Format: Paperback & eBook; 284 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Satire/Gothic/Romance
Synopsis
An appreciative satire of the cliches of traditional Gothic.
When Clarinda Greendale inherits the fortune of disreputable uncle she hardly knows, she does not expect to find herself forced into marriage with an aristocratic fortune hunter and wild, brawling, debauched social outcast. Still, she has always found Harley Venn set off the most unmaidenly tinglings in her; that is one consolation.
Yet neither did Clarinda expect to inherit the legacy of evil from half a century before. For the wicked if beguiling Lord Venn seems to have inherited a family curse, which, having dispatched the main perpetrators of the old crime, now moves on to their heirs, who are just as wild a set of rakes as their elders. There are rumours of violent deaths preceded by appearances from an inexorable hooded spectre, of inexplicable strikes of lightning, and of haunted mirrors.
The light-hearted Harley Venn dismisses all these as conjuring tricks. He even hires a drunken charlatan of a professional magician to prove it.
Clarinda is far from sure that there is any rational explanation. Still, it would take more than an enforced marriage to an incorrigible pugilistic libertine or persecution from malevolent spectres to damage her steely nerves and sense of the ridiculous.
This lively Gothic comedy, written as a good natured satire, gives the reader a kind and courageous heroine, a rascally but beguiling anti-hero and an authentic historical background to the delightfully over-the-top adventures, a cast of wholly believable characters, an engaging love story and many chills on its way to its tumultuous conclusion.
My Thoughts
This book will not be to everyone's taste, mainly due to the behaviour of Lord Venn and his cronies. They are reprobates, a group of young men who drink, womanize, brawl, gamble, duel, squander their fortunes and delight in evading their creditors. That is until they are forced to examine their dissolute lives when members of their group begin to die in similar but mysterious circumstances. These deaths are heralded by thunderclaps followed by the appearance of a sinister hooded figure, which Lord Venn believes is the act of a trickster, but his nervous friends are not so sure.
When Foyle, the latest victim, exacts a promise from Lord Venn to mend his ways and 'marry the sweet girl who'll come your way', Lord Venn had already decided he needs to marry. His financial situation is dire. He has already run through half the inheritance left to him by his uncle and to get his hands on the other half, he must follow the stipulation in his uncle's will and marry. At the rate he currently spends, he needs a wife with plenty of money. A social outcast, albeit with a title, Venn hopes that fathers may look favourably on his pursuit of their daughters if they know he is after their fortunes and not their bodies. And so, he and his friend, Jack Molyneaux, draw up a list.
On that list is Clarinda Greendale. Not a beauty, but more attractive now that she has inherited her uncle's vast fortune. Of course, being a sensible young woman she expects to be preyed upon by unscrupulous fortune hunters. Warned to stay away from the disreputable Lord Harley Venn, she is nonetheless attracted to him, if those tingles whenever he is near are anything to go by. However, she sees him for what he is and rejects his proposal outright. When Clarinda unwittingly commits a social faux pas which threatens to ruin her reputation, Venn takes advantage of the situation and offers marriage again. With no other option Clarinda accepts with the proviso that he curb his profligate ways. For a time, with her help, he does, but unfortunately he is soon tempted to resume his former lifestyle. More determined than ever and despite the danger to herself, Clarinda believes he is worth fighting for and sets out to save him from the supernatural threat that is the curse of the Venns.
A draughty castle with the obligatory wall panels opening onto cobwebbed secret passages, spectres, crones, unexplained chills, haunted mirrors, a rake that needs to reform, a sensible and virtuous maiden intent on reforming him and a host of lovable eccentric characters all come together in this very humorous, very entertaining gothic spoof.
The Villainous Viscount is a quick read and a fun one. If you don't get the giggles at some point over how ridiculous it all seems, I'd be surprised. If you are in need of cheering up, this is the book that will do it!
Where to Purchase
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble
Meet the Author
She loves writing about strong women to complement gung-ho males.
Her interests do include weight training and body shaping,and she was once a champion Sportsfighter, but apart from that her interests are quite geeky. Reading classic novels, conservation, gardening, and even names and their meanings (bring on the carrot juice). She loves a laugh above anything.
For more information, please visit Lucinda's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Review at Probably at the Library
Tuesday, December 8
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Wednesday, December 9
Review at Robin Loves Reading
Thursday, December 10
Review at Jessica Belmont
Feature at I'm Into Books
Friday, December 11
Interview at Books & Benches
Monday, December 14
Review at Novels Alive
Tuesday, December 15
Review at Rajiv's Reviews
Wednesday, December 16
Review at Bookworlder
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink
Review at A Darn Good Read
Giveaway (US only)
Enter HERE to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!
The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on December 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Thank you so much for hosting The Villainous Viscount! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteAmy
HF Virtual Book Tours
It was a great read!
DeleteThank you so much for reading the book and your excellent review.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!
Delete