Noble Satyr

Roxton Foundation Series Book 1

Romance - Historical
469 Pages
Reviewed on 02/11/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Noble Satyr: Roxton Foundation Series Book 1 by Lucinda Brant is an 18th-century twisted tale of aristocracy, manners, love, and family conniving in the very best grand style of Georgian and Regency romances. Antonia is a young woman in peril. Despite being brought up by her father, against the prevailing customs and traditions, to be forthright, educated, and progressive, she is stuck in the court of Versailles, where her future is at the political whims of aristocratic men. Determined she will marry only for love and certainly not the son of the Comte de Salvan, who has been chosen for her, she seeks an escape, a way out of this predetermined fate. Hatching an escape plan, she traps the notorious but incredibly powerful Duke of Roxton, a believed relative, into assisting her to escape from the palace of Versailles. Roxton is a known womanizer, who is rumored to have bedded most of the women at court. Despite his arrogant, promiscuous, and fearsome reputation, Antonia is convinced her cousin will prove to be her savior from the disgusting, lascivious, and conniving Comte de Salvan and his opium-addicted and mind-addled son.

Noble Satyr is an absolute joy to read. Author Lucinda Brant’s fulsome and incredibly descriptive prose is musical in its pace and poetic in its style. What the author does beautifully, in my opinion, is contrast the foppery and utter frivolousness of the Georgian era and their aristocratic courts, with the cutting, dark, English humor and common sense portrayed perfectly by the character of Lord Vallentine, the Duke of Roxton’s best friend and suitor of his sister. For me, Vallentine was the absolute star of the narrative, as he beautifully countered Roxton’s arrogance, Antonia’s naivete, and Estée’s proper decorum with his sardonic wit and straightforwardness at a time when that was anything but the norm. The passion and love between Roxton and Antonia are evident from the instant they connect and I must commend the author for her sympathetic and elegant writing when it came to the love scenes, which were beautifully composed and incredibly sensual. The story is extremely well plotted and includes unexpected twists and turns, plus the odd red herring thrown in for good measure that will keep readers wondering and interested right to the end. I love a story where the bad boy is tamed by love and this novel is high up among the best I have read. I can highly recommend this read.

Rabia Tanveer

Noble Satyr is the first novel in the Roxton Foundation Series by Lucinda Brant. Lies, deceit, and sex were predominant in the French court in the early 1700s. Stuck between it all is Antonia Moran, a young woman who wants nothing to do with any of these things. However, the Comte de Salvan wants to snatch her up for his son, someone Antonia never wanted to associate with. Her hefty inheritance would be the answer to all of the de Salvan family’s woes. Antonia knows she has to do something to save herself, even if it means seeking help from the Duke of Roxton. Lascivious and with a bad reputation, Roxton can't help but come to the assistance of young Antonia. The only way to get her away from the Comte de Salvan is to whisk her off to England. Falling in love with Antonia is easy, but keeping her safe is another matter. Can Roxton protect her?

Noble Satyr by Lucinda Brant is a well-written and engaging historical romance that kept me entertained for hours. The author does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the French court, from the customs and manners of the upper classes to the political and social issues of the time. The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional, which made it easier for me to become invested in their stories. The plot is well-paced, with just enough tension and drama to keep one engaged. The romance between Antonia and the Duke of Roxton is beautifully developed, and their chemistry is palpable. The author does a great job of integrating historical details into the story, making it feel like a believable and immersive experience. The writing is excellent, the characters are compelling, and the plot is engaging, making it a highly recommended book for anyone looking for a romantic escape into the past.

Asher Syed

Noble Satyr: A Georgian Historical Romance by Lucinda Brant is the first book in the Roxton Foundation Series. The book begins with the young Antonia Morgan who is in the midst of being irrevocably ensnared in the renowned debauchery of Versailles, and most notably by one aristocrat in particular, the Comte de Salvan. Salvation comes in the form of the Duke of Roxton, a notorious rake and political schemer. Landing in the sphere of "le Duc" is a long shot for Antonia, quite literally, but she recovers under Roxton's protection. Antonia settles in comfortably—a little too comfortably for many—but a lack of aristocratic lineage, another forceful marriage prospect, and an avalanche of misunderstandings is more than enough to derail the happiness of two people whose differences couldn't make them more perfect for each other.

Noble Satyr is far, far more exciting than I anticipated and I love that Lucinda Brant does not soften the blows of what it meant to be a young woman at Versailles, which one character wisely calls “a nest of vipers.” Roxton and Antonia are absolutely delicious and even though I wanted to wring both of their necks at times, the story carries forward without tropes or unnecessary stopping points. The attention to historical detail is one of the highlights of the novel and the transitions between Paris and London are pitch-perfect on both sides of the Channel. So too are the more ridiculous customs of the time. For example, it turns out a woman can have her breasts spilling out of the top of her dress, but heaven help the scandalous lady who removes her shoes and shows her ankles! Expertly written, creatively woven, and topped off with the inclusion of swoon-worthy letters. Very highly recommended.