Adam's Reviews > A Fashionable Indulgence

A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. Charles
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BR with SheReadsALot and Wench!

4.25 stars


In last year's Another Place In Time anthology, KJ Charles' entry, 'The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh', was all kinds of awesome. When I found out that Charles was writing a series about Gabriel and his lover Francis' friends, I was ecstatic. 'A Fashionable Indulgence' was a great beginning to this new series!

Harry Vane, formerly Harry Gordon, is the son of impoverished Radicals in Regency-era England. He's hated the upper-crust his whole life, but when he gets a chance to be a part of them, he dives in. It would be very easy to look at Harry as a hypocrite or coward. However to me, he was real. Charles wrote a character that was very flawed, who was willing to set aside his convictions for material things. But I could understand why he would do that. All Harry had known in life was hunger, poverty, and fear. Escaping that to become part of the privileged world of le bon ton must have been worth any price.

Julius Norreys took some getting used to. He's an aloof sarcastic dandy, concerned only with the cut of his coat and making quick-witted comebacks. Or so he'd have you think. When I finally got to see Julius' true self in the second half of the book, I think I swooned a bit. I loved seeing Julius open up in response to Harry's attention and kindness. It was sweet and sad all at once.

I think what I enjoyed the most in this book was the gradual progression of Julius and Harry's relationship. From strangers, to mentor and student, to friends, to more. It was all very well-paced, without becoming slow and boring.

I've got to give kudos to the author for showing the other side of the Regency era. The hungry and angry masses, the paranoid security forces, and borderline-tyrannical government. And the unsympathetic elite. KJ Charles paints an accurate, and occasionally heart-wrenching, picture of how the majority of the British population lived like at that time. It made for some enlightening context.

Overall, this was a great start to the new Society of Gentlemen series. 'A Fashionable Indulgence' was very well-written, with an entertaining romance and a bit of political intrigue. I'm looking forward to the sequels!


Review copy provided through NetGalley.

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My pre-read gloating. Because.
(view spoiler)
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Reading Progress

December 14, 2014 – Shelved
December 14, 2014 – Shelved as: to-read
December 14, 2014 – Shelved as: mm-historical
December 14, 2014 – Shelved as: regency-victorian-etc
December 14, 2014 – Shelved as: watchlist
May 9, 2015 – Shelved as: to-read
May 9, 2015 – Shelved as: wrote-a-review
May 9, 2015 – Shelved as: read-for-review
May 13, 2015 – Shelved as: watchlist
July 17, 2015 – Shelved as: to-read
July 31, 2015 – Started Reading
August 1, 2015 –
41.0% ""I want to show you the world, and see you smile, and keep you with me while my soul grows back."

description

And I thought Julius was a cold fish. Who knew he had that little speech in him?"
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: broken-boys
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: family-drama
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: military-men
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: mysteries-thrillers-crime-etc
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: need-to-dropkick-mc
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: secondary-characters-were-memorable
August 2, 2015 – Shelved as: z-half-star-more
August 2, 2015 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-17 of 17 (17 new)

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MishyJo Fancy you!


Adam MiʂħүJѻ wrote: "Fancy you!"

Well I don't like to brag.

But yes.


SheReadsALot Yes. Yes, I am. Enjoy.

>:P


Adam I'm just going to sit here on my throne and look down at all the commoners.


Adam Hahaha, I'd never make my friends curtsy. A bow of the head would be enough. =P


MishyJo Such benevolence.


Catherine What a baller! (But did no one every tell you that Canadians don't brag? It's simply not polite, darling). ;)


Adam I've been spending a lot of time with Mish lately. I think her American-ness is rubbing off on me. I might even stop saying "sorry" at the end of every sentence.


Catherine Ha ha ha! Isn't it wonderful when Mish loves you? Otherwise I'd be very, VERY afraid of her.


MishyJo I am watching you both. Tread carefully.


♣ Irish Smurfétté ♣ Totally giggling.

You go, Sir King, sir!! Lol


message 12: by Adam (new) - rated it 4 stars

Adam I've been waiting for the right moment to use this gif. I think I've found it.

description


message 13: by Adam (new) - rated it 4 stars

Adam I used to, but then Mish took it away. She said I was getting too full of myself. I can't imagine why.


MishyJo I had to have a conversation with Net Galley. No more ARCs for Adam.


Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ ERMAHGERD! I want to read this but I'm still in the 40s. I'll be back. I like the 4.25 stars though.


message 16: by Adam (new) - rated it 4 stars

Adam Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ & MANTIES Champion wrote: "ERMAHGERD! I want to read this but I'm still in the 40s. I'll be back. I like the 4.25 stars though."

Read, read, read! =D


Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ Yessir!

*salutes*


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