JUNE 2017 - AudioFile
Fair warning—it’ll be hard to press pause once narrator Christian Coulson begins sweeping you along on this breathless historical adventure. Henry (Monty) Montague; his younger sister, Felicity; and his best friend, Percy, set out from England for a grand tour of Europe, their last youthful fling before surrendering to adulthood. Coulson flawlessly gives voice to Monty’s decadent rakishness, Percy’s steady companionship, and Felicity’s sharp intelligence. But there are deeper motivations at work here for all of the characters. Coulson conveys longing, frustration, and fear as their fortunes take one turn after another and evokes the changing locales as their journey progresses. It’s all grandly, swooningly romantic, and Lee’s smart writing satisfies on every level. An absolute delight of a listen. J.M.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 04/24/2017
Eighteen-year-old Henry “Monty” Montague—scandal prone, acid tongued, and a bit too fond of boys, girls, and gin—is embarking on a grand tour of Europe, a last hurrah before taking up the mantle of lordship. The tour quickly veers off course for Monty, his longtime friend (and not-so-secret crush) Percy, and his headstrong sister Felicity when Monty and a young lady are caught in a compromising situation at Versailles, after which Monty absconds with a small trinket. Pursued by the Duke of Bourbon, Monty learns that the object may hold the key to unlocking powerful alchemical secrets. Without funds or connections, the three haphazardly make their way across the continent, crossing paths with secretive Spanish siblings, an inexperienced pirate crew, and others. It’s a gloriously swashbuckling affair, but Lee (This Monstrous Thing) doesn’t shy from addressing the era’s overt racism, sexism, homophobia, and prejudice regarding illness. Percy, a biracial epileptic, and Felicity, a young woman dreaming of medical school, are well-rounded and fascinating supporting characters, and the romantic relationship that develops between Monty and Percy is sure to leave readers happily starry-eyed. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary. (June)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Richly imagined and ingeniously plotted, this version incorporates quotations from Shelley’s text while updating the perennial questions of the original regarding how far is too far when it comes to meddling in the affairs of life and death.
Vulture
Delicious.
Chris Abouzeid
A Marauder’s Map of the heart, full of pirates, highwaymen, humor and romance. Mischief managed brilliantly!
Amanda Zirn
An elegant, colorful, swashbuckling good time of a read and a beautiful addition to the LGBTQ+ genre. This is a great novel for upper YA readers and a great adult cross-over title. I definitely have a book hangover after finishing this gem.
Nicole Brinkley
An adventurous romp through 18th-century Europe with a trio of unforgettable characters. Lee weaves together the fun and the fantastical with a conversation on historical privilege that will resonate with modern readers. Perfect for fans of LA Meyer’s Bloody Jack series. Expect to fall in love with this book!
Maggie Kane
Wonderfully refreshing. A delightful, thoughtful, hilarious read.
Wendy Darling
With roguish charm, sly wit, and tender heart, THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE is a shameless flirt of a novel. If Monty and Percy hadn’t already stolen my heart, I would surrender it to them gladly.
Marika McCoola
Filled with highwaymen, pirates, and heart pounding exploits of a romantic nature, this is the summer road-trip adventure you’ve been waiting for.
Clarissa Hadge
I can’t wait to get this book in my store—I know my customers looking for historical fiction and LGBTQ stories will adore GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE as much as I have!
Alsace Walentine
The John Hughes of queer 18th century adventure novels with an alchemical heart at its center. Lee perfectly captures teen humor and angst. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Rachel Strolle
Monty and Percy are insanely shippable from page one, and quickly became one of my favorite YA couples of all time.
Gaby Salpeter
Simultaneously harrowing and hilarious, everything about this book from the serious questions posed about sexuality, chronic illness, and social inequality to the extraordinary journey Monty, his best friend, and his sister find themselves on make Mackenzi Lee’s latest the kind of book you’d be a fool to miss.
Rebecca Wells
An incomparably delightful historical romp. I was swept away by Monty’s incorrigible voice from the very first page, and the rest of this confident adventure tale did not disappoint. Lee’s sophomore novel has heart, depth, and an abundance of wisecracks from a protagonist you can’t help but adore.
Amy Cherrix
Vice has never been more charming and virtue never more daring than in Mackenzie Lee’s superbly written globetrotting adventure. Not since Hamilton the musical has the 18th century been this much fun.
Erin Bowman
A delightful romp of a road-trip through eighteenth century Europe, packed with witty dialog, razor-sharp pacing, and the perfect amount of swoon. You should abso-bloody-lutely read this book.
Claire Legrand
Sweet, smart, and powerful, Gentleman’s Guide tackles timely topics that will resonate profoundly with readers—all wrapped up in a truly epic road trip. Prepare to laugh, gasp, swoon, and cheer.
Rachel Hawkins
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a Grand Tour all its own. Hilarious and romantic, adventurous and scandalous, Monty’s adventures are just as delightful as Monty himself. I adored this book!
Dahlia Adler
An outrageously fun, witty, fascinating, and romantic adventure, starring a memorable trio I’d happily travel with for ages. Lee is a definite force in diverse historical YA.
Stacey Lee
Don’t read this book unless you like adventure, hijinks, and forbidden romance, and if you do, then read it twice.
Heidi Heilig
Careening from fete to fiasco on a Grand Tour of 18th century Europe, THE GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE is a dizzying, dazzling, and roguishly romantic romp. This book makes me want to unrequite my own love so I can requite him all over again.
Brightly
A rollicking ride that also turns a keen eye to issues like class, racism, homosexuality, and identity.
Teen Vogue
Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is the queer teen historical you didn’t know was missing from your life.” (“Best Queer Books to Celebrate Pride 2017”)
NPR
If you’ve ever mentally shouted ‘NOW KISS’ at a pair of fictional male best friends, this is the book for you.
The Horn Book
Monty is pitch-perfect as a yearning, self-destructive, oblivious jerk of a hero who inspires equal parts sympathy, frustration, and adoration from reader. A genre tribute, satire, and exemplar in one.
Shelf Awareness (starred review)
★Mackenzi Lee (This Monstrous Thing) combines her knowledge of European history with a contemporary, comic sensibility to create an over-the-top romantic adventure complete with cliff-hanging chapter endings and sometimes outrageous narration. Monty is a licentious, flawed and engaging 18th-century hero.
Booklist (starred review)
★ “Tongue-in-cheek, wildly entertaining, and anachronistic in only the most delightful ways, this is a gleeful romp through history. Monty is a hero worthy of Oscar Wilde.
Brightly.com
A rollicking ride that also turns a keen eye to issues like class, racism, homosexuality, and identity.
RT Book Reviews
Lee’s rip-roaring, genre-trampling, beautifully affirmative novel absolutely lives up to the hype, whisking readers off on a breathless and refreshingly unique adventure.
Booklist
In her debut, Lee has crafted an intriguing premise that will easily satisfy gothic horror and steampunk fans.
Megan Shepherd
A richly imagined tale of two brothers and a dark science that twists everything I thought I knew about Frankenstein. A monstrously good read!
Scott Westerfeld
A compelling and brave retelling of the first science fiction novel. A secret history, a love story, something both old and new.
Danielle Paige
Mackenzi Lee’s THIS MONSTROUS THING is simply beautiful. It pulses with electricity, mystery, and heart and brings to life one of my all time favorite tales with an unexpected twist.
School Library Journal
★ 03/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—A trio of high-born, determined, and wildly charismatic teenagers get more than they bargained for in this rollicking 18th-century Grand Tour of the Continent gone awry. Endearing rake Lord Henry Montague (or Monty) and his biracial best friend (and unrequited love), the infinitely patient Percy, leave England to drop Monty's fiercely intelligent sister Felicity off at finishing school. The friends then spend a year traveling. After the Grand Tour, Monty will return home to help his demanding father run their estate and Percy will go to Holland to law school. If Monty's dad catches wind of him still "mucking around with boys," Monty will be cut off from the family. The trip is intended to be a cultural experience. However, no one could have predicted that one seemingly petty theft would set off an adventure involving highwaymen, stowaways, pirates, a sinking island, an alchemical heart, tomb-raiding, and a secret illness. From the start, readers will be drawn in by Monty's charm, and Felicity and Percy come alive as the narrative unfolds. The fast-paced plot is complicated, but Lee's masterly writing makes it all seem effortless. The journey forces Monty and friends to confront issues of racism, gender expectations, sexuality, disability, family, and independence, with Monty in particular learning to examine his many privileges. Their exploits bring to light the secret doubts, pains, and ambitions all three are hiding. This is a witty, romantic, and exceedingly smart look at discovering one's place in the world. VERDICT A stunning powerhouse of a story for every collection.—Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Great River Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN
JUNE 2017 - AudioFile
Fair warning—it’ll be hard to press pause once narrator Christian Coulson begins sweeping you along on this breathless historical adventure. Henry (Monty) Montague; his younger sister, Felicity; and his best friend, Percy, set out from England for a grand tour of Europe, their last youthful fling before surrendering to adulthood. Coulson flawlessly gives voice to Monty’s decadent rakishness, Percy’s steady companionship, and Felicity’s sharp intelligence. But there are deeper motivations at work here for all of the characters. Coulson conveys longing, frustration, and fear as their fortunes take one turn after another and evokes the changing locales as their journey progresses. It’s all grandly, swooningly romantic, and Lee’s smart writing satisfies on every level. An absolute delight of a listen. J.M.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2017-03-06
An 18th-century Grand Tour goes exquisitely wrong. Eighteen-year-old white viscount Henry "Monty" Montague is as known for his dashing looks as his penchant for booze—and boys. Before his abusive father grooms him to run the estate, he and his mixed-race best friend, Percy, orphan son of a British colonist and a Barbadian woman, are sent on a yearlong Grand Tour—after which he and Percy will likely be separated forever. Adding insult, their Tour begins under the proviso that, after Monty's sister is delivered to school in Marseille, Monty will remain on the sober straight and narrow or else risk loss of title and fortune. Monty wastes no time in demolishing this agreement in Paris when he gets hammered, offends Percy, insults a duke, ends up naked at Versailles, and steals an objet from the palace in a fit of childish rage. The theft ignites an adventure that illuminates a side of life the trio wouldn't have otherwise seen. Issues of same-sex romance walk in stride with those of race as Monty and Percy find their footing amorously, sexually, and socially. Their realized attraction could mean imprisonment or death, and their relationship is often misconstrued as lord and valet due to Percy's brown skin. The book's exquisite, bygone meter and vernacular sit comfortably on a contemporary shelf. And the friction of racism, tyrannical entitled politicians, and misguided disapproval of homosexuality also have a relevance rooted in current culture's xeno- and homophobia. Austen, Wilde, and Indiana Jones converge in this deliciously anachronistic bonbon. (Historical fiction. 12-18)
