Ravi is a nice sort of person I did really like him, as he was constantly supportive of Ada's wishes to go to university and take her future into her hands.

The romance isn't annoying, but it did happen too fast. The Romance: This was the biggest problem I had with Cinders & Sapphires. He seemed like a creepy guy who would have added a lot to the story. There are some characters that I wish we Readers had had more time to know, such as Lord Finton's valet Simon. The shrewd, scheming ones were fun to hate, and the nice characters quite wonderful. Suffice to say, every character has a lot of personality, and I liked them in all of their capacities. Then we have Sebastian Templeton, who I did really like (at first), Emily Maddox (whose friendly, intelligent, and opinionated nature was an immediate hit), her brother Lord Finton, and a great deal more characters than there is space to talk about them. While not as aware of loyalty her station as ladies' maid demands like Miss O'Brien in Downton Abbey, Stella is just as mean and scheming. Probably the character most fun to hate, though, is Stella, Charlotte's ladies' maid. Charlotte Templeton is the perfect conniving stepsister, and her mother is equally horrendous. And despite Georgianna Averley's flightiness, I did really love her innocence and high spirits.

Rose Cliffe is equally likable, with her love of music, hardworking spirit, and her loyalty to Ada. And just like Lady Sybil, Ada is quite lovable. Take Lady Sybil from Downton Abbey and put her in Lady Mary's place as the eldest daughter, and you have Ada Averley. Her attachment to Ravi was less understandable to me, but I'll talk more about that in a minute.

Only she has the power to restore the Averley name - but it would mean giving up her one true love.someone she could never persuade her father to accept.Ĭharacters: Ada Averley was easy to connect to, when it came to her love for learning and wanting to attend university. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family's honor. But terrible scandal has followed Ada's beloved father all the way from India. Still, she can't help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.įor the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies' maid.

Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress.

At somerton cinders & sapphires