Review: The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

With a special thanks to Danielle @ Sourcebooks I was introduced to Georgette Heyer and the first novel in a four-part series including These Old Shades, Devil’s Cub, and An Infamous Army, The Black Moth. This is also her first novel and in the true spirit of what first opened my eyes to Jane Austin, I have found a new author to follow. An eccentric setting in this Regency Historical, with all the perfect, prim and proper but doesn't fail to be witty and cunning with sharp dialog that kept me entertained throughout.This is the story of Jack Carstares the Earl of Wyncham who was forced to leave because he was wrongly accused of cheating at cards. A pretty noble thing if you ask me since he was covering for his brother, but now he is a Highway man, robbing others to survive and actually ends up holding up his brother Richard in the process unbeknownst to his brother. Duke of Andover, Tracy "Devil" Belmanoir, in his attempt to "rescue" the young and very beautiful socialite Diana Beauleigh in order to make her or rather fool her into being his next conquest. But his plan is thwarted as The Black Moth attempts to kidnap her, as gallant Jack actually ends up saving her. Enamored and grateful to Jack, Diana takes him home with her and her aunt for him to recover from his wounds, which only forces the two to spends more time together. As their feelings start to grow for each other Jack realized that this can never be, she is a lady and he is a criminal. It would be scandalous. The Duke or "Devil" is known for all his scandalous affairs with a bevy of women and is able to work his charms on Diana as well or so he believes. Poor Diana is confused as ever with the affections and attentions of both men, and not quite sure of the identity of either. A game they are playing with her turns into something a little more real as Diana and Jack start to develop feelings for each other. Oh what a tangled web we weave. So much high society drama I was impressed to find out that Georgette Hayer wrote this at such a young age and even more impressed with the fact that it was so much better than I had imagined. And just like Jane Austin there is such an interesting side character's that truly makes this a cohesive piece or romance, honor, and vengeance. Throughout the story I felt like I was on a mission to find out who exactly The Black Moth was.... and I can't tell you!

Book Junkie's Rating: 4/5

The Black Moth is Georgette Heyer's first novel, written when she was 17 years old to amuse her sick brother. It features Jack Carstares, an Earl turned highwayman, and his enemy—the enigmatic Duke of Andover, who engage in an intense rivalry over society beauty Diana Beauleigh…

Seven years before our story opens, Carstares protected his brother by allowing himself to be disgraced for cheating at cards. His brother, suffering intense guilt, isn't aware that they played right into the hands of the Duke of Andover.

The disgraced Earl now roams the countryside until a confrontation with his rival thwarts the attempt to kidnap the lovely Diana. But now the Duke is more determined than ever to have Diana for his own, and the two men will meet at sword point before the Earl's name can be cleared and he can claim his fair lady.

EXCERPT:

Clad in his customary black and silver, with raven hair unpowdered and elaborately dressed, diamonds on his fingers and in his cravat, Hugh Tracy Clare Belmanoir, Duke of Andover, sat at the escritoire in the library of his town house, writing.

He wore no rouge on his face, the almost unnatural pallor of which seemed designedly enhanced by a patch set beneath his right eye. Brows and lashes were black, the former slanting slightly up at the corners, but his narrow, heavy-lidded eyes were green and strangely piercing. The thin lips curled a little, sneering, as one dead-white hand travelled to and fro across the paper.

'…but it seems that the Fair Lady has a Brother, who, finding Me Enamoured, threw down the Gauntlet. I soundly whipt the presumptuous Child, and so the Affair ends. Now, as you, My dear Frank, also took some Interestt in the Lady, I write for the Express Purpose of informing You that at my Hands she has received no Hurt, nor is not like to. That I in part tell You and You shall not imagine Yr self in Honor bound again to call Me out, which Purpose, an I mistake not, I yesterday read in Yr Eyes. I should be Exceeding loth to meet You in a Second Time, when I should consider it my Duty to teach You an even severer Lesson than Before. This I am not Wishful of doing for the Liking I bear You. 'So in all Friendship believe me, Frank,

'Your most Obedient, Humble

'Devil.'

His Grace of Andover paused, pen held in mid-air. A mocking smile dawned in his eyes, and he wrote again.

'In the event of any Desire on Yr Part to hazard Yr Luck with my late Paramour, Permit Me to warn You 'gainst the Bantam Brother, who is in Very Truth a Fire-Eater, and would wish to make of You, as of Me, one Mouthfull. I shall hope to see You at the Queensberry Rout on Thursday, when You may Once More strive to direct mine Erring Footsteps on to the Thorny Path of Virtue.'

His Grace read the postscript through with another satisfied, sardonic smile. Then he folded the letter, and affixing a wafer, peremptorily struck the hand-bell at his side.

And the Honourable Frank Fortescue, reading the postscript half-an-hour later, smiled too, but differently. Also he sighed and put the letter into the fire.

'And so ends another affaire… I wonder if you'll go insolently to the very end?' he said softly, watching the paper shrivel and flare up. 'I would to God you might fall honestly in love—and that the lady might save you from yourself—my poor Devil!'

ISBN: 9781402219528




DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my HONEST review.
No items that I receive "in kind"
are ever sold...they are kept by me, donated to The Medford Public Library,
or given away on contests on this blog.