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heabooknerd's review
4.0
THE DOCTOR'S DISCRETION is my first book by EE Ottoman but it won't be my last because I really enjoyed this one. Doctors William Blackwood and Augustus Hill first meet when they're brought together to catalog a recently deceased doctor's medical books and records. But everything changes when a mysterious patient is brought to New York Hospital where Augustus works. He'll do anything to help Mr. Moss, including breaking him out of the hospital, but he needs William's help to make it happen. THE DOCTOR'S DISCRETION jumps into the story quickly and I really enjoyed getting wrapped up in 1830's New York City.
William (a Black man) and Augustus (a transgender man) each struggle to find acceptance in the world and while they're attracted to each other, it's by no means an easy journey. There were some really emotional parts to this book but I loved watching William and Augustus find each other. The addition of Mr. Moss made for some interesting, if heartbreaking intrigue and Ottoman does an amazing job navigating between the heavy topics and the romance. This is also one of the most historically aware romances I've read (though I admit I don't read many historicals) because it doesn't gloss over things slavery and transphobia. In fact, William and Augustus make it a point to avoid products that come from plantations, like rum and cotton, and William even wonders if Augustus's time in the Navy included protecting ships transporting goods produced through slavery. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to reading more by EE Ottoman.
Content Warning: Depiction of time period specific transphobia, homophobia, and racism; references to slavery, forced incarceration of trans people, misuse of pronouns by doctors; brief scene of Augustus with another man
William (a Black man) and Augustus (a transgender man) each struggle to find acceptance in the world and while they're attracted to each other, it's by no means an easy journey. There were some really emotional parts to this book but I loved watching William and Augustus find each other. The addition of Mr. Moss made for some interesting, if heartbreaking intrigue and Ottoman does an amazing job navigating between the heavy topics and the romance. This is also one of the most historically aware romances I've read (though I admit I don't read many historicals) because it doesn't gloss over things slavery and transphobia. In fact, William and Augustus make it a point to avoid products that come from plantations, like rum and cotton, and William even wonders if Augustus's time in the Navy included protecting ships transporting goods produced through slavery. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to reading more by EE Ottoman.
Content Warning: Depiction of time period specific transphobia, homophobia, and racism; references to slavery, forced incarceration of trans people, misuse of pronouns by doctors; brief scene of Augustus with another man
simonlorden's review
4.0
Look, I liked this story, the characters were great, and I love historical trans men. You meet a guy, hook up once, and then immediately conspire to do a kidnapping/rescue the next day? Chef's kiss, no notes.
But the whole second part of the book felt like it was setting up a sequel with Moss or even Lake that apparently never came since 2018. The stakes were a bit too big for a 150-page story, and I felt like it was taking focus away from the actual main relationship, as much as I did like Moss. So it just left me with a weird feeling.
Warnings for period-typical racism, homophobia and transphobia. I would say there aren't any explicit violent scenes, but there is the constant threat and possibility of violence.
But the whole second part of the book felt like it was setting up a sequel with Moss or even Lake that apparently never came since 2018. The stakes were a bit too big for a 150-page story, and I felt like it was taking focus away from the actual main relationship, as much as I did like Moss. So it just left me with a weird feeling.
Warnings for period-typical racism, homophobia and transphobia. I would say there aren't any explicit violent scenes, but there is the constant threat and possibility of violence.
ninetyninecats's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
mcf's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
melbsreads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content warnings: transphobia, discussion of war, discussion of slavery, homophobia, forced institutionalisation, ableism, body dysmorphia, medical trauma, outing, kidnapping
I enjoyed this a lot more than the author's book The Companion, which I read and kind of struggled with last year. That felt very porn-with-plot to me, and there were more typos than I would have liked. This in contrast was slightly longer and felt like a fully realised story. I did wish there was a TAD more character development and I found the ending a little rushed. But on the whole, this was a compelling story about a trans man and a Black man who fall for each other in 1830s New York while trying to help another trans man escape from an extremely shitty situation.
It wasn't entirely what I expected, but I'm very glad I read it nonetheless.
I enjoyed this a lot more than the author's book The Companion, which I read and kind of struggled with last year. That felt very porn-with-plot to me, and there were more typos than I would have liked. This in contrast was slightly longer and felt like a fully realised story. I did wish there was a TAD more character development and I found the ending a little rushed. But on the whole, this was a compelling story about a trans man and a Black man who fall for each other in 1830s New York while trying to help another trans man escape from an extremely shitty situation.
It wasn't entirely what I expected, but I'm very glad I read it nonetheless.
emilyredwood's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
yourbookishbff's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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
4.5
EE Ottoman delivers on a really rich setting and sense of place in a heavily plot-driven and STRESSY story that had me genuinely on edge at several points. I really appreciated the reflection on healthcare during the Yellow Fever epidemic, the strong focus on medical history (and how it intersects with anti-trans violence in horrific ways), the political intrigue, and our characters' intersectional identities and experiences. A hard-won romance between a Black, cisgender man and a white, trans man working as physicians in New York City in the 1830s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Homophobia
On transphobia: this plot centers on the rescue of a trans man from a hospital (he has been arrested and given to the hospital for study - it's horrific and described on page), and centers anti-trans violence and persecution. The main characters also navigate transphobia, as our cisgender main character does not respond well to our trans main character when he comes out to him. This is resolved on page but is a conflict between main characters and navigates transphobia within the context of intimate queer relationships.booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery
jess_justmaybeperfect's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Set in 1931 NYC, this book tells the story of two doctors, William a black man and Augustus a white trans man with a war injury that left him disabled. Brought together by a job, then attraction, and then to seek justice, William and Augustus face their fears, misconceptions, and some of the worst medical professionals in history.
The insta lust to romance, sex work is work, intimacy, intersectionality, and thoughtfulness of this book really worked for me.
There were perhaps too many subplots for such a short book, leaving the last third of it feeling rushed, frantic even.
The insta lust to romance, sex work is work, intimacy, intersectionality, and thoughtfulness of this book really worked for me.
There were perhaps too many subplots for such a short book, leaving the last third of it feeling rushed, frantic even.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Outing, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, and War
Minor: Slavery
venturebyname's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25