Scandal (Ladies of Infamy, #1)
Navessa Allen
Reader Reviews
3.0
1 rating
Liz M.
Apr 26, 2026
Intrigue, passion, and peril—an enticing mix that doesn’t fully deliver.
Scandal sets the stage for a provocative love triangle against the richly detailed backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Katherine, the Duchess of Hampshire, finds herself entangled not only in political secrets and marital expectations, but also in a complicated emotional web with her husband John and his lover, Henry. Their chemistry is palpable, and the slow unraveling of suppressed desires is handled with emotional intensity.
That said, while the premise is bold and the stakes high, the execution occasionally falters. The pacing wavers—lingering too long on introspection while racing through key turning points. Some plot twists feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped, and secondary characters fade in and out without much weight. The historical setting is lush but sometimes overpowered by the romantic drama, leaving the espionage and political intrigue feeling more like a backdrop than a fully integrated thread.
Still, the novel offers a daring exploration of love, identity, and societal expectation. If you’re drawn to historical romance with a sensual edge and don’t mind a few uneven spots, Scandal may be worth a read.
Scandal sets the stage for a provocative love triangle against the richly detailed backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Katherine, the Duchess of Hampshire, finds herself entangled not only in political secrets and marital expectations, but also in a complicated emotional web with her husband John and his lover, Henry. Their chemistry is palpable, and the slow unraveling of suppressed desires is handled with emotional intensity.
That said, while the premise is bold and the stakes high, the execution occasionally falters. The pacing wavers—lingering too long on introspection while racing through key turning points. Some plot twists feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped, and secondary characters fade in and out without much weight. The historical setting is lush but sometimes overpowered by the romantic drama, leaving the espionage and political intrigue feeling more like a backdrop than a fully integrated thread.
Still, the novel offers a daring exploration of love, identity, and societal expectation. If you’re drawn to historical romance with a sensual edge and don’t mind a few uneven spots, Scandal may be worth a read.