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liberty91362's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Very good traditional regency romance, with a lovely writing style.
adelie_wants_books_and_snacks's review against another edition
2.0
It just didn’t do it for me. It’s really beautifully written though. But just a bit too slow for me. I also just didn’t really connect with any of the characters and didn’t find any of them likeable. Not much chemistry between characters either.
tigerb99's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent, but might have been even better if the author had limited her point of view a bit. The visits to the inside of the villainess's head were a bit more than I could take. Lovely, though, and would make such a sweet mini series!
siria's review against another edition
3.0
There are quite a few wobbles of tone here—Danse de la Folie starts out as a send-up of Regency-era romances, what with its inclusion of a smuggling sub-plot, authorial breaking of the fourth wall, and a heroine who I thought for a while was going to realise she was a lesbian. (I would absolutely have been down for that.) By the halfway point, with some audible gear grinding, it's become a much more standard romance novel in the Heyer mode, with a slightly cartoonish villain. It's readable, though, and definitely far better than the other book of Sherwood Smith's that I've read.
mon_ique's review against another edition
5.0
2022- Enchanting writing and characterization. Applause. I'm very glad Smith fought the modernization of the times and held on to this.
2016- Wonderful!
And clean!
(cleanness counts a lot in my ratings...)
I would definitely recommend to everyone I think would be interested in this kind of book.
I especially enjoyed the growing relationships between the players (though I wished they spent more time together "on camera" as it is, just to see the dialogue) and the realness that was so evident. I felt like... I was aggravated at Lucasta and her superficiality, but she proved to be humorous at times as the antagonist. Her ending was hilarious, and entirely fitting. It was a well written, intricately webbed book, and I really wish this author wrote more of these:):):):):)
2016- Wonderful!
And clean!
(cleanness counts a lot in my ratings...)
I would definitely recommend to everyone I think would be interested in this kind of book.
I especially enjoyed the growing relationships between the players (though I wished they spent more time together "on camera" as it is, just to see the dialogue) and the realness that was so evident. I felt like... I was aggravated at Lucasta and her superficiality, but she proved to be humorous at times as the antagonist. Her ending was hilarious, and entirely fitting. It was a well written, intricately webbed book, and I really wish this author wrote more of these:):):):):)
melmeng's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
Three and a half stars. Not quite as charming or readable as Georgette Heyer, and I didn't actually identify with any of the protagonists, but I still wanted to know how it would all come together, and it kept me reading all the way through.
juliavdelft's review against another edition
4.0
I've had this on my to-read list for a long time. When you find out one of your favourite authors is also part of the Georgette Heyer fan club and wrote her own Regency romances, it's pretty exciting, and this did not disappoint.
The beginning felt a little strange to me as I didn't know what was going on - why where they on a boat?? Maybe I was skim-reading. Anyway, the characters were all likeable, although I couldn't help but see Elinor and Edward (S&S) in the Clarissa-St. Tarval relationship. I preferred Catherine and Philip, although found it hard to believe that Catherine was that oblivious of her good looks when everyone continually said how pretty she was. Overall, though, the story was cute and fun, and filled with Regency details, and made me (once again) want to live 200 years ago.
Recommended if you like clean, somewhat humorous, Regency romance.
The beginning felt a little strange to me as I didn't know what was going on - why where they on a boat?? Maybe I was skim-reading. Anyway, the characters were all likeable, although I couldn't help but see Elinor and Edward (S&S) in the Clarissa-St. Tarval relationship. I preferred Catherine and Philip, although found it hard to believe that Catherine was that oblivious of her good looks when everyone continually said how pretty she was. Overall, though, the story was cute and fun, and filled with Regency details, and made me (once again) want to live 200 years ago.
Recommended if you like clean, somewhat humorous, Regency romance.
holtfan's review against another edition
5.0
For once I don't need to inwardly cringe as I tag this novel regency!
I can't tell you how nice it feels to read about characters who behave with decorum and don't go around waltzing or making love in uncomfortable places. This is an author who did her research, and while the strains of Austen and Heyer poke through, it never distracts. This is Smith's regency world, not theirs.
The story follows two heroines: the mature and steady Miss Clarissa Harlowe and her guest, vivacious wannabe-novelist Lady Kitty. Two charming gentleman appear, along with a host of delightful side characters (including the prerequisite younger siblings) and villainous villains. Of course, the path of true love never did run smooth, so plenty of impediments keep our couples apart. (And none of those impediments include stupid misunderstandings, another reason to give this book 5 stars.)
It is not always the most polished novel (I ran across one passage referring to Kitty as Katie, a name she is never referred to before or after) but I was still quite pleasantly surprised with how skillfully the author handled several scenes (In particular, the soiree from the Lucretia's POV, as it reveals the growing affections of the characters without bashing the reader over the head with it. Subtle but brilliant.)
If looking for something romantic and clean with enough absurd antics to keep things entertaining, I highly recommend checking this delightful novel out! It is definitely one I am glad I purchased because I think it is going to get an annual re-read...
I can't tell you how nice it feels to read about characters who behave with decorum and don't go around waltzing or making love in uncomfortable places. This is an author who did her research, and while the strains of Austen and Heyer poke through, it never distracts. This is Smith's regency world, not theirs.
The story follows two heroines: the mature and steady Miss Clarissa Harlowe and her guest, vivacious wannabe-novelist Lady Kitty. Two charming gentleman appear, along with a host of delightful side characters (including the prerequisite younger siblings) and villainous villains. Of course, the path of true love never did run smooth, so plenty of impediments keep our couples apart. (And none of those impediments include stupid misunderstandings, another reason to give this book 5 stars.)
It is not always the most polished novel (I ran across one passage referring to Kitty as Katie, a name she is never referred to before or after) but I was still quite pleasantly surprised with how skillfully the author handled several scenes (In particular, the soiree from the Lucretia's POV, as it reveals the growing affections of the characters without bashing the reader over the head with it. Subtle but brilliant.)
If looking for something romantic and clean with enough absurd antics to keep things entertaining, I highly recommend checking this delightful novel out! It is definitely one I am glad I purchased because I think it is going to get an annual re-read...