Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

27 reviews

orangewitchling's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed the trans perspective on the Victorian romance setting. I think because the Victorian romance plot is so predictable, it was easier to focus on the characters point of view since it was all from a non-heteronormative perspective. Even though, I empathize with the LGBTQ community, I don’t have a grasp on all their struggles, so it was very refreshing to get the trans perspective in a relatable way. on a different note, it was a slow book because and there was a lot of angst at the beginning with plenty of feeling exploration. However, I think that it worked in favor of the character growth and the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Grief, Classism, Death, and Drug use

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, War, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Ableism, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Deadnaming

Minor: Transphobia

While this book is about a trans heroine, the only time the heroine is deadnamed/misgendered Is when someone who knew her previously recognizes her. Once this person is told how to address her name/pronouns, they do so. The heroine is never outed, either.

withlivjones's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.25

This was such a sweet and heartfelt read, from the constant tenderness and yearning between the two main characters (some of their moments had me kicking my feet and giggling fr), to the depictions of PTSD, to the colourful side characters (Miranda absolutely stole the show for me). Even the spicy scenes felt tender and surprisingly didn’t make me cringe. And no third act breakup!! Hooray!! I love how Hall’s writing feels like it belongs in a classic novel without it being overly dense and clunky, especially the dialogue which is quick and witty. I kind of wish we had a little more time with Amberglass before the end of the book to really set him up as the villain, but I understand the sequel will focus on him a fair amount which will give his character the chance to be explored in a lot of depth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Transphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Death

Minor: Death of parent

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

In the two years since Normandy, Viola's best friend, Gracewood, has thought she was dead. In reality, Viola was figuring out how to be herself rather than the boy she was raised to be, and assumed that her best friend would move on with his life when she was no longer in it. Instead, she discovered that in his grief he had turned to drink and laudanum, terrifying his sister and staff with the depths of his despair. 

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).

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Content Warnings

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

mobymaize's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

It was really nice to read a regency era romance novel, a genre I don’t typically consume, with a trans woman protagonist, a person just like me :) 

ALSO HOLY FUCK THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLE & HOT ABOUT FALLING IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHERS WORDS. also HOLY SHIT THE SEX SCENE!!!!!!!!!! absolutely magnificent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, War, Classism, Death of parent, Outing, Sexual content, Deadnaming, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Ableism, Body shaming, Alcohol, Addiction, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Gun violence

sidhe's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Drug use, Alcohol, and War

kylarenea_'s review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I thought this book was absolutely delightful. One of the friends to lovers romances I've ever read, especially in the round about way they got there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Classism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcoholism, Mental illness, War, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Infertility, and Kidnapping

strange_little_ranger's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Dysphoria, War, Kidnapping, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

meaghancook's review

emotional funny reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Drug use and Kidnapping

mermaidmomma's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

I am a fan of historical romance as is and I adored this twist on it!! I really enjoyed the tension that grew better Viola and Justin. I love the fact that the 3rd act conflict had nothing to do with Viola being trans and that also wasn’t the central focus of the novel. Viola was just Viola to those who knew her past and that is exactly how it should be. 

Also, I must say I loved Mira and I cannot wait for her story. I really hope we get more of her and Stevie. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Deadnaming, Death, Ableism, and Addiction

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Kidnapping and Dysphoria