A review by yourbookishbff
Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The concept for this story-within-a-story honestly feels brilliant to me - a woman who has inspired countless tales of fictional medieval adventures has inherited her very own castle, complete with recalcitrant and reclusive Duke. Izzy Goodnight is all grown up, even if she is eternally a child to the legions of zealous readers who first met her as the charming young protagonist of her father's fairytale-esque adventures, and she's penniless and homeless when she lands on the doorstep of her mysterious inheritance. The Duke, recently blinded by a severe injury to his eyes in a duel, refuses to leave the crumbling property that's become his sole refuge. This is absolutely over-the-top all the way through, with forced proximity, scarred hero, rake x wallflower, and a handful of other beloved tropes all battling for the reader's attention, but it's the narrative structure, and our underlying fairy tale adventures, that make this feel so unique and whimsical and ultimately, deeply moving. I just loved this.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings