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A review by roget
Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I'm conflicted.
The most interesting part of this book was the male lead's trauma and discovering how that affected him. On the other hand, the most interesting part of this romance novel was the male lead's trauma and discovering how that affected him. There were other "issues" coming between the leads, but those issues were easily disposed with once Stone decided to get around to it. (Using his nickname, Stone, because I can't remember the real one after a few days...)
I found him more believable later on in the novel, and knowing what I know about him, he seems out of joint with his own internality based on his reactions in the first part.
What do I mean by this?
I find it highly unlikely that he'd be so smitten so soon. And this is a matter of taste, to some extent.
Granted, I'm on the asexual spectrum, and when characters experience insta-love or insta-you-know-what, my reaction tends to skew skeptical. But the rampant hormones in here were... a lot. If that sort of thing isn't your cuppa or puts you in a bad headspace/mindspace/etc., you might want to skip this one.
The ladies' solidarity with Neve was sweet, and so were many of the passages describing art as an emotional and creative outlet. But Stone spends so much time flipflopping between absolute impassivity and raging passion that I was a little bit in favor of him getting some therapy and not in favor of them running off happily ever after. At least, not yet. But this is a Victorian novel, and that suggestion is a bit anachronistic.
Also: Am I the only one who sort of hates the grovel trope when it's overblown? Yes, apologies that recognize wrongdoing are good, but promising to never ever make a mistake again is just...unrealistic. I have no idea how this couple would thrive moving forward.
Are we expected to believe Treadway's not going to manage to blackmail them with Neve's dancer background? I get that he's facing prison, but he's not without ability to speak.
Anyways. The moody, artistic, dark atmosphere of the duke's house and was often super immersive, but some of the character development fell a touch flat for me.
The most interesting part of this book was the male lead's trauma and discovering how that affected him. On the other hand, the most interesting part of this romance novel was the male lead's trauma and discovering how that affected him. There were other "issues" coming between the leads, but those issues were easily disposed with once Stone decided to get around to it. (Using his nickname, Stone, because I can't remember the real one after a few days...)
I found him more believable later on in the novel, and knowing what I know about him, he seems out of joint with his own internality based on his reactions in the first part.
What do I mean by this?
I find it highly unlikely that he'd be so smitten so soon. And this is a matter of taste, to some extent.
Granted, I'm on the asexual spectrum, and when characters experience insta-love or insta-you-know-what, my reaction tends to skew skeptical. But the rampant hormones in here were... a lot. If that sort of thing isn't your cuppa or puts you in a bad headspace/mindspace/etc., you might want to skip this one.
The ladies' solidarity with Neve was sweet, and so were many of the passages describing art as an emotional and creative outlet. But Stone spends so much time flipflopping between absolute impassivity and raging passion that I was a little bit in favor of him getting some therapy and not in favor of them running off happily ever after. At least, not yet. But this is a Victorian novel, and that suggestion is a bit anachronistic.
Also: Am I the only one who sort of hates the grovel trope when it's overblown? Yes, apologies that recognize wrongdoing are good, but promising to never ever make a mistake again is just...unrealistic. I have no idea how this couple would thrive moving forward.
Are we expected to believe
Anyways. The moody, artistic, dark atmosphere of the duke's house and was often super immersive, but some of the character development fell a touch flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Child abuse
Minor: Violence and Pregnancy