The quotation on the cover of the book calls it "sparkling" and I agree. What a funny, charming book. All the social niceties and British charm of a Jane Austen novel, but with a humorous aspect that reminds me more of a Shakespearean comedy or books like The Importance of Being Earnest.
The Beau was the least vivid character in this story, and that worked out fine with how all the characters interacted. Eugenie and Ludovic weren't my favorite characters ever, but they played well off of Sir Tristram and Miss Thane, whom I absolutely loved! I found them to be both well suited couples, and by consequence quite romantic, even in Tristram and Sally's understated way. Even most of the supporting characters were a hilarious and necessary part of the story. It's been a long time since I've stayed awake hours after I intended, because I simply couldn't put a book down, but this was definitely one of those books for me. I stayed up late two successive nights, unwilling to put it down til I was falling asleep on it. I'm glad I finally read this one. I'm sure it will be worth rereading whenever I need some laughter and romance and proper British manners in my life again.

I wasn't impressed when I read this a couple of years ago. The writing was simplistic and the quality of the story and the characterizations were a little weak.

loved it!!!! the audio book narrated is amazing too! read it and then listen to it!

Sylvester is dying, and to assure the family line will continue he convinces his granddaughter and grandnephew to become engaged. Sir Tristam Shield is a well meaning enough gentleman, but he is eminently unsuited to marrying the young, vivacious, and entirely silly Eustacie. Luckily, before their marriage is carried out Eustacie runs off in a poorly planned grand gestures and encounters the far more romantic Ludovic Lavenham, Sylvester's true heir. He's been on the run for years, ever after he was suspected of killing a man to get back a family heirloom (the "talisman ring" of the title). Ludovic, the immediately besotted Eustacie, and their older and wiser allies, Shield and Miss Sarah Thane, try to figure out how to clear Ludovic's name. They go through numerous adventures and misadventures, each pretty silly. I really enjoyed Shield and Miss Thane's relationship: they almost immediately have the measure of each other, and take turns trolling each other. When they make their flirtatious relationship public, it's at least partially as part of an ongoing game of chicken. They made this book not only readable, but enjoyable.

It is very disheartening to reread a book one liked very much when one was young only to realize that it is simply no longer so fine when one is older. I did not remember anything of The Talisman Ring except that I liked it. Now I found it totally uninteresting. Most of the action takes place at a roadside inn and the characters are: Ludovico, the heir, Eustacia, his cousin, a 19 year old girl, Sir Tristram Shield, a 31 year old family member, Basil, who would be the heir if something would happen to Ludovico, Miss Sarah Trayne and her brother, Lord Trayne, both guests at the inn, In addition to these characters there are odd member of the inn staff and Bow Street Runners and excise men. The 2 women become friendly and decide they will have "adventures" and spend most of their time trying to be involved in taking care of Ludovico while Shield is trying to clear Ludovico from a charge of murder. The only comical person is Lord Trayne and his love of smuggled drink. This was a boring read.

Incredibly funny. It's ridiculous and unrealistic and not perfect, but it's the most fun I've had with a book in recent memory. Fantastic characters and over-the-top plot and laugh-out-loud comedy. I listened to the audio version, which I think made it more amusing than a print copy would have been (though I had some trouble differentiating the male voices).

I somehow missed adding this to Goodreads when I read it about a month ago. This was my second Heyer novel, and I didn't enjoy it as much as my first, the fantastic "The Unknown Ajax." Honestly, I don't remember all that much of this novel a month later, but it was enjoyable fluff. The plot was not really to be taken seriously, but I did rather enjoy the romance at the heart of it.