Title: Devil's Prize (1995)Author: Kat Martin (St. Martin's)
Period: European Historical-Georgian (1809 England/France)
Grade: C-
Kat Martin has long been one of my favorites. Her European Historicals have a gritty texture that is usually missing from most of the Regency ballroom fare. Devil's Prize had the darkness one expects from Kat Martin, but with cardboard cutout characters.
Damien (his title and his last name incorrectly the same) has decided to exact revenge upon the woman his younger half brother loved and killed himself over. He will make her fall in love with him and then ruin her. The plan works quickly and Alexa is soon on her way to ruin. Circumstances force them to marry, but Damien quickly discovers that Alexa is not the manipulative socialite he anticipated. She has been suffering with the guilt of her friend Peter's death. The two work towards a good marriage despite it not beginning on good footing. Had this been a book about two people working out personal conflict and grief it could have been well done.
Instead, Martin offers a spy plot involving the Napoleonic War. Damien is a double agent who's cover is only partially unveiled when Alexa overhears his plotting with the French. Rather than confront her husband, she turns him in to English authorities. Only one person in the English military knows Damien is a double agent so disaster unfolds. The two wind up escaping toFrance
An interesting non-Regency European setting is spoiled by a dreadful plot and a dim, impulsive heroine.
Damien (his title and his last name incorrectly the same) has decided to exact revenge upon the woman his younger half brother loved and killed himself over. He will make her fall in love with him and then ruin her. The plan works quickly and Alexa is soon on her way to ruin. Circumstances force them to marry, but Damien quickly discovers that Alexa is not the manipulative socialite he anticipated. She has been suffering with the guilt of her friend Peter's death. The two work towards a good marriage despite it not beginning on good footing. Had this been a book about two people working out personal conflict and grief it could have been well done.
Instead, Martin offers a spy plot involving the Napoleonic War. Damien is a double agent who's cover is only partially unveiled when Alexa overhears his plotting with the French. Rather than confront her husband, she turns him in to English authorities. Only one person in the English military knows Damien is a double agent so disaster unfolds. The two wind up escaping to
An interesting non-Regency European setting is spoiled by a dreadful plot and a dim, impulsive heroine.
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