Ashley's Reviews > The Siren of Sussex

Okay, so maybe it's just been long enough between historical romances for me, but this was so great. And it's one of those that really takes the historical part of that seriously. I'm not talking, like, K.J. Charles-level history where big social movements and historical events affect the plot, but kind of close!

Our main characters are Evelyn Maltravers, a twenty-three year old bluestocking who is feeling the pressure to marry a wealthy man in order to provide for her sisters' future. Feeling ill equipped in parlors and ballrooms, she has a plan to lean into her strengths to snare this husband: through horseback riding. She's an incredible equestrienne. But she needs help catching the eyes of society, so enter: Ahmad Malik, half-British, half-Indian tailor/dressmaker. He had previously made riding habits for the Pretty Horsebreakers (a real life group of courtesans who became fashion icons in this time period, right around the death of Prince Albert in the 1860s) and their striking design caught Evelyn's eye. After he makes her a habit that she loves, they make a deal that she will wear his designs in high society so he can make a name for herself, and he will fashion clothes for her that will give her confidence and draw people to her like moths to the flame. But of course, the falling in love gets in the way.

It's clear from the author's note that this novel was impeccably researched, and unlike a lot of historical romances publishing now (books that I like! to be clear), this book doesn't go in for anachronism, where feminist ideas and modern thoughts filter down through history in a way that guarantees you have to suspend some disbelief (coughTessaDarecosplayingcoughcough). Matthews finds a way for her characters to get their happy ending, but still remain plausible. In that way, this actually reminded me of the vastly under-read Blackshear series by Cecelia Grant, which also commits to the historical realism in a way that makes it stand out from the rest of the genre.

She particularly goes into the working conditions of tailors, dressmakers, and other tradespeople, as well as exploring the ways that colonialism and racism affect her characters and the world around them (Ahmad feels he doesn't fit in either English or Indian society as a biracial person). The issues of Ahmad and Evie's class and race differences are not just rolled under the rug, but plausibly explored and dealt with.

It was also simply just a pleasure to get lost in this world with these characters. I loved everybody, not just the relationship between Ahmad and Evie, but also Evie's relationship with her new friends (the three women the rest of the series will follow, of course) and with her family, and her horse! Honestly, this series feels like a more emotionally and historically plausible version of the Wallflowers by Lisa Kleypas, a series which I like but which also feels really uneven to me.

Worth noting for you smut lovers: not much to be found here except some passionate embraces and a few good snogs, as well as some covert hand holding. This may be less exciting titillation-wise, but is much more historically accurate to how a lady of Evelyn's stature, so concerned with not causing a scandal, would actually behave. Also worth noting: it doesn't even matter. Their chemistry is so good you don't need the sex*.

*Also also worth noting: this review was written by an asexual.

[4.5 stars]