I really enjoyed A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole when I read it last year, and promptly read A Duke by Default. Rereading it over New Year crystallised a few things for me, so this is a spoiler-riffic review, with some mild criticism.
Background – the story is about Portia, who applies to apprentice in Scotland to make swords, and promptly falls for Tavish, the sword craftsman. While updating the business’ website, she researches more about the area and the ancient building it is based in, and finds out that Tavish is a secret duke. Shenanigans ensue.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
Alyssa Cole’s writing is wonderful, and I felt the characters were fleshed out and somewhat realistic – I enjoyed being in their heads. However, there were problems between the couple which were resolved too quickly. Tavish leans on Portia for help with his business, and with becoming a duke. She runs herself ragged trying to help him save his business, and learn his role, to the extent where she barely learns anything about sword-making at all. A number of other characters warn him about leaning on her too much, and she even tries to set boundaries, but it doesn’t work. All these issues being handwaved away at the end because of Twu Wuv seemed too easy. Tavish makes a big public announcement that he loves her, which is meant to indicate change as he hadn’t liked public attention before.
I felt that this was a happy-for-now novel, rather than a happy-ever-after. I could see visions of future Portia being stuck doing all the admin and business work and running ragged fixing Tavish’s life, while Tavish swanned off making swords and doing whatever he liked. While he appreciated her helping him, I couldn’t see him changing his pattern of dependency, or her being able to step back when the man she loved needed help – she was being subsumed by him and his problems, and even stated this at one point. These were realistic conflicts, which would be hard to balance. There is another in this series coming in 2019, so I may be able to see what happened next.
I would mention that both this book and the last one had nefarious evildoers undone in a few pages off-stage. In this one, it turns out Portia is physically threatened and drugged at a fancy affair and Tavish’s business is being tanked by an angry person – that was uncovered and dealt with very quickly. This whole evil activity was only there to have a big fight between them which could be resolved in a dramatic and romantic way – I would have suggested it could be dropped if I were the editor, as the existing conflicts were real.
Cole does write wonderful dialogue though – there are supportive friends with witty banter over text message, and there’s a great passage where Portia and a librarian are discussing dukes which makes me smile whenever I reread it.
I keep coming back to Cole’s writing even though it has so many issues for me, because I love her heroines so much! But I would really like for her to write a believable couple one of these days. I know she can do it!
I’m really hoping that the next one might be it – excited to see more about Nya and Johan!