Customer Reviews

Wicked Company

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

 

 

I don't usually read "romance novels", but this is a must read! The characters are so vivid you really care about them and they just jump off the page. My best advice is to FIND THIS BOOK somewhere--it's worth the work.

This is a tale of a young woman who finds herself without her father. A young woman who was brought up educated at a time when women were not thought to have brains. After her father is arrested for selling books the church finds offensive Sophie writes a tract against those that convicted him and finds herself in serious trouble. Helped out of town by her actor friend she runs to London to seek out her aunt and uncle only to find more problems. Being strong and smart Sophie uses her writing and print making skills to survive.

Ms. Ware's writing style is such that you find yourself drawn into the time period. It was rather like watching a movie in my head. Her descriptions of place, attire and even persons are detailed but not so that you feel like you are reading a list. It's all drawn together so well in the whole of the story. The characters are well conceived and interesting. I did get a bit annoyed with Sophie though; as smart as she was portrayed to be it seemed she just never learned when it came to men. I also found it a touch hard to believe a young girl would survive so unscathed in this time period. But those minor niggling thoughts aside I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was not aware that there were so many female playwrights in this time period. It did not surprise me that they were looked down upon and generally dismissed. The descriptions of the theatres and the backstage goings on were fascinating and added so much to the story. I am a theatre lover so it doesn't matter the time - a play is a play!

The central love story was full of challenges. I truly wonder if two people would really survive what these two went through over the course of so many years. There was an appalling lack of communication although I suppose back in this time period women WERE supposed to be seen and not heard. heh.

WICKED COMPANY by Ciji Ware is an amazing historical romance set in 1761-1774 Scotland and Boston. It spans thirteen years, is well written, very detailed, has depth, the plot in very interesting. It has romance, deceit, betrayal, intrigue,passion, secrets, danger,misuse,playwrites, theatre, actresses, goverenment censor,actors, a true love story. This story is very detailed with vivid characters and plot. The characters are enchanting, determined, real life, strong, independent and will sweep you off your feet. The heroine, Sophie, is independent, beautiful, a petticoat playwright, strong willed,is misused, betrayed, determined to use her own name for her playwrights,and falling in love with her long time friend/protector Hunter.The hero, Hunter, is handsome, a jugglier, wants to be an actor,becomes Sophie's protector and falling in love with her. This story spans over a period of thirteen years, takes them into danger, adventure, Sophie's marriage to an evil, worthless, liar and drunk who uses her to know end. She learns everyone is not what they often seem. Befriends a actress, playwright, becomes with child by her husband, the child dies, she craves for love from her long time friend, Hunter. Hunter, thinks of her only as a friend/sister for years, but learns he is attracted to the woman she has become. Together they face the odds. Sophie, after a long estrangement with her drunken husband, becomes involved with Hunter. Has his child, becomes entangled with someone she believes to be her friend but soon learns he is only after her mind and will do anything to get her to writes plays for him. Sophie and Hunter suffer through years of trials but finally find true happiness, family, and true love. This is an intriguing story of love, betrayal, truth,and show the struggles female playwrights went through to get their work published in the 18th century. I would recommend this book, it is long with great details and a wonderful story. A keeper. This book was received for review from the publisher and details can be found at Sourcebooks Landmark an imprint of Sourcebooks and My Book Addiction and More.

Truly, I didn't know this was a romance novel of sorts. I am not a fan of romance novels. I am also not a fan of bad writing, which this book has a lot of. I am, however, a fan of books set in England and stories of the theatre. Those are the main reasons why I selected this book, and while the plot certainly revolves around those things and has aspects of interest and merit, the book is overshadowed by the poor writing and the fact that it's about 200 pages too long. I was extremely disappointed and do not recommend this book.

Author Ciji Ware earned a lifelong fan in me ever since reading Island of the Swans (READ MY REVIEW) last year and was reinforced when A Cottage by the Sea (READ MY REVIEW) was re-issued by Sourcebooks earlier this year. So, when I got an email about reviewing the latest Ware re-issue, Wicked Company, I jumped on it quick!

In her author notes Ciji Ware states that the inspiration for writing Wicked Company came up unexpectedly while conducting research for Island of the Swans. The main character of Island of the Swans, Jane Maxwell, had a sister who had written and produced several plays. Ciji then researched further and found that there were about 98 women who wrote plays and had them run in London's most famous play houses between the years 1660-1800. And even though they were among the most popular writers of the day most of us know little about these extraordinary women.

In Wicked Company, Ware brings 18th century London and the struggles of a woman playwright to life. Sophie McCann is the daughter of a Scottish printer from Edinburgh who eventually comes to London and finds herself immersed in the theatrical world of Drury Lane and Covent Gardens. Ciji has a great talent for creating awesome and unforgettable characters and while Sophie's naiveté got on my nerves a smidge I still really enjoyed her. Her tenacity and ambitiousness was inspiring and you really rally for her. My only issue with this book was that after a while it seemed that everything and anything bad happened to Sophie, but I think the author was just trying to show the various obstacles that playwrights had to deal with at the time and for that I think she did a bang up job.

Wicked Company is a great read and I very much recommend it!

Edinburgh, 1761. Sophie McGann's bookseller father runs afoul of the law as well as a vengeful nobleman and she finds herself in need of a quick getaway out of Scotland before she lands in the clapper as well. Coming to her rescue is the ever-so-handsome Hunter Robertson who hides her in his friend James Boswell's trunk and she's off to London to start a new life with her Aunt and Uncle (who also run a bookshop), but she finds her uncle dead and her aunt well on the road to insanity. Never one to let her spirits down for long, Sophie bucks up and puts the bookshop and printing business to rights. Located near the Covent Garden theater district, Sophie soon finds herself thoroughly entrenched in the theatrical community, including the famous actor/manager David Garrick who encourages her to pen her own plays. Eventually Sophie needs to get out of Dodge in a hurry and retreats to the theaters at Bath where she meets up with old friend Hunter (who is surprised at how nicely Sophie has grown up), as well as two lords with a great interest in the theater business, Roderick Darnly and Sir Peter Lindsay-Hoyt.

Since this is a romance, you know that just as our pair discover true love there's going to be complications and separations, and Sophie finds herself at the mercy of our two debauched noblemen. Is Sir Peter really the dear knight in shining armor he seems, or does he desire Sophie for other reasons? What deep dark secrets does Darnley hold and what it his compelling interest in Sophie? The story from here on out takes plentiful twists and turns and ups and downs as Sophie and Hunter fight the baddies, have numerous Big Misunderstandings and separations whilst trying to keep their true love alive.

I actually enjoyed this book a great deal, especially the different setting of Covent Garden, and Ware did a nice job of weaving her fictional characters in with the historical ones. It was interesting to see how the plays came together along with the struggle women had whilst writing plays and succeeding in a man's world, as well as getting anything past the King's censor. The first two-thirds of the book were pretty near unputdownable (I love a good romance), but in the end things got a wee bit too much with the melodrama, the separations waaaaay too long, and IMHO could do with editing out about 200 or so pages and wrap things up quicker. Still, a good quick read despite its length and I'd recommend it for romance fans, as well as those interested in all things theatrical. 3.5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. It had twists and turns that played with your emotions in every way. There were some instances where I felt the situation tedious at times and I was able to guess what was to happen before it was revealed. Over all a very good book and let me tell you, this girl cannot seem to stay out of trouble; however, this gives life to her little adventures.

When I read "Island of the Swans", I thought I had found a great romance writer. However, "Wicked Company" nearly put me to sleep. Eighteenth Century literature was a great passion of mine when getting my degree. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse of the theater and the plight of female writers, Garrick's funeral etc. However, the plot was belabored with melodrama, rakes, villains and too much going on at once. Vivid characters without a lick of sense are not much fun to read. At one point toward the end, the heroine reflects that she had been living this life for twenty years. Twenty years and she didn't have enough sense to get out of it? Hunter (and all the male characters, except Rory) is a cad and an idiot, although I do think that they were generally the product of the times. Ms. Ware is a good writer and provides exceptional glimpses of history. She did not, however, write a very compelling story this time. I don't know if I will buy more of her books. I gave it three stars because I have given much worse writers two stars. She deserved better than they but not as much as I gave her.

Liked the story line but none of the characters. As is usual in romance novels, the heroine is stupid, headstrong, and far too stubborn to ever make it in any century, always depending on someone else to get her out of diasters of her own making. Also her love interest is almost nonexistant in the book and very little is ever said about him. None of the other characters are ever fleshed out, merely appearing as one dimentional. This being said, it did make for an interesting 2 evenings read.