Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

16 reviews

jamie_cruz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: War and Sexual content

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Deadnaming

kato_goldacker's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Friends to lovers slow-burn with good Trans Representation.

 Recommend for Bridgerton Fans
(go to end for conclusion)

Loved it. When I found this one I knew I had to read it simply because it is exactly what I wanted.
Alexis Hall has some really beautiful writing and ways of describing things, as well as the ability to spark inspiration or thought with the way he puts things. This had a lot of inspiring, beautiful lines and romantic, soft, yearning moments that I really enjoyed, I marked a lot of parts in this book. Hall did a great job with writing a relatable trans character, too.

I did feel that, overall in its execution it’s not a masterpiece of a book, as I still felt like some things were perhaps missing or too simple.  I also wasn’t always entirely sure about the pace of the book, I would call it a slow-burn romance, which I liked, but it did change pace a bit later. I don’t think it’s extraordinary story-writing or anything -generally I felt like there were things missing for me to make it a GREAT book, but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what it was. Depth, the feeling of a more detailedly thought-through plot / story, most likely.

Still, I loved it, and I’m so happy there’s a book with this story.
The characters were lovely and the  playful, intimate and teasing interactions and the yearning and pining between Gracewood and Viola were really fun to read.
I’m also really happy we got a bit of spicy/intimate scenes, which I think is great seeing trans characters nicely represented in.

I don’t think you always need an absolutely great story with a unique plot that wasn’t ever written before. Popular tropes can still be enjoyable, and I don’t think  it’s  necessary to have an entirely period-accurate representation  in every LGBTQIA+ novel, especially since -some people argue- it can be nice for us to have something simple, cheesy and stereotypical for once too, just like there’s tons of (non-LGBTQIA+) straight fiction like that.

Conclusion
So I’d say, if you’re not looking for a terribly original storyline but for a happy, hopelessly romantic, historical friends to lovers slow-burn, featuring  good and positive trans representation, you will really like this.

About Triggers
I put all from this list I think  are (briefly) in the book, 
Of course it is for yourself to know but I just need to say I didn’t find this much triggering, even though I am quite sensitive to a lot of those. If drug use is really triggering for you it might be a different thing, for me it is mainly violence related as well as any sexual abuse or transphobia related ones, but I was mostly fine reading this and, despite containing all of those listed triggers, I found this was book that still felt light.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Drug abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Outing, War, Gun violence, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Infertility, Classism, Violence, Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Transphobia, Vomit, War, Grief, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

reading_rainbow_rachel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A heartbreakingly beautiful story of the love two people have for one another. With characters that have so much love for each other but are working on loving themselves unapologetically while working out how they identify themselves outside of how society defines them in so many ways. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Alcohol

Minor: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

caelinsullivan's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Ableism, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Transphobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Deadnaming, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, and War

Minor: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Absolutely emotional damage, but I think the second half dragged on a bit with the side characters? It wasn’t like I didn’t care it just felt a little more unfocused at points. It’s still absolutely amazing though, the writing is very lyrical and beautiful. I absolutely loved the trans representation in this book. I would check the content warnings before reading since the book does deal with heavier themes and deadnaming occurs in the book. Absolutely loved this!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Violence, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

ashlikes's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

emmehooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.75

This book is a slow burn that abruptly turns into a massive wildfire (in the best ways). The first half of the book felt so slow and drawn out that I nearly gave up but the second half flew by so fast with so much excitement. Viola’s transness was not the entire focus and the affirmations of love, sexuality, and disability for people of all genders and bodies were wonderfully interwoven.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Transphobia, Kidnapping, Violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Death of parent

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Alexis Hall set out to write a historical romance with a trans heroine and have her gender not be the key point of conflict in the novel. Not only did he succeed on this point, he also managed to build a novel around lies of omission and half truths that I totally believed in and felt good reading. Often when characters in romance novels hide the truth from one another I get angry about it and extremely stressed. 

With Viola, her reasons for not sharing her entire history with Gracewood are completely sympathetic. I was as twisted up about whether she should reveal who she was to him as she was. I also loved the fantasy world that Hall built in which Viola is accepted as who she is almost immediately by everyone she encounters. Conflicts happen but they have nothing to do with her trans-ness, and everything to do with the characters trying to navigate their love for each other in a world that isn’t built for them or a relationship like theirs.

Gracewood is one of the softest, sweetest MMCs I have read for a long time, and he’s also got an extremely dark history. He is injured from the war and uses a cane. He is also battling an opium addiction. He is also a wealthy and powerful duke. Him growing into his power and understand and falling in love with Viola was one of the swooniest things I have read in a lonnnnng time.

I feel the need to mention the superb open door sex scene in this. It felt so necessary and tender, and to be able to see Viola experience the care and joy inherent in physical pleasure as well as Gracewood’s beautiful open-mindedness was a privilege. They both deserved to experience the joy of their bodies, just as they are. It’s just a sex scene but it goes a long way towards normalizing all kinds of physical pleasure for all kinds of bodies and I am so glad it is there.

So, we have a high angst novel dealing with strict gender norms, addiction, PTSD and disability…and yet I laughed out loud almost every chapter? What magic is this? 

The only gripe I have is the last plot point in this long book felt a little tacked on. I would have been satisfied with more focus on Viola and Gracewood. Nonetheless, a wonder of a book.

👍🏻RECOMMENDED. I could write and write and write about this book but ultimately you should read it. If you’re interested in historical romance but worried about strict gender norms, heteronormativity, misogyny and oppressive social structures? This is the book for you. If you’ve read a ton of Hissy RoNos and you’re looking for an angsty, emotional, hilarious, soft love story? This is the book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, Death, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug abuse, Grief, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

samchase112's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

RTC! Five stars for the absolutely stellar premise and characters, three stars for the long-winded, unnecessarily extensive descriptions. And two stars for all the typos?? (please hire me as your copy editor, thanks !!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, War, Vomit, Violence, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Addiction

Moderate: Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Grief