Viscounts & Villainy by Allie Therin
Roaring Twenties Magic #3

~ Perfect conclusion to a wonderful trilogy ~ Loved Sebastion & Wesley for and with one another ~ Still smiling as I think of this perfect pair ~

What I liked:
* Sebastian: paranormal, magic user who lost his magic, in a relationship with Wesley-Lord Fine, talkative, kind, loves animals, medic in WWI, calmer with Wesley than alone, from a loving family, Puerto Rican, good friend, protective, affectionate, nimble, intriguing
* Wesley: has no magic, strong, intelligent, was a Captain in the British Army during WWI, a bit gruff and grumpy, doesn’t see the good in himself but it is seen by Sebastian, claims not to have emotions but definitely has the feels for Sebastian
* Watching the development of the relationship between Sebastian and Wesley as it grew and developed over the three books
* The tie-in of characters and stories with the Magic in Manhattan series with characters from that series showing up in this series
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The mystery of the seven relics followed through the series and finding out where the last two were
* That good overcomes evil
* The conclusion of the trilogy held at Sebastian’s family home with a large crowd that allowed me to see who was left standing and tied everything up with no loose strings left dangling
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The crazy evil people in this book that had warped thinking and were willing to kill to fulfill their goals
* Thinking about how difficult it was for couples like Sebastian and Wesley to be together in the era of this book
* That I had to say goodbye to such wonderful characters

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

this was a fine ending to the series but it was missing the punch of the big final fight, ya know? but it was nice to see wes grow his heart 3 sizes or whatever.

I quite enjoyed this wrap up to the Roaring Twenties Magic series. Though, it did take me a minute to remember what was happening in the series, as I read the second book months ago (probably last year?).

I liked that Wesley (Lord Fine) finally allowed himself to fully love Sebastian in a way that he didn't think he could, and overall I really liked them as a couple. I'd love to see stories about some of the side characters, though, as they were all really well written!

The only thing that didn't really work for me was Sebastian's magic and what the heck the deal was with that. It all sort of came together really quickly, but the reasoning wasn't very satisfying for me. It felt really rushed and not well thought out.

Overall, really enjoyed the story and will definitely be reading whatever Therin puts out next!

2.5 stars. I thought I would enjoy Allie Therin more, as the novels fall within several categories of books that I tend to enjoy and authors whose books I've enjoyed. I liked the book well enough, and would definitely recommend this to a wide variety of friends and fellow readers, but I myself wasn't fully satisfied, maybe because I didn't fully care for the main characters?

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was such a great end to the trilogy and was a super satisfying wrap up for Sebastian and Wesley!

I really adored this book. This entire trilogy has been fantastic and this was a great conclusion. Seeing how much Wes and Sebastian grew together and as individuals and watching it all culminate with this book and the wrap-up for the plot with the relics was great.

Full disclosure, I had to re-read
Once a Rogue just before starting this book since it’s been 2 years since its release and I wanted everything to be fresh in my mind (these books do NOT work as standalones lol). However, rereading the previous book actually wasn’t a chore because it reminded me of everything I loved about this series and why I eagerly anticipated the release of this book for years.

Returning to the paranormal 20’s built by the wonderful mind of Allie Therin, we met up once again with the effortlessly witty Lord Fine and Sebastian his partner who brought out the softness in him. His constant denials of his emotions (while capitulating to Sebastian’s sentimental wishes) have been the funniest things this entire series , and I was glad to read more of it here.

Now to the culmination of three books of magic, adventure and intrigue, we FINALLY discover the machinations behind the scenes and especially who prodded the villains of the previous books into their heinous acts, while tying up all the lose ends left from the previous 2 books.

Even better, old favorites made appearances and the relationship between Lord Fine and Sebastian matured beautifully in this story. In order not to give too much away, I will just say; this book was a fitting and wonderful end to this trilogy. It exceeded all my expectations and I will surely be rereading the entire thing in the near future.

If you haven’t began this series and are a lover of paranormal and/or historical novels, with a beautifully nuanced relationship, give this a shot. You will not regret it.

Viscounts & Villainy delivers a thrilling, beautifully crafted conclusion full of sharp wit, deep emotion, and magical intrigue that kept me hooked until the very last page.

Viscounts & Villainy is a charming and magical historical romance that blends paranormal elements with heartfelt emotion. The dynamic between the protagonists crackles with tension and tenderness, making their journey both swoon-worthy and emotionally satisfying.
The witty banter and romance were delightful. Allie Therin excels at creating chemistry that feels both magical and grounded in real emotional stakes.

I love a good grumpy/sunshine pairing, so this entire series has been a great read for me.

Poor grumpy Wes! He’s so, so uncomfortable with his own emotions, and casual affection is like a foreign language to him. Sebastian, sunshiny cinnamon roll that he is, is constantly knocking Wes for a loop with his open emotions and affectionate gestures. Even with all that evidence in front of him, Wes is so convinced that he’s fundamentally unlovable that it’s impossible for him to believe that someone like Sebastian might truly care for him. So, when Sebastian finally drops those three little words, it hits Wes like a train. And when Wes accepts that Sebastian truly does love him and fumbles out a response with his typical emotional awkwardness, it’s such a sweet moment. Just a perfect ending to their story.

The conclusion of the overarching plot involving the relics and their threat to magic was satisfying, too. The resolution of the thread of Sebastian’s loss of his magical powers was maybe a tad schmaltzy for me, but as this is a romance, I’ll allow it. 😆

I’ve really enjoyed reading about Wes and Sebastian—and Arthur and Rory, too. Here’s hoping Allie Therin comes back to writing historical fantasy after she finishes her current contemporary series!

Viscounts and Villianry was a fitting ending to Wesley and Sebastian's story.

I continue to enjoy their relationship and dynamic - grumpy x sunshine is a classic trope for a reason. In this one, we also explore the ramifications of Sebastian's losing his magic has on their relationship.

The characters from the first series continued to play a part - especially Arthur and Rory - which is always nice.

This final book also wraps up to the mystery of who was targeting paranormals and honestly, I have no strong feelings on that either way. The strength of this book is definitely in its characters and relationship, whilst the plot is simply serviceable to keep the story ticking along.

Overall though, an enjoyable end to the series and to a romance I ended up far more invested in than I thought I would be when book one was announced!

Fabulous finish to the series! I love cranky Wes and soft-but-tortured Sebastian. They finally got down into the heart of some of their issues in this third installment, helping each other grow and start to heal. The external plot, meanwhile, was zippy and exciting, bringing in evil baddies and (eventually) all the friends we know and love from this universe. There were funny moments, sweet moments, suspenseful moments, and an all-around good time. Recommend for anyone who likes historical fantasy/romance.

Allie has done it AGAIN! I don’t think I could pick a favorite book from this series, but if I could it might be this one! Westley and Sebastian are going to stick with me that’s for damn sure!

Viscounts & Villainy is a perfect conclusion for the series and a brilliant one for Wesley and Sebastian. Allie Therin managed to satisfy my little reader heart, because it feels like the book has everything. Magic, mayhem, quiet moments, expansion of the word-building, character growth and most importantly, growth and deepening of Wesley and Sebastian's relationship.

There's a truly interesting dynamic change in the beginning of Viscounts & Villainy as Sebastian has lost his magic and he has to learn to live without it for the first time in his life. Therin weaves a beautiful story about Sebastian learning to cope with that and him having to rely others. It's so lovely how grumpy and often rude Wesley is always Sebastian's biggest supporter. And as always, adventure and magical mayhem follows! This time Arthur and Rory head to England with Wesley and Sebastian, and it's funny and delightful. I devoured the book!

I have loved every book Allie Therin has written and I constantly yearn more of the worlds and characters, but Wesley and Sebastian has a special place in my heart and will be a favourite of mine for a long time. I'd also love to see more of them, so I wish this is not the last time we see them. In the meantime, I'll most likely re-read the series many times.

In this book, Wesley and Sebastian must navigate and solve the mystery of a murdered friend, infiltrate socialites of Wesley’s past, and keep their relationship a secret from all those around them.

Not only did this novel examine the 1920s and prohibition but also embraced queer love, mystery, and magic.

This book not only built a storyline/continuation of the Magic in Manhattan/Roaring Twenties Magic series but also provided enough background of previous books from an individual like myself who has not read them. I will definitely be going back to read previous novels after reading this one.

While the observation of a historical time period (i.e. the 1920s) was used as a setting, Allie Therin creates new identities and contexts such as magical beings, family curses, etc. I found the inclusion of these elements not only strengthened the story but made me want to read more and more into this world Therin has created.

If you like the following tropes, you will love this book:

Found Family
Magic & Mischief
Queer Love
Mystery & Suspense

A special thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wesley never imagined he’d have someone like Sebastian de Leon in his life. Sebastian is sweet and kind and he sees something good in Wesley that Wesley has never seen in himself. Sebastian even gave up his magic to save Wesley’s life, and while Wesley still doesn’t know quite what Sebastian sees in him, he cherishes Sebastian like no other and would do anything to make him happy.

Unfortunately, things are never easy for the men, as while they have managed to foil one plot to destroy magic in the world, they soon realize that there is a greater evil still operating behind the scenes. But taking on the threat isn’t going to be easy without Sebastian’s magic to help them. Fortunately, Wesley and Sebastian are not without allies — and to Wesley’s surprise, true friends. And while their previous battles have taken them through Sebastian’s world of magic, their latest fight has them facing those from Wesley’s aristocratic world back in England. Now, Wesley and Sebastian have one final showdown that will be their chance to save the world of magic, or to lose both magic and their lives.

Viscounts & Villainy is the third book in Allie Therin’s Roaring Twenties Magic trilogy, a spin-off on the author’s fabulous Magic in Manhattan series. You are definitely going to want to read this series in order, as the plot builds across the books. And honestly, to get the most enjoyment from these books, I suggest starting with the first series. All these books are amazing and I can’t recommend them highly enough, so do yourself a favor and start from the beginning.

On the magical side, things pick up in the aftermath of Once a Rogue, with some of the culprits caught and Sebastian having lost his magic. However, it quickly becomes clear that while they may have stopped some of the players, the real mastermind is still out there. I liked the shift here from Sebastian’s magical world to Wesley’s aristocratic one. Where the supernatural folks have taken the lead in past stories, now it is Wesley who is best positioned to navigate the social politics involved in the world of the British gentry, especially as Sebastian is without magic. This story doesn’t have quite the same high intensity as some of the others. While there are some interesting twists early on, most of the story is more low key until the end. I think Therin uses the opportunity to really delve into the characters and the relationship, and I just adore Sebastian and Wesley, so I was totally entertained, but this one did feel a bit more subdued.

That said, I am totally obsessed with Wesley and Sebastian together and I love exploring them as a couple. The men are rock solid in their partnership and I just adore their dynamic. One of the big issues the men are dealing with here is Sebastian’s loss of magic. It is not just the inability to use magic in general, but also how the loss of power makes Sebastian feel. After being used as a puppet through blood magic, part of what has helped Sebastian recover is knowing he has this strength to defend himself, but that is now gone. It also impacts the men in their sexual interaction, as they enjoy a little dominance play with the stronger Wesley taking charge over the smaller Sebastian. But the men always know that Sebastian is ultimately much stronger, which balances things out. Now, without his magic, Sebastian is feeling more off kilter and Wesley is very careful with him to never make him feel overpowered. We also see Wesley continue to struggle with the idea of his own unlikeabilty, and never really understanding why Sebastian cares for him the way he does. Wesley also finds himself somewhat surprised at this group of friends he now has in his life. Part of the series journey has been Wesley coming to realize he has love and friendship and that he deserves both. I really enjoyed how Therin explores these interesting dynamics for the men and further develops their characters so well in this third book. Plus, these guys are just so appealing together. Wesley is so much the grumpy to Sebastian’s eternal sunshine, yet at the same time, Wesley is a massive gooey marshmallow where Sebastian is concerned. I just love them together.

I am so glad that Therin decided to give these two Magic in Manhattan side characters their own trilogy, because I have found these books just fabulous. The stories are exciting and the characters are wonderful and this trilogy has been so much fun. If you haven’t checked these books out, I highly recommend them.

Such a great ending to a great series. We get to see different parts of them, feelings growing, their partnership stronger than ever, facing danger with far more to lose than when everything started.
Sebastian is without magic after sacrificing it to save Wesley, and he's coping. While Wesley feels guilty and very protective, maybe a bit too protective, treating Seb like he could break. But Seb is much stronger than everyone could imagine, his sweet disposition doesn't make him weak, and Wesley sees that clearly when they embark in this last mission to uncover who has plans to destroy all magic. Infiltrating Wesley's world posing like aristocracy is hard on Wesley because Seb has to wear fancy clothes that make him look even more delicious than before. The self restraint on Wes should earn him a prize or something. He wanted to devour Sebastian, to keep him from anyone else. That man afraid of feelings has so many of them he blushes, blushes ffs! Adorable and so in love.

Theories I thought improbable were confirmed true, mysteries were not solved by my poor detective skills, but I nevertheless enjoyed every second of it. I flew through the pages so fast I thought the book was super short because why is it already 80%, I just started?? It was a page-turner delight!

I am sad this is goodbye; the epilogue made me so happy and when it was over I suddenly realised that was it, that was the last words I'd read about Seb, Wesley, Arthur, Rory, Jade, Zhang, Mateo and everyone else who accompanied the MCs on this dangerous journey where luckily for them, it brought them the loves of their lives!

So I may have made a little oopsie. The description of this book sounded so good that I didn't realize this was 3rd book in a series!

The good news is that I enjoyed this book. The author did a really nice job summarizing what happened previously. So even though I was missing a little context I was still really able to follow the story.

In this 3rd book Sebastian gave up his magic in order to save his lover, Wesley. Although he doesn't regret it he can't help but miss what he's lost.
Wesley is having a hard time trying not to let the guilt of being the reason Sebastian lost his magic all while coming to terms that someone else might actually care enough about him to want to show him love.

The gang ends up in England, as it appears acquaintances of Wesley's may have to do with the plot to rid the world of magic.

I really enjoyed reading Sebastian and Wesley's relationship. They have an adorable give and take and there is just the right amount of spice in the story.

The stakes are high, there is a lot of action, mystery and intrigue. I intend to correct my mistake and read the first two books that I missed because I really enjoyed this conclusion to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book opens with Wesley, Sebastian, and Rory doing some bootlegging for Jade. Sebastian is still figuring out what it means to no longer have magic. This shifts quickly to the gang trying to figure out who is really behind the plot to rid the world of magic, and their conclusion sends them back to Europe and into Wesley’s world.

Viscounts and Villainy is the third book in the Roaring Twenties Magic series, and the sixth book in a set of connected series. These books are best when read in order, and I don’t recommend starting with this one since it’s the conclusion of a major story arc that spanned both series.

Viscounts and Villainy is filled with action, adventure, and romance. All the key players from both series are either mentioned or make an appearance. Therin wraps up the over-arching series plots and gives our characters their well-deserved happy endings. I absolutely adored seeing the hardened Lord Wesley Fine learn to love and be loved. He and Sebastian are both adorable and sexy together.

So here’s the thing… There are two years between the release dates for each of these books. The plots are complex, and I struggled to recall what happened previously. Even though the author does a good job including reminders from the earlier books, I still felt lost and that the story lacked continuity. And if one reads it as a standalone, it’s lacking the character and romance development because it has been occurring over the course of the series. I don’t want this to discourage anyone from reading the series, because I find the mythology fascinating and the romance sweet. However, I think these books would be best read within a few months of one another rather than over the course of four years.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about Viscounts and Villainy. As the concluding story for the series, the book brings it all together and gives readers the HEA. However, it was hard for me to fully immerse myself and enjoy the story since I felt disconnected, probably due to the long time since I read the previous book.

My Rating: C+

Allie Therin’s inventive and entertaining Roaring Twenties Magic series comes to a rousing conclusion with Viscounts & Villainy, in which our heroes – upper-crust cynic and self-professed arsehole Wesley, Lord Fine, and “dangerous marshmallow” Sebastian de Leon - come face-to-face with probably their most dangerous (and unhinged) foe yet. This story links back to events in earlier books in both this series and the author’s Magic in Manhattan books, and although it’s probably possible to enjoy this story without having read the earlier series, it’s essential to have read Proper Scoundrels and Once a Rogue before Viscounts & Villainy as there’s an overarching plotline and reference to earlier events that will likely be confusing if you haven’t.

Please note that there are likely to be spoilers for those books in this review.

At the end of Once a Rogue, Wesley and Sebastian narrowly escaped death at the hands of the deranged paranormal who was ​​part of a plot to control and destroy magic through unlocking the evil magic held within the pomander relic, a magical artefact dating from the fifteenth century. Alasdair Findlay now lies unconscious in a mental hospital and the pomander is no more, but victory came at great cost to Sebastian, who sacrificed his magic in order to destroy the relic and save Wesley’s life. He doesn’t regret it and he’d do it again in a heartbeat to save the man he loves – but it’s going to take a huge adjustment to learn to live without magic.

In the weeks since those events, it’s become clear that Findlay and his cronies weren’t working alone and that someone else has been pulling the strings all along, someone withdeep knowledge of paranormal lore and magical history. Wesley, Sebastian and their friends are sure that they – whoever they are - isn’t going to just give up, and that they need to act quickly if they’re going to find them and prevent more death and destruction. With little to go on, they decide to follow the trail of the relics themselves; seven were created to hide the magic of seven powerful paranormals during the Spanish Inquisition, and they know the location – or fates – of five of them. So tracking down the missing two – a medallion that can track magic, and a cuff that can cast curses – would be a good starting point. Sebastian, a direct descendant of the witch hunter who tracked down the seven relic-makers, knows that the cuff once belonged to a Spanish countess whose English husband, the Duke of Valemount, created the medallion – and Wesley, given the aristocratic circles in which he generally moves, knows the current Duke of Valemount.

Wesley, Sebastian, Arthur and Rory prepare to return to England, where Wesley plans to put in an appearance at a number of social events at which the Duke of Valemount is sure to be in attendance, and to which he will be accompanied by his friend, Don Sebastian, the eldest son of a Spanish count. Sebastian isn’t overly enthused by the idea of infiltrating English society as a Spanish aristocrat, but it makes sense for him to tag along with Wesley because he can act as a second pair of eyes – and because he’s the most likely to recognise any reference to the relics Valemount might make. It also turns out that Sebastian and Valemount are probably very distantly related (through that fifteenth century Spanish countess), and given the duke himself is descended from two powerful paranormals, they can’t discount the possibility that he might have magic himself.

Viscounts & Villainy is another fabulous, well-paced, and gripping read in which the high-stakes plot and delightful, opposites-attract romance are skilfully balanced so that it never feels as though one takes precedence over the other. Wesley and Sebastian’s romance has developed over three books and I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent watching them falling for each other and coming to accept that they’re worthy of love and deserving of happiness. It’s been a hard road though; Sebastian had to come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t responsible for the bad things he did while he was magically enslaved, and Wesley continues to struggle with the fact that Sebastian adamantly refuses to believe he’s the cold-hearted bastard everyone else thinks him to be. But it’s been his reality for so many years that he’s bought the lie, too, believing that if everyone he knows thinks he’s a cynical, sarcastic and intolerable arsehole with no feelings, they must be right.

From the moment they met, Sebastian has thrown Wesley off balance – figuratively as well as (sometimes) literally – making it clear that he doesn’t believe Wesley to be hard-hearted or intolerable; that he sees through the act to the kind and decent man underneath. Wesley tries to laugh it off as Sebastian’s soft heart and desire to see good in everyone, insists that he’s seeing him through rose-tinted glasses; but after Sebastian gave up his magic to save Wesley’s life, he’s finding it harder and harder to cling to his entrenched beliefs about himself. If Sebastian – probably the only truly good person Wesley has ever known and who knows Wesley better than anyone else by now – thought he was worth such a huge sacrifice, then… might Wesley not be such an irredemable arsehole after all? And on top of all this, Wesley is horrified at the thought that he might actually be having some of those pesky feelings he’s avoided for so long.

As Wesley struggles to come to terms with this reassessment of himself, so is Sebastian struggling to deal with the loss of his magic and to adapt to living without it. In an odd reversal of their usual positions, Sebastian is certain it’s gone forever while Wesley simply can’t shake the feeling that it’s still with them, somehow – but Sebastian is determined to force himself to move on and into a non-magical life without looking back. The love and trust they have for and in one another is displayed beautifully when Wesley tells Sebastian to slow down and take a breath, reminding him that he’s allowed to rely on other people as he adjusts, and when Sebastian says he feels safe enough with Wesley to admit how bereft he feels. Knowing of his lover’s new vulnerability redoubles Wesley’s already fierce protective streak when it comes to Sebastian, but he tries hard not to be overprotective, knowing Sebastian’s innate kindness and sweet disposition don’t make him weak and that he’s stronger than most people give him credit for.

The dynamic between these two has always been a highlight of the stories; the teasing and flirty banter is funny, their growing love for each other has been a delight to watch and the way they are so utterly supportive and intuitive to the other’s wants and needs is wonderful to see. I liked seeing Wesley’s gradual acceptance that he might have actual friends for possibly the first time in his life – and enjoyed seeing those friends again, although they are, rightly, supporting characters, and allow Wesley and Sebastian to take centre stage.

I’m rather sad this series has come to an end – I’ll miss Wesley’s snark and Sebastian’s sweetness - but I’m happy it’s gone out on such a high note. Viscounts & Villainy is imaginative, funny, clever, and romantic, and I’m more than happy to recommend both it and the entire Roaring Twenties Magic series.