London, 1815: where magic can be purchased at convenience, and the fashionable and wealthy descend for the start of the social Season. But 25-year-old Gavin Hartford finds the city intimidating when he arrives, alone, to his family’s townhouse. The only company he seeks is in his beloved books and weekly letters to his sister, Gerry.
Then dashing man-about-town Charles Kentworthy gallantly rescues Gavin from a foolish drunken mishap and turns his life upside-down. With Mr. Kentworthy, Gavin finds himself discussing poetry and magic, confessing his fears about marriage, expanding his social circle to shocking proportions – and far outside his comfort zone.
When family responsibility comes knocking, Gavin’s future looms over him, filled with uncertainty. As he grapples with growing feelings for his new friend, Gavin will need to be honest with Mr. Kentworthy – but he’ll need the courage to be honest with himself first.
This epistolary Regency romance is the first in a historical fantasy series, Meddle & Mend.
Okay. It is called Letters from Half-Moon Street. And it took me four letters worth of writting before I got it through my thick skull that this was literally a book of letters. I was anticipating the prologue being letters and then an actual story taking place. I couldn’t even be mad about it because it was there in the freaking title.
It genuinely felt like a side-story. A piece that could have come along with the actual novel and been a nice tack-on for those who like that type of ‘extra’. I can’t even specify why I had such a strong sensation of annoyance, other than that I really liked the characters and individuality of their tones that I wanted to just read a dialogue story of them interacting and not just letters between them.
There were aspects of the world-build that just can’t be fleshed out with this type of story-telling and I wanted it so badly. I liked the premise of the magic system, and wanted to read more of it, but that isn’t what the story was about. I wanted more of a world-build on the societal structures, but again, that wasn’t what the story was about. The aspects of chaperones even for men was interesting.
I want more.
And that probably is an indicator of a good story-teller. Once I got my head wrapped around it JUST being letters, I appreciated what it was doing and how it was being done. With this presentation method, I couldn’t see there being a need for more character development. It was paced well. The editing was clean. Because of the nature of the story, there was no on-screen spice.
I’m not comfortable in calling it “clean romance” or “cozy”. I hate clean romance as a label anyways. It just didn’t have on screen spicy because people usually don’t write their sister about the details of their sex lives at such an intimate level.
I can’t exactly say that I got the concept it was Regency. The whole Bridgerton thing got big while I wasn’t looking and now it’s permeated the market enough that it can be hinted at and everyone knows what is happening. While my loose impression of Regency is still Pirates of the Caribbean, some day I’ll recognize a Jane Austen look alike when I see it.
Would I recommend it?
Only. Only! If you understand that you’re getting a book of letters to read. And you have the patience for that kind of story development. I barely have that kind of patience. I got the book on a sale. I think the regular price is worthwhile. The author did put in the work on the book. I’m just not much of one for letter stories and haven’t even been into diary stories in decades.
