A Month of Romance Audio Favorites Selection
Narrated by Simon Prebble
When He Was Wicked is one of my first romance novels, and also one of my first audiobooks – and I’ve listened to it several times. It is book #6 in the Bridgerton series – Francesca Bridgerton’s story, the darkest and most serious of the series. Quinn is known for her humor, and although there are several humorous moments, the overall tone is more solemn and emotional. Michael Sterling, we learn in the first paragraph, has been in love with Francesca since the moment he met her, which unfortunately for him was the week of her marriage to his cousin John. He remains best friends with both John and Francesca for the first two years of their marriage, keeping up his reputation as London’s most notorious rake, all done to hide his true feelings.
Not only does Michael’s cousin have Francesca’s love, he’s also the Earl, with all the family holdings and money – their fathers were twins, but John’s father was born first. They are each only children, and Michael was raised in John’s home because his own father died. So when John dies of an apparent aneurism, in the first chapter, Michael stands to inherit everything – everything, that is, except the woman he loves, because he cannot bring himself to let her know of his feelings, so he leaves for a post in India
After four years apart, they each have an epiphany – she wants a baby, and realizes she must remarry. He tires of India, and returns to England to take up his position as the Earl. When he returns, and she confides in him her wish to have children, he then realizes he must face losing her all over again.
Leave it to Colin Bridgerton to force Michael to admit his feelings for Francesca (if you’re a Bridgerton fan, you will know why I say this). Convinced he must act, he begins the seduction.
Simon Prebble has become the voice of the Bridgertons in my head, even though he only narrated Books 6-8 (the others are not available in audio, at least not yet). His upper-crust British delivery is superb, and his occasional regional accents for servants effortless. He renders his female voices by slightly elevating the pitch and also softening the tone; each of the several women in the book are totally distinct and full of life and character. Because I’ve listened to all three audiobooks, I am totally enamored of his voice for the Bridgerton matriarch, Violet. But his Michael is just sex on a stick – it’s low and growly when appropriate; it’s supercilious at times, and self-effacing at others. A good part of the book is from Michael’s POV, and Prebble infuses his narrative with Michael’s essence. He captures the emotions of both protagonists so well, when they are first struck with John’s death, when they meet again and try to rebuild their original relationship, and when they each come to the realization that their feelings for one another are deep and true.
I encourage you to listen to the Second Epilogue for When He Was Wicked because it wraps up the story so, so perfectly; however, I suggest you invest in The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After, narrated by James Langton and not the epilogue-only version narrated by Kevan Brighting, whose version is a poor, poor second (or third). Langton is just as wonderful as Prebble in this audiobook which is a compilation of all the second epilogues as well as a couple of original stories, including one about Violet Bridgerton (it’s not a new Bridgerton release).
I downloaded a new copy to my iPhone from Audible.com for this relisten, and there were at least 4-5 technical issues that I don’t recall from my earlier listens. More than once, it sounds as though a pause was deleted – for instance, between his saying “Chapter xx” and the first sentence; at least once there was an odd sound from the recording. And, ok, you can hear Prebble swallow and breath more than necessary, if you have very good noise-cancelling earbuds. But these did not distract from my enjoyment. Indeed, I’ve listened enough times I can actually speak some of it along with the narrator. Sigh – it’s a wonderful experience!
Melinda
Narration: A
Book Content: A
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in – in fact, maybe it’s burning ears only!
Violence: None
Genre: HIstorical romance
Publisher: Recorded Books
I love the Bridgerton family. Violet is an awesome matriarch. When He was Wicked is my favorite in the series. I do enjoy Quinn’s humor, but it was nice to see her write something with a bit more depth.
I read this through the Library of Congress, so had a different narrator. She was good, but not outstanding.
I love this one, too, and completely agree with your assessment of Prebble’s portrayal of Michael. There are moments in the early parts of this audio which are gut-wrenching, and his performance is superb. I need to listento this again, too. Now all we need is for the powers that be to arrange for the other books in the series to be recorded.