Are we really up to nine books in Julie Anne Longβs
The Palace of Rogues series?! Β GAME OF ROGUES brings
the reader Longβs well-known and even more well-
received witty banter along with plenty of emotional depth
and slow- burn chemistry. Β This series is connected by
the backdrop against which all the romances play out: the
boarding house, The Grand Palace, on the Thames. Β Many
a romance has blossomed by the forced proximity engendered
by The Grand Palaceβs rules, which include dining
together and spending the evening in the drawing room
together at least four nights every week. Β The
proprietresses designed these rules to foster an eccentric,
found-family community, and the results are delightful.
I was a bit anxious starting this book, which contained
many tropes that Iβve grown to actively dislike in
most books. Β Iβve had it with useless fribbles
gambling away their familyβs fortune. Β Iβm
tired of reading about the scoundrels who run gaming halls
where such useless members of the ton ruin their lives.
Β And I dislike the concept of a gently born lady being
forced to sell her virginity to save the familyβs
fortune, especially to the owner of a gaming hell. Β And
yet!!! Β Long is such a marvelous writer that she
overcomes all my natural antipathies, and Iβm so glad
I persisted because I really enjoyed this novel.
GAME OF ROGUES contains all of the things I would expect
of a Long romance. Β My top favorite thing about
Longβs novels is the clever repartee. Β I
highlighted the heck out of this book with the fabulous
back-and-forth between Guinevere βGinnyβ
Woodville and Gabriel Marchand. Β Although Gabriel
initially refuses to help Ginny after her brother is fleeced
at Luciferβs Fall, he suggests heβll forgive the
house debt for a night in Ginnyβs bed; he slowly
becomes a redeemed character. Β This is another place
where Longβs writing shines- the emotional depth and
the yearning that burns.
The emotional journey of Ginny and Gabriel falling in
love feels incredibly authentic and earned, which is so
satisfying to me. Β The many recurring secondary
characters who show up here bring additional emotional depth
and humor to the story. Β Julie Anne Longβs GAME
OF ROGUES is chock-full of witty exchanges, desperate
longing, and smoldering sexuality. Β Snap this one up!
Gabriel Marchand ruthlessly fought his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to preside over London’s most exclusive gaming hell. Few dare cross him. But when a young earl gambles away his inheritance, Marchand makes an enemy: a woman with wit like a dagger and the softest eyes he’s ever seen.
Spend a night in his bed, and he’ll call off the debt. This is the offer he makes Guinevere Woodville, the earl’s sister, when she blames him for her brother’s disaster. She’d rather die, of course. But when their seething enmity gives way to sizzling attraction at The Grand Palace on the Thames, his offer haunts them. Soon it seems a matter of not if, but when.
It's not long before Ginny is facing two stark truths: the so-called worst man in London is the best man she’s ever known....and keeping him would mean losing everything and everyone else she loves. But Marchand has one final card to play…and losing everything is a risk he’s willing to take if it means a chance to love her forever.
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