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A review by chandlerainsley
Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
2.0
despite the gorgeous stepback, this book wasn't a success for me
this is definitely the most unique historical i've ever read so it kind of pains me to rate it low... but i just don't think it accomplished what it set out to do.
the story is told from multiple POVs and has sort of a Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice feel. you've got a wise duchess who has been neglected by her husband, taking in a distant cousin who is looking to marry a sensible man. and then you've got the many men in their lives: the brother, the husband, the fiancé, the lover. set in the 1700s with LOTS of chess playing and overall machinations, the story sets itself up to be interesting. and in some ways it was... it just wasn't successful as a romance.
really my biggest complaint was the lack of payoff. you've got 2 separate relationships you think are going to happen. one never does and is never suitably resolved. and the other... was lame? there was lots of lackluster canoodling and sex but never anything to get us invested in the relationship.
ultimately i just don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. i appreciate what eloisa james does in the historical space. i think she focuses on time periods that aren't usually focused upon and i think she writes pretty sophisticated non rom-com stuff. this just didn't hit the mark.
this is definitely the most unique historical i've ever read so it kind of pains me to rate it low... but i just don't think it accomplished what it set out to do.
the story is told from multiple POVs and has sort of a Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice feel. you've got a wise duchess who has been neglected by her husband, taking in a distant cousin who is looking to marry a sensible man. and then you've got the many men in their lives: the brother, the husband, the fiancé, the lover. set in the 1700s with LOTS of chess playing and overall machinations, the story sets itself up to be interesting. and in some ways it was... it just wasn't successful as a romance.
really my biggest complaint was the lack of payoff. you've got 2 separate relationships you think are going to happen. one never does and is never suitably resolved. and the other... was lame? there was lots of lackluster canoodling and sex but never anything to get us invested in the relationship.
ultimately i just don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. i appreciate what eloisa james does in the historical space. i think she focuses on time periods that aren't usually focused upon and i think she writes pretty sophisticated non rom-com stuff. this just didn't hit the mark.