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A review by perpetualpages
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
CWs: descriptions of PTSD and chronic pain; instances of deadnaming/misgendering (in the past tense); some references to dysphoria; brief mentions of suicide ideation; some exploration of drug addiction; references to past abuse; some misogyny; and explicit sexual content
Rep: Viola is a trans woman who passes in society; and Gracewood is a former soldier disabled by the war who uses a mobility aid, experiences chronic pain, and is contending with both PTSD and related drug dependency
The perfect historical romance does exist, and Alexis Hall has not only proven that but achieved that with flying colors in this truly unforgettable book.
This book ruined me. It absolutely eviscerated my emotions and left a permanent mark on my soul, which will be forever changed just by knowing that this book exists. At the time of writing this review, I read this over a month ago, and just the thought of it will still stop me in my tracks and make my heart clench in the best/worst possible way.
This historical romance gave me joy, gave my life, gave me purpose. It is an incredibly tender, slow-burn romance that is the absolute *epitome* of queer yearning, and it is the ultimate second chance romance. There *is* no greater second chance than essentially coming back from the dead to win over your best friend and first love.
I think what makes this romance so incredibly striking is the fact that being together allows both Gracewood and Viola to process their grief, and they’re both grieving completely different things. Viola is grieving both the person she was wrongfully raised to be along with the womanhood she was never fully invited into or allowed to embrace. Gracewood, on the other hand, is not only coming to terms with the fact that he was grieving someone who was never actually lost, but he’s also grieving the past version of himself that was stronger, more independent, and more able-bodied—because that's how he's been taught to define his masculinity and because the world has conditioned him to place value in those things.
In many ways, both of these characters are haunted by those past versions of themselves and they’re still learning how to accept themselves for who they are *now*, even if those new versions of themselves come with obstacles or hardships. Through healing together and being with one another, they are slowly learning that the people they are now are fully capable and worthy of love.
On the subject of representation, there is so much care and nuance put into how the other characters process and hold space for Viola's transness. To be explicitly clear, that doesn't mean that everyone reacts "the right way," or that every character easily and automatically understands or accepts Viola's transness, but it *does* mean that Viola is given ample opportunity to express herself, her feelings, and her needs in a way that’s very thoughtful and direct.
I also really appreciate how this historical romance doesn’t shy away from the fact that Viola’s womanhood inherently changes the dynamic of her friendship with Gracewood, specifically in how they carry themselves in society and have to take different rules of propriety into account. As a woman, Viola cannot occupy those same spaces that she and Gracewood used to frequent in their youth. She can’t go into gentleman’s clubs, or bars, they can’t go riding or hunting together, and it could even be taboo for them to associate in public without a chaperone. There’s all these societal rules for how they conduct themselves as people of two different genders, which is not inherently a “bad thing,” but it is new and different.
The story is also very mindful of how Viola is still learning how to navigate those new spaces, how she still doesn’t really know what she should wear, how she should conduct herself, what’s "polite" for a woman to say, or even how to take up "womanly" activities like arts, tea service, or being a hostess. Again, there's no judgment value placed on these new endeavors that Viola has to take on, but simply an acknowledgement that this shift in priorities and expectations placed upon her is very much a real thing she has to learn how to balance.
What’s more, the banter and the dialogue in this story is just top notch. Alexis Hall was born to write regency-era banter, and he knows exactly the right words for his romantic leads to say that will absolutely tear your heart *asunder.* There is such an earnestness and lack of pretense between Viola and Gracewood that makes space for so many tender, heart-wrenching interactions and exchanges that will just leave the reader breathless with their clarity and urgency. The amount of quotes in this book that sent me reeling are just beyond measure, and the level of devotion the characters are constantly expressing to each other is simply unfair to every other romance book in existence.
Additionally, that aspect of Gracewood unknowingly grieving with the very same person who unintentionally caused that grief in the first place is a romantic dynamic that I never knew I needed in my life. But it is *so* incredibly good. It is so good and so cathartic to see these characters find their way back to each other and heal each other in a way that is so incredibly earnest and powerful.
If I have not sold you on this book with all that I've said so far, then frankly I never will. If you want to feel something deep in the dredges of your heart, you have to get yourself to a copy of this book by any means necessary as soon as humanly possible. As cliché as it may be to say, this is one of those stories that will make you believe in love and give you a reason to hope. I truly cherished every single second that I got to spend with this incredible story. It is one of my all-time favorite books now, and if any part of this review connects with you, I'm sure it will also become one of yours in no time at all.
Rep: Viola is a trans woman who passes in society; and Gracewood is a former soldier disabled by the war who uses a mobility aid, experiences chronic pain, and is contending with both PTSD and related drug dependency
The perfect historical romance does exist, and Alexis Hall has not only proven that but achieved that with flying colors in this truly unforgettable book.
This book ruined me. It absolutely eviscerated my emotions and left a permanent mark on my soul, which will be forever changed just by knowing that this book exists. At the time of writing this review, I read this over a month ago, and just the thought of it will still stop me in my tracks and make my heart clench in the best/worst possible way.
This historical romance gave me joy, gave my life, gave me purpose. It is an incredibly tender, slow-burn romance that is the absolute *epitome* of queer yearning, and it is the ultimate second chance romance. There *is* no greater second chance than essentially coming back from the dead to win over your best friend and first love.
I think what makes this romance so incredibly striking is the fact that being together allows both Gracewood and Viola to process their grief, and they’re both grieving completely different things. Viola is grieving both the person she was wrongfully raised to be along with the womanhood she was never fully invited into or allowed to embrace. Gracewood, on the other hand, is not only coming to terms with the fact that he was grieving someone who was never actually lost, but he’s also grieving the past version of himself that was stronger, more independent, and more able-bodied—because that's how he's been taught to define his masculinity and because the world has conditioned him to place value in those things.
In many ways, both of these characters are haunted by those past versions of themselves and they’re still learning how to accept themselves for who they are *now*, even if those new versions of themselves come with obstacles or hardships. Through healing together and being with one another, they are slowly learning that the people they are now are fully capable and worthy of love.
On the subject of representation, there is so much care and nuance put into how the other characters process and hold space for Viola's transness. To be explicitly clear, that doesn't mean that everyone reacts "the right way," or that every character easily and automatically understands or accepts Viola's transness, but it *does* mean that Viola is given ample opportunity to express herself, her feelings, and her needs in a way that’s very thoughtful and direct.
I also really appreciate how this historical romance doesn’t shy away from the fact that Viola’s womanhood inherently changes the dynamic of her friendship with Gracewood, specifically in how they carry themselves in society and have to take different rules of propriety into account. As a woman, Viola cannot occupy those same spaces that she and Gracewood used to frequent in their youth. She can’t go into gentleman’s clubs, or bars, they can’t go riding or hunting together, and it could even be taboo for them to associate in public without a chaperone. There’s all these societal rules for how they conduct themselves as people of two different genders, which is not inherently a “bad thing,” but it is new and different.
The story is also very mindful of how Viola is still learning how to navigate those new spaces, how she still doesn’t really know what she should wear, how she should conduct herself, what’s "polite" for a woman to say, or even how to take up "womanly" activities like arts, tea service, or being a hostess. Again, there's no judgment value placed on these new endeavors that Viola has to take on, but simply an acknowledgement that this shift in priorities and expectations placed upon her is very much a real thing she has to learn how to balance.
What’s more, the banter and the dialogue in this story is just top notch. Alexis Hall was born to write regency-era banter, and he knows exactly the right words for his romantic leads to say that will absolutely tear your heart *asunder.* There is such an earnestness and lack of pretense between Viola and Gracewood that makes space for so many tender, heart-wrenching interactions and exchanges that will just leave the reader breathless with their clarity and urgency. The amount of quotes in this book that sent me reeling are just beyond measure, and the level of devotion the characters are constantly expressing to each other is simply unfair to every other romance book in existence.
Additionally, that aspect of Gracewood unknowingly grieving with the very same person who unintentionally caused that grief in the first place is a romantic dynamic that I never knew I needed in my life. But it is *so* incredibly good. It is so good and so cathartic to see these characters find their way back to each other and heal each other in a way that is so incredibly earnest and powerful.
If I have not sold you on this book with all that I've said so far, then frankly I never will. If you want to feel something deep in the dredges of your heart, you have to get yourself to a copy of this book by any means necessary as soon as humanly possible. As cliché as it may be to say, this is one of those stories that will make you believe in love and give you a reason to hope. I truly cherished every single second that I got to spend with this incredible story. It is one of my all-time favorite books now, and if any part of this review connects with you, I'm sure it will also become one of yours in no time at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Deadnaming and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts