Reviews

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Only show reviews with written explanations

daumari's review against another edition

4.0

This was fun- heard a lot of buzz this book a year and a half ago, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. Like To All the Boys I've Loved Before, I'm pretty sure I would hate the protagonist in real life, but from reading, Henry "Monty" Montague is a confused lonely trashbag (I say, lovingly) with a lot of feelings he needs to figure out, especially with regards to his best friend, Percy. He, his younger sister Felicity, and Percy are off on a Grand Tour throughout Europe before Felicity heads to finishing school, Percy to Holland, and Monty back home to learn how to run an estate.

I figured this would be a straight (heh) historical fiction but we take a left turn at Marseilles with sort of... fantasy-ish elements? Though it drives the plot, it's not something that happens day to day in their lives, so I'd consider this low-fantasy. Besides learning to deal with feelings, Henry learns how to care about his friends/family and consider his actions but he's a little cringy before figuring that out.

I'm excited to see the next book is in Felicity's head, as I'm sure we have more similar temperments.

itslorei's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I was torn between Monty and Percy. Percy was an amazing character but Monty for me just stands out the whole time. He's just so real and full of sass.

This was an interesting read for me considering that it tackles issues or controversies of the century or the time in the story and also somehow I can relate it in today or in this century. It's just great that they tackled about racism or race which is a strong issues in today's.

Overall this book was a fun and amazing read to me. I'll definitely check out the second book !

catgv's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Two things really stood out for me in this book: the quality of the writing and Monty.

This book was very well written. The drama was there as well as humour and intriguing plot points.

As for the characters themselves, I found them to be quite unique and they even managed to develop over the pages. Although I'd have wanted for Monty to grasp things more quickly and change more than what he did, but it was simply realistic so I can't really talk against that aspect.

The plot was fun and interesting, though it sometimes lacked realism or high stakes.

My favourite character was Felicity (hands down!). She's strong, independent, determined and impressive in her own way. She's pursuing medecine in her free time despite what her father and society think of a woman having a passion (or the wits!) for it. I can't wait for the sequel, which is all about Felicity!

However, Monty didn't sit well with me. At all. He's such an idiot from beginning to end. Yes, okay, at the end he's a bit more open-minded and kind, but since the characters were done realistically, people will often come back to behaving just like they used to so with very few differences... He's arrogant and careless and doesn't even put himself in Percy's shoes for... EVERYTHING. It's always others' fault and he's so oblivious. I know he has a hard past, but he's really just blind or plain stupid. Either way, I don't like him. It's his personality I dislike. Reading this book wasn't a lot of fun because he was in it, see? I don't even know why I finished it. Probably because Felicity is awesome and Percy is so cute. But Monty? Thank God the sequel isn't about him!

But not everything is lost for there's a special treat in this book: interracial homosexual love. Like, why don't we see this more often? In all possible combinations: interracial love, homosexual love, and interracial homosexual love. It's cruelly missing and this book gives it to us.

Lastly, the realism surrounding epilepsy and madhouses is heart-wrenching. But well done!

Oh, I forgot: it's set in 18th century, so that's pretty great.

All in all, the book and story themselves weren't bad, but Monty ruined it for me. I hated picking up the book and having to read HIS point of view. If it had been Percy's, now, that would have been perfect and sweet, I'm sure of it. I guess it's 4 disappointing stars for this one. I can't rate it less than 4 because a character didn't sit well with me, right? Let's say I'm judging the overall product as a 4 stars.

taylor394's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

If you’re looking for a queer historical adventure story you will probably really enjoy this. For me, it was too long. But kudos to the writer for committing to such an unlikable main character (I only stuck around for Percy and Felicity)