So... The Den of Iniquity... that's what we're here to talk about. It's the first book in Annabelle Bryant's Bastards of London series. Don't ask me how many books there will be in the series because I don't know and, to be honest, I'm not sure I ever will know. Because this book is... fine. Just... fine. Not anything earth-shattering and not anything window shattering, as in a reader might be inclined to throw it out a window in hatred.

It's fine.

It starts of with the trite trope of an upper class woman, in Victorian England of course, setting out to 'reform' a man who has absolutely no desire to be reformed. Vivienne, said (unmarried) upper class woman, decides to do this in her mother's memory. I read the book a couple months ago and can't quite remember what charities her mother undertook, but I did get the sense that Vivienne was bored by simply teaching the poor street urchins and helping prostitutes get off the streets and things.

So she sets her sights on a man who chooses to go by Sin (because his name is Sinclair) who runs a gambling hell (I honestly thought it was a much repeated typo to say hell instead of hall... or meant to further the narrative of Sin needing saving, but apparently it's actually hell... which is fine). 

Anyway, things escalate very quickly to what I noted in my reading journal as "so much smut, glorious smut!"

Not really glorious, though, for reasons I'll explain in a minute. Suffice it to say, the trope plunges along full-speed as the bastard (he has two partners, so possibly the series is a trilogy?) gambling hell owner falls for the proper, titled girl. She agrees to said smut with surprising quickness (I'm talking first meeting sex), apparently in part because of severe issues with her creepy stepfather/guardian.

Things are not smooth sailing for Vivienne, though, thanks to the creepy stepfather/guardian and the clingy, puppy dog love her best friend's brother has for her. And she just wants Sin!

I mean Max. He wants people to call him Sin, to be known as that, but Vivi (as he calls her) refuses and calls him by his Christian name, I suppose you'd call it. All in the name of Bad Boy Reform, of course.

Back to the not so glorious smut. It's fine. Very steamy and hot. I am not, however, the reader who likes my smut best if it seems like the author used a thesaurus to exhaust all the different words, scientific and slang, for human genitalia during a sex scene. I know what parts go where and why. And some words just make me cringe. And that takes something away from the story, in my humble opinion.

There is, however, a breathtaking line in the book that makes up for some of the folds and shafts and things.

...don't ask me to share my soul when I've only just opened my heart...

The end of the story is good, if rushed and a little unbelievable race of fistfights, daring rescues, more sex, and wedding plans all in the space of a day or so.

Den of Iniquity was a fun book, more fun still I imagine if you don't have my sex words hangups. I might read more of the series. I might not. Only time will tell.

(Thanks to NetGalley and HQ/HQ Digital for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest and original review.)

The first of Anabelle Bryant's new series, The Bastards of London -- The Den of Iniquity is indeed a great start!! Sin (or Max) and Vivi are two enjoyable characters! Loved the twists and turns and...the final outcome!! Cannot wait for the next book!

I haven't had a chance to download the book and read it now that it's archived.

I enjoyed the historical romance of this book. the characters were believable and the actions was well paced. the romance was just enough not to take over the story.

"Born on the wrong side of the blanket, sired by a jackal disguised as an earl"...
Anabelle Bryant: DEN OF INIQUITY

Gifted author, Anabelle Bryant is off to a stellar head-start with the first book in the "Bastards of London" series, DEN OF INIQUITY.

In the months following her mother's death of consumption, Lady Vivienne Beaumont remained closeted away in her stepfather's home, mourning the profound loss of her only family member. When that mourning period is over, Vivienne knows she must pick up her head and venture out into society. Thank goodness for friends Sophie and her brother Crispin, for now Vivienne has much to look forward to. In addition to her friends, Vivienne takes up the mantle of her mother's charitable causes, but something is still missing...

Meet Maxwell Sinclair, part owner and operator of the Underworld, an exclusive London gaming hell, and a force to be reckoned with. Born to the mistress of an earl, Maxwell's mother made sure her illegitimate son had the best education her sacrifice could buy. Bred to dislike the ton but welcomes their bad luck at the gaming tables, Maxwell Sinclair, AKA, Sin, seemingly wants nothing from anyone.

When Max meets the stunning beauty named Vivienne, he knows she is too good for the likes of him, but that doesn't stop the moth from being attracted to the flame. Leaving her his calling card was an invitation of light into his darkness, and Max doesn't know what he's getting into allowing Vivienne into his world. Ever the charitable young Miss, Vivienne decides to make Maxwell Sinclair her reformation project.... and oh what a project it becomes.

When saving her reputation could mean the forfeit of life, Max is torn between both the Underworld and Vivienne's world.Giving any of this story away would be a true crime, as it needs to be savored for all it's worth. Ms. Bryant brings to life the struggle of light and dark, passion and pain. Each and every single one of the author's characters brings unique qualities to the story and makes this reader want to know more. Ms. Bryant's elegant and intricate descriptions breathes life into her dark and dangerous settings and grabs the reader until the very end. DEN OF INIQUITY, the first in the Bastards of London series is a stunning read that should not be missed and Anabelle Bryant should be an author on everyone's TBR list.

I really enjoyed this book. The era fit the story perfectly and held all the charm you'd expect. The main characters are easy to empathise with and relatable. Looking forward to the next book.

One of the things that I most enjoyed about this book was that it wasn't as light hearted as the usual Regency era stories. There was a more darker element to it which made a refreshing change. Anabelle Bryant sets the scene brilliantly especially in the bleak and destitute parts of London. The descriptions drew me into the story and held my attention.

The chemistry between Vivienne and Max is pretty explosive, put it this way my Kindle nearly set on fire! I really took to Max, he had lots of layers to his personality and made an intriguing character. It was great to meet the other owners of The Underworld (great name by the way) and I hope we get to find out their stories.

The Den of Iniquity has a hint of danger running throughout which definitely keeps things interesting. Add to that some sizzling moments along the way and two appealing characters you really can't go wrong.

This book has everything danger, desire and delightful characters!

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Anabelle Bryant, Jenny at Neverland Blog Tours, HQDigitalUK & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The first in the series “Bastards of London”, “The Den of Iniquity” by Anabelle Bryant, once again shows her talent in weaving a mesmerising tale. This is a move away from her Regency novels, where it follows Max Sinclair (Sin), and Vivienne Beaumont, in the gambling hells of London. Max, the bastard son of a lord, is attempting to find and kill the men who murdered his mother. The owner of the Underworld establishment with his partners Luke and Cole, he sees the world in a different light to Vivienne, who is a young lady, suffering the loss of her mother.
Vivienne and Max meet and find themselves instantly drawn to each other. Max finds that his main purpose is clouded by this attraction, and fights his attraction, realising that Vivienne is of a higher status them him. Bryant manages to make their attraction so strongly felt, that any differences between the two, is quickly overcome. Their passion almost leaps from the pages. The strong personality of Max and his dark personality is well established but you can’t help but admire him despite his past. Vivienne was also, a likeable character, and I found myself cheering the two on and hoping that all would work by the end.
I would highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more about the friends of Max and Vivienne in this series. This is an intriguing novel and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to ready about the dark side of Regency London. I think everyone who reads this would agree.
I received this free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.

I liked the premise of this book, but then it became just a regular romance novel, which is fine, but I was looking for more story.

For such differences in their stations, Max Sinclair, a proprietor of a gaming hall and Vivienne Beaumont, an Earl's step-daughter, do seem to run into each other a lot.. Max is hell bent on exacting revenge for his mother's murder and Vivienne is just as focused on rescuing Max.
I loved the premise and enjoyed some of the directions I thought the book was taking me but some stories ended abruptly or just weren't flushed out. There were also some awkward timing transitions that led to some confusion. Overall I liked the characters instant connection and I think the upcoming books in thr Bastards of London series will be worth the read. My one suggestion though is an epilogue especially for books with an abrupt ending.

The Den of Iniquity, Anabelle Bryant’s first novel in her new series Bastards of London has a quite different feel to it from her other Regency novels. This setting is darker, grittier and, in many ways, even more intriguing as we are taken to a part of Regency London that is usually only hinted at, spoken softly of with a quick look over the shoulder – now, we’re about to experience it face to face.

Max and his partners Luke and Cole, all born on that wrong side of the noble blanket, run one of the most successful and perhaps most notorious gambling hells in London. A place where the rich rub shoulders with the man on the street – both willing to bet that they can walk away with their cash and add to their coffers as well. I wouldn’t take that bet myself, but for a gambler with a fire in their blood, the Underworld is the perfect place for gambling, drinking and other activities.

Our three friends have other… talents… aside from running the Underworld establishment. And in time we will get to understand their motives and passions. For now let’s concentrate on Max and his wolfhound, Ransom. Max has one purpose in life. Revenge. He’s a man who has the need to seek his revenge up close and personal…and he doesn’t mind the mess involved.

Vivienne is a lovely,proper young lady who has recently lost her mother to death. Although her mother remarried shortly before her death, Vivienne’s step-father is a man of means and secrets. The official year of mourning has passed and suddenly she is no longer comfortable in his presence. His attentions unsettle her, and it almost seems as if he’s trying to form her into her mother’s image. She spends as much time away from him as possible and taking up the mantle of her mother’s favorite charities is the best way to remain out of the house and out of his sight.

It is through a meeting for one of those charities that Vivienne first encounters Max… well, she’ll be frightened by Ransom first and quickly rescued from the wolfhound’s intent to trap her in place as a threat to his master. Max is at the grave of a man who has escaped his revenge through death – and not at Max’s hand. As he rushes to deal with whatever it is that Ransom has cornered, Max has no idea that his life is about to change or if he even wants it to.

I found The Den of Iniquity to be an intense, even wicked look into a part of Regency London that we rarely get to visit firsthand. On the surface Max and Vivienne are such opposites in both society and outlooks on life. Max is dark, sinful and has a precise, single minded intensity that the reader can feel through the pages. And when that intensity is focused on Vivienne the pages smolder. While a part of me lusted after Max, another part wanted to take Vivienne under my wing and make her my new best friend. She is… becoming something that she never knew even existed in her world. And Max is certainly caught up in her innocent spell as well. I liked them together, they fit with enough opposite qualities that eventually merged into a believable couple.

There is danger, steamy moments, secrets, villains and a love worth fighting for in this story. Colorful and intriguing secondary characters bring their own magic and teases of stories yet to come. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of this series to uncover even more secrets.

I would highly recommend this story and series to any Regency reader, especially those that always wondered about the other side of London. Take a risk and explore the darker, gritter side of Regency London in The Den of Iniquity. I believe you’ll be caught up in these characters lives and be waiting for more to come.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

Grief and vengeance--not so strange bedfellows.

1st in a new series with strong possibilities.
The central characters are vigorous although switching between happenings is occasionally disjointed.
Bereaved Vivienne Beaumont has a heart of gold, is virtuous and has the looks to slay armies.
Max Sinclair (Sin), bastard son of a lord, has attitude, great sorrow, a vengeful heart and the ability to slay armies.
Max is one of three owners of the Underground, a notorious gaming club for the wealthy in London's darker side.
Max and Vivienne meet in an out of the way London churchyard where Max is viewing the grave of one of his enemies. Max's mother was brutally killed and abused when he was a young boy. Max is actively seeking the perpetrators to take his revenge. Vivienne is contemplating what charitable works of her mother's she will continue to support, including the nuns who tend the gardens here. Vivienne thinks that Max's dog Ransom is a wolf and frightens her.
Vivienne's time of mourning for her mother has come to an end. Her mother died a small time after marrying Lord Ellis Downing, Earl of Huntley, who is encouraging Vivienne to take up her life again. What with Vivienne's mother's marriage and then sudden illness, Vivienne knows little about her stepfather.
Vivienne decides that Max should be her charitable cause. Now why Vivienne thinks she must reform Max is where things get hazy for me. Still it is one way of them coming together. Of course the reformation goes two ways--not at all in the way Vivienne expected. Who knew this greaving young woman could throw of the shackles of respectability so quickly--but perhaps it's the greaving factor.
Then there's the shadowy stepfather!
The other owners of the club have problems barely hinted. Yet those hints set up the future direction of the Bastards of London stories.
The Den of Iniquity delves into tried and tested theme of innocence meets sinful rake with some interesting results.

A NetGalley ARC

(January 2017)

It's a nice story, nice protagonists but the formatting is horrible and the sudden jumps from one POV to another.