Title: Thief of Shadows Series: Maiden Lane #4
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Published: June 26, 2012
Genre(s): Romance: Historical
Page Count: 360
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.
Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.
During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.
My head hurts, dammit.
I finally started to get into the Maiden Lane series, thanks to the book immediately before this one. And then this happens. Like. What even? Some of the absolute worst aspects of historical romance novels are present in Thief of Shadows, plus it’s completely forgettable to boot.
No thanks.
Mostly I just couldn’t handle the craptastic angst-fest that was Winter Makepeace. He is so ~dark~ and ~moody~ and ~misunderstood~ and he must bitch and moan about his Noble Destiny forever. Literally, Elizabeth Hoyt has him saying shit like this:
“I only know that the darkness almost consumes me. It is an animal I battle every day. Darkness is my burden to bear.”
Jesus Christ, y’all, if I wanted to read about an emo teenager version of the Dread Pirate Roberts I…I wouldn’t. Because that sounds as appealing as spending the holiday season with Donald and Melania. Just no. Winter is an Monster. He is Darkness. He is is…ugh. Never mind.
And if you gut through all the angst, and finally get down to the “logic” of Winter’s “mission”, you wind up empty-handed. Because, apparently, he must save all the poor people of St. Giles! And he must be celibate to do so! Because obviously!
Women are just too distracting, folks. Heaven forbid anyone have sex in moderation and also have spare time for (unnecessary) vigilantism. If you’re getting down with the V, that’s it, game over—no room for both. Duh, guys. Keep up with me here.
And…honestly that’s all I’ve got? Thief of Shadows was unutterably boring and mundane. How is a book set in London’s slums featuring child kidnappers/exploiters so dull? It takes talent, honestly. True talent to have so much going on in your plot and still have such a snoozefest.
I’m sorry, I can’t. This was really bad.
Renae out.
