The Devil's Web

This is the final book of Mary Balogh's "Web" trilogy, and I think the best. The attraction between James Purnell and Madeline Raine has been building since the first book of the series, and that makes their emotional involvement in this book deeper and more intense. Both of them seem unable to find happiness in anyone but each other, but the attraction is met by a tendency to misunderstand and quarrel with the other nearly continuously. When they are finally forced to marry, their marriage is just as tumultuous as their courtship - but I really enjoyed the parts where we see how Madeline misunderstands James's anger, and how very much James wants to cut loose from his past and allow himself to love her. This is a deep, complex book show more about letting go of those things that tie us to the past, and about letting ourselves love and trust another person with our hearts. show less

Disappointing, for Mary Balogh. Maybe I should stick to my earlier strategy of being astounded by how well she transgresses my expectations of the romance genre, instead of looking forward to something objectively excellent (and proto-feminist) every time. The definition of love (as is usual in these books) as something essential and immutable that draws two people together despite everything seems particularly strained for Madeline and James; their love depends on this definition because there's almost no textual evidence for it actually being anything other than hate. James seems like a congenitally bitter person whose miserable early life just made it even more impossible for him to make Madeline happy. I don't want to depend on this show more book's version of love to magic away all their problems, but Balogh doesn't present any other alternative. Bah. show less

Oh get on with it already! I enjoyed reading it. I wanted to read more about these characters. It satisfied my desire for regency romance, but holy cow, drama much? It made me tired.

If you’ve not read the first two books, especially the first one, ‘The Gilded Web’, I guarantee you that you will not understand our couple’s past, present and future behavior. It really is imperative you at least read book one.

In this book we watch Madeline, sister of Edmund and Dominic, mature, yet when it comes to planning and mapping out her future, she hasn’t changed a bit. She is still kept back with her conflicting feelings toward James and is hurling herself from one plan to another, only to find out that she must face the reality of loving a man who will certainly drag her into darkness with him.

Talk about a man, James Purnell, brother of Alexandra and Edmund’s wife from ‘Gilded Web’, who is torn by the past and show more his feelings of unworthiness when it comes to his future.

This is the third and last story of the Web Series and if it was the hardest to read for me, I wonder if it was as hard to write for Ms. Balogh.

If you’re not into dark and complex characters, then this story will be wasted on you. But if you can appreciate the intricacies of a very complex relationship between James and Madeline, you will be rewarded tenfold with a story of deep, true, abiding and long lasting love that had to go through many trials in order to blossom.

I loved all three stories and Ms. Balogh’s writing is as strong as ever. The depth of the characters that she writes about is one that I will always appreciate. If you’ve never read this author, these may not be the books to start you on her wonderful writing, but once you do, please don’t miss out on these unique, complex and very interesting characters.

It comes as no surprise to me that she succeeded yet again in creating three romance stories that touched my heart. She weaved these with a historical event that helped the plot and shaped the characters that I was deeply touched by, and will stay with me forever. I highly recommend all three of these engrossing and wonderful stories.

*Melanie for b2b. show less

Being a ardent Balogh fan, I was expecting another engrossing read with Devil's Web. While the structure was right (historical details, dialogue, hero, heroine, etc), the hero drove me crazy! I understand the British stiff upper lip but James was incapable of expressing himself to Madeline at all. I can understand it for most of the story but he doesn't experience catharsys till nearly the end of story, making his "breakthrough" seem tacked on and too "deus en machina" for me.

I'm a little surprised I stuck with this one to the end, but I did. I haven't had much patience for less-than-enjoyable books lately. In fact, I stayed up late reading it, I think perhaps because I was dying for the tension and unhappiness to end. There had to be a happy ending, right? But the main characters were not likeable, and I'm never fond of books where the h/h refuse to communicate openly and honestly. And the happy ending felt rushed, false and not at all satisfying. I'm glad I know Mary Balogh has written much better books, otherwise I probably wouldn't read any more after this one. Two stars because I finished it and wasn't quite frustrated enough to throw it at the wall.

I'm a little surprised I stuck with this one to the end, but I did. I haven't had much patience for less-than-enjoyable books lately. In fact, I stayed up late reading it, I think perhaps because I was dying for the tension and unhappiness to end. There had to be a happy ending, right? But the main characters were not likeable, and I'm never fond of books where the h/h refuse to communicate openly and honestly. And the happy ending felt rushed, false and not at all satisfying. I'm glad I know Mary Balogh has written much better books, otherwise I probably wouldn't read any more after this one. Two stars because I finished it and wasn't quite frustrated enough to throw it at the wall.