katleap's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
I received an e-ARC copy of Duke of Pleasure from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, acknowledged king’s bastard and problem solver for the crown has a problem. Well actually he has several. Someone is trying to kill him over the investigation he is conducting into the Lord of Chaos. His sons hate him and he’s discovered that the ghost of St Giles is a woman. Hugh hires Alf, street urchin, to find information for him and gradually figuring out her secret. The only question is if they can figure out this investigation and get out alive.
This was a great mystery. I liked getting know Alf better. She’s been an interesting character and I was curious to know more about her. I liked her interactions with the boys, especially when she turned into a girl on them.
Hugh was a bit rough around the edges, particularly for a duke, but there were softer sides to him most easily seen through his interaction with his sons. Hugh loves hard, but because of his wife he guarded his heart and it took almost losing Alf for him to realize it.
I am excited that the next book is about Iris. I liked her and then I respected her when she figure out about Alf. I can't wait for her story.
I received an e-ARC copy of Duke of Pleasure from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, acknowledged king’s bastard and problem solver for the crown has a problem. Well actually he has several. Someone is trying to kill him over the investigation he is conducting into the Lord of Chaos. His sons hate him and he’s discovered that the ghost of St Giles is a woman. Hugh hires Alf, street urchin, to find information for him and gradually figuring out her secret. The only question is if they can figure out this investigation and get out alive.
This was a great mystery. I liked getting know Alf better. She’s been an interesting character and I was curious to know more about her. I liked her interactions with the boys, especially when she turned into a girl on them.
Hugh was a bit rough around the edges, particularly for a duke, but there were softer sides to him most easily seen through his interaction with his sons. Hugh loves hard, but because of his wife he guarded his heart and it took almost losing Alf for him to realize it.
I am excited that the next book is about Iris. I liked her and then I respected her when she figure out about Alf. I can't wait for her story.
spiringvenus's review against another edition
4.0
Loved Alf and Hugh! Smart and funny! Interesting all the way through! Great book in the series.
_evyn_'s review against another edition
5.0
<I'm glad Alf got a book. I think there's a decent amount of nonbinary and drag denial and erasure from the adults, specifically Hugh, which speaks to his fragile masculinity 🙄 but Peter and Kit know what's up and after first introduction to the idea of him being just Alf and not a woman (as per her own declaration at least twice), are more accepting and open about her use of labels and pronouns. I didn't think Alf was going to get a book tbh but I really wanted him to and in the end, I did really like it even though the forced narrative was that Alf was scared to be a woman and needed to be forced into the label (really into what the label stood for at that time) rather than be comfortable in the knowledge that they were just themself and sometimes identified with both binary genders but more often identifing herself by status in society instead of gender. It is telling that the conflict Alf thought was happening between himself and Hugh was bc of her position as a "street urchin" and not about gender whereas Hugh did acknowledge that and assumed he couldn't be with her bc of that reason but really just focused on the main fact that Alf's gender presentation wasn't what he would normally seek in a partner so he wouldn't accept Alf not being a woman by saying she gave him an erection so she must be a woman bc he wouldn't have been attracted to Alf otherwise. Seems like a you problem, Hugh. Alf doesn't owe you gender. In the end, she does feel more comfortable to try different forms of gender presentation which she didn't get a chance to do before bc dressing like a woman in St. Giles was dangerous for her safety but I do think we are left to believe she is not scared to become a proper lady now that she isn't in St. Giles when that doesn't suit her character and I think she will be experimenting more with all forms of dress now that he is safe to do so unless she is pressured by His Grace Fragile Masculinity to stay in dresses which is ilentirely plausible as he made her buy a bunch before the wedding. Anyway my interpretation is may be a little off canon but it makes more sense and is honestly more comforting and realistic>
martine3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
slovenianbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like reading the first couple of books in this series. To be honest, last couple of books (especially the last one about Montgomery) weren't really my cup of tea. I mean, I loved them, it was definitely the same writing style as in the first books but I feel like the point of the story was different. This one brings out the light.
I always wanted to know more about Alf, this woman-dressed-as-a-boy who is chasing for information in the bad streets of England. She's like a Spiderman, chasing people from the roofs.
Hugh is a widower and a father to two boys and it doesn't take him long to realise all he wants is right in front of him.
5 stars.
Can't wait for the last book I still need to read - Iris's story!
I always wanted to know more about Alf, this woman-dressed-as-a-boy who is chasing for information in the bad streets of England. She's like a Spiderman, chasing people from the roofs.
Hugh is a widower and a father to two boys and it doesn't take him long to realise all he wants is right in front of him.
5 stars.
Can't wait for the last book I still need to read - Iris's story!
ahaynie's review against another edition
5.0
Hoyt never disappoints and it was fun to have Alf's story!
izmc'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
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