What has happened to Brandewyne? She used to write rich passionate romances that turned the reader on. The Crystal Rose is a sad attempt at bringing back her art. I don't understand what happened. And where are the love scenes? They kiss and fade to black...then nothing! This is nothing compared to what she used to write. And Hugo is so boring. What happened to her deep brooding heroes who were scarred and afraid to love? Hugo is so thin he waves in the wind.She seems to be attempting to write something Dickensian with the 1850s setting, but it doesn't work. Plus the plot to kill Queen Victoria is just thrown in. Why not focus on Hugo having to prove who he is? And the claim that Victoria was seriously concerned with social reform is totally bogus!All together this book was a disappointment. I miss the old Brandewyne. Some of her heroes were too abusive, but at least they had more dimensions. And the heroines had more depth. Oh, the eighties...