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Flos Magicae #1
The Bachelor's Valet
Alphonse Hollyhock is blessed with wealth, class, and more beauty than brains. Though he hasn't got a lick of wit or magic to his name, he's perfectly content living life as an airheaded bachelor with his valet—the clever, unflappable Jacobi—by his side to ensure everything runs smoothly. All he lacks, according to his mother, is a wife.
Despite Alphonse's protests, he's to marry Aaliyah Kaddour: a bright, headstrong young woman who would probably be charming company if she didn't threaten everything about Alphonse's way of life. Marrying means giving up his fashionable flat, his fast car, and, worst of all, it means losing Jacobi.
Perhaps most distressingly, this talk of marriage is bringing all sorts of confusing feelings to the forefront. Because rather than falling for the beautiful girl being pushed into his arms, Alphonse seems to be falling for his valet. Except a man can't fall in love with another man. Can he?
Meanwhile, Aaliyah has plans of her own. She's as devious as she is pretty, but if Alphonse wants to get through this marriage business in one piece, he'll have to trust her. Her and Jacobi, and, most dangerously, his own feelings.
Despite Alphonse's protests, he's to marry Aaliyah Kaddour: a bright, headstrong young woman who would probably be charming company if she didn't threaten everything about Alphonse's way of life. Marrying means giving up his fashionable flat, his fast car, and, worst of all, it means losing Jacobi.
Perhaps most distressingly, this talk of marriage is bringing all sorts of confusing feelings to the forefront. Because rather than falling for the beautiful girl being pushed into his arms, Alphonse seems to be falling for his valet. Except a man can't fall in love with another man. Can he?
Meanwhile, Aaliyah has plans of her own. She's as devious as she is pretty, but if Alphonse wants to get through this marriage business in one piece, he'll have to trust her. Her and Jacobi, and, most dangerously, his own feelings.
238 pages, ebook
First published August 17, 2021
137 people are currently reading
2415 people want to read
About the author
Arden Powell
26 books419 followersArden Powell (they/them) is a Canadian author and illustrator with stories in Lightspeed Magazine, Baffling Magazine, and Haunt Publishing, and whose books include The Faerie Hounds of York, The Bayou, the Flos Magicae series, and their short story collection, The Carnelian King and Other Stories. A nebulous entity, they live with a senior rescue hound and an exorbitant number of houseplants, and enjoy the company of both.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
August 13, 2021
This is a perfect comfort read. Exceedingly gentle and sweet and guaranteed to make you smile. Alphonse is the epitome of a lovable himbo. I absolutely adored him and would happily have read about him for much longer. He was just pitch perfect for me, and reminded me of Alex Twaddle from Boyfriend Material, which is high praise indeed. I liked the slow burn aspect of the romance, and was pleased as punch about how clueless Alphonse was. But I wish I'd gotten to know Jacobi better, he remained a bit of a mystery to me, and I think understanding him better would have added to the chemistry. And I wish that the complexities of their relationship moving forward would have been explored a little more, especially in regards to how it would change their employer/employee dynamic. Aaliya was hilarious and I loved the lavender marriage aspect. I also really enjoyed the touches of magic and the whole vibe and atmosphere of the story. A feel good read for sure.
November 10, 2021
Complete fluffiest fluff.
No drama, no angst, nothing really happens. Pure fade-out fluff.
It made me smile. This was exactly the book I was needing about now, a balm for a stressful week.
Alphonse is unashamedly slow witted, we don't really get to know his valet and love Jacobi except through his eyes, but Jacobi is smart and very capable. It could make you wonder at the attraction, yet reading this I liked Alphonse, he's incredibly endearing. All puppy love and enthusiasm. He knows he's not the brightest, doesn't let it get him down, he's a bright happy spark with a warm heart.
Fiance Aaliyah is a formidable lady and a great addition.
It's a light fluff-fest that doesn't try to be more than it is, I read with a smile.
No drama, no angst, nothing really happens. Pure fade-out fluff.
It made me smile. This was exactly the book I was needing about now, a balm for a stressful week.
Alphonse is unashamedly slow witted, we don't really get to know his valet and love Jacobi except through his eyes, but Jacobi is smart and very capable. It could make you wonder at the attraction, yet reading this I liked Alphonse, he's incredibly endearing. All puppy love and enthusiasm. He knows he's not the brightest, doesn't let it get him down, he's a bright happy spark with a warm heart.
Fiance Aaliyah is a formidable lady and a great addition.
It's a light fluff-fest that doesn't try to be more than it is, I read with a smile.
March 9, 2023
3.5⭐️ rounded up for GR
March 9, 2022
THIS WAS SO SWEET AND CUTE AND UGUUU MY HEART!! I'm a puddle of goo right now. Wow, I really needed this. I read it in one sitting and even laughed out loud at how funny it is. The MCs are just so cute and sappy and this felt like a balm to soothe the soul.
March 15, 2023
I hated the MC. The other fellow obviously had poor taste in men.
June 15, 2022
3.5 stars
“Alphonse Hollyhock was a golden-haired thing with guileless, cornflower-blue eyes and a good temper. His only shortcoming was a lamentable lack of grey matter, which he took in stride, cheerfully proclaiming that while he might not have two brain cells to rub together, he was dim enough that he didn’t notice their lack.”
I know, I know, there’s something seriously wrong with me that I couldn’t better appreciate this charming little story. Airheaded Alphonse and his valet, Jacobi, are such delightful characters that they carry the story; this would normally be enough for me but I don’t think I was in the right mood for this to work. What makes it complicated is that there are several things that I really liked, but also quite a few that irked me. But let’s start off with what I loved.
Likes
* The characterization is wonderful. I loved Alphonse in all his oblivious and sweet splendor, as well as the unflappable, uber competent Jacobi.
* The gorgeous writing pulls you right in.
* Fabulous wit and banter.
* Palpable UST.
Dislikes
* I wish there was more dialogue between Alphonse and Jacobi. The side characters took up too many pages.
* I usually like inner monologues, but I wasn’t a fan in this case. Too many of them centered on a recurring dream.
* While I love slow burns there is such a thing as too slow a burn.
* I’m okay with low steam if a story is compelling enough, but there’s only one sex scene AND it takes place off page.
“I’m saying it now, right to your face, when I’m not drunk or drugged or dreaming, so you’ll know that I mean it. I love you, Jacobi, and probably have done from the day I met you. It’s just that my brain takes so long to catch up to my feelings. You know I’m hopeless at puzzling things out.”
“I know, sir,” Jacobi said softly.
“I just wish you had told me that I was in love with you sooner. It could’ve saved us all this trouble.
“Alphonse Hollyhock was a golden-haired thing with guileless, cornflower-blue eyes and a good temper. His only shortcoming was a lamentable lack of grey matter, which he took in stride, cheerfully proclaiming that while he might not have two brain cells to rub together, he was dim enough that he didn’t notice their lack.”
I know, I know, there’s something seriously wrong with me that I couldn’t better appreciate this charming little story. Airheaded Alphonse and his valet, Jacobi, are such delightful characters that they carry the story; this would normally be enough for me but I don’t think I was in the right mood for this to work. What makes it complicated is that there are several things that I really liked, but also quite a few that irked me. But let’s start off with what I loved.
Likes
* The characterization is wonderful. I loved Alphonse in all his oblivious and sweet splendor, as well as the unflappable, uber competent Jacobi.
* The gorgeous writing pulls you right in.
* Fabulous wit and banter.
* Palpable UST.
Dislikes
* I wish there was more dialogue between Alphonse and Jacobi. The side characters took up too many pages.
* I usually like inner monologues, but I wasn’t a fan in this case. Too many of them centered on a recurring dream.
* While I love slow burns there is such a thing as too slow a burn.
* I’m okay with low steam if a story is compelling enough, but there’s only one sex scene AND it takes place off page.
“I’m saying it now, right to your face, when I’m not drunk or drugged or dreaming, so you’ll know that I mean it. I love you, Jacobi, and probably have done from the day I met you. It’s just that my brain takes so long to catch up to my feelings. You know I’m hopeless at puzzling things out.”
“I know, sir,” Jacobi said softly.
“I just wish you had told me that I was in love with you sooner. It could’ve saved us all this trouble.
dnf
January 31, 2024DNF @ 36%
There's really nothing wrong with this. It's just not for me. The prose is good and is reminiscent of literature published in the early 1900s when these are based. I really enjoyed how it flowed and how it set this apart from other historical fics. However, it's not what I was expecting after the short story I read before this one. There's no real discussion of the magic system - the main MC whose POV we're in doesn't even do magic - and there's only brief glimpses of any magic happening here and there.
The main MC, sweet boy that he is, is so ridiculously stupid as to be unbelievable. He's not just a himbo. He has nothing going on upstairs and constantly has to have other people pointing out to him that he's gay. 🤦🏻♀️ I thought WWX was blind to himself, but Alfonse makes him look like an oracle in comparison.
But if you can put up with Alfonse and like the writing and are in the mood for something fluffy, check this one out.
There's really nothing wrong with this. It's just not for me. The prose is good and is reminiscent of literature published in the early 1900s when these are based. I really enjoyed how it flowed and how it set this apart from other historical fics. However, it's not what I was expecting after the short story I read before this one. There's no real discussion of the magic system - the main MC whose POV we're in doesn't even do magic - and there's only brief glimpses of any magic happening here and there.
The main MC, sweet boy that he is, is so ridiculously stupid as to be unbelievable. He's not just a himbo. He has nothing going on upstairs and constantly has to have other people pointing out to him that he's gay. 🤦🏻♀️ I thought WWX was blind to himself, but Alfonse makes him look like an oracle in comparison.
But if you can put up with Alfonse and like the writing and are in the mood for something fluffy, check this one out.
November 10, 2021
This is such an adorably frothy confection of a book! Set in an alt-history early-2oth-century England (think: P.G. Wodehouse with magic!), it features a sweet and good-natured young gentleman of leisure who is generally accepted not to be particularly bright (but who is very lovable). Luckily, he has a brilliant valet who manages his life for him, just like Jeeves managed Bertie Wooster's life in Wodehouse...but in this case, when the young gentleman is pressured by his family into finally seriously considering matrimony, he realizes to his own shock that he's already in love with his valet!
I love Arden Powell's writing, no matter which subgenre they write in. Their novella "The Faerie Hounds of York" was gorgeously creepy as well as romantic; this short novel is delightfully fluffy, paying homage to the sparkly, witty style of PG Wodehouse but also beautifully interweaving magical elements in a way that was genuinely breathtaking at a few different points. I also loved the characters - including the hero's unwanted fiancée, who (fortunately for both of them!) has her own idiosyncratic plans for their future together. And the romance itself is just incredibly sweet (while also taking into strong consideration the power issues at stake). No explicitly steamy scenes, but soooo many gorgeously written moments of romantic tension!
I started this novel at the end of a long, stressful day. Once I started, though, I couldn't stop - and by the time I finished (far too late at night!), I was beaming and filled with a happy glow. SUCH a lovely, fun book to read! (And btw, you absolutely don't have to have read any Wodehouse stories beforehand to enjoy this book, but if you have read many Jeeves/Wooster stories, the points of homage here are fabulously handled!)
I love Arden Powell's writing, no matter which subgenre they write in. Their novella "The Faerie Hounds of York" was gorgeously creepy as well as romantic; this short novel is delightfully fluffy, paying homage to the sparkly, witty style of PG Wodehouse but also beautifully interweaving magical elements in a way that was genuinely breathtaking at a few different points. I also loved the characters - including the hero's unwanted fiancée, who (fortunately for both of them!) has her own idiosyncratic plans for their future together. And the romance itself is just incredibly sweet (while also taking into strong consideration the power issues at stake). No explicitly steamy scenes, but soooo many gorgeously written moments of romantic tension!
I started this novel at the end of a long, stressful day. Once I started, though, I couldn't stop - and by the time I finished (far too late at night!), I was beaming and filled with a happy glow. SUCH a lovely, fun book to read! (And btw, you absolutely don't have to have read any Wodehouse stories beforehand to enjoy this book, but if you have read many Jeeves/Wooster stories, the points of homage here are fabulously handled!)
July 4, 2025
1st read: December 2022
4.5⭐
Why is no one talking about this book? It was freaking delightful!
This was such a cozy and comforting read. There's no major drama, no third-act break up - just 230 pages of adorable gay fluff. I loved it!
Alphonse was such a cute lil' himbo, and I could not stop imagining Jacobi as Sebastian from Black Butler (he definitely gives similar vibes). Plus it had one of my favorite tropes: oblivious idiot not knowing their in love + frustrated love interest waiting for the to catch up and figure it out!
If you're looking for a cute and quick romance with a queerplatonic found family: definitely check this one out!!!
2nd Read: June 2025
3⭐
I absolutely adored this book when I read it in 2022, so I was excited to see how I feel about it upon a reread.
As a more experienced reader, I am more critical of certain things - like the distinct lack of world-building, as well as lack of development of side characters (Jasmine's character in particular).
Even though my rating has lowered, I still really love our himbo main character and absolutely adore the found family they have by the end!
4.5⭐
Why is no one talking about this book? It was freaking delightful!
This was such a cozy and comforting read. There's no major drama, no third-act break up - just 230 pages of adorable gay fluff. I loved it!
Alphonse was such a cute lil' himbo, and I could not stop imagining Jacobi as Sebastian from Black Butler (he definitely gives similar vibes). Plus it had one of my favorite tropes: oblivious idiot not knowing their in love + frustrated love interest waiting for the to catch up and figure it out!
If you're looking for a cute and quick romance with a queerplatonic found family: definitely check this one out!!!
2nd Read: June 2025
3⭐
I absolutely adored this book when I read it in 2022, so I was excited to see how I feel about it upon a reread.
As a more experienced reader, I am more critical of certain things - like the distinct lack of world-building, as well as lack of development of side characters (Jasmine's character in particular).
Even though my rating has lowered, I still really love our himbo main character and absolutely adore the found family they have by the end!
November 26, 2021
This is the fluffiest romance book I've ever read.
January 9, 2024
4.5 Stars Rounded Up!
If you want something cozy, funny, and a little whimsical, then this is perfect. It's one of those fluffy vibe reads that do a good job transporting you somewhere else.
The writing was great, and the dialogue actually made me laugh and smile to myself.
I did wish for a bit more from Jacobi. I felt like more of a backstory or an understanding of him to flesh out his half of the romance was needed. I liked what we got, though. Jacobi's dry humor was a highlight of this for me.
Alphonse was a loveable himbo and Aaliyah was a lot of fun.
This was very much a slowburn, but Jacobi and Alphonse had such great chemistry that it made up for the romance not being very prevalent until later in the book. My one mild complaint was the fade to black. I think the more euphemistic style spice from the first novella in the series would've fit the tone of this well.
If you want something cozy, funny, and a little whimsical, then this is perfect. It's one of those fluffy vibe reads that do a good job transporting you somewhere else.
The writing was great, and the dialogue actually made me laugh and smile to myself.
I did wish for a bit more from Jacobi. I felt like more of a backstory or an understanding of him to flesh out his half of the romance was needed. I liked what we got, though. Jacobi's dry humor was a highlight of this for me.
Alphonse was a loveable himbo and Aaliyah was a lot of fun.
This was very much a slowburn, but Jacobi and Alphonse had such great chemistry that it made up for the romance not being very prevalent until later in the book. My one mild complaint was the fade to black. I think the more euphemistic style spice from the first novella in the series would've fit the tone of this well.
April 1, 2024
Silly, soft, and sweet. Like if Endymion got his own book, but (fortunately!) matched with someone much sharper-witted than Charis. What's not to like?
Read as part of the Trans Rights Readathon to spotlight books written by authors who are trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and 2Spirit.
Read as part of the Trans Rights Readathon to spotlight books written by authors who are trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and 2Spirit.
October 30, 2023
MM historical romance that takes place in 1920s England, with supernatural elements. The supernatural aspect was really lightly handled and the worldbuilding felt really under-developed, to the point where I wasn't entirely sure of the point--I wish it had either been more clear/prominent or just nixed altogether. The historical aspect... IDK, there were times throughout that, to me, it felt like a much older time period than the 1920s, and then times where it felt accurate; maybe I'm just not super familiar with what it was like in the 1920s, but the time period for me didn't always totally jive. I quite liked Alphonse and his feelings realization journey. We don't get Jacobi's POV and given the nature of his character, I did find him somewhat opaque, and wished we had a little more from him to understand the why and how of his love for Alphonse. This is also quite a slow burn, and very low steam, lower even than book 1, which I did find disappointing--there's such a slow build that I was really looking forward to a smutty payoff, which we never got. I did enjoy this one overall, but I didn't love it.
August 11, 2021
A delightful, soft tale of magic and lavender marriages.
What I'm loving about this series thus far is how quiet it is. It feels very domestic and soft, which is sorely missed at times in queer romance, especially ones involving magic. This time we have a tale of class and arranged marriages, but at the heart of it is finding people like you to thrive in this world.
Alphonse is a sweet, oblivious mess who is complimented by his very put-together valet and his soon to be bride, Aaliyah (who is also delightfully competent).
I don't want to give too much away, but I loved the tone of this book and the cottage core aesthetic overlaying upper class Edwardian England.
What I'm loving about this series thus far is how quiet it is. It feels very domestic and soft, which is sorely missed at times in queer romance, especially ones involving magic. This time we have a tale of class and arranged marriages, but at the heart of it is finding people like you to thrive in this world.
Alphonse is a sweet, oblivious mess who is complimented by his very put-together valet and his soon to be bride, Aaliyah (who is also delightfully competent).
I don't want to give too much away, but I loved the tone of this book and the cottage core aesthetic overlaying upper class Edwardian England.
December 29, 2024
My second read from Powell, and while this has a less appealing exterior than The Faerie Hounds of York, The Bachelor’s Valet was far more satisfying on the inside.
I don’t remember buying this one, it’s lurked in the dark recesses of my kindle for a few years. The setup here and the book description are sure to ring some bells and raise some expectations in the minds of anyone encountering it who’s familiar with the works of PG Wodehouse.
Now, as I’ve said before, Wodehouse with gays is pretty much my platonic ideal of a novel. And the Jeeves & Wooster—er… “Jacobi & Hollyhock” dynamic + unwelcome engagement setup detailed in this book’s description is textbook Wodehouse. That fact probably explains why I bought this. As the fact that every Wodehouse pastiche I’ve read has been a disappointment on some level explains why I’ve put off reading it since then. Because while one may conceivably produce similar content to Wodehouse, his voice is inimitable. His rhythms and diction are half of the pleasure of a Wodehouse novel. (He was not only a hugely productive writer of fiction, but worked extensively as a lyricist in musical theater.)
The Wodehouse pastiches which succeed on any level do so because they do not try match Wodehouse’s prose, nor reproduce his characters, and thankfully Powell is not trying that here.
While the layabout upper-class airhead and his unflappable genius valet setup can’t but call to mind Bertie and Jeeves, Alphonse and Jacobi have enough differences to work for me. Alphonse brings to mind one of those sad-kitty posters with the saucer-sized eyes, and we never get quite the sense of disapproval from Jacobi one expects from Jeeves. And I’m pleased that’s the case, because while I do want gay Wodehouse, I’m not sure I want gay Jeeves & Wooster. It screws up the dynamic too much. Let them remain forever asexual.
If I’m to point out the area in which this disappoints, we need look no further than the plot, which is sadly linear. This is no farce. There are no hilarious exploits around Alphonse’s engagement or comical attempts to escape it. (I haven’t counted, but I feel like half, if not more of the engagements in a Wodehouse novel are formed by accident.)
But I didn’t have to read too far into this to recalibrate my expectations, and the simpler plot works fine for the story Powell is actually telling.
Point of view sticks to Alphonse, who’s a sweetheart. The setting is a little vague, there are some more modern attitudes than one would expect in Wodehouse, but the setting could well be something like Wodehouse’s standard, only with a touch of magic. Frankly the magic seems largely superfluous, which is fine with me. The setting feels more vague than I’d like, though less than the other Powell book I read, and setting isn’t terribly important to me as a reader.
So, is this Jeeves & Wooster fanfic with the serial numbers filed off? I don’t know. Maybe these two map adequately onto someone’s Jeeves & Wooster. I can’t believe for one second it wasn’t an influence, even if only indirectly. But for me it’s only an echo, and Powell makes the choices necessary for the book to succeed on it’s own terms. It's more cozy than comedy, but I enjoyed it very much, and plan on picking up some more of Powell’s books in the future.
I don’t remember buying this one, it’s lurked in the dark recesses of my kindle for a few years. The setup here and the book description are sure to ring some bells and raise some expectations in the minds of anyone encountering it who’s familiar with the works of PG Wodehouse.
Now, as I’ve said before, Wodehouse with gays is pretty much my platonic ideal of a novel. And the Jeeves & Wooster—er… “Jacobi & Hollyhock” dynamic + unwelcome engagement setup detailed in this book’s description is textbook Wodehouse. That fact probably explains why I bought this. As the fact that every Wodehouse pastiche I’ve read has been a disappointment on some level explains why I’ve put off reading it since then. Because while one may conceivably produce similar content to Wodehouse, his voice is inimitable. His rhythms and diction are half of the pleasure of a Wodehouse novel. (He was not only a hugely productive writer of fiction, but worked extensively as a lyricist in musical theater.)
The Wodehouse pastiches which succeed on any level do so because they do not try match Wodehouse’s prose, nor reproduce his characters, and thankfully Powell is not trying that here.
While the layabout upper-class airhead and his unflappable genius valet setup can’t but call to mind Bertie and Jeeves, Alphonse and Jacobi have enough differences to work for me. Alphonse brings to mind one of those sad-kitty posters with the saucer-sized eyes, and we never get quite the sense of disapproval from Jacobi one expects from Jeeves. And I’m pleased that’s the case, because while I do want gay Wodehouse, I’m not sure I want gay Jeeves & Wooster. It screws up the dynamic too much. Let them remain forever asexual.
If I’m to point out the area in which this disappoints, we need look no further than the plot, which is sadly linear. This is no farce. There are no hilarious exploits around Alphonse’s engagement or comical attempts to escape it. (I haven’t counted, but I feel like half, if not more of the engagements in a Wodehouse novel are formed by accident.)
But I didn’t have to read too far into this to recalibrate my expectations, and the simpler plot works fine for the story Powell is actually telling.
Point of view sticks to Alphonse, who’s a sweetheart. The setting is a little vague, there are some more modern attitudes than one would expect in Wodehouse, but the setting could well be something like Wodehouse’s standard, only with a touch of magic. Frankly the magic seems largely superfluous, which is fine with me. The setting feels more vague than I’d like, though less than the other Powell book I read, and setting isn’t terribly important to me as a reader.
So, is this Jeeves & Wooster fanfic with the serial numbers filed off? I don’t know. Maybe these two map adequately onto someone’s Jeeves & Wooster. I can’t believe for one second it wasn’t an influence, even if only indirectly. But for me it’s only an echo, and Powell makes the choices necessary for the book to succeed on it’s own terms. It's more cozy than comedy, but I enjoyed it very much, and plan on picking up some more of Powell’s books in the future.
August 31, 2021
Recommended for those who would enjoy fade to black, light magic, very cozy cottagecore vibes, and a bumbling himbo.
Not really a "me" book but I'm glad I tried it!
Not really a "me" book but I'm glad I tried it!
September 9, 2022
I wasn't sure what to expect while reading this book, but it is very, very good! The world is very fascinating - Victorian England meets the roaring '20s with a diverse cast of characters (who make some stinging comments regarding colonialism), and most people have a bit of magical talent. Alphonse is a wealthy fop, aware of his himbo-state, who is satisfied living life on his own, with only his valet Jacobi to keep him company. One day his mother decides to marry him off - but his blushing bride has other plans. Shenanigans occur.
This book is very well written; the worldbuilding is top notch; the romance is wonderful (a bit of a slow burn, if that bothers anyone); the magic system is just barely touched upon, but I think it shows huge promise; and my god, the characters - they are all distinct and well developed and so unique. Like, just for example, I'm certain that I've encountered characters like Alphonse before - the dumb dandy is not anything special - but I've never seen him as a legitimate love interest, nor as a protagonist. Every other character is similarly unusual and fun.
Yeah, I am a huge fan of this book. If fantasy (almost magical realism)/historical romance/alternative history floats your boat, it's more than worth a read.
This book is very well written; the worldbuilding is top notch; the romance is wonderful (a bit of a slow burn, if that bothers anyone); the magic system is just barely touched upon, but I think it shows huge promise; and my god, the characters - they are all distinct and well developed and so unique. Like, just for example, I'm certain that I've encountered characters like Alphonse before - the dumb dandy is not anything special - but I've never seen him as a legitimate love interest, nor as a protagonist. Every other character is similarly unusual and fun.
Yeah, I am a huge fan of this book. If fantasy (almost magical realism)/historical romance/alternative history floats your boat, it's more than worth a read.
December 9, 2021
1.5*
I finished it but mostly skipped through it. Very sweet but not particularly memorable and little to no character development. World building is non-existent (especially the magic) and everything was a little too contrived and perfect. We learn absolutely nothing about Jacobi, he is a total stranger from start to finish. Additionally, I know that Alphonse was meant to be a lovable dolt but he was so stupid it really did defy belief and I struggled to enjoy the book. There were some funny moments but these didnt outweigh the cons of the book.
I finished it but mostly skipped through it. Very sweet but not particularly memorable and little to no character development. World building is non-existent (especially the magic) and everything was a little too contrived and perfect. We learn absolutely nothing about Jacobi, he is a total stranger from start to finish. Additionally, I know that Alphonse was meant to be a lovable dolt but he was so stupid it really did defy belief and I struggled to enjoy the book. There were some funny moments but these didnt outweigh the cons of the book.
May 6, 2022
Low angst, slow burn, closed door romance with a completely oblivious MC. While this was an easy read and I enjoy Powell’s style and the plot - I wish a little less time was spent on how clueless/bumbling Alphonse is and more time given to developing Jacobi.
I loved Aliyah and her take charge attitude as it was exactly what Alphonse needed. Cute little epilogue.
I loved Aliyah and her take charge attitude as it was exactly what Alphonse needed. Cute little epilogue.
May 24, 2023
I was bouncing between enjoyment and exasperation the entire time but I think the enjoyment won in the end.
November 13, 2021
Along with most people reviewing here, I thought this was a sweet, pleasant read. Charming characters, with strong female representation. It reads very much like a fan fic from the Jeeves and Wooster universe, but that’s not a bad thing.
did-not-finish
December 9, 2022DNF @ 50%. No rating.
This just wasn't my cup of tea. The writing is unusual. It's kind of melodramatic and the author went overboard with the use of early 1900s slang (jolly this, jolly that, dashing something-or-other, Alphonse referring to nearly every man as 'old thing') so it was a bit too much. But what annoyed me most about the writing was that Alphonse often ended his sentences with 'what', turning the statement into a question. It reminded me of how Canadians use 'eh' to turn statements into questions but using 'what' completely threw me off (ex. "The thing is, I was happy then, what?").
The magical elements were also strangely used. Magic can be used by everybody in this universe but it seems to be mostly used for party tricks, like conjuring up flowers or balls of light. But both Jacobi and Aaliyah use it for other purposes (creating a 'privacy screen' and lighting a fire) so it made no sense that this world's technology is exactly like the early 1900s were when people can use magic for so many things. None of it was explained and the magical element just felt like a plot device.
But mainly, I didn't like the romance setup. Alphonse is a spoiled, naïve, immature man but that's due to his upbringing. He's extremely self-centered, to the point where he views Jacobi as an object that helps him do various things in his life but he never seemed to consider Jacobi's feelings or desires. It fit with Alphonse's upbringing but it made me dislike the idea of a romance between them. In addition, I have no idea why Jacobi has been secretly in love with Alphonse for years. As far as I can tell, Alphonse doesn't possess any useful skills, he has the personality of a child and he's a lot more immature than Jacobi, so it made no sense to me that Jacobi views him as a potential love interest. In the part of the book I read, Jacobi treats Alphonse more like a little brother or a child who is too naïve to take care of himself properly.
I also disliked how Jacobi and Aaliyah (Alphonse's future wife) treated Alphonse. Everybody in the poor man's life constantly tells him how stupid he is and they treat him like a child. But Jacobi and Aaliyah take this a step further by outright manipulating him or taking advantage of his blind child-like trust in them. For example, .
I'm pretty sure none of this is what the author intended. Based on the many positive reviews, other readers enjoyed this as a low-angst, fluffy story so I'm sure I wasn't supposed to think about these things as deeply as I did. Also, I have no idea how the rest of the story goes so things might dramatically change. Because of these factors, I'm not going to rate it because I think I just wasn't the right audience for this story.
This just wasn't my cup of tea. The writing is unusual. It's kind of melodramatic and the author went overboard with the use of early 1900s slang (jolly this, jolly that, dashing something-or-other, Alphonse referring to nearly every man as 'old thing') so it was a bit too much. But what annoyed me most about the writing was that Alphonse often ended his sentences with 'what', turning the statement into a question. It reminded me of how Canadians use 'eh' to turn statements into questions but using 'what' completely threw me off (ex. "The thing is, I was happy then, what?").
The magical elements were also strangely used. Magic can be used by everybody in this universe but it seems to be mostly used for party tricks, like conjuring up flowers or balls of light. But both Jacobi and Aaliyah use it for other purposes (creating a 'privacy screen' and lighting a fire) so it made no sense that this world's technology is exactly like the early 1900s were when people can use magic for so many things. None of it was explained and the magical element just felt like a plot device.
But mainly, I didn't like the romance setup. Alphonse is a spoiled, naïve, immature man but that's due to his upbringing. He's extremely self-centered, to the point where he views Jacobi as an object that helps him do various things in his life but he never seemed to consider Jacobi's feelings or desires. It fit with Alphonse's upbringing but it made me dislike the idea of a romance between them. In addition, I have no idea why Jacobi has been secretly in love with Alphonse for years. As far as I can tell, Alphonse doesn't possess any useful skills, he has the personality of a child and he's a lot more immature than Jacobi, so it made no sense to me that Jacobi views him as a potential love interest. In the part of the book I read, Jacobi treats Alphonse more like a little brother or a child who is too naïve to take care of himself properly.
I also disliked how Jacobi and Aaliyah (Alphonse's future wife) treated Alphonse. Everybody in the poor man's life constantly tells him how stupid he is and they treat him like a child. But Jacobi and Aaliyah take this a step further by outright manipulating him or taking advantage of his blind child-like trust in them. For example, .
I'm pretty sure none of this is what the author intended. Based on the many positive reviews, other readers enjoyed this as a low-angst, fluffy story so I'm sure I wasn't supposed to think about these things as deeply as I did. Also, I have no idea how the rest of the story goes so things might dramatically change. Because of these factors, I'm not going to rate it because I think I just wasn't the right audience for this story.
February 12, 2022
I enjoyed this a good deal - and definitely more than the previous Arden Powell novella I’ve read (about which, the less said the better). It had delicious mutual pining and delayed gratification, and a secondary sapphic couple that I adored (please can we have Jasmine and Aaliyah’s story??). The low stakes lavender marriage plot was just about as much drama as I could take in a stressful week; and the way the characters navigated the power differential of the master/valet relationship was thoughtful. I really appreciated the characters confronting colonialism and its impacts on their lives.
Just one thing that I didn’t like: the way Alphonse’s ‘slowness’ is described and discussed was uncomfortable to me. I know he’s supposed to be the quintessential himbo but there’s no real push back against the idea that he’s in some way deficient. And his lack of insight and self-deprecation is too often played for laughs.
Just one thing that I didn’t like: the way Alphonse’s ‘slowness’ is described and discussed was uncomfortable to me. I know he’s supposed to be the quintessential himbo but there’s no real push back against the idea that he’s in some way deficient. And his lack of insight and self-deprecation is too often played for laughs.
May 14, 2022
4.5/5 rating
Honestly, I know this book is proof that I wasn't having a reading slump, or if I had, this positively dragged me out of it. I mean these kind of books often do, but even so, it's always a gamble.
The Bachelor's Valet is the story about an endearing young man, Alphonse, rich, handsome, but awfully oblivious to plenty of things around him, including his obvious attraction to his valet, Jacobi. Truly, that is the recipe of a light, but very heartwarming read. Include a fake marriage, a clever fiancé who only has eyes for an adorable shop owner, and you truly get an interesting plot, which was something I hadn't expected beforehand, truth be told.
Perhaps the only thing that made me give this book a 4.5/5 rating instead of the full 5 stars is the lack of magic that I had expected to be more a part of the world and plot. I had long forgotten magic was part of this world until the last few chapters, which is truly a shame, because the dreamwalking and Jacobi's magic is such an interesting aspect of the book. I would have loved reading more about that!
All in all it is a truly lovely read, definitely one I'd recommend. Being close to a novella it's a short read, but that does not take away any of the fun. I'm going to miss these two, though, despite the heartwarming conclusion of the story. Kudos!
January 20, 2024
The Bachelor’s Valet is a cute queer fantasy that I enjoyed quite a bit. It was like a little breather in between the heavier fantasy and sci-fi reading I’ve been doing. I cuddled up on the couch with my kindle and a hot cup of tea to enjoy my time with this entertaining ensemble of characters.
The writing felt smooth and easy, which made the chapters (that had cute names by the way) fly by in no time. The setting was easy to picture, though I would’ve liked to learn a bit more about the magic, how it’s used in everyday life, why they don’t use it more in polite society, etc. The characters were charming and fun to follow, though I do honestly prefer my MCs to have a little bit more than just hot air in their heads. It was oddly endearing at times though and the others made up for it well, especially with the humor dispersed throughout.
I’ll definitely be returning to this series when I need a little break again. It’s not often that I laugh out loud and feel so charmed by a book. And adorable animal characters are always a nice bonus as well.
The writing felt smooth and easy, which made the chapters (that had cute names by the way) fly by in no time. The setting was easy to picture, though I would’ve liked to learn a bit more about the magic, how it’s used in everyday life, why they don’t use it more in polite society, etc. The characters were charming and fun to follow, though I do honestly prefer my MCs to have a little bit more than just hot air in their heads. It was oddly endearing at times though and the others made up for it well, especially with the humor dispersed throughout.
I’ll definitely be returning to this series when I need a little break again. It’s not often that I laugh out loud and feel so charmed by a book. And adorable animal characters are always a nice bonus as well.
May 5, 2022
Alphonse is so dang precious, I can't 😭❤️
March 26, 2024
Sweet, oblivious
himbo lavender marries;
loves valet; lives the dream.
himbo lavender marries;
loves valet; lives the dream.
dnf
October 17, 2022DNF at 14%
I completely forgot I was “reading” this one.
I completely forgot I was “reading” this one.
Read
February 11, 2022I loved this 'Jeeves and Wooster' style novella about a noble lord and his valet, set in a world with magic. The protagonist is utterly clueless, in the best possible way.
October 21, 2021
Oh, Alphonse. Perhaps the most lovable idiot that has ever been. So clueless, and so sweet. Just adorably warmhearted.
Also, nicely done with the power dynamics. Not only is Alphonse respectful, but Jacobi clearly states that he is able to enforce his own boundaries. Yay!
Also, nicely done with the power dynamics. Not only is Alphonse respectful, but Jacobi clearly states that he is able to enforce his own boundaries. Yay!
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