20 reviews for:

Sedition

Katharine Grant

3.15 AVERAGE

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Loved this book, read it in just a few days. not sure whether it was the fast paced plot, the use of amazing piano imagery šŸ˜ or the intriguing characters but the book had me gripped.

jane1812's review

5.0

It was really different. I loved the time period. As I was reading I could see it as a film. Would make a great period piece.

ā€˜But what about–’ Annie couldn’t bring herself to cry ā€˜love’.

ā€˜What about love? Love’s perfectly possible. We can be together but still apart; we can be in love, just not dependent. That’s how to be happy. I know it.’


Sedition either started out slow or I was just really impatient. Probably a mix of both, but once I read up to the point that I was waiting for, it hooked and reeled me in like a sucker. It was beautiful, and with my bias, especially the parts with Annie and Alathea in it. I enjoyed their relationship except for one thing: their sheer lack of communication.

But still, I'm glad they found each other regardless of the ending which I can only describe as a shitstorm. It hurt to read something like that in books because I thought books were not like television, but alas. This novel's ending proved me wrong.

My true rating is between 3 and 4 stars. The middle was fantastic, but the ending, not so much.

rhondajean's review

3.0

I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads Firstreads.

I was really excited to get this book and from the description I thought it would be one that I'd enjoy. It ended up being different than I thought.

I think I would have liked it much better if I could have liked at least one character. They were all pretty unlikable for one reason or another. A couple times I thought I was going to start liking someone but then something happened and I changed my mind.

Musicians and artistic people will probably like this story more than I did. I love to listen to music but I have no desire to make music so I don't have any kind of musical training and didn't understand a lot of what was going on with that part of the story and couldn't relate to the characters in that way.

This could be a good book for book clubs who might like to discuss the character's personality flaws/disorders because there are a lot of them!

Here is the spoiler--There is also some incest going on in the book which bothered me.

I did like the fact that the author let us know the fates of the characters after the concert was over.

Firstly, thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is a bawdy romp and definitely not a piece of feigned prim period drama. Whilst the many sex scenes aren't detailed in any way than the minimal that is absolutely necessary for the storyline, it still very centred around the sexual exploits of a diverse collection of characters brought together for a brief period of time by one piano.

It's humorous, sweet and sad - and a lot of fun to read. Definitely recommended.

Dirty, delicious, and kind of devastating - probably the most fun book I've read all year (decade?). TV adaptation please.

krismcd59's review

4.0

Cleverly written but darkish satire on English social manners, in which a French music master is bribed into attempting to seduce five young pupils before the concert at which they are to be presented to their future husbands. Wicked humor alternates with pathos and a gothic intensity of emotion. Very hard to categorize, but intriguing and original.

katykelly's review

5.0

Delightfully amoral, a wicked tale of seduction that channels both Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The Piano.

Several 'new money' families decide to showcase their daughters in the marriage market by purchasing a top-notch pianoforte and training up their girls to perform for nobility. Instrument-maker Cantabile is affronted by the idea of untrained and clumsy girls touching his handmade piece of art. He sends Monsiuer Belladroit to the families, ostensibly as their instructor. But really to seduce them all and foil the marriage schemes.

Unexpected turns come from his own daughter, talented musician Annie, born with a disfiguring hare lip, and one of the girls - Alathea, cunning and scheming plans of her own.

Like Dangerous Liasions, the period and theme of seduction fill the story. It's light in places, dark in others. The girls are well-enough differentiated to be identifiable. Alathea is admirable (and yet pitiable at times, as is Annie, who I wanted to see more of). Alathea drives the plot, and takes it in turns unforeseen.

There are some sex scenes but beautifully written to be completely implied, not explicit whatsoever.

The concert scene itself. So long anticipated. It is a delight. I soooooooo wanted to hear that music. To see those dresses.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, great period feel and hope it gets made into a film - some wonderful parts here for actors. And great humour, with Belladroit eventually having to service several curious teenagers consecutively, will transfer brilliantly to the screen. Indulge.

Took me too long to get into, but was gripping once the action started.