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sophia_sol) wrote2022-07-01 12:38 pm
sophia_sol) wrote2022-07-01 12:38 pm
The Hellion's Waltz, by Olivia Waite
This is the third book in a trilogy of historical f/f romances by Waite, and although I loved the first two books in the series, this one just didn't work for me nearly so well.
This is a book about working-class women getting revenge on a man who has been taking advantage of the workers he relies on, which you know, I should be into!
But ultimately it's supposed to be a romance novel, so I want to be sold on the relationship between the two leads, Sophie and Maddie. But I'm really not. It's one of those romances where most of the focus is on how hot they find each other, and although they DO share mutual values as well as finding each other hot, it doesn't feel like I'm ever really shown that they develop any kind of relationship of mutual liking and understanding. Their relationship becomes very serious very fast without ever showing how that happens!
As well, although I thought Sophie's character arc was well done, and I really enjoyed her story, Maddie's arc did not get sufficient attention. I'm pretty sure Maddie's arc is supposed to be one of her learning to leave behind her efforts to live for her dead mother, and learn instead to live for herself, but it feels like an abrupt transition from one state to the other, rather than a process that the reader is at all given a glimpse into. The conclusion of her arc felt very abrupt because it wasn't led into.
Plus.....I don't actually particularly enjoy the plot. The specific way they get revenge on the unscrupulous man just feels over-convoluted and silly to me, and the balance between the acknowledgement from the characters that the real problem is the system vs wanting to take down this one cog in the system didn't feel well managed to me.
I loved the various friendships and working relationships and familial relationships the two lead characters have, as well as their relationships with their crafts. And I had fun reading the book, as long as I kept myself to only trying to engage with it on a superficial level. But overall I just really did not like this book the way I wanted to. Really disappointing! :(
This is a book about working-class women getting revenge on a man who has been taking advantage of the workers he relies on, which you know, I should be into!
But ultimately it's supposed to be a romance novel, so I want to be sold on the relationship between the two leads, Sophie and Maddie. But I'm really not. It's one of those romances where most of the focus is on how hot they find each other, and although they DO share mutual values as well as finding each other hot, it doesn't feel like I'm ever really shown that they develop any kind of relationship of mutual liking and understanding. Their relationship becomes very serious very fast without ever showing how that happens!
As well, although I thought Sophie's character arc was well done, and I really enjoyed her story, Maddie's arc did not get sufficient attention. I'm pretty sure Maddie's arc is supposed to be one of her learning to leave behind her efforts to live for her dead mother, and learn instead to live for herself, but it feels like an abrupt transition from one state to the other, rather than a process that the reader is at all given a glimpse into. The conclusion of her arc felt very abrupt because it wasn't led into.
Plus.....I don't actually particularly enjoy the plot. The specific way they get revenge on the unscrupulous man just feels over-convoluted and silly to me, and the balance between the acknowledgement from the characters that the real problem is the system vs wanting to take down this one cog in the system didn't feel well managed to me.
I loved the various friendships and working relationships and familial relationships the two lead characters have, as well as their relationships with their crafts. And I had fun reading the book, as long as I kept myself to only trying to engage with it on a superficial level. But overall I just really did not like this book the way I wanted to. Really disappointing! :(
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So I have added this book to my library queue with one mind that I might not even get around to read it. FWIW, I haven't come across any actually!enthusiastic reviews for this book. The criticisms I've read have been v. similar to yours. Specifically that they aren't too convinced by the relationship and the romance itself. Hmmm.
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Mainly cuz I don't like to be challenged or feel like I need to struggle when reading (for pleasure--which is 100% of the reason why I pick up any profic novel.) Ymmv, there's no One True Way of enjoying a book, etc.
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But of course, tastes vary!
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I am fascinated to hear that I'm not the only one struggling with the relationship/romance in this book; often when my complaint is that it's too focused on physical attraction between the lead characters I assume that it must be working for allosexual people even if I don't get it, so it's kind of vindicating to hear that this isn't just a case of me being too ace for romance, lol.
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In any case, I'm gonna give it one more chance. It's also possible that the ONLY book by this author that worked for me was her debut novel. Who's to say, right?
Finally, yeah, it's always surprising when I hear others echo my criticisms of books (regardless of the book's popularity) because reading can oftentimes be such a solitary activity.
As a fellow ace, I chuckle in companionship abt sometimes being too ace to enjoy a romance. Sometimes, that's the case. Others (like this novel), it's more of the book not landing as solidly as it should've. Hmm.
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Noooooooo thank you! Will not be reading this one!
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