Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

139 reviews

rightthatsathing's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and War

himpersonal's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.5

I loved that the main character was trans, especially in a time when it was illegal (this is not a spoiler - it's revealed very early on in the book). We need more books like this (especially now) where trans characters are seen as normal, even in a time when it was criminalized. They have always been part of every population, and they always will be. They also deserve to be loved like all people do.

The story unraveled at a good pace and the romance developed organically. It was perfect. So often, romances are rushed to get to the sex scenes, or they are sappy and unappealing. This one was well done. Also really liked the relationship between Justin and his sister.

Book was effective at gathering all the trauma that took place before the characters were even introduced and helping them work through their personal tragedies, bringing them to closure, and helping them move beyond the healing.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

imds's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

warlocksarecool21's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.0

I thought A Lady for a Duke was a very heartfelt (and queer!) historical romance. What strikes me across all of Alexis Hall’s books is that the characters feel like real people, they have feelings, desires and flaws and you experience all of that with them. Viola and Gracewood were such interesting and dynamic characters and I really enjoyed reading them. I thought Hall did a good job of exploring how PTSD and trauma affect a person, especially in a time period where there wasn’t a term for this condition yet. I also loved how Hall explored how a trans person might live back then, that being trans was just one part of Viola’s story, and that her version of womanhood was never made out to be less than. The romance between Viola and Gracewood was sweet and moving, although I was frustrated with them in the first half of the book, I loved how their relationship progressed and the ending they chose with one another. The only things that didn’t work for me was the pacing felt a little off at times, and I thought the conflict that Viola and Gracewood were working against in the third act was kind of ridiculous but it had its place in the story at the end. (and to anyone worried it’s not a third act break-up! so bless alexis hall for that) Other than I had a great time reading this; and I look forward to more books in this universe (because I definitely saw the seeds planted!) 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Grief

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, and Blood

suerte_encantada's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: War

lipstickitotheman'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a good romance! A lesser author would've made it half as long, with the only conflict being stealth and in love, but the plot moves outside of the main couple as well. I love all of the main characters, and they're all so very interesting. 
Favorite quote: "Lady Marleigh nodded. 'Exactly. Breakfast is the best meal of the day--as it should be, to console one for having to get out of bed.'" I love her. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Misogyny, Vomit, Kidnapping, War, and Classism

meat_muffin's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Transphobia

ezwolf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

Been non-stop thinking of “How many times must I mourn you?”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Transphobia, Vomit, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Deadnaming, Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Sexual harassment

fionamclary's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

This was fun and sweet and heartfelt and successful at being a book with a trans heroine where the main conflict is not about her being trans. But it is very much a book about gender, in which Viola learns to embody her womanhood while rejecting the gendered expectations that don't suit her, and Gracewood learns to redefine what it means to be a man in a way that integrates his past traumas without being confined or dictated by them.

I wish we'd gotten a better picture of their friendship pre-Waterloo and how that affects their present relationship. Especially after the first 150 or so pages, it often felt that little would change about the story if they were complete strangers before meeting at Morgancald post-war.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gun violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Classism

daryn's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

this started out so strong for me but really fell off once they went to London. the stakes seemed to disappear after about halfway through and just led to Gracewood and Viola having the same conversation over and over, mixed with a random pointless kidnapping plot. i loved the idea here but think it would have been executed better if the book was slower paced or Viola’s identity was revealed to Gracewood further into the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Transphobia