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oyceterI think I have read Midsummer Moon and Uncertain Magic before, but I don't remember them at all. And I had previously gotten halfway through The Shadow and the Star but never finished it.
I suspect none of them made an impression on me previously because I read them when I was looking for angsty angsty romance, particularly from Kinsale. It's a delight to find her funnier books, and I think I am more kindly inclined toward light romances now.
Midsummer Moon - Merlin Lambourne is an absent-minded inventor who only wants to work on her flying machine. Ransom Falconer, Duke of Damerell, is trying to get a hold of her inventions to benefit the English in the Napoleonic wars, while also attempting to keep Merlin from being abducted by the French.
Merlin is absolutely adorable and completely absent-minded, and their meet-cute is one of the cutest things ever. Also, there is a hedgehog. And I sympathize greatly with Merlin's inability to figure out the Name/Title formula and go for Duke of Falconer or "Mr. Duke," as I frequently have that problem as well. And I love the inversion of the usual male inventor/female love interest trying to keep him connected to the real world.
Unfortunately, I also greatly dislike Ransom, who is extremely controlling and loves manipulating people. I did like that it is his greatest flaw and that everyone is subject to it, not just Merlin, but since it's coupled with the "I will prevent you from doing what you most want in order to protect you!" (he's scared of heights, she wants to build a flying machine), it really irritated me. Though I loved the end bit on how Merlin gets him in a plane. Also, I think the side romances/characters could have been fleshed out much better. Still, charming as long as Ransom isn't much in there.
The Shadow and the Star - I know this is almost everyone's favorite Kinsale, but alas, not for me. I never found myself greatly sympathizing with Samuel, despite his angsty background, probably because I skipped all the flashback chapters or anything that had much to do with his ninja training in Hawaii. OMG. The Orientalism is SO BAD. I was able to ignore it in most of the sections, but not when it was continually dwelt upon in the flashbacks!
As such, I adored Leda and her "dear sir"-ing and her injunctions against swearing, but never quite got a hold of Samuel. He's not an alpha jerk, thankfully, but I also didn't really see him as in love with Leda either.
Uncertain Magic - Roderica Delamore has the unfortunate gift of being able to overhear people's thoughts when she encounters the Devil Earl, Faelan Savigar. She can't hear his thoughts! He needs money to save his darling estate, Iveragh! Clearly they must get married!
I feel like I should not have liked this, given that Faelan keeps thinking Roddy is sleeping with or pining after her first crush and acting foolishly because of it, the age difference between the two (she's 19, he's 35), and that he keeps calling her "little girl" or "child." And yet! It is so utterly charming that I do not care.
This is also one of the more Gothic-y romances, particularly because we only get Roddy's POV through most of it. I love the take on Gothics, especially with all the ominous warnings being delivered via Roddy's psychic-ness as opposed to the usual mysterious people popping in and out going "Doom!!!" without providing illuminating and helpful details.
I also like that even though Faelan falls prey to several Big Misunderstandings, they are actually cleared up fairly quickly and he doesn't do anything too horrible. Plus, as previously mentioned, watching Roddy and Faelan interact is usually so cute that I gave the book a lot of leeway.
Also also, there is a pet pig!
I suspect none of them made an impression on me previously because I read them when I was looking for angsty angsty romance, particularly from Kinsale. It's a delight to find her funnier books, and I think I am more kindly inclined toward light romances now.
Midsummer Moon - Merlin Lambourne is an absent-minded inventor who only wants to work on her flying machine. Ransom Falconer, Duke of Damerell, is trying to get a hold of her inventions to benefit the English in the Napoleonic wars, while also attempting to keep Merlin from being abducted by the French.
Merlin is absolutely adorable and completely absent-minded, and their meet-cute is one of the cutest things ever. Also, there is a hedgehog. And I sympathize greatly with Merlin's inability to figure out the Name/Title formula and go for Duke of Falconer or "Mr. Duke," as I frequently have that problem as well. And I love the inversion of the usual male inventor/female love interest trying to keep him connected to the real world.
Unfortunately, I also greatly dislike Ransom, who is extremely controlling and loves manipulating people. I did like that it is his greatest flaw and that everyone is subject to it, not just Merlin, but since it's coupled with the "I will prevent you from doing what you most want in order to protect you!" (he's scared of heights, she wants to build a flying machine), it really irritated me. Though I loved the end bit on how Merlin gets him in a plane. Also, I think the side romances/characters could have been fleshed out much better. Still, charming as long as Ransom isn't much in there.
The Shadow and the Star - I know this is almost everyone's favorite Kinsale, but alas, not for me. I never found myself greatly sympathizing with Samuel, despite his angsty background, probably because I skipped all the flashback chapters or anything that had much to do with his ninja training in Hawaii. OMG. The Orientalism is SO BAD. I was able to ignore it in most of the sections, but not when it was continually dwelt upon in the flashbacks!
As such, I adored Leda and her "dear sir"-ing and her injunctions against swearing, but never quite got a hold of Samuel. He's not an alpha jerk, thankfully, but I also didn't really see him as in love with Leda either.
Uncertain Magic - Roderica Delamore has the unfortunate gift of being able to overhear people's thoughts when she encounters the Devil Earl, Faelan Savigar. She can't hear his thoughts! He needs money to save his darling estate, Iveragh! Clearly they must get married!
I feel like I should not have liked this, given that Faelan keeps thinking Roddy is sleeping with or pining after her first crush and acting foolishly because of it, the age difference between the two (she's 19, he's 35), and that he keeps calling her "little girl" or "child." And yet! It is so utterly charming that I do not care.
This is also one of the more Gothic-y romances, particularly because we only get Roddy's POV through most of it. I love the take on Gothics, especially with all the ominous warnings being delivered via Roddy's psychic-ness as opposed to the usual mysterious people popping in and out going "Doom!!!" without providing illuminating and helpful details.
I also like that even though Faelan falls prey to several Big Misunderstandings, they are actually cleared up fairly quickly and he doesn't do anything too horrible. Plus, as previously mentioned, watching Roddy and Faelan interact is usually so cute that I gave the book a lot of leeway.
Also also, there is a pet pig!
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Tue, Nov. 24th, 2009 07:52 pm (UTC)I love all the "DOOM!!!!!" going on.
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Tue, Nov. 24th, 2009 07:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Tue, Nov. 24th, 2009 07:55 pm (UTC)