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“Strange, considering it all now after a night’s sleep, that I’d had no premonition of what awaited. That seems to be the nature of life, however. Things that ought to come with warnings rarely do. ”

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian’s. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

At this point in the series, I like most of the characters, but I’m struggling with a some of it as well (and knowing that there will be 13 more books before there’s any resolution is a bit overwhelming).

While I appreciate Emma’s optimism, I can’t help but feeling like she’s too good to be true–she endures a TON of emotional abuse from her aunt and cousins, and it doesn’t seem to bother her. I suppose there are some people who can let an insult roll off their backs, but to be so relentlessly attacked for so many years and not be impacted at all? It’s less relatable and more Pollyanna.

By the end of this book, I was also pretty disappointed in her friends. When it comes to Arabella, I think Emma might have a bit of Stockolm Syndrome–she thinks this woman is a goddess, but Arabella literally laughs at the verbal abuse Emma endures from Arabella’s mother. I can understand that in this era she wouldn’t have stood up to her mother, but to laugh at Emma’s expense makes me like her less and less.

Then there’s the men. Again, I can understand them not standing up to Aunt Eugenia on Emma’s behalf, but they also seemed to find the abuse entertaining. What really bothered me, though was when Maggie arrived. Islington, Hawkes, and Pierce all know Maggie, so there’s nothing to stop them from interfering, especially in the privacy of the family home. But she also verbally attacks Emma, and no one says anything. (Sure, Pierce calls Maggie a pill, but how’s that supposed to defend or support Emma?) It broke my heart to see everyone (even Emma!) excuse Maggie’s behavior because she has good stories to tell.

This book broke my heart a little, but Emma seems to be used for everyone else’s amusement. They give her a book here and there, but no one really defends her. And she’s fine with it–there are apparently no consequences to verbal abuse/bullying.

I’m not sure if I’ll keep reading the series or not.

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