Unmasked by the Marquess (Regency Impostors, #1)

by Cat Sebastian

[celinenyx]

Real rating is 3,5 stars.

A non-binary main character! A bisexual hero! Historical shenanigans! All of these elements made Unmasked by the Marquess a book I had to try. Charity/Robert/Robin has lived as a man for the past four years. She went to Cambridge, and is now in London, presenting her sister to society. Lord Pembroke will do everything to keep his reputation spotless, and falling in love with (a person he assumes to be) a man isn't part of this equation.

Cross-dressing and genderbending can be treated dreadfully in fictional stories. The "gender reveal" moment can be horrifying. Although I cannot speak for how Unmasked by the Marquess makes trans people feel, I liked how Charity/Robin's identity was treated, more notably: how it was taken seriously. Her role in the story is not to be "cured". She is undeniably who she is, and the novel resonated with what I know about history. While Alistair and Robin have plenty of issues to work out, mainly about trust and opening up to each other, her gender identity is never truly contested, and Alistair takes these developments in stride.

Alistair is the anthropomorphic equivalent of a well-starched collar. Always correct and presentable, he has taken his title and role a bit too seriously, and his character development revolves around him discovering that what society thinks is actually not that important. A notable flaw, on the other hand, is Robin's development. Or, the lack thereof. Because Mx Sebastian is careful not to present Robin as damaged in any way, there is little growth for her to be had. In essence, she is much the same person she was in the beginning, only having gained a new person in the form of Alistair. A substantial part of her identity is determined by her providing for her sister, Louisa, but Unmasked by the Marquess fails the Bechdell test. Although there is plenty of drama whirling around, this is superficial. The drama caused by Lousia and Alistair's brother Gilbert is merely window-dressing; although Alistair, again, shows substantial growth in regard to his behaviour to his brother, Robin's development is lacking.

While I LOVE what the author attempted to do in Unmasked by the Marquess, I wish Robin had been given more room to shine, as she deserves.