Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

21 reviews

mk_meow's review against another edition

4.0

2.5🌶️ euphemisms

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Kidnapping and Abandonment

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.

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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

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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

nothingtosay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, 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

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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

ellagrady's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted tense fast-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Transphobia, and Kidnapping

lisacanteven's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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

This is really more of a 3.5 read without rounding up, but I think because of the wonderful representation in a genre like this it deserves rounding up to a 4.

Here's where it didn't work for me: Almost 400 pages were telling a beautiful story with lovely writing and great character development. Then it took a hard left turn somewhere just south of page 400, and we were taken on a totally different ride on a trip I did not sign up for. It wasn't a bad trip, but it wasn't the one I wanted to be on. Maybe another time I would have enjoyed the trip, but I was ready for the trip I already had to be finished. Ya getting me?

Then for a few pages just north of page 400 the story got a little patriarchal outta nowhere. I didn't really expect that one person to just excuse the other person's behavior like they used the wrong fork at fancy dinner. If you read it, think about it. How did they just get away with it, but that is kinda how it usually happens because patriarchy.

Just as I was building my case against the villain's terrible redemption arc, the ending came together in a way that did satisfy me. I mean no one took down patriarchy in this book, but maybe that wasn't the point.

Here's what did work for me: The trans representation was really nice and sweet. I thought it was the perfect blend of trans joy and trans realness. You do have to suspend your disbelief and let yourself enjoy the relationship, but experiencing the trans joy through the story is worth it. For that alone this book was worth the read despite its flaws.

TL;DR- The first 400 pages will seem very laborious, but the last 50 pages will flash before your eyes like you're fast forwarding a movie. Both these parts of the story are enjoyable in their own right, but when put together they make a confusing tale. The queer, specifically trans, representation only gave the story more depth and attachment. For that achievement this story has earned its place among must-read romance books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sproutedpages'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and War

Moderate: Body shaming and Blood

brynalexa's review against another edition

I love how this is queer Bridgerton. It’s also heartwarming in that not a single person has malicious intent or hate in their hearts; especially since most queer books have an element of hate or dealing with discrimination in their plot. Speaking of plot… there was not any. Nothing happens in this book. I love the representation and the idea but it did not have enough to keep me entertained. Also, it’s one giant miscommunication trope. Everything would be solved if the characters just talked to each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and War

kshertz's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think the fact that I didn’t stop listening to this book for two days and finished it super quickly speaks for itself. It was so awesome to read about a trans person getting to live the life they wanted back in a different time period. The explanation made so much sense and the characters themselves were very well done. I really loved them and cared about what happened to them. This would be a 5.0 but it took forever to get to the sexiness. Which if you know me I need multiple and  very often.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria