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The Heart of Blade Duology #2
My Beautiful Enemy
In this spellbinding romance by the acclaimed author of The Luckiest Lady in London, a beautiful and cunning woman meets her match in a man just as dangerous and seductive as she is, putting both her heart and her future at risk…
Hidden beneath Catherine Blade’s uncommon beauty is a daring that matches any man’s. Although this has taken her far in the world, she still doesn’t have the one thing she craves: the freedom to live life as she chooses. Finally given the chance to earn her independence, who should be standing in her way but the only man she’s ever loved, the only person to ever betray her.
Despite the scars Catherine left him, Captain Leighton Atwood has never been able to forget the mysterious girl who once so thoroughly captivated him. When she unexpectedly reappears in his life, he refuses to get close to her. But he cannot deny the yearning she reignites in his heart.
Their reunion, however, plunges them into a web of espionage, treachery, and deadly foes. With everything at stake, Leighton and Catherine are forced to work together to find a way out. If they are ever to find safety and happiness, they must first forgive and learn to trust each other again…
Hidden beneath Catherine Blade’s uncommon beauty is a daring that matches any man’s. Although this has taken her far in the world, she still doesn’t have the one thing she craves: the freedom to live life as she chooses. Finally given the chance to earn her independence, who should be standing in her way but the only man she’s ever loved, the only person to ever betray her.
Despite the scars Catherine left him, Captain Leighton Atwood has never been able to forget the mysterious girl who once so thoroughly captivated him. When she unexpectedly reappears in his life, he refuses to get close to her. But he cannot deny the yearning she reignites in his heart.
Their reunion, however, plunges them into a web of espionage, treachery, and deadly foes. With everything at stake, Leighton and Catherine are forced to work together to find a way out. If they are ever to find safety and happiness, they must first forgive and learn to trust each other again…
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
About the author
Sherry Thomas
37 books6,743 followersUSA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
August 12, 2016
Gah. Just...GAH! I don't have the words to do this duology justice. They were, simply put, a masterpiece. New favorite HR...
...OF...
...ALL...
...TIME...
March 27, 2023
This was the second book in a duology. I read the first one, The Hidden Blade, a few months ago, but have finally gotten to this one. The first one was mainly about two children growing up in kinda parallel (or connected) circumstances. In this book they're all grown up and we follow their beautiful romance.
The book takes place in both England and also parts of Asia. It has a 'present-day' timeline (mostly in Victorian London), well-interspersed with flashbacks that reveal Ying-ying and Leighton's highly dramatic past - what happened between the end of The Hidden Blade and the start of this book. There are moments of violence, but it's almost stylised, and though not pleasant, the writer doesn't linger over these scenes. There is wuxia-style martial arts and one very evil bad guy.
Sometimes I don't like a flashback-style book structure, but in this case it worked well. When Leighton and Ying-ying have their first, shocking (re) meeting, you really want to find out how they got there.
The romance in the book is truly lovely - the connection between our lovers is deep and real, and the time they spend apart is wrenching and painful. Their final HEA is movingly done. I loved this aspect of the book. There are sex scenes (outside marriage), but otherwise it's a clean read. Nothing too explicit, and the scenes fade-to-black. Quite suitable for older teens IMO.
I guess this book could be called a romance/adventure. Although Leighton is a spy, this isn't really the main focus. Ying-ying is literally a kick-a$$ heroine, and Leighton isn't bad either! The book has a YA feel, actually (as did the previous one). Not my usual kind of read, but in fact it's quite a lovely book. I do recommend reading Bk 1 first, though, because some plot points would be pretty confusing otherwise. It added a depth to my reading of this one. Overall, very enjoyable book.
The book takes place in both England and also parts of Asia. It has a 'present-day' timeline (mostly in Victorian London), well-interspersed with flashbacks that reveal Ying-ying and Leighton's highly dramatic past - what happened between the end of The Hidden Blade and the start of this book. There are moments of violence, but it's almost stylised, and though not pleasant, the writer doesn't linger over these scenes. There is wuxia-style martial arts and one very evil bad guy.
Sometimes I don't like a flashback-style book structure, but in this case it worked well. When Leighton and Ying-ying have their first, shocking (re) meeting, you really want to find out how they got there.
The romance in the book is truly lovely - the connection between our lovers is deep and real, and the time they spend apart is wrenching and painful. Their final HEA is movingly done. I loved this aspect of the book. There are sex scenes (outside marriage), but otherwise it's a clean read. Nothing too explicit, and the scenes fade-to-black. Quite suitable for older teens IMO.
I guess this book could be called a romance/adventure. Although Leighton is a spy, this isn't really the main focus. Ying-ying is literally a kick-a$$ heroine, and Leighton isn't bad either! The book has a YA feel, actually (as did the previous one). Not my usual kind of read, but in fact it's quite a lovely book. I do recommend reading Bk 1 first, though, because some plot points would be pretty confusing otherwise. It added a depth to my reading of this one. Overall, very enjoyable book.
April 3, 2024
All possible stars for this amazing novel!! Seriously, where else are you going to read about star-crossed (but FATED) lovers who meet again after an 8-year separation? This book is written as a series of flashbacks. This is a really tough literary device to get right (we usually end up loving either the flashback story or the present, but not both at the same time), but Thomas's command of the structure is impeccable. Both the flashbacks and the present-set portions shed light on each other in the best possible way. There is a lot of suspense but it never feels forced.
The love story is poignant and the payoff is big once you get there. There are no explicitly erotic scenes, but the sexual tension and longing is palpable.
Oh, and did we mention that Catherine is a martial arts master? We recommend going into this book with no expectations, because it meets no genre standards we can think of (other than the HEA). Reading My Beautiful Enemy is a supremely satisfying experience!
And as our final word, we recommend reading the prequel AFTER this one (in publication order, not chronological order). This book absolutely stands on its own.
17-Word Summaries:
Laine: Spy goes to her father's homeland for a treasure map; encounters the lover she thought she killed.
Meg: Star-crossed lovers reunite in this genre-bending gem of a novel. My Beautiful Enemy = The Most Beautiful Angst.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
The love story is poignant and the payoff is big once you get there. There are no explicitly erotic scenes, but the sexual tension and longing is palpable.
Oh, and did we mention that Catherine is a martial arts master? We recommend going into this book with no expectations, because it meets no genre standards we can think of (other than the HEA). Reading My Beautiful Enemy is a supremely satisfying experience!
And as our final word, we recommend reading the prequel AFTER this one (in publication order, not chronological order). This book absolutely stands on its own.
17-Word Summaries:
Laine: Spy goes to her father's homeland for a treasure map; encounters the lover she thought she killed.
Meg: Star-crossed lovers reunite in this genre-bending gem of a novel. My Beautiful Enemy = The Most Beautiful Angst.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
August 9, 2014
I increasingly feel Thomas is constrained by the artificiality of publishing a historical romance novel. The Hidden Blade, a supposed prequel, was a better book by far, rich with small details that brought the interior life of its two protagonists to the fore. In comparison, My Beautiful Enemy is telegraphic, jumping from plot point to action scene in order to bring all elements to a resolution.
I adore Thomas's choice to meaningfully set the book in Ch'ing China, and the fact that while her leads may be British at least in part they have the will and desire to move through the world entire to find a place that suits them both.
However, this story had the potential to be a sweeping epic, big, meaty, sad, and sweet. Instead, by cramming the second half of the story into the slight page count and format of a historical romance, Thomas lost the richness that defined the first chapter. Key moments were compressed, leaving me somewhat dissatisfied. I wanted much more of everything, and cannot help but wonder if Thomas would be better off self-publishing a la Courtney Milan.
Still, all in all a remarkable two books.
I adore Thomas's choice to meaningfully set the book in Ch'ing China, and the fact that while her leads may be British at least in part they have the will and desire to move through the world entire to find a place that suits them both.
However, this story had the potential to be a sweeping epic, big, meaty, sad, and sweet. Instead, by cramming the second half of the story into the slight page count and format of a historical romance, Thomas lost the richness that defined the first chapter. Key moments were compressed, leaving me somewhat dissatisfied. I wanted much more of everything, and cannot help but wonder if Thomas would be better off self-publishing a la Courtney Milan.
Still, all in all a remarkable two books.
July 5, 2015
What a disappointment.
There are so many things wrong with this book. Firstly, both hero and heroine were not who they said they were, so just because the heroine found out who the hero was before he found out who she was, he left her. All those promises and vows. So useless. Was that supposed to be romantic? Because there was nothing romantic about it.
At the end of the novel when they get together again and he tells her he will never leave her and that only she will be in his heart, the same as what he said years before. All I could think was, why would the heroine be stupid enough to believe him the second time around. How does the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Lastly, the ending was not satisfactory at all. He barely even apologises before she takes him back. There was a lot of wrongs he had to right and he didn't right any of them. Where was the grovelling. There was nothing to make me believe that they would last as a couple.
There are so many things wrong with this book. Firstly, both hero and heroine were not who they said they were, so just because the heroine found out who the hero was before he found out who she was, he left her. All those promises and vows. So useless. Was that supposed to be romantic? Because there was nothing romantic about it.
At the end of the novel when they get together again and he tells her he will never leave her and that only she will be in his heart, the same as what he said years before. All I could think was, why would the heroine be stupid enough to believe him the second time around. How does the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Lastly, the ending was not satisfactory at all. He barely even apologises before she takes him back. There was a lot of wrongs he had to right and he didn't right any of them. Where was the grovelling. There was nothing to make me believe that they would last as a couple.
November 30, 2014
It was good, but not great.
Full review to come..
Even taking into consideration the fact that I am more used to an occidental pov, than an oriental one, it still doesn't explain the fact that I found this story somewhat lukewarm.
I can't even give the explanation that I "fell " into this story without having read the previous story, because I did read it, and I pretty much loved it.
I think that for me, Ying Ying's and Leighton's story would have worked better, if instead of two books, we were to have had three: The second book following where the narrative stopped in the first book, allowing us to accompany their relationship, and all that happens next. I can't help feeling that, that would have given more strength to their story by allowing the readers to feel more empathy towards their story.
As it is, we are given flashbacks to see what happened between those two in the past, _for me the more interesting parts of the book _ and then we are thrown into the present, with just too many "balls up in the air":
We have Leighton who is engaged...
Catherine Blade, who is trying to find the Jade tablets..
A maniacal foe who sounds as if he's been having too much fun with catnip... o_O
The issue of both characters having met Herb Gordon..I don't know...it felt a little too much for nothing.
Also, I really didn't appreciate the way the engagement between Leighton and his fiancée was resolved.
It was too convoluted and convenient, designed it seemed, so that Leighton wouldn't come out as a cad.
The writing as always is flawless.
In the end, I can only say that this wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but this is not to say that this is a bad book.
It isn't. Only that as an adventure book, or a romantic tale, it needed more on both fronts.
Full review to come..
Even taking into consideration the fact that I am more used to an occidental pov, than an oriental one, it still doesn't explain the fact that I found this story somewhat lukewarm.
I can't even give the explanation that I "fell " into this story without having read the previous story, because I did read it, and I pretty much loved it.
I think that for me, Ying Ying's and Leighton's story would have worked better, if instead of two books, we were to have had three: The second book following where the narrative stopped in the first book, allowing us to accompany their relationship, and all that happens next. I can't help feeling that, that would have given more strength to their story by allowing the readers to feel more empathy towards their story.
As it is, we are given flashbacks to see what happened between those two in the past, _for me the more interesting parts of the book _ and then we are thrown into the present, with just too many "balls up in the air":
We have Leighton who is engaged...
Catherine Blade, who is trying to find the Jade tablets..
A maniacal foe who sounds as if he's been having too much fun with catnip... o_O
The issue of both characters having met Herb Gordon..I don't know...it felt a little too much for nothing.
Also, I really didn't appreciate the way the engagement between Leighton and his fiancée was resolved.
It was too convoluted and convenient, designed it seemed, so that Leighton wouldn't come out as a cad.
The writing as always is flawless.
In the end, I can only say that this wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but this is not to say that this is a bad book.
It isn't. Only that as an adventure book, or a romantic tale, it needed more on both fronts.
September 7, 2016
I've given this a C- for narration and B for content at AAR, which makes it a C+ overall - 3.5 stars.
I have to state upfront, that I’m a Sherry Thomas fangirl of immense proportions. I’ve loved each and every one of her books (including her recent YA titles) and take delight in her skillful storytelling, her wonderful prose, the complexity of her characterisations, the angst and ultimately, the superb way her romances unfold and the depth of the connections she creates between her heroes and heroines.
BUT.
I hate to say this, My Beautiful Enemy didn’t quite work for me. Many of the things I’ve mentioned above are undoubtedly present in the story. The prose is beautiful, the hero and heroine share a deep connection, and the author’s descriptions of the sights and sounds of the unfamiliar landscapes of Chinese Turkestan are incredibly evocative, putting the listener right there with the characters. I also very much enjoy the flashback technique Ms Thomas employs – it’s a device she uses often and to great effect.
I suspect, however, that this is a book best experienced in print. Normally, when I enjoy a book, I will then look for an audio version so I can experience it again in a slightly different way; if I’m lucky and the narrator is good, I will enjoy it even more. In the case of My Beautiful Enemy however, I hadn’t read the book prior to listening to the audio, but I will now be turning to the printed edition because I suspect it is a much better story than the audiobook leads me to believe.
In 1891, Catherine Blade, illegitimate daughter of an English Diplomat and a Chinese courtesan, is on a steamer ship travelling to England. During a terrible storm, she is attacked by the villain of the piece, Lin, who has been hunting her for years, and it’s during that early scene that the listener gets the first glimpse of Catherine’s – whose real name is Ying-Ying – deadly martial arts skills when she both fights off Lin and rescues one of the ladies on board. Following this, Catherine is kind of “adopted” by the lady and her friend, who decide to sponsor her introductions in England.
Immediately upon her arrival in the company of Mrs Chase and Mrs Reynolds, Catherine is stunned to see the man with whom she had fallen in love more than eight years previously. Following a passionate and brief affair, they had parted on bad terms and Catherine believes she killed him, but here he is, alive, well, and handsomer than ever – and engaged to Mrs Chase’s beautiful daughter.
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
Back in 1883, twenty-one year-old Leighton Attwood is a British spy disguised as a Persian jewel-merchant as he travels throughout the East gathering information. On one such journey through Chinese Turkestan, he encounters a cocky young man he immediately realises is a woman. Intrigued, he suggests they travel together for safety and companionship, and although they never learn each other’s names, a connection is forged between them, one so strong that when they part, they discuss the possibility of finding each other again in a year’s time.
Even though both Leighton and Ying-ying know that it is extremely unlikely that they will ever meet again, both of them nonetheless make their way to their agreed rendezvous, hoping against hope that the other will be there. En route, Leighton rescues Ying-ying from a vicious group of bandits and cares for her injuries, which is when he finally owns up to the fact that he’s always known she was a girl. From there, their relationship progresses quickly, in the manner of people who live dangerous lives never knowing if the next day could prove to be their last.
Despite its speed, the romance is beautifully written, and their inevitable parting is utterly heartbreaking. But the problem with the audio version is that, while the words are there, the emotions just… aren’t. Leighton has some truly heart-melting speeches which are read as though they are part of a shopping list. The love scenes in the book are not explicit, but there’s an underlying sensuality to them that is completely absent in the audio; these are just two of the factors which led to its being rather a disappointment overall.
Charlotte Anne Dore is a new-to-me narrator, although she has a number of narrations to her credit at Audible. She has a pleasant, slightly husky voice, and she performs the narrative fairly well for the most part, and speaks at a good pace. There are, however, a number of mispronunciations throughout, as well as more than a few occasions where she trips over a word (or seems about to do so) or where she appears to have run out of breath part-way through a phrase, giving it rather an odd inflection overall.
Ms Dore differentiates fairly well between the characters, but I really didn’t like her portrayal of Leighton much of the time. Her vocal range is not wide, and she has opted to portray him at the very lowest end of it; she sounds as though she is struggling to maintain the lower pitch. This has the unfortunate effect of making him sound unattractive and somewhat pompous. It is also detrimental in the more romantic moments, which are lacking in emotional intensity.
The story itself is somewhat of a departure from Ms Thomas’ other historical romances, too, as the romance in the book is just one element of a much more wide-ranging story and not the primary focus. Catherine has been sent to England to locate two precious jade tablets and return them to China. Lin is on her trail, and she has also to contend with her feelings for Leighton and the fact of his engagement. Ms Thomas’ exploration of the Oriental mindset is fascinating and both central characters are complex and fully-rounded. My issues again relate to the narration, which just didn’t engage me sufficiently to carry me through those sections of the story where I found myself zoning in and out (like the fighting sequences).
All in all, My Beautiful Enemy is a prime example of what happens to a good story matched with the wrong narrator. One can’t completely blame Ms Dore – she was engaged to do a job and has, I am sure, done it to the best of her ability. So I’m chalking this one up as a misfire, and going back to read the print version instead in the hope I will find the Thomas magic is present after all.
I have to state upfront, that I’m a Sherry Thomas fangirl of immense proportions. I’ve loved each and every one of her books (including her recent YA titles) and take delight in her skillful storytelling, her wonderful prose, the complexity of her characterisations, the angst and ultimately, the superb way her romances unfold and the depth of the connections she creates between her heroes and heroines.
BUT.
I hate to say this, My Beautiful Enemy didn’t quite work for me. Many of the things I’ve mentioned above are undoubtedly present in the story. The prose is beautiful, the hero and heroine share a deep connection, and the author’s descriptions of the sights and sounds of the unfamiliar landscapes of Chinese Turkestan are incredibly evocative, putting the listener right there with the characters. I also very much enjoy the flashback technique Ms Thomas employs – it’s a device she uses often and to great effect.
I suspect, however, that this is a book best experienced in print. Normally, when I enjoy a book, I will then look for an audio version so I can experience it again in a slightly different way; if I’m lucky and the narrator is good, I will enjoy it even more. In the case of My Beautiful Enemy however, I hadn’t read the book prior to listening to the audio, but I will now be turning to the printed edition because I suspect it is a much better story than the audiobook leads me to believe.
In 1891, Catherine Blade, illegitimate daughter of an English Diplomat and a Chinese courtesan, is on a steamer ship travelling to England. During a terrible storm, she is attacked by the villain of the piece, Lin, who has been hunting her for years, and it’s during that early scene that the listener gets the first glimpse of Catherine’s – whose real name is Ying-Ying – deadly martial arts skills when she both fights off Lin and rescues one of the ladies on board. Following this, Catherine is kind of “adopted” by the lady and her friend, who decide to sponsor her introductions in England.
Immediately upon her arrival in the company of Mrs Chase and Mrs Reynolds, Catherine is stunned to see the man with whom she had fallen in love more than eight years previously. Following a passionate and brief affair, they had parted on bad terms and Catherine believes she killed him, but here he is, alive, well, and handsomer than ever – and engaged to Mrs Chase’s beautiful daughter.
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
Back in 1883, twenty-one year-old Leighton Attwood is a British spy disguised as a Persian jewel-merchant as he travels throughout the East gathering information. On one such journey through Chinese Turkestan, he encounters a cocky young man he immediately realises is a woman. Intrigued, he suggests they travel together for safety and companionship, and although they never learn each other’s names, a connection is forged between them, one so strong that when they part, they discuss the possibility of finding each other again in a year’s time.
Even though both Leighton and Ying-ying know that it is extremely unlikely that they will ever meet again, both of them nonetheless make their way to their agreed rendezvous, hoping against hope that the other will be there. En route, Leighton rescues Ying-ying from a vicious group of bandits and cares for her injuries, which is when he finally owns up to the fact that he’s always known she was a girl. From there, their relationship progresses quickly, in the manner of people who live dangerous lives never knowing if the next day could prove to be their last.
Despite its speed, the romance is beautifully written, and their inevitable parting is utterly heartbreaking. But the problem with the audio version is that, while the words are there, the emotions just… aren’t. Leighton has some truly heart-melting speeches which are read as though they are part of a shopping list. The love scenes in the book are not explicit, but there’s an underlying sensuality to them that is completely absent in the audio; these are just two of the factors which led to its being rather a disappointment overall.
Charlotte Anne Dore is a new-to-me narrator, although she has a number of narrations to her credit at Audible. She has a pleasant, slightly husky voice, and she performs the narrative fairly well for the most part, and speaks at a good pace. There are, however, a number of mispronunciations throughout, as well as more than a few occasions where she trips over a word (or seems about to do so) or where she appears to have run out of breath part-way through a phrase, giving it rather an odd inflection overall.
Ms Dore differentiates fairly well between the characters, but I really didn’t like her portrayal of Leighton much of the time. Her vocal range is not wide, and she has opted to portray him at the very lowest end of it; she sounds as though she is struggling to maintain the lower pitch. This has the unfortunate effect of making him sound unattractive and somewhat pompous. It is also detrimental in the more romantic moments, which are lacking in emotional intensity.
The story itself is somewhat of a departure from Ms Thomas’ other historical romances, too, as the romance in the book is just one element of a much more wide-ranging story and not the primary focus. Catherine has been sent to England to locate two precious jade tablets and return them to China. Lin is on her trail, and she has also to contend with her feelings for Leighton and the fact of his engagement. Ms Thomas’ exploration of the Oriental mindset is fascinating and both central characters are complex and fully-rounded. My issues again relate to the narration, which just didn’t engage me sufficiently to carry me through those sections of the story where I found myself zoning in and out (like the fighting sequences).
All in all, My Beautiful Enemy is a prime example of what happens to a good story matched with the wrong narrator. One can’t completely blame Ms Dore – she was engaged to do a job and has, I am sure, done it to the best of her ability. So I’m chalking this one up as a misfire, and going back to read the print version instead in the hope I will find the Thomas magic is present after all.
August 17, 2016
A unique plot, riveting characters, and a heartfelt romance. That's what you can expect from My Beautiful Enemy.
First and foremost, I highly recommend you start with the prequel, The Hidden Blade. Although My Beautiful Enemy can be read as a standalone, understanding the background of Catherine's (Ying Ying's) turbulent childhood and Leighton's indirect connection with her gives the readers a greater insight on their characters. Trust me, I don't think it would have been the same for me if I skipped out on the prequel. Heads up though, the prequel is not a romance.
Moving forward!
The story alternates between past and present. The past was the most endearing part of the book for me. Cathrine and Leighton's meeting and their journey in an exotic backdrop was entirely engrossing and heartwarming. Leighton is absolutely charming. Historical romance heroes seem to be all the same to me (though all enjoyable) but Leighton is a certainly a keeper.
In the present, Catherine is in England on a mission to find jade tablets for her stepfather. She runs into Leighton, a British spy, after their long separation. Old feelings resurface, past misunderstandings mix with passion that the long years apart haven't diminished, and sparks ignite. But that's not all, there's an assassin from Catherine's past that is seeking revenge (you will know more about him if you read The Hidden Blade!), which forces Catherine and Leighton to put aside their hurt and anger to work together.
Full of action, adventure, and an unforgettable romance, My Beautiful Enemy is a delightfully unique historical romance that I would recommend to everyone looking for a fresh take on romance in the Victorian era.
First and foremost, I highly recommend you start with the prequel, The Hidden Blade. Although My Beautiful Enemy can be read as a standalone, understanding the background of Catherine's (Ying Ying's) turbulent childhood and Leighton's indirect connection with her gives the readers a greater insight on their characters. Trust me, I don't think it would have been the same for me if I skipped out on the prequel. Heads up though, the prequel is not a romance.
Moving forward!
The story alternates between past and present. The past was the most endearing part of the book for me. Cathrine and Leighton's meeting and their journey in an exotic backdrop was entirely engrossing and heartwarming. Leighton is absolutely charming. Historical romance heroes seem to be all the same to me (though all enjoyable) but Leighton is a certainly a keeper.
In the present, Catherine is in England on a mission to find jade tablets for her stepfather. She runs into Leighton, a British spy, after their long separation. Old feelings resurface, past misunderstandings mix with passion that the long years apart haven't diminished, and sparks ignite. But that's not all, there's an assassin from Catherine's past that is seeking revenge (you will know more about him if you read The Hidden Blade!), which forces Catherine and Leighton to put aside their hurt and anger to work together.
Full of action, adventure, and an unforgettable romance, My Beautiful Enemy is a delightfully unique historical romance that I would recommend to everyone looking for a fresh take on romance in the Victorian era.
July 13, 2019
Loved the story, romance was"romantic" but lacked the punch I've come to expect... More later. Maybe. I next to think.
Loose threads...3.5 rounding up.
Loose threads...3.5 rounding up.
December 31, 2015
This is Sherry Thomas so right off the bat I want to emphasize that she writes very well. She sets a scene with precision and paints a believable picture of late Victorian London, China and the East generally and a typical Sussex country House. She writes strong dialogue. Martial arts are not my thing, nor for that matter is the history of the East, but that aspect of this story wasn't too much and the descriptions of the battles and fights and the training were quite diverting. There's a lovely moment where the heroine is training in her small flat in London and she jumps onto the table and balances on an upturned tea cup (Thomas explains in the author's notes that she's played around with the realism of everyone's martial arts abilities, in a similar style to traditional writing on the subject). So all that was good and I cannot rate the book lower than 3 stars given these successes.
The problem is: this is a romance novel and, oh boy, do I feel like she phoned this one in. Thomas has a favorite trope of reuniting lovers (many of her books rest on this premise or variations on the theme). She's also a fan of the flashback, not for everyone, I know, but it's worked well for me in the past. 'Not Quite a Husband' is one of my absolute favorite novels. 'Private Arrangements' is great, as is 'Luckiest Lady in London' which somewhat rests on this premise (albeit it doesn't use flashbacks). The romance here felt like a watered down version of those books.
I never, ever believed in the love between the H/h, I mean, come on? What was it based on? I had zero investment or belief in it. I suppose love at first sight does exist but it seems to me it's pretty lazy to write a romance novel revolving around it and if you're going to do that, you need to show that the love endures? Show two people who are, in fact, right (perfect) for one another. Here the H/h are parted after only a few days. The hero leaves her, seemingly without a backward glance for reasons which really didn't hold up to me and when he does the heroine puts in place a plan to kill the hero! So much for that love conquering all! It also means Thomas can just avoid the necessity to write the romance. The reuniting scenes are nearly entirely angst based and angst, whilst often an important aspect of romance, cannot be the entirety of the relationship between your H/h and then, ultimately, be easily set aside (angst is also easier to write in my view than creating scenes with a genuine romantic connection between characters). Even the sex, which Thomas usually writes both well [read: hot] and in a fashion designed to move her characters and the story forwards, is utterly forgettable & mediocre.
I got the overwhelming impression reading this that Thomas is done with historical romance. That's not where she has the fun here, it's not where the interest lies for her and she's lazy (in my opinion etc etc) about the romance aspects. As a longtime fan of Thomas's historicals, this left me disappointed.
The problem is: this is a romance novel and, oh boy, do I feel like she phoned this one in. Thomas has a favorite trope of reuniting lovers (many of her books rest on this premise or variations on the theme). She's also a fan of the flashback, not for everyone, I know, but it's worked well for me in the past. 'Not Quite a Husband' is one of my absolute favorite novels. 'Private Arrangements' is great, as is 'Luckiest Lady in London' which somewhat rests on this premise (albeit it doesn't use flashbacks). The romance here felt like a watered down version of those books.
I never, ever believed in the love between the H/h, I mean, come on? What was it based on? I had zero investment or belief in it. I suppose love at first sight does exist but it seems to me it's pretty lazy to write a romance novel revolving around it and if you're going to do that, you need to show that the love endures? Show two people who are, in fact, right (perfect) for one another. Here the H/h are parted after only a few days. The hero leaves her, seemingly without a backward glance for reasons which really didn't hold up to me and when he does the heroine puts in place a plan to kill the hero! So much for that love conquering all! It also means Thomas can just avoid the necessity to write the romance. The reuniting scenes are nearly entirely angst based and angst, whilst often an important aspect of romance, cannot be the entirety of the relationship between your H/h and then, ultimately, be easily set aside (angst is also easier to write in my view than creating scenes with a genuine romantic connection between characters). Even the sex, which Thomas usually writes both well [read: hot] and in a fashion designed to move her characters and the story forwards, is utterly forgettable & mediocre.
I got the overwhelming impression reading this that Thomas is done with historical romance. That's not where she has the fun here, it's not where the interest lies for her and she's lazy (in my opinion etc etc) about the romance aspects. As a longtime fan of Thomas's historicals, this left me disappointed.
September 19, 2014
The romance! Loved it so 5 stars regardless of the mortal enemy plot and jade tablets mystery (which was okay, not perfect, but whatever).
I don't think it's entirely necessary to read the prequel but I highly recommend it because it really enhances this book. You see the details of Catherine and Lin's history and also Catherine and Leighton's connection. All those things that helped shape them into the people they are in this installment.
At first I wanted this told in a linear fashion. It did throw me off that there were flashbacks just because there already was a prequel. The present time revealed that there's a set history established between Leighton and Catherine. Wait, what? So it's like playing catch up as the story continues and the assumptions, misunderstandings, and unfortunate turn of events get revealed. I did, after some time, like how the timelines alternated because it heightened the reveals and romance. Oh and the backdrop to those flashbacks was so great. Like the prequel, I just loved being outside the British setting.
Okay, the romance. Holy hotness, the sexual tension and intensity between Catherine and Leighton. It was amazing. I really just have to talk about Leighton first because he was everything. Think Westley from The Princess Bride because yeah. Farm Boy do this, Farm Boy do that. But Catherine didn't tell him to do these things, Leighton did them because he loved her so much. Swoon. He loved her as is, loved the thorns and didn't mind that she was more "manly" than he was. The running joke of that and her thievery was fantastic. And then there's Catherine. She was tough as nails and had these walls up but Leighton made her feel safe enough to let down her guard and show her vulnerable side. Even after all the heartache of their past, they still loved each other and kept finding their way to one another. Ah, fate. It was all done so well and it's definitely one of my favorite relationships that Sherry Thomas has written.
I don't think it's entirely necessary to read the prequel but I highly recommend it because it really enhances this book. You see the details of Catherine and Lin's history and also Catherine and Leighton's connection. All those things that helped shape them into the people they are in this installment.
At first I wanted this told in a linear fashion. It did throw me off that there were flashbacks just because there already was a prequel. The present time revealed that there's a set history established between Leighton and Catherine. Wait, what? So it's like playing catch up as the story continues and the assumptions, misunderstandings, and unfortunate turn of events get revealed. I did, after some time, like how the timelines alternated because it heightened the reveals and romance. Oh and the backdrop to those flashbacks was so great. Like the prequel, I just loved being outside the British setting.
Okay, the romance. Holy hotness, the sexual tension and intensity between Catherine and Leighton. It was amazing. I really just have to talk about Leighton first because he was everything. Think Westley from The Princess Bride because yeah. Farm Boy do this, Farm Boy do that. But Catherine didn't tell him to do these things, Leighton did them because he loved her so much. Swoon. He loved her as is, loved the thorns and didn't mind that she was more "manly" than he was. The running joke of that and her thievery was fantastic. And then there's Catherine. She was tough as nails and had these walls up but Leighton made her feel safe enough to let down her guard and show her vulnerable side. Even after all the heartache of their past, they still loved each other and kept finding their way to one another. Ah, fate. It was all done so well and it's definitely one of my favorite relationships that Sherry Thomas has written.
August 25, 2019
This is my first novel by Sherry Thomas that I actually finished. The heroine is a tough cookie who is looking for tablets that will lead her to a treasure. Her and the hero met eight years ago and were lovers but he walked away from her because he found out because he thought she was going to betray him. She tried to poison him and made him have a long lasting painful condition because he took her virginity and left. He was a virgin too and he said he'd never love anyone else so imagine her surprise when they meet up and he's engaged. There's also someone evil after the heroine and he wants to kill her. There are some very tragic parts of the story that made me sad but I never cried. The hero cannot stop loving her but he is engaged. I felt that was claptrap and of course the fiancee turns out to be not a good person. I really don't know if hero was celibate but I think he was except he kissed his fiancee of course. Once in front of the hwroine. She was so strong and I really liked her too. I liked the ending too but the book just didn't wow me. It was good but it just missed great for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2016
oh, that was weird. . . I liked the first book better :P
It's weird cuz the first book was the setup to the romance, and this book had the actual romance, so duh, this book should be the BETTER one, right???
Not sure what the deal was, or why this didn't quite work out for me. The first book just seemed so much. . . I dunno. . . more. More lush, more emotional, more everything. The writing and storytelling are still great in here, but something just feels lacking to me. I can't really explain what it is. (SO unhelpful, I know. Sorry.)
3.5 stars....I guess? Actually, nah, maybe just 3 stars. But no, the writing is really good, so okay, yeah, 3.5 stars.
It's weird cuz the first book was the setup to the romance, and this book had the actual romance, so duh, this book should be the BETTER one, right???
Not sure what the deal was, or why this didn't quite work out for me. The first book just seemed so much. . . I dunno. . . more. More lush, more emotional, more everything. The writing and storytelling are still great in here, but something just feels lacking to me. I can't really explain what it is. (SO unhelpful, I know. Sorry.)
3.5 stars....I guess? Actually, nah, maybe just 3 stars. But no, the writing is really good, so okay, yeah, 3.5 stars.
October 4, 2017
This novel felt like a mix of all of the Sherry Thomas novels I've read to-date, even her YA series, what with the historical aspect and action scenes and a female masquerading as a male to survive in her world. Oh, and the flashbacks. And even though it wasn't my favorite of her books, it was still quite entertaining and quite romantic. This is actually the second in a duology, and I haven't read the first book, though I've heard it's better. It's supposed to be the prequel to this story, but you can definitely read My Beautiful Enemy without having read the other. Which I did since my library/Hoopla only had this one available. *le sigh*
November 12, 2019
Sadly this book wasn’t for me. A bit confusing at times and I didn’t like the romance
August 19, 2014
I had such high hopes for this book, but sadly it did not live up to my expectations. However that may have been because of how high I set the bar after my thorough enjoyment of the excerpt. That had pulled me in right away, and I eagerly anticipated the release of the full-length version.
The full-length version felt rushed. The prequel had pleasant pacing which developed both the main characters, and I expected this and more in the actual novel. My Beautiful Enemy had too many things happening and everything was resolved before it was developed. As a result, some of the things fell flat, particularly how cartoonish the villain(s) was.
This really reminded of Private Arrangements in terms of structure, but not as carefully constructed and developed. If it was, it would have been so incredibly stunning. There was really gorgeous writing, as you do with Sherry Thomas, but I really wish there was more development in order to reach the usual power and beauty of her gut-wrenching/emotion-upheaval scenes. (The masochist within me lives for the manspain. Ah, glorious, glorious manspain.)
I did enjoy it, but I'm disappointed with what could've been.
The full-length version felt rushed. The prequel had pleasant pacing which developed both the main characters, and I expected this and more in the actual novel. My Beautiful Enemy had too many things happening and everything was resolved before it was developed. As a result, some of the things fell flat, particularly how cartoonish the villain(s) was.
This really reminded of Private Arrangements in terms of structure, but not as carefully constructed and developed. If it was, it would have been so incredibly stunning. There was really gorgeous writing, as you do with Sherry Thomas, but I really wish there was more development in order to reach the usual power and beauty of her gut-wrenching/emotion-upheaval scenes. (The masochist within me lives for the manspain. Ah, glorious, glorious manspain.)
I did enjoy it, but I'm disappointed with what could've been.
August 24, 2019
2019 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo: Takes Place in Multiple Countries
Good book noise. Eventually I will have to read a book that is not by Sherry Thomas.
Good book noise. Eventually I will have to read a book that is not by Sherry Thomas.
January 25, 2015
My Beautiful Enemy is the first historical romance I have read by Sherry Thomas and I have to say I will absolutely read more. I have read her YA Fantasy and loved it so I’m not at all surprised that I enjoyed this story. Yes, it is definitely a different genre but Thomas does a wonderful job of developing these characters and I loved that this book didn’t fall into the standard historical romance formula.
Catherine Blade is new to England and on a mission. She is hunting down two jade tablets that someone she knew had in his possession. Unfortunately when he passed away, she had no idea where to find them and her hunt has led her to England. As her ship docks and her travel companions bring her with them ashore, she ends up face to face with the only man she has ever loved…and lost.
I liked Catherine. As a woman growing up in 19th century China, she clearly is not considered your normal young woman. She is a fighter and independent but as the step-daughter of a very influential man, she is kept locked away for a good portion of her life. When she finally does get the opportunity to spread her wings, she crosses paths with someone she refers to as the “Persian” (if you didn't guess, this is Leighton) and eventually they come to rely on each other…and then fall in love. The challenge is that they both have secrets and as they make assumptions and/or find more out about the other, they end up making decisions that impact the rest of their lives.
As I mentioned, Catherine is tough and when she does realize she loves the Persian, she is willing to give up everything she has ever known for him. She is loyal and despite the bravado she has, she is also vulnerable and I was right there with her for all the ups and downs she experienced.
Trust me when I say there is a lot going on in this story. As I mentioned, Catherine is on a mission but she also has an assassin tracking and threatening her. At the same time, when she runs into her “Persian” she is dealing with all of the emotions that come with that reunion. Due to some circumstances around their split, Catherine never thought she would see him again. In addition to all of this, she is faced with the fact that the man she has always loved is now engaged to another woman who, although she is friendly, is definitely not a fan of their covert conversations.
I don’t want to give everything away here so I won’t say much more but I have to say I loved how Thomas wove current time together with the chapters from the past. It really showed how Catherine/Ying Ying and Leighton ended up meeting and eventually ending up in love. It also gave just enough background to show me why they both faced the challenges they did. If there was one thing I wanted to know more about, it was Leighton’s backstory. Thomas told us how he ended up living with his uncle while his younger brother left with his mother, but I wanted to know more about why that was the case…hopefully I didn’t just miss it. Maybe just a minor plot point but still, I was confused as to why this was the case.
Another thing I enjoyed was how Thomas takes the reader to China and India versus just basing this in England. Based on my limited exposure, it seems very rare that historical romance ventures into these locations and it was great to learn more about those locations/cultures.
If you enjoy historical romance, definitely check this one out. Sherry Thomas creates some interesting characters who face some pretty daunting challenges while still keeping the “romance” feel to it. I loved the layers Thomas created within this story and look forward to reading more of her books from this genre.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the review copy.
Catherine Blade is new to England and on a mission. She is hunting down two jade tablets that someone she knew had in his possession. Unfortunately when he passed away, she had no idea where to find them and her hunt has led her to England. As her ship docks and her travel companions bring her with them ashore, she ends up face to face with the only man she has ever loved…and lost.
I liked Catherine. As a woman growing up in 19th century China, she clearly is not considered your normal young woman. She is a fighter and independent but as the step-daughter of a very influential man, she is kept locked away for a good portion of her life. When she finally does get the opportunity to spread her wings, she crosses paths with someone she refers to as the “Persian” (if you didn't guess, this is Leighton) and eventually they come to rely on each other…and then fall in love. The challenge is that they both have secrets and as they make assumptions and/or find more out about the other, they end up making decisions that impact the rest of their lives.
As I mentioned, Catherine is tough and when she does realize she loves the Persian, she is willing to give up everything she has ever known for him. She is loyal and despite the bravado she has, she is also vulnerable and I was right there with her for all the ups and downs she experienced.
Trust me when I say there is a lot going on in this story. As I mentioned, Catherine is on a mission but she also has an assassin tracking and threatening her. At the same time, when she runs into her “Persian” she is dealing with all of the emotions that come with that reunion. Due to some circumstances around their split, Catherine never thought she would see him again. In addition to all of this, she is faced with the fact that the man she has always loved is now engaged to another woman who, although she is friendly, is definitely not a fan of their covert conversations.
I don’t want to give everything away here so I won’t say much more but I have to say I loved how Thomas wove current time together with the chapters from the past. It really showed how Catherine/Ying Ying and Leighton ended up meeting and eventually ending up in love. It also gave just enough background to show me why they both faced the challenges they did. If there was one thing I wanted to know more about, it was Leighton’s backstory. Thomas told us how he ended up living with his uncle while his younger brother left with his mother, but I wanted to know more about why that was the case…hopefully I didn’t just miss it. Maybe just a minor plot point but still, I was confused as to why this was the case.
Another thing I enjoyed was how Thomas takes the reader to China and India versus just basing this in England. Based on my limited exposure, it seems very rare that historical romance ventures into these locations and it was great to learn more about those locations/cultures.
If you enjoy historical romance, definitely check this one out. Sherry Thomas creates some interesting characters who face some pretty daunting challenges while still keeping the “romance” feel to it. I loved the layers Thomas created within this story and look forward to reading more of her books from this genre.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the review copy.
August 11, 2014
This book was very very underwhelming. It seemed like for most of the book, I was just waiting for something to happen already. I also didn't care for how subdued and uninteresting both main characters were Despite their extremely eventful pasts, both of them actually have really bland personalities. Even events that were supposed to be so monumental, which readers of The Hidden Blade would have been waiting for, such as just fell flat. Like I said, underwhelming.
June 19, 2022
After the fabulous opening the story dragged a little so it took me a while to get pulled all the way back in, a good 60 pages or so. But from there on out it was thrilling, albeit tinged with melancholy. The intrigue is good and the fight scenes are gripping: I would dearly love to watch this movie, filmed on location as it would need to be.
Library copy
Library copy
September 23, 2019
I'm so glad I finally picked up the second half of this duology. If you like your romance with a major portion of wuxia action and adventure this might just be for you!
July 21, 2014
Sherry Thomas is the best. Period. End of.
This was such an incredible story that meets so many of my favorite romance elements: strong bad a$$ heroine, tons of conflict (i.e.- they're both holding each other accountable for past wrongs) drama, angst, epic love. If you like ST, you'll love this, no question.
This was such an incredible story that meets so many of my favorite romance elements: strong bad a$$ heroine, tons of conflict (i.e.- they're both holding each other accountable for past wrongs) drama, angst, epic love. If you like ST, you'll love this, no question.
December 22, 2014
This was the oddest thing. It was very comic book-like in its over-the-topness. The heroine was an absolute badass of the highest order. Like, a fighting Ninja. And I'm just not expecting that sort of thing in a book that looks so much like a typical Regency romance from its cover! It was bizarre, but in the end, a very good read.
4 stars.
4 stars.
December 28, 2022
2.5 stars
It was an OK novel - a blend of a love story and a spy thriller, set in the end of the 19th century. Half of the action happened in the exotic location of Chinese Turkestan, another half - in England. The book was engrossing to read, and the tension was high throughout, so I finished it. What I didn't like were two factors.
First - I disliked the heroine, a half-Chinese, half-white woman working as a spy for her powerful Chinese stepfather. Her character didn't attract me at all, and her plight didn't inspire any sympathy. What the hero seemed to admire - her tempestuous, rebellious nature, her wildness, her prickliness, her intolerance, her unwillingness to compromise - I despised. I don't like such women. She was the first-class bitch (pardon my language), and I don't understand what attracts decent men to such females.
The second factor that marred my reading pleasure was the structure of this novel. It involved two timelines: one happening eight years after the other. The author alternated the chapters back and forth between then and now, and I hate such hopping through time. It would've worked much better for me if the book consisted of two parts: the first part eight years ago, and the second part now. I like linear time frame and feel more comfortable reading it.
Besides, the way it works, the chapters describing the events of eight years ago seemed like flashbacks. They abort the forward momentum in the here and now and slow down the pace. After all, it's already happened. There is no reason for a reader to worry. The immediacy just isn't there. So the narrative seemed choppy, its speed jarring: either full ahead or stop and remember. I prefer a more evenly flowing story.
It was an OK novel - a blend of a love story and a spy thriller, set in the end of the 19th century. Half of the action happened in the exotic location of Chinese Turkestan, another half - in England. The book was engrossing to read, and the tension was high throughout, so I finished it. What I didn't like were two factors.
First - I disliked the heroine, a half-Chinese, half-white woman working as a spy for her powerful Chinese stepfather. Her character didn't attract me at all, and her plight didn't inspire any sympathy. What the hero seemed to admire - her tempestuous, rebellious nature, her wildness, her prickliness, her intolerance, her unwillingness to compromise - I despised. I don't like such women. She was the first-class bitch (pardon my language), and I don't understand what attracts decent men to such females.
The second factor that marred my reading pleasure was the structure of this novel. It involved two timelines: one happening eight years after the other. The author alternated the chapters back and forth between then and now, and I hate such hopping through time. It would've worked much better for me if the book consisted of two parts: the first part eight years ago, and the second part now. I like linear time frame and feel more comfortable reading it.
Besides, the way it works, the chapters describing the events of eight years ago seemed like flashbacks. They abort the forward momentum in the here and now and slow down the pace. After all, it's already happened. There is no reason for a reader to worry. The immediacy just isn't there. So the narrative seemed choppy, its speed jarring: either full ahead or stop and remember. I prefer a more evenly flowing story.
March 24, 2024
Angst-filled, wuxia inspired, Victorian Era romance. Largely closed door, but achingly romantic.
It's *not* for everyone, and it will likely make you cry. But so beautiful.
Full review:
Genre: historical romance, wuxia
Victorian era, 1891 England and 1883 Chinese Turkestan
True to Sherry Thomas’s form, My Beautiful Enemy is sweeping and filled with emotion. The way she controls the pacing of Catherine and Atwood’s story through flashbacks between 1891 and 1883, building the tension and driving the plot through character development. Unlike many historical romances, My Beautiful Enemy shifts between four different locations: Peking, Turkestan and the Altai mountains, India, and London, chasing a jade triptych artifact and escaping dangerous villains.
My Beautiful Enemy has a strong sense of adventure, and utilizes wuxia tropes, giving us an extra dimension. Catherine is an outstanding heroine for the modern reader - strong and capable, compassionate and complex, and with dedication to her tasks. I agree with @plottrysts that this makes it a good entry for readers less familiar with historical romance tropes as a good in-road to the genre.
It also has strong parallels to one of my other favorite second chance historical romances of the year, The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran, filled with passion and emotional angst, working on split timelines, and providing keen reflection on colonialism and empire. Duke of Shadows takes on colonialism a little more overtly, while My Beautiful Enemy has more subtle reflection, particularly when it comes to historical artifacts in museums. (I actually read MBE a couple days after watching Last Week Tonight’s episode on the British Museum, so that factored even more strongly into my read.)
There is a CW for death of a child, which we discussed in our #KissAndLetMeTeleChat conversation on this one: it is neither graphic nor surprising, however, may be sensitive for some readers.
This is the second book of a duology, but it’s recommended you read this first, and then later get Catherine and Leighton’s backstory as a prequel, rather than starting with The Hidden Blade.
I’m very excited to see Leighton Atwood appear in the next #LordIngramAppreciationSociety Lady Sherlock installment, The Art of Theft.
It's *not* for everyone, and it will likely make you cry. But so beautiful.
Full review:
Genre: historical romance, wuxia
Victorian era, 1891 England and 1883 Chinese Turkestan
True to Sherry Thomas’s form, My Beautiful Enemy is sweeping and filled with emotion. The way she controls the pacing of Catherine and Atwood’s story through flashbacks between 1891 and 1883, building the tension and driving the plot through character development. Unlike many historical romances, My Beautiful Enemy shifts between four different locations: Peking, Turkestan and the Altai mountains, India, and London, chasing a jade triptych artifact and escaping dangerous villains.
My Beautiful Enemy has a strong sense of adventure, and utilizes wuxia tropes, giving us an extra dimension. Catherine is an outstanding heroine for the modern reader - strong and capable, compassionate and complex, and with dedication to her tasks. I agree with @plottrysts that this makes it a good entry for readers less familiar with historical romance tropes as a good in-road to the genre.
It also has strong parallels to one of my other favorite second chance historical romances of the year, The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran, filled with passion and emotional angst, working on split timelines, and providing keen reflection on colonialism and empire. Duke of Shadows takes on colonialism a little more overtly, while My Beautiful Enemy has more subtle reflection, particularly when it comes to historical artifacts in museums. (I actually read MBE a couple days after watching Last Week Tonight’s episode on the British Museum, so that factored even more strongly into my read.)
There is a CW for death of a child, which we discussed in our #KissAndLetMeTeleChat conversation on this one: it is neither graphic nor surprising, however, may be sensitive for some readers.
This is the second book of a duology, but it’s recommended you read this first, and then later get Catherine and Leighton’s backstory as a prequel, rather than starting with The Hidden Blade.
I’m very excited to see Leighton Atwood appear in the next #LordIngramAppreciationSociety Lady Sherlock installment, The Art of Theft.
June 2, 2019
"I don't tolerate your thorns, I like them." If only every tortured heroine had a tortured hero who loved her the way Leighton does Ying-ying. My heart breaks and mends with every chapter of this book. I wish she would write an epilogue to this story just sobI can read more about them. (Reread 6/2019).
This is one of those books that you want to give 5stars for its brilliance...but you give it 4stars because it did not live upto your expectations. It is a sweet and tender but also violent and agony filled love story of two very charming and relatable characters.
What I wanted from this book after reading the prequel was pages filled with scenes between Catherine and Leighton...you would think after writing an entire book to set up their story....the love story should be the focus of this book but it was not. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Like I said if I didn't have such high expectations of this book I would have given it 5 stars. It was brilliantly written, accurately descriptive of the time period and cultures of the countries in its background. The small character nuances of both main pairs made them come alive...and the pages filled with their love story was absolute joy to read. I definitely recommend it....even though it is not 100% romance.
This is one of those books that you want to give 5stars for its brilliance...but you give it 4stars because it did not live upto your expectations. It is a sweet and tender but also violent and agony filled love story of two very charming and relatable characters.
What I wanted from this book after reading the prequel was pages filled with scenes between Catherine and Leighton...you would think after writing an entire book to set up their story....the love story should be the focus of this book but it was not. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Like I said if I didn't have such high expectations of this book I would have given it 5 stars. It was brilliantly written, accurately descriptive of the time period and cultures of the countries in its background. The small character nuances of both main pairs made them come alive...and the pages filled with their love story was absolute joy to read. I definitely recommend it....even though it is not 100% romance.
May 29, 2017
The Big Mis(understanding) strikes with a vengeance.
Heroine and Hero: We have spent 24 hours in carnal bliss together in a lovely cave in the mountains, and have vowed to love each other forever despite neglecting to actually exchange names!
Heroine: What's this? There's a mysterious map in a hidden pocket of his saddlebag? Oh no, he is a spy, and we can never be together!
Hero: What's this? Some soldiers are looking for someone who rides my beloved's singular horse and whom the ruler of the territory wants to see on "urgent business"? Oh no, she is a spy, and we can never be together!
Heroine and Hero: *look at each other*
Hero: ...so I've changed my mind about loving you forever and I'm heading off into the sunset now.
Heroine: You should take this salve with you, which is definitely not a poison of any kind, and apply it religiously to that leg wound.
Hero: Right, I'll do that.
And their eight-years-later reunion, full of fraught glances and carefully-tamped down feelings, would never need to have happened if EITHER OF YOU HAD JUST TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
Heroine and Hero: We have spent 24 hours in carnal bliss together in a lovely cave in the mountains, and have vowed to love each other forever despite neglecting to actually exchange names!
Heroine: What's this? There's a mysterious map in a hidden pocket of his saddlebag? Oh no, he is a spy, and we can never be together!
Hero: What's this? Some soldiers are looking for someone who rides my beloved's singular horse and whom the ruler of the territory wants to see on "urgent business"? Oh no, she is a spy, and we can never be together!
Heroine and Hero: *look at each other*
Hero: ...so I've changed my mind about loving you forever and I'm heading off into the sunset now.
Heroine: You should take this salve with you, which is definitely not a poison of any kind, and apply it religiously to that leg wound.
Hero: Right, I'll do that.
And their eight-years-later reunion, full of fraught glances and carefully-tamped down feelings, would never need to have happened if EITHER OF YOU HAD JUST TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
4.5 stars, rounding down
This book hurt in the way only an angsty historical romance by Sherry Thomas can hurt. After reading the prequel, where we see Leighton and Ying-ying grow up and go through so much, I was desperate for them to have a HEA because they both deserve to be happy. This book is still full of heartache (and, I admit, a few times, I was like "how do you fall in love with someone and not know their name?"), but it was beautifully written. And like the previous book, I loved the wuxia inspiration! I could see this duology being made into a movie someday.
I enjoy how Thomas weaves two separate timelines together (I think flashbacks are a hallmark of her second chance romances). Maybe they needed that separation to grow and come back the people they were when they meet again in London. I was pulling my hair out waiting for them to figure out their connection through Herb, though!
CW: a good portion of this book deals with the loss of a child (infant) and grief/revenge as a result of this
This book hurt in the way only an angsty historical romance by Sherry Thomas can hurt. After reading the prequel, where we see Leighton and Ying-ying grow up and go through so much, I was desperate for them to have a HEA because they both deserve to be happy. This book is still full of heartache (and, I admit, a few times, I was like "how do you fall in love with someone and not know their name?"), but it was beautifully written. And like the previous book, I loved the wuxia inspiration! I could see this duology being made into a movie someday.
I enjoy how Thomas weaves two separate timelines together (I think flashbacks are a hallmark of her second chance romances). Maybe they needed that separation to grow and come back the people they were when they meet again in London. I was pulling my hair out waiting for them to figure out their connection through Herb, though!
CW: a good portion of this book deals with the loss of a child (infant) and grief/revenge as a result of this
October 16, 2018
Ugh. This book is amazing. I loved Ying ying/Catherine and Leighton. Their dynamic was so unique. The action is amazing. The love story is perfect. I couldn’t stop listening. A+++. Best book I’ve read in a while.
August 13, 2022
Such a bizarre cover for such an action-packed book.
Ying-ying is a Chinese-English woman, born and raised in 19th century China and now coming to England for the first time. Within the first chapter she battles an intruder on a boat, in a lightning storm, and defeats him through a combination of magical martial arts prowess and throwing a door at him. It's a great start to the book and the pace keeps up as Ying-ying is stalked through London by a mysterious man known as The Centipede. Oh, and she also runs into the love of her life, the man she thought was dead but who is very much alive and very much still in love with her.
The romance between Ying-ying and Leighton began 8 years prior in China and it's beautifully built in a series of flashbacks that add even more angst and yearning to the present day. While their relationship is fully front-and-centre, it never interrupts the action and the whole book had a kind of Mulanesq vibe that I didn't know I was craving.
Ying-ying is a Chinese-English woman, born and raised in 19th century China and now coming to England for the first time. Within the first chapter she battles an intruder on a boat, in a lightning storm, and defeats him through a combination of magical martial arts prowess and throwing a door at him. It's a great start to the book and the pace keeps up as Ying-ying is stalked through London by a mysterious man known as The Centipede. Oh, and she also runs into the love of her life, the man she thought was dead but who is very much alive and very much still in love with her.
The romance between Ying-ying and Leighton began 8 years prior in China and it's beautifully built in a series of flashbacks that add even more angst and yearning to the present day. While their relationship is fully front-and-centre, it never interrupts the action and the whole book had a kind of Mulanesq vibe that I didn't know I was craving.
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