Caress and Conquer by Donna Comeaux Zide

 

DNF @ 19%

It's been a while since I read a book I REALLY did not like but CARESS AND CONQUER was that for me. It reads a lot like Kathleen Woodiwiss at her worst, so if you really like Woodiwiss's style, you might really enjoy Donna Comeaux Zide. The opening, the daughter of a pirate watching her father's execution, reminded me a lot of the scene in Pam Godwin's SEA OF RUIN (which I loved). Possibly, this could have even been inspo for that since it's clear that Godwin loves old bodice-rippers from how well she captured the style. So that's one good thing this book did. But the racism, dated stereotypes, and heavy prose just didn't work for me. Sorry.

I'm very excited this was rereleased, though. I hope for everyone's sake that more of these old bodice-rippers get put on Kindle because I think they're crucial in how they've shaped romance history.

1 out of 5 stars