The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
This review is long overdue. This is one of the Historical novels I read some time ago and loved so much. The male lead especially.
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is almost like it sounds. Set in the Victorian era, autistic Ian Mackenzie was labeled mad all his life. His behaviour is strange and his inability to communicate like ‘normal’ people makes him a stain. Rescued by his brother after being shipped to an asylum, Ian is unfailingly loyal to him even to the point of bearing the mark of a murderer.
This book is on so many levels. From the male lead who is in all ways strong, vulnerable and unpredictable to the female lead who is more nurturing with a flamboyant taste for the dangerous - in this case, Ian. Beth, a woman with a small fortune, needs a husband and Ian should be her least choice. But he draws her. The dangers about him and the rumours do nothing to relinquish the hold he has on her. So, she gives in and soon enough, she discovers just how much Ian needs her.
I loved this book for so many reasons, as I said earlier. It was clear to me that Ian was autistic. However, it was the 1800s. The lack of knowledge led to Ian’s years of torture in the asylum. However, there were three things that I absolutely loved about Ian. One was his obvious loyalty. He was so loyal to his brother. This ticked me off sometimes as his loyalty towards Hart would clash with his for Beth. Second was his vulnerability. As strong as he was, Ian did not try to cover up who he was. Especially with Beth. And third was his love for porcelain. I can’t explain it but it just made him adorable to me.
Beth, as beguiling as she was, frustrated me to no end. While I understood why she would always go out of her way to meet with Ian’s enemies, it still pissed me off how much she tried to play a diplomat. In the end, she succeeded in clearing Ian’s name, but she gave me red balls while she was at it.
In a nutshell, this book was intriguing as it was wild. It took me on a coaster of emotions and then flipped me upside down with the twist at the end. This is a 4.5 out of 5 stars for me.
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love this summary of 'The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie'. The complexities of Ian's character and Beth's strength are so captivating. Can't wait to dive in.
Hey, I wasn't familiar with this book at all, but your review has left me eager to read it. It looks amazing! Your description of the protagonist, Ian, seems super original and engaging. An autistic character in the Victorian era... it sounds like a story with a lot of depth, and I think it's very brave of the author to address such a topic in that context. I'm definitely writing it down. It sounds like one of those historical novels that has everything: romance, mystery, and characters that stay with you. Thanks for the recommendation!