The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
Genre: Historical Romance
Summary: The hero, Samuel Gerard, was rescued from child prostitution by the wealthy and aristocratic Ashland family who live in Hawaii. The family is unaware that he has a mentor in their Japanese butler, who teaches him martial arts and self-discipline. He grows up into a handsome skilled warrior, believing passion is dangerous and a weakness, and decides to live chastely. In 1887 London he meets Leda Etoile, the heroine, at a chance meeting. A respectable but impoverished Leda is unfairly dismissed and Samuel offers her employment as a secretary after she keeps a secret for him. Succumbing to their attraction to one another, they must determine if it is only desire, or the beginning of so much more.
Sex rating: R
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Appeals:
- beautifully written
- sexual and/or emotional tension
- historically detailed
Characteristics of Historical Romance:
- tension: sexual and/or emotional, the main protagonists have to work through internal and/or external conflicts to be together
- secondary characters either help or hinder the main characters in their struggles or may provide comic relief
- codes of social conduct pertaining to the era
- social issues - roles of men and women, poverty, prostitution, class structure
- descriptions/details: large - country, land, houses; small - clothing, carriages, or specific rooms of a house
- usually with witty dialogue, moving the plot along
- HEA, or Happily Ever After
- the details of intimacy depend on the author, it varies from none at all, to explicit sex
Read-a-likes:
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
My Dark Prince by Julia Ross
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Princess by Gaelen Foley
I like that you gave this book a "sex rating." I think it's always important to warn people who might like a romance but don't want anything too racy. I used to read books a lot like this, but I haven't been able to get through them recently. Some of them have such poor writing and plot/character development that I don't find it worth my time. The fact the you put this as being "beautifully written" makes me want to try this book. Do you ever struggle with finding good books in this genre?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do. Being a history major probably plays a part. I certain don't want to read stories about rape or the 80s "bodice ripper" (although they can be amusing and silly if you just go with it) but if you are reading a historical, that era's mores and society at large is part of the story. So it sometimes annoys me when an author writes a book by today's standards and not the period's. And when I could pluck the characters out of a book and easily put them into a contemporary book where they are at a ball or something, ugh. lol Plus, some are just written like crap, which can make it worse. I go through phases, too, where I just get burnt out on a genre. Laura Kinsale hasn't written anything in years, she "lost" her muse, sadly. I do love her books, they are all quite unique in their settings, and the conflicts the characters must face. I have been hearing a lot of my patrons talking about a "newer" author Grace Burrows, have you ever read anything by her? Any suggestions? :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone! I had a friend text me the other day because she felt like a historical romance book was using language that was too contemporary. She wanted to know if they would have said "do it" in the 1700s. I couldn't stop laughing! I agree that books need to be authentic. I feel that ebooks can be an issue because they can skip the usual publisher. I get very irritated when I feel like I need to get my red pen out. Have you read Jennifer Donnelly's Rose Trilogy? It is a beautifully written series. I couldn't put it down.
DeleteThanks for the suggestion! I truly appreciate it. It's good to have backup authors. I have been trying to mix it up so I don't get sick of one genre, especially if I find a book I think is garbage. Right now on my to-read pile of books I have: 2 romances, a dark fantasy, a light fantasy, a children's fantasy, a historical fiction and a scifi. I will put Donnelly's first book of the trilogy on my request list but suspend it for, oh, 4 months from now! ha
DeleteTry the reviews at http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (if you haven't already). It's run by two really clever ladies who also like well-written romance. Very nice annotation Christina!
ReplyDeleteI love that blog! It cracks me up. Thanks. Sorry, as I know it was longer than the recommended summary length; initially, it was even longer! I am still not thrilled with it, but I cringe when I see the cookie cutter - "he was fighting his demons and losing, and she was placed on the planet to redeem him" - descriptions that are always the quick summaries of most historical romances.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Carrie. I love romance books but hate it when I waste my time on a poorly written one. That link will come in handy.
ReplyDeleteEven as I sit here, I'm left wondering "What sorts of Japanese weapons?" or "When you say warrior is that more of a samurai or ninja?" or "What kinds of battles?" My brain sort of got stuck on that first bit of the description.
ReplyDeleteKeith, the book really has two story lines. The main is the romance, and the secondary is the martial arts/Japanese aspect. You don't find out WHY this guy trains this young white kid until the end of the book and it's never stated what type of discipline. The main protagonist uses throwing stars, fights with a sword, and while the author never uses the word "ninja" that's a close description. Most of the "battles" he fights are with himself, but the book describes his training when he was young and how well he did with his mad skillz. There are a few scenes in the present when he has to deal with people physically, but until the end where there is a big fighting scene - and that's not described blow by blow - he mostly evades or strikes out without anyone knowing how. Yes, he's THAT fast.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. That expands my conception of romance novels a bit.
ReplyDelete