I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how outstanding the sex scenes are: hot and tender all at once, with some negotiation about what is and isn’t okay, what the two characters do and don’t want, which frankly is something I could use more of in romance. I'm a history geek and educator, and I've lived in five different countries in North America, Asia, and Europe. As cliché as it may be to say, this is one of those stories that will make you believe in love and give you a reason to hope. Though the steamy intimate scenes are electric, the story’s momentum comes not from Viola and Gracewood’s slow burn but from the genuine emotional connections among a full cast of charming characters.

He said it with such conviction, such hope, that it moved me that in a world where it was improbable, their love could make it possible. It really bothered me that when Viola personally witnesses Gracewood’s laudanum addiction and suicidality, she responds by starting to sneak out of the house because staying will increase the risk of Gracewood recognizing her. That hump passed, this becomes a delightfully fluffy and light-hearted romp that actively chooses to handwave potential Serious Issues. He’s also had past sexual experiences which mean he’s comfortable with sex with Viola, and his hatred for his bloodline means he’s completely fine with not having biological children.

This story is going to stay with me for a long time, and I want many more books like this, with fearless trans protagonists getting the happily ever afters they so deserve. He has excruciating physical pain from a leg injury sustained at Waterloo, but it’s his mental state that is the most perilous. In this overly long sequel, Violet, Xaden, and their dragons are determined to find a way to protect Navarre, despite the fact that the army and government hid the truth about these creatures. When she met Gracewood again, she was so overwhelmed with grief and guilt at what her disappearance had afflicted him so, that it pained her to even think that she was worthy of his love. However, there is so much about this book to enjoy, and if you're into Jane Austen (or possibly Bridgerton), strong female leads and LGBTQIA stories, I'd say this one is for you.

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. Viola Carroll lived a lie, then when she was wounded presumed dead at Waterloo she took the chance to live her life honestly, even though it meant giving up the title of Viscount Marleigh to his younger brother. there was a conflict that was unexpected and a little frustrating, but it resolved itself quickly enough that i wasn't too bothered.I only wish there could have been more, but Alexis Hall made it up with so many lines of such utter devotion and absolute love that they had- I was inwardly crying at how heartfelt and endearing every sentiment was between the two of them.

I was crying happy tears after witnessing that such amazing men exist; might have existed even centuries ago.Almost every single page of this novel set my heart racing, aching for Viola and Gracewood as individuals and as a couple. But more than 2 years have passed since that dreadful day on the battlefield in Waterloo, and Viola has accepted that she will never see Gracewood again. I was immediately invested in the characters and the story, and I really enjoyed how the author managed to tell a positive and affirmative tale, but without glossing over any of the challenges, which are dealt with in a straightforward and sensitive manner. When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. The bravery and vulnerability of these two characters—the beautifully nuanced acknowledgment that necessary choices can bring relief but also loss (but also hope, and new opportunities)—I cried so much while reading that my mask became utterly saturated and probably lost structural integrity.