Chase, Loretta - Captives of the Night (partial)

[oyceter]

Just as an explanation, I usually just stop reading books when I don't like them. But I got three-fourths of the way through this one before the Extremely Sporktastic Element came in, and thereby have enough content for a post

Comments

[estara]

to defend Mz Chase's honor (you can tell I liked the book and I only got Lion's Daughter when it was rereleased this year): Ismal himself has no problems with homosexual love whatsoever, but the times and English society do (there's that young lord who had a drunken episode with his best friend, the young attache who killed himself in Paris - because of stolen papers, though). No wonder the sister of his intended is freaked out, when she hears of this (but she actually calms down, which I don't think very realistic).

well, at least near the end Leila and Ismal experiment with bondage ^^. He actually says "As you wish, ma belle, only tell me is it to be you - or me?"

so non-missionary sexuality = just fine

With escape literature I just accept blond-haired Albanians as long as I like the characters and the dialogue ^^, so it doesn't throw me off.

[oyceter]

I did like that she had Ismal commenting on the homophobia, and I don't mind that she has her characters being absolutely horrified by accusations of sodomy, given the social and political ramifications of the times. But I wish that the one character who did willingly and frequently partake in homosexual relationships hadn't been the insane degenerate abusive villain character. Especially since there's a trend in romances to have the villains be the sexually "perverse," sexually voracious, and homosexual ones. Sticks in my teeth

[oyceter]

I look at things like that, and don't know whether to laugh or cringe.

The really sad thing is, those are nearly real titles! I didn't believe it myself at first, but after checking out the series romance stands in bookstores... yup. I do not exaggerate.

I really should write out something about the equation of paleness with beauty sometime, particularly in romance novels -- it almost threw me out of the latest Shana Abe I read because, well... what about people who don't have beautiful pearlescent luminous glowing ivory skin? Like... a good majority of the world?

Word to the exotic men, as opposed to exotic women.

It's just... I love romances, I really do. But there are times when I realize that romances don't love me back, and that makes me sad.

[sarahtales]

Oh my God, that just sounds shockingly bad. And I've really liked all the Chases I've read so far - Lord of Scoundrels, Miss Wonderful and Mr Impossible. I'd mentally added her to my Georgette Heyer and Jenny Crusie list of Safe Romance Authors. An Aryan Arabian Nights prince. Oh, Loretta, why?

I love the idea of romance - relationship-focused novel, heavy on the dialogue, why two people can fit together and improve each other - while really not liking the formula of most of the books I've tried. Et tu, Ms Chase!

[oyceter]

I usually adore Chase too! Sigh. But then, other people (coffeeandink and rilina) told me to avoid The Sandalwood Princess for Orientalism, so possibly it is just One of Those Things she really likes.

And the thing is, one of the reasons why I usually like Chase is because she takes the standard romance formula and gives it little twists so it's not quite what you expect! Here's hoping her next book work better...