Hi bookish friends!
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before, but KJ Charles is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read most of her books. When Master in this Hall got released, I bought it immediately.
But I only got to finish it now.
John Garland was in love: now he’s in disgrace. He’s jobless, alone, and determined to avenge himself on the thief who ruined his life. All he wants for Christmas is to see Barnaby Littimer in gaol.
Barnaby has secured a job running the extravagant traditional Christmas at a rich man’s country house. John intends to thwart whatever he’s up to.
But amid the festivity, the halls are decked with unexpected dangers. And John will need to decide if he can trust Barnaby one more time… (via Goodreads)
After so many false starts, I finally sat down and finished this book. It’s not even a long book, but John Garland is a tough MC to like. He’s bitter and grouchy — understandable but that doesn’t make him likable. He’s partly the reason why I find it hard to get into the story. I just didn’t want to go through this world with a hero I don’t like.
The other part is that this is in the Lilywhite Boys universe, which I haven’t read yet. For some reason, this world doesn’t appeal to me. So while Masters in this Hall is standalone, I feel like I’m missing the key characters from Any Old Diamonds and Gilded Cage.
Thankfully, halfway through the story, things pick up.
John may not be someone I’d like to accompany throughout his journey, but Barnaby is. Barnaby is all flashy confidence outside while chaos and mess run rampant inside. He is fascinating as he is very different from the one I met at the start of the story. He makes John more mellow, more likable.
The plot also picks up around the same time, and I must say, the conflict is delicious. It’s the standard KJ Charles.
The book ends with me satisfied with the plot, happy for John and Barnaby, and fully invested in the Lilywhite Boys. One of the characters (from Any Old Diamonds, I think) appeared here, and he was a character, a force of nature. I love him already. So it’s not a matter of if but when will I get to start reading the Lilywhite Boys series.
Favorite Quotes:
Her appearance was that of a princess; her expression strongly reminiscent of the little girl who’d frequently kicked him on the shins.
The Earl of Dombey was not a very impressive specimen, being of no more than medium height, with rounded shoulders, limited conversational horizons, and a tendency to let his mouth hang open.
A good hotel detective was competent, reliable, and unnoticed. Lord Sidney had made it known that John was neither of the first two, so loudly that he was no longer the third.
Have you read this series? What are your thoughts?