The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

[meganbmoore]

This book created a lot of buzz when it came out, for both its heroine and its voice. The books centers around two spies in the Napoleonic War. Or rather, just barely before, I believe. Annique Villiers is the daughter of a French spy, and has been working as one since childhood, but has recently come under attack by another French spy, Leblanc.

Comments

[magicnoire]

Like you, I hated the fact that Annique got her sight back. The book lost its shine for me after that point. I felt like Annique became a moron because the plot required it.

I also found it completely unbelievable that Annique was a virgin in the first place but that's another issue entirely.

[meganbmoore]

The virginity bit...is further evidence of romance novel misogyny. The Rules required her to be worthy of him in ways to make up for her being an evil French spy.

The thing about the blindness is that as soon as it was revealed how she was blinded, I knew she'd get her sight back. It's another rule. But like you asid...it's like she became a moron because she had to for the plot. The same Annique with her sight would have long since left Grey in the dust.

The annoying part is that even as I was reading and growling, I could tell that the author could probably do a whole lot better than that. She just had to follow the freaking rules.

[irysangel]

Extremely well-written...hate the 'nobody realizes she's blind!' trope.

[meganbmoore]

I thought that part was handled well enough. It was dark the whole time they didn't realize it, and they realized it as soon as it was light.

I think most of my problems with the book are because of romance novel conventions specific to this plot, so I have hopes for her other books.

[buymeaclue]

...this book sounded a lot more interesting before you said it was a recent blindness. So how the heck has she developed the coping skills to navigate in the world and do all this crazy stuff without being able to see?

[meganbmoore]

It's actually handled pretty well, partly for another spoiler reason, and partly because...well, the situation before the reveal basically has her with men constantly trying to grab her and force her to do what they want, only to have it not work out so well.

It's hard to explain, but pulled off better than you'd expect.