Darcy McGuire kicks off another tale from her 'Deadly damsels' series, following the proteges of Lady Phillippa, Lady Winterbourne, under the aegis of Queen Victoria, herself - a sort of Queen's Lady, if you please. Think Bridgerton meets Charlies Angels - these sparkling, intelligent unconventional heroines, stifled by rigid patriarchal rules, train in hand to hand combat, weaponry and self defense - and why you ask... Why, all in an attempt to bring justice to the scoundrels' in the House of Lords, who are often let off with by the peerage with slaps on their wrists.
They are often abetted by their counterparts - the dashing heroes, of course, under the Prime Minister, hunting the same villains! How these two factums clash, sizzle and burn forms the basis of the novel. Add in dimensions of equality, crimes against voiceless victims and a brace of adventure, horse riding and a lot of interspersed spicy moments make this a fascinating read.
This book in particular deals with Ivy, a lady who has suffered under the whims of a callous parent and a hapless sibling - our elf-like, petite wallflower, who captures the heart and soul of the Commisioner and Duke, Edward Worthington. Both Ivy and Edward have broken spirits, and are often held back by their own cages from living to their fullest. Ivy is currently embracing her role as a protector for the children in an orphamage, where a nightly intruder invites inspection from the commissioner. Add in some human trafficking, beauty and the beast vibes, this makes an excellent read for any Victorian fan, albeit some of the swearing may be more modern, considering the period in question. This gripe aside, this is a fast paced, easy adventure mystery with oodles of spice!
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