Reviews

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

sambam_42's review against another edition

challenging 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

readinglikesappho's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition

4.0

Tropes/Themes:
-Queer historical romance
-Friends to lovers
-LGBTQIA+ rep (trans heroine)
-Disabled rep (hero – war injuries, PTSD)
-Audiobook is narrated by a trans woman

While I think this could have been 100 pages shorter, this was such a beautifully written and romantic queer historical romance. I don’t think I could adequately put my feelings about this book into words, so instead I’ve included some of my favorite quotes below:

“I would say"—he shaped the words close to her mouth, as if each of them was its own kiss, a private prayer—"I love you as a man loves a woman, but we both know that love is not bound by such narrow terms. So instead let me simply tell you that I love you. I love you with the unfading flame of my friendship. With every drop of ardour in my blood. I love you with my soul, as some reserve their faith for absent gods. I love you as I believe in what is right and hope for what is good. I love you with everything I am and ever was—and if you will only let me, with every day that comes, and every self that I could ever be.”

“When I am with you, I feel about as far from anything that has ever hurt me as it is possible to be.”

“Please don't leave me again," he whispered. "I think I could learn to live without you, but I have no wish to.”

mbray341'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

breeezzy's review

emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

malloryrt4's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

If only he had trusted her. And listened to his heart, instead of to his hurt.

Damn, this book HIT. It took me a minute to get into it and it is predominantly slow-paced, however, that feels intentional so that the reader can fully understand the depths of the characters' minds and emotions. Having no personal experience with gender diversity personally, I felt this was an absolutely beautiful story of a trans woman and it was written with SO much care. All the way through. Even in the sex scene you could see the care for her identity in every single word. This book is so soulful and contains so much love. There is so much more to discuss but I will leave it that everyone should read this truly touching story.

slynn's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful fast-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

joanmcoles's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

I fucking loved this book. It felt like a trans inclusive Austen.

rai's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

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

4.0

moll_ereads's review against another edition

5.0

SUCH an easy 5 stars. Id give it ten if i could!! This book is written so so beautifully, and was so lovely and tender and FUNNY. I had the most intense emotional reactions to everything lmao!!! So glad i took my time with this and didnt rush through it.

I will be screaming about this one for a while and i know that Viola and Gracewood will stay with me for a long long time to come