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moonytoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
i absolutely fell in love with the characters of viola and gracewood. i think hall did a great job of building out their prior friendship and also their own respective traumas. their chemistry upon reconnecting is so intimate and has the kind of easy kinship that i really love to see in romance stories, but it's also distinctly different from the dynamic viola and gracewood had before the war. friends to lovers tends to be a hit or miss trope for me, but this really sold me on it because there's still a significant journey that these characters go through before they actually reach the lovers part of the trope.
the side characters were also a fun time! louise and badger eavesdropping on viola and gracewood by hiding behind a plant and then interrupting their conversation, miranda going to a costume party dressed as frankenstein's monster.... i love them your honor!!!!!
the last 100 pages kinda went on a wild journey and i definitely knew something was going to happen, but wow. my brain was just like: OMG we're getting a swordfight in a brothel between viola and amberglass??????? OKAY IDK WHAT'S GOING ON BUT I'M HERE FOR IT! i blame my general lack of experience with historical romance and also the fact i am currently hopped up on medication for the worst sinus infection i've ever had in my life, but i was not prepared for that.
overall this is definitely primed to become a favorite comfort read of mine so i might eventually change this to five stars upon a re-read, but it's still absolutely lovely the first time around!
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Transphobia, Kidnapping, Sexism, and Violence
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Transphobia, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Violence, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Drug use, Alcohol, Addiction, and Drug abuse
heydebigale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There was a lot to love about this book. Gracewood is grieving the loss of his best friend at Waterloo not knowing that she —Viola—actually survived to finally live as herself.
The first half of this book was really lovely, although the deception stressed me out!!
I loved reading the trans representation in this book!! Viola was a lovely character and Gracewood was a loyal loving partner 💜
I struggled with the pacing of the second half of the book. The major conflict of the couple was resolved at 200 pages so 250 additional pages was… a lot.
I wish that this book had been edited down a bit because there were so many moments that were SO beautiful, it was just entirely too long.
The epilogue was especially sweet! A baby-logue you’ll actually love.
Notes: London & Devon, England. MCs are a cis white wealthy Duke and a trans woman who is a lady’s maid. Small class difference and Trans representation.
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Deadnaming
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Ableism, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Infertility, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Transphobia, Child abuse, and Classism
headinthepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Sexism, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, War, Blood, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Suicide, Vomit, Drug use, Gun violence, Ableism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Bullying
kristynpittman's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Alexis Hall really does it like no other! I'm not the biggest historical romance reader, but this modern and fresh take on a classic genre is exactly what we needed. Not only is the story beautiful and romantic, but the author made sure that the trans representation went beyond the page. The cover model is Violet, a trans woman, AND the audiobook is narrated by British transgender female voiceover actor Kay Eluvian.
***
Thank you to LibroFM for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
Moderate: Transphobia and Deadnaming
Minor: Violence and Gun violence
caseythereader's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
- Oh, my heart. A LADY FOR A DUKE is one of the best romance novels I've ever read. It's full of the best banter and the deepest feelings, and it's so fantastically queer.
- I absolutely adore that while Viola is of course worried about transphobia, it's not the entire plot of the book. Everyone she comes out to accepts her fully and without question, smoothly using her correct name and pronouns while working to give her the support she needs.
- Viola and Gracewood are the sweetest pair, each helping each other understand and deal with their traumas, untangle their feelings, and love each other wholly.
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, War, Classism, Death, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence