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Regency Secrets #1
The Persephone Code
1812
Deep below the hills of the Buckinghamshire countryside, the infamous Hellfire Caves house a pleasure palace for the idle rich – a secret society steeped in satanism, opium and debauchery of the highest order.
When the club’s warden, Antony Pennington, is brutally murdered, his bastard sister, Dora, must follow the clues to decode who the killer is, aided by an unexpected ally – ex-Army officer, former opium addict and son of a Viscount, Dr Jacob Sandys.
As a shadow dogs their every footstep, Dora and Jacob find themselves in the midst of a shocking conspiracy, caught between the legendary Illuminati and the Hell Fire Club. With time running out, they must fight against both the most influential gentleman of the ton – and the undeniable attraction they feel towards each other…
Deep below the hills of the Buckinghamshire countryside, the infamous Hellfire Caves house a pleasure palace for the idle rich – a secret society steeped in satanism, opium and debauchery of the highest order.
When the club’s warden, Antony Pennington, is brutally murdered, his bastard sister, Dora, must follow the clues to decode who the killer is, aided by an unexpected ally – ex-Army officer, former opium addict and son of a Viscount, Dr Jacob Sandys.
As a shadow dogs their every footstep, Dora and Jacob find themselves in the midst of a shocking conspiracy, caught between the legendary Illuminati and the Hell Fire Club. With time running out, they must fight against both the most influential gentleman of the ton – and the undeniable attraction they feel towards each other…
12 pages, Audiobook
Published January 1, 2024
411 people are currently reading
859 people want to read
About the author
Julia Golding
84 books869 followersMy journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
August 19, 2024
It feels strange to say a book that starts with a brutal murder and deals with the Hellfire Club and Illuminati was delightful, but there it is. This was delightful. Our flawed main characters are thrown together on a bit of a quest and then must thwart two dangerous secret societies and bring murderers to justice. Along the way, we get a romance (and a few steamy scenes) and the promise of further developments in a sequel.
Dora is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, born in the West Indies. Though her family pretends she's dead, she has stayed in touch with her brother while she's been acting with a traveling company. When her brother is found dead in the caves used by the Hellfire Club, the local pastor asks a friend, Dr. Jacob Sandys, to intercept Dora's theater group and notify her of the death. Jacob arrives at Dora's current theater as masked assailants are attacking Dora. They work together to escape and go on the run.
Dora and Jacob wind up fighting two sets of villains as they follow clues to solve Dora's brother's murder. There's a twist that's somewhat evident about halfway through the story, but I still enjoyed the journey towards the inevitable conclusion.
One interesting aspect of this story was the romantic subplot. The relationship between Dora and Jacob isn't slow burn, as is almost ubiquitous in historical mystery. They are attracted to each other and act on that attraction. There's a notable fade-to-black scene that serves this part of the story.
The pace is fast and the main characters are compelling. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Dora and Jacob.
Dora is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, born in the West Indies. Though her family pretends she's dead, she has stayed in touch with her brother while she's been acting with a traveling company. When her brother is found dead in the caves used by the Hellfire Club, the local pastor asks a friend, Dr. Jacob Sandys, to intercept Dora's theater group and notify her of the death. Jacob arrives at Dora's current theater as masked assailants are attacking Dora. They work together to escape and go on the run.
Dora and Jacob wind up fighting two sets of villains as they follow clues to solve Dora's brother's murder. There's a twist that's somewhat evident about halfway through the story, but I still enjoyed the journey towards the inevitable conclusion.
One interesting aspect of this story was the romantic subplot. The relationship between Dora and Jacob isn't slow burn, as is almost ubiquitous in historical mystery. They are attracted to each other and act on that attraction. There's a notable fade-to-black scene that serves this part of the story.
The pace is fast and the main characters are compelling. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Dora and Jacob.
November 10, 2025
On my blog.
Actual rating 1.5
CWs: attempted rape, violence, drug use
Galley provided by publisher
Do you ever read a book by an author you loved as a kid and find yourself thinking, wow I shouldn’t have done that. If only I had kept the rose-tinted view I had of Julia Golding’s books in my mind! If only! (That being said, maybe her writing does work better for the kidlit I read by her. There’s still hope!)
That’s what happened with The Persephone Code. I mean, Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code should have spelled it out for me, but I thought at least this could be fun! Sadly, dragging myself through it killed any semblance of fun it might have had. The plot was ridiculous, sure, but I can deal with ridiculous plots. I can (sometimes) suspend my disbelief.
It wasn’t so much the plot here where it fell down (although I did note that, at times, the plot was as subtle as a faceful of bricks and occasionally very stupid, so there is that too), but the lack of development in the characters and their relationship. I get it, you’re trying to write a romance alongside an adventure thriller thing, but it was just… abysmal. There are no other words for it. The characters were underdeveloped to the extreme and their relationship was so completely underbaked as to be raw. And not in the good sense!
Having said this, though, there are times when that character underdevelopment tied into the plot: namely, points where I was clearly intended to care about certain events, but I couldn’t, because the characters weren’t compelling (and also spelled some things out so clearly in their POV that I had to roll my eyes at the other character’s POV for not seeing it).
The thing is, I think both here and in the plot, everything was too rushed. The characters had decided they were on the way to being in love within a couple of days, the plot was never given time to breathe (there’s a difference, I think, between a fast-paced plot (which doesn’t feel rushed) and a plot that is rushed), and the ending was resolved in the blink of an eye with no apparent impact on anyone. Even the clear attempt in the final pages to hint at more to come was flimsy.
All in all, not the most enjoyable read, it has to be said!
Actual rating 1.5
CWs: attempted rape, violence, drug use
Galley provided by publisher
Do you ever read a book by an author you loved as a kid and find yourself thinking, wow I shouldn’t have done that. If only I had kept the rose-tinted view I had of Julia Golding’s books in my mind! If only! (That being said, maybe her writing does work better for the kidlit I read by her. There’s still hope!)
That’s what happened with The Persephone Code. I mean, Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code should have spelled it out for me, but I thought at least this could be fun! Sadly, dragging myself through it killed any semblance of fun it might have had. The plot was ridiculous, sure, but I can deal with ridiculous plots. I can (sometimes) suspend my disbelief.
It wasn’t so much the plot here where it fell down (although I did note that, at times, the plot was as subtle as a faceful of bricks and occasionally very stupid, so there is that too), but the lack of development in the characters and their relationship. I get it, you’re trying to write a romance alongside an adventure thriller thing, but it was just… abysmal. There are no other words for it. The characters were underdeveloped to the extreme and their relationship was so completely underbaked as to be raw. And not in the good sense!
Having said this, though, there are times when that character underdevelopment tied into the plot: namely, points where I was clearly intended to care about certain events, but I couldn’t, because the characters weren’t compelling (and also spelled some things out so clearly in their POV that I had to roll my eyes at the other character’s POV for not seeing it).
The thing is, I think both here and in the plot, everything was too rushed. The characters had decided they were on the way to being in love within a couple of days, the plot was never given time to breathe (there’s a difference, I think, between a fast-paced plot (which doesn’t feel rushed) and a plot that is rushed), and the ending was resolved in the blink of an eye with no apparent impact on anyone. Even the clear attempt in the final pages to hint at more to come was flimsy.
All in all, not the most enjoyable read, it has to be said!
June 12, 2024
Hell Fire Club! Beware!
Heady story introduces us to Dora Fitz-Pennington, the illegitimate daughter of a rich despicable merchant. Dora fled his home and took to the stage.
She keeps in touch with her half brother Anthony, who’s escaped his father’s overbearing ways.
When Anthony is murdered Dora is notified by the enigmatic Dr. Jacob Sandys, an ex-officer and son of a powerful family.
Dora is very far from what Jacob expects. She joins him, or rather he joins her in the search for Anthony’s killer. That quest involves members of the notorious Hell Fire Club and the Illuminati! Soon Dora and Jacob have trouble deciding who’s an enemy and who’s a friend.
(BTW The Bridgerton reference seems to be no more than a nod to the Regency era and possibly Dora being born in the West Indies to her father’s mistress. The only resemblance to the Da Vinci Code is the antiquated clues and the Illuminati. I happened to dislike the Da Vinci Code, so I’d rather not draw that comparison.)
Back to the Persephone Code however. I found the tale bold and intriguing, it really piqued my curiosity. A rather splendid read with two wicked leads! (Wicked as in Deadly, as in great!)
A One More Chapter ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Heady story introduces us to Dora Fitz-Pennington, the illegitimate daughter of a rich despicable merchant. Dora fled his home and took to the stage.
She keeps in touch with her half brother Anthony, who’s escaped his father’s overbearing ways.
When Anthony is murdered Dora is notified by the enigmatic Dr. Jacob Sandys, an ex-officer and son of a powerful family.
Dora is very far from what Jacob expects. She joins him, or rather he joins her in the search for Anthony’s killer. That quest involves members of the notorious Hell Fire Club and the Illuminati! Soon Dora and Jacob have trouble deciding who’s an enemy and who’s a friend.
(BTW The Bridgerton reference seems to be no more than a nod to the Regency era and possibly Dora being born in the West Indies to her father’s mistress. The only resemblance to the Da Vinci Code is the antiquated clues and the Illuminati. I happened to dislike the Da Vinci Code, so I’d rather not draw that comparison.)
Back to the Persephone Code however. I found the tale bold and intriguing, it really piqued my curiosity. A rather splendid read with two wicked leads! (Wicked as in Deadly, as in great!)
A One More Chapter ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
April 5, 2024
I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to remembering author's names. Of course, the truly famous ones that are everywhere stick eventually, but the rest don't. When I requested this book from Netgalley I had therefore not realized that I already read books by this author. Firstly, the Jane Austen investigates series, which I really enjoyed. Secondly the books the author wrote as Joss Stirling, books I absolutely loved. Luckily One More Chapter granted me a review copy.
I have to admit that I had expected a little more from this book. But, let's start with all the positive things. Despite its themes, this book was an easy read. That's mostly because of the writing style. The sentences aren't too complicated, the words chosen aren't too sophisticated and the dialogues were easy to follow. I therefore flew through the book. The chapters being on the shorter side, especially for adult novels, helped too.
I also liked the setting, the plot and the historical nods throughout the story. I'm no way a historian, I'm sure those have strong opinions on this book, but I at least noticed nothing that felt completely off. And yet, the story never really grabbed me. I was reading the words, I was flying through the book, I was taking in the plot, but I never got excited, I never had issues putting the book down, I never needed to read on.
That's firstly because a book being compared to the Da Vinci Code should be more thrilling, more dangerous and more action packed. I missed the adrenaline rush and the true fear and horror. It's secondly because a book being compared to Bridgerton should be more romantic, sexier and there should be a lot more tension between the romantic leads. It feels like all the ingredients are there, but its full potential doesn't shine yet.
I have to admit that I had expected a little more from this book. But, let's start with all the positive things. Despite its themes, this book was an easy read. That's mostly because of the writing style. The sentences aren't too complicated, the words chosen aren't too sophisticated and the dialogues were easy to follow. I therefore flew through the book. The chapters being on the shorter side, especially for adult novels, helped too.
I also liked the setting, the plot and the historical nods throughout the story. I'm no way a historian, I'm sure those have strong opinions on this book, but I at least noticed nothing that felt completely off. And yet, the story never really grabbed me. I was reading the words, I was flying through the book, I was taking in the plot, but I never got excited, I never had issues putting the book down, I never needed to read on.
That's firstly because a book being compared to the Da Vinci Code should be more thrilling, more dangerous and more action packed. I missed the adrenaline rush and the true fear and horror. It's secondly because a book being compared to Bridgerton should be more romantic, sexier and there should be a lot more tension between the romantic leads. It feels like all the ingredients are there, but its full potential doesn't shine yet.
December 3, 2025
Nothing at all like Bridgerton meets the da Vinci Code. So much better than that. It’s a mystery first and foremost with a little Regency-set romance. I love Dora and Jacob and can’t wait to read more.
March 4, 2024
This was an entertaining Regency murder mystery, with powerful players with powerful secrets. Calling it Bridgerton meets The DaVinci code is honestly a disservice to the novel, as I think it sets the wrong expectations. There’s a secret club full of debauchery and blackmail, there’s Illuminati, and there’s people in power doing terrible things. I did really like both Dora and Jacob. They had great rapport and I liked how their relationship developed. The roadblocks they faced didn’t last too long to be irritating. Plus they both have shortcomings that made them feel more real. They’re both connected to the Ton while not being truly part of it.
The mystery was the biggest part of the book, and I was not expecting the Jamaica Inn style twist!
While this book ends well with no cliffhanger, it’s definitely left open for more books to follow. So I think we’ll be able to see more of Jacob and Dora in the future!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.
The mystery was the biggest part of the book, and I was not expecting the Jamaica Inn style twist!
While this book ends well with no cliffhanger, it’s definitely left open for more books to follow. So I think we’ll be able to see more of Jacob and Dora in the future!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.
March 26, 2024
3.5 stars
I was excited to get this ARC because "Bridgerton meets Da Vinci Code" but I do not really agree with that. It is the same time period as Bridgerton but that is it. As far as Da Vinci Code, there is a mystery and Dora's brother leaves clues for her to find and figure out. Dora's brother is killed at the beginning and men are sent to see what she knows. She has been estranged from her brother and father so she definitely does not know much. Jacob is sent to find Dora and tell her about her brother but then he gets wrapped up into the chaos with her. They decide they need to find out what is going on. There is a Hellfire Club and the Illuminati involvement. The book had me at the beginning and end but the middle was really slow for me.
-"Something's been bothering me about him."
"Something more than his penchant for trying to kill us?"
-"Agreeing to do something isn't the same as wanting it."
-Then again, sitting on a high horse only made you a target for unseating.
I was excited to get this ARC because "Bridgerton meets Da Vinci Code" but I do not really agree with that. It is the same time period as Bridgerton but that is it. As far as Da Vinci Code, there is a mystery and Dora's brother leaves clues for her to find and figure out. Dora's brother is killed at the beginning and men are sent to see what she knows. She has been estranged from her brother and father so she definitely does not know much. Jacob is sent to find Dora and tell her about her brother but then he gets wrapped up into the chaos with her. They decide they need to find out what is going on. There is a Hellfire Club and the Illuminati involvement. The book had me at the beginning and end but the middle was really slow for me.
-"Something's been bothering me about him."
"Something more than his penchant for trying to kill us?"
-"Agreeing to do something isn't the same as wanting it."
-Then again, sitting on a high horse only made you a target for unseating.
April 6, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
A man is murdered. His name Antony Pennington, the warden of a secret society, and he leaves behind a letter addressed to illegitimate sister, Dora. Dora is informed of her brother's passing by a military doctor, Dr Jacob Sandys, and they both embark on a quest to find his killer and get to the bottom of what is going on within these secret societies. They quickly realize the conspiracy goes deeper then they could have imagined.
This book was a fun time, the characters were very enjoyable. They had good chemistry and it was fun to go along with them as they solved the mystery. I guess most of the twist and turns from a mile away but that did not take away from my enjoyment. They setting was also fun, and I love a good historical romp type situation.
A man is murdered. His name Antony Pennington, the warden of a secret society, and he leaves behind a letter addressed to illegitimate sister, Dora. Dora is informed of her brother's passing by a military doctor, Dr Jacob Sandys, and they both embark on a quest to find his killer and get to the bottom of what is going on within these secret societies. They quickly realize the conspiracy goes deeper then they could have imagined.
This book was a fun time, the characters were very enjoyable. They had good chemistry and it was fun to go along with them as they solved the mystery. I guess most of the twist and turns from a mile away but that did not take away from my enjoyment. They setting was also fun, and I love a good historical romp type situation.
December 31, 2024
This was a very intriguing regency era
murder mystery. I enjoyed it immensely. While it did take me some time to get into it once I did, I couldn't put it down.
The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the inclusion of the secret societies. It was all very entertaining! I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
murder mystery. I enjoyed it immensely. While it did take me some time to get into it once I did, I couldn't put it down.
The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the inclusion of the secret societies. It was all very entertaining! I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 7, 2026
**Rating: 3.5/5**
An enjoyable enough romp with a fast paced plot and intriguing twists and turns, but the dialogue and romance fell a bit flat for me.
An enjoyable enough romp with a fast paced plot and intriguing twists and turns, but the dialogue and romance fell a bit flat for me.
May 5, 2025
Some of the plot was truely horrific but some great writing and story otherwise
February 24, 2024
i was super intrigued by the description of the book specifically “bridgerton meets the da vinci code” but unfortunately i didn’t find that the book delivered what was promised
it took me a while to get into and felt the characters were somewhat underdeveloped that i never formed super great attachments to anyone or cared about the romance
there are a lot of elements and twists and moving parts at play to keep people interested so this book may work better for someone else, it just didn’t click for me
thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
it took me a while to get into and felt the characters were somewhat underdeveloped that i never formed super great attachments to anyone or cared about the romance
there are a lot of elements and twists and moving parts at play to keep people interested so this book may work better for someone else, it just didn’t click for me
thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
August 2, 2024
I was hoping for a fun and entertaining read, considering this was pitched as bridgerton meets da Vinci code. It doesn’t meet bridgerton AT ALL, besides being regency era. As for the da Vinci code part … it had Illuminati and that’s about it. It lacked the puzzle and exciting-ness that the da Vinci code has.
The characters were very flat and cookie cutter. I didn’t care for either of them, nor did I like them. I just wanted to be over with it.
I couldn’t stay focused on this book whatsoever. I tried really hard, as I adore both bridgerton and the da Vinci code.
The characters were very flat and cookie cutter. I didn’t care for either of them, nor did I like them. I just wanted to be over with it.
I couldn’t stay focused on this book whatsoever. I tried really hard, as I adore both bridgerton and the da Vinci code.
March 4, 2024
An exquisite Regency murder mystery with Bridgerton and Da Vinci Code vibes. Loved MCs Dora and Dr. Jacob Sandys, who team up to solve the killing of Dora's brother. Add in an infamous Hell Fire Club, the ever secret Illuminati, and one of the most gorgeous covers ever, and you've got a brilliant read!
April 23, 2024
3.5🌟
This story starts off with such a fast paced scene that I was immediately hooked. This Regency Era murder mystery was a mix of insane plot twists and revelations.
This is only my third regency era book and I’m still really unsure about the genre. I find these books set in historical settings to be both really interesting but can also stump me a bit as I’m not used to the writing style. This one had me both hooked but also had me struggling a bit.
I found that there was too much talk of politics and for a book likened to Bridgeton, I found myself a bit befuddled. I knew going into this story that it would involve mystery but I expected a lot more romance alongside that mystery and found myself confused when the moment they finally come together it was a fade to black. That definitely impacted my rating as I was expecting something a lot different.
However, I did really enjoy the characters. I found Dora to be really strong-willed and fierce. I found that her and Jacob worked really well as he levelled Dora out with his calm and coherent thoughts. I just wish that we got a bit more romantic moments between Dora and Jacob as I felt like there was very little lead up to the relationship.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and if you enjoy Regency style books and a little bit of mystery imbedded into them, then this is definitely a book for you.
Thank you @netgalley @harpercollinsuk and Julia Golding for letting me read this ARC. The Persephone Code comes out 17th May.
This story starts off with such a fast paced scene that I was immediately hooked. This Regency Era murder mystery was a mix of insane plot twists and revelations.
This is only my third regency era book and I’m still really unsure about the genre. I find these books set in historical settings to be both really interesting but can also stump me a bit as I’m not used to the writing style. This one had me both hooked but also had me struggling a bit.
I found that there was too much talk of politics and for a book likened to Bridgeton, I found myself a bit befuddled. I knew going into this story that it would involve mystery but I expected a lot more romance alongside that mystery and found myself confused when the moment they finally come together it was a fade to black. That definitely impacted my rating as I was expecting something a lot different.
However, I did really enjoy the characters. I found Dora to be really strong-willed and fierce. I found that her and Jacob worked really well as he levelled Dora out with his calm and coherent thoughts. I just wish that we got a bit more romantic moments between Dora and Jacob as I felt like there was very little lead up to the relationship.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and if you enjoy Regency style books and a little bit of mystery imbedded into them, then this is definitely a book for you.
Thank you @netgalley @harpercollinsuk and Julia Golding for letting me read this ARC. The Persephone Code comes out 17th May.
July 10, 2024
thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
⭐️=3? generous | 😘=5 | 🤬=3.5 | ⚔️=5 | 🍺/🚬=4 | 18+
summary: a bastard actress’s brother is mysteriously killed and she and this doctor guy have to solve the mystery and there’s underground evil clubs and murder and really dark stuff and also a romance??
thoughts: hmm. okay.
things I liked:
- this used the Regency era for more than just empire waist dresses and sexual tension; there’s genuinely interesting aspects of politics and culture and war and stuff that are often ignored in Regency era historical fiction. cool!
- there was no wildly anachronistic dialogue, which has been a problem in recent reads for me lol
stuff I didn’t like:
- the romance was pretty cringe for the most part? and while I’m glad these characters have like one singular happy thing in their lives, it sometimes felt inappropriate when contrasted by the genuinely horrific happenings elsewhere in the story
- pacing wasn't always consistent
content note(s): sexual assault, attempted rape, drug use and discussions of drug abuse and addiction
⭐️=3? generous | 😘=5 | 🤬=3.5 | ⚔️=5 | 🍺/🚬=4 | 18+
summary: a bastard actress’s brother is mysteriously killed and she and this doctor guy have to solve the mystery and there’s underground evil clubs and murder and really dark stuff and also a romance??
thoughts: hmm. okay.
things I liked:
- this used the Regency era for more than just empire waist dresses and sexual tension; there’s genuinely interesting aspects of politics and culture and war and stuff that are often ignored in Regency era historical fiction. cool!
- there was no wildly anachronistic dialogue, which has been a problem in recent reads for me lol
stuff I didn’t like:
- the romance was pretty cringe for the most part? and while I’m glad these characters have like one singular happy thing in their lives, it sometimes felt inappropriate when contrasted by the genuinely horrific happenings elsewhere in the story
- pacing wasn't always consistent
content note(s): sexual assault, attempted rape, drug use and discussions of drug abuse and addiction
May 30, 2025
Clever. But there’s no heart to it and no point that I can see. It’s trying too hard to be suspenseful so it misses the mark. The resolution resolved nothing. The romance goes nowhere. I like Dora and the Dr., though there is no character arc, but they were behind the eight ball too often. The murders just seemed thrown in there to give the murderer something to do. No one is innocent here. The twists and turns just bored me after awhile, it gets so ridiculous. The Hellfire Club and the Illuminati as enemies? Check. A wealthy peer has his enemies thrown into Bedlam? Check. An illegitimate daughter embarrasses her wealthy father? Check. A doctor is addicted to opium? Check. How many cliches can we throw into one story and still get published? I know, let’s do a gay romance. No publisher turns down a gay character in a Regency romance these days. I’d better quit. I’m talking myself into giving it two stars. I don’t know if I will continue the series. I love the book covers but I can’t get audiobooks for the next two on the library app and I don’t think I have the patience to read them.
April 4, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
its a long drawn out affair with hints of Bridgeton and the da vinci code but i would also add a touch of sherlock holmes into that mix.....
if you can get through it all that reading its not a bad.... i was initially drawn into the book by the way the author wrote it but as it went on and on and not much happened it started to lose my interest... but then again i like lots of action this was a romp seen through the eyes of yester years where women were things to be kept and abused with no respect for them and men were men who had all the control....
its a long drawn out affair with hints of Bridgeton and the da vinci code but i would also add a touch of sherlock holmes into that mix.....
if you can get through it all that reading its not a bad.... i was initially drawn into the book by the way the author wrote it but as it went on and on and not much happened it started to lose my interest... but then again i like lots of action this was a romp seen through the eyes of yester years where women were things to be kept and abused with no respect for them and men were men who had all the control....
January 15, 2026
I read the fourth book in this series first and really enjoyed it, but I found The Persephone Code quite a disappointment. If I'd read it first, I wouldn't have continued on. Dora and Jacob are barely sketched, there are gruesome murders and a club of wealthy men who want to mold the world to their own desires (which we have enough of in the real world right now). Nothing about the Hellfire Club or the Illuminati seemed fresh or original, and the author really leaned in to the depravity and violence. Dora and Jacob both act like they are too stupid to live, and their continued perils almost turned into satire.
I'm not sure whether I will read books two and three.
I'm not sure whether I will read books two and three.
April 23, 2025
ive used so long on this and finally done. it did not peak my interest whatsoever, i couldnt connect with the characters, i didn’t really find any chemistry and when they had their moments i found them so random. the last 30% was alright, finally something was happening but it took me so long ti get there.
abandoned-books
April 11, 2024DNF at 40%
I struggled to engage with the content and found it to be trying to hard to be both a regency mystery and a smut/instalove romance book.
Not my thing. Hopefully others enjoy it more than I did.
I struggled to engage with the content and found it to be trying to hard to be both a regency mystery and a smut/instalove romance book.
Not my thing. Hopefully others enjoy it more than I did.
August 30, 2025
I really wanted to love this as I loved the children’s series by this author and I live near the Hell Fire caves, but it just didn’t hit for me. The plot, pacing & characters felt like a children’s story, so the casual throwing in of sexual terms and erotic sub plots was alarming as I just wasn’t sure what audience this was for?
Also you can’t ride a carriage from Wycombe to London in a few hours or walk form Henley to west Wycombe in the morning so that just irritated me tbh, plus why is everyone fire from being shot? Man gets shot in the foot and then one singular day later is just FINE
Also you can’t ride a carriage from Wycombe to London in a few hours or walk form Henley to west Wycombe in the morning so that just irritated me tbh, plus why is everyone fire from being shot? Man gets shot in the foot and then one singular day later is just FINE
October 2, 2025
This is pretty good, with decent historical research, though the grammar is occasionally shaky. “An Illuminati” surely isn’t correct for a single member of that group. I almost took away a star because Kindle Unlimited plastered the front cover blurb at the top of every page as if it was the subtitle. However, I realized that wasn’t the author’s fault.
April 3, 2024
2.5 stars. Although an entertaining story, I did not find myself particularly attached to any of the characters. Because of this, I wasn’t particularly invested in the story or the outcome.
August 18, 2025
oh brother this guy STINKS
interesting mystery tho
interesting mystery tho
August 10, 2024
Loved it! Great story, strong characters, and really well-paced considering how small the book itself is. I loved the twist at the end! I could easily see this becoming a crime/mystery series.
April 5, 2024
This book was just fine. The romance was a bit to insta-love for me and the mystery a bit complicated and unbelievable. I did like Dora as a main character.
May 30, 2024
3.5 (RTC)
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
#adprproduct
I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
👨🏻🤝👩🏻Dynamic Duo
💞Romance
😮Scandal
🧐Regency Mystery
This was an entertaining read full of scandal, secret societies, red herrings, and tension. Dora and Jacob's witty banter and great partnership shone through the pages.
⭐⭐⭐💫
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
#adprproduct
I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
👨🏻🤝👩🏻Dynamic Duo
💞Romance
😮Scandal
🧐Regency Mystery
This was an entertaining read full of scandal, secret societies, red herrings, and tension. Dora and Jacob's witty banter and great partnership shone through the pages.
⭐⭐⭐💫
July 7, 2024
The main characters were excruciatingly annoying. Despite what they've been through, Jacob decided to believe that Dora would leave him for a murder suspect who offered her protection? And when they reunite, she decides that it was good of Jacob to assume the worst of her because she likes when people doubt her, when they're not gullible? Girl, what do you mean???? He's literally so gullible that he believed that you left him despite seeing clear signs of you not wanting to be there!!! After all that drama, there's an unnecessary one where Dora suddenly decides that she doesn't trust Jacob after finding out that he used to be an addict. These two would've been far better off not becoming a couple. I think what kills the chemistry is all the unnecessary drama that didn't even have to be there because they're literally in the middle of a conspiracy theory, there's enough drama going on without these two insufferable people constantly creating problems in their heads. And then the deus ex machina in the end, where all of their problems get resolved just like that was just the final nail in the coffin for an already messy plot.
Also, Jacob has a foot fetish apparently, I did not want to read about a man fantasizing about sucking toes.
Also, Jacob has a foot fetish apparently, I did not want to read about a man fantasizing about sucking toes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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