I Can’t Wait For…No Such Thing as Duty by Lara Elena Donnelly
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about but haven’t yet read. Most of the time they’re books that have yet to be released, but not always. It’s based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme, which was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week my Can’t-Wait-For Book is No Such Thing as Duty by Lara Elena Donnelly!
No Such Thing As Duty by Lara Elena Donnelly Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 8th April 2025
Goodreads
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In the waning days of World War One, William Somerset Maugham—novelist, playwright, and spy—is sent to Romania to serve allied interests in the fight against Austro-Hungary while dying of tuberculosis. His handler sets him to recruit mysterious Carpathian nobleman Walter Roşu to the cause. But Roşu is more interested in William than the war, and William struggles to fulfill his duty in the face of death and desire.
PRAISE
“Gritty and decadent and brittle with gallows humor, No Such Thing as Duty has everything I want in a story: clever writing, characters sharp enough to cut yourself, and an ending that makes me double-take, then pick up the book and start reading from the beginning. Set aside an afternoon to devour this in one sitting, and thank me later.”
—Allison Epstein, author of Fagin the Thief
I’ve adored Donnelly since the genre-defying Amberlough trilogy – which is a masterpiece, although I do acknowledge that it’s not a very mass-appeal one. Trying to pitch Donnelly to other readers has always been hard: I’m either saying read this super queer no-magic political fantasy where the fascists win! (Amberlough) or check out this narcissistic nonbinary perfumer/serial killer making perfumes from people and no it’s not historical! (Base Notes.)
They’re both really grim yeah but they’re so GOOD!!!
It’s a hard sell. Can’t think why.
But that’s why I’m not just excited for No Such Thing as Duty because one of my favourite authors has written a DEEPLY COOL NEW THING (with vampires??? maybe???) and I get to read it soon!!! I’m also excited because perhaps this will appeal to more readers than Donnelly’s other books? And those new readers will fall in love with her writing too?? And she’ll FINALLY start getting the recognition she deserves???
GODS DAMN I HOPE SO.
You can preorder the paperback at the publisher website, and it’ll be available elsewhere and in ebook form on or around release day!!
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