The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts

by Elias Cold

A trans teen who steals and ransoms body parts with magic investigates a string of missing girls—falling in love with one of them from afar.
Wielding a magic that allows him to pop off limbs, con artist Phyllis steals body parts and his partner Lucent ransoms them. Everyone who knows about Phyllis’s magic is afraid of him—except for Lucent. But his partner’s love comes with one condition: Phyllis must keep stealing. But when a mark can’t afford ransom for his missing nose, Phyllis loses his resolve. The man claims his sister, Adeline, was taken, and without her money he can’t pay until she’s found.

Intrigued, Phyllis investigates Adeline’s disappearance, but she is not the only missing girl in their seedy city. To gain answers from the nobility, Phyllis masquerades as a duke—Lord Phillip of Rabbiton—and begins to fall in love with both stories of Adeline and the man he’s becoming to try and find her. Soon, he’s not sure he ever wants to return to Lucent and their life of crime together.

When he finally finds Adeline with another missing girl, it turns out they’re not dead—but undead.

To win Adeline’s heart and break from his toxic past, Phillip will have to scheme to keep his title and master his evolving magic.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Queer, Young Adult, LGBT, Transgender, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Elias Cold (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer, editor, and former medical geneticist, based in rural Australia with their two cats.
Their work tends to center queer and neurodivergent characters, as these are the perspectives they experience the world from. When not reading or writing, they should be checked for signs of life.
Elias also writes adult Science Fantasy under the name Eli Snow. Their adult debut, The Divine Gardener's Handbook, is to be published in August 2026 by Saturday Books.

Reviews

[Cass Biehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkly witty, richly atmospheric, and achingly tender, THE DUKE STEALS HEARTS & OTHER BODY PARTS is a clever and sweet take on what it means to occupy a body. With incisive commentary on gender and identity (alongside a fresh magic system), queer readers will be both captivated and comforted by Cold's YA debut.

[ash (smokedshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to page street ya for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

what i would’ve given to love this book as much as i hoped i was going to. from the synopsis, this book is right up my alley. we’ve got a gothic, historical setting with unique magic manifested via a trans main character who can steal body parts and uses it that to be a con man. but genuinely, i felt like i was bored (?) for most of the story.

phillip’s story was fine to me. he obsessed over a missing show girl whom he never met but felt extremely in love with at first sight. his romances, which was honestly a big driver in his actions through out, were never really believable to me with either lucent or abigail. it made it hard to root for their successes when everyone felt at an arm’s distance away. i wanted there to be a stronger reason to feel devoted to phillip’s actions meddling in abigail and her brother, wycliff’s, lives. i hate to say, i was most invested in lucent’s backstory and actions and we were only given like five short chapters in his pov.

i think overall, this story had such a strong premise. i wish it was looked over a few more times on editing so that the reader could truly understand the connections phillip’s made with adeline and nyx and even arthur. i believe that would’ve made me feel much more invested in their narrative.

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Thank you so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, Elias Cold & Page Street Publishing for the complimentary copy of the book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book is out now!

I was drawn to this book from the title and this cover! This book was so different compared to other YA books I have read. I am not sure what genre to classify it as but I guess YA historical fiction - horror. I was nervous going into it as I thought it was going to be British historical but it turns out it was not.

There was a lot of things that happened in this book and occasionally I had to pause what I was doing and revert to the text to make sure I heard correctly. And yet all the pieces came together!

This was told from 3 point of views - Phyllis/Phillip, Wycliff and Lucent. Phillip our fearless lead whom got this magical ability to steal body parts from people. Which leads us to Wycliff who Phillip stole his nose but after learning his sister went missing something change for Phillip. How does Lucent tie into this? Lucent is his partner in crime. My heart was sad for Phillip as he loved Lucent and considered him family but he was just a business arrangement. I appreciated that the author gave us the perspective of Wycliff and Lucent.

I just love how Phyllis turning into Phillips.  I love how the other characters question it but then just kind of go with it without any sort of ramifications. I was just so happy that could be who they wanted to be pretty much just start over in this new body. They truly felt so much happier when they were wearing men’s clothing.

The audiobook was narrated by Em Grosland who is a new narrator to me. I thought they did a great job! Even though they didn’t change their voice when the POV changed, I was able to follow pretty well. Their voice had a nice tone that made listening a breeze.

This book had a bit of romance, a bit of adventure and overall a fun time! Looking forward to see what the other does in the future!

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve finally finished a book!! And I’m in a new apartment that’s quiet and cozy and actual viable for reading!! We are so back and this book is just the beginning.

I got an advanced copy of this from work and thought the premise sounded intriguing. It wasn’t totally my cup of tea, but it does have some strong points.

The big ones are the main character being trans, and the fantastical historical setting. That combination almost gave off a kind of Corpse Bride energy. I enjoyed seeing Phyllis become Phillip and really settle into that identity.

Beyond that, I didn’t particularly connect with anything. I wasn’t enamored with any of the characters, and at times I got a bit lost with their goals and motivations (might be partly due to how long it took me to read). There was also no world map or any in-depth explanation about the world, the politics, the social customs. It ended up becoming Victorian England in my head, even though I know it was supposed to be a fictional country.

Cool in concept, not my personal favorite brand of execution.

[Franki Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Page Street YA for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was everything I was expecting it to be and more. I'm so happy I decided to read this. Phillip is a tough character, and not what I was expecting the main character to be. But that honestly just made it so much better. The found family in this book is cute, if not a little messy, but what found family isn't? The characters added a variety of layers to this book, and I honestly would love to see a sequel to this book, though I did thoroughly enjoy the ending. Overall I definitely recommend this quirky YA queer fantasy.

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was a pile of missed opportunities. The premise was pretty cool but not enough body part stealing happened. Also, Phillip is kind of a terrible con man. How has he made it this far? As for investigations into the missing girls, there really was only investigation into Adeline. I think the Lord with the skeleton mom was trying to suck out their lives to keep his mom alive? It was not clear to me. A lot of this book was not clear to me.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review

Title: The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts
Author: Elias Cold
PUB: 05/06/25

Tropes:
YA Horror
Murder Mystery
Regency Romp
Queer Horror
Darkly Witty

The book:

Everyone who knows about Phyllis’s magic is afraid of him-except for Lucent. But his partner’s love comes with one condition: Phyllis must keep stealing. But when a mark can’t afford ransom for his missing nose, Phyllis loses his resolve. The man claims his sister, Adeline, was taken, and without her money he can’t pay until she’s found. Intrigued, Phyllis investigates Adeline’s disappearance, but she is not the only missing girl in their seedy city. To gain answers from the nobility, Phyllis masquerades as a duke-Lord Phillip of Rabbiton-and begins to fall in love with both stories of Adeline and the man he’s becoming to try and find her. Soon, he’s not sure he ever wants to return to Lucent and their life of crime together. When he finally finds Adeline with another missing girl, it turns out they’re not dead-but undead. To win Adeline’s heart and break from his toxic past, Phillip will have to scheme to keep his title and master his evolving magic.

My Thoughts:

This was definitely a very different read for me! I must admit that I was attracted to this book by it’s cover and dove into it not knowing what to expect. Needless to say I’m glad I dove into this YA horror read! I was captivated by it’s ominous and creepy tone. The setting was deliciously dark and morbid. Its characters…. amazingly well developed. Believe me when I tell you that the lurid details kept me reading. I recommend both the physical copy and audio book. In all this was a ghastly good read that I recommend to all my spooky girls

QOTD: aid you had the ability to steal and ransom body parts with magic, which would they be?

Happy Reading!
🔪🩸

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. To be clear, I don't know the author or the publisher and I didn't get a free or advance copy of the book. So, this is just the opinion of an unaffiliated reader.

I've been waiting for this book to come out for about a month now, because I thought the premise of a man kidnapping body parts for ransom was so new and original and I was anxious to see if the author pulled it off (we've all seen books with a great premise that didn't come off, I bet.) I do think the wait was worth it. This was executed really well.

The entire book I was completely in the dark about what was going to happen. It was original and unexpected from beginning to end.

There is only one tiny nitpick that I might make. A very tiny plot hole, if you will. Before I say it, I will say that I would absolutely recommend the book to someone else, so this really is a very minor nitpick. Nana says she fed Phillip as a baby and kept doing so even though Phillip popped her arms off. But, the rest of the book suggests that Phillip got his magic when he almost died as a paperboy. So, which is it. But that's a tiny thing. Why complain about a single paragraph when the rest of the book was so good?

[LiteraryCryptid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic horror, magic, and self discovery.

Summary Phyllis has the ability to remove people's limbs at will, using these powers to ransom limbs at the behest of his partner in crime -Lucent. But after stealing the most recent mark's nose, Phillip discovers that not only is he unable to pay the ransom, but his sister -Adeline - has gone missing.

Phyllis decides to investigate Adeline's disappearance, and so disguises himself as a duke - Lord Phillip of Rabbiton - and plunges into the world of nobility. But the more Phillip investigates, the less sure he is of returning to his old life afterwards. How far would he be willing to go to break Lucent's hold on his life? And can Phillip master his ever-evolving magic in time to save Adeline?

The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts is a blend of gothic horror, a surprising amount of gore, and self discovery all tied together with an intriguing magic system. I loved the development of Phillip throughout - his developing identity and magic abilities. The romance is well designed, enhancing the understanding of Phillip's thought process, reasonings, and motivations.

I found myself thoroughly enjoying Lucent's arc as well. Following his journey was both perfect for enhancing Phillip's growth, as well as understanding his own motivations and actions. While Phillip's journey is the key focus, I loved the progression of Lucent's character through the novel, and found his storyline to be exceedingly satisfying. Without giving too much away for their characters, I can only say that I am absolutely thrilled with the way Lucent's character arc played out, and found it to be a well designed and executed resolution.

Overall, The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts is a great debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from Elias Cold.


#indigoemployee

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. What a ride. 👀 i can’t believe this was considered a YA. The characters, story, environment just wowowowowowowo. Dark and action packed . Highly recommend

[Horatio · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[bailey ◡̈]

@ 25%

not vibing with the writing style & just not rly in the mood to read it anymore

[Momo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Frankenstein’s monster, but make it fashion.


The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts is the YA fantasy equivalent of a gothic masquerade ball where everyone’s swapping limbs, questioning gender norms, and falling into emotionally confusing relationships—and honestly? It kind of slaps.

Our lead, Phillip (formerly Phyllis), can magically steal body parts. Think less "black-market horror" and more "gender-affirming heist meets emotional turmoil." He's a trans con artist with a heart of gold, a fondness for sharp coats, and a complicated relationship with a missing showgirl he saw once. (Love at first sight is real—if you're Phillip. Or if you're in a YA book with a slightly surreal horror-fantasy edge.)

There’s romance, found family (the dysfunctional kind you root for), and a magical world that may or may not exist only in the author's brain (because, no map). Despite some chaotic pacing and relationships that feel more like plot devices than slow burns, the book brims with tender moments and sharp, witty insights about identity, love, and, yes, the occasional stolen nose.

If you’re looking for a book that’s weird, warm, and wonderful—where the protagonist might pilfer your kidney but also validate your gender identity—this might just be your next favorite read. Bonus points if you enjoy audiobooks with charming narration and don’t mind minor plot holes (because who needs continuity when there’s queer magic?).

Verdict: darkly whimsical, a little messy, and surprisingly touching. Like Frankenstein’s monster, but make it fashion.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really fun and a great palette cleanser! i also really enjoyed the mystery aspect, highly recommend you pick this up when it releases in may!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Dahlia (ofpagesandprint) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts is a creative, immersive YA fantasy with a powerful plot and fascinating characters.

This one was lovely. I adored the characters, and each character’s development was great. They felt real, and I especially loved the explorations of sexuality and gender. The love stories were captivating, and I enjoyed the satisfying ending. The magic system was fascinating and imaginative, and I enjoyed the world-building. The plot was intriguing, and the pacing fit the story well, although a few parts felt choppy. Elias Cold’s prose was beautiful, and they presented a wonderful story. This one did not hook me throughout the story as much as I was hoping, but it was an overall entertaining and powerful novel that is a great addition to YA shelves.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phyllis is a thief and a con artist, just not your average, everyday thief and con artist, because what Phyllis steals are body parts. Yes, body parts. A nose, a finger, nothing major mind you just something you'd be willing to pay to get back. One evening she follows a young and brash young man home and takes his nose, not realizing he was the pampered pet of Madame Beatrice the woman who ran all the crime in town. Once her partner, Lucent realizes this he abandons her to her fate (temporarily of course, Lucent needs Phyllis) with little choice but to sit down and speak with her nose less victim, Wycliff, far from being terrified of being caught she becomes fascinated by him. She realizes that her fascination is in the fact that he someone she wants to be, someone she knows she is and that is a terrifying revelation. What's more is that Wycliff has revealed that his sister, Adeline, the star performer at the Bourban Rose has vanished. Now, she has two problems: 1. Phyllis thinks she may be Phillip and 2. She knows she needs to find Adeline before it's too late.

As the MC of this story is transgender he will be referred to using He/Him pronouns and his chosen name going forward.

This is genuinely one of the strangest stories I have ever read and I loved every single solitary minute of it!

Phillip was simply an incredible MC! A lot of the story revolves around Phillip finally accepting that Phillip is Phillip and not *deadname* and in many scenes this is a truly a delightful story of acceptance (not all and more on that in a bit). Much of it though surrounds his relationship with Lucent, who is a manipulative, abusive bastard, will get to him in a minute. Honestly, though it's definitely not all roses with Phillip, he makes a lot of really poor choices that yes, many of them can be laid at the doorstep of Lucent and others on the doorstep of feeling trapped by being *deadname* much of it was simple insecurities that led him to distrust those who cared him and quite honestly treat them like dirt. There's a line where he says that others gave him his deadname and dressed him up in their clothes and that's why he's the way he is (basically), which is true, however, he also has the realization that he never allowed people to know Phillip either. I find if you read this book for anything it should be this conversation, because it actually doesn't just apply to transgender people. So many people have this idea of how we think the world wants to see us so we mold ourselves after that image not trusting the world to accept us as who we actually are. This is actually a pretty common refrain in books written by and for Queer people that will always make me recommend Queer reads to cisgender humans. We have a lot about ourselves we can learn by learning about both the internal and external struggles Queer humans, but especially, trans humans deal with every day. Finally, because I know this is long for one character, I was tad bit disappointed in the way that Phillip deals with Lucent. Unless I missed something this was a truly one side abusive relationship, but it's portrayed as "them not being good for each other". Like some sort of Bonnie and Clyde style relationship and that did not seem to be the case. And honestly maybe it was but I missed some of the queues for that but I simply don't see it.

Lucent is going to be quick I promise. The guys a jerk, he's a manipulative, abusive asshat who is only capable of using people to get what he wants. What he does at the end is the very least of what he owed Phillip.

Now, my favorite part the side characters! Nyx, Adeline, and yes even Wycliff were absolutely wonderful. This story simply wouldn't have been as good without them and Nyx is truly my favorite. She just has one of those tough love type personalities where she comes across as uncaring but clearly has the biggest heart in the world (metaphorically speaking, this will make sense when you read the book!)

The magic in this was just truly weird. It all seems to spawn from the same place, a brush with death, and what power someone gains from that seems to be directly related to what they needed to not die. Phillip is getting beat up so he gains the ability to manipulate atoms maybe, cells? I don't know, but he gets the ability to convince the things that make up an object (living or otherwise) that they don't belong where they are. Which is how Phillip gets out of being beat to death he convinces the person's arm that it doesn't belong to their body. One character is dying from exposure and gains the ability to steal life from others. I only have speculation about the third magical character, so I am not going to speculate there. The magic is what makes this a ton of fun and wholly unique.

Pacing, world building, and all of that jazz was pretty spot on too. The world is pretty self contained so there isn't much needed here, bad pacing could have really thrown this off though. Since the story revolves so much around Phillip's growth had we spent any less time trapped in his head it would have felt incomplete, however, like you can't spent the whole book in someone's head and Cold had the timing down perfect to get out of Phillip's head. I also really loved that Cold opted to have some chapters from the other characters perspectives, it let us out of Phillip's brain of course, but I feel like I have a whole picture of the story now and not just Phillip's side of things.

This was just an excellent read all around. Normally, it's a couple of books before I declare an author an auto buy author, but this was so good that Cold is most definitely now on the auto buy list!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the eArc!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.

Phillip, a thief with the ability to remove body parts from other people makes his living through extortion. When he accidentally steals the nose of a young man named Wycliff, that he can’t help feeling a strange pull towards, he soon finds himself involved in the search for the young man’s missing sister Adeline. We follow him as he grows and changes, discovers things about himself, his powers and the world and people around him.
An interesting YA gothic horror novel, which in particular explores abuse of power and how to survive in an unjust world. Through the isolation that Lucent forces onto Phillip, the sexual/emotional/physical labor Madame Beatrice demands of Adeline and Wycliff while keeping them captive to the murder and actual doll-ification of Nyx and Adeline by the marquess, the feeling of somebody wanting to pull the character’s strings is constantly, crushingly present. It made this novel feel really claustrophobic and the characters’ actions feel desperate and understandable. I have to say I enjoyed the horror aspects a lot more than the romance/friendship aspects as these felt a bit underdeveloped at times, but since I prefer horror to romance I was fine with that.
The story mostly follows Phillip as he discovers his identity, from his insecurities in himself while he was an egg and the immense joy and relief he feels once he manages to feel secure in his identity. I do wish he had been a bit more affirmed by the other characters, especially since his worry about his trans identity became somewhat overlapping with his worry about lies he told about his past. I would have liked a clearer distinction there. In general this story combines a rather fast paced identity discovery in a world where there are no words for trans people or any other queer communities with a later attempt at passing through the use of magic and focusses much less on the internal struggle and strive of coming out, which I found an interesting approach.
I also wish there had been a bit more of an exploration of the magic system. In particular there is one scene that does not fit with Lucent’s narration of where magic comes from ([spoilers] it is implied that Phillip was able to pop of limbs already as a baby [/end spoilers]), but this interesting storyline is not pursued further and ends up simply ignored, to the point where I wonder if it was just a plot hole, instead of a different approach to the magic system. While it is only a very minor aspect and not a big deal, I found myself caught up in wondering if this was going to be addressed and found myself disappointed when it wasn’t.
I also enjoyed the first two parts of the story more than the last part and found that the story wrapped up a bit too fast and neatly for my personal tastes. However, I still enjoyed reading it and think this was a fun trans fantasy horror YA with interesting pacing, a really fun premise and a good execution, despite my minor issues with some parts.
Finally I want to say that I do think that this book does need an additional trigger warning for suicide, which is not given, but it does play a (very minor) role in the past backstory of a character and another action can be interpreted that way and so I do think this should have been warned for. As always however, I find it very good that the author decided to include trigger warnings in the book, I enjoyed that!

TW: alcohol abuse, abuse (physical, emotional), blood, coercive control, deadnaming, death (on screen), gaslighting, gore, murder (including attempted murder of a child), sexism, transphobia, sexual abuse (implied), suicide, violence

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending brought down what had been an enjoyable book for me. Around 80% through the book, I realized how few pages were left and how much story there seemed to be left to tell, and I wondered how it would all fit. And then it didn't. The ending was abrupt. Many of the plot threads felt hastily resolved and some of the characters fell away. First Wycliff, then Adeline and Nyx, started with strong presences in the narrative in terms of their personalities and goals -- Wycliff and Adeline even being point-of-view characters -- before dwindling away. Lucent had a lot of set-up as a complex, tragic villain, but not a lot and not consistent development of those ideas. His main motivation ended up not really seeming to matter to him or anyone else. He drops it with very little prompting considering he's been pursuing this one goal for 400 years, killing for it and ruining his own happiness for it the whole time. (Also, if he cared so much about resurrecting his sister or at least tells himself he does, why kill the one man who's been shown to have resurrection powers? At least pretend a bit to consistent goals, you killed your lover for this.) Also, the tragedy of him living so long, but by his nature always falling into the same miserable and inescapable patterns is a compelling concept, but not shown off all that well.

What I liked:
Phillip's coming into himself as a trans man. Despite the fantastical setting and his unusual past, he reads true and relatably as a young trans person figuring it all out, both in his insecurities and fears and in this bright new self-assurance and comfort he starts to find as Phillip.

The trio of Phillip and the two undead girls. They had a sweet friendship developing even if, like many things in this book, I think it could have used more time to keep developing. Their support of each other and attempts to be honest and open with each other (a work in progress but something) were a nice contrast to the unhealthy relationship Phillip had been trapped in.

Lucent's love. Lucent's worst actions are done out of love and to people he genuinely loves. He's not just pretending to manipulate Phillip or Weevil. I think it adds something to the book's discussion of unhealthy relationships to acknowledge that there can be real love, care, and affection mixed with or driving the cruelty. And where other attempts to add complexity to Lucent's character fall flat, this one does work for me.

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the darker themes in this book, the story ended up being quite wholesome! Sad at parts, but wholesome all the same.

The biggest themes in this book are found family and staying true to yourself. Phillip undergoes quite the change, both physically and mentally, and I loved seeing his growth over the story. He starts out as Phyllis, a girl that is insecure in life and willing to do whatever her mentor, Lucent, tells her to do. But then she finds the courage to break away, shifts into feeling more like Phillip, and learns how to finally be comfortable in his own body.

Lucent is an awful character, but he does have a bit of redemption at the very end. He has a noble cause (well, noble to him), but he goes around it in a way that he almost comes off as a villain. He is also very manipulative and toxic toward Phillip, and a lot slower to accept the name change than anyone else in the story. Phillip even states that they are not good for each other, but Lucent really saw him as the end game. And does a lot of messed up stuff along the way.

Despite the darker themes, there is some silliness to this story as well. Phillip's power is that he can "steal" body parts from people, like the nose off of Wycliff. It does not harm the person, and can easily attach on.....after he receives the ransom of course. I keep picturing one of the minor characters as silly string in a wheelbarrow, since Phillip kinda dissembled all their limbs in an attempt to [redacted]. The story also has some random wholesome or silly moments throughout, so it is not all doom and gloom.

Overall, I fell in love with Phillip and I was fully invested in seeing how the story would play out. The magic system felt unique without being overly complicated, it was easy to root for the good guys, and the story really had me worried I would have to wait for a sequel (you don't, it all wraps up nicely). This book has some good themes about body positivity and the trans experience, and I could see this book being a comfort to those that need it. I would definitely recommend it, and I am glad to have had a chance to read it!
Thank you to Page Street YA for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings (from author): on screen death (repeated), deadnaming, transphobia, physical abuse, alcohol abuse, gaslighting, coercive control, murder, blood, violence, gore

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun fantasy and really interesting take on queer/transgender lens. Some of the best lines came at the end of the book that I want to remember:

"Adeline's eyes were startled in the moonlight. 'I am your friend, however you are or were or will be packaged. But Phillip...' And now she did pull her hand away from mine, and I knew the bad news was coming. 'This isn't right. I think you're a great guy, but you look at me the way my admirers in the Rose looked at me when I was on the stage.' I opened my mouth to object, but the intensity in Adeline's eyes stopped the words in my throat. 'I don't think you really see me; you see what you want to see instead. Perfection is an illusion, Phillip. We're all just as messy as each other. And the kind of pressure that comes with being someone's ideal, I don't think I want that. Not anymore." (278)

"It was easy to latch onto to someone else to love--to hope Adeline would replace Lucent in telling me who I was. But if I wanted to retain the ground I'd gained as Phillip--to grow, get better--I had to learn to love myself first rather than try to mold myself into what I thought other people wanted to see, because the truth was, I could never really know what other people thought of me. The best I could do would be to show as much of my true self to the world as I could and hope others would do the same in kind." (280)

"Phillip hadn't taken his eyes off the spiked ring. 'I can't believe I thought that you were my friend. That you'd still be my friend, after everything.' Something sharp twisted in Lucent's chest. For a moment, he thought maybe the knife had moved, but no, that was impossible. 'No,' said Lucent. 'No, I never was your friend. I love you, and you did not love me back.' Phillip's face twisted. 'You never let me love you. You were distant and clinging all at the same time. You didn't even let me be myself.' Lucent laughed at that. 'How was I to know you weren't yourself? It was your responsibility to tell me!' 'I didn't feel safe enough to tell you!' yelled Phillip, leaning toward him across the table. 'You made me feel unsafe!'" (315)

[Tristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and Page Street YA for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This book is so much more than a YA horror novel. As absurd as the synopsis may sound at first glance, what unfolds is an astonishingly layered story brimming with heart, wit, and the kind of unexpected tenderness that sneaks up on you between moments of gothic absurdity and razor-sharp commentary.

With a Regency-inspired setting that leans heavily into the grime beneath the glamour, this book explores not only the twisted back alleys of a fantastical world but also the very real power dynamics of class, gender, and identity. The privilege of titles, the social weight of masculinity, and the vulnerability of queerness in such a structured world are all examined with care.

Phillip (or Phyllis, depending on where we meet him in the narrative) is a trans protagonist wielding one of the most original magical abilities I’ve ever seen in fantasy—he can remove body parts, his own and others', with ease. What might sound grotesque on paper becomes a strangely intimate form of self-exploration and rebellion, a metaphor for bodily autonomy and transformation that never feels heavy-handed.

The writing is clever, heartfelt, and beautifully strange. It balances fast-paced plotting with introspective moments, delivering a story that is equal parts dark fairytale, mystery, and coming-of-age. This book manages to be grim, hilarious, and hopeful all at once, with messaging that runs far deeper than its bizarre premise might suggest. The found family elements, the slow-burn self-acceptance arc, and the unraveling of toxic attachments were especially well handled.

I couldn’t put it down. This book overdelivers at every turn, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. An absolutely standout read.

Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok @mythicalreadsreviewer for more reviews!

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC!~~

This was good, but I was left with wanting more, ya know?

First thing I'll say is that I liked Phillip and the (literal and metaphorical) transformation he undergoes throughout the novel. The persona of the duke being the Trojan horse to self-acceptance and love was probably the most interesting aspect of the story. The exploration of toxic love and its complex effects was the nice cherry on top, too.

The other characters were fine, I guess. The POV shifts from Phillip's first person to a variety of third persons throughout the story, and it had different affects on me depending on the character. Lucent's POV was the most intriguing to follow; his thoughts allow some insight to how toxic people think. Wycliff, the aforementioned mark, felt the least necessary, as it felt like it was repeating much of the themes and messages of Phillip's storyline. Adeline only had a couple set in her POV, but it felt underdeveloped compared to the others. The rest of the side characters, other than Madame Beatrice, didn't really resonate with me enough to properly remember them.

The worldbuilding could have been cooked far longer. The story takes place in a fictional country akin to Victorian England, but there wasn't much given to fully separate the two in my mind. There's a caste system/royalty claims, but what are the politics? The country's relation to others and its own people? I had lots of questions that about the world that the story just wasn't all that interested in answering. I also wish we got more in-depth about the magic, maybe see a wider variety of people other than Phillip and Lucent.

All in all, this has its merits as a book about a trans main character, but the other elements could have been given the same amount of care/depth.

[Bailey S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really good for about the first 50% before it fizzled out unceremoniously in the back half. What started as a super charming premise with incredibly likable and interesting characters just kind of got lost and confused what to do with itself. Halfway in, the main conflict gets resolved within the span of 10 pages, and the rest of the book scrambles to find a new conflict to center the plot around without much success. Instead, it stumbles its way to an ending that struggles to include all of its characters in a meaningful way, and left me feeling unsatisfied.

The plot and character motivations here are half-baked, and everyone besides Phillip feels one-dimensional and left me wanting to know more about them. Phillip is a great character, and I was immensely endeared to him as a narrator and the way his transmasc identity was written within the historical fantasy setting. I just wish all the other main characters were given the same depth he was!

Not just the characters lack depth, but also the worldbuilding here is so incredibly shallow and surface level that I couldn’t even reliably tell you what historical period we’re supposed to be in. The town of Aulkendale feels more like a series of buildings that characters bounce between rather than a vast sprawling city. I don’t mind that the magic remains mostly unexplained, and I like the ways that it was used, particularly Phillip’s powers (even though his sudden mastery over them feels a bit unearned), but I was left wanting more when it came to being immersed in the setting.

There was enough good in here though that I would definitely give this author another chance. I liked their writing style, and I would be excited to read more well-written trans stories in historical settings, because goodness knows we could always use more of those.

[Deepi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read many books with trans rep. The one I have read is Cemetery Boys, and honestly, it’s still my favorite. I felt like this story mainly focuses on how Phyllis transforms into Phillip, a trans boy who learns to accept and embrace himself completely on his own.

Phillip’s journey of self-discovery was beautiful. The way he chooses himself and grows into his identity felt so real. Normally, I love books with multiple POVs. It’s like getting a peek into everyone’s head. But here, it didn’t work for me. The constant switch between first-person and third-person narration kind of ruined the reading experience.

Lucent’s character had so much potential. I mean, he’s an immortal who’s 400 years old that alone sounds like a complex character waiting to be explored. But unfortunately, it didn’t executed well. He didn’t feel like someone who’s lived for centuries, and by the end, he gives up on his lifelong goal so easily that it made the plot feel a little weak.

I did like Adeline’s character, even though she wasn’t in the story as much as I hoped. I really liked how the author differentiated two types of love. Phillip’s relationship with Lucent was toxic and controlling. Then there’s Phillip and Adeline, and their bond felt healthy and right.

The concept of near-death experience people gaining powers was so unique and I love that in the book. I just wish the powers were explained a bit more. Overall, this felt like a one-time read for me. I did like some parts, especially the main character’s journey, but I just wish some things were explained better.

[Cedar Fleming · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book me a while to finish, I feel like it's not completely done. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and felt that their motivations were often strange and unreliable. I love that the protagonist is trans, but feel like the initial "transition" could have been fleshed out a little bit more - we went from Phyllis to Phillip almost on a whim, and then didn't dive into anything else. Beyond that, the magic system also could have been explained a little bit more, because it's such an interesting concept, but missed the execution. Sometimes, it was difficult to follow the first vs third-person narratives through the story - at several points, characters would refer to Phillip as Phillip, and then we'd jump back into Phillip's head. It was a little disorienting to follow. Adeline was a major character, but we almost never get her POV beyond being angry at Phillip or being a dancer. Phillip's feelings for her also appear out of nowhere, and it was hard to root for their relationship when he was suddenly obsessed with her for no reason other than feeling guilty about stealing from Wycliff when supposedly Phillip has stolen many body parts before and never felt bad. I also didn't fully see the relationship that Phillip and Lucent claimed to have - we get snippets, but mostly it felt like the relationships (and the world-building!) could have been worked on for a little longer. Show, don't tell, and all that.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts by Elias Cold

➡️ɢʀᴀʙ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ:
° Love easy to follow, low-fantasy magic
° Enjoy a gothic slow-burn, character-driven story
° Crave a story about growth, sacrifice, + breaking free from the past
° Want queer + autism rep that feels raw + honest

➡️ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ:
Phyllis is a trans teen whose magic lets him pop off body parts—and he and his partner Lucent use this for ransom. But things get complicated when Phyllis learns about a missing girl named Adeline. He poses as Phillip the duke to investigate, and somewhere between the lies and his evolving magic, he starts falling for both the story of Adeline and the version of himself he’s becoming.

➡️ɢᴜᴛ-ᴘᴜɴᴄʜ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵
I felt this story. Not because it was action-packed (it’s not), but because it made me feel seen. With him being autistic, I understood feeling on the fringes of society growing up. It also reminded me that true growth doesn't comes without sacrifice... That sometimes, stepping away from what you know (even if it feels safe) is the only way to move forward.

I was totally here for the gothic, gritty vibes and the way the story made me think of At the Bottom of the Garden and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth. Although I did find it a bit slower, the ending gave me the kind of heartbreak and hope that sticks with you. This one’s for the misfits, the daydreamers, and anyone who’s ever wondered what it might take to finally step into the light.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

‼️‼️ check trigger warnings this book can get dark at times‼️‼️

Im not even sure what to categorize this book as. It’s like a YA historical horror drama if that makes sense!
I truly loved this book, I enjoyed out the MC really figured out who they want to be as they transitioned from Phyllis to Phillip it was nice seeing them become more sure and comfortable in their skin and it really benefited their use of magic. This book definitely has an interesting magic system, the MC is able to painlessly remove other people’s body parts and hold them for ransom which was such a funny thought.
I also enjoyed the use of the undead and how the MC falls in love with an undead girl and how they figure out how to make their relationship work out despite her being undead.
If you liked the time period of Belladonna by Adalyn Grace and the overall gothic feeling of that book you’re definitely going to enjoy this book! Thank you @tbrbeyondtours & @esnowauthor for gifting me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! If you want to see more posts about this boook check out the tour link on their websitehttps://tbrandbeyondtours.com/

[Tai · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars!

The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts was a gripping story that has me feel like my head was spinning every other chapter. The relationship between Lucent and Phillip was such realistic representation of the complexities of toxic love, abusive manipulation, and overall flawed people. I hated him for what he was doing but being able to read his perspective and learn his motivations added an emotional aspect to his character that made me as the reader understand Phillip’s complex feelings toward him better. The gender exploration journey that Phillip goes through throughout the story is raw and personal and the ease of him slipping into his true self and what that meant were beautifully done.

The book had a fresh, unique magic system that matched the ghostly, mysterious vibes that the overall book gives off. I became attached to Adeline and Nyx from the first chapter and I truly enjoyed how their stories played out. All of the characters we meet have a role to play in furthering the story and there’s so many mysteries to uncover.

There are a couple of plot holes I noticed, details slipping into the background, and sometimes the perspective change of first person for Phillip but third person for all of the other POVs could be a little disorienting at times. But this is an incredibly memorable story with morally gray (but lovable) characters and I would definitely recommend giving it a read.

[Mando Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story focuses on queer character Phyllis or Phillip depending on how they are feeling. They have the very odd ability to remove body parts from other people, hence the title. Hearts don’t get stolen until almost the end and (spoilers as well as a trigger warning) it gets very messy. The MC works with a very toxic immortal character who desperately needs a therapy session and has somehow fallen in love with our MC. Of course, nothing can be easy and the MC has become fixated on what should be their mark, Wycliff and his missing sister, Adeline,
The characters of this book (most of them anyway) need to be protected at all costs. I loved the journeys that they grow through and the relationships that developed. My one gripe with this book was that the world felt small. There is a lot of potential with the depth of the characters and it felt a little bit lacking in world building.
I am definitely looking forward to more work from Elias Cold.

[Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trans teen who steals and ransoms body parts with magic investigates a string of missing girls—falling in love with one of them from afar. The Victorian setting and magical realism in this novel created a full and rich world where Phillip (Phillis) went around detaching body parts for ransom and Lucent ,his partner in crime and an immortal 400 year old friend, can heal or kill people with his touch. I enjoyed the exploration of the trans experience throughout this novel as well as the accepting of others for who they are and how they change. I thought the ending with Lucent fixing everything would feel cheap but I liked the way it ended and this sacrifice after so many years on this earth. The dark atmosphere setting and easy language was so immersive and the side characters in Wyatt, Adeline and Nyx felt really well fleshed out and added a lot of emotion to our main characters story arch. Overall a great easy but meaningful read which touched my heart.