She's the ex librarian of an all-women witch adjacent secret society, he's the brutally mistreated, extremely protective heir of an evil duke. They're each on the hunt for very dangerous books.

It's a good time.

Two POVs, mid 1700s, UK, 3rd person past tense, MC ages - early 20s & early or mid 30s, 3rd book in series

HOT. Just, dang... casually excellent multi-dimensional [kink]

femdom

and an emotionally well rounded (not healthy, but well rounded) and very hot

submissive

partner. The main relationship and their dynamic feels really organic - and Hoyt hits some responsible kink best practices along the way.

While her isolated "raised by recluses" background works for her in nixing high society related inhibitions, Elspeth's comparative age in this context feels off-kilter. She does have some "I'm invincible/inexperienced" moments, so maybe that's why she's written young. (Meanwhile, poor Julian is just a jaded but loveable bad decision machine.)

A good balance of intrigue, plot, and witchy secret society shenanigans. Hoyt's plots haul ass and keep you locked in and this one continues the tradition.

I'm looking forward to where this series goes- Between the Greycourts and the de Morays (& their friends,) Hoyt's set the table for some bangers. There are loose threads everywhere and it's GREAT.

Before you read: Unlike other historical romance series, bc of the moving parts it's probably important to have at least gotten the highlights for the first two Greycourt books.

Narrator: Ashford McNab does a great job- Elspeth's POV is read in a Scottish accent and I liked the flavor added to the prose.