Happy publication day to India Holton’s The League of Gentlewoman Witches, a fun and entertaining historical romance/fantasy! I enjoyed this unique and swoon-worthy story and am exited to share my review with you today.
About the Book:
Title: The League of Gentlewoman Witches
Author: India Holton
Series: Dangerous Damsels #2
Page Length: 352
Publication Date: March 15, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Synopsis: Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the teahouse…
Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say—although it must never be said—witchcraft. The League of Gentlewomen Witches strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society.
When the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O’Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the world scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex’s not careful, he might just steal something else—such as Charlotte’s heart.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
The League of Gentlewomen Witches is a fun and unique addition to India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series. The story combines two of my favorite genres, fantasy and historical romance, and it is an entertaining read! Charlotte Pettifer is the future leader of a league of women who practice witchcraft, and she is determined to retrieve a recently discovered, powerful amulet before it gets into the wrong hands. Enter Alex O’Riley, pirate extraordinaire and definitely the wrong hands. However, with so many others trying to get the amulet, Charlotte and Alex agree to work together to steal it.
Charlotte and Alex have the best banter, and I loved their enemies-to-lovers romance. From their very first meeting, it’s clear there’s a spark between them, and their chemistry is off the charts! Both characters are layered and interesting, and their stories and growth as they slowly fall in love are fantastic. The secondary characters are as entertaining and dynamically developed as Charlotte and Alex, and I adored the representation of strong, independent, and supportive women.
The worldbuilding is also fantastic, and I like how the author continues to expand upon it, creating a fantastical Victorian London with magic, witchcraft, pirates, flying houses, and more. But my favorite part of the book is the humor. The sarcasm, the laugh-out-loud moments, the witty dialogue, and the funny Jane Austen references all make for a clever and humorous read. It’s so smart and quick and outrageous!.
I enjoyed this entertaining story. It’s clever and funny, and a little zany, and the romance is positively swoon-worthy. I would definitely recommend this to romance readers looking for a fun and swoon-worthy love story and are willing to suspend disbelief, and I am grateful to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The humor.
Favorite Line:
She’d just allowed herself do be disrobed by a man. Jane Austen would be weeping in her inkwell.
Excerpt:
A policeman’s whistle pierced the clamor of the crowd, and Charlotte winced. Pain from the noise ricocheted along her nerves. If only she could leave London with all its cacophony and retire to Hampshire, birthplace of Jane Austen, where green peace whispered wild yet gentle poetry to one’s heart. It was never to be-duty forced her presence in London, noble duty (and the fact there was not much of value to steal in the countryside)-yet still she dreamed. And occasionally took brief jaunts by train because, truly, there was nothing like leaving home for real comfort.
Thus imagining oak trees and country lanes while behind her the brawl intensified, Charlotte made her way without further impediment toward Almack’s. Its door stood open, a delivery boy’s bicycle leaning on the wall beside it, and the warm interior shadows promised respite from London’s inconveniences-as well as a back door through which she could slip unnoticed by policemen, pumpkin carters, and aggravated briefcase owners. She was almost there when she saw the child.
A mere scrap of humanity, he huddled within torn and filthy clothes, his small hand extended pathetically. Charlotte looked at him and then at Almack’s door. She came to a decisive stop.
“Hello,” she said in the stiff tones of someone unused to conversing with children. “Are you hungry?”
The urchin nodded. Charlotte offered him her wrapped sandwiches but he hesitated, his eyes growing wide and fearful as he glanced over her shoulder. Suddenly, he snatched the food and ran.
Charlotte watched him go. Two cucumber sandwiches would not sustain a boy for long, but no doubt he could sell the linen napkin to good effect. She almost smiled at the thought. Then she drew herself up to her fullest height, lifted her chin, and turned to look at the gentleman now looming over her.
“Good afternoon,” she said, tightening her grip on his briefcase.
In reply, he caught her arm lest she follow the example of the urchin. His expression tumbled through surprise and uncertainty before landing on the hard ground of displeasure; his dark blue eyes smoldered. For the first time, Charlotte noticed he wore high leather boots, strapped and buckled, scarred from interesting use-boots to make a woman’s heart tremble, either in trepidation or delight, depending on her education. A silver hook hung from his left ear; a ruby ring encircled one thumb, and what she had taken for a beard was mere unshaven stubble. Altogether it led to a conclusion Charlotte was appalled not to have reached earlier.
“Pirate,” she said in disgust.
“Thief,” he retorted. “Give me back my briefcase.”
How rude! Not even the suggestion of a please! But what else could one expect from a barbarian who probably flew around in some brick cottage thinking himself a great man just because he could get it up? Pirates really were the lowest of the low, even if-or possibly because-they could go higher than everyone else in their magic-raised battlehouses. Such an unsubtle use of enchantment was a crime against civilization, even before one counted in the piracy. Charlotte allowed her irritation to show, although frowning on the street was dreadfully unladylike.
“Possession is nine-tenths of the law, sir. Kindly unhand me and I will not summon a police officer to charge you with molestation.”
He surprised her by laughing. “I see you are a wit as well as a thief. And an unlikely philanthropist too. If you hadn’t stopped for the boy, you might have gotten away.”
“I still shall.”
“I don’t think so. You may be clever, but I could have you on the ground in an instant.”
“You could,” Charlotte agreed placidly. “However, you may like to note that my shoe is pressed against your foot. If I am so inclined, I can release a poisoned dart from its heel which will penetrate boot and skin to paralyze you within moments.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Ingenious. So you too are a pirate, I take it?”
Charlotte gasped, trying to tug her arm from his grip. “I most certainly am not, sir, and I demand an apology for the insult!”
He shrugged.
Charlotte waited, but apparently that was the extent of his reply. She drew a tight breath, determined to remain calm. What would Jane Austen’s fiercest heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, do in this situation?
“I consider myself a reasonable woman,” she said. “I take pride in not being prejudiced. Although your behavior is disgraceful, and I shall surely have bruises on my arm, I do appreciate this has been a difficult afternoon for you. Therefore, I give you permission to withdraw.”
“How kind,” he said wryly, although he did ease his grip on her arm. “I am going nowhere, however, without my briefcase.”
I love the sound of this one! Love your review!
Thanks – it was a unique read, for sure!
I have got to get this book. Excellent review!
Thank you!
Great review, Julie! I still haven’t read Holton’s first book but the minute I saw this cover and read the synopsis I knew that I wanted to get to it asap. This excerpt had me chuckling already and I can already tell that the banter between these two is going to be *exquisite*! 😍
They have the best banter – tons of chemistry! It’s definitely a fun romance.
Great review Julie. Yes, I didn’t mention the strong independent women in my review and that is definitely a strong point. Glad we both enjoyed this one.
Me too. Thanks, Carla!