“Now you’re ready to make your
appearance as the Stafford you are.”
In Sarah MacLean’s dramatic YA novel The Season, the Victorian era’s famous
matchmaking event is about to take off. Lady Alexandra Stafford and her friends
Vivi and Ella are about to be presented to the ton, London society’s elite, for the first time. Unfortunately for Alex,
courtship and marriage are simply abhorrent to her—until Gavin, her childhood
friend and surrogate brother, emerges from mourning a stunningly handsome earl.
Torn between her once-staunch determination to remain single for life and her
new, ever-growing feelings for Lord Blackmoor, Alex will have to tiptoe
carefully through her first Season if she’s to remain on the market—and alive.
After all, her mother doesn’t know about Gavin. And Gavin doesn’t know about
the man trying to kill him.
While this tale likes to pretend it’s a
murder mystery, it really is a romance at heart. Lord Blackmoor may have lost
his father in a suspicious riding accident recently, and Alex and her friends
may be convinced they can prevent another tragedy, but center stage goes to
their swoon-worthy love story. They’ve known each other quite a while before
the plot begins, so the sudden feelings between them can’t be called insta-love.
And their words and actions strike sincerely enough that their inability to be
cross at each other for more than a chapter is mostly forgivable. Between this
and the splendid knots tying life-threatening drama to the romantic side of
things, everything that happens between these covers is more than relevant. It’s
vitally essential to the narrative.
Aside from her shift in personal beliefs,
Alex doesn’t change much over the course of this novel. Neither do her friends
and family, or even Blackmoor. This simplicity lends a rather refreshing air to
the whole thing, making it easier to concentrate on the romance and plot
without becoming distracted by terrible secrets, hidden allegiances, and tragic
backstories. Much of the crises Alex finds herself trapped in take place at
social gatherings such as dances and dinner parties, increasing their impact
tenfold. That being said, a little more expansion on Vivi’s and Ella’s
histories wouldn’t be amiss—the two are darling friends and lovely secondary
heroes, but sadly receive hardly any spotlight despite their unwavering support
of their best friend.
It should be noted that the author of this
review is no expert of 1800’s etiquette. However, there seemed to be a few minor
inaccuracies throughout this otherwise fantastic piece, such as those of
decidedly lower class attending dinner parties hosted by those of the uppermost
crust. History buffs, then, may want to avoid this particular tale. On the
other hand, social norms and fear of ruination keep the language fairly clean
and the romance strictly PG, so prereaders have nothing to worry about. Violence
is minimal, as well. And the three plucky females who head this work are sure
to turn the heads of any reader who passes by.
I would recommend this book to anyone
interested in a lighthearted romance about a headstrong girl who falls in love
against her will with a man whose life is in danger. There’s mystique,
adventure, and quite a bit of flirtation, all set against a solid background of
the Victorian “Season”. While experts on those times may find a couple of details
confusing, for most others the setting is the perfect backdrop for Lady
Alexandra’s little dilemma. Strong characters and a straightforward endgame
make the plot of Sarah MacLean’s The
Season easy to follow and surprisingly absorbing, earning the title a grand
total of four stars.
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