AND THE READING SLUMP HAS BEEN BROKEN. Honestly, mostly due to a sheer force of will. It might help that I decided to help break it through romance. A genre I’ve been itching to return to, but hadn’t. I’m glad that A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious by Mary Wine was my first read of 2023! Steampunk romance is my ultimate love and favorite genre. And while A Lady Can didn’t check all my boxes, it was a pleasurable read, nonetheless.
Let’s review!
Book Info
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca | Release Date: August 2012 | Pages: 320
Age Range: Adult | Genre: Romance | Format: Paperback | Source: Bought
Beneath the Surface of Victorian Life Lies a Very Different World…
Hated and feared by the upper classes, the Illuminists guard their secrets with their lives. Janette Aston’s insatiable quest for answers brings her to their locked golden doors, where she encounters the most formidable man she’s ever met.
Darius Lawley’s job is to eliminate would–be infiltrators, but even he may be no match for Janette’s cunning and charm…
On the Page
- Blood depiction
- Classism
- Disappearance of a loved one
- Hospitalisation
- Hostage situation
- Loss of vision
- Misogyny
- Needles
- Sexism
- Sex
Referenced
- Indentured servitude
Minor
Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.
Review
Likes
- Steampunk London and factions introduced: Like I’ve mentioned before, I crave steampunk romance. I wish it was a more popular genre, because I’m quickly running out of books to read. No surprise I loved it here.
- The steam: I determine how much I’ve enjoyed a romance novel by how good the sex is. This was good.
- Janette and Sophie’s friendship: Surprisingly, my favorite relationship wasn’t the couple! (We’ll get to that in a moment.) But the steadfast friendship between Janette and Sophie was my absolute favorite part of the novel.
Dislikes
- Darius: Ironically, my least favorite part was actually our male lead, Darius. I found him to be quite repetitive in nature and vexing in others. To me, he did cause me to swoon. Instead, he just annoyed me.
- Some of the writing was…something: Though I did really enjoy the steamy bits, if I could never read another romance book that used “milking” as a descriptor for sex, I’ll be ecstatic.
Rating
For me, A Lady Can Never Be too Curious by Mary Wine was not a bad read! I am definitely planning to read the sequel, especially since it’s Sophie’s story. And part of me is bummed that there are only two set in this univerise. I think I’d read more, if there were. But, some of the writing and lack of adoration to our male lead made this just a decent read for me.
Patreon | Newsletter | Editorial Services | Twitter | Instagram | Kofi
![I'm so excited to stop by today and share a client highlight. This time, celebrating the publication of Veo Corva's novel, THE BEAUTIFUL DECAY, out today!
I had the pleasure of proofreading this earlier this year and when I tell you I have been dying for it to release to hype it up!! The second book in the Tombtown series, it is set in a queernorm world where our main antagonist is creepy fungi. 🍄
From the characters to the queer rep to the amazing world building of building a society surrounded by necromancy, this is a series you don't want to miss and an author you should absolutely support!!
Buy a copy here: https://veocorva.xyz/books/the-beautiful-decay-by-veo-corva/
[Image description in alt text.]](https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Great review and YAY for breaking the reading slump! Even if this wasn’t a super spectacular read, sometimes it’s just nice to read something fun and simply enjoyable! 😍 Sorry to hear that the romance wasn’t great but the friendship sounds wonderful. I hope you enjoy the sequel or whatever else you pick up next!
It has been really nice! I am even reading multiple books at once. o.0 Who am I?!
But I’m reading some good books right now, which is so exciting. I hope you’re reading some good books!!
Milking? Ye gads, no! Ick. Lol
Right!? It was….yeah, absolutely not for me