5 stars I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Based on the writing, I can honestly say I would be thrilled to read another book from this author. The characters of Max and Lydia are wonderful, with Max continually surprising me with his observational skills, his kindness, and his wordsmithing. Lydia is resourceful, intelligent, confident, yet hesitant to allow herself to love. Both are realistically described and relatable. Both have alter-egos, which I thought was a clever point of similarity. Both are surprisingly open and fluid in their sexuality, which would have been considered shocking during this time period. It still is, if I'm being honest. The plot is unusual and I loved some of the descriptions, especially how the theatre lights work and Lydia's skill at "fortune-telling." Max's father is the perfect real-life villain, totally self-absorbed and irredeemable. It would be difficult not to root for his demise. Overall, I found this to be a story well-told and well-written, with likable and relatable characters (mostly). One of the things I appreciated most was there was nary a sign of the nobility. I truly enjoy historical fiction, but why must almost every one of them revolve around finding a Duke? This story was about regular people who were exceptional for who they were, not what they were. I definitely recommend reading it. January 6, 2022
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Elizabeth J ConnorWriter. Editor. Proofreader. Archives
September 2022
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