Seventh

4.5 stars rounded up. This book isn't completely perfect; there are a couple of things that could have used slightly more exploration, but they were really minor.

Overall, this is a lovely book, well-written and charming. Both the mystery plot and the romance develop at a steady pace, and while the mystery was definitely interesting, it was the romance that captured my attention. It's not an overly complex romance, but it's believable and sweet.

There isn't a lot of world-building in this book; to be honest I felt that without the fictional disease, it could have been set in our world. It's kind of a vaguely late-1800s, British setting, but that's not too important. It had to be pseudo-historical for the plot to work; these people desperately needed a central source of information about the Blight. The only reason that Julius rejects Hynd in the beginning is that he believes Hynd may be contagious, which isn't true. But it's easy to imagine a world in which it's taboo to talk about something so awful.

The mystery was appealing, and I didn't guess exactly how it would be resolved until everything was revealed. I've read other books in which the characters are investigating something that happened generations ago, and it can be a slightly boring type of plot. But the author did a great job of capturing Hynd's obsession with the missing dragoons, in addition to making Walsh, the long-dead author of the journals, an intriguing character in his own right. Including Walsh's over-the-top erotic musings was a great way to humanize him. I was so excited when Hynd made his discovery in the portrait gallery and everything started to come together. And I really felt for Walsh when I learned that his lover betrayed him.

This is an enjoyable read, with some emotional depth, yet it's never heavy-handed. There's no sex scene, but I didn't think one was needed. I found Hynd's reaction to the heated kisses at the end genuinely moving. A great book, and I look forward to seeking out more of this author's work.