Stevie‘s review of Band Sinister by KJ Charles
Gay Historical Romance published by KJC Books 11 Oct 18
KJ Charles can always be relied upon to show us a more interesting side of history. This time it’s the worlds of hellfire clubs and sensationalist gothic novels, with one hero being a founding member of one of the former, and the other hero being brother to the author of one of the latter. Of course, living in close proximity to the home of a notorious rake, who was brother to an even more notorious rake, can provide no end of story ideas for an imaginative young woman with a talent for writing and no other means of diversion.
Amanda and Guy Frisby are virtual exiles in their own home, living on money provided to them by a wealthy aunt on the condition they avoid polite society and create no new scandals that might threaten her immediate family’s reputation. When the siblings were young, their mother ran off with a younger neighbour and their father proceeded to waste his fortune on drinking himself to death. Later, Amanda’s first Season was ended prematurely when she was caught in a compromising situation with a man of her recent acquaintance. Having been banished from Society, the siblings occupy themselves with writing and reading, and with speculating about the activities of Sir Philip Rookwood, younger brother of the man their mother ran away with. Now Amanda’s anonymously penned novel, based on the supposed antics of Sir Philip and his friends, is about to be published and Guy worries what will happen when their neighbours realise who inspired the story. Meanwhile, Amanda is planning her next novel and keen to investigate what hellfire clubs really get up to.
Guy forbids Amanda from visiting Sir Philip, but a few days later he is horrified to learn that she has had a riding accident on Sir Philip’s land and has been taken to his house for her injuries to be treated by the resident doctor. Arriving at Rookwood Hall, Guy learns that Amanda’s injuries are such that she cannot be moved for at least a fortnight, necessitating him to also stay at the Hall and find suitable, respectable female companionship for his sister.
During their stay, Guy and Amanda are drawn into the world of Sir Philip and his friends, who turn out to be far less scandalous than has been rumoured, other than that the group consists of a number of same-sex couples, and also one man who was assigned female at birth. Guy finds himself drawn to Sir Philip, and begins to imagine all kinds of activities he has previously only read about in his Latin and Greek texts. Sir Philip, meanwhile, sets out to corrupt Guy, but soon finds himself developing all kinds of other feelings towards the young man.
Amanda, for her part, is rather keen on the doctor who has been treating her, and it seems her feelings might be reciprocated but for his pesky morals preventing him from getting involved with a patient. In fact, all is going swimmingly until David and Amanda’s aunt gets word of what’s been going on and descends on the siblings – now back in their own home – to lay down the law as she sees it.
This was a fun read, which ties in nicely to some of Charles’ other stand-alone novels via a short story written for newsletter subscribers. I’m just sorry we didn’t learn more about some of the other couples who appeared in the story or who were mentioned as being guests at previous gatherings.
Grade: B
Summary:
Sir Philip Rookwood is the disgrace of the county. He’s a rake and an atheist, and the rumours about his hellfire club, the Murder, can only be spoken in whispers. (Orgies. It’s orgies.)
Guy Frisby and his sister Amanda live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she’s forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder.
Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren’t what he expects. They’re educated, fascinating people, and the notorious Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind—and dangerously attractive.In this private space where anything goes, the longings Guy has stifled all his life are impossible to resist…and so is Philip. But all too soon the rural rumour mill threatens both Guy and Amanda. The innocent country gentleman has lost his heart to the bastard baronet—but does he dare lose his reputation too?
Read an excerpt.
