The Gentleman's Book of Vices

I found this historical m/m slightly more historical than a lot of the genre I've read. It tackles some issues that would affect a same sex couple in a country and era where that was very much illegal - the looming threat of imprisonment or even death for “deviant behaviour” is constant throughout the story - rather than just focusing on a HEA ending. While this book does provide that HEA at the end, there's plenty of angst and drama before to keep the plot rolling - even in parts you think that HEA isn't coming at all.
This also might be a good starting m/m novel as the sex isn't too graphic (though described as graphic off-page) and there is a good mix of characters here. The book could have focused on the setting a bit more but this is very much a character-driven narrative. I appreciated that while there is diversity in the characters here that it doesn't feel forced or just to check boxes. It's also only the 2nd book I've read that tackles the rampant pornography trade during the Victorian and Edwardian eras when, outwardly, sexuality was something shoved into the smallest of boxes for the sake of appearances.
However, the sex scenes can be a little frustrating for seasoned readers as, well... there aren't really any sex scenes. We're TOLD rather than shown what has happened after the initial coupling within the first 30 or so pages. Miles is constantly described as being into more extreme sex acts based on the fact that he writes very graphic narrative pornography for an underground publisher. Whips, chains, restraints, etc. However, none of that is ever described happening between Miles and Charlie, just referenced to in dialogue or referenced to as a past event.
Despite that, I enjoyed Miles and Charlie as a couple and felt they had chemistry as they got to know one another, but they aren't one of my favourites after this single book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading the next installment in the series.