I’m currently reading The Duke and I and the author is constantly using the word “acerbic”. I had never heard of the word before now and had to google the definition. The word has shown up so much that I’m tempted to go through the book and count its appearances lol.
Have you noticed any authors having favorite words that they use page after page?
Unfortunately fewer and fewer authors actually seem to hire professional editors nowadays. I assume it’s hard for most authors who aren’t already incredibly big names to afford one, but it has had a noticeable effect on modern novels overall.