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A review by meggie82461
His at Night by Sherry Thomas
4.0
This was 100% the norm when it comes to Sherry: beautifully written, compelling plot, unhinged characters. To be clear, I love that. My only complaint is that I would have liked more of a grovel. Or, ya know, any grovel at all. But, alas, we can't have it all - however, that would have given this 5 stars.
I have never really read anything like this story. Lord Vere is an idiot, except not really though - he is just playing one, because he is a secret agent for the Crown. If it sounds ridiculous, that's because it is, but I think that's what makes it so funny. Elissande says it best at one point: it actually takes a lot of effort and intelligence to be as dumb as Lord Vere. In the first two books of the series (including a favorite of mine, [b:The Luckiest Lady in London|17290655|The Luckiest Lady in London|Sherry Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1365189080l/17290655._SY75_.jpg|23912902]) he is a side character, often mentioned in passing for being a dumb dumb. His whole life is beyond any type of realism, but that's okay - I don't read books to find plausibility. That being said, I feel like I never got to know the REAL him, and what I did know - well, once again, Elissande says it best - I might have preferred the idiot, because at least he was sweet and meant well, like a golden retriever.
As far as Elissande - by no means was she perfect, but good Lord, Vere really judged her harshly when you consider how often he too engaged in deception. Of course, it was okay for him to do it in service of the government, but for Elissande to do it in order to survive? Jezebel! But, alas, that is probably realistic. Women were held to a completely different standard than men. I recognize that when I read HR, and I try not to judge a story through today's standards, but it still would have been nice if Vere acknowledged her plight and lack of choices. However, he did make up for that to a certain extent by being the first man to protect her and never leave her side.
Let it be known, though: After her life-changing, canon event trauma, Elissande cried for one single night, the darkest night of her life, and then she picked up and moved on. Vere changed his life for over a decade and held on to anger and resentment that entire time. But sure, tell me again that women are the emotional sex.
I have never really read anything like this story. Lord Vere is an idiot, except not really though - he is just playing one, because he is a secret agent for the Crown. If it sounds ridiculous, that's because it is, but I think that's what makes it so funny. Elissande says it best at one point: it actually takes a lot of effort and intelligence to be as dumb as Lord Vere. In the first two books of the series (including a favorite of mine, [b:The Luckiest Lady in London|17290655|The Luckiest Lady in London|Sherry Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1365189080l/17290655._SY75_.jpg|23912902]) he is a side character, often mentioned in passing for being a dumb dumb. His whole life is beyond any type of realism, but that's okay - I don't read books to find plausibility. That being said, I feel like I never got to know the REAL him, and what I did know - well, once again, Elissande says it best - I might have preferred the idiot, because at least he was sweet and meant well, like a golden retriever.
As far as Elissande - by no means was she perfect, but good Lord, Vere really judged her harshly when you consider how often he too engaged in deception. Of course, it was okay for him to do it in service of the government, but for Elissande to do it in order to survive? Jezebel! But, alas, that is probably realistic. Women were held to a completely different standard than men. I recognize that when I read HR, and I try not to judge a story through today's standards, but it still would have been nice if Vere acknowledged her plight and lack of choices. However, he did make up for that to a certain extent by being the first man to protect her and never leave her side.
Let it be known, though: After her life-changing, canon event trauma, Elissande cried for one single night, the darkest night of her life, and then she picked up and moved on. Vere changed his life for over a decade and held on to anger and resentment that entire time. But sure, tell me again that women are the emotional sex.