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Til Death Duke Us Part: A Victorian Fantasy Romance
In this standalone Victorian romantasy by USA Today bestselling author Charlie Lane, death is just the beginning.
She digs graves. He robs them. But can he steal her heart?
Widowed Persephone Graves seeks forgiveness. She clings to the edges of poverty, digging graves to keep off the streets. And to atone. Her husband’s death was her fault, and she’ll somehow make it right one shovelful of soil at a time.
The Duke of Morington needs money. And he knows just where to get it. The tombs in the alchemist cemetery hold treasures–the final inventions of dead alchemists. Selling one or two to the highest-bidding investor will revive his family’s depleted coffers.
When a dirt-covered, trousers-clad Persephone tries to stop him from pillaging the graves, he ignores her sharp wit and the curves hiding beneath her man’s shirt. Until he needs her. Only Persephone can open the alchemist tombs. And perhaps only she can change a thief’s coal-black heart to gold.
From London to Manchester, two unlikely partners in crime fight, kiss, laugh, and, if they can dig each other out of loneliness, fall in love.
Til Death Duke Us Part is a prequel to Charlie Lane's upcoming spicy, Victorian romantasy standalone series--The Alchemy of Desire, coming December 2025!
She digs graves. He robs them. But can he steal her heart?
Widowed Persephone Graves seeks forgiveness. She clings to the edges of poverty, digging graves to keep off the streets. And to atone. Her husband’s death was her fault, and she’ll somehow make it right one shovelful of soil at a time.
The Duke of Morington needs money. And he knows just where to get it. The tombs in the alchemist cemetery hold treasures–the final inventions of dead alchemists. Selling one or two to the highest-bidding investor will revive his family’s depleted coffers.
When a dirt-covered, trousers-clad Persephone tries to stop him from pillaging the graves, he ignores her sharp wit and the curves hiding beneath her man’s shirt. Until he needs her. Only Persephone can open the alchemist tombs. And perhaps only she can change a thief’s coal-black heart to gold.
From London to Manchester, two unlikely partners in crime fight, kiss, laugh, and, if they can dig each other out of loneliness, fall in love.
Til Death Duke Us Part is a prequel to Charlie Lane's upcoming spicy, Victorian romantasy standalone series--The Alchemy of Desire, coming December 2025!
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2025
16 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Lane
72 books187 followersCharlie writes Regency romance that's lighthearted and hot. Her books have a little bit of angst, a lot of laughs, and a whole lot of heart and heat.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 13, 2026
2.5 - 3 stars
Shorter review because I’m unsure what to make of this book. The bones of the story are compelling. Gaslamp fantasy with humor and emotional depth. Novella-length page count so it moves quickly. The h is a grave digger who feels guilt over the loss of her husband. The morally grey H literally falls into a grave she’s digging on an excursion to rob graves because his dukedom is so broke. He ropes her into assisting him, she’s hoping to thwart him and teach him a better way. Sweetness, hilarity, and steam. But the writing was disjointed for me and never clicked. I was super busy last week, but even when I could read, I felt bogged down despite the pace and the lower page count. If the author’s style happens to work for you though, this read has significant charm.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama. Both main characters are experienced and both have been celibate for years. Mentions of how the H had a mistress, but not anymore since he can't afford one. The h is a widow.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Gaslamp fantasy
☆ Class difference - working FMC x Duke MMC
☆ Magic and world building (though some of it takes time)
☆ Societal intricacies
☆ Morally grey MMC
☆ Conflicted FMC because she’s already tried to save a man before and failed
☆ Questions of guilt and shame
☆ Forced road trip (sort of)
☆ Definitely forced proximity
☆ They share their personal losses and traumas
☆ Giving into attraction while they're still at odds
☆ Crappy family being jerks on page
☆ FMC pulls a runner
☆ Claiming a bath tub
☆ MMC does grow *gasp*
☆ I love you’s were iffy for me
☆ HEA that was super satisfying
Shorter review because I’m unsure what to make of this book. The bones of the story are compelling. Gaslamp fantasy with humor and emotional depth. Novella-length page count so it moves quickly. The h is a grave digger who feels guilt over the loss of her husband. The morally grey H literally falls into a grave she’s digging on an excursion to rob graves because his dukedom is so broke. He ropes her into assisting him, she’s hoping to thwart him and teach him a better way. Sweetness, hilarity, and steam. But the writing was disjointed for me and never clicked. I was super busy last week, but even when I could read, I felt bogged down despite the pace and the lower page count. If the author’s style happens to work for you though, this read has significant charm.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama. Both main characters are experienced and both have been celibate for years. Mentions of how the H had a mistress, but not anymore since he can't afford one. The h is a widow.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Gaslamp fantasy
☆ Class difference - working FMC x Duke MMC
☆ Magic and world building (though some of it takes time)
☆ Societal intricacies
☆ Morally grey MMC
☆ Conflicted FMC because she’s already tried to save a man before and failed
☆ Questions of guilt and shame
☆ Forced road trip (sort of)
☆ Definitely forced proximity
☆ They share their personal losses and traumas
☆ Giving into attraction while they're still at odds
☆ Crappy family being jerks on page
☆ FMC pulls a runner
☆ Claiming a bath tub
☆ MMC does grow *gasp*
☆ I love you’s were iffy for me
☆ HEA that was super satisfying
January 3, 2026
I really enjoyed it. I have to admit that I would normally not read a book that had a cutesy cover, they are a pet peeve mine but I enjoyed the story. Easy to read, some steam.
I love the cemetery/grave digger plot.
I love the cemetery/grave digger plot.
November 3, 2025
Charlie Lane does it again! Til Death Duke Us Part is a tantalizing prequel to her upcoming spicy, Victorian romantasy series, The Alchemy of Desire. If this is any indication of what’s to come, I’ll be eagerly awaiting each new installment.
Meet Persephone Graves, a widowed woman clinging to the edges of poverty—and her guilt. Digging graves to survive and atone, she believes her husband’s death was her burden to bear. Enter Victor, the Duke of Morington—once an aspiring philanthropist, now a penniless noble desperate to restore his family’s fortune. His plan? Looting alchemist tombs for their hidden treasures. But there’s a problem: only Persephone can unlock those tombs.
Their unlikely partnership is pure magic. Persephone’s sharp wit and fierce independence clash deliciously with Victor’s stubborn charm. From London’s shadowy graveyards to Manchester’s bustling streets, they bicker, banter, and—yes—fall head over heels. The chemistry? Exquisite. The bathtub scenes, the "one bed" trope, the heartfelt confessions—it’s all swoon-worthy perfection.
What I loved most? Their growth. Victor’s transformation from desperate duke to honorable hero had me adoring him. Persephone’s journey to self-forgiveness felt raw and real. Their connection was more than romance—it was redemption.
Charlie Lane blends spooky, quirky, and emotional elements seamlessly. The alchemical mystery adds a captivating twist, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into this world in the upcoming series. If you love witty banter, heartfelt journeys, and a dash of alchemical intrigue, this one’s for you!
I received an ARC (advanced review copy) from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Meet Persephone Graves, a widowed woman clinging to the edges of poverty—and her guilt. Digging graves to survive and atone, she believes her husband’s death was her burden to bear. Enter Victor, the Duke of Morington—once an aspiring philanthropist, now a penniless noble desperate to restore his family’s fortune. His plan? Looting alchemist tombs for their hidden treasures. But there’s a problem: only Persephone can unlock those tombs.
Their unlikely partnership is pure magic. Persephone’s sharp wit and fierce independence clash deliciously with Victor’s stubborn charm. From London’s shadowy graveyards to Manchester’s bustling streets, they bicker, banter, and—yes—fall head over heels. The chemistry? Exquisite. The bathtub scenes, the "one bed" trope, the heartfelt confessions—it’s all swoon-worthy perfection.
What I loved most? Their growth. Victor’s transformation from desperate duke to honorable hero had me adoring him. Persephone’s journey to self-forgiveness felt raw and real. Their connection was more than romance—it was redemption.
Charlie Lane blends spooky, quirky, and emotional elements seamlessly. The alchemical mystery adds a captivating twist, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into this world in the upcoming series. If you love witty banter, heartfelt journeys, and a dash of alchemical intrigue, this one’s for you!
I received an ARC (advanced review copy) from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 27, 2025
A meet-cute at the bottom of a grave, a bit of friendly kidnapping and three days on the road to fortune... whatever could go wrong?
Persephony, the alchemist’s daughter who defied her parents for love, but in the end couldn’t save her potion addict husband. Widowed, disowned and riddled with regret, she picked up her man’s shovel and started digging. She’s this tiny tenacious force who believes in hard work, penance and letting the deceased rest in undisturbed peace. She has her pride, owns her mistakes and I really admire her for it.
Victor, the transcendent duke who wanted to follow in his father’s philanthropist steps, but instead inherited a penniless title. At wits end on how to refill his coffers, he’s convinced a dead man’s invention might be his lucky ticket. Now, if you’ve read ‘Naughty for Sir Nicholas’ you’ll remember him as an amoral arrogant arse, and since duke’s don’t work, he prefers glamouring himself out of every mess – most of his own making.
The chemistry – or should I say alchemy – in this story was exquisite! I’m a sucker for fantabulously well-written flawed MCs! Her quick and sensible against his glib high-handedness worked like a charm! The rousing repartee, the simmering sizzle, the sarcasm, the I-have-nothing-to-prove-to-you, the hidden shame, the brutal honesty. They both feel like failures, crave human touch and come with a heart of gold – his well hidden, hers ready to fix him and be fixed 😉
Add a bathtub, one bed, lots of make believe, tears & laughter, a bitter family reunion with a little payback, a splash of heartbreak, her freaky fortnight and him finally catching up – in short an exhilarating plot to die for – and this story was pure delight!
Rivetted from the get-go, I loved every single second of it!
Persephony, the alchemist’s daughter who defied her parents for love, but in the end couldn’t save her potion addict husband. Widowed, disowned and riddled with regret, she picked up her man’s shovel and started digging. She’s this tiny tenacious force who believes in hard work, penance and letting the deceased rest in undisturbed peace. She has her pride, owns her mistakes and I really admire her for it.
Victor, the transcendent duke who wanted to follow in his father’s philanthropist steps, but instead inherited a penniless title. At wits end on how to refill his coffers, he’s convinced a dead man’s invention might be his lucky ticket. Now, if you’ve read ‘Naughty for Sir Nicholas’ you’ll remember him as an amoral arrogant arse, and since duke’s don’t work, he prefers glamouring himself out of every mess – most of his own making.
The chemistry – or should I say alchemy – in this story was exquisite! I’m a sucker for fantabulously well-written flawed MCs! Her quick and sensible against his glib high-handedness worked like a charm! The rousing repartee, the simmering sizzle, the sarcasm, the I-have-nothing-to-prove-to-you, the hidden shame, the brutal honesty. They both feel like failures, crave human touch and come with a heart of gold – his well hidden, hers ready to fix him and be fixed 😉
Add a bathtub, one bed, lots of make believe, tears & laughter, a bitter family reunion with a little payback, a splash of heartbreak, her freaky fortnight and him finally catching up – in short an exhilarating plot to die for – and this story was pure delight!
Rivetted from the get-go, I loved every single second of it!
November 3, 2025
I'm obsessed with the new magical world that Charlie Lane has created in 19th century England! Nobles are called "transcendants" who can conjure illusions, a gift the males inherit at birth. Meanwhile, "alchemists" can manipulate metal and create all sorts of inventions. Their skills might not be hereditary, but they are protected by secrecy and once again, only the boys are raised to wield these magical skills. I love how this magical system heightens the real-world historical romance dynamics of nobility vs industrialists, and in this text, the question of is one of these talents better than the other helps investigate the hierarchy of nobility lording over working people. There is also clearly going to be a series arc where our heroines smash the patriarchy and claim some of that magic for themselves!
As for this particular story, the writing is vivid, the characters are sharp and make you root for them, and Charlie Lane also still plays up all the tropes we love in historical romance, with a couple of magical objects that take the steam to a whole new level. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for historical romance with an urban fantasy twist, or if you're a fan of urban fantasy but long for more romance!
As for this particular story, the writing is vivid, the characters are sharp and make you root for them, and Charlie Lane also still plays up all the tropes we love in historical romance, with a couple of magical objects that take the steam to a whole new level. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for historical romance with an urban fantasy twist, or if you're a fan of urban fantasy but long for more romance!
December 18, 2025
4.5/5 I loved this novella that’s a prequel to Charlie’s new historical romantasy series, Alchemy of Desire.
I enjoyed that it’s set in a familiar time period and setting with just a few magical elements. They went well with the plot, were simple and not overly complicated, was intriguing,and the ring binding idea was super sweet. I really enjoyed the parallels between transcendents magic (glamours) to how so many aristocrats behave or are portrayed as a whole in HR. I picked up on these and it endeared me to the story all the more.
I also loved the dynamic between Victor and Persephone. How much the other needed one another despite prior to their meeting they would both say they were just fine.
They embark on a road trip for the first half that leads to revelations neither are ready to face for a while. Their future seemed unlikely with how at odds they were with one another but liked the resolution they came to.
I’m looking forward to this series and how it seems one of the elements described here will be explored in the next one.
Til Death Duke We Part is a novella to the Alchemy of Desire series.
There are three open door encounters.
I enjoyed that it’s set in a familiar time period and setting with just a few magical elements. They went well with the plot, were simple and not overly complicated, was intriguing,and the ring binding idea was super sweet. I really enjoyed the parallels between transcendents magic (glamours) to how so many aristocrats behave or are portrayed as a whole in HR. I picked up on these and it endeared me to the story all the more.
I also loved the dynamic between Victor and Persephone. How much the other needed one another despite prior to their meeting they would both say they were just fine.
They embark on a road trip for the first half that leads to revelations neither are ready to face for a while. Their future seemed unlikely with how at odds they were with one another but liked the resolution they came to.
I’m looking forward to this series and how it seems one of the elements described here will be explored in the next one.
Til Death Duke We Part is a novella to the Alchemy of Desire series.
There are three open door encounters.
October 25, 2025
I'm in love with this new Victorian romantasy series - The Alchemy of Desire. This was such a goofy, spooky, romantic story with wonderful banter and two people that need each other but don't know what to do about it.
Victor and Persephone are quite the opposites with a mighty attraction. Wonderful banter and passion. Loved the mix of regency and romantasy. Warm and heart felt, both find themselves... Victor finds honour and breaking down barriers, Persephone finds her worthiness and letting go of guilt. Two people that are not meant for each other but find they fit perfectly.
Victor and Persephone are quite the opposites with a mighty attraction. Wonderful banter and passion. Loved the mix of regency and romantasy. Warm and heart felt, both find themselves... Victor finds honour and breaking down barriers, Persephone finds her worthiness and letting go of guilt. Two people that are not meant for each other but find they fit perfectly.
October 26, 2025
A very unique story about a grave digger and a Duke who has turned to grave robbing. One night Persephone is doing her 3rd shift grave digging work and Victor accidentally falls into the pit with her. The witty bantor and sexual tension starts right then. They both have magical abilities and it's adorable to see them use it on each other. Along the way there's a road trip, complete with only one bed(!) and magically enhanced(!) incendiary sex. Only Charlie Lane could take cold baths and make it seem hot!
Thank you to Charlie Lane for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to Charlie Lane for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
Till Death Duke Us Part
By Charlie Lane
Just the most delightful novella. It’s funny, enchanting, charming, engaging, quirky and just absolutely adorable. The characters are lovable, always bantering trying to argue and insult one another but it all becomes lighthearted and affectionate. This story was inspiring and endearing. It expresses a basic human goodness and predicts a positive future for us all.
By Charlie Lane
Just the most delightful novella. It’s funny, enchanting, charming, engaging, quirky and just absolutely adorable. The characters are lovable, always bantering trying to argue and insult one another but it all becomes lighthearted and affectionate. This story was inspiring and endearing. It expresses a basic human goodness and predicts a positive future for us all.
October 27, 2025
This definitely isn’t your run of the mill Victorian romance. There is a grave digger, a duke and alchemy. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. She was trying to stop any grave robbing. He was trying to regain a fortune. This merry chase to a HEA makes for a good read.
Read
December 31, 2025So fun!
Got this for free during a sykd. These two were adorable together I love the magic system. Refreshing. I recommend this novella
Got this for free during a sykd. These two were adorable together I love the magic system. Refreshing. I recommend this novella
January 10, 2026
Super cute introduction novella! Looking forward to continuing the series!
January 26, 2026
dnf, didn't like either of the main characters
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews