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jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
4 stars for writing and characters, 2 stars for plotting and problems with goal & motivation
Backstory: After Sophia Roe's parents died, they put her funds in trust, under the guardianship of her uncle Malcolm and their lawyer, Mr. Swann, who later inherits the dukedom of Clive. On the day her engagement to Julian Swann, a cousin of the duke's, is announced, the duke and Mr. Roe tell Sophie all her money has been lost. In her frustration, she throws a bottle of ink against the wall and is hit by a shard of the flying broken glass. And then someone pushes her wounded face into the spilled ink, leaving her with a birthmark-like scar. Convinced (for a reason that is never clearly explained) that Julian was the one responsible for marring her looks, seventeen-year-old Sophie breaks off the engagement, leaving Julian brokenhearted.
Flash forward to the present (1839, 11 years later). The Duke of Clive has just died, and Julian has inherited the title. When he returns to the ancestral home, though, the Dowager shows him her husband's suicide note. A note Julian immediately knows is false, because he recognizes Sophie's forgery style (apparently she's been able to copy others' handwriting since she was a child). Did the previous duke really kill himself? Or was he murdered? And if so, by whom?
This is the second Satie book I've read, and I'm still feeling like there's a lot about the characters and their motivations that are clear in the author's head, but haven't made it down onto the page. Is Sophie's memory simply bad, or does she have an actual memory disorder? Why did Sophie think Julian harmed her? What does the whole murder plot have to do with Sophie and Julian's character arcs, or their romance arc? Or was it just a convenient reason to bring them back together? Why does Sophie go from declaring "I hated being in love with you. I was glad when it was over. I still am," to accepting Julian's proposal, a mere 30 pages later?? If the author is aiming for subtlety, leaving gaps so that readers will figure things out on their own, I have to say I think she's being too subtle, forcing readers to leap chasms in order to make sense of her characters and their actions.
Was unsettling to have the heroine be so openly vindictive toward her enemy at book's end. In romance, it's usually the men who take care of the villains, or the villains conveniently fall off a cliff or are accidentally shot, receiving their comeuppance without the heroine having any blood (actual or metaphoric) on her hands...
Backstory: After Sophia Roe's parents died, they put her funds in trust, under the guardianship of her uncle Malcolm and their lawyer, Mr. Swann, who later inherits the dukedom of Clive. On the day her engagement to Julian Swann, a cousin of the duke's, is announced, the duke and Mr. Roe tell Sophie all her money has been lost. In her frustration, she throws a bottle of ink against the wall and is hit by a shard of the flying broken glass. And then someone pushes her wounded face into the spilled ink, leaving her with a birthmark-like scar. Convinced (for a reason that is never clearly explained) that Julian was the one responsible for marring her looks, seventeen-year-old Sophie breaks off the engagement, leaving Julian brokenhearted.
Flash forward to the present (1839, 11 years later). The Duke of Clive has just died, and Julian has inherited the title. When he returns to the ancestral home, though, the Dowager shows him her husband's suicide note. A note Julian immediately knows is false, because he recognizes Sophie's forgery style (apparently she's been able to copy others' handwriting since she was a child). Did the previous duke really kill himself? Or was he murdered? And if so, by whom?
This is the second Satie book I've read, and I'm still feeling like there's a lot about the characters and their motivations that are clear in the author's head, but haven't made it down onto the page. Is Sophie's memory simply bad, or does she have an actual memory disorder? Why did Sophie think Julian harmed her? What does the whole murder plot have to do with Sophie and Julian's character arcs, or their romance arc? Or was it just a convenient reason to bring them back together? Why does Sophie go from declaring "I hated being in love with you. I was glad when it was over. I still am," to accepting Julian's proposal, a mere 30 pages later?? If the author is aiming for subtlety, leaving gaps so that readers will figure things out on their own, I have to say I think she's being too subtle, forcing readers to leap chasms in order to make sense of her characters and their actions.
Was unsettling to have the heroine be so openly vindictive toward her enemy at book's end. In romance, it's usually the men who take care of the villains, or the villains conveniently fall off a cliff or are accidentally shot, receiving their comeuppance without the heroine having any blood (actual or metaphoric) on her hands...
sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting bits about ink making. Somewhat uneven in pacing.
sm_almon's review against another edition
4.0
I love the style of Satie's writing but I disliked both main characters here... and yet I overall really enjoyed this book. Confounding.
rhodered's review
3.0
Overall it was a dark book from the huge grey mansion on the hill under heavy clouds to betrayels from friends and family alike, up to and including murder. A bit too atmospheric and worrisome for my taste today, but I must acknowledge the skill of it, how many details were well researched and beautifully presented - the bees, her business, the clothing, the country walks.
I also like how the author presents the heroine's very bad memory (she has to keep a journal to be able to remember anything) and the hero's keen memory. Neither is presented as the best way to be, both have advantages and disadvantages.
And the evil is to very everyday, yet truly dreadful. It proves you don't need super-villains or devilish beasts, you just need regular old human greed. That sort of evil has been around for eons, it is still around. This lesson in its costs and realities is pertinent to all times.
That said, the hero did not pass my "real" filter. He is too handsome, too good, too self sacrificing, to earnest, too perfect. And also a duke? I know this is meant to be fiction, but he was too perfect to enjoy reading about.
I also like how the author presents the heroine's very bad memory (she has to keep a journal to be able to remember anything) and the hero's keen memory. Neither is presented as the best way to be, both have advantages and disadvantages.
And the evil is to very everyday, yet truly dreadful. It proves you don't need super-villains or devilish beasts, you just need regular old human greed. That sort of evil has been around for eons, it is still around. This lesson in its costs and realities is pertinent to all times.
That said, the hero did not pass my "real" filter. He is too handsome, too good, too self sacrificing, to earnest, too perfect. And also a duke? I know this is meant to be fiction, but he was too perfect to enjoy reading about.
darlenemarshall's review
3.0
It was interesting, and different enough that I'd give it 3.5 if I could. I'm a fountain pen fan and what I really enjoyed about the book was the information about ink making, and the heroine's commitment to her passion for her business.
The love story and mystery contained enough intrigue that I look forward to reading more from this author.
The love story and mystery contained enough intrigue that I look forward to reading more from this author.
kjcharles's review
I hugely enjoyed this. Sophie is a genuinely unusual person, awkward, reserved, with memory problems bordering on disability, and a truly awful situation. The new duke of Clive is a lovely balance of charm and ruthlessness. I really enjoy the absolute awfulness of the supporting cast in this whole series: Satie writes horrible people, but ones who feel totally justified in their horribleness, and are thus dreadfully convincing. No moral absolutes or simple answers, but some wonderful comeuppances.
A terrific book and a lovely romance with a fascinating working heroine, well written. Strongly recommended.
(Not star rating b/c professional connection.)
A terrific book and a lovely romance with a fascinating working heroine, well written. Strongly recommended.
(Not star rating b/c professional connection.)
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