I'm so disappointed this is unfinished, it was great. Basically detailing what looks like a massive scam on a prince run by a set of con artists with I'm so disappointed this is unfinished, it was great. Basically detailing what looks like a massive scam on a prince run by a set of con artists with occult trappings. I wish we'd had the whole story so I could see if my theories were correct. ...more
Excellent. I think the best in the series in that the author has got the balance of romance and plot and politics just right for me. The MCs are both Excellent. I think the best in the series in that the author has got the balance of romance and plot and politics just right for me. The MCs are both lovely--practical, self-respecting working men. The milieu is done really well-- the drive for self improvement through education, the oppressive politics and repressive laws, the gross inequality. I love how it presents Georgian Britain as a place where people were queer and trans and had unconventional relationships and mostly managed to live perfectly good lives under the radar. (There is quite a lot of available middle ground between 'doom' and 'candyfloss' though you might not often think it.)
The romance is really sweet and engaging slow burn, and thoroughly convincing, with a terrific climax. The threat element does get pretty tense due to the MCs' all too realistic powerlessness in the face of wealth and authority, but the resolution is terrific, and I loved the light we get on the earl's relationship with his valet.
Romance between two valets in the 1790s, with full awareness of the demands on their time, the arbitrariness of masters, the precarious situation of pRomance between two valets in the 1790s, with full awareness of the demands on their time, the arbitrariness of masters, the precarious situation of people living without any sort of social safety net, for whom poverty and desperation are only a misstep away. Plus external threats: William is tangentially involved in unlawful gatherings of the political kind, and Edwin is being blackmailed for other unlawfulness.
It makes for quite a stressful read at points. Luckily William is a lovely, sunny character, dedicated to those he loves and open hearted; Edwin is more ground down by the stresses he lives under. Their romance is sweet rather than hot, with Edwin constantly pulling away. The resolution works very nicely on its own terms, but I did wish Edwin had involved William more in his troubles: as it is the romance plot and Edwin's problems are parallel rather than interwoven, which makes William feel not quite central to the book.
However, the romance we have is lovely and the historical setting nicely drawn, and when do you ever get two valets? (Or even two servants other than Listen to the Moon?)...more
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