Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

28 reviews

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

analenegrace's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-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? Yes

4.0

I've read most of Alexis Hall's books, and I do think this might be my favorite. From a cis-gendered perspective, I found that Hall took on the topic of being trans in this historical period and did it fairly well while making all of his characters accepting of Viola's identity because, at the end of the day, it's fiction and its romance, which needs a happy-ever-after. Hall did a good job of taking modern ideas, of transness, PTSD, bisexuality, etc, and fitting them into a historical context in a natural way that did not feel like prescribing modern terminology to the characters and the period. I enjoyed Justin and Viola's relationship greatly, and I liked that it had some aspect of adventure to it, and I look forward to reading the sequel, which I imagine will be about Mira. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, War, Transphobia, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, and Dysphoria

hannahwriightt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

ashlikes's review

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

jneverland's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Transphobia, War, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

alliei's review

adventurous emotional

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

5.0

?????!/!!-!????-!!:??????????!?????

I. LOVED. IT. SO. MUCH. I WANT MORE. GIVE ME A SEQUEL OR BONUS CHAPTER IDK JUST GIVE ME ANYTHING PLS. 

I felt so much while reading this but nothing can compare to the love that Viola and Gracewood have for each other. I was literally just swooning and crying throughout the book, there was no in between. 

I’m still so emotional right after reading it and that damn epilogue was such a nice way of ending the book, i want to cryYyy. I love the characters, i love everyone (except for the two assholes near the end, of course). I LOVE EVERYTHING. 

Tbh i’m tempted to read it again rn. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and War

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

Minor: Death

emmehooks's review

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

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

littlewishling's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

What a beautiful romance! Hall does a beautiful job of tackling trans issues, disability and trauma. I loved every moment of this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping

Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism

fuzzyfairy's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Classism, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, War, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Homophobia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Murder, Mental illness, and Blood