A fun, action-packed F/F historical romance. I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series first, rather than reading it as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for a review!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really wanted to like this book but I just could not enjoy it, I think it's just not the book for me but I'm sure there will be readers who will definitely enjoy it much more. For me the writing felt rushed and lacking in emotion and like it was trying to force some tropes in such a way that it didn't flow naturally. The premise was good and interesting and pretty unique though.

I was wondering when we’ll get the book about Phillipa! And it didn’t disappoint.

The story follows Phillipa and Olivia on their mission to save Olivia’s daughter from The Devil’s Sons leader.
This is a brilliant enemies-to-lovers, F/F romance, with fantastic characters and a plot that draws you in really quickly. Another 5-star read in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for a review!

3.5 stars! A pretty fun, action-packed read.

This is the fifth book in a series, but I believe it is meant to also act as a standalone.
With this being said, I do wish that I had known it was part of a series, and had read some of the previous works first.
I think it would have helped me develop a better understanding of the overall plot.
Luckily, I was able to read and (mostly) understand what as going on, but I had a difficult time starting out.

I did take quite a bit of enjoyment from the romance aspect of this story though!
This is enemies to lovers done really well in my opinion.
The development in the relationship between Phillipa and Olivia was great, and I appreciated that it wasn’t too much of a slow burn.
I think the pacing really helped to keep me interested in their story.

There were also some really emotional parts to this.
Hearing about Liza, Phillipa’s former lover, and what happened to her following peoples discovery of their relationship, actually hurt.
I think I myself was also devastated.
Olivia also went through a lot as well, given her brothers torment and cruel nature.

Reading about this parts of their lives really helped me establish a connection with them that I didn’t have before, and I was rooting for them so hard by the end.

Overall, it was an enjoyable story! I just had a hard time getting into it at first, since I was a little bit confused on the plot.
I think it is probably great if you have read some of the other books prior to this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author Darcy McGuire for providing me with the eARC of “A Lady Most Wayward”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 13th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: September 22nd, 2025

Darcy McGuire closes out the Queen’s Deadly Damsels series with a daring, heartfelt, and thoroughly satisfying finale. A Lady Most Wayward has everything I’ve come to love about this series—espionage, scandal, danger, and romance—but it also breaks new ground by centering a sapphic enemies-to-lovers relationship that feels both bold and deeply moving.

Phillipa, Duchess of Dorsett, has been the formidable leader of the Deadly Damsels throughout the series, a woman of wit, command, and secrecy. At last, her story takes center stage as she strikes a reluctant alliance with Lady Olivia Smithwick, a mother with everything to lose and a past shadowed by betrayal. Their mission to bring down the Devil’s Sons is high-stakes and dangerous, but it is their combustible chemistry that drives the novel—what begins as mistrust simmers into undeniable desire, tested at every turn by duty, circumstance, and forbidden longing.

The historical setting is lushly drawn, with all the elegance of a Bridgerton-style ballroom combined with the cloak-and-dagger intrigue of a spy thriller. McGuire doesn’t shy away from the harsher realities women faced in Victorian England, yet she writes with warmth, humor, and hope, ensuring the story never loses its heart. The romance between Phillipa and Olivia is slow-burn, spiky, and beautifully earned, offering some of the most memorable moments in the series.

As a conclusion, A Lady Most Wayward ties up the overarching threads while giving Phillipa the spotlight she richly deserves. Cameos from past characters add to the sense of closure, but the focus remains firmly on this final, transformative love story.

With sharp dialogue, sizzling tension, and emotional depth, this is Darcy McGuire at her best—a fearless blend of historical romance and espionage that leaves you smiling, swooning, and a little sad to say goodbye.

Perfect for fans of Cat Sebastian, Emma Orchard, and anyone who loves their Regency romance with a scandalous, spy-thriller twist.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Darcy McGuire, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This is a great enemies to lovers story. I'll admit that I was at a disadvantage because I started the series at book number five. I'd recommend starting at the beginning. Phillipa and Olivia have a history and at the outset of the book they hate each other, but yet are drawn together like a moth to the flame. They go on a mission to save Olivia's daughter. Along the way there's only one bed! Their encounters are very hot. A very touching relationship.

Thank you to Boldwood for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

I’ve really enjoyed The Queen’s Deadly Damsels series, and A Lady Most Wayward is a fitting conclusion. What I’ve loved about these books all along is how they mix intrigue, danger, and romance into something that feels both exciting and heartfelt. This instalment carries all of that forward but also takes a brave new step by centring a sapphic relationship.

I thought it was a refreshing and welcome choice that added new depth to the series. The romance felt tender, real, and just as compelling as the high stakes and daring action that have been hallmarks of the earlier books. Darcy McGuire didn’t shy away from the challenges such a relationship might face in a historical context, but she handled it with warmth and nuance, making it a joy to read.

As the final book, it tied up the threads of the series nicely while still surprising me along the way. I found myself both satisfied by the ending and a little sad to say goodbye to these fierce, unforgettable heroines.

A Lady Most Wayward is a strong, engaging close to the series—one that’s not afraid to be different. If you’ve enjoyed the earlier books, this one will give you everything you’ve come to expect, with the added delight of a fresh perspective in its romance. The relationship with Stokes the butler and Reading the secretary gave me a much-needed comic reprieve, in amongst the other themes.

My very big thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and Darcy McGuire for an excellent series and the ARC, allowed me.

*Received as a free ARC*
Admittedly I was a bit confused at first, as I had skipped books three and four. Oops. But honestly, I was intrigued by Phillipa in the first two books, so rounding out with her was delightful. I also grew to enjoy Olivia over the course of their road trip from hell. Chapter one did NOT present her particularly kindly. All in all, a solid ending to a series, with a possible lead in to a follow up series.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in October. Loved this. A sapphic high tension enemies to lovers? Yes please. The characters were well matched. I expected the half way through reveal but it didn't make it less exciting.

3/5 stars

A bit of a trope-y plot, but still enjoyable read. We have our dashing heroine, Lady Phillipa who is the leader of the Deadly Damsels, a super secret group that combats crime and corruption on behest of the crown. She's incredibly competent, she's unbending on her morals, and endlessly brave. And we also have Olivia, a mother in desperate and dire straits, who was married to an evil man responsible for human trafficking. Olivia was an unwilling participant in all of these dastardly crimes in order to keep her daughter safe. So, enemies to lovers kind of vibe.

I didn't read the books previous, though I may go back when I have time to do so. Most of my criticisms come from the characterization of Phillipa and Olivia. Yes, Phillipa is unbelievably talented and heroic - and emotionally stunted. She views the world in blacks and whites, and though she too has been touched by tragedy in the past, she moves with a steadfast commitment to morality that has no room in a world of ambiguity. I just didn't find her sympathetic. Of course, by the end she grows a lot, so that journey was satisfying. Olivia on the other hand didn't have as much room to breathe. She has been a victim pretty much her whole life, so any spark of personality was brave, but I didn't feel like I got to know her much as a person. Outside of being a grieving mother, and an abused wife, and I suppose an argumentative enemy-to-lover, I wanted more for her. The villains were exceptionally villain-y; bad bad men who do bad bad things. Maybe I needed to read the earlier books to really get the found family vibe, but I still enjoyed the relationship between the Deadly Damsels.

Still, I thought it was a good read. I'd recommend it if you're interested in historical fiction, sapphic love, and a fun enemies-to-lovers story.

This is the fifth in a historical comedy, Queen Victoria’s (Female) Secret Service, romantic romp series. Each book is a stand alone part, but characters from the previous books pop up in subsequent stories.

In each book a damsel/young lady finds the one. While running through the series is the hunt for disreputable Lords who have found their match in the growing band of The Queen’s Deadly Damsels and their paramours (who just happen mostly to be the King’s alternative.) Only the Head of the Devil’s Sons is left to be found and brought to justice.

The lead Deadly Damsel is Phillipa, Duchess of Dorset’s, who has guided her protégés to listen to their hearts. Now she is put to her own sword as she finds Lady Olivia Smithwick totally beguiling.

Maybe four stars, but the ending made me smile so five stars happily after all.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I enjoyed this book. There are so many social conventions that I had not thought about when women of a certain status traveled in the past. There are twists and turns and I loved how the women developed trust in each other through the dire circumstances.

This uses the historical romance element that I was hoping for and enjoyed from this type of book, I thought the use of the spy elements worked in the storyline and time-period going on in this. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into this world and characters. Darcy McGuire has a strong writing style and was invested in what was happening in this book.

Wow, what a finale to this series. I loved seeing Philippa's growth in this, as we didn't know anything about her up until the previous book. I was so excited to find out the identity of the Crow, it was a real plot twist. I did feel like there could have been a little bit more of a buildup to the final takedown of the biggest bad guy of the series.

I did like how Philippa had to set aside her preconceived notions of Olivia. It was really out of character for her and set her development in motion.

Darcy, if you're ever going to write a new series in this universe, please write about Hyacinth and Callum. They belong together and I would die to see their love story.

Bridgerton meets Sherlock Holmes is the perfect way to describe this book! Phillipa and Olivia’s enemies-to-allies (and maybe more) dynamic was full of tension, intrigue, and swoony moments. I loved the mix of scandal, espionage, and forbidden romance—it kept me hooked from start to finish. If you like historical romance with a thrilling twist, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of A Lady Most Wayward by Darcy McGuire

It took me a while to get into this book as I hadn't realised it was part of a series so had missed out on a lot of the background. Having said that, it was a quick and exciting read with interesting characters and an interesting storyline.

This was unusual and opened strongly. There was spiciness and sexual tension all through the book. This is a twist on the classic with the tension and relationship potential between Philippa and Olivia both looking to get ahead in society and neither interested in romance or a partner. The cruelty of the age and the power of men over women is a constant although both women are pretty formidable and manage to drive forward their issues - be that theft, family loss or orders from the Queen. The plot is a little fantastical but a good read.

A another decent offering from Darcy McGuire. It was a quick and easy read but I didn't connect as much with this pairing as I have with some from earlier in the series.

DNF 36%

When I picked this up I didn't realize it was part of a larger series so I'm just not connecting with the characters at this time. The idea of the queens deadly damsels is interesting so I may have to go back and start with an earlier book in the series. Im not feeling much chemistry w the characters yet but I do like enemies to lovers. The plot is just not that interesting to me so it's not keeping my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Don't say it's the end! This fabulous series let's the leader of the Queen's secret agents have her happily ever after.

Phillipa has been the rock-solid leader of a vigilante group hunting aristocrats in the Devil's Sons, who are involved in human trafficking (called "the flesh trade" in this book, which is the period-appropriate phrase). In the last book, we got some insight into Phillipa's past, which involved the hero of that book, Edward. Phillipa and Edward's sister were involve, but the sister was sent to an asylum (for her "unnatural" involvement with a woman) and killed herself while there. Ever since, Phillipa has been a loner of sorts, though she was briefly married and is now a widow.

Olivia is our other main character, who was introduced in the previous book. She was also sent to an asylum after her husband found her being intimate with her maid. While away, her husband fed their daughter lies about Olivia. Now home, she wants to take her daughter and run away to America, in hopes of escaping the Devil's Sons.

The two women don't like each other, but are attracted to each other. As they work together, their relationship morphs into a romantic one. It's an incredibly satisfying story, as the evolution of the relationship is exactly what you want for two characters who have a lot of trauma in their pasts.

I was a little reluctant to finish this story because the Deadly Damsels have been such a great team of women to follow, but I hope we'll see some of them again in Darcy McGuire's next series.