Customer Reviews

Devil's Cub

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Devil's Cub picks up the story of the Duke of Avon and his 'page' Leon some 25 years after Justin and Leonie have married. The traditional story of love conquering all - in this case the wild and infamous Dominic meeting his match in the apparently staid and prosaic Mary is beautifully handled by the author who was the 'Queen' of the Regency romances. Others try, but fail to match her exquisite use of language, fine characterisation and intricate plotting. The similarity to Jane Austen is there but Ms. Heyer's characters are more flesh and blood. The final part of the trilogy is 'An Infamous Army', set around the Battle of Waterloo with Dominic and Mary's daughter Barbara a worthy successor to the strong characters we meet in the first two books. Georgette Heyer wrote the Black Moth first and liked her anti-hero so much that she used him as a model for Justin and also borrowed the abduction story and used it as part of Justin's past. Romance, humour, drama and characters you care about - what more can you ask?

I admit to being hooked on Regency romances and historicals, and it's all Georgette Heyer's fault. The first one I ever picked up at the age of 13 was her novel 'The Grand Sophy', the second one was 'Venetia', and there was no looking back. She invented the Regency romance novel and although there are many newer authors I enjoy and collect, GH remains the best, the funniest, the most skillful at drawing vivid characters and using authentic period slang. She is often imitated, but never equaled, IMHO. Heyer's historical research was so thorough (unlike many later imitators) that one of her novels is included in the recommended reading booklist on Napoleonic warfare at Oxford University.

'Devil's Cub' is part of the only trilogy she wrote -- 'These Old Shades' is the first, 'Devil's Cub' the second, and 'An Infamous Army' concludes the family history. I am glad to see these being reissued, and hope that younger readers will also enjoy Vidal's father, the extraordinarily menacing Duke of Avon, and his irrepressible and beautiful mother, Leonie. Vidal and Mary have a classic first-I-hate-you, then-I-love-you, relationship; yet the turns and twists are not only amusing but believable.

Buy this and enjoy it, but be forewarned -- you may start collecting all of her novels!

This is the second book in the trilogy. We first meet Justin, Duke of Avon, in These Old Shades. (He is NOT the Duke in The Black Moth.) These characters are delightfully developed and sustained in The Devil's Cub with the introduction of Justin and Leonie's son, Dominic. It is marvelous! The Infamous Army is the third book and introduces Dominic's grand-daughter during the war with Napoleon.

I have recently become a fan of Georgette Heyer (my wife suggested I read her). As such I have been reading book after book after book and really enjoying them.

For whatever reason I had a hard time getting into the Devil's Cub. I did not find it as enjoyable. For me it seemed a bit disjointed. But all in all I finished it rather quickly and did not consider it a waste of my time to have sat and read it. By far it beats anything on television these days.

I think for me the problem was that I did not like the main character. I felt he was arrogant, stuffy, pushy, etc. etc. Hmmmmm, maybe that was the point, I wasn't suppose to like him. I found that I liked the heroine of the story, so much so that I didn't want her to give her hand in marriage to such a rake!

Well, the story did hold my attention. I probably shouldn't give it only 3 stars, but I thought to be fair I can't give 4 or 5 stars just because its Georgette Heyer. I need to be reminded that there are times when a book to me is just a book, not a huge adventure.

I would recommend Regency Buck, Friday's Child or the Reluctant Widow, then maybe come back and read Devil's cub.

Now with all that said, I'm sure many of you will disagree with me and that is wonderful. Enjoy reading all of Georgette Heyer's books and then we can talk.

Enjoy!

Miss Heyer is as remarkable as always. Her mastery of the periods and manners of earlier England is a treasure. Moreover, it is one that I can revisit and with which I can enrich myself over and over again.

Dominic is a perfect example of what one would expect Justin's and Leonie's son to be. And Mary? She is the ONLY woman who could possibly be right for him. More wonderful still, just as one has finished the book and begins to speculate as to what a daughter of the two originals would be like, one discovers An Infamous Army!

I read with interest that others had immediately discerned the Avon relationships (had you all read many other Heyers in between?), however, no one mentioned that Worth and the Taverners (from Regency Buck) reappear in Brussels with Lady Bab. Kind of fun, eh?

This is the sequel to Heyer's 'These Old Shades' which was my introduction to her Regency writings. I liked 'Devil's Cub' almost as much as 'These Old Shades'. There are a lot of un-PC things that both Mary and Vidal do but at the time these books were written, a lot of un-PC things happened every day in normal life. Mary has her morals, Vidal is a charming rake, and they manage to fight more often than not in the first 7/8ths of book. The writing is superb and the plot moves along briskly. It would be wonderful to read the two books consecutively but it's almost impossible to find 'These Old Shades' nowadays.

I just finished reading 'Devil's Cub' what an excellent book. Couldn't put the book down until I finished it. I just can't understand why they do not make movies or TV series out of her books. For me her books are as good as Jane Austen's.

The funny thing is everytime you read one of her books you think it's the best until you read the next one. Just until recently An Infamous Army was my favorite however now Devil's Cub is the best :)

I just loved the characters of Vidal and Mary the chemistry between them is unbelievable. You can read so many books now where the author takes you to the bedroom and really you don't feel anything, on the other hand in Georgette Heyer books the maximum is a kiss and not more than that. However that one kiss will make you soooooooooooooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!1

I was surprised to see some negative reviews. We should keep in mind these stories are about people living during the Regency time or Georgian accordingly their habits, language, values were different and don't forget women needed men's protection. The most important thing we should leave our 21 century ideas out while reading these.

Is there anyone out there who loved this book as much as I did?

Anna

This is my fourth copy of this book. I just adore the interaction of all the characters and the description of places and parties and clothes. I have worn out each of my previous copies to the point of falling apart.

This is a sequel to These Old Shades, being about the son of the Duke of Avon and Leonie. Dominic's wild behavior and bad temper earn him the nickname Devil's Cub. When he crosses pathes with a sweet, practical miss, he has met his match! A mad romp starting in London, going through Paris and ending in the French countryside, this is a must read for Heyer fans.

The first Georgette Heyer book I've read was....Arrabella and April Lady. I didnt like them much to be frank. The romance wasn't that...romantic....Im more of a X-rated book reader XD But after reading Devil's Cub,expecting to be bored and dissapointed,I was amazed at how good it was. There was no sex.....and yet it was such an interesting book. It touched me...made me laugh....and made me cry sooo much!!! This has been the best book I've ever read. I also read all of Jane Austens book,I heard Georgette Heyers was like Miss Austen...but Heyers is so much more romantic!!!!