isamc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I need a gender studies class to study this. There is so many things about this book that gender studies person can be confused by. I’m not that person but I was certainly baffled.
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
5.0
Always impressive when book 11 in a series takes the crown for favourite entry, but oh how I loved this. I had read quite a few lacklustre reviews so I braced myself for a middling affair... But this was exactly the kind of story I love. Alf was wonderful, a feisty arse kicker with a soft underbelly, equally matched by Hugh, broody but noble and with conceivable reasons for being able to look beyond his station. And a puppy named Pudding to top it off?! Love it.
And what a fascinating set up for the next book...
And what a fascinating set up for the next book...
allcavesin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
4.0
khaleesirose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
plottrysts's review against another edition
3.5
This book features Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, who we met in Duke of Sin. He's a widower and single dad who's also a spy for the crown. (The king also happens to be his dad.) Did we like Hugh? We really did - he's the kind of caring hero who also knows not to underestimate women and doesn't hesitate to get in a bar brawl if necessary.
The book also features Alf, a young urchin who makes her living scrounging information from the mean streets of St. Giles. Oh yeah, and (SPOILER ALERT for, like, 4 of the previous 6 books in the series?) who does it disguised as a male youth. Much of her internal conflict has to do with her identity: she's been living "as a boy" since the age of 7, but has always known she is a woman. She's also recently taken up the mantle of the Ghost of St. Giles (HA HA, you thought we were done with the Ghosts, didn't you?).
Now Hugh and Alf are allies against a secret society that condones the worst behavior.
While we were into Hugh and Alf separately, we just aren't sure we see them as a well-matched couple. Part of the issue is that we wanted more from Alf, a side character we've seen grow since Winter Makepeace was the Ghost. The other part is that Alf and High spend so much time as allies during a desperate fight that we don't see them as loves who will make it in the long haul. Maybe they will, maybe they won't - but we couldn't decide from this short-ish romance.
30-Word Summaries:
Laine: Kyle is determined to bring down the terrible Lords of Chaos, which leads to an attack in a dark alley. Kyle needs the best ... man ... he knows for the job.
Meg: There’s a new Ghost in St. Giles, & she’s a girl who likes to kiss Kyle when they swordfight together! But she’s also Alf, Kyle’s (male) informant. So, uh … surprise?
The book also features Alf, a young urchin who makes her living scrounging information from the mean streets of St. Giles. Oh yeah, and (SPOILER ALERT for, like, 4 of the previous 6 books in the series?) who does it disguised as a male youth. Much of her internal conflict has to do with her identity: she's been living "as a boy" since the age of 7, but has always known she is a woman. She's also recently taken up the mantle of the Ghost of St. Giles (HA HA, you thought we were done with the Ghosts, didn't you?).
Now Hugh and Alf are allies against a secret society that condones the worst behavior.
While we were into Hugh and Alf separately, we just aren't sure we see them as a well-matched couple. Part of the issue is that we wanted more from Alf, a side character we've seen grow since Winter Makepeace was the Ghost. The other part is that Alf and High spend so much time as allies during a desperate fight that we don't see them as loves who will make it in the long haul. Maybe they will, maybe they won't - but we couldn't decide from this short-ish romance.
30-Word Summaries:
Laine: Kyle is determined to bring down the terrible Lords of Chaos, which leads to an attack in a dark alley. Kyle needs the best ... man ... he knows for the job.
Meg: There’s a new Ghost in St. Giles, & she’s a girl who likes to kiss Kyle when they swordfight together! But she’s also Alf, Kyle’s (male) informant. So, uh … surprise?
megatza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Probably had to suspend my disbelief most for Duke of Pleasure than any of the other books in the series so far, but I *really* liked it. I've been looking forward to Alf's story for some time. The book is missing a little bit of something extra to give it 5⭐️ but I love the way Hoyt justifies Alf and Kyle as equals and the hopes and fears they have.
geneevasquez's review against another edition
3.0
Sorry but I just read some pages and then went inmediatly to the end because not another story about the Ghost please
andskye's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
3.75
katdid's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Girl disguised as boys is one of my favourite tropes and Alf has been a long-standing(?) secondary character in this series, and yet I was not excited about reading it. I liked it though! It struck all the right notes (except for the whole Lords of Chaos thing ). Also I just couldn't get a handle on Iris, she seemed so ordinary. Nice to visit with Godric and Megs again!