, know that they live a priviliged life, their grandfather, the duke, has taught his offsprings humility and so far they have abided by it. After witnessing the baron using his "droit de seigneur" they decide to combine their fairy gifts and make the world a safer place for women starting with female servants in the duke's various estates.
All characters mature significantly in this book and the reader gets a glimpse how hard and without rights the life of women no matter of social standing was in those times.
I hope this is the first book of a new series as there are four brothers and cousins who I would love to see in a story of their own. In the beginning there are many different names, but do not despair, the author explains their names and relation very well later.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was looking forward to read it and it didn't disappoint. It is not the usual Regency romance, the main plot - h and H meet, fall in love, have a misunderstanding, reunite and live HEA- applies here like in every romance but there are some, I would call them, philosophical conversations and paragraphs with inner musings about the difference of men and women, goals in life, personal flaws, expectations of society and obstacles to overcome which set the book off the beaten track.
The book starts with a hilarious competition between two cousins who can run faster over 120 chairs. The loser is our hero and since he had a fairy godmother he has to use his gift of metamorphosis and change into a woman to accompagny his cousins to Vauxhall. Uncomfortable from the beginning to be a woman wearing clothes that hardly cover his breasts, no drawers (they were not common for ladies at that time) and a tight skirt that hinders from running he soon discovers other disadvantages: several men make lewd comments, pinch or grope him, and in the end he scarcely escapes being raped by Baron Rumpole.
This events sets in motion his quest to prevent the governess of the baron's daughters from such a fate. In the guise of a maid he entices the baron to seduce him and when he does Octavius metes out punishment, in the end together with his cousin. Those scenes are very funny.
Both cousins, and those who stayed in London as well, know that they live a priviliged life, their grandfather, the duke, has taught his offsprings humility and so far they have abided by it. After witnessing the baron using his "droit de seigneur" they decide to combine their fairy gifts and make the world a safer place for women starting with female servants in the duke's various estates.
All characters mature significantly in this book and the reader gets a glimpse how hard and without rights the life of women no matter of social standing was in those times.
I hope this is the first book of a new series as there are four brothers and cousins who I would love to see in a story of their own. In the beginning there are many different names, but do not despair, the author explains their names and relation very well later.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 26, 2020
I did like this magical, slightly paranormal, Historical romance. It was nicely written, light and fluffy and entertaining. The characters however, did go on a bit too much about the rights/no rights for women in the Regency era. I've read a stack of Historical romances with this theme this year and I don't think it suites the genre if it's to be portrayed accurately. 🤔 Of course, there aren't really fairy godmothers, so not reality anyway... The historical details were good otherwise.
There is attempted rape/assault and our hero, thanks to the said fairy godmother, can change into other people. Octavius morphs into various different ladies, to teach the bad guys lessons about respecting women. Especially the woman he falls instantly in love with - governess to his friend's nieces - Pip. (Miss Toogood!! 😂)
There are fun side characters and a couple of cute children and everything is wrapped up in a big neat bow. 💝 The attitudes and dialogue are modern and there's insta-love of course and one or two steamy'ish' romance scenes. Just enjoy reading this for fun. 3.5 stars.
There is attempted rape/assault and our hero, thanks to the said fairy godmother, can change into other people. Octavius morphs into various different ladies, to teach the bad guys lessons about respecting women. Especially the woman he falls instantly in love with - governess to his friend's nieces - Pip. (Miss Toogood!! 😂)
There are fun side characters and a couple of cute children and everything is wrapped up in a big neat bow. 💝 The attitudes and dialogue are modern and there's insta-love of course and one or two steamy'ish' romance scenes. Just enjoy reading this for fun. 3.5 stars.
August 17, 2020
3.5 stars.
I like this author so much I paid full price for this one. That almost never happens.
I had just finished Primrose and the Dreadful Duke, which I found delightful. This one’s good, but I thought it a little too overtly feminist. I mean, I don’t mind a little feminism in my historical romance, but Octavius pretty much knocks you over the head with it. I also didn’t find the banter the other one had or that the characters were as much fun. In the end, I enjoyed Octavius, but it isn’t the stellar story that Primrose is.
I like this author so much I paid full price for this one. That almost never happens.
I had just finished Primrose and the Dreadful Duke, which I found delightful. This one’s good, but I thought it a little too overtly feminist. I mean, I don’t mind a little feminism in my historical romance, but Octavius pretty much knocks you over the head with it. I also didn’t find the banter the other one had or that the characters were as much fun. In the end, I enjoyed Octavius, but it isn’t the stellar story that Primrose is.
May 29, 2020
Emily has written another superb book. I decided that this time I would read it in small bites and savour it, to make it last longer. So much for good intentions. Once started, I could not put it down. I love the meticulous attention to the details of the period, the excellent writing style and of course the intriguing story line. Emily has a gift of making her characters real and drawing you into her worlds.
I recommend this as an great book to read, share and enjoy.
I recommend this as an great book to read, share and enjoy.
June 8, 2020
A wonderful continuation in the Baleful Godmother series, with more people receiving the 'gift'. The H is a sweetie, immature and spoiled and he knows it. He matures during the story, becomes more thoughtful as he determines what is important to him. The h helped him see himself through her eyes, and while it wasn't always positive, they did have a lot more in common than she thought. The plot was complex, and we learn more about family connections and their gifts. It was revealed as they fall in love. I loved it and can't wait for the next book.
May 28, 2020
I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed Emily Larkins books she has tremendous creativity. I like how the plot And characters of this book are very different from so many others.
It was an interesting turn of feelings from Otto after his action against Rumpole. It showed how strong a character he truly is. I appreciated him all the more.
I would love to see other stories about the other male family members.
It was an interesting turn of feelings from Otto after his action against Rumpole. It showed how strong a character he truly is. I appreciated him all the more.
I would love to see other stories about the other male family members.
February 23, 2022
Meh, pretty unmemorable
June 25, 2020
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1fN
Do you believe in fairies? How about a fairy godmother? For the men of the Pryor family, there is no doubt that they are real. A long ago ancestor performed a service for a fairy, and in exchange, was awarded a family blessing, or, curse, depending on how you view it. Each male, on their twenty-fifth birthday, will be visited by the fairy they call Baletongue, due to her charming personality and actual dislike of humans. She will reluctantly grant the men their wish of having a certain power or ability. They just have to be very careful and selective as to how they word their request, or the snarky fairy will be happy to twist it in a way it was never intended to be.
Octavius “Otto” Pryor has just lost a silly bet to his cousin Ned, and is about to be told his forfeit. Ned knows that Otto’s gift is the ability to change his shape to that of any existing creature, so he demands that Otto change into an attractive woman and visit Vauxhall Gardens. Otto soon realizes how it feels to be leered at, have indecent comments made, and even to be accosted. As he’s separated from his cousins, he becomes the target of a drunken Baron Rumpole, who is determined not to let Otto get away. Otto, whose feminine body doesn’t have the strength or bulk to defend himself, finds out what it feels like to be at the mercy of a man. Thankfully, he is able to escape, but comes away determined to teach the lecherous baron a lesson.
Otto has a friend who has connections to the baron, thus enabling a way for him to become ensconced in the baron’s household for an extended stay. When Otto meets Philippa “Pip” Toogood, the governess to the baron’s young daughters, he is almost instantaneously smitten. (Don’t you love that she’s Miss Toogood?) As Otto works on his plan to change the baron’s ways, he also works on charming Pip, hoping she’ll return his regard. It’s not long before Otto decides that he wants Pip in his life forever, and he is anxious to get her out of the household where all of the female servants are fair game.
Otto and Pip are extremely likeable characters, totally honorable, and their romance is sweet. There is some doubt to their future together when Pip inadvertently finds out about Otto’s “gift” before he had a chance to try to explain it. OCTAVIUS AND THE PERFECT GOVERNESS is a light and amusing romance, which at the same time actually makes you think about the precarious position female subordinates are in. I admire Otto’s determination to try to right a wrong situation, and his battle to protect women, by using his power to “educate” transgressing men, one at a time. Previous books by Emily Larkin have depicted women of certain families as having the fairy godmother’s gift, so it was both fun and interesting to see how men handle it. I enjoyed reading this latest installment in the Baleful Godmother series, and recommend it for those who enjoy a touch of magic in their romance.
Do you believe in fairies? How about a fairy godmother? For the men of the Pryor family, there is no doubt that they are real. A long ago ancestor performed a service for a fairy, and in exchange, was awarded a family blessing, or, curse, depending on how you view it. Each male, on their twenty-fifth birthday, will be visited by the fairy they call Baletongue, due to her charming personality and actual dislike of humans. She will reluctantly grant the men their wish of having a certain power or ability. They just have to be very careful and selective as to how they word their request, or the snarky fairy will be happy to twist it in a way it was never intended to be.
Octavius “Otto” Pryor has just lost a silly bet to his cousin Ned, and is about to be told his forfeit. Ned knows that Otto’s gift is the ability to change his shape to that of any existing creature, so he demands that Otto change into an attractive woman and visit Vauxhall Gardens. Otto soon realizes how it feels to be leered at, have indecent comments made, and even to be accosted. As he’s separated from his cousins, he becomes the target of a drunken Baron Rumpole, who is determined not to let Otto get away. Otto, whose feminine body doesn’t have the strength or bulk to defend himself, finds out what it feels like to be at the mercy of a man. Thankfully, he is able to escape, but comes away determined to teach the lecherous baron a lesson.
Otto has a friend who has connections to the baron, thus enabling a way for him to become ensconced in the baron’s household for an extended stay. When Otto meets Philippa “Pip” Toogood, the governess to the baron’s young daughters, he is almost instantaneously smitten. (Don’t you love that she’s Miss Toogood?) As Otto works on his plan to change the baron’s ways, he also works on charming Pip, hoping she’ll return his regard. It’s not long before Otto decides that he wants Pip in his life forever, and he is anxious to get her out of the household where all of the female servants are fair game.
Otto and Pip are extremely likeable characters, totally honorable, and their romance is sweet. There is some doubt to their future together when Pip inadvertently finds out about Otto’s “gift” before he had a chance to try to explain it. OCTAVIUS AND THE PERFECT GOVERNESS is a light and amusing romance, which at the same time actually makes you think about the precarious position female subordinates are in. I admire Otto’s determination to try to right a wrong situation, and his battle to protect women, by using his power to “educate” transgressing men, one at a time. Previous books by Emily Larkin have depicted women of certain families as having the fairy godmother’s gift, so it was both fun and interesting to see how men handle it. I enjoyed reading this latest installment in the Baleful Godmother series, and recommend it for those who enjoy a touch of magic in their romance.
May 31, 2020
I love Emily Larkin in general. This book, though, was a little heavier, a little more serious than most of her previous books. It probably needs a content warning for assault and attempted rape. None of it is very graphic, but it's there. Partly because it doesn't occur to Octavius just how vulnerable he is as a woman (nor does his cousin, who's escorting him), and partly because after his assault, Octavius decides his assailant needs to be taken down a peg or two.
There's an interesting conversation about whether it's more dangerous to be a man or a woman. Octavius says it's more dangerous to be a woman. He's had some experience with both, of course, cut it's not quite the same, if you're unprepared.
Pip disagrees.
I just want to say that I sincerely hope there isn't as long to wait for the next episode!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There's an interesting conversation about whether it's more dangerous to be a man or a woman. Octavius says it's more dangerous to be a woman. He's had some experience with both, of course, cut it's not quite the same, if you're unprepared.
Pip disagrees.
Pip strolled in silence for almost half a minute, trying to find the words to verbalize something that was hazy and nebulous. “I think . . . the world I inhabit is a gentler and safer place than the one you inhabit. Women encounter less violence in their lives than men do. We’re not expected to fight, we can’t be press-ganged or sent off to war, and perhaps you like fighting, but I don’t, so that’s another reason I’m glad I’m a woman.”I'm not convinced, either.
Lord Octavius considered this for a moment, his expression thoughtful, and then he nodded. “Men are more aggressive than women. In general.”
“In general,” Pip agreed.
“Perhaps that could be a benefit to being female,” he said, but he didn’t sound entirely convinced.
I just want to say that I sincerely hope there isn't as long to wait for the next episode!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2020
DNF
I am surprised by all the five-star ratings on this one. The storyline had potential and the characters would no doubt be enjoyable if written well, but the book was so badly written that I just couldn't wade my way through it. I started watching how long I had to go at about 25% and gave up at 55%.
The writing was so bland and simple. There was no creativity in it. We are just told what is happening all the way through using a very basic and repetitious style.
One example of the shocking writing style is the conversation between Otto, Dex and Miss Toogood that I read this morning.
--------------------
[Otto says something]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
[Otto says something else]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
[Dex speaks]
[Otto speaks again]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
-----------------
With the lack of flare in the writing style, the storyline just seems to repeat itself over and over, offering little interest in the process.
I am surprised by all the five-star ratings on this one. The storyline had potential and the characters would no doubt be enjoyable if written well, but the book was so badly written that I just couldn't wade my way through it. I started watching how long I had to go at about 25% and gave up at 55%.
The writing was so bland and simple. There was no creativity in it. We are just told what is happening all the way through using a very basic and repetitious style.
One example of the shocking writing style is the conversation between Otto, Dex and Miss Toogood that I read this morning.
--------------------
[Otto says something]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
[Otto says something else]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
[Dex speaks]
[Otto speaks again]
Miss Toogood nodded thoughtfully.
-----------------
With the lack of flare in the writing style, the storyline just seems to repeat itself over and over, offering little interest in the process.
June 22, 2020
How is it possible to write such a cute, light, funny story when the plot basically revolves around sexual predators ? The humorous tone is reminiscent of Primrose and the Dreadful Duke (which I loved) and lightens the story without belittling the crime.
The book starts this new sub-series by introducing the five Pryor cousins and their different characters : Quintus the serious heir, Sextus the mysterious guy (can't wait to read his story !), Nonus the oaf, Decimus the rake and Octavius the... adorable one ?
After being assaulted by a sexual predator while being female, Octavius decides to teach the bad guy a lesson. This is not intended as a revenge for what (nearly) happened to him, but more as a heroic quest to protect all potential future victims. His progressive discovery of the female perspective, his fury when confronted with the predators, his gentleness with the woman he loves, make him imho one of the sweetest of Emily Larkin's heroes. I love how he falls in love at first sight but then decides to give himself one more week just to be sure !
Concerning the heroine, I was a bit disappointed because she is a perfect governess, a very kind girl and... that's it, actually.
As for additional characters, we get well acquainted with Decimus too (he makes for a very nice rake), and I very much hope to see a side-story for Bunny Newingham in the future...
The book starts this new sub-series by introducing the five Pryor cousins and their different characters : Quintus the serious heir, Sextus the mysterious guy (can't wait to read his story !), Nonus the oaf, Decimus the rake and Octavius the... adorable one ?
After being assaulted by a sexual predator while being female, Octavius decides to teach the bad guy a lesson. This is not intended as a revenge for what (nearly) happened to him, but more as a heroic quest to protect all potential future victims. His progressive discovery of the female perspective, his fury when confronted with the predators, his gentleness with the woman he loves, make him imho one of the sweetest of Emily Larkin's heroes. I love how he falls in love at first sight but then decides to give himself one more week just to be sure !
Concerning the heroine, I was a bit disappointed because she is a perfect governess, a very kind girl and... that's it, actually.
As for additional characters, we get well acquainted with Decimus too (he makes for a very nice rake), and I very much hope to see a side-story for Bunny Newingham in the future...
February 10, 2024
Exceptional Characterization and Plot
Emily Larkin is a new favorite author for me. She simply writes quality Regency romance, both of the standard variety and stories with a paranormal twist. This particular book may be my absolute favorite of hers. What makes it so wonderful? It's a part of the Baleful Godmother series world, specifically about a line of the family where the males of that branch gain a gift of magical power when they come of age. This is unlike what happens in the other Baleful Godmother series books, where the ability to choose a magical ability is passed down strictly in the female lines. This book starts out a little goofy. Octavius and some of his male relations obviously have too much time on their hands as they play a game of running across chairs in one of the big rooms. Octavius falls off, so the others get to choose something embarrassing to happen to him or to be involved with. The hero has chosen the magical ability to change into any living creature, animal or human. So his male relatives decide he must spend an evening at Vauxhall Gardens dressed as a woman!
The premise of this start could have gone all sorts of sideways with sexism or other inappropriate things, but the author walked that fine line well. The hero soon discovers that Vauxhall Gardens can be a dangerous place for a woman, something he never considered or appreciated as his regular male self. While he and his male relatives are a playful bunch, the hero takes great, deserved affront to what happened to him, determined to make the man who took liberties pay. He also hopes to strike so much fear in him that the blackguard will be further discouraged from acting inappropriately with other women in the future.
A friend of the hero happens to be the villain’s children’s uncle; his sister was his second wife. So they arrange for the friend to visit the girls and bring along his friend. Otto (Octavius's nickname) will be a very ungracious house guest! Yes, he plans to teach the handsy, demanding baron some lessons. Of course, it can't be as simple as that, and things take a bit of finessing. Nearly as soon as he meets her, the hero finds himself attracted to the baron’s daughters’ governess, Miss Toogood. He sometimes has to walk a tight line to juggle all the balls of his visit and charade to keep it all going, sometimes taking on a maid’s role and sometimes as a houseguest. He eventually reveals his power to the heroine, and I particularly loved the scene where he, as a woman, goes to her chamber so he can have a frank discussion with her; she would be ruined if he did so as a man. She finds this a bit awkward, as his eyes and facial expressions as a woman are those of him as a man, but his body and face are otherwise all female!
Other lechery goes on in this household, and the seriousness of his quest really comes home to the hero. I loved how the author gave this complexity. I applauded how he staged the villain’s come-to-Otto moment and the villain’s reaction. Just desserts. But it gave the hero pause, which was fantastic. Yes, what the villain did was wrong, but after everything played out, the hero decides he doesn't want to be the kind of man who treats another as he did, even if in a devil-gets-his-due moment. Excellent!
This book certainly does have elements that could trigger people who've suffered any type of sexual trauma, including workplace sexual harassment. I'm not sure how it will look on the booksellers’ websites, but on the book review site I downloaded this book from, the author had a cleverly worded trigger warning. She states something along the lines of that this story is a true bodice ripper, and not in a playful or fun way, but not to worry, because the villain will get his due. If you haven't had that kind of trauma in your past, this is an exceedingly well-written story that I highly recommend.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Emily Larkin is a new favorite author for me. She simply writes quality Regency romance, both of the standard variety and stories with a paranormal twist. This particular book may be my absolute favorite of hers. What makes it so wonderful? It's a part of the Baleful Godmother series world, specifically about a line of the family where the males of that branch gain a gift of magical power when they come of age. This is unlike what happens in the other Baleful Godmother series books, where the ability to choose a magical ability is passed down strictly in the female lines. This book starts out a little goofy. Octavius and some of his male relations obviously have too much time on their hands as they play a game of running across chairs in one of the big rooms. Octavius falls off, so the others get to choose something embarrassing to happen to him or to be involved with. The hero has chosen the magical ability to change into any living creature, animal or human. So his male relatives decide he must spend an evening at Vauxhall Gardens dressed as a woman!
The premise of this start could have gone all sorts of sideways with sexism or other inappropriate things, but the author walked that fine line well. The hero soon discovers that Vauxhall Gardens can be a dangerous place for a woman, something he never considered or appreciated as his regular male self. While he and his male relatives are a playful bunch, the hero takes great, deserved affront to what happened to him, determined to make the man who took liberties pay. He also hopes to strike so much fear in him that the blackguard will be further discouraged from acting inappropriately with other women in the future.
A friend of the hero happens to be the villain’s children’s uncle; his sister was his second wife. So they arrange for the friend to visit the girls and bring along his friend. Otto (Octavius's nickname) will be a very ungracious house guest! Yes, he plans to teach the handsy, demanding baron some lessons. Of course, it can't be as simple as that, and things take a bit of finessing. Nearly as soon as he meets her, the hero finds himself attracted to the baron’s daughters’ governess, Miss Toogood. He sometimes has to walk a tight line to juggle all the balls of his visit and charade to keep it all going, sometimes taking on a maid’s role and sometimes as a houseguest. He eventually reveals his power to the heroine, and I particularly loved the scene where he, as a woman, goes to her chamber so he can have a frank discussion with her; she would be ruined if he did so as a man. She finds this a bit awkward, as his eyes and facial expressions as a woman are those of him as a man, but his body and face are otherwise all female!
Other lechery goes on in this household, and the seriousness of his quest really comes home to the hero. I loved how the author gave this complexity. I applauded how he staged the villain’s come-to-Otto moment and the villain’s reaction. Just desserts. But it gave the hero pause, which was fantastic. Yes, what the villain did was wrong, but after everything played out, the hero decides he doesn't want to be the kind of man who treats another as he did, even if in a devil-gets-his-due moment. Excellent!
This book certainly does have elements that could trigger people who've suffered any type of sexual trauma, including workplace sexual harassment. I'm not sure how it will look on the booksellers’ websites, but on the book review site I downloaded this book from, the author had a cleverly worded trigger warning. She states something along the lines of that this story is a true bodice ripper, and not in a playful or fun way, but not to worry, because the villain will get his due. If you haven't had that kind of trauma in your past, this is an exceedingly well-written story that I highly recommend.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
June 10, 2020
Emily Larkin has released a new book in her wonderful Regency-era Baleful Godmother series, and is taking the series in a new direction after a series of short stories called the Pryor Prequels.
The series began when a woman and her three daughters save a faerie child from drowning. It’s fae mother rewards them with wishes that will follow the family line – as each female descendant reaches a particular birthday, they will be granted a wish. But the Fae are scary folk, and Baletongue will trick them if she can.
Previous books have followed the female descendants, but the Pryor Prequels trace how one descendant transferred her wish to the male line, and the terrible consequences of that wish.
Now, in the first novel following that thread, we have Octavius Pryor, a wealthy young man from a family of men with special, faerie-gifted powers. His grandfather is very strict, however, on the rules of how such gifts can be used, because of what his mother wished.
Octavius in fact has chosen the same wish that Miss Appleby did back in Unmasking Miss Appleby, the book that got me hooked on this series. Like Charlotte Appleby, Octavius has chosen the gift of metamorphosis.
In Unmasking Miss Appleby, Charlotte changes into a man in order to escape her restricted life; here, Octavius first changes shape into a woman as a forfeit on a bet with his brother and cousins, and visits Vauxhall Gardens with them at night. There he discovers just how unpleasant man can be, and how little power women have in his world.
When Octavius adopts a female shape again in order to teach the vile Baron Rumpole a lesson for the attempted assault, he encounters Miss Toogood, the governess Rumpole has engaged to teach his two daughters. He determines at once to find a way into Rumpole’s household in order to protect this courageous, kind woman from the fate that has befallen other women in Rumpole’s household staff.
There follows a novel of Larkin’s usual deft charm, wit and pace. She gives the subject matter the seriousness and drama it deserves, with Octavius learning and absorbing the lessons of how the privilege of been male and wealthy are not extended to others, and how those privileges can be used to abuse others. The characters are nicely drawn, likeable but flawed, and the obstacles to their love are those of circumstance and genuine conflict rather than foolish misunderstandings that could be fixed if people would just talk.
I particularly enjoyed Octavius and his cousin and friend teaching Miss Toogood self defence – this isn’t going to be a story about a damsel in distress, but of two people with agency, learning and becoming stronger together.
The shapeshifting element of Octavius and the Perfect Governess brings an interesting undercurrent, seen also in Unmasking Miss Appleby, of body dysphoria and characters that are not transgender but whose feelings may reflect some experiences of being transgender. This is the element that first engaged me with this series and I enjoyed reading about it from the male-to-female perspective.
I’m looking forward to more books in this series!
The series began when a woman and her three daughters save a faerie child from drowning. It’s fae mother rewards them with wishes that will follow the family line – as each female descendant reaches a particular birthday, they will be granted a wish. But the Fae are scary folk, and Baletongue will trick them if she can.
Previous books have followed the female descendants, but the Pryor Prequels trace how one descendant transferred her wish to the male line, and the terrible consequences of that wish.
Now, in the first novel following that thread, we have Octavius Pryor, a wealthy young man from a family of men with special, faerie-gifted powers. His grandfather is very strict, however, on the rules of how such gifts can be used, because of what his mother wished.
Octavius in fact has chosen the same wish that Miss Appleby did back in Unmasking Miss Appleby, the book that got me hooked on this series. Like Charlotte Appleby, Octavius has chosen the gift of metamorphosis.
In Unmasking Miss Appleby, Charlotte changes into a man in order to escape her restricted life; here, Octavius first changes shape into a woman as a forfeit on a bet with his brother and cousins, and visits Vauxhall Gardens with them at night. There he discovers just how unpleasant man can be, and how little power women have in his world.
When Octavius adopts a female shape again in order to teach the vile Baron Rumpole a lesson for the attempted assault, he encounters Miss Toogood, the governess Rumpole has engaged to teach his two daughters. He determines at once to find a way into Rumpole’s household in order to protect this courageous, kind woman from the fate that has befallen other women in Rumpole’s household staff.
There follows a novel of Larkin’s usual deft charm, wit and pace. She gives the subject matter the seriousness and drama it deserves, with Octavius learning and absorbing the lessons of how the privilege of been male and wealthy are not extended to others, and how those privileges can be used to abuse others. The characters are nicely drawn, likeable but flawed, and the obstacles to their love are those of circumstance and genuine conflict rather than foolish misunderstandings that could be fixed if people would just talk.
I particularly enjoyed Octavius and his cousin and friend teaching Miss Toogood self defence – this isn’t going to be a story about a damsel in distress, but of two people with agency, learning and becoming stronger together.
The shapeshifting element of Octavius and the Perfect Governess brings an interesting undercurrent, seen also in Unmasking Miss Appleby, of body dysphoria and characters that are not transgender but whose feelings may reflect some experiences of being transgender. This is the element that first engaged me with this series and I enjoyed reading about it from the male-to-female perspective.
I’m looking forward to more books in this series!
December 16, 2020
Sweet, essentially clean romance which deals with some heavy issues
A nice story with a hero and heroine who are just good people. Supporting characters are enjoyable and the "villains" are realistic bad people without being psychotic or over the top. I like Larkin's writing style and have read and enjoyed a couple of her other books, but this story felt a bit bland and odd. It deals very heavily with womens' issues of the period and the injustices and dangers they had to contend with. While it was refreshing to have a male/hero be so actively concerned about and in tune with these troubles, the message got heavy-handed sometimes. Otto's abilities gave him a unique perspective and made for some interesting moments, but at the same time some of the scenes were awkward or unnecessary. Once scene in particular, where Otto was alone and changed, felt so strange for me to read. It is hard to explain without spoilers though it has to do with his magical abilities and the theme of the book. On one hand, it was endearing because it was for the very best intentions (and the writing was done well), but on the other it was still kind of odd for me.
As far as the romance goes, ithere isnt much there and at best it is a very quiet and gentle one. It suffers from being greatly overshadowed by the Rumpole plot. A bit of insta-love without much dialogue to show growing feelings that slowly matures and does actually has a really good scene where the H/h have a real and relevant discussion dealing with their short acquaintance.
It is a mixed bag. The romance is very tame and sweet but the entire book revolves around the threat of sexual predators. It was a difficult juxtaposition for me. This one was a miss, but I would still like to read the cousins' stories as I usually do enjoy Larkin's quirky style (and I hope Newingham finds someone too. I know he is not neccesarily hero material but he was a favorite character here and hopefully he can have a side story at least)
A nice story with a hero and heroine who are just good people. Supporting characters are enjoyable and the "villains" are realistic bad people without being psychotic or over the top. I like Larkin's writing style and have read and enjoyed a couple of her other books, but this story felt a bit bland and odd. It deals very heavily with womens' issues of the period and the injustices and dangers they had to contend with. While it was refreshing to have a male/hero be so actively concerned about and in tune with these troubles, the message got heavy-handed sometimes. Otto's abilities gave him a unique perspective and made for some interesting moments, but at the same time some of the scenes were awkward or unnecessary. Once scene in particular, where Otto was alone and changed, felt so strange for me to read. It is hard to explain without spoilers though it has to do with his magical abilities and the theme of the book. On one hand, it was endearing because it was for the very best intentions (and the writing was done well), but on the other it was still kind of odd for me.
As far as the romance goes, ithere isnt much there and at best it is a very quiet and gentle one. It suffers from being greatly overshadowed by the Rumpole plot. A bit of insta-love without much dialogue to show growing feelings that slowly matures and does actually has a really good scene where the H/h have a real and relevant discussion dealing with their short acquaintance.
It is a mixed bag. The romance is very tame and sweet but the entire book revolves around the threat of sexual predators. It was a difficult juxtaposition for me. This one was a miss, but I would still like to read the cousins' stories as I usually do enjoy Larkin's quirky style (and I hope Newingham finds someone too. I know he is not neccesarily hero material but he was a favorite character here and hopefully he can have a side story at least)
May 31, 2020
Lord Octavius Pryor Otto leads a carefree and untroubled life, until the night he visits Vauxhall Gardens in the guise of a woman. At Vauxhall, Octavius discovers that being a female is very different from being a man. Annoyingly different, unpleasantly different, and—when he encounters the lecherous Baron Rumpole—dangerously different. Determined to teach the baron a lesson, Octavius infiltrates Rumpole’s household, where he meets the woman of his dreams: Miss Philippa Toogood, governess to the baron’s daughters.
I’m so pleased that there is another Baleful Godmother story albeit in a spin off series featuring the Pryor cousin’s. You might be asking yourself how the male cousins have powers? Well the author has written some short prequels, which set the scene for this series & they are available on her website. A very well written book that drew me in from the start, I particularly loved the mix for light hearted & more serious aspects & how the author handled the plight of women. This was done with sensitivity. I loved both Otto & Pip, both strong characters who have depth. Otto’s view of the world is changed dramatically after his visit to Vauxhall Gardens & I loved how he matured. I also loved Bunny & how he changed throughout the book, he certainly gained more than his bay horses! A lovely start to a new series & I can’t wait for more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I’m so pleased that there is another Baleful Godmother story albeit in a spin off series featuring the Pryor cousin’s. You might be asking yourself how the male cousins have powers? Well the author has written some short prequels, which set the scene for this series & they are available on her website. A very well written book that drew me in from the start, I particularly loved the mix for light hearted & more serious aspects & how the author handled the plight of women. This was done with sensitivity. I loved both Otto & Pip, both strong characters who have depth. Otto’s view of the world is changed dramatically after his visit to Vauxhall Gardens & I loved how he matured. I also loved Bunny & how he changed throughout the book, he certainly gained more than his bay horses! A lovely start to a new series & I can’t wait for more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 1, 2020
When I read the blurb for this book, I thought, "Great! I need some comeuppance for bad guys about right now!" And there is that, but as with most of Larkin's books, it's not just that because her books really examine what it means to be human beings in the world.
Our male protagonist, Octavius, comes to his epiphany about the dangers that women face due to magical means, but it feels organic and not like an important issue of today got shoe-horned into a different time period (where it definitely was an issue, of course). When comeuppance time comes, he and our female protagonist, Pip, have profound insights into their own beliefs and characters. It's not simply, "Ha, ha! Take that villain!"
The romance is wonderful, starting with instant, mutual attraction but progressing naturally with the attraction being for character, not just the physical. There are supporting characters that are integral to the plot and who have their own growth. The plot outside of the romance is interesting and engaging, and I even learned a little history.
This is an entertaining and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it.
I received and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Our male protagonist, Octavius, comes to his epiphany about the dangers that women face due to magical means, but it feels organic and not like an important issue of today got shoe-horned into a different time period (where it definitely was an issue, of course). When comeuppance time comes, he and our female protagonist, Pip, have profound insights into their own beliefs and characters. It's not simply, "Ha, ha! Take that villain!"
The romance is wonderful, starting with instant, mutual attraction but progressing naturally with the attraction being for character, not just the physical. There are supporting characters that are integral to the plot and who have their own growth. The plot outside of the romance is interesting and engaging, and I even learned a little history.
This is an entertaining and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it.
I received and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 26, 2020
A Good Book - with some weird features.
If you - as a fellow critic wrote - "approach her new novel eagerly anticipating more of the same" you will be disturbed, and maybe disappointed. This book is in several ways different from the others in the series.
Not only have now the males inherited Baletongue's magic (as you can read in the prequels to this book on Emily's homepage) they are no single children but a complete horde of them. So many that Emily came to numbering them as the Romans did with their sons.
And for me herein lies the biggest flaw of the story: It is not easy to introduce a completely new cast of characters to the reader, but it is even more difficult if there is a slew of thew instead just an aspiring couple.
Also, the dialogs are also not what one would expect from a Regency Love Story. They deal with gender (in-)equality in a way I would put into the last 20th century if there weren't "stays" and "neckcloths" involved.
But that aside we encounter new and deep characters who try to overcome the barriers that the society puts in front of them.
If you are a fan of Emily and Regency, you should read the book.
If you - as a fellow critic wrote - "approach her new novel eagerly anticipating more of the same" you will be disturbed, and maybe disappointed. This book is in several ways different from the others in the series.
Not only have now the males inherited Baletongue's magic (as you can read in the prequels to this book on Emily's homepage) they are no single children but a complete horde of them. So many that Emily came to numbering them as the Romans did with their sons.
And for me herein lies the biggest flaw of the story: It is not easy to introduce a completely new cast of characters to the reader, but it is even more difficult if there is a slew of thew instead just an aspiring couple.
Also, the dialogs are also not what one would expect from a Regency Love Story. They deal with gender (in-)equality in a way I would put into the last 20th century if there weren't "stays" and "neckcloths" involved.
But that aside we encounter new and deep characters who try to overcome the barriers that the society puts in front of them.
If you are a fan of Emily and Regency, you should read the book.
November 13, 2020
Hero Material
I Love this new spin-off of the Baleful Godmother series. This time the males in the line get the faery gifts. Plus the author has written four short prequels to explain how this happened and short backgrounds on the men in the line who already have their gifts. Each prequel is fun, interesting, and free to read on the author's website. In this book, Octavius, when he chose his gift, chose metamorphosis because it would be fun. But a dare from his cousin shows him the unfairness and danger to women of his time. Octavius grows up real fast after that, with the intent to right some wrongs. In the process he meets a woman who he literally falls in love with at first site. Again, remember the times he lived in when choosing a bride was much different than it is today. This was an excellent book for many reasons. And the main reason was not the romance. It was how his brother and he worked together, using their gifts, to make women safer. Plus there were two adorable little girls who were in an unpleasant situation. Read the book to see how Octavius and his perfect governess made their lives better too. Great book.
I Love this new spin-off of the Baleful Godmother series. This time the males in the line get the faery gifts. Plus the author has written four short prequels to explain how this happened and short backgrounds on the men in the line who already have their gifts. Each prequel is fun, interesting, and free to read on the author's website. In this book, Octavius, when he chose his gift, chose metamorphosis because it would be fun. But a dare from his cousin shows him the unfairness and danger to women of his time. Octavius grows up real fast after that, with the intent to right some wrongs. In the process he meets a woman who he literally falls in love with at first site. Again, remember the times he lived in when choosing a bride was much different than it is today. This was an excellent book for many reasons. And the main reason was not the romance. It was how his brother and he worked together, using their gifts, to make women safer. Plus there were two adorable little girls who were in an unpleasant situation. Read the book to see how Octavius and his perfect governess made their lives better too. Great book.
July 19, 2020
3.5/5
Non-con bodice ripper, but the bodice is on the hero. Our hero, Octavius, is a little too perfect. And a little too heroic. He falls in literal insta-love with the "perfect" governess who works for predatoryDonald Trump Baron Rumpole ("stout and red-faced and unattractive"). He manipulates one of his old friends into inviting himself, Octavius, and Octavius' cousin to the country home of the governess' employer, who just happens to be his brother-in-law. He then courts the governess who he met in the guise of a serving girl, while also teaching her how to defend herself from her lecherous employer Rumpole and his valet Donald (yeah the Trump references aren't very subtle).
Needless to say, this story was a bit more convoluted than any in the earlier series. I'll definitely continue with the series because come on this is Emily Larkin. Also I really really *fingers crossed* hope that because all the characters in focus in this series are male that we'll get at least one MM book in this series.
Non-con bodice ripper, but the bodice is on the hero. Our hero, Octavius, is a little too perfect. And a little too heroic. He falls in literal insta-love with the "perfect" governess who works for predatory
Needless to say, this story was a bit more convoluted than any in the earlier series. I'll definitely continue with the series because come on this is Emily Larkin. Also I really really *fingers crossed* hope that because all the characters in focus in this series are male that we'll get at least one MM book in this series.
May 31, 2020
Emily Larkin has a light easy style which makes her books very enjoyable to read. Once started I found they are all hard to put down and this one is no exception. The thing that I find remarkable is the way she makes her characters come to life. They are undeniably real, so much so that even some years after reading a story I miss some of her characters. This series is fun and each story in the series brings the others to mind. It’s like visiting friends in a world that has a delightful touch of magic in it.
The story line is romantic and quite straightforward, if you can imagine magic as straightforward, while bringing in many historical and contemporary issues that give the book depth.
Thanks to Emily for creating a world so desirable and filled with characters one wants to know and keep reading about.
The story line is romantic and quite straightforward, if you can imagine magic as straightforward, while bringing in many historical and contemporary issues that give the book depth.
Thanks to Emily for creating a world so desirable and filled with characters one wants to know and keep reading about.
June 1, 2020
After reading the blurb I was a little confused...how could people not notice that Octavius was a man? Well silly me...it's an Emily Larkin book... so it's because he used magic of course! I love how Emily Larkin mixes magic with historical romance, it is always interesting to see what she (and her characters) will do next. Her characters are always fun and likeable, and Octavius and Miss Toogood are no exception. Yes there is a little bit of non-consensual bodice ripping, but nothing most people would find upsetting, and like the blurb says, the culprits get their just desserts. It was wonderful to see a man experience "being a woman" and feel the need to do something about what they experienced daily. Octavius and the Perfect Governess is another fun and enjoyable read from Emily Larkin.
June 1, 2020
In one word: original!
There's a bit of that magical power bestowed by the baleful grandmother - in this series to the males of the Pryor family. The opening scene is of a wagered race; I thought it was a bunch of boys, and was surprised they were grown young men! Fulfilling his imposed forfeit leads to an epiphany for our empathetic hero. And plays a big role in shaping the story.
As an orphaned daughter of a vicar, Miss Philippa Toogood has the requisite background for a governess. She's competent, empathetic, and determined to make a difference in her wards' lives. I very much enjoyed how she chose her replacement.
While there is the dark topic of abuse of dependents, either familial or servants, there is also much joy and humor here. This is a great, skillfully woven story; I'm looking forward to the next in this series!
I received a free ARC copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
There's a bit of that magical power bestowed by the baleful grandmother - in this series to the males of the Pryor family. The opening scene is of a wagered race; I thought it was a bunch of boys, and was surprised they were grown young men! Fulfilling his imposed forfeit leads to an epiphany for our empathetic hero. And plays a big role in shaping the story.
As an orphaned daughter of a vicar, Miss Philippa Toogood has the requisite background for a governess. She's competent, empathetic, and determined to make a difference in her wards' lives. I very much enjoyed how she chose her replacement.
While there is the dark topic of abuse of dependents, either familial or servants, there is also much joy and humor here. This is a great, skillfully woven story; I'm looking forward to the next in this series!
I received a free ARC copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
June 1, 2020
On losing a bet Lord Octavius Pryor has to use his gift of metamorphosis, and spend the evening at Vauxhall Gardens as a female. On being attacked by the lecherous Baron Rumpole he is determined to teach him a lesson. So as a housemaid he enters the Baron's household. But he meets the new governess Miss Philippa Toogood and is instantly smitten. So his plan must cover the revenge and punishment of Rumpole, while keeping Miss Toogood safe. For this he needs the help of family and friends.
An entertaining historical fiction story, with some very likeable and amusing characters.
Received an ARC from the author
An entertaining historical fiction story, with some very likeable and amusing characters.
Received an ARC from the author
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