
The Duke
by Anna Cowan
A sapphic regency romance about the duke who fears nothing... until the woman she never forgot walks through the door and brings her to her knees. - Set in a world of powerful female nobles and the women who love them... Kate, Duke of Howard, is known throughout Europe as a merciless autocrat not to be crossed. Consumed by a bitter rivalry, she avoids society and has vowed never to trap a woman into marriage with a monster like herself. The beautiful, ambitious courtesan Celine Genet once threw herself on the mercy of the visiting Duke of Howard. She was desperate to escape the guillotine. But after a night of searing passion, the duke left her to the ravages of Revolutionary Paris and didn’t look back. Now Celine is in London and in possession of a dangerous letter that proves the Duke of Howard committed treason as a child - and possibly even murder. Celine wants a titled husband in return for keeping the duke’s secret, leaving Kate no choice but to parade her around the most fashionable ballrooms. But as Celine takes society by storm, Kate finds herself growing fond of the woman set on destroying her. And as their attraction mounts, Kate faces an impossible choice: keep her childhood secret, or win the woman she loves. Anna Cowan's The Duke is an utterly unforgettable, page-turning romance featuring two women who, separately, are a danger to each other, but together, could be the most powerful duo London has ever seen. "Gorgeously written and desperately hot... Hands down, my favorite romance of the decade." - Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House "The Duke is Georgette Heyer quadrupled and queered, flipping the erotic appeal of a cold-hearted alpha into an alternate England in which women can be dukes and marry whom they please. I loved and envied the way it combined the originality of My Lady Jane, the luxury of Bridgerton, and the smutty, fabulous sex of Fingersmith." - Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of Viscount in Love
About This Book
The Duke is a romance novel by Anna Cowan, first published in 2025 by St. Martin's Press. It runs 352 pages. Readers can expect second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity; scorching heat; a emotional and dark tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- Romance
- Trope
- Blackmail Romance
- Heat
- Scorching
- Ending
- HEA
- Mood
- Emotional
- Published
- 2025
Where to read or listen
Get The Duke by Anna Cowan
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A merciless female duke is brought to her knees by the ambitious courtesan she abandoned in Revolutionary Paris, who now returns with a blackmail letter and a demand for marriage.
- Fans of high-stakes historical romance
- Readers who enjoy 'Ice Queen' protagonists
- Intense
- Features Blackmail Romance
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers who dislike blackmail as a plot device
- Those seeking a light, low-conflict read
- Strict historical accuracy enthusiasts (given the female dukes)
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Historical Romance
Pairing: F/F
Power balance: Shifted: Kate holds social and political power, but Celine holds the power of blackmail.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Mild comfort, high tension, high angst, and a strong emotional payoff.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Very high
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Kate, Duke of Howard, has built a life as a merciless autocrat to hide the vulnerabilities of her past. She has vowed never to marry, believing herself a monster. However, her isolation is shattered when Celine Genet arrives in London. Celine, once a desperate woman Kate left to the terrors of the guillotine, now holds a secret that could destroy the Duke. The price for Celine's silence? A titled husband. Kate is forced to sponsor Celine’s social debut, leading to a high-stakes confrontation between a woman who fears nothing and the only woman she ever loved.
Central Conflict
Celine blackmails Kate into social sponsorship to secure a titled husband, forcing Kate to choose between protecting her treasonous childhood secrets and pursuing a genuine reconciliation with the woman she loves.
Setting
London, England (Regency era alternate history) and Revolutionary Paris (flashbacks).
Themes
Strengths
- Unique alternate history premise
- High emotional and sexual tension
- Complex, morally grey protagonist
- Lush, descriptive writing
Consider before reading
- Blackmail dynamics can be polarizing for romance readers
- Alternate history elements might require suspension of disbelief
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Fingersmith — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?
- 5
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 6
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 7
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 8
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Press
- Published
- 2025
- Length
- 352 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781250382856
- ISBN-10
- 1250382858
The Duke: quick answers
- Who wrote The Duke?
- The Duke was written by Anna Cowan.
- When was The Duke published?
- The Duke was first published in 2025 by St. Martin's Press.
- What genre is The Duke?
- The Duke is a romance novel, with second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity.
- How many pages is The Duke?
- The Duke is 352 pages long.
- How spicy is The Duke?
- EIKNA rates The Duke as scorching heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Duke by Anna Cowan
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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