Library Journal - Audio
09/01/2022
With help from the talented narrator Joel Leslie, Sebastian returns with a follow-up to the Georgian London-set The Queer Principles of Kit Webb. Leslie's masterful accents and dialects keep listeners entertained as he introduces Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, who has shot her horrible husband and is on the lam, with Rob Brooks, a charming criminal who is blackmailing her. Opening with the blackmail correspondence sets up the story and allows listeners a front-row seat as their relationship progresses from enemies to friends to more. A perfect balance of light and dark in both personality and narration, Marian and Rob flee across the countryside, encountering many adventures along the way. The banter is fun and witty, and the chemistry blossoms into an interesting sexual dynamic between them. From Sebastian's fantastic storytelling to Leslie's dramatic performance, the depth of the characters is phenomenal. VERDICT A uniquely different take on historical romance with lots of adventure that runs parallel with the first title and will be even more delightful when read in order.—Emily Pykare
JUNE 2022 - AudioFile
Joel Leslie narrates a historical outlaw romance. Marian Hayes, Duchess of Clare, just shot and likely killed her husband and isn’t the least bit sorry. Luckily, she has Rob Brooks, a far more experienced criminal, on hand to help her through the aftermath. Leslie perfectly captures Marian’s difficult and prickly personality, which she wields like a bludgeon, but he also does an exceptional job portraying her closely guarded vulnerabilities. Rob is a cheerful charmer who has never met a stranger, and Leslie leans into his blustery good cheer without ignoring his insecurities and anxieties. Leslie’s skill at balancing humor and emotional moments creates several affecting scenes. A thoroughly enjoyable narration and a fun twist to the grumpy/sunshine trope. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 04/04/2022
Sebastian’s Georgian England–set sequel to The Queer Principals of Kit Webb shines with a pair of intoxicatingly audacious leads who so successfully blend good nature with criminal intention that readers will root for the success of every bad idea, including their unlikely romance. Lovable thief Rob “Gladhand Jack” Brooks is displeased to learn from his brothel-owning mother that he is the legitimate heir of the Duke of Clare, a role he has no interest in. Rob’s attempt to blackmail the current Duke’s unhappy new wife, Marian Hayes, with this information yields no money, but it leads the pair to a charming correspondence. Marian sets out to rob the Duke’s coach for her own reasons—but after things go awry and she unintentionally shoots the Duke near-fatally, she compels Rob to join her on her flight from London, leading to lots of wittily acerbic verbal sparring and, of course, love. It’s a rare m/f pairing from Sebastian, but with two bisexual leads, cross-dressing, and frank discussions of the pleasures of non-penetrative sex, this refreshing romance brings wonderfully queer sensibilities to bear. Sebastian’s clever mix of Gilbert and Sullivan–esque plot, Robin Hood morality, and contemporary gender dynamics make a stunningly successful combination. Agent: Diedre Knight, Knight Agency. (June)
From the Publisher
"With The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian’s newest, we get the full Georgian-era experience: coffeehouses, lace cuffs, noblemen in pastel silks and ballad-worthy highwaymen whose thieving days are almost, almost behind them....Highwayman, it turns out, is a pitch-perfect role for a queer historical hero. If you’re already risking your neck to steal purses and harry the gentry, you’ll think nothing of risking your neck for someone you love... The book does not so much tear down class boundaries as dynamite the very idea of class itself, which is becoming a satisfying theme in Sebastian’s work. Laws that exist only to hurt people are unjust; systems that depend on people’s misery should be subverted and dismantled at every chance. The right to love and be loved as we are is a compass that always points toward justice." — New York Times Book Review
“Cat Sebastian is a queen of queer historical romance...Sebastian never disappoints.” — Entertainment Weekly
"Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game.” — Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex
“The Queer Principles of Kit Webb kept me up all night! I simply couldn’t put it down." — Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
“Their sexual tension is a living, breathing thing on the page, but mercifully, Sebastian doesn’t leave them in want for long. And there’s plenty of sparkling dialogue to go with their physical connection. Kit has very clear opinions about the privilege Percy is fighting to protect, and their conversations about class and politics are uniformly excellent and fascinating. Kit Webb will surprise and delight not only fans of Sebastian and queer historical romance but also readers who are new to both.” — BookPage (starred review)
"Sebastian’s prose is entertaining and delightful, with many steamy scenes...It’s also full of intelligent and thought-provoking political debates...An irresistible story of love and adventure that will delight both newcomers and regular readers of queer romance." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Cat Sebastian is one of my favorite writers in romance or any other genre. The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, like all her other books, is intelligent, wryly funny, deeply thoughtful, empathetic, and romantic as can be. I absolutely loved it." — Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert
"The Queer Principles of Kit Webb is by turns witty, heartfelt, sexy, and deeply emotional. I devoured it and am clamoring for more." — Eva Leigh, author of My Fake Rake
“Wielding a rapier-sharp wit and displaying an exceptional gift for insightful characterization, Sebastian fashions another fiercely romantic, fabulously sexy m/m love story that not only delivers a delicious surfeit of slow-burn sexual chemistry but also deftly illustrates the true complexity of all human relationships.“ — Booklist
Erin Sterling
"Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game.
New York Times Book Review
"With The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian’s newest, we get the full Georgian-era experience: coffeehouses, lace cuffs, noblemen in pastel silks and ballad-worthy highwaymen whose thieving days are almost, almost behind them....Highwayman, it turns out, is a pitch-perfect role for a queer historical hero. If you’re already risking your neck to steal purses and harry the gentry, you’ll think nothing of risking your neck for someone you love... The book does not so much tear down class boundaries as dynamite the very idea of class itself, which is becoming a satisfying theme in Sebastian’s work. Laws that exist only to hurt people are unjust; systems that depend on people’s misery should be subverted and dismantled at every chance. The right to love and be loved as we are is a compass that always points toward justice."
Olivia Dade
"Cat Sebastian is one of my favorite writers in romance or any other genre. The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, like all her other books, is intelligent, wryly funny, deeply thoughtful, empathetic, and romantic as can be. I absolutely loved it."
Booklist
“Wielding a rapier-sharp wit and displaying an exceptional gift for insightful characterization, Sebastian fashions another fiercely romantic, fabulously sexy m/m love story that not only delivers a delicious surfeit of slow-burn sexual chemistry but also deftly illustrates the true complexity of all human relationships.“
BookPage (starred review)
Their sexual tension is a living, breathing thing on the page, but mercifully, Sebastian doesn’t leave them in want for long. And there’s plenty of sparkling dialogue to go with their physical connection. Kit has very clear opinions about the privilege Percy is fighting to protect, and their conversations about class and politics are uniformly excellent and fascinating. Kit Webb will surprise and delight not only fans of Sebastian and queer historical romance but also readers who are new to both.
Tessa Dare
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb kept me up all night! I simply couldn’t put it down."
Eva Leigh
"The Queer Principles of Kit Webb is by turns witty, heartfelt, sexy, and deeply emotional. I devoured it and am clamoring for more."
Booklist
“Wielding a rapier-sharp wit and displaying an exceptional gift for insightful characterization, Sebastian fashions another fiercely romantic, fabulously sexy m/m love story that not only delivers a delicious surfeit of slow-burn sexual chemistry but also deftly illustrates the true complexity of all human relationships.“
Rachel Hawkins
Sharp, smart, and oh-so-swoony, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb reminds me that Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game.
BookPage (starred)
Their sexual tension is a living, breathing thing on the page, but mercifully, Sebastian doesn’t leave them in want for long. And there’s plenty of sparkling dialogue to go with their physical connection. Kit has very clear opinions about the privilege Percy is fighting to protect, and their conversations about class and politics are uniformly excellent and fascinating. Kit Webb will surprise and delight not only fans of Sebastian and queer historical romance but also readers who are new to both.
JUNE 2022 - AudioFile
Joel Leslie narrates a historical outlaw romance. Marian Hayes, Duchess of Clare, just shot and likely killed her husband and isn’t the least bit sorry. Luckily, she has Rob Brooks, a far more experienced criminal, on hand to help her through the aftermath. Leslie perfectly captures Marian’s difficult and prickly personality, which she wields like a bludgeon, but he also does an exceptional job portraying her closely guarded vulnerabilities. Rob is a cheerful charmer who has never met a stranger, and Leslie leans into his blustery good cheer without ignoring his insecurities and anxieties. Leslie’s skill at balancing humor and emotional moments creates several affecting scenes. A thoroughly enjoyable narration and a fun twist to the grumpy/sunshine trope. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-03-16
A woman falls in love with the man who attempted to blackmail her.
This novel opens with a retelling of the events that ended the first book in the series, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (2021), but from the point of view of Marian, Duchess of Clare. Trapped in a loveless marriage and recovering from a near-fatal pregnancy, Marian is outraged when a blackmailer threatens to reveal that her husband is a bigamist. If the news became public, it would invalidate her marriage and render her daughter a bastard. Rob Brooks has his own personal reasons for blackmailing Marian, but as they exchange letters, he’s surprised to find himself admiring her moxie. She informs Rob that she won’t pay the blackmail since she has her own plan to neutralize the threat of discovery. Her scheme goes terribly wrong, and she has no choice but to shoot her husband. Fearing she’ll be arrested, Rob helps Marian flee London on horseback. They plan to hide at her father’s country home until the coast is clear. Marian and Rob must trust each other to survive the journey, which is full of rollicking adventure. Their friendship and romance are emotionally satisfying, with both Marian and Rob determined to make it in the world on their own terms. The plotting fails to find its footing after the propulsive first act, but the sharp writing and likable band-of-thieves vibe is its own reward.
Sebastian’s hallmark witty banter and charming characters will keep readers invested in spite of the disjointed plot.
