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How to Seduce a Duke, by Kathryn Caskie
Aug. 25th, 2007 01:13 pmHow to Seduce a Duke
by Kathryn Caskie
340 pages (paperback)
Genre: Fiction/Romance/Historical
Although romance by itself isn't a genre I read regularly, I do have a soft spot for historical romance. In fact, I'm in the middle of reading The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, which is pure pleasure. Perhaps because I can't avoid the comparison, but Caskie's novel was severely disappointing.
First and foremost, it's anachronistic--for instance, references to "afternoon" when during the Regency period, morning extended most of the day until evening. The dialogue seems like it consciously tries to be old-fashioned, while just coming off as contrived. I didn't like the style in general--too many short paragraphs for no apparent reason, really annoying dramatic irony, and overly sentimental lines (Mary: "...I never truly loved him. I only thought I did." [252]) This kind of prose can work if the reader is sufficiently invested in the story, but it was obvious from both the cover blurb and Mary's actions that she isn't in love with Quinn. It's equally obvious that she and Rogan are meant to be together and the conflict between them is unrealistic, reading more like authorial intrusion. There are also unexplained character shifts--on page 192, Mary recalls her (hot) dreams of Rogan and thinks that she's dreaming again, but before this point she's shown no indication of this kind of dreaming--a few mentions of her thinking about him, but that's it.
The romance develops far too quickly, so it feels more like pure lust/physical attraction rather than love. Caskie tries feebly to complicate the plot by introducing several side characters and an ongoing series plotline of being illegitimate "princesses" (never mind that bastard children couldn't be crowned anyway). Almost all the characters are cliches, or else flat. I liked Rogan despite him being the standard rake with a softened heart, but Mary was utterly boring. In fact, the most interesting character is the old-lady matchmaker.
If this novel wasn't so short and breezy--the font was also rather large to me, being used to fantasy typesetting--I probably wouldn't have finished. Next time I want fluff, I think I'll just reread Wen Spencer's A Brother's Price. Caskie is not recommended, nor will I be reading the next book in this series (How to Engage an Earl, presumably about the middle sister Anne).
by Kathryn Caskie
340 pages (paperback)
Genre: Fiction/Romance/Historical
Although romance by itself isn't a genre I read regularly, I do have a soft spot for historical romance. In fact, I'm in the middle of reading The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, which is pure pleasure. Perhaps because I can't avoid the comparison, but Caskie's novel was severely disappointing.
First and foremost, it's anachronistic--for instance, references to "afternoon" when during the Regency period, morning extended most of the day until evening. The dialogue seems like it consciously tries to be old-fashioned, while just coming off as contrived. I didn't like the style in general--too many short paragraphs for no apparent reason, really annoying dramatic irony, and overly sentimental lines (Mary: "...I never truly loved him. I only thought I did." [252]) This kind of prose can work if the reader is sufficiently invested in the story, but it was obvious from both the cover blurb and Mary's actions that she isn't in love with Quinn. It's equally obvious that she and Rogan are meant to be together and the conflict between them is unrealistic, reading more like authorial intrusion. There are also unexplained character shifts--on page 192, Mary recalls her (hot) dreams of Rogan and thinks that she's dreaming again, but before this point she's shown no indication of this kind of dreaming--a few mentions of her thinking about him, but that's it.
The romance develops far too quickly, so it feels more like pure lust/physical attraction rather than love. Caskie tries feebly to complicate the plot by introducing several side characters and an ongoing series plotline of being illegitimate "princesses" (never mind that bastard children couldn't be crowned anyway). Almost all the characters are cliches, or else flat. I liked Rogan despite him being the standard rake with a softened heart, but Mary was utterly boring. In fact, the most interesting character is the old-lady matchmaker.
If this novel wasn't so short and breezy--the font was also rather large to me, being used to fantasy typesetting--I probably wouldn't have finished. Next time I want fluff, I think I'll just reread Wen Spencer's A Brother's Price. Caskie is not recommended, nor will I be reading the next book in this series (How to Engage an Earl, presumably about the middle sister Anne).
