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A review by notbambi
Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I can see why people say this is the best in the series. It's got it's problematic bullshit (like, do we really need to redeem the guy who kidnapped and threatened to rape a girl a week ago?), but this is a big improvement on the previous books.
I felt in the first two of the series that Kleypas was great at scenes, not so great at overarching plots, and this one is a lot stronger on that front. There are actual stakes and consequences and foreshadowing! Evie doesn't immediately love her husband and actually has to see him make changes in his life before she cares for him! St. Vincent gets to have internal conflict and be a flawed human instead of a cardboard villain! The actual villain is tragic and has pathos!
The "rake reformed by the love of a woman" is so common in this genre, but this is at least a well-executed take on the trope.
I felt in the first two of the series that Kleypas was great at scenes, not so great at overarching plots, and this one is a lot stronger on that front. There are actual stakes and consequences and foreshadowing! Evie doesn't immediately love her husband and actually has to see him make changes in his life before she cares for him! St. Vincent gets to have internal conflict and be a flawed human instead of a cardboard villain! The actual villain is tragic and has pathos!
The "rake reformed by the love of a woman" is so common in this genre, but this is at least a well-executed take on the trope.