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heidenkind's review
4.0
Carlyle's books all tend to run together for me (especially with the similarity of titles and covers), but this one stands out in my mind as one of her best. A definite recommend.
jeunine's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
abbythompson's review
3.0
Three cheers for a book featuring the wonderfully dissolute Lord Delacourt! We first met Lord Delacourt in A Woman Scorned, as the half-brother to the fiery Jonet Rowland. Saddled with a title he does not believe to be truly his, Delacourt has wallowed in self-loathing for years, attempting to drown his misery in women and wine.
I love Delacourt as he's a more "feminized" version of so many alpha-heroes. He desperately wants to be an ultra-masculine male, but is really quite a sensitive gentleman at heart. Carlyle portrays this so well that Delacourt steals any scene he is in. Cecilia Lorimer appears Mary Sueish in comparison to the complexity of Delacourt.
One thing that really bugged me about this book was that the editor failed to catch the over-use of two terms: "flame-gold" when describing Cecilia's hair, and various permutations of the word "iniquity". I think those two phrases appeared at least once on every page. Writer's ticks are frustrating, but an alert editor and a good thesaurus could solve all those problems.
If you love a different type of alpha-hero, the Delacourt is your man.
I love Delacourt as he's a more "feminized" version of so many alpha-heroes. He desperately wants to be an ultra-masculine male, but is really quite a sensitive gentleman at heart. Carlyle portrays this so well that Delacourt steals any scene he is in. Cecilia Lorimer appears Mary Sueish in comparison to the complexity of Delacourt.
One thing that really bugged me about this book was that the editor failed to catch the over-use of two terms: "flame-gold" when describing Cecilia's hair, and various permutations of the word "iniquity". I think those two phrases appeared at least once on every page. Writer's ticks are frustrating, but an alert editor and a good thesaurus could solve all those problems.
If you love a different type of alpha-hero, the Delacourt is your man.
chiaroscuro's review
2.0
I'm not sure about this one, lads. David essentially assaulted Cecilia six years ago, but it's written off as a sudden sexual awakening she wasn't yet prepared for. This take informs their relationship for the first half of the book, which is textbook belligerent sexual tension, based on the fact that she's ashamed to admit she wants him, and he can't stop himself from wanting her. But it seems to me a dangerous mentality to think that sexual assault can morph into a pleasurable sexual experience.
To be fair, after David realises who it is he's kissing (i.e. not a cheerful prostitute) he tries to marry her, and then they're engaged only for her to jilt him, etc. etc., so their relationship becomes quite complex. But the repeated harkening back to the first nonconsensual kiss, which David does to remind Cecilia of their mutual passion, leaves an uncomfortable taste in the mouth. It plays into that old school romance novel narrative that the man has to awaken (and sometimes force) the woman into wanting him.
I don't have many great things to say about the relationship development after that: I was rather blindsided by the emotional side of things springing up so quickly, and I don't think I ever believed David and Cecilia were in love. Gradually towards the end it sort of made sense, and I do think they had a strong chemistry, but Carlyle never went very far with it; perhaps because of the love at first sight.
On a brighter note, Bentley Rutledge sounds phenomenal, and I'm excited for his book. Kemble is WEIRD but I feel quite affectionately about him. And Max de Rohan is very intriguing; I am well sold on his book.
To be fair, after David realises who it is he's kissing (i.e. not a cheerful prostitute) he tries to marry her, and then they're engaged only for her to jilt him, etc. etc., so their relationship becomes quite complex. But the repeated harkening back to the first nonconsensual kiss, which David does to remind Cecilia of their mutual passion, leaves an uncomfortable taste in the mouth. It plays into that old school romance novel narrative that the man has to awaken (and sometimes force) the woman into wanting him.
I don't have many great things to say about the relationship development after that: I was rather blindsided by the emotional side of things springing up so quickly, and I don't think I ever believed David and Cecilia were in love. Gradually towards the end it sort of made sense, and I do think they had a strong chemistry, but Carlyle never went very far with it; perhaps because of the love at first sight.
On a brighter note, Bentley Rutledge sounds phenomenal, and I'm excited for his book. Kemble is WEIRD but I feel quite affectionately about him. And Max de Rohan is very intriguing; I am well sold on his book.
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