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suria21's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i loved it! i absolutely love a found family story so i loved this book! loved Peter and Selina together and was very glad that they did not have a third act breakup of any kind!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
binevolentbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“You bring the morning with you. You’re the light, sweetheart. When you walk into a room, I can’t see the shadows. There is nothing in this world that could persuade me to send you away if I thought you wanted me half as much as I want you.”
i have been a huge fan of Vasti’s historical romances ever since i stumbled across the Hallifax sisters’ novellas via her newsletter, and in her first full length regency romance, we encounter yet another delightful romance in Peter and Selina’s story - a perfectly matched pair of strong willed and charming protagonists.
while NE’ER DUKE WELL is definitely first and foremost a romance, both sweet and steamy, this is also a story of family, both found and by blood, loyalty, and standing up in the face of adversity - because it wouldn’t be a regency romance without scandal in the ton! Vasti is masterful in crafting conflict that doesn’t rely on the tired tropes of miscommunication and third act breakups, instead utilizing a larger storyline of impropriety and legal maneuverings which allows room for for the characters to grow together.
i’m eager for the second installment of the Belvoir's Library series, with Earl Crush expected January 2025!
special thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy of Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti - out now!
special thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy of Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti - out now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, Slavery, Medical content, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
garbage_mcsmutly'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? It's complicated
5.0
⭐ 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
Wow. Really, wow. This was SUCH a good book. I'm not even sure what to say about it other than GO READ IT RIGHT NOW.
📝 The plotlines were varied and engaging and everything was followed through beautifully. The MCs are relatable and lovable. They make sense as a couple. Their flaws and obstacles fit with their personalities and circumstances. There was humor and ridiculousness but also some very sincere and deeply emotional scenes. (My 😢 count: 1x tearing up, 1x full on weeping.)
📝 Oh and one of the marks of great world building: I cannot wait to get more books in this series! I am desperate to learn more about the side characters! I won't even say which ones for fear of spoiling anything. But all the side characters seemed to have rich lives and thoughts of their own and were fully fleshed out.
🎧 The narration for the audiobook was excellent (the book was dual POV, with a single female narrator, Mhairi Morrison).
🌶️ There were a few (I think 3? I didn't keep track) detailed spicy scenes and they were all 🔥🔥🔥
ℹ️📗☠️💚 This isn't information that's in the book, but fun ("fun") fact: in the mid- to late 19th century, the popular and brilliant emerald green color found on Belvoir's books (and many other products produced primarily in the Victorian era) was often achieved by use of arsenic in the coloring process, making the books mildly poisonous! But since Belvoir's is a small press of high quality (not mass market), and regency era is a bit earlier than the boom in emerald green, it's likely Belvoir's particular books were not full of poison. Anyways none of that bummer stuff comes up in this book, this is just my weird dark brain sharing info with y'all.
(Check out the University of Delaware's Poison Book Project if you want to learn more.)
🌶️ 4/5
Wow. Really, wow. This was SUCH a good book. I'm not even sure what to say about it other than GO READ IT RIGHT NOW.
📝 The plotlines were varied and engaging and everything was followed through beautifully. The MCs are relatable and lovable. They make sense as a couple. Their flaws and obstacles fit with their personalities and circumstances. There was humor and ridiculousness but also some very sincere and deeply emotional scenes. (My 😢 count: 1x tearing up, 1x full on weeping.)
📝 Oh and one of the marks of great world building: I cannot wait to get more books in this series! I am desperate to learn more about the side characters! I won't even say which ones for fear of spoiling anything. But all the side characters seemed to have rich lives and thoughts of their own and were fully fleshed out.
🎧 The narration for the audiobook was excellent (the book was dual POV, with a single female narrator, Mhairi Morrison).
🌶️ There were a few (I think 3? I didn't keep track) detailed spicy scenes and they were all 🔥🔥🔥
ℹ️📗☠️💚 This isn't information that's in the book, but fun ("fun") fact: in the mid- to late 19th century, the popular and brilliant emerald green color found on Belvoir's books (and many other products produced primarily in the Victorian era) was often achieved by use of arsenic in the coloring process, making the books mildly poisonous! But since Belvoir's is a small press of high quality (not mass market), and regency era is a bit earlier than the boom in emerald green, it's likely Belvoir's particular books were not full of poison. Anyways none of that bummer stuff comes up in this book, this is just my weird dark brain sharing info with y'all.
(Check out the University of Delaware's Poison Book Project if you want to learn more.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Xenophobia, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Child death and death of parent are mentioned but occurred prior to the events on the page.