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kimalah's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was very intrigued by the premise of The Countess. I thought a story about a woman married to a louse in Regency England, a marriage she could not leave except for death, was an interesting viewpoint to explore. If the couple is not in love, lives separately, and are married in name only, should she have to give up any chance at some kind of romantic happiness?
Overall, the story was good but I felt it could have been better. Jacob, the MMC, was manipulative at first. He enjoyed seeing Tru worked up and angry. His behavior changed later on, but it left an aftertaste in my mouth. I liked Tru a lot. She made the best of her life especially where her children were concerned. But I felt that after twenty years, she was naive in her dealings with her husband.
I also felt the ending was a bit of a cop-out. Without spoiling it, I thought it could have had a more interesting resolution.
Overall, I did like the book. It kept my attention, the female relationships were supportive, and questions about how does one try to claim agency when society strips it from you were interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
CW/TW: adultery, domestic abuse, gaslighting, misogyny.
Overall, the story was good but I felt it could have been better. Jacob, the MMC, was manipulative at first. He enjoyed seeing Tru worked up and angry. His behavior changed later on, but it left an aftertaste in my mouth. I liked Tru a lot. She made the best of her life especially where her children were concerned. But I felt that after twenty years, she was naive in her dealings with her husband.
I also felt the ending was a bit of a cop-out. Without spoiling it, I thought it could have had a more interesting resolution.
Overall, I did like the book. It kept my attention, the female relationships were supportive, and questions about how does one try to claim agency when society strips it from you were interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
CW/TW: adultery, domestic abuse, gaslighting, misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Infidelity
karenmsecrest's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was so highly recommended… but what in the gaslighting cuckold is this mess?!?! A heroine too fearful to stand up to her philandering husband, a handsome rake pretending to court the daughter of the woman he wants to bed, and more than one character trapped in a miserable marriage. Plus, emotional abuse in and a butler who full on punches a woman in the face. Ugh.
This book constantly reminds the reader that a woman is mere property and marriage is a financial contract where the best outcome is an early death of the cruel and/or worthless husband. Everything is loveless. And our hero? He has the hots for the Countess, but is pretending to court her daughter in order to spend time her… and doesn’t TELL HER it’s a ruse! So the one time in her life she has the hots for a guy he’ll be her son-in-law?
So. Much. Nope!
I read romance for the love, the smut, the spine tingling declarations of love… I don’t read for misery.
This has an HEA, but you have to trudge through a lot of dreck to get there.
This book constantly reminds the reader that a woman is mere property and marriage is a financial contract where the best outcome is an early death of the cruel and/or worthless husband. Everything is loveless. And our hero? He has the hots for the Countess, but is pretending to court her daughter in order to spend time her… and doesn’t TELL HER it’s a ruse! So the one time in her life she has the hots for a guy he’ll be her son-in-law?
So. Much. Nope!
I read romance for the love, the smut, the spine tingling declarations of love… I don’t read for misery.
This has an HEA, but you have to trudge through a lot of dreck to get there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility and Domestic abuse
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