3.5*. This was A HISTORY LESSON and also FUN and SWEET. I love when queer historical fic is well-researched, and not dependent on our inevitably-distorted ideas of what (f'rex) 1875 London was like for queer men of color. The characters are affected by their milieu and the bigger political issues of the day, but they're also hot and I believe they are into each other, yanno?

This works well as a novella, which is not something I say often --- it's not common for a short piece to have the exact right amount of plot and character development, without feeling stretched or squashed. Still, I'd happily read three times as much. More Lawless & Pandey Investigations, please? ( )

4.5 stars rounded up. It was a little bit of a slow start for me, but the characters and plot are well filled out for its small size. Part of the lawyer's journey was to realize that not everything is as black and white as he's comfortable with, but he still moralized a few too many times not to be tiresome. Overall both characters were likable though, and their relationship, once it got going, made me smile as I read.

2nd read- I wanted a short read I knew I would enjoy, and this was nice all over again. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

This is amazingly good. Intensely real conflicts between the main characters are made all the more striking by the rough and often ugly settings. The plot is unique and compelling. And then there's that cat. Old wounds, lost childhood, illicit and illegal publications, missing sex worker, corrupt relatives, Indian labor rights, and a reunion. I cannot praise Unfit to Print highly enough. This is KJ Charles at her best - and that is a very high bar.

I used to dislike historical romance. It was many years before I could articulate why, beyond the glut of titled and royal characters (versus historical reality). Now I can identify the heart of my aversion as the misuse and abuse of power dynamics inherent not only in such a strictly stratified society, but also between men and women in 18th and 19th century England (the setting for most historicals). Same-sex romances erase at least some of that power inequality, so I can enjoy the love stories. ( )

K. J. Charles’ books never disappoint, it’s like she uses some magic formula… ( )