Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

75 reviews

shadereads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Kidnapping, Dysphoria, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Blood, Child abuse, Drug use, and War

lignjahal's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

4.0/5

It’s a cute little queer historical romance that will keep you engaged with solid writing and good characters.
My only cons are the length being just a bit too long and the writing sometimes being a bit too modern for the period, but these are only minor complaints.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Sexism, Ableism, War, Sexual harassment, Classism, Kidnapping, and Drug use

Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Transphobia, Outing, Sexism, Gore, Addiction, Child abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

takarakei's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

Cannot recommend the audiobook for this enough! The narrator was so fantastic and I looked up their other books because I was so impressed with the voices, tonal inflections etc

I’ve heard people say this book is too long and I think if you’re reading a physical copy I could see that - I didn’t quite feel that way with the audiobook (except for a few parts where I felt things dragged a touch). Overall this was a beautiful poignant historical love story between two people growing together in unlearning what the gender binary tells them they are each supposed to be/do/feel/ etc. There are some absolutely beautiful sweeping dialogue passages. This book and mainly it’s side characters are also supremely hilarious which I enjoyed immensely.

3.5/5 🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Addiction

Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Deadnaming and War

As the author states misgendering of Viola happens in relation to talking about her past Gracewood suffers from severe PTSD from the war and is recovering from using drugs to cope with it

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

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

If you are in Bridgerton withdrawal (like me!) then this is one of those books that will help get you by until the next season drops. Oh, and did I mention this is a queer romance?!
Viola was presumed dead during the war, and in truth a part of her did die that day. She has been able to live as her true self for the past two years, but when an old friend from her past needs help, she is forced to confront her feelings, and who she left behind. 

This is the first book I have read regarding a trans character where the primary narrative/conflict isn't centered on the main character being trans. It was refreshing and delightful, words I also find myself feeling as I read through A Lady for a Duke. Alexis Hall has a way of writing that is funny, and engaging. Once all the characters are introduced I feel the book really hits its pace and I enjoyed it a lot! At times I did have to look up definitions, but I always love learning a new word. There was such vibrant cast of characters, each profoundly human and lovable I could never pick a favorite. 
There are a few more difficult topics that Hall tackles, such as PTSD, drug abuse, and ableism. I found each of these handled with grace and depicted very well, not shying away from the harsh truth of such subjects. 
I highly recommend this book, I can't wait to read more from the author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug use, and Deadnaming

Minor: Death of parent

brynalexa's review against another edition

I love how this is queer Bridgerton. It’s also heartwarming in that not a single person has malicious intent or hate in their hearts; especially since most queer books have an element of hate or dealing with discrimination in their plot. Speaking of plot… there was not any. Nothing happens in this book. I love the representation and the idea but it did not have enough to keep me entertained. Also, it’s one giant miscommunication trope. Everything would be solved if the characters just talked to each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, War, Ableism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Confinement

briely's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, Drug use, Addiction, War, and Suicidal thoughts

danaslitlist's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to read a historical fiction book that handled queerness, transness and disability in such an intentional and considerate manner. In a genre where elitist readers claim wanting historical accuracy, while also allowing for all rules to be broken if it fulfills tropes and desires, in order to exclude characters who queer, trans, BIPOC, disabled in leading roles, etc it was a wonderful surprise to have so many characters be of these groups or be supportive allies. And guess what? That doesn’t jeopardize the believability or immersion of the text. 

Queer and trans people have always existed. Point blank period, we have been in the world, and it’s about time we have more novels like this exist and are praised.

Not to mention that the book itself is beautifully written and feels like a “proper” regency era romance and not like a book trying to be one. The prose is spectacular, the flirting and building of tension between characters was palpable, and the cast of characters all felt real and genuine. 

I think one of the strongest areas of this book is the way that Viola being trans is not the main source of conflict in this book; in that her identity and being herself is not the basis for resentment. And that Viola is loved and respected and cared for by so many allows for the readers to bask in trans joy.

This would’ve been a five star read but I felt that the last plot point that was introduced around the 90% mark was a bit out of the blue and unnecessary. The book would’ve been fine without it, if not better had it not been included so last minute.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Drug use, War, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

Minor: Transphobia

scoobygirl93's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Deadnaming, and Injury/Injury detail

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