The Gentleman's Guide to vice and virtue by Mackenzi Lee (book review)
Dear Reader,
finally! A book I loved! I haven't felt a connection for a story like this since the Cruel Prince!
Before I get onto the bits I loved about this book, I'm going to say a few negatives, just to get that boring stuff out the way.
First off, was this book a tiny bit long for its plot? Possibly. However was it jam-packed with loads and loads of adventure? Definitely. In my opinion, the relationship between Percy and Monty was a bit... slow? It was like at the beginning, barley 50 pages in we got this massively awaited kiss and then for literally the last 440 (give or take) pages, nothing. Which was a bit of a letdown? I guess I'm just used to my gay romance novels having more than one slightly steamy scene. Okay, that was a drag- onto my favourite bits!
Reading this book was such a fun experience, after finishing my OWLs and having nothing else on my mind, I was free to go as slow as I wanted, which was well, new for me to say the least. Even in the seventeenth century, Henry definitely had his priorities straight, Booz, his mates and living a life without anyone's consent. Monty and Percy were great characters, they are slowly moving to the top of my 'fictional boys I would snog if I didn't have a boyfriend they were blind and weren't gay list' list. You know, that list.
Felicity was also really kick-ass. I thought the whole reading medical book disguised as romance novels was hilarious and something I would do, if it was the other way round that is. I liked that we waited until page 64 to know Percy's nationality, it let us see Percy's way of looking at him then it did the world and showed that Monty never made any deal out of it, rare as it was at the time.
I would definitely say this book was a self-discovery novel among over things, as the story went on we learned more about all our characters dreams and backgrounds, it was really quite beautiful to read about.
Although we only really got one kiss scene in this book, it was a great one. Very nicely written, if I do say so myself- which I do because this is what we're all here for.
It took me a surprisingly long time to realise Monty was bi and not gay, I honestly thought he was just a gay man who liked big boobs, I mean- we can't blame him. Excuse my crudity.
Finding out my Percy was sick really broke my heart- even more so when the book ends and he's still not cured. Don't get me wrong- I am glad the heart is gone, that thing was a bad luck charm the moment it entered the storyline, who wants to eat a human heart anyway? It also made it very clear how much Monty cared for Percy.
Percy's dramatics really made me adore him and this book a whole lot more, it also gave it the comedy element it needed with everyone either being hunted or dying.
Another thing that got me on the brink of tears in this book was all the times Monty was suffering from the PTSD from his Farther. I wanted nothing more than to give that gorgeous gay gentleman a hug.
On the other side of things, something I found particularly funny was the scene where Dante and Felicity where kissing against that wall and Monty was thinking of ways to knock Dante out with the kettle, that really made me laugh.
I thought Dante and his sister's portion of the book was way too drawn out and despite thinking Dante was quite cute, I didn't care for their characters too much. But I did like when we met their dad and he told Monty about the string they used to have between their rooms, that was very sweet and definitely touched my heart.
As the story progressed and all of a sudden we're dealing with Pirates! Though unexpected, I did appreciate the change in plot direction.
One thing I thought was kind of anti-climatic was when Percy told Monty about his feelings for him, for a long build-up it was not what I expected it to be, though it was quite funny when Percy goes 'I'm trying to say I love you, you sod.' Bhaha. I really liked the way the whole way throughout the book they always bounced off each other so easily.
There are three things I really want to commemorate Miss Lee on doing.
One building strong relationship dynamics, all Monty's relationships with the people in his life where individual and brilliantly built up. The brother-sister dynamic was perfect, and it was really lovely to see their relationship strengthen as they fought to understand each other more. It made my heart break when Monty said to her in Venice, 'I wish I could be better for you .' And I think he was better by the end of the book. This went for any of Monty's relations, whether it was captain to sailor or cute guy at the bank to his seducer, truly brilliantly done.
The second was the background and basis of the book. We know the Character history with the boarding school and enough attention was brought to certain things that when more information was uncovered throughout the story, we as an audience were already invested enough to care, for instance, Percy's & Monty's dads.
Lastly, I think this book did a fab job at representing Women, the Gays, Black people and epilepsy in the era. It gave the reader a clear view of the difficulties and treatment of the minorities and what I think was a good insight into the slow progress of the times.
Near the end of the book, Monty gave himself some very needed closure from his farther. It was a really beautiful letter and it made me very happy for him. And I loved his quote right at the end, 'We are not broken things. neither of us. We are cracked pottery mended with lacquer and flakes of gold, whole as we are, complete unto each other. Complete and worthy and so very loved.' I mean, that's some poetry right there. I don't normally quote books because the whole point of my reviews is you've already read them but damn, beautiful and heartwarming. Just like this book.
With beautiful scenery and tastes of culture, it was a fantastic book to read in lockdown because I felt as though I was touring the world with my favourite bunch.
A truly splendid book, 4.5 stars.
Until next time,
Issy
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