5 stars

Dark and highly dramatic, The Highwayman totally works for me as someone who reads across different genres, and simply enjoy a good storytelling; it's not afraid to defy the proven historical romance formula, and really goes for the ultra-moody, ultra-tormenting narrative it wants to deliver. The result feels like a pure creative exercise that has not been censored by editor or consumer research.

I wasn't necessarily 'swooned' by the romance, then again I prefer stories that offer a holistic construct rather than tunnel-visioned to just one aspect; so I was very much immersed in the world of The Highwayman, with its colorful secondary characters, suspenseful plot, foul-mouthed dialog, and a very tortured hero seeking his salvation. This has been hyped and I'm very glad to say it didn't disappoint!