Marley G. reviewed on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I'm sorry to say it, but this was a disappointment. I've enjoyed other books by Spencer and now I'm glad I read them first because I wouldn't have bothered if this was my introduction to the author.
A Brother's Price is actually pretty well written, with lots of fun plot flourishes (conspiracies, explosives, royal assasinations, spycraft). But it seems like the author went to a lot of trouble to build a unique world and then didn't really use the setup.
The role reversal strategy (men are the possessed/repressed minority in this wild west world) could have been used to explore the concept of gender but wasn't. The reverse polygamy device could have been used to explore marriage or family structures but wasn't. Both just provide a bit of color, nothing more. And there's already plenty of color: this is effectively a Regency romance set at the Ponderosa.
The lead character is meant to be plucky and likeable but he's just annoying. The supporting characters promise to be interesting but they're never really explored.
I almost wish Spencer had just done this as a straight genre treatment. The strength of the plot twists might have yielded a good fantasy regency even with weak characters.
A Brother's Price is actually pretty well written, with lots of fun plot flourishes (conspiracies, explosives, royal assasinations, spycraft). But it seems like the author went to a lot of trouble to build a unique world and then didn't really use the setup.
The role reversal strategy (men are the possessed/repressed minority in this wild west world) could have been used to explore the concept of gender but wasn't. The reverse polygamy device could have been used to explore marriage or family structures but wasn't. Both just provide a bit of color, nothing more. And there's already plenty of color: this is effectively a Regency romance set at the Ponderosa.
The lead character is meant to be plucky and likeable but he's just annoying. The supporting characters promise to be interesting but they're never really explored.
I almost wish Spencer had just done this as a straight genre treatment. The strength of the plot twists might have yielded a good fantasy regency even with weak characters.
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