| Title | : | The Flesh and the Devil |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0312295839 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780312295837 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 488 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1980 |
But the greatest horror is reserved for Juana, and for Juana alone. For the young Duque she is forced to marry, she discovers, is a cruel caricature of a man, a person twisted in mind and body. His wealth and rank can supply Juana with undreamed-of luxury - but also with incredible suffering, for the perfumed silks of the master bedchamber conceal the depravity of an unbalanced mind. Juana's brave attempts to escape from the marriage are dealt with harshly, and, to her limitless despair, she finds herself irrevocably betrothed to the terrifying, unbalanced Duque.
Yet, against all hope, there is a way out. Swift and brutal action by the arrogant Felipe can insure Juana's escape from the secrets and treachery of the Castillo Benaventes. But Felipe's protection, she fears, may be more dangerous than his enmity, and all too soon he begins to demand a humiliating payment....
The Flesh and the Devil Reviews
-
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
This is a book that I devoured in one looooong sitting - only interrupted by sleep, food, and other general duties as required when you’re an adult 😂📚
If you had asked me at the first quarter of this book how I was going to rate this, I would have immediately told you, “one star”. So much angst, unhappiness, what I thought was going to be a weak heroine; and the kicker, rape. Not even dubcon, people; rape. As far as this reader is concerned, the Hero or anti-Hero as the case may be, raped our heroine 😢😡
What happened, you’re wondering? Why did I continue, and how on earth did this end up with three stars? There are a number of reasons…
1. I recently discovered this lesser known, yet supremely talented writer from the 1970s, by my own perusal of fellow Goodreads reviewer’s favorite shelves. This author’s first book, “The Silver Devil” was the book that led me to this author. My review of that amazing read can be found here 👉
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. In my pursuit of other works from Teresa Denys, I found out after some minor sleuthing here on Goodreads (gah! How I love this site!) that this author was really a Mills and Boon editor! How exciting to this little nerd right here lol. Then the plot thickened with tragedy… Jacqui Bianchi (pen name Teresa Denys) was a well-liked M&B editor that is mentioned by several of my fellow romance reviewers, and she even has a Goodreads list of her edited books. Apparently, Jacqui was the assigned editor for a few very popular M&B authors. There is even a Goodreads list of her credited M&B works that you can find here 👉
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
The tragedy lies in the fact that Bianchi was killed in a car accident in 1987, and only published two books of her own (“The Silver Devil” and “The Flesh and the Devil”).
3. After the initial rape that happens in the first quarter of this story, I came right back here to Goodreads to scour reviews to find out if this was going to get any better, and to see if I wanted to continue reading. One review I saw mentioned the fact that books published in this time period (the 1970s) often included rape as a way for a female character to have sex. Given the customs at the time and what was acceptable female behavior of the day, this made sense to me 💁♀️. Will modern readers (aka those a lot younger than this reviewer) have issue with this as a plot device? Probably, cause I sure did, but I would encourage you to continue reading because the reward in the last third of the book is absolutely worth it.
4. Given my issues with the h and H’s first sexual encounter being the rape, my reading of the first quarter of this story was not eased by their subsequent encounters coming off as dubcon. HOWEVER, keeping the knowledge in the back of my head that established publishing houses did not encourage sexual scenes in printed word in the mid to later twentieth century, I decided to give the other facets of the story more of my attention.
5. This book is very, very well-written. You can tell that her primary role was an editor lol. At some points I did think, “an editor should have cut this out and told her to save this scene for her next book”, because this story is loooong, but since she’s writing her own book (and she’s the editor) I gave her a pass lol.
6. I’m glad nothing got cut out. Hindsight being 20/20, it would’ve been a shame, since this was her last book 😢
7. This story is wholly engrossing, fascinating, and the first half is more tragic fiction than romance. The story centers around an eighteen year old woman in seventeenth century Spain. It’s a period drama that focuses more on what it was like to be a young woman in this era; sadly oppressive, and frustratingly restrictive when looked at through the eyes of the modern reader.
8. I just loved this story about the heroine, Juana. She is not one of my favorite heroines, but she does come of age on the pages here. She is trapped in the mores of her time, and it’s sad to view the power dynamic between her and our Hero/anti-Hero. For all the the times I wanted to stop reading in the first half, I couldn’t quite commit to quitting. The depressing tragicness is what makes this story so wholly compellingly. I just couldn’t put it down because I was invested in Juana’s story, even though I didn’t like her. If that’s not an indicator of good writing, I don’t know what else to say.
9. While I didn’t like Juana as a child, I came to respect her as she grew into her character arc. Her story is skillfully mastered and the reader is manipulated by a master storyteller. Juana become a strong-willed woman by the end of the story. She gets a declaration of love, and the romantic arc is fulfilled.
10. Finally, our Hero’s arc is intricately woven into a satisfying romantic finish. Would I say he redeems himself enough for the reader? Not for this reader, and in fact, this story loses a star due to the initial rapey sexual encounter between our two mc’s. His character does experience some type of growth, but still not enough, and it’s probably due to how male characters were written at this time, as portrayed in romance novels in the 70s, so there’s that going on too 💁♀️
Overall, I liked this more for the second half of the story and for the exquisitely satisfying storytelling. That part is absolutely fabulous.
Recommend, but with flaws as mentioned above. If you’re curious now, and want to read Teresa Denys, go try her first book, “The Silver Devil”.
This reader is off to source some of her Mills and Book edited works.
RIP Jacqui Bianchi. Your work lives on and is appreciated. ♥️📚🙏 -
'Kindness is a painless thing to give, and easy, a sop to those you do not need. Friendship and kindness have nought to do with this.'
For a moment, the look in his eyes, as brilliant as an eagle's in the harsh inscrutability of his face, terrified her.
'I am not kind to the air I breathe, nor the food I eat, nor to you.'
The Flesh and the Devil is only one of two novels written by Teresa Denys, pen name of Jacqueline Bianchi, an immensely talented writer and editor whose life was unfortunately cut short tragically decades ago.
It is therefore hard for me not to compare it to Denys' other novel, The Silver Devil, a similarly dark, gothic, historical fiction centered around an...ahem...forceful courtship, shall we say, between an unrepentantly rakish, hedonistic, Duke of the Italian Renaissance, and the lowly, yet proud, tavern wench that he ravishes on a whim.
In The Flesh and the Devil, the tables are turned. The heroine, Juana, is a member of the Spanish upper classes, betrothed to a mysterious Spanish Duke with seemingly royal connections, and therefore untouchable.
The hero, Felipe, is not only a mere "servant", but an outcast, a foreigner who had to flee England under religious persecution, and who now must now ply his trade as hired mercenary or thug to powerful noblemen who need someone to do their dirty dealings. There is however absolutely nothing subservient about him, despite his huge class difference with Juana. In fact, the enigmatic, scarred, menacing Felipe seems to command more than to serve, to the heroine's consternation.
The Flesh and the Devil has the same somber, lugubrious, gothic mood, as The Silver Devil. The romance, if you can call it that, is more a battle of wills than a courtship. Denys has once again a meticulous sense of the period. The stifling customs, the gaping class differences, and the ruthless politics, all take the reader in a time machine back to sixteenth century Spain. Add to that the lyrical beauty and highly visual writing of the author and at times, you can't seem to put down the book.
Unfortunately, the novel also has some of the more annoying tropes of traditional bodice rippers, including many TSTL moments from both main characters, the required tortured past justifying hero's present emotional iciness (he was betrayed by a woman in the past, GASP! Now he will trust no woman!), cartoonish, psycho villains who create some very tedious fifth and sixth Act obstacles to the long awaited reunification of h and H, and some very cheesy plot contrivances (including the eleventh hour discovery that
Overall, I still liked The Flesh and The Devil, especially the first half of the book. I wish, like Denys' other book, The Silver Devil, it had been edited down to a crisper, cleaner, and less cheesy conclusion. -
3.5-Stars
Teresa Denys’s writing was really, really good for the first part of the book, especially in the castle. She did an excellent job of evoking a creepily gothic feel with a menacing miasma of evil schemes within schemes. Even some of the very minor characters had hints of intriguing schemes—their own agendas, so to speak. The characterization was first-rate as well. The supporting and minor characters were well-rounded.
However, another strong point is that
Teresa Denysdid a very good job of showing personal growth of the very young, sheltered heroine. Lately, I’m realizing in this age of “mature” or “independent” 29 year old heroines, that they often don’t have room for personal growth that I enjoy or get up to antics that are more palatable to me in an 18 year old heroine than a 29-year old ape-leader heroine.
Teresa Denys’s weakness is plotting and a failure to take advantage delicious possibilities hinted at, but not delivered, much like chili where the cook was stinting with the spices. Chili is full of hearty goodness, but if the amount of spices are not right, it frustrates.
Teresa Denys raised expectation repeatedly with mouth-watering possibilities for the plot via some supporting and in even very minor characters, only to unexpectedly and summarily toss them aside as if they were objects that had out-lived its usefulness. I beg to differ! She didn’t get the best and fullest use of them or they were not allowed to reach their full potential to take the plot where this reader hoped it would go leaving me with a terrible case of “blue-balls.”
Another weakness is that I had a hard time seeing why the MCs were together in the first place. They certainly had no idea why they were together. While they did have strong chemistry,
Teresa Denys did not drop little hints or clues to the reader of an emotional connection or the growth of one. They were partners in crime, but I couldn’t see a connection based on much besides those two things.
This second and final book of
Teresa Denys showed a very strong promise as an HR with good writing, plot, detail of the time and place. If she had not died, I would have concluded by saying that I look forward to reading more from her and watching her realize the promise that she demonstrated in this book. -
Whoa…this romance could never be written today. LOL
Felipe Tristan is so dark and unscrupulous. He has no qualms about going after what he wants. So yes there is a boatload of dubious consent and it’s very dubious. So be forewarned. If you hate that kind of thing, you won’t like this book.
With my penchant for bad guys though, I found Tristan damn intriguing. He has a nasty scar across his cheek. I got the impression it was half a Glasgow grin, like the Joker, which made me like him even more. Denys describes him as having a great deal of menace and icy control. He speaks to Juana with veiled courtesy, so she’s never quite sure where she stands with him. Although the reader does.
I rather love the way Denys writes. There’s an eloquence and sensuality to her prose that gives the reader the feel and ambiance of 17th century Spain. I remember in the beginning, Denys describes the Duque’s estate, Casillo Benaventes, with its iron balustrades and the gaudy frescos, and I felt like I had been transported there. Her characters address each other with a formality and stiffness that feels like another time period. And everybody is so shifty and underhanded. Poor Juana de Arrelanos, the heroine, has been dropped into a snake pit.
As for the heroine, I didn’t mind Juana. She does a couple of stupid things that made me shake my head, and I thought she was rather rude to Tristan at first. Yet that fits, seeing how she’s a proud, young, noblewoman. Her character does go through a character arc, and her perception definitely changes. At first, she truly can’t stand the sight of Tristan and she’s every bit the highborn lady. I remember reading in another book about how when the Spanish ladies of the court walked across a room, it appeared as if their shirts were floating across the floor. I can believe Juana does this.
1) What did you think of the plot/story line?
I thought the storyline was a bit like The Perils of Pauline. Juana gets in one life threatening scrape after another. This is especially true of the last half of the book, which I couldn’t set down. Yet it’s not always Tristan saving her. Denys surprised me a few times, because things didn’t always turn out the way you might expect. She’s a very unpredictable author.
2) What was your favorite/least favorite part?
3) Who was your favorite/least favorite character?
My favorite character, of course, is the fascinating Tristan. He’s the ultimate dark alpha. But if I had to pick a second character it would definitely be Dona Jeronima. She’s such a cool female villain.
My least favorite is Eugenio de Castaneda. He was just so obnoxious with all his snide remarks and chuckles. I also couldn’t stand the way he always said, “mmm.” He’s a villain though, so he’s supposed to be obnoxious.
4) What would you liked to have seen happen instead?
I would have liked to see this book continue.5) Which scene did you feel was OTT or not needed for the story? Which ones dragged or held you on to your seat?
I think the beginning was a bit slow, but I’m not quite sure how I would have changed it. Denys was, after all, laying out the story, and she does such an excellent job immersing the reader in her world. She also has very rich characters, which you get to know pretty well.
6) Anything you would have written differently or changed?
I think I would have had Tristan be a little bit nicer to Juana. But then again, if he was, she might have stayed with him, and not gotten into so much trouble at the end. LOL
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It’s not often you come across a book that is so well written, has lovely gothic undertones, captures the true decadence of a time period, and has such a dark hero. It’s too bad the library won’t lend me The Silver Devil. I’d like to read Denys other book. -
How can I put this book into words? Haunting, gothic, intricate, and well-written should fit the bill. This old bodice ripper is not politically correct nor will it be everyone's cup of tea. If you have a love for the English language and gothic suspense, this might be up your alley.
Juana, the heroine is forced to marry a young, wealthy Duque who to her dismay, is twisted in mind and in form. The Duque is one sick puppy in more ways than one. Juana's peril is intricately described in Denys writing. I actually felt mortal fear for her character.
Yet there is surprise and intrigue as she meets the dangerous, yet sensuous, scarred Felipe. Can Juana escape her peril and find love? I won't tell you that but I will say I don't understand how this book could ever receive less than 5 stars. I love this book. It's one of my all time favorites.
I give the edge to The Silver Devil as being slightly better because that book was more beautifully twisted and had more memorable characters. Some may prefer this book over TSD. I consider both masterpieces and classics. It all comes down to personal tastes.
The author Teresa Denys died in a car crash in the 80's. Teresa Denys was actually Jacqui Bianchi, a major editor at Mills & Boon, overseeing authors Penny Jordan, Leigh Michaels, and Emma Goldrick. She obviously knew how to write. Pity, I can only find two books penned by her. I have searched for more, trust me. You're not likely to see talent like her again and if you happen to, let me know. I might owe you for finding it. -
Triggering AF!!!
The Flesh and the Devil, Teresa Denys
Genre: Historical, Romance, Dark, Gothic
Tags: Boddice Ripper
Safety Warnings: Rape, DubCon, NonCon.
Smut-O-Meter: 2.5/5 (Sex Scenes were not very graphic)
The Flesh and the Devil, Teresa Denys’ second yet final book is an ode to her untapped potential. It isn’t perfect, but it’s up there on the list of the great bodice rippers of the 20th century. I think she was just getting started, if she had lived longer, I think Teresa Denys would have been a household name. People would be reading her books secretly and wondering why they were into something so controversial and triggering.
If you’ve ever read a bodice ripper, you know how un-PC they can be.
Like in a lot of bodice rippers, the hero (If you can call him a hero) starts off by raping the heroine. However, the heroine kind of enjoys it, and hates herself for enjoying both it and him. The hero therefore continues to torment her until she somehow falls in love with him. Classic Bodice Riper!
Someone might wonder, how any of Teresa Denys’ heroines can love the hero. I think it’s psychological. I like to look at BR heroines as products of the time period the book is set in. A heroine like Juana, who’d been sold off by her own father, who is surrounded by vindictive and malicious beings, would have no option but to choose her least dangerous option, and that was Tristan.
(Tristan’s fiendishness didn’t even come close to the horrendous nature of Denys’ other hero, Domenico from The Silver Devil.)
To Finish off: I’m happy to say, Juana wasn’t as stupid as Felicia (Denys’s other heroine). She did make a few questionable decisions, but I forgive her that. -
Teresa Denys, a major editor at Mills & Boon before her untimely death in the late 1980s, wrote two amazing stand-alone gothic romances, The Silver Devil and The Flesh and the Devil, that are both masterpieces in appreciating the villain hero.
It’s refreshing for an author to be completely upfront the hero is not a good guy. You don't have to like him, sympathize with him or agree with him. You can revel, guilt-free, in his diabolical, irredeemable self. They're kind of just evil and ok with it? That's the main difference I see between Felipe in The Flesh and the Devil and alpha males in general: Felipe is not self-righteous about being a dick. He's not a spy saving America or England. He's not a son out to avenge his family. The dude is just a mercenary. Well, mostly. If Felipe’s character is black and white, the simplicity is not reductive. Felipe is two things: a mercenary and a misogynist. After a girl rejected him that one time, he's now too scared to share his ~feelings~ and yet Denys got a ton of mileage out of that! Let’s just say that Felipe takes “the things we do for love” to surprising, cracktastic heights...
Enter Juana, who has become betrothed to Bartolome, the epileptic heir to a gothic castle somewhere in Spain. Bartolome is under the thumb of his ambitious uncle, Eugenio. Where Felipe fits in is that he has been hired to serve Bartolome and act as his proxy. Juana does not want to marry Bartolome, and Juana especially does not like Felipe. It was hate at first sight for her and love at first sight for him (but she won’t find out until the last 5 pages).
Denys has this hate-hate relationship formula down pat. I truly believed they hated each other. In both of Denys’ works, it is very amusing when the heroine makes the switch from hate to love: Juana hates Felipe until she realizes it’s because she loved him all along (??) but she can’t tell him or else he will use it against her (!!). It’s also amusing, if sad, to reflect on Juana and Felipe’s crosses to bear. Juana is a noblewoman turned poor woman turned dead woman without family, name/title or dowry and all because she chooses Felipe. Felipe can’t be nice to Juana because one time a young woman - pretty and rich - hurt his feelings, and now he will go to any length to avoid being vulnerable and trusting.
At first, the book was a 3 for me. I was frustrated at the understandable reasons why Juana never speak out against Eugenio and to feel maneuvered and trapped in social situations and therefore, remain proudly silent (answer: plot). I wanted Juana to do something instead of letting things be done to her. However, after Felipe , the book quickly moved into 5/5 territory. Denys does not give a f**k about character deaths and I love it. The gothic atmosphere is also superb if you’re a fan. It definitely heightened the what-did-I-just-read parts of the story. The Flesh and the Devil is a great bodice-ripper. -
Officially 4.5 stars.
I loved the setting, the prose, & the first 3/4ths of the whole. Rather, it was the last bit (esp Juana's overdone obstinance re: the reveal of her true feelings) that irked my nerves enough to round down. It was rather like STORMFIRE in that the gorgeous isolated gothic-ripper vibe was deflated by an unnecessarily drawn out final act.
...But my quibbles are nit-picky, so don't let them stop you from tracking down a copy.** Overall, this is an excellent read -- very well-written & atmospheric with vivid villains (I love me those OTT whackadoodle aristocrats >:D) & a pair of MCs who are beyond flamboyant in their angst-riddled hate!sex. I really loved the gloomy darkness that permeates everything, from metaphorical moodiness & distrust to inadequate candlelight & dank castle corridors. I also loved Felipe in all his scarred-up, taciturn, badass glory. Nom, nom.
**As with Denys' other novel, this has become heinously overpriced on the OOP market, easily going for $100+. Fair warning: if you should spot one at a garage sale, UBS, or library clearance, don't hesitate. O.o -
In 17th century Spain, Juana is cruelly separated from her childhood sweetheart. From there, she gets carted off by her father to marry the Duque, a man that she has never met but is wealthy and powerful beyond her dreams. She's not just reluctant - she's incensed. When she arrives at the castillo she makes it her mission to escape and reunite with her sweetheart.
What she doesn’t know is that she's a pawn in a larger scheme. The Duque is childish, erratic, and extremely violent, and the marriage is foisted upon her for political reasons. The Duque's own reasons are simple: he wants to possess her the way that an adolescent would a butterfly. With all the power of the world at his feet and no impulse control, he will inevitably kill her. Everyone that Juana has grown to love and trust - her father and sister, her childhood sweetheart - have betrayed her through their willful ignorance and cowardice. Now she’s isolated at this treacherous court, desperately trying to stay alive.
When Juana pushes back against her fate she’s met with a greater force, the Duque’s mercenary - Felipe. Felipe is Juana’s salvation but also her nightmare, because his help comes at an exorbitant price.
Felipe is known in court as "The Giant," he’s a scarred redheaded Englishman that looms over and intimidates his employers. Juana instantly dislikes him - it’s clear that he holds power beyond that of a mere servant, but his enigmatic countenance masks his intentions. For his help, Felipe collects early and often. He tells Juana that she’ll “come to like the deed, if not the doer.” It becomes increasingly unlikely that she’ll be able to extricate herself from the life of this inscrutable stranger, because her debt keeps growing and his grip never loosens.
While they’re navigating court politics, Felipe coaches Juana that she “must learn the wisdom of silence,” and thus she and Felipe are consistently at a standoff: they could potentially want the same things in the end, but neither of them are willing to give any ground for the sake of pride and personal safety.
The Flesh and the Devil is horrifying, surprising, and very human. As Juana descends to Felipe’s level, she’s terrified to realize that this is likely where she belongs. Maybe she wasn’t dragged into darkness, maybe she was born there. -
For my comments and quotes while I read, a way more in depth look at my thoughts,
Buddy Read The Flesh and the Devil
The beginning of this was really enjoyable, there was a great eerie Gothic tone that had mysteries and villains seemingly in the shadows everywhere with our young, extremely sheltered heroine Juana betrothed to a lunatic. Unfortunately, the mysteries and villains get wrapped up perfectly quickly and a lot of things happen disappointingly off-screen.
The middle introduces new villains but again, dealt with pretty quickly and from there things kind of meander into an unceremoniously mellow with added too perfect bow moment ending. The romantic relationship between the leads started off with some heat, spark, and burn as they clashed but then in Bodice Ripper fashion the hero rapes the heroine (the author clearly writes this as rape with minimal Juana foggily in her mind thinking her body could be responding) and with not a lot of emotional growth/connection featuring later in the story between the two, I lost their beginning chemistry.
The author did a fantastic job of setting the place and time, there was some inserted political talk, but my favorite was Juana's personal growth. Juana goes from being a, purposefully, sheltered naive girl to a solid capable woman and the author did a wonderful job showcasing all the bumps in the road it took her to get there. -
Like a Rembrandt, dark with a patina of years and other world. A young woman is entangled in a web of Machiavellian plots in 1700s Spain.
Reading this book was a sad and strange thing. I first read a book by Teresa Denys, The Silver Devil, some twenty years ago and was so beguiled that I had been looking for more ever since.
It took my many years (see the twenty part of the previous sentence) to find another book by her. At the same time, I read that Ms. Denys died years ago. So, it was strange and sad to finish this quest and know that this was it.
The Flesh and the Devil is much slower paced and somewhat more scattered than The Silver Devil. However, in many ways the books comment on one another in more than just their titles. Each book has its mad dukes and devilish heroes and feisty child-women and dark, dark atmosphere that smells of dust and period and time.
This is not a book for the timid. It is not a book of roses and sunshine. It is about hard times and horrible choices. The characters are compelling, but not necessarily likable. It is about being a woman in a period when your very clothing hampered and constrained and shaped your every action. Being a woman in a world in which you could not bend at the waist because of your corset. A world where women wore layers of hot velvet and petticoats and stockings in the hot Spanish summer. A life in a highly stratified, constrained society.
Throughout the book, the ani-hero Felipe (well, you can’t call him heroic) keeps saying that the heroine, Juana, is choosing what she wants, but that’s not really true. This is a book about living through experience and growing into a person who can make choices and understand consequences.
For those who have the good fortune to find a copy, and who enjoy books that feel as if they were written in the period when they take place, this book is well worth a read.
I've given it two stars not because its not an interesting story, but it's not an easy read. Characters often behave very badly and in horrible ways. I did ultimately sell my copy when I moved, because I needed to make space, but Denys' prose was truly incredible.
I mostly saddened that this wonderful author will never be able to write another book. -
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the book and put it up there with The Silver Devil up until he This is on the dark side so I guess it's fitting but it just took it down 1.5 stars for me. I know that is a hard limit to some. -
**SPOILERS under Sexual History**
DNF @ 80%. Read Denys'
The Silver Devil instead.
This book started out ok but:
#1. became tedious and boring
Just a bunch more unnecessary plotlines that kept on keeping h and H apart. I gave it a good shot due to Silver Devil. But nothing much changed up to 80%. It actually worsened around 60% due to H's cheating on h. I finally DNF-ed @ 80% but skipped to the end. And glad I did because I didn't miss much.
#2. lacked romance/emotion/S chemistry
Even up to 80%, H and h were still emotionally distant from each other. The only vivid emotions were un-romantic. h frequently felt disgusted by H’s disfigured face, when she wasn’t kissed and touched by him. She hated him. And he took it as a challenge to his manhood/pride and raped/dub-conned her. It wasn't out of love. So, @49% when her POV said she loved him it was unbelievable and sudden. Same with his ILY to her @ the end. There was no emotional/romantic build-up or preamble from her hating him for forcing & blackmailing her to have sex with him and marry him and to suddenly hiding her love from him.
#3. had inconsistent characterization
@22%, strong-willed and mouthy h started acting helpless and found herself agreeing to a priest-officiated betrothal to a gruesome & mentally-ill 20yo Duke. As if she was hypnotized or something. It just seemed contrived, as if the author couldn’t find a better reason for h to suddenly agree to this official betrothal, when for days she’d been actively and openly resisting her arranged marriage.
#4. unlikable characters
H and h were both impulsive, quick to misunderstand and hurl insults at each other. Then, they'd have sex. Afterwards, they're at it again with their misunderstandings and insults.
Sexual History:
18yo virgin h was de-virginized via rape by H, who was encouraged to get h pregnant by the uncle of the Duke so the uncle can claim the baby as the Duke’s. H was h’s 1st kiss/boob-touching/sex. A couple other lecherous men including the Duke’s uncle snuck h a kiss and boob grab.
34yo H was a renowned lover with many willing women who overlook his disfigured face for his sex skills. He cheated with 2 different women while he was already married to H. The 1st one was his married older ex-mistress from 14 years ago whose brothers disfigured his face for her honor. He basically became her whore to get money to buy back his sword and to afford passage from Spain for him and possibly h, who left him about 1 week prior and was staying at some rich woman’s house who she didn’t know was going to pimp her out to some rich men in the area. After h told him again that she was done with their marriage, he had unsatisfying sex with a prostitute. -
I kind of pat myself on the back for taking on this book in part Spanish, from a poor Kindle translation. It was even more becoming in that format, for some peculiar reason I can't rightly name. Maybe due to my only passable Spanish, I ingested far more meaning, or perhaps read into the already wondrous sentiment through repeated reading.
Karla, Willow and several other ladies in my circle already gave such glorious reviews of this book, so I will skip the introduction, and say; I simply adore this book. It's rich, apprehensive prose heightened the abject misery Denys provided us. The gothic aura she conveyed, was much as a veil clinging to everything and everyone--like crisp linens upon antique furniture within a sealed mansion. Magnifico!!
Sometimes, I revisit chapters, where Juana is exposed to sheer terror, and it still gives me tingles! Denys's ability to weave such a gruesome tapestry of beautiful profanity, is genuinely enigmatic. I envisioned a living act of Dante's Inferno's writhing agony, with Kate Bush & Stevie Nicks pirouetting & swanning through the morbidity. Such dark and delightfully tenebrous tastes!
Juana graduated from an overly sensitive chit to a truly strong heroine by the ending, and I was SO thrilled by that coming to fruition!
I did find it difficult to believe that the Duque was born with a penchant for vulgarity and perverse tastes, though. And I honestly consider Tristan's only reason for keeping him alive for as long as he did, was because he held a trump card; a useful idiot. I also considered that Tristan somehow viewed his own scarred self as tantamount to the Duque's and it wasn't until his affection or fascination with Juana came into the picture, that his distinction became more clarified to him. I do know, though-- that gaping maw and Glasgow jaw will haunt me for years to come and the monstrosity that he unleashed on defenseless animals and the sadistic appeal he gleaned from the suffering of dying women.
This book was truly fast-paced, and kept me enthralled; as soon as I was able to recover from one bout of tottering, another followed up to tear down any hopes of recovery or becoming contented in its predictability. Never happened.
I will out right admit it- I was frightened; pleasantly so. It has to be in the top ten, best written books I've ever read! I wish she had written more than than those two we have to treasure. ;_; -
More than a bodice ripper, this classic set in 17th century Spain is a Keeper!
This was my second by Denys and it’s another stunningly dramatic story set in 17th century Spain, and a very worthy read. It tells the story of beautiful Juana de Arrelanos, eldest daughter of a successful merchant who betroths her to the mysterious Bartolomé, Duque de Valenzuela to gain a title. But Juana’s heart belongs to her childhood sweetheart, Jaime de Nueva, and she naively hopes to persuade the Duque to let her leave when he learns she is unwilling.
When she arrives at the sprawling edifice that is Castillo Benaventes, she realizes all is not as it should be. She is not greeted by her intended, but rather by his manipulating uncle who assures her all is well, and the scornful mercenary, Felipe Tristan, the Duque's protector. Behind Felipe’s scarred visage are many secrets, among them his attraction to Juana.
A treacherous plot is underway to use Juana to assure an heir for the family no matter her intended, the Duque, is not capable of siring one, for he is an idiot, deformed in body and depraved in soul. When Juana discovers this, she is desperate to get out of the coming marriage, but her attempts are quickly thwarted. In one brutal stroke, Felipe takes away her options, leaving her trapped.
This was Denys’ first book, and it’s amazing. As story of redemption and discovery, it is rich with intrigue and passion. Her writing is superb, her characters well drawn and the plot intricate. The tension remains until the very end. Juana is a courageous young woman whose unwilling response to Felipe reveals she is not the docile daughter others believe her to be. And always Felipe, the strong enigmatic foreign mercenary, scarred in body and soul, is there in the background, pulling the strings. I felt like I was living in Spain, walking alongside Juana as she experienced the horror of the plans laid out for her, all the while dealing with the obstacles in her path and fighting the passion Felipe has awakened in her.
It’s a superbly written page-turner that kept me reading late into the night. Sadly, Teresa Denys died suddenly in an auto accident in the late 80s, and the world of romance was deprived of a great talent. Her only other novel, THE SILVER DEVIL, is another keeper. I highly recommend them both. -
This is one of these "Old Skool" books where the hero kind of rapes the heroine before you hit the 100 pages mark. I say "kind of" because, of course, the heroine was overwhelmed by her senses and ended up enjoying it...
Gah, I HATE this. It's one thing for a psychotic jerk to get all caveman but why do authors make the TSTL heroine enjoy it? The rape/enjoyment trope was very common at one time and I usually can never get over it.
But I kept reading because I was in the mood for a trainwreck I could snark over. Well... it ended up being not quite a trainwreck if you can believe it.
The hero (and I use the term loosely):
One of those jerk-types who's been "wronged" by a woman in the past and uses that as an excuse to treat all women like dirt while bedding them left and right. I could stomach reading about him because the author made the character interesting by having him be an opportunistic mercenary out to make money and ready to do anything to get what he wants. He knew how to play the game of courtly deceit, even if the author was way too heavy-handed with all the less than subtle clues that his assumed obedience chaffed. Of course, she then had to go and spoil it by having him be .
The heroine:
Ah, Juana... Crazily in love with her goody-two-shoes neighbour one week and obsessing over the man who raped her the next... When her previous swain shows up in the middle of the book, she can hardly remember his face or why she loved him so much the week before... When she runs away from the hero in the second part of the book (with much less cause than she would have had in the first part), she goes to a stranger she's exchanged a couple of sentences with in a church and thinks nothing of said stranger spending heaps of money on her. And she's surprised when she finally realizes she was just being pampered to be sold to the highest bidder.
So why the 3 stars? I don't quite know. There was something compelling about that book. Maybe it was the crazy potential it had to be awesome had it been written as a meaty court intrigue instead of a campy old skool romance. Whatever it was kept me up until 3:30 am so that I could finish reading it. -
I have had Teresa Denys's two books,
The Flesh and the Devil and
The Silver Devil on my wish list for years. Like so many others I thought the exceptional reviews mirrored exceptional romances. Written over 30 years ago, both stories are suppose to be the epitome of bodice rippers.
What is the definition of an old-style bodice ripper? It is suppose to be a "sexually explicit romantic novel; usually in a historical setting and always with a plot involving the seduction of the heroine". Now remember, 'sexually explicit' meant something different back then. I think a better term would be sexually-charged. Women like me, and some men, read these romances for both the steamy and historical story lines. You did not have all the choices that you have today.
FYI: both historical romances are currently out-of-print and prices for a copy are ridiculous.
~~~~~~
Juana de Arrelano was young and naive when she was betrothed to a Duque. In a nutshell, there was something wrong with the man, both physically and mentally. His family knows this but they needed an heir. Felipe Tristan was both a mercenary and the man in charge of 'taking care' of the Duque. He was also scarred and that scared Juana. She led a spoiled life up to this point and treated Tristan shabbily. When he first saw her, he was in-lust.
The story included 'the virgin and forced sex' trope and a ‘love and hate’ relationship. It was brutal and harsh at times. Women, for the most part, were treated as inferior and it was an accepted part of life. At times I felt sorry for Tristan. Then he would do something despicable and I thought Juana deserved my sympathy. Honestly, I was exhausted when this romance finally came to an end.
I know many others gave it high marks and I respect that. This story took me back in time, to the days when I did not have the opportunity to read everything I can today. For those of you that love this style of writing, go for it. I read this HR and it is permanently out of my system. 😳 -
3.15 STARS
This one had the potential to become one of my favourite books in the genre.
Unfortunately, the author never bothers to develop her characters and prefers to rely solely on tropes and as a result, I couldn't really empathise with any of them. I lost count of how many moustache-twirling villains our heroine meets on her journey, but as a plot device, they certainly became redundant.
The book would've benefitted from fewer kidnapping scenes and a couple more convos between the MCs. My main complaint is that the main love story, while compelling, lacked depth: I'm still confused as to how the heroine could come to love the hero within weeks of meeting him and after being on the receiving end of his constant cruelty. I truly wish the author had paid more attention to the pacing and characterization.
On the other hand, if you're in the mood for a dark romance that isn't set in Regency England and don't mind a truly grey hero, this book definitely fits the bill! -
Thank you, Goodreads, for letting me know that "Teresa Denys" was the pseudonym for senior Mills&Boon editor Jacqui Bianchi. Wow, you can learn something new here every day!
EDIT TO ADD:
I have felt, since the first time that I read it, that this is a rare treasure of a book. The current market value of the printed edition bears me (and other 5-star raters!) out.
Despite what the naysayers opine, I think that the historical authenticity negates the (all too valid!) modern objections. So unusual for me to accept Denys' heroes' actions in other contexts, but the complete immersion into another time and place makes it impossible to do otherwise
Also, Denys' language is wonderful. A must-read. -
Good book but no way as excellent as the silver devil!!
-
More than a bodice ripper, this classic set in 17th century Spain is a Keeper!
This was my second by Denys and it’s another stunningly dramatic story set in 17th century Spain, and a very worthy read. It tells the story of beautiful Juana de Arrelanos, eldest daughter of a successful merchant who betroths her to the mysterious Bartolomé, Duque de Valenzuela to gain a title. But Juana’s heart belongs to her childhood sweetheart, Jaime de Nueva, and she naively hopes to persuade the Duque to let her leave when he learns she is unwilling.
When she arrives at the sprawling edifice that is Castillo Benaventes, she realizes all is not as it should be. She is not greeted by her intended, but rather by his manipulating uncle who assures her all is well, and the scornful mercenary, Felipe Tristan, the Duque's protector. Behind Felipe’s scarred visage are many secrets, among them his attraction to Juana.
A treacherous plot is underway to use Juana to assure an heir for the family no matter her intended, the Duque, is not capable of siring one, for he is an idiot, deformed in body and depraved in soul. When Juana discovers this, she is desperate to get out of the coming marriage, but her attempts are quickly thwarted. In one brutal stroke, Felipe takes away her options, leaving her trapped.
This was Denys’ first book, and it’s amazing. As story of redemption and discovery, it is rich with intrigue and passion. Her writing is superb, her characters well drawn and the plot intricate. The tension remains until the very end. Juana is a courageous young woman whose unwilling response to Felipe reveals she is not the docile daughter others believe her to be. And always Felipe, the strong enigmatic foreign mercenary, scarred in body and soul, is there in the background, pulling the strings. I felt like I was living in Spain, walking alongside Juana as she experienced the horror of the plans laid out for her, all the while dealing with the obstacles in her path and fighting the passion Felipe has awakened in her.
It’s a superbly written page-turner that kept me reading late into the night. Sadly, Teresa Denys died suddenly in an auto accident in the late 80s, and the world of romance was deprived of a great talent. Her only other novel, THE SILVER DEVIL, is another keeper. I highly recommend them both. -
This made uncomfortable but not for any of the obvious reasons you would expect from a bodice ripper. There was rape, scheming, arranged marriage, murder, more scheming and hate sex aplenty, but what unsettled me is how bereft I felt that it ended so abruptly. I fell in love with these characters, in particular Felipe/Phillip and I would have happily read through over-inflated chapters about the building of a new life in England on his uncle's inheritance, the birth of his child with Juana, and their mundane day to day married life built on hard won trust (it only took them 300+ pages of drama and unnecessary bullshit).
I still find The Silver Devil to be the superior book of Denys's tragically limited creative output since this one goes into a lot of cliche conflicts that could have easily been avoided by communication, but the first 3/4 are amazing and very stirring. The class distinction between Juana and Phillip created very delicious tension and dialogue from the moment they meet. -
Let me start by saying that this is by far and without competition the very best bodice-ripper I have ever read, and possibly the best historical romance.
Having read this, I could easily trash the genre forever, because nothing else will compare. Good thing the author wrote another book as well :) I'll definetely make a bee-line for it!
Since all the other reviews have already pointed out what's so ZING-awesome about the book, I'll point out my one complaint which no one else seems to have had.
Apart from being a perfect bodice-ripper, The Flesh and the Devil, I also expected to be a GREAT novel.
I won't lie. I looked at my Kindle starry-eyed, expecting
Gone with the Wind.
Now, Gone with the Wind is one of my all-time favorite novels for all kinds of reasons. It has a love story (I'm careful not to say romance here, because it isn't romantic) and a war story.
At the beginning of TFATD, I had the impression that the book was going to have less romance and more courtly intrigue. I felt like the author chickened out from making the plot hard to handle when and and . It all felt really orchestrated and unbelievable.
IMHO, being a bodice-ripper is no excuse for employing overused clichés and making haste with the protagonist's feelings for each other.
The book was great, and fully deserves the five stars I'm giving it, but it would have been a lot better if it had been twice as long with a few more unexpected plotlines. -
I liked the book fine until the hero started cheating on the heroine and basically whoring himself out. I mean, what did he expect from the heroine, besides hate, after raping her and blackmailing her into marrying him, when he never said a word of his feelings? And there was hardly anything from his perspective to explain any of it. He did explain, at the end, but it didn't really satisfy me.
-
Недоразумения и инат пишат на един дъх цели романи. Извод: Говорете си по-често, бе хора, не само на последна страница... Но пък каква малко готическа, залязваща Испания на Хабсбургите от 17-ти век.
-
What a compelling and beautiful experience this novel has been! I am in a deep sad pain now that reading this masterpiece has come to an end and that I will forever be deprived of the wonderful love story of Felipe Tristan and Juana. Perhaps what makes their attraction for each other all the more compelling is its intensity amidst a gothic and suspenseful setting. I cannot begin to imagine the dark ambience our heroine, Juana was thrown into for it overwhelms the mind. The characters were so real and vivid, I am sure they will remain in my memory for a very long time to come. The storyline was very well developed and I can say that Ms. Denys is an unpredictable and impeccable writer.
I am also saddened to know that anything I will read next will be lacking. Yet, I am glad for the fates that I even stumbled upon such a novel, all thanks to Goodreads. I highly doubt any of the so-called historical romance authors of today can even begin to write something so magnificent! I'd like to see such a work of art today. I had some knowledge before reading that the author, Jaqci Bianchi, had terribly passed away after completing only two novels, this and The Silver Devil. Therefore, I had braced myself to read something so rare and possibly unique, as there will be no more of her novels to search for, unfortunately. I definitely can't wait to read The Silver Devil! -
it's really Teresa Denys's style that both her books that i read have dark backgrounds. and her male roles are dark too. it seems that they were born in life not to be happy but to be cold, cruel and even dictatorial. they show nothing attractive as in Judith Mcnaught's male roles but disgusting and scaring feelings. however, it turned out in the end that they're all normal for their needs of loving and caring and trust in the women they chose for their lives.
her books are good. but not the best choice for eager and young readers who still have fresh views in life. you need some readiness for your courage before taking Teresa Denys's books :). -
This sort of makes today's romances pale. I've suffered a lot lately with these characters and the ones in Stormfire. It was worth it, but WHEW.
-
WELL, WELL, WELL. I really enjoyed this one. The growth from both mc was soo good, even though the plot was miscommunication over miscommunication sometimes I would get tired, and generally I rlly like miscommunication trope. I gotta agree with one review; the first part of the book was 5/5 stars and I could've had the entire book about it, the rest was a solid 3/5.
If you seem interested in the book and are new to bodice rippers, keep in mind the triggers and check for trigger warnings. These are the ones I can think of: sexual assault, rape, and ableism.
