Band Sinister Kindle Edition

One of the big points of contention in the romance genre is storylines that rely on trickery, male dominance, coercion, and often outright rape to bring the hero and heroine together. While in recent years this thankfully has waned, many long-time readers return to the bodice rippers of their youth only to feel disgust at these so-called courtships.Some readers turn to m/m or f/f novels to remove that power dynamic from the fictional twosome but realistically power struggles exist in any relationship. Money, education, social rank, worldly experience, etc, all affect how the protagonists interact. So many tropes are built on these differences: May/December, the duke and the scullery maid, the virgin and the… not-so-much a virgin. ;-)KJ Charles has chosen to write a fluffy Regency romp with all the old tropes in place, but even in this Gothic sensation novel she puts forth two ideals that are of highest important in our modern world: love and consent.Guy and Amanda Frisby are impoverished siblings, living under the distant iron thumb rule of their aunt, unable to enjoy life as independent adults. Guy’s love for his sister keeps him by her side and her love for him celebrates his growth over the course of the novel. Meanwhile, the Murder hellfire club headed by childhood friends Philip Rookwood, Lord Corvin, and John Raven is also founded on love. While not siblings (thankfully given their adult interactions), the three boys created a family for themselves when the adults in their lives were too drunk, too horny, or too narcissistic to care for them.When the Frisby siblings are brought into the sphere of the Murder, it’s difficult at first for Guy to see the love that underpins these relationships. It’s a love of acceptance and wanting the best for one another, something that he’s never seen in his family. It’s also a love of new ideas and new philosophies, intelligent men and women looking to educate themselves about the world, not content to stick to old mores and customs.When Philip begins wooing Guy he teaches him that we must use our words to ask for what we want and we must know that if we say stop we will be heard. This allows Philip and Guy to come together as equals, putting aside Philip’s advantages of wealth, stature, and experience. If he cannot listen to Guy and accept his wishes, it doesn’t matter that they love one another. It’s a lesson that thankfully Philip learns by the end of the book (though it’s a close run thing) and happiness and good fortune ensues for all involved.I’ve been a fan of Charles’ writing for many years now and have read all of her books. While I’ve delighted in the magic and intrigue she’s brought to her other series, it was lovely reading this epic romp and I cannot wait for more of the Murder. I received a free ARC of this book for my honest review but went ahead and bought the book anyway because of how much I loved it.

You know that great, giddy feeling you get when you’re reading and it’s like ‘I’m loving this book, Oh man, I’m *really* loving this book, okay now I’m in love with this book, I’m not even done yet, but I know I’m going to re-read the heck out of this book for years to come and I get to own it and tell other people how awesome it is.” Yeah, that’s THIS BOOK.If you’re a romance reader who has followed a similar path to mine (cut my teeth on traditional regencies, then years of historical M/F romances, recently transitioned into reading a whole lot of queer romance) there is almost no way you’ll dislike Band Sinister. It takes all sorts of wonderful Regency tropes - the innocent country virgin, the plucky, spunky female novelist (not one-and-the-same here, delightfully), straightlaced familial disapproval, disreputable house party, forced proximity due to an injury, a group of misunderstood rakes who have weirdly commensurate names and thus are in a secret, devoted club of friendship - all of these wonderful, comforting, familiar tropes are just upended in the most delightful ways. It feels like a loving and sharp-eyed take on the Regency genre - not a mean spirited send up at all, but just what would happen if one of those old Signets panned away from the bluestocking governess and her surly widowed Earl to check out what all of the real people in the rest of the county were up to.Our heroes are fabulous; I absolutely couldn’t love Guy more - he is essentially the platonic ideal of cinnamon rolls - the ur-cinnamon roll - in the most non-annoying way possible. Phillip is more cynical about society, but never about Guy, which is a relief. Their courtship really is a courtship and it develops deliciously. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that Phillip is in an open poly relationship of a sort (sexually open, emotionally dedicated friends) with his two closest friends and that negotiating how that relationship meshes with his budding relationship with Guy was one of the most intriguing (and well-handled!) parts of the book. There is no cheating at all (I’m sensitive to that, as a reader) and everything is discussed in a way that makes me confident in our heroes’ HEA.The secondary characters are likewise amazing, and used in just the right amounts. Phillip’s inner circle includes multiple POCs and many queer people who are developed nicely beyond tokenism to have a wide variety of interests and societal roles (I love the geologists! ...spin off story?). Theo from “Wanted: A Gentleman” is briefly mentioned. Guy’s sister Amanda (and their relationship) is A+. Even the Aunt fulfilling the traditional regency role of villainous-societal-disapproval is well-handled in the end.I keep making comparisons to traditional regencies, so I feel like I should say that there are definitely some graphic sexytimes in this book - nothing beyond the norm for the author’s other novels or the M/M genre in general - but definitely R rated and an important part of the story that shouldn’t be skimmed. And the consent talk, ohhhhh the consent talk. I’m gleeful just thinking of it.If you love KJ Charles, this is her at her finest. If you love diverse M/M historicals with richly developed primary and secondary characters from many walks of life, this is it at it’s finest. If you love a happily-ever-after story that has just the right amount of emotional angst and will give you that satisfied-cozy-sweater-just-read-the-most-perfect-book glow, well, look no further than Band Sinister.Highly, highly recommended!

I've loved many of this author's books, but Band Sinister is not one of them.For me, the plot never caught fire, and I found the two MC's uncompelling. Guy and Philip didn't seem to be fully developed characters, and therefore I didn't have any faith in their ongoing relationship. Nothing about this story - characters, plot, setting - seemed in any way realistic. If anything, the plot was cluttered and clunky. Which, believe me, is incredibly rare from this author. All she really had to do was focus on the relationship between Philip and Guy, and develop them both into believable people. But the story is top heavy with subcharacters and issues that didn't add anything valuable and frankly, distracted from the real story: Guy realizing he's attracted to men; more importantly to Philip, and making them have a believable connection. Also, disappointingly, I found myself wishing the book would just end a lot sooner. I was bored by the last third of the book. Again, it's really hard to believe that this book came from THIS author. Maybe her publisher rushed her or something.To be completely honest I would have returned this title to Amazon but I left it too long to do so. That's how dissatisfied I was.

Well, if you are used to reading gay romances, it won't be unusual to you, but I am not. However, I found it a good read, a good story going beyond the obvious and fairly explicit sex scenes. The characters though are all engaging and the reflections on the nature of love and commitment thought provoking without ever being pompous. I liked the gentle tenderness between Guy and his lover, the witty clever use of Latin grammar and collective nouns. There were some funny scenes too, especially those involving Aunt Beatrice.I had never read books by this author. It is indeed very inclusive, of genders, sexual orientation, religions and ethnicity. I shall make further forays in her back list. Interestingly, I was made aware of this book by reading a review of it on Mary Kingswood site. Her output is very different but I am grateful to her for making me discover this author

This was a complete delight. Definitely the lightest of KJ Charles's romances, it's a standalone (with a few throwaway references to Wanted: A Gentleman) and no murders at all! She's described it as "going full out Heyer", and the influence is definitely there in the lightness of plot, the domestic scale of the setting, the witty dialogue and the charming characters.Guy Frisby and Sir Philip Rookwood have both had their reputations by their shared respective family histories, and their lives have been shaped by their circumstances and reactions to that history. Guy and his sister, Amanda, are financially dependent upon their aunt and her husband, and Guy's determined not to bring more scandal on his family. Sir Philip, financially independent and with the support of his friends, has taken the other route and decided to ignore the rules of society when they don't suit him. When Amanda falls from her horse and breaks her leg on Sir Philip's estate, she's taken to Sir Philip's house - and Guy has to stay as her chaperone until she's recovered enough to return home. That means weeks staying in the notorious Sir Philip's house, in the presence of his scandalous friends... and keeping Amanda's secret from them all.I absolutely loved this book. Once I'd finished it for the first time, I immediately went back to re-read it because I'd enjoyed it so much. KJ Charles has a talent for creating great ensemble casts, and I'd happily read a full book about any of the relationships between the supporting characters. (Maybe not Aunt Beatrice...) Neither Guy or Philip are who their first impressions seem to be, and reading them growing closer, learning each other and both blossoming because of the other's belief was a complete joy. The super hot sex and consensual negotiated polyamory were the icing on top.

I loved this. It’s sexy and witty and sweet, with the right level of Regency feel to add up to sheer enjoyment. I loved the characters and I loved their relationships. Particularly the sibling one between Guy and Amanda. The way Guy loves and cares for his sister is just heart-wrenching and lovely. I also loved the complicated but completely simple relationship between Philip, John and Corvin.Plus Guy and Amanda are Frisbys. I tried to get over it, honestly I did, but I still found it funny right up to the last page.Guy is adorable. Anxious and introverted, but freaking adorable, and at first I couldn’t see how he and Philip would ever find common ground. But they do and it’s wonderful and sexy and everything I could have wanted, because this is KJ Charles, so of course it is. And because it is KJ Charles it’s also diverse and inclusive and has a happy ending, which was everything I needed.Basically, I loved it. This was the perfect book to curl up with, escape into and finish up feeling better. A sexy, fluffy delight.

I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this book ánd am happy to come across the author knowing there are many more books to read! One of my favourite things about it is that it doesn't underestimate people who lived a century ago as so many historical novels seem to do. The characters are smart, complex, caring, flawed and lovely. This goes for most of the characters who all have their own brand of likeability, especially the seconday character. I must say I love secondary characters who feel like they could have complete stories of their own, and this book certainly delivers that. The seconday characters are strong and add to the plot and to the main characters.I love the obvious and genuine affection the characters have for eachother, the different ways they display it an how relationships are complicated.It's incredibly sexy but also quite emotional in many areas, touches on important issues without belabouring points that detract from the plot.

I adored this Regency read from K J Charles, which was note perfect throughout. The country house party setting with accidents and incidents and couples falling in love was pure Heyer. The characters, dialogue, sexuality and circumstances were fully K J Charles and it really resulted in a marriage made in romantic fiction heaven!As another reviewer noted, in such dark and difficult times it was a joy to read such a sunburst of bright lightness. However, not meaning to disagree with the author, I didn't see this as mere 'fluff', as it was not just about romance and happy ever afters, but about the strengthening power of unconditional love; whether between lovers, siblings, or friends who feel like family.Against the backdrop of a rigid, narrow society full of oppression and prejudice, in the context of the novel, love worked as a shield to protect those who believed differently, thought differently, loved differently, looked different or happened to be born female. So reading this delightful novel made me not only happy but hopeful. A true joy to read.