The Duke at Hazard

The Duke at Hazard (2024) KJ Charles (The Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2)

Set in England in ~1810s

The Duke of Severn inherited at age six, and since that day has never been allowed to be anything except the Duke.

The Duke had been Harmsford since his birth. He had become Severn at the age of six and that was his name now, when he wasn’t Your Grace.

An embarrassing misfortune followed by an argument with his cousin leads Severn to attempt to see if he can manage on his own for one month.

And maybe become something more than just The Duke.

The Duke of Severn was obliged to take an uncompromising line on what constituted acceptable behaviour, without making allowances; perhaps Mr Cassian might be more understanding.

Daizell Charnage has been a disgrace every since he was sent down from Eton for running a gambling ring, and things only went downhill from there. Now he has nothing but the clothes on his back and his charm to keep him fed and off the streets.

Daizell liked people, and liked to be like.

A chance meeting has Daizell helping “Mr Cassian” in his quest to recover his ring, and perhaps become a competent human.

I really really liked Severn.

He allowed people to push him around, but the people who were pushing and being difficult truly were trying to do what was best for him.

And there was affection that peeked through.

‘It’s a long story which I shall tell you presently, but—’ He needed the big guns. ‘Harum-scarum, Lou.’

It was the term they had used as children, the one that commanded utter loyalty in the teeth of authority.
…
Leo had invoked harum-scarum on the never-to-be-sufficiently-bemoaned-by-Uncle-Hugo occasion they’d decided it was necessary to walk round the complete span of the castle atop the battlements, and the Duke had even claimed it was his idea when retribution descended.

I love the whole idea of that–as well as that the cousins would have of course walked around the entire castle atop the battlements.

I also loved the little bits of sibling snark that snuck through.

‘Might I suggest everyone put their cards on the table?’

‘Over dinner,’ Louisa added. ‘Leo is both more pleasant and more intelligent when fed.’

And Daizell was also lovely, for all he had been painted as a scoundrel, very much a reminder that we are more than the sum of our worse deeds–are far more than the sins of our parents.

I also loved what she did with the point-of-view and self-identification in the story.

Honestly, this is one of only a couple of books with a duke as the main character that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Characters: Vernon Fortescue Cassian George de Vere Crosse, the fourth Duke of Severn, the Earl of Harmsford, Baron Crosse of Wotton, and Baron Vere
Cassian / Severn, Daizell Charnage, Miss Eliza Beaumont, John Martin / Martin Nichols, Cousin Leo Crosse, Cousin Matthew Crosse, Lord Hugo Crosse, Mrs Louisa Kentridge, James Kentridge, Sir James Vier, Sir Francis Plath, Waters, Aunt Amelia, Aunt Hilda, Tom Acaster, Sir Benjamin Acaster, Jed Browning, Tony Marston, Kenilworth, Forster, Mowbray, Lady Evangeline Wintour, Mr. Robin Loxleigh, Sir John Hartlebury

Cover design by Tomás Almeida & Joanna Ridley

Publisher: Orion Books

Rating: 8.5/10

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