Scan barcode
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When Gracewood finally learns that Viola and his best friend are the same being, a new set of complications arise, as the social pressures on the lives of a duke and a lady's companion are deeply felt, and seem inescapable. As a trans person, it's tough to read what seems like transphobia coming from the love interest, even briefly, but the way it's handled and how both characters react to that moment serves to make the story stronger overall.
I like the care paid to developing Gracewood's relationship with his sister, dealing with the trouble has in relating to a teenage girl when he is a man who was raised to give orders rather than to listen. Viola and Gracewood were both changed by the war, but Gracewood's experiences left him visibly scarred and mentally shaken in ways that affect him on a daily basis. This is handled variously throughout, as Gracewood gradually becomes confident to not accept casual ableism from others, but it takes a while.
I love how Gracewood slowly notices more and more of Viola's wardrobe, appreciate that she designs and sews/embroiders it herself. It's made clear that Viola hasn't had previous sexual experiences because she would have either had to have them as a man (which she was uncomfortable doing, even before figuring out her gender), or would need a partner who was not scared off by her body after meeting her as a woman. The eventual sex scenes with Gracewood are careful and intimate, treading the line between being specific about the logistics involved involved and giving Viola space to be feminine and sexual without triggering dysphoria. More than that, with Gracewood's support as a partner she gets to feel good about her body in a sexual context, that it is a woman's body because it is hers, and not based on whether it aligns with some standard of gender presentation.
Things I love, in no particular order: Viola's sister-in-law, and her interactions with her nephew; the audiobook narrator's excellent performance; the way the b-plot gradually becomes more important as the initial tension from the social difficulties of Viola and Gracewood's relationship fade in the face of their care for each other.
A LADY FOR A DUKE is self-contained and ends very satisfactorily, but it does appear that a sequel is planned (which I will eagerly await). Everything I could want handled is covered either in detail, or implicitly by the epilogue, which is set several years after the events of the main story. It seems that future books would be unlikely to feature Viola and Gracewood as main characters, but, based on the title of the sequel I think it will involve one of their relatives (which would be great, I'd love to have them play a role again after they were so wonderful here).
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death, Cursing, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
mrsherrera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: War and Kidnapping
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
alisylvi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Drug abuse and Addiction
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Transphobia and Adult/minor relationship
lynxpardinus's review
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: War, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Deadnaming
hannahwriightt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Deadnaming, Ableism, Addiction, Misogyny, War, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
mandaraffe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Minor: Medical trauma, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Transphobia, Gun violence, Medical content, and War
ashlikes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Violence, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, War, Body shaming, Bullying, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Death, Infertility, Transphobia, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
boglord's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Cursing, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, War, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, and Infidelity