UnusedUsername33's Reviews

This review contains spoilers. The earliest chapters present pretty typical psuedo-historical romance fluff but it's still somewhat charming. However, the chapters that reveal the reason behind the transformation in the Duke's behavior are thought provoking and evocative. I've rarely seen a story of redemption so grounded in human experience. He doesn't change because of one brief experience that shifted his perspective but because of an extended experience that broke down his world view and self worth before building it up again. Once you understand the impetus, his change in behavior is completely believable. Someone who when through what he did could very realistically respond the way that he did. This is a VERY worthwhile read.

This review contains spoilers. She's taken from her family as a young child, socially isolated, and subjected to harsh, emotionally abusive training with minimal time to herself. She somehow grows up to be a positive, resilient person anyway but the story doesn't get less horrible. At one point, the prince literally kidnaps her while her horrible parents look on, smiling. This story casually inundates you with things that would very rightly get you put in prison for twenty years in real life and acts like it's justified and, somehow, this girl ISN'T being inflicted with awful suffering.