Anya has hated duels ever since her fiance was killed in one. Now Ravel, the man who did it, is set to duel her sister’s own betrothed, and Anya will stop at nothing to prevent it – even if it means taking Ravel prisoner.
The plot itself is somewhat middle of the road – if I weren’t already pretty familiar with the institution of dueling from Hamilton, I’m sure the in-depth exploration here would have been more interesting to me. But there was plenty to enjoy – the chemistry between Anya and Ravel, which is in turns sweet, intense, and romantic, had me invested despite their inauspicious beginnings.
I also enjoyed the author’s depiction of upper class life in Creole society in New Orleans. This book is set up in the lead up to Mardi Gras, and you get to attend the swirl of balls and parties and masquerades surrounding it.
Anya does continually run into dangerous situations without getting proper backup, which gets frustrating. She’s trying to be Nancy Drew, except that Nancy Drew can actually handle herself when she gets caught. Considering she’s supposed to have a decent head on her shoulders, it’s pretty frustrating.
Also, since this is set in the era before the American Civil War in the South, you must be cognizant that Anya (and probably Ravel) have enslaved people working for them, several of whom are shown as loyally working for Anya, and the book discusses topics like manumission and placage without really examining or condemning the broader system of slavery in which they all live. Though I enjoyed reading about the Hamiltons’ life of luxury, I always had the conscious awareness of what was making it possible.
Actually, it just dawned on me that Anya must me named after Alexander Hamilton! They share the same last name.
