Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

88 reviews

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative 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

4.5

Absolutely emotional damage, but I think the second half dragged on a bit with the side characters? It wasn’t like I didn’t care it just felt a little more unfocused at points. It’s still absolutely amazing though, the writing is very lyrical and beautiful. I absolutely loved the trans representation in this book. I would check the content warnings before reading since the book does deal with heavier themes and deadnaming occurs in the book. Absolutely loved this!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

youshouldreadthisif'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? It's complicated

5.0

The best historical romance!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, and Drug abuse

ashlikes's review against another edition

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, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infertility, Transphobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

youngsupernovas's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Ableism and Transphobia

jneverland's review against another edition

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

viji's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Kidnapping

ccouey's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Deadnaming, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Death of parent, and War

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment

anniereads221's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism

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, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism