Gemini Rising

Book review: The Duke and I

The Duke and I
Author: Julia Quinn
Published by: Avon Books, 2000

Overall rating: 3 Stars



PLOT: (3 Stars)

Daphne Bridgerton is a young lady in Regency England. The ton dictates society’s norms and it’s her turn to traverse the rumors and innuendos of the season along with Lady Whistledown’s gossip column. Daphne is well liked, heck, she’s everyone friend, so when it comes to finding a potential mate, he’s got to be something special because ordinary won’t do.

Simon Basset is young, handsome, and the new Duke of Hastings upon his father’s death, only Simon never cared much for his father. In fact, Simon’s father abandoned him as a young boy when he discovered Simon had a stutter. Simon vowed to be opposite of his father – never to fall in love, never to marry, and never have children.

When Daphne and Simon meet, the incident is memorable for both. Friendship grows into attraction, but Daphne and Simon have opposite goals in life. Daphne wants to be married and have children. Simon doesn’t want any of marriage and children. When the couple is caught by Daphne’s brother in a compromised position, will a forced marriage bring happiness or misery?


CATAYLIST: (3 Stars)

I was shopping at Costco and found the book. I liked the blurb, but thought the cover was ‘off’ – and it was reading the cover that I discovered Netflix made a series out of the book. The actress on the cover was ‘Daphne’ – she totally captured the character. The actor on the cover seemed off for ‘Simon’ – oh, he was handsome, but as I read the book, and developed my own inner visual for Simon, I found the disconnect a bit disconcerting. Still, I was intrigued enough to buy the book and read it.

THOUGHTS: (3.5 Stars)

Daphne is easy to like. She’s honest, forthright, brave and knows her mind. Her family is easy to like, too – even Anthony, who can be a little rough, but it’s understandable why he is, and his love for his siblings always shines though.

Simon is the more complicated character. He’s had a hard time of it, having to overcome a stutter and the abandonment of his father. Simon hides his background and challenges well in society, but when confronted with uncharacteristic emotions, he buckles down on what he knows – avoidance. Daphne brings out the best and worst in Simon as she challenges him to confront his complicated emotions.

WHAT WORKS: (4 Stars)

The banter is witty. The plot moves at a nice clip until a certain scene. The characters are appealing.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME (WHAT WAS ‘OFF’): (2 Stars)

I don’t mind sexually graphic scenes. The romance genre varies from sweet to heavy charged graphic scenes. There are such scenes here in this novel. However, there’s a point in the novel where Daphne has sex with a drunk Simon and he’s barely aware of his surroundings. He’s in no condition to really give his consent to the encounter. That said, Simon’s been firm about his wishes – he does not wish to have children. The scene ends with the opportunity for Daphne to conceive and yet, it’s not something that Simon wanted. Simon’s character development is not fleshed out to the point in this novel, when this encounter happens, where he willingly consents to Daphne’s desires. For me, a romance reader, consent is a must. Not drunken consent, not implied consent, consent given willingly and freely.

WHY 3 STARS:

I liked the setting, the time period, and the escapism of the novel. I liked Daphne as a heroine. I appreciated the complicated character that Simon was, I just didn’t think the author took the time to develop the character to the point where he was in an emotional place to share Daphne’s desires when he has drunken sex with her.

WILL I WATCH THE NETFLIX SERIES?

Not at this time. I love a good escapism series and Bridgerton could very well be that, but I appreciate more the realism of the escapism then the reimagining of it. The series itself would stand much stronger on its own if it was its own world and not a reimagined world of the ton.