Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb debut!, 10 May 2008
To begin with, there are two parts of this novel. In the first we are introduced to the heroine who has just survived a shipwreck while traveling to India, she is left orphaned and quite alone. However, instead of seeing the tragedy as such, the Anglo-Indian community are more curious over the status of her virtue (she was saved by Irishmen after all) and even her ever so proper intended holds some suspicion but needs her money more than ever, so he is resigned to it. Kind of. Emmaline, our heroine, is so apart from the rest of the English that she catches the attention of Julian, Duke of Auburn. His ethnicity (having native blood) leaves him as much as an outsider as she. And as India undergoes a revolution of sort, he assumes the role of her hero. Unfortunately, they are separated and this nicely sets up part two. Part two is all about how they deal with life in England and post-trauma emotions. I really do not justify this book with my synopsis. I will endeavour to relate the profound effect it had on me though.
Duran's use of language leaves me breathless, anticipating the unraveling of the story and the love between two strong and emotionally scarred people. She effectively brings to life not only their world but their emotions and personalities enabling a reader to become fully absorbed into their story. Their pain becomes your pain. And you cannot help but feel such joy in their much deserved happy ending.
The excerpt of The Duke of Shadows' first few chapters lured me into a world so adeptly described that it surpassed even my own colourful, and rather fanciful, memories of India. As these descriptions are seen through the eyes of Emmaline, a gifted artist, it poignantly reflects her outlook in life and the changes she goes through after she leaves India. Emma's descriptions of England prove such a contrast to the vibrancy of India and acts as a great device to show just how much she has actually changed. And although several reviewers feel that they cannot connect with her, I am of a different view. Her perspective leaves me feeling as much as an observant as she does and her narration helps me understand her inner conflicts. I just want to add that she did not have any TSTL moments, and I applaud Duran on creating an intelligent and strong heroine!
I think that Duran has written the most compelling hero in Julian. He is not your typical rake (although he is described as such), he is noble and is tormented, and oh god, i want him. He is not afraid to express his feelings and prove his devotion to Emma and its done in a way that doesn't make his character any less of a man, more so in fact. You can feel his devastation over the loss of the Emma he had known and his determination to bring her back from her lonely tower, to make her live and feel again. The only criticism I would make is that I wish I had more from his point of view.
The story was believable and while the villain may have been a bit singular-minded, the secondary characters were well developed. I will definitely be looking out for more editions from Meredith Duran. That said, GET THIS BOOK!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EPIC NOVEL, 9 Feb 2009
I have seen this book on various favourite lists but was put off for some reason mainly I think because it spanned a long time & so I thought that it would have bben a bore! Boy was I wrong - this is a classic in the realms of Gone with the wind. It shows some tortured souls against a backdrop of the British Rule in India. Its very tastefully done & edge of your seat romance. In the first half I found Emma quite selfish & narrow-minded to a certain extent but she developes as she goes through the experiences that life deals her & Julian is such a complex "rake" who admits his feelings early on (quite novel when you look at the other like stories where the females always declare themselves first)& I loved his dialogue & hero status. This is an excellent first novel- good original story & well grounded, profiled & characterised. Love the Hindi words & tried to decipher their meaning. I look forward to more from this author but A MUST READ highly recommended!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More romance books like this one, please!, 26 Oct 2008
For romance lovers - I have to admit a love story placed in India is not normally my kind of story, but I am very happy I did not go with my doubts - I read this book in one go and once finished, I started immediately re-reading all encounters of the main characters. Finally a book portraying fascinating characters whose relationship evolves through the book in a believable manner. This book has everything I look for in a romance - love, wit, delicacy, passion, intelligence...I could not have asked for more. Thank you, Meredith Duran!
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