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tonlewkel's review against another edition
A good ending to a great series, one about a happily married couple that takes on challenges together in regency England with an added twist of fantasy.
eyreguide's review against another edition
5.0
It's interesting to me how this series keeps getting a little darker and a little more involved with issues of social justice. This series is just so different from where it started. With the previous novel "Valour and Vanity", I thought it couldn't get sadder, or more heart-rending or plumb the characters of Jane and Vincent deeper. I was wrong. This is the last book in the Glamourist Histories series, and it brought more depth and closure to Jane and Vincent and brings their story to a completely fulfilling conclusion.
The main plot of this story deals with a surprise twist that occurs very early on in the book. Which I can't really explore in my review because I don't want to spoil it for everyone. But it is wonderful that the reader finds out more about Vincent, his past, and his family in this book, and just how much that has affected him. Vincent has always been a closed off character in the series, but in this book we see and understand him so much more. His portrayal throughout this series has been very realistic, and that has just been made more apparent to me in this book. Because there's still so many layers to him, and it's revealed further.
Another reason I adored this book was the love between the Vincents just felt more real, and achingly honest. They love each other so much, it's ridiculous. I'm totally jealous. And it made me ache all the more with them as they went through all the trials and injustices this story presents.
The social injustice Jane and Vincent face in this novel is slavery and it's approached perfectly in this novel. Our main characters are compassionate and do not condone the practice at all, but the story is realistic about the change they could effect for the time, and I felt all the frustration that they felt in seeing such an atrocity. There's a particular new character in this book, who is the example for all the worst prejudices and greed that made it so hard to eradicate slavery, and it was satisfying to have him dealt with in the end. This whole novel was a gradual building of frustration and suspense with how impotent the Vincents were in the situation, but fortunately (as is the case for all the novels in the series so far) the author manages to craft the perfect resolution that is both satisfying and true to the time. I'm especially in awe of just how cleverly it was done in this book because there is such a full circle satisfaction to the conclusion.
I'm sad that the series is over, but I loved reading every installment, and it's wondrous how the author brought two such wonderful characters to vivid and varied life. This is a gorgeous ending to a glorious series!
The main plot of this story deals with a surprise twist that occurs very early on in the book. Which I can't really explore in my review because I don't want to spoil it for everyone. But it is wonderful that the reader finds out more about Vincent, his past, and his family in this book, and just how much that has affected him. Vincent has always been a closed off character in the series, but in this book we see and understand him so much more. His portrayal throughout this series has been very realistic, and that has just been made more apparent to me in this book. Because there's still so many layers to him, and it's revealed further.
Another reason I adored this book was the love between the Vincents just felt more real, and achingly honest. They love each other so much, it's ridiculous. I'm totally jealous. And it made me ache all the more with them as they went through all the trials and injustices this story presents.
The social injustice Jane and Vincent face in this novel is slavery and it's approached perfectly in this novel. Our main characters are compassionate and do not condone the practice at all, but the story is realistic about the change they could effect for the time, and I felt all the frustration that they felt in seeing such an atrocity. There's a particular new character in this book, who is the example for all the worst prejudices and greed that made it so hard to eradicate slavery, and it was satisfying to have him dealt with in the end. This whole novel was a gradual building of frustration and suspense with how impotent the Vincents were in the situation, but fortunately (as is the case for all the novels in the series so far) the author manages to craft the perfect resolution that is both satisfying and true to the time. I'm especially in awe of just how cleverly it was done in this book because there is such a full circle satisfaction to the conclusion.
I'm sad that the series is over, but I loved reading every installment, and it's wondrous how the author brought two such wonderful characters to vivid and varied life. This is a gorgeous ending to a glorious series!
rikerandom's review against another edition
3.0
That ending! It's just as frustrating as the ending of the first novel was only that this time it's actually the ending -.- Aside from that though the novel wasn't that bad. But the ending kind of ruined it...
drajon's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyable, with an interesting exploration of the islands at a very bad time.
arya_13's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
elenikin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
morganpk7's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good conclusion to the series. The change of setting to a plantation on Antigua was interesting, as were the associated problems. As a new father, I really empathized with Vincent's POV sections and thought these were very good.
Also, there are enormous practical applications of glamour that are touched on in the book - Vincent literally uses it as a surgical camera, saving Jane's life! That is huge! - I was hoping to see some mention of these things in the epilogue. Perhaps Jane and Vincent study more practical glamour, introducing it to medical schools and other fields, and become renowned scholars. There is some of that last point with Jane's book, but I don't think the revolutionary aspect of their art was adequately addressed.
Spoiler
I wish that the epilogue had been longer - Jane and Vincent end up working for a younger character they parted on poor terms with in the first book that hasn't been mentioned since? I think I would have preferred for Jane to have opened the school. As the conclusion to a series, I would have appreciated more detail in the epilogue about not only Jane and Vincent, but also other more minor characters.Also, there are enormous practical applications of glamour that are touched on in the book - Vincent literally uses it as a surgical camera, saving Jane's life! That is huge! - I was hoping to see some mention of these things in the epilogue. Perhaps Jane and Vincent study more practical glamour, introducing it to medical schools and other fields, and become renowned scholars. There is some of that last point with Jane's book, but I don't think the revolutionary aspect of their art was adequately addressed.
k8s's review against another edition
5.0
The best in the series, to be honest. And, I really appreciated the notes in the back about making sure the dialect is as correct as possible in order to avoid yet another act of colonial violence against marginalized populations.
jeremyneander's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75