Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

19 reviews

emmehooks's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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

samchase112's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

3.75

RTC! Five stars for the absolutely stellar premise and characters, three stars for the long-winded, unnecessarily extensive descriptions. And two stars for all the typos?? (please hire me as your copy editor, thanks !!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, War, Vomit, Violence, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Addiction

Moderate: Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Grief

ninjamuse's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, War, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

ladythana's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, and Confinement

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Death, War, Ableism, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Transphobia

ruthiedr89's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Ableism, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Deadnaming, Gun violence, and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse

wanderingtales's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, War, and Addiction

Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Death, Ableism, War, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Classism

hngisreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Violence, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt