The Soldier and the Spy is the second installment in Annabelle Greene's Society of Beasts series. This queer Regency romance focuses on Captain Benjamin Frakes, a war hero and one of the heads of a gay gentlemen's club, and August Weatherby, who is deeply in debt and agrees to take down Frakes to save his sister.

I've really enjoyed reading this series from Greene! I love when I see authors growing their skillsets with each book, and this one does exactly that with a tighter plot and more character depth and exploration. It was such a joy to read Benjamin learning to open his heart again to love, and August struggling to balance falling in love and knowing he has to betray Benjamin to save himself.

Readers who enjoy a secret identity plot will find a lot to love here. And I'm hoping we'll get some news soon about a story based around Maurice, who's love for one of the character's sisters is teased throughout all three books in the series.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

A great addition to the series.

Cornell Collins has done another great job performing the audiobook of The Soldier and the Spy. Like the first book, I started out reading this book, courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley, but switched to the audiobook because I really enjoyed listening to Cornell perform the first one.

Annabelle Greene’s writing is very compelling; the words just seem to flow and the pacing is great. I love historical MM romance and her stories are becoming favorites in this genre. August needs to save his sister and in order to do that he has to get evidence that will ruin Benjamin. It’s not easy to guess that August will fall for Ben but how that impacts them and what August has promised to do is what makes this story so good.

I would definitely recommend this author and her Society of Beasts series to anyone who enjoys reading historical, Regency, MM romance. And if you also enjoy listening to audiobooks Cornell Collins does a fantastic job performing these stories.

A review copy of the ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

I had trouble getting into this book. The premise intrigued me: August infiltrates the Society of Beasts because he's being forced to gather evidence Frakes. Despite a genuine connection, August still goes through with the task rather than confessing to Frakes and coming up with a plan to stop the blackmailers. Protagonists often do questionable things that don't always make sense, but this was a bit too hard to overcome.

The Soldier and the Spy is a good book. I enjoy the storyline, but the writing style isn't for me right now. I have to be in a mood for such a read, thus I can't really recommend this one right now.
Maybe I can appreciate it better at a later time.
Sorry

I enjoyed the first book of this series and I equally enjoyed this one. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional and you can't help but sympathize even when they do something obviously bad. Definitely recommend the whole series.

Genre fiction is defined by its tropes and structures. Each genre has tropes that show up most often. While it's energizing when an author changes things up and plays with the structure or introduces non-standard tropes to the mix, one of the major appeals of a genre is that there is a formula. Formulae in genres are comforting, they tell a reader what to expect, and not in a bad way. Just because a book is formulaic does not make it bad, certainly, there is bad genre fiction out there, but not all genre fiction is bad because it subscribes to tropes and structures. A good author explores those formulas with skill and takes the reader on a journey even though they know what the end will inevitably end up being. A good writer makes it so that the journey is as enjoyable if not more so than the expected ending. What Greene has done here is exactly that, good genre fiction - specifically historical romance - with just enough unique touches to make it stand out and a story that hooks you in and keeps you engaged even though you know just from reading the title and summary exactly how it's going to end. Seeing August and Benjamin's story unfold before your eyes is the real payoff, the HEA at the end is just the arrival point you know is there waiting.

August and Benjamin are not one-dimensional characters, there's always that worry when an author puts the archetypes of the characters within the title. But Greene's two male leads are well rounded and play nicely off each other. It's a Regency period gay romance and the very real historical dangers of being a gay man in that period in real life are very much in effect in the world of Greene's Society of Beasts. There are stakes and they matter and that makes the whole story that much more thrilling because the danger to the characters is real. You have a 40-year-old army veteran, a renowned war hero who has been badly hurt and badly betrayed before on the one hand, and on the other, you have the 30-year-old seeming scoundrel who means to try and ruin him before he falls in love. The age gap is never an issue for the characters and I love that, it's played perfectly, with August gently teasing Benjamin for being older and Benjamin doing the same in reverse. The old dog and the young pup - and they each manage to teach the other a thing or two.

The plot is not complex and there's nothing wrong with that, that's not what readers are here for anyway. Readers are here to see these two men work through their shit together and see how they fall in love and that's exactly what you get. It's packaged up within a secret society which is always fun, and a good dose of very often self-deprecating humour. I'm intrigued enough to seek out the rest of the series!

“I couldn’t express preference, because preference implies the existence of other choices. There is no one but you. No one.”

4.5 stars. Bro, I'm ascending. I liked this author's first book and I knew there was potential there for me to LOVE? And here it is! This is it! I loved this!! Everything I want in a historical romance!!

August is beholden to a blackmailer, and in order to protect his ailing sister, he'll do whatever it takes; even if it means scrounging up blackmail material on a grumpy war hero. Except, of course, he falls for Benjamin, said grumpy war hero, and the resulting book is so exquisitely good, so angsty and heart-wrenching, just tonally perfect. I'm a little surprised at myself, because if you were to ask me, I would say that I don't particularly like angsty romances? Especially one with this kind of set-up, where one character has a secret that they keep from the other for a huge portion of the book. Lies and obfuscation tend to make me anxious in a way I don't want to feel while reading a book. But I don't know what to tell you. This was done in just the perfect way. August and Benjamin had such a good chemistry, such good banter, and the particular PAIN of like, a spy falling for a mark, having a job to do and people to protect but not being able to stomach betraying someone they've come to care about... the AAAAGONY!! It cut like a knife and I ate it up like cake.

Besides the plot being good (and maybe it's common in historicals, but I can't remember the last time I read anything like it, so I adored it) I just really loved the writing. I remember remarking upon it in the first book in this series, and it's just as good, if not better. Witty, but effective and striking, but not flowery, and just... good! Always using just the right words in the situation, and what works best for the characters. I also feel like this got a better edit too; the plot pulled together more coherently, and there were fewer things that made me pause and go ?? (there were still a few, and most got resolved/addressed).

And the romance was just really swoony and lovely and gut-punchy, given the circumstances. Both through the story, and the writing, and the language they used with each other, this is a couple I really got invested in, and I really believed fell in love. There were so many little moments that made me want to scream and cry. God, it was just GOOD. I-had-to-cover-my face-with-a-pillow-and-yell-a-little-bit-during-the-love-confession-scenes kind of good.

There were flaws for sure; a couple off kilter moments that I didn't think fit with the narrative and... some other stuff? But as it often is when you just finish a book and you're high on endorphins, I don't remember much of the bad stuff, lol.

Very much recommended. It's part of a series and probably should be read in order (and the first book was pretty okay) but honestly if you wanted, you could probably read this as a standalone and not be very confused.

Content warnings: blackmailing, homophobia, PTSD.

Boy can this author write some fantastic sexual tension. The signature verbal sparing of historical romances has never seemed to be as obvious foreplay as it is in this book. August talks circles around the gruff Benjamin but it only makes the captain like him all the more. Because the problem is, after the end of the last book, Benjamin is desperately lonely because all his friends from the Society of Beasts are gone for one reason for another. He is also starting to feel old now that he’s had his 40th birthday. What could solve his malaise better than August, a young gentleman to keep him on his toes.

I felt for Benjamin immediately because it was clear how lonely he was and how desperately he wanted August to be the one good thing in his life. So I was pretty sad to know that August was set up to betray that hope, which made this story a very angsty one in my opinion. But that angst did give the story a similar tone to the previous story and might be a feature of the third installment as well.

I would definitely recommend this series to readers looking for historical romances with high passion and high drama but there is also the layer of sweetness throughout that makes it truly enjoyable. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 Stars!

In a short amount of time, and with just two books, Annabelle Greene has become one of my go-to authors for Historical MM Romance.

The way she manages to weave the stories of these men daring to love in such a dangerous period is nothing short of fantastic. Much like Book 1, once I started this book, I simply could not put it down.

This story follows Benjamin, the "Bear" in our erstwhile Society of Beasts, as he navigates the aftermath of the events of the previous book and August, a man forced into certain actions based on terrible decisions he made in the past.

It was such a joy to read about the relentless perusal of Ben, the growth of their relationship and everything else accompanying this; including the introduction of new characters; some hateful, others a delight. Woven through this were glimpses of the actual work that the Society undertakes and news on Hartley who is still MIA.

I absolutely enjoyed every single piece of this story(even the parts where I was tempted to shake August for his idiocy) and will definitely recommend it for anyone who loves Historical Romance.

Try this, You will NOT regret it!

August Weatherby has found himself stuck in a problem partly of his own making. Too many debts have placed him in the sights of a cruel man and now the life of August’s beloved sister hangs in the balance. August sees no choice to fall in line in order to protect his sister, and that means finding blackmail material on national war hero, Benjamin Frakes. As Benjamin shares August’s interest in men, the path to getting close to him may very well be through the bedroom.

From the moment Benjamin meets August, he feels a bit off balance, something new for a man who is used to commanding respect and making decisions. But something about August leaves Benjamin feeling a little unsteady — something he finds he can’t help but like. Benjamin is still emotionally recovering from events of the recent past, including betrayal and the loss of a friend. On top of that, he is now the lone founder left managing the Society of Beasts, a gentlemen’s club for men who like other men. So when August approaches him and asks Benjamin to serve as a bodyguard for a party, his instinct is to say no, but something about August intrigues him enough to go ahead. The way August challenges him and pokes at him riles Benjamin up enough to engage his mind and his spirits for the first time in a while.

As the men get to know one another, the attraction and connection grows. But all the while, August knows he is trapped with little choice other than to ultimately betray Benjamin. It breaks his heart as he falls further for the man, but he doesn’t see a way out that doesn’t lead to either hurting Benjamin or risking his sister. Now that August and Benjamin are finding something between them neither one expected, August has to figure out how to protect his sister without losing what he has built with Benjamin.

The Soldier and the Spy is the second book in Annabelle Greene’s Society of Beasts series and I am really loving these books. This story features new MCs and doesn’t directly connect with The Vicar and the Rake, so you can start with this book. But there are some links between the stories, and some past events are referenced here, so reading both will likely be more enjoyable. But I can definitely say if you enjoy historicals, particularly with a bit of suspense thrown in, these books are well worth the read.

This is an interesting set up as we are facing the conflict from the start. August is in a position where his sister’s life is being threatened, so he sees no other choice but to attempt to find blackmail material on Benjamin as a means out of danger. We learn early on who is forcing August’s hand and why he is so interested in Benjamin, and this adds an interesting layer to the story, though I will leave that for you to discover on your own. At the start of the book, August doesn’t even know Benjamin and so his sister’s life is far more valuable to him. But over the course of the story, as the relationship builds, it is clear how caught August feels. He doesn’t see a way to protect Benjamin that doesn’t end up hurting his sister and he can’t figure a way out of the bind. So while I was of course frustrated at August’s plans for betrayal, I could also accept that he saw no other option. It really ramps up the tension because all the while we are seeing the men fall for each other, and August truly does fall for Benjamin, there is this ax waiting to drop on the relationship. It adds some nice tension and excitement and I liked how things come together in the end.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between the men and felt that added a lot to the story for me. Benjamin is a war hero who would just as soon no one ever paid attention to him. He has a lot on his plate running the Society of Beasts, as well as still dealing with the emotional upheaval from the events of the last book. He is kind of reserved and a bit uptight and August just throws his world upside down. August pokes at Benjamin and challenges him and isn’t afraid to push him where others back away. And this drives Benjamin crazy in all the best of ways. The interaction with August just lights him up and there is a great banter and sense of energy between August and Benjamin I really loved. There is such great chemistry with these two men and their dynamic was really the highlight of the book for me.

While you don’t have to have read the first story to enjoy this series, there is a nice sense of connection for those who have. We get to see Edward and Gabriel again, as well as Maurice and Caroline. There is also a little more insight into the inner workings of the Society that is kind of fun. This book also touches on Benjamin’s relationship with one of the other founders, and it sounds like his story is up next. I am being vague here because this story does spoil some of the reveal at the end of the first book, so do be aware of that if you start here.

I found that I really couldn’t put this book down and was totally caught up in August and Benjamin’s journey. The tension and conflict is built in from the start, but Greene does a great job of making me believe that even with these circumstances, these men are building something real between them. I could sympathize with August, even as I wanted to yell at him. But things work out in the end, and I really enjoyed the journey. I’m liking this series so much and definitely looking forward to the next book.

5 Stars of "Thank the Historical Romance Gods for Annabelle Greene!"

Oh, my stars... my starsmystarsmystaaarrrrrrrzzz. So... this book, umm.... completely stunned me? Like. It was... perfect? Somehow, this just eclipsed all of my favourite K.J. Charles which is saying something (namely, The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting and An Unnatural Vice which have sort of similar premises and which I still adore) but holy mother this book. I wept. I laughed. I was endeared. I fanned myself. I was intrigued by every charcter. I am DESPERATE for Hartley's book and Maurice's too. I will most definitely be reading the first in the series and all the rest. Seriously, 100% sold.

Right, where to start? Basically, this book hits the ground running and doesn't stop. It is wonderfully paced, and a little a-typical in its basic construction which I thoroughly enjoyed (in that between chapters occasionally tons of time passes, cliff-hanger moments aren't filled in with recollection, and the previous books aren't overly explained). The premise was simple and easy, and while it was clearly connected to the previous book in th series, I didn't need to have read it to easily track how it impacts Benjamin ('The Soldier') and leads to August's involvement ('The Spy').

I typically hate Societies/Hell Fire Clubs etc. in my books but here it made total sense as the Society of Beasts is like a bigger, more Hell Fire-y, more molly-club-esque, more formal version of the Richardians in Society of Gentleman (K.J. Charles). I enjoyed that we get to see the mundanities of running one of these Clubs/Societies. I particularly enjoyed that this wasn't a storyline used fetishize or sensationalize the experience of gay men in the Regency period and it was *Chef's Kiss*.

Now. Benjamin and August. I do not say this lightly... but theis may possibly be one of my favourite HR couples now? They were so wonderfully flawed and nuanced and lovable. Benjamin with his vulnerable little squishy heart behind a stalwart, lonely, military man's shell. That he is aching to be drawn out of himself and the way he can be a bit dominant in his relationship with August? Another *Chef's Kiss*. Then there is August... young, sweet, manipulative, charismatic, self-loathing August... I just. I can't describe him. Even when he is dead set on betraying the Beasts and Benjamin... I loved him so much and was rooting for him. He was such a good person that had to do shameful things. The way Greene articulated that in his arc, and the overall relationship arc was superbly done. I always knew the story would resolve itself and I'd get my HEA but the journey there was full of ups and downs and it culminated into something magnificent, in my opinion.

Steam Tangent: The steam. It was perfect. There were subtle shades of D/s but the overarching emotional development that came along with all the sex was EVERYTHING I want in HR. ALSO THE AGE GAP WAS HAWWWWT. Sizzling. Mmf. (it wasn't a major age gap but it was described in just the right way and played perfectly into their relationsip dyamic). ALSO I loved that Benjamin finds kissing more intimate that climaxing and the inevitable, but also late stage, when they finally kiss... I was crying. Literally. Crying. End Tangent.

Then the way the story resolved itself... I hate it when conflict comes to a swift end and the "grovel" seems almost fabricated. I just don't feel like people actually do that, and I am not one for grand gestures (though there are some grovels I stan, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart). More often then not, while I like a good tasty grovel, I find them false and a little boring. This didn't quite have a grovel moment so much as a very heightened mutual moment of forgiveness. The lead up to it was so angsty and emotional. And yes, I cried again.

Then the epilogue had me being like, "WOMAN, YOU BETTER WRITE THE NEXT BOOK ASAP!" (but not too fast, I'd rather have a late but good book than a sooner but bad book).

Suffice it to say, I thought this was a really wonderfully written story, with intelligent and pacey prose, dynamic interpersonal, real, relationships between all the characters, and of course.... utterly wonderous MCs who's love story was well planned and executed. Everything made sense, everything felt earned. There was a very authentic rawness to this that I just... I have no notes. I have no complaints. This is a 100 Star Book. I really can't express how impressed I was this, and if this is the precedent for Greene--oh, yes please. Give me angst. Make me weep with your queer historical romance (or any HR you write since Maurice's story won't be queer).

Thank you to HARLEQUIN - Carina Press via NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all of the joy and adoration for this book is my own. Because friends, wow.

This is entering many GR shelves.

This type of relationship is my cryptonite.
It has a slight D/s undertone, an overwhelming passion, with a touch of neediness and possessiveness.

"Please kiss me. Please touch me. Please hurt me. Just a little. Just enough.”

"This is what it meant, then, to love someone more than your own life.

“How can you be so good to me?”
“Good? Do you think this is charity? It’s necessity. You are necessary to me.”

"You’re me. I’m you. We belong to one another.”

We have a dejected soldier with a painful past and a flirty brat with a messy, grim present. I already liked the premise, but I was hooked from the moment August sat at Benjamin's table, and they kept me invested all the way. The chemistry is almost tangible, and there's no fighting the immediate atraction between them. It's pretty high heat, and the emotional development is entrancing.The way August needs Benjamin despite trying not to, and the way Benjamin melts for him, even though he'd rather die than admit it, is just wonderful. This was delightful from beginning to end.

I enjoyed this book from all aspects. The prose is beautiful and poetic, the world building is excellent, the romance is enchanting, and the story is riveting. All the characters are well-rounded(sidenote - I really really need Percy Holloway to get his own book) and the banter is extremely amusing.

A wonderful, passionate and captivating romance. I cannot recommend this enough.

3.5 🌟🌟🌟🌠 An enjoyable second book in the Society of Beasts series, I enjoyed the banter between Frakes and August and how their expectations of each other changed as well as their expectations for their own futures. I liked the growing relationship between them but was waiting for it to all blow up, which it inevitably did. There were secrets galore, blackmail and danger afoot for August. I kept thinking, if only August had trusted Frakes straight up, then all the drama could have been avoided, but I guess then there would have been no story. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Carina Press for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

The Soldier and the Spy surprised me in the best possible way! This is a m|m historical romance unlike any other I have read before! I went into this book with very little in the way of expectations and was blown away with how much I adored this read! The leads, August and Benjamin, both had demons and haunting memories to work through. The story was gripping and I was emotionally invested from the get-go. I would absolutely read another work by author Annabelle Greene!


I received an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Soldier and The Spy by Annabelle Green is the second book in her M/M Regency romance series The Society of Beasts. I think you will enjoy this book more if you have read the first book in the series. August Weatherby is being blackmailed by the son of the villain from the first novel. He is to become close to Captain Benjamin Frakes, a noted war hero and obtain information that will allow this book's villain to ruin Captain Frakes's reputation. Benjamin is at a crossroads in his life, he knows he needs to move on, but until August breezes in like a fresh wind, he was in a stasis state, just getting by. The story is fairly high on the angst scale, both internal and external, as both characters feel that they don’t deserve to be happy, and they, of course, are living in a time where loving another man could mean a death sentence. I enjoyed reading this book and do recommend it highly. Steam Level: Very Steamy.
Publishing Date: April 20, 2021 #TheSoldierAndTheSpy #AnnabelleGreen #MMRomance #HistoricalRomance #RegencyMMRomance #bookstagram #booksstagrammer #HarlequinRomance #CarinaPress

This was a fun and very sexy read. I didn't know it was the second book of a series, even with different characters, and it was a delight reading and knowing there were more books set in this peculiar society.
The characters were fun and you just wanted them to be together no matter what. The story kept me glued to the pages wanting for more.
I can't wait to read more books in this series!

The Soldier and the Spy by Annabelle Greene
Society of Beasts #2

A complex, cunning, creative love story that I could not put down. I enjoyed the first book in this series and this one was just as enjoyable. For the backstory of the “Beasts” it is advisable you read book one before this one though this book will stand on its own.

What I liked:
* Captain Benjamin Frakes: ex-soldier, hero, founding member of the Society of beasts, cautious, lethal, and potentially very loving.
* August Weatherby: charming, handsome, charismatic, down on his luck, being blackmailed, trying to save his sister, curious, capable of great love.
* Letitia: August’s sister, unwell, loving, there for her brother, loved by the Starlings, and filled with potential if life goes her way.
* Boney: one of the Starlings, friend of Letitia’s, there for August, cunning, devious, hungry, deserving of more than he has.
* The Starlings: only met Boney BUT it seems they are a group of youth that work together to stay alive and provide for one another.
* That the romance was not “easy” and it felt believable
* The growth in the relationship between Benjamin and August – steamy and otherwise
* The initiation of the new members to the Society
* Lord Maurice Stanhope: intriguing character – wonder how his life will turn out and if it will involve Lady Ploverdale
* Seeing the couple from the previous book and finding out how they are doing
* That there was an eventual HEW
* Wondering which Beast will find his HEA next
* Too many things to list, actually!

What I didn’t like:
* Lord Eustace Harbury: despicable man who deserved whatever fate dished up
* Jeremy: one of Harbury’s henchment who was as despicable as his “master”
* The laws of the times related to love between men
* Having to say goodbye to the characters and having to wait till book two is ready to read.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I had a lot of fun in reading the Vicar and the Rake and had a lot of fun in reading this one.
It kept me hooked, I rooted for the characters and loved the tightly knitted plot and the vivid historical background.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Three hundred pounds for one night of protection. It’s a job offer, but it’s also a ruse. Captain Benjamin Frakes, war hero and de facto head of the Society of Beasts—a club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen—is tempted to turn it down. But August Weatherby, the sexy, brazen stranger making the offer, has captivated him completely. August is hardly the flirt he claims to be but an indebted man, desperate to save his infirm sister, August makes an ideal pawn for a lord eager to bring down the Society of Beasts once and for all. With mounting pressure to complete his devious mission, August finds himself torn between the man his heart yearns for and the sister whose life depends on his betrayal.
This is the second book in the series & whilst it’s easily read on its own book 1 does reveal how & why the Society of Beasts was formed. A well written book but I didn’t feel comfortable with the blackmailing but the author managed to give it credence & sell it to me as August was between a rock & a hard place. There was far more to both Benjamin & August that first met the eye & I loved getting to know them, I loved the verbal banter & the sexual tension & I was kept guessing as to how the story would play out. An interesting read but I’m hooked on the series & look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I'm a sucker for a well-written historical regency M/M and after devouring "The Vicar and the Rake", I gladly dove into the second book in the series, which follows Captain Benjamin Frakes, another of the founders of the Society of Beasts, the largest "molly" club in England circa 1819.

Lord Eustace has war hero Captain Frakes in his sights, with the goal of uncovering enough dirt on Frakes and the Society to blackmail them all. Eustace's weapon of choice is August Weatherby, who is poor enough, scared enough of protecting his invalid sister, and attractive and charming enough to be the perfect man to enchant Frakes and steal his secrets. As a virgin very attracted to the solid, honorable quiet man behind the hero persona, August is enthralled with Frakes and immediately at odds with doing the deed that will save his sister and himself at the expense of Frakes and the men of the Society.

Greene writes well of the dangerous times for men such as August and Frakes:

"Thanks to who and how we love, we're all a step away from the noose. We're all a step away from rotting in unconscrated ground, unmourned, mocked by lesser men. [...] We're loved by society at large. We're honored for our wealth, for our feats of charity or heroism. But if they were to learn of our most private selves? Of our longings, our pleasures? Our humanity?" He pointed to the grave. "This is where they would put us without a backward glance."

Where this story works - and works well - is in the relationship between August and Frakes. For a man who is wary of love and closeness, and another who is terrified of "emptiness. And a need, growing by the minute, to run back to the shelter of Frakes' arms" - their relationship is a thing of comfort and a communion of souls. Not the mention some toe-curling sex ....

And, omigawd, the struggle that August faces, the abject contrition, the blessed balm of forgiveness - the emotional impact of August's struggle and redemption is just so beautifully written and articulated.

Unfortunately, the only aspect where the book is less successful - for me, personally - is the blackmail plot device. The author sets the blackmail plot up, and then it just hangs there in the background - with seemingly weeks of time available for August to bewitch Frakes - until the conclusion with Jameson and Lord Eustace, who after all the deft and rich character development throughout the book, read almost like cartoon villains.

I want to know more about the unlikely relationship between the sunny and charming Lady Ploverdale and the dark and cunning Lord Maurice who "could beat Satan himself at chess." And the next founding member of the Society, Wiliam Hartley, has just returned to England. The next book in this series is going to be GOOD and I cannot wait. 5 stars.