Dukes Are Forever

I went into *Dukes Are Forever* expecting another brooding vampire romance, but McMaster delivered something far sharper—a Regency-era dystopia where the real monsters are human (or undead) ambition and bad airship wiring. The chemistry between the duke and heroine crackles, but it’s the world that steals the show: neon-lit slums, grand ballrooms hiding bloodstained secrets, and a conspiracy that ties back to the French Revolution (or what’s left of it). Frances’ narration elevates the material even further. Her Duke of Malloryn sounds like a man who’s seen too much and smiles too little, while the heroine’s wit comes through sharp and unimpressed—until she’s not. The only misstep? A few too many exposition dumps in the first act, which briefly derails the momentum like a steam engine stalling mid-track. Pacing is relentless once the plot kicks into high gear, though the sci-fi elements occasionally feel shoe-horned in. Still, the payoff—a revelation about the queen’s true nature—left me gasping. If you crave romance with bite, politics with poison, and a love story that’s equal parts tender and terrifying, this audiobook is a masterclass in how to blend genres without losing your mind. Just don’t listen alone in the dark.