Who Would Like This Book:
Dive into 18th-century Paris and London with a tapestry of glittering balls, witty banter, and high society intrigue. If you love gender-bending disguises, sharp-tongued heroes, and clever schemes of revenge, this one’s for you. The dynamic between the notorious, razor-sharp Duke of Avon and the irrepressible, disguised-as-a-boy Leonie fizzes with chemistry and comedy. Fans of historical escapism and character-driven drama - especially those who enjoy found family moments and secondary characters with real personality - will find plenty to savor. Heyer's unforgettable dialogue and period flair create a rollicking adventure perfect for readers who crave old-school romantic drama and humor.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find the significant age gap and power imbalance between the leads a bit uncomfortable, with Avon’s controlling, high-handed behavior raising modern eyebrows. The story also relies on aristocratic snobbery and classist assumptions, and Leonie’s youthful naiveté can feel grating or unrealistic. If you’re not a fan of foppish heroes, historical attitudes, or heroines who idolize their love interests, you might struggle to warm up to this one. The plot’s reliance on big coincidences and slightly over-the-top melodrama could turn off readers who prefer grounded or more contemporary romances.
About:
'These Old Shades' by Georgette Heyer is a historical romance set in the 18th century, following the story of the Duke of Avon who rescues a young girl, Leonie, from a troubled past. The Duke adopts Leonie as his page and together they navigate a plot of revenge, intrigue, and unexpected romance. The book is praised for its witty dialogue, colorful characters, and a plot filled with twists and turns that keep the readers engaged. Heyer's writing style is described as bold, humorous, and entertaining, making the book a delightful romp in the world of elite society.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Potential triggers include themes of manipulation, questionable consent regarding the hero buying a young girl, and the age gap between the main characters.
Has Romance?
The romance between Justin and Leonie is central to the story, making it a prominent theme.
From The Publisher:
IF YOU LOVE BRIDGERTON, YOU'LL LOVE GEORGETTE HEYER!
'A rollicking good read that will be of particular joy to Bridgerton viewers ... the permanent glister of scandal [...] ties the whole thing together' INDEPENDENT
'[My] generation's Julia Quinn' ADJOA ANDOH, star of Bridgerton, in RED
'One of my perennial comfort authors. Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's' JOANNE HARRIS
Leonie Bonnard is being drawn into a twenty-year-old feud.
Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, is a reprehensible rake with an axe to grind. Decades ago the Comte de Saint-Vire did something unforgivable and ever since Justin has been lying in wait to settle the score.
When Justin meets Leon, a street urchin with a striking resemblance to his nemesis, he aims to use him as a pawn in his plans for revenge on the Comte. Except Leon is in fact Leonie, a beautiful young ingénue who may just steal Justin's heart.
Can Leonie win the Duke's affection, or will his need for revenge overcome them both?
'Léonie, hot-tempered and very much her own woman, is one of Heyer's best female leads [...] The novel remains a witty, vivid page turner' MELANIE REID
'Elegant, witty and rapturously romantic' KATIE FFORDE
'Utterly delightful' GUARDIAN
'Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes. . . Utter, immersive escapism' SOPHIE KINSELLA
'Georgette Heyer's Regency romances brim with elegance, wit and historical accuracy, and this is one of her finest and most entertaining ... Escapism of the highest order' DAILY MAIL
'If you haven't read Georgette Heyer yet, what a treat you have in store!' HARRIET EVANS
'Georgette Heyer is unbeatable.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Ratings (14)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (2) |
Reader Stats (26):
Read It (15) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (5) |
1 comment(s)
While my memories of the previous Heyer books I've read are a bit blurry,
These Old Shades is now doubtlessly numbered among my favorites. It surprised me to find such incredibly snappy dialogue and character development in a book published in the 20s — not that there haven't been remarkably skilled authors in every era. Still, I've become accustomed to thinking that any older books would be dry and dull. Duke Justin Alastair had some of the funniest, witty responses I've read in a historical novel, perhaps ever. My favorite exchange was between him and the briefly introduced character, M. de Faugenac:
'Indeed yes. Yes, indeed. My wife. The explanation! She has seen your page, m'sieur!'
'Wonderful!' said the Duke, 'We progress.'
'We - ? You said progress? We? Progress?'
'It seems I erred,' Avon sighed. 'We remain at the same place.'
De Faugenac was puzzled for a moment, but all at once his face broke into fresh smiles.
'Another pleasantry! Yes, yes, I see!'
'I doubt it,' murmured Avon.
There are many more examples to showcase how much fun it was to read his interactions with other characters, but this is the one that made me laugh.
Léonie was a lovely character — spirited and vibrant, despite the trials life has presented her with. Her worship of Justin is understandable, if a bit blind, but I didn't mind in the least. I would've liked to know more about the details of her life in the rough streets of Paris, but that information was sadly kept from us readers. It would've made Justin's eventual revenge so much sweeter.
Since this is part of a series — unlike many Heyer books I've picked up before — I look forward to hopefully reading book stories of this caliber in the future!
What can you read after
These Old Shades?
About the Author:
Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, who made the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
