Author: Mackenzi Lee
Genre: Historical Fiction; Young Adult
Rating: 7/10
Felicity Montague has her heart set on enrolling in medical school, but as door after door is slammed in her face, that burning passion falters. When a small window of opportunity opens, she is willing to do anything to have her moment in the sun. Even if it means taking on a mysterious young pirate, whose motives are not only suspicious, but could be malicious.
This book was incredibly hard for me to review because I could not stop comparing it to its predecessor which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately, this story fell short for me. The plot, the characters and most importantly, the relationships were not as profound and meaningful, nor as well-defined and developed. Overall, the book had a strange mixture of aspects I enjoyed and appreciated and aspects I felt underwhelmed by.
Something I did enjoy was how the voice of this book is completely different from the first. I really admire how the author is able to convey personality and perspective so well through her writing. The character of Felicity really came alive in this book.
I adore Felicity for a number of reasons. One of the less obvious one being that she has flaws. Felicity is different from the girls of that time and she is proud of it. She has the assumption that if you conform to the norms expected of a lady, you’re automatically not very strong or smart. You could say Felicity is on a high horse. I thought that this was a very unique flaw to give to a character. I loved how this perception is very much an integral part of her, and you could see how she came to be this way and the effects it has on her actions. I especially enjoy watching her grow out of this incorrect notion.
“In the company of women like this - sharp-edged as raw diamonds but with soft hands and hearts, not strong in spite of anything but powerful because of everything - I feel invincible.”
I felt that the relationships between our characters needed more development and intensity. In the Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, the dynamic between our characters was my favourite aspect of the book. Their interactions were interesting because of their distinct personalities, and because their pre-existing relationships were very intricate. On the other hand, I felt disconnected from the characters in this book.
Something else I have noticed about the author is her love for contrasting characters, and I do share that love. Our trio in this book all come from very different backgrounds, their strengths and weaknesses vary widely, and yet they share this common goal of trying to make the life they want in a patriarchal world full of obstacles. And that is truly the central idea of this book.
“You deserve to be here. You deserve to exist. You deserve to take up space in this world of men.”
Something else I really appreciated about the book was its mention of prestige. We find it satisfying when the underdogs make a name for themselves, but sometimes it’s just not possible in the current situation. And it’s the hardest thing, to recognise that and think further ahead for those who will come after you. It’s important to ask yourself whether you’re doing it for the prestige or your happiness, even when it comes to something you love. I have never had a book discuss this point before and I just wish they dug deeper into it.
“Foundations are buried in dirt, you know”
Now, we have to talk about plot. It was the most disappointing aspect of the book. The central arc was not clear, making the book feel like it consisted of several different episodes. The structure was also quite confusing, and I felt that if some of the events had happened sooner, it would have made for a more satisfying story.
Furthermore, the book also made use of a lot of cliche plot points, some of which were not given sufficient details, causing the plot as a whole to feel a bit dull.
I am a big fan of this author and it’s mostly because I love how her books discuss morality, common concepts like ambition, or even untapped concepts like prestige, in a realistic and all encompassing way. It shows the good, the bad, the ugly. Some parts you will resonate with and others will make you empathise with the characters.
In all, the writing is still phenomenal to me. I feel like the author is able to put thoughts and insights perfectly into words. However, this book lacked development and depth in certain areas, resulting in it being less impactful. Though I did enjoy the book, it did not wow me like I’ve come to expect from this author.
Reviewed by: N.G. Rainwater (1st Reading)
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