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A Lady for a Duke Kindle Edition
Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
- SpracheEnglisch
- PublisherForever
- Publication dateMay 24, 2022
- File size1569 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Hall is a consistently beautiful writer, but this story, the first in a new series, may be his best yet.”
―Kirkus, Starred Review
“Hall has a gift for humor but is also skilled at composing passages that evoke the deepest emotions, whether the ache of long-denied love, crushing grief or the relief and soulful joy of being accepted and adored as one's most authentic self.”―Library Journal, Starred Review
"The period banter is unparalleled as Hall pulls his characters out of the drawing room and into far closer quarters. He explores difficult subjects with a sharpness matched only by the tenderness underpinning the relationship between Viola and Gracewood. Fans of Lisa Kleypas and anyone looking for romance centering trans characters owe it to themselves to check this out."―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Hall has a gift for humor but is also skilled at composing passages that evoke the deepest emotions, whether the ache of long-denied love, crushing grief or the relief and soulful joy of being accepted and adored as one's most authentic self.”―Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
“His beautiful and moving first historical romance, which has just enough humor to lighten the angst, may be the sweetest book of this summer.”―NPR
“Alexis Hall was made for writing these period narratives. . . . Featuring Hall’s trademark wit, a second chance romance infused with grief, yearning and acceptance, A Lady for a Duke is a vivid, moving tale.”―The Nerd Daily
“A name to follow in romance. . . . With A Lady for a Duke, Hall cements himself even further as a writer who pushes the genre beyond its previous borders and helps to reestablish a new definition altogether.”―Paste Magazine
“If you're looking to swoon, laugh, and cry, then this is the audiobook for you.”―Buzzfeed
"Hall is a dizzyingly talented writer, one likely to spur envy in anyone who's ever picked up a pen."―Entertainment Weekly
"Simply the best writer I've come across in years."―Laura Kinsale, New York Times bestselling author of Flowers from the Storm
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B08W4ZRDRZ
- Publisher : Forever (May 24, 2022)
- Publication date : May 24, 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 1569 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 481 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #105,046 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #100 in Transgender Romance
- #726 in Historical Regency Fiction
- #2,513 in Regency Historical Romance
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Alexis Hall](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/lkt5t5sh6k3um1aj400lq5rmqj._SY600_.jpg)
Alexis Hall has Bette Davis eyes.
Website: http://www.quicunquevult.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicunquevult
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quicunquevult/
Newsletter: http://www.quicunquevult.com/contact
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers say the writing quality is gorgeous, well-developed, and lovely. They also find the story beautiful, moving, and full of emotions. Readers describe the book as a true pleasure to read, with sassy, strong, intelligent women. They appreciate the romance plot as thrilling and fresh. Customers also mention the characters as wonderful.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the writing quality of the book gorgeous, but not overdone. They also say the layers are deeply nuanced, and appreciate the 19th-century setting. Readers describe the book as utterly unique and wonderful. They mention that the characters are well developed and the story has lovely moments.
"...Some spoilers ahead **There are so many important themes but I'll focus on my favorite 2. First up is forgiveness...." Read more
"What a beautiful and moving story, full of emotions and a fantastic character-driven story set in regency times...." Read more
"Alexis Hall created something utterly unique and amazing in A Lady for a Duke!Where to start?..." Read more
"...Hall’s writing is tender, vulnerable, and achingly loving. Gracewood is the sweetest cinnamon roll and I love how he accepted and loved Viola...." Read more
Customers find the romance plot thrilling, beautifully told, and wholesome. They also say the ending is lovely and the epilog is a nice icing on this truly romantic story.
"...What follows is a beautiful tale of friendship, trust, and love...." Read more
"...I enjoyed how this book is a compelling angsty love story with Viola and Gracewood finding each other again anfter a tragedy and Gracewood learning..." Read more
"...And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue?..." Read more
"...pining, outstanding LGBTQ+ rep, sweet cinnamon rolls, and achingly romantic queer love." Read more
Customers find the story beautiful, moving, and full of emotions. They also say it's fun, endearing, and makes them cry and laugh. Customers also appreciate the excellent witty banter and rejection of typical.
"...who are positively fantastic and add so much to the comic relief...." Read more
"What a beautiful and moving story, full of emotions and a fantastic character-driven story set in regency times...." Read more
"...And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue?..." Read more
"...Hall’s writing is tender, vulnerable, and achingly loving. Gracewood is the sweetest cinnamon roll and I love how he accepted and loved Viola...." Read more
Customers find the characters wonderful, strong, and portrayed well. They also mention that the author excels at side characters.
"...I also think the twist was unexpected and satisfying. The secondary cast was done well but they gave room to let Viola and Gracewood shine...." Read more
"...Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality...." Read more
"...Alexis Hall does an incredible job with creating compelling supporting characters who are just as much fun to follow as the main characters...." Read more
"...Viola is a great character, full of remorse for those she's hurt by her 'death' but strong in how she deals with the aftermath of the change and..." Read more
Customers find the book compelling without being over the top. They also describe it as fun, fluffy, and endearing. Readers also mention that the book is informative, joyful, and beautiful.
"...Sassy, strong, intelligent women who love a good raunchy joke or innuendo. What would we do without them?-..." Read more
"...Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality...." Read more
"This is a joyful and heartening queer love story...." Read more
"...Beyond that though this overall was an outstanding novel and is definitely one of the best novels featuring a trans woman main protagonist ever made...." Read more
Customers find the writing style tender, fierce, and heartfelt. They also say it's delicate, tender, and fun.
"...Sassy, strong, intelligent women who love a good raunchy joke or innuendo. What would we do without them?-..." Read more
"...Hall’s writing is tender, vulnerable, and achingly loving. Gracewood is the sweetest cinnamon roll and I love how he accepted and loved Viola...." Read more
"...I felt like it started strong and I loved it, but the end is where it teeters for me. I don’t like books that swear, I don’t know why...." Read more
"...I loved the way the story and the characters were both tender and fierce, serious and funny...." Read more
Reviews with images
![Spectecular! All my love goes to this book!](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
Spectecular! All my love goes to this book!
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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🌶/4 (lots of chemistry but only one or two explicit scenes)
If you love Jane Austen & Bridgerton, but want to see more queer rep with your semi-spicy Regency Romance, this is the book for you.
Viola grew up with her best friend, Duke Gracewood. They spent summers together, went to school together, and then went to war together. They were the closest that any two people could be, and yet Viola was keeping a secret. She had been born the Viscount Marleigh, but she was in fact a woman. When the two friends go off to war, Viola was injured and finally saw an opportunity. She let everyone believe her dead, and returned to London finally as herself.
Her younger brother became the Viscount, and he and his wife take in Viola as she learns to embrace herself and her womanhood in a society ripe with fashions, customs, and gossip. She may have had to give up her title, her money, her lands, but she is free to be truly herself for the first time. And then a letter from Gracewood's sister alerts Viola to the reality that her death has left her best friend a broken shell of himself. She and her sister-in-law travel to the Duke's estate with the goal of rescuing his younger sister in favor of giving her a season in London... but also to help the Duke find himself again.
What follows is a beautiful tale of friendship, trust, and love. By telling a trans story in a time period and society so steeped in highly specific gender roles, the author gives us so many insights into the challenges that would have been real then, and are yet somehow still relevant today.
** Some spoilers ahead **
There are so many important themes but I'll focus on my favorite 2. First up is forgiveness. While Viola's actions did lead to some pain and suffering on the part of her closest friend, she is adamant that she cannot and will not seek his forgiveness for it. She had to make massive sacrifices to be herself, and to live unapologetically as your true self was an important message and theme throughout the book, even when it was difficult. It also shows the strength of Gracewood's character when he is able to put aside his own hurt in order to empathize with Viola and realize that hurt is not something that needs to be compared. He learns the importance of embracing the joy of having her returned to him, instead of dwelling on the hardships of the past.
The second theme is that of masculine vs feminine "roles". There are so many times when Gracewood has to adjust what he thinks of as his "role" or "responsibility" just because he's a man. He was gravely injured in the war and has been left with a bad leg. There are times when he cannot be as strong as he would like, and even times when Viola has to support him and even fight for him. He comes to understand that just because a woman had to support or fight for him, that doesn't make him any less of a man. And the reverse is also true for Viola. After embracing her womanhood, there are certain things she is afraid to do again because she is worried about embracing her "masculine" traits. From riding a horse to sword fighting to protect the Duke, she also comes to understand that just because she is able to do "manly" things, doesn't' make her any less of a woman.
This story takes a sense of self and puts it far above gender in terms of importance. By telling this story in a time period where women were so defined by the rules of society, it sheds an even bigger light on some of the more absurd notions of masculinity and femininity that we still hold to this day.
Some final notes:
- I've read other books by this author and without fail, he manages to insert humor in even the most serious of moments. We have two side characters (Louise & Lady Lillimere) who are positively fantastic and add so much to the comic relief. Sassy, strong, intelligent women who love a good raunchy joke or innuendo. What would we do without them?
- The relationship between Gracewood and his little sister Miranda makes me think of Darcy & Georgiana in a sweet way. If Georgiana was a wee bit more adventurous, and turned out to be potentially bi. She was also a great character to help question the societal norms of the time period.
Overall this was a fantastic read and I recommend it to anyone who loves Regency Romance!
I enjoyed how this book is a compelling angsty love story with Viola and Gracewood finding each other again anfter a tragedy and Gracewood learning who Viola really is and embracing her completely. I adored how their journey to HEA wasn’t the easiest one, but it definitely felt like it was worth it. I could feel all the emotions and the yearning, it was fantastic.
The second part of the book deals with the ton and the characters return to London. That was a bit dragged out in my opinion with all the events but I did enjoy the complete storyline. I also think the twist was unexpected and satisfying. The secondary cast was done well but they gave room to let Viola and Gracewood shine. Then coming together was amazing!
Where to start? This story encompasses such thoughts on gender and gender roles I could probably write an essay on it.
In a nutshell the book tells the story of Viola Carroll and her oldest friend, Gracewood who happens to be a duke. It is a love story so strong and captivating it made my heart ache and become so full it could burst!
It is established from the start that Viola is a woman though she was not born in a woman's body and the duke knew her when she was very very different from now. They were separated in the war and Viola came back finally finding a way to be herself, though it meant leaving most of his past behind, even Gracewood.
The story begins with their meeting first as strangers than as familiar companions and old friends then so much more!
I love that the leading lady of a historical fiction is a transgender woman. I love that the main points of conflict are not really related to this fact!
I absolutely love the characters, they are all a bit peculiar but they are infinitely prescious on their own way!
Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality. She, though conflicted with her past at first, grows into her character and becomes this incredible woman who takes care of her loved ones.
Gracewood represented another kind of gender role dissonance at the time. He has PTSD at an age where it does not yet exist and is considered weakness. He's also slighlty disabled because of a war injury showing another kind of weakness that is not really admirable in society. He also have some deep trauma from his childhood. So all in all, his storyline and character development is just as powerful as Viola's! And of course, he needs some gentle nudging from her to start on his road.
Miranda, Lady Marleigh, Badger, little Bartholomew, Lady Lillymere and everyone were amazing and provided a delightful slice of life from the 19th century!
The plot is not quite extravagant but I don't think the story needs that. It is a historical fiction, not unlike some classic romances I read, but with a twist on society including the queer community, which, let's face it, not that much included in classics but was very much present nontheless.
The focus was on the development of characters and relationships, on showing a mirror to stereotypes, and porvoking some interesting thoughts about gender!
And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue? The epilogue was the sweetest!
Because a trans woman deserves her happy ending even in the 19th century!
Absolute love for this book! And thanks to Alexis Hall for writing such masterpiece!
![Customer image](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022
Where to start? This story encompasses such thoughts on gender and gender roles I could probably write an essay on it.
In a nutshell the book tells the story of Viola Carroll and her oldest friend, Gracewood who happens to be a duke. It is a love story so strong and captivating it made my heart ache and become so full it could burst!
It is established from the start that Viola is a woman though she was not born in a woman's body and the duke knew her when she was very very different from now. They were separated in the war and Viola came back finally finding a way to be herself, though it meant leaving most of his past behind, even Gracewood.
The story begins with their meeting first as strangers than as familiar companions and old friends then so much more!
I love that the leading lady of a historical fiction is a transgender woman. I love that the main points of conflict are not really related to this fact!
I absolutely love the characters, they are all a bit peculiar but they are infinitely prescious on their own way!
Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality. She, though conflicted with her past at first, grows into her character and becomes this incredible woman who takes care of her loved ones.
Gracewood represented another kind of gender role dissonance at the time. He has PTSD at an age where it does not yet exist and is considered weakness. He's also slighlty disabled because of a war injury showing another kind of weakness that is not really admirable in society. He also have some deep trauma from his childhood. So all in all, his storyline and character development is just as powerful as Viola's! And of course, he needs some gentle nudging from her to start on his road.
Miranda, Lady Marleigh, Badger, little Bartholomew, Lady Lillymere and everyone were amazing and provided a delightful slice of life from the 19th century!
The plot is not quite extravagant but I don't think the story needs that. It is a historical fiction, not unlike some classic romances I read, but with a twist on society including the queer community, which, let's face it, not that much included in classics but was very much present nontheless.
The focus was on the development of characters and relationships, on showing a mirror to stereotypes, and porvoking some interesting thoughts about gender!
And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue? The epilogue was the sweetest!
Because a trans woman deserves her happy ending even in the 19th century!
Absolute love for this book! And thanks to Alexis Hall for writing such masterpiece!
![Customer image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81A4wBMTRcL._SY88.jpg)
Top reviews from other countries
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/80b55337-d4dc-4961-8515-2b645ec29287._CR109,0,281,281_SX48_.jpg)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/7def13be-a138-450e-ad0b-ee7866b05092._CR0,0,445,445_SX48_.jpg)
But not to be dramatic or anything.
A vividly Queer historical romance, “A Lady for a Duke” brings a trans heroine with a clear voice, a hero with a disability, and diverse secondary characters.
Writing this was h a r d. It was a messy process of wavering back and forth, saying too much and too little, not having the right words and being unable to utilize the ones I do have in a way that does this book justice.
You may have noticed I haven’t actually managed to say much about the actual book. Or anything really.
“A Lady for a Duke” is a story of longing, friendship and humanity. Longing for the life you want but can’t have, for someone who is close enough to touch and yet far out of your reach, for someone you’ve lost. It’s a tale of a friendship experienced in two very different ways, but made no less true or special in those differences. The humanity of grief, desire, and mistakes we can’t help but make over and over again.
And the romance, dear god. I haven’t read prose this beautiful in a long time. The sweeping tenderness and vulnerability, the raw want in these pages begs to be tabbed, and highlighted, and annotated – quoted, studied and dissected.
While Viola and Gracewood are extremely compelling voices, and unmistakably the stars of this story, I found so much joy in the secondary characters. Little Bartholomew, Lady Marleigh (I want to be her when I grow up), Badger, Miranda and Lady Lillimere are the reason this story shines in such a well-rounded manner.
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
The writing is on point and really put you in the world. The only flaw is a confusing first chapter.
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/2b6f10bd-b9ce-4a50-aa1e-e8b9e82047d4._CR0,0,500,500_SX48_.jpg)
Where to start? This story encompasses such thoughts on gender and gender roles I could probably write an essay on it.
In a nutshell the book tells the story of Viola Carroll and her oldest friend, Gracewood who happens to be a duke. It is a love story so strong and captivating it made my heart ache and become so full it could burst!
It is established from the start that Viola is a woman though she was not born in a woman's body and the duke knew her when she was very very different from now. They were separated in the war and Viola came back finally finding a way to be herself, though it meant leaving most of his past behind, even Gracewood.
The story begins with their meeting first as strangers than as familiar companions and old friends then so much more!
I love that the leading lady of a historical fiction is a transgender woman. I love that the main points of conflict are not really related to this fact!
I absolutely love the characters, they are all a bit peculiar but they are infinitely prescious on their own way!
Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality. She, though conflicted with her past at first, grows into her character and becomes this incredible woman who takes care of her loved ones.
Gracewood represented another kind of gender role dissonance at the time. He has PTSD at an age where it does not yet exist and is considered weakness. He's also slighlty disabled because of a war injury showing another kind of weakness that is not really admirable in society. He also have some deep trauma from his childhood. So all in all, his storyline and character development is just as powerful as Viola's! And of course, he needs some gentle nudging from her to start on his road.
Miranda, Lady Marleigh, Badger, little Bartholomew, Lady Lillymere and everyone were amazing and provided a delightful slice of life from the 19th century!
The plot is not quite extravagant but I don't think the story needs that. It is a historical fiction, not unlike some classic romances I read, but with a twist on society including the queer community, which, let's face it, not that much included in classics but was very much present nontheless.
The focus was on the development of characters and relationships, on showing a mirror to stereotypes, and porvoking some interesting thoughts about gender!
And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue? The epilogue was the sweetest!
Because a trans woman deserves her happy ending even in the 19th century!
Absolute love for this book! And thanks to Alexis Hall for writing such masterpiece!
![Customer image](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/2b6f10bd-b9ce-4a50-aa1e-e8b9e82047d4._CR0,0,500,500_SX48_.jpg)
Reviewed in Germany on July 30, 2022
Where to start? This story encompasses such thoughts on gender and gender roles I could probably write an essay on it.
In a nutshell the book tells the story of Viola Carroll and her oldest friend, Gracewood who happens to be a duke. It is a love story so strong and captivating it made my heart ache and become so full it could burst!
It is established from the start that Viola is a woman though she was not born in a woman's body and the duke knew her when she was very very different from now. They were separated in the war and Viola came back finally finding a way to be herself, though it meant leaving most of his past behind, even Gracewood.
The story begins with their meeting first as strangers than as familiar companions and old friends then so much more!
I love that the leading lady of a historical fiction is a transgender woman. I love that the main points of conflict are not really related to this fact!
I absolutely love the characters, they are all a bit peculiar but they are infinitely prescious on their own way!
Viola is a very special lady with a couragous, lighthearted, deeply caring personality. She, though conflicted with her past at first, grows into her character and becomes this incredible woman who takes care of her loved ones.
Gracewood represented another kind of gender role dissonance at the time. He has PTSD at an age where it does not yet exist and is considered weakness. He's also slighlty disabled because of a war injury showing another kind of weakness that is not really admirable in society. He also have some deep trauma from his childhood. So all in all, his storyline and character development is just as powerful as Viola's! And of course, he needs some gentle nudging from her to start on his road.
Miranda, Lady Marleigh, Badger, little Bartholomew, Lady Lillymere and everyone were amazing and provided a delightful slice of life from the 19th century!
The plot is not quite extravagant but I don't think the story needs that. It is a historical fiction, not unlike some classic romances I read, but with a twist on society including the queer community, which, let's face it, not that much included in classics but was very much present nontheless.
The focus was on the development of characters and relationships, on showing a mirror to stereotypes, and porvoking some interesting thoughts about gender!
And let's be honest the humour in it was fantastic, the romance swoonworthy, the intimacy heartbreaking and the epilogue? The epilogue was the sweetest!
Because a trans woman deserves her happy ending even in the 19th century!
Absolute love for this book! And thanks to Alexis Hall for writing such masterpiece!
![Customer image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81r3z8kor8L._SY88.jpg)
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)