Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Henry 'Monty' Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and travelling companion, Percy.

Still, it isn't in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

I'd seen a lot (and I mean a lot) of hype for this book on Instagram and Goodreads over the past few months. I'll admit I was sold as soon as I read the title, and the amazing cover sealed the deal. I knew from the blurb that I would love this book, I'd just underestimated how much. I didn't want it to end! I wanted to stay with Monty, Percy and Felicity and go on some more epic adventures around Europe.

It's safe to say that Mackenzi has packed a lot into this novel, it's incredibly far fetched and at times ridiculous, but somehow it all works. It's a love story, a coming of age story, but above all it's a full on, fast paced adventure story. Pirates, highway men, palaces, parties, alchemy. Paris, Barcelona, Venice. It's gripping and unpredictable, and yet written with such humour and heart that it's a fun, exciting ride.

As far as I'm aware this is my first YA historical novel, and also the first novel I've read with bisexual/gay leading characters. And what an introduction. From the very first page I was besotted with both Monty and Percy. I couldn't help but smile at the camaraderie between them as it slowly blossomed into something more, and amidst all the action and drama, my favourite moments of the novel were the quieter ones that they shared. Monty is a fantastic narrator. Full of wit and charm with the devastating looks to match, he is a self confessed rake in the making. Yet as the story progresses he begins to learn from his mistakes, and to understand that life isn't all about himself. For me, characterisation and dialogue is one hundred percent what makes this novel so special. Felicity has some fantastic lines - she's a brilliant character well deserving of her own impending novel - and the banter between Monty and Percy I just adored.

I read The Princess Bride for the first time recently, and its tag line I feel applies to this book too, for The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is, above all, an epic tale of 'true love and high adventure.'