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theoddduckling's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Full of quipy lines, plenty of Shakespearean flourishes, and Regency drama, Mortal Follies tells the story of one young woman’s quest to know herself, find love, and survive the marriage mart.
None of these things go the way Miss Mitchelmore plans and when she finds herself the target of a curse, survival becomes a much more literal problem than she anticipated. But the cynical and mysterious (and mockingly named) Duke of Anadale, Lady Georgiana, steps in the save the day more than once. And this the two women find themselves thrown together on an adventure that will test them both to their limits.
The story, told through the framing device of a mischievous sprite recently exiled from Oberon’s court, starts as a fun period romance romp, but takes a turn for the serious that the narrator’s tone does not reflect. The narrator’s tone remains flippant and wry even as the events get darker and far more serious. This made it difficult to feel as though there were any real stakes for the characters and no real weight to the plot. Event at the end of the book rush to a conclusion that could have benefited from a few more pages to build tension and make the main characters struggle.
All in all, I found the tone of the book mismatched to the events, making for a discordant read.
However, this book begs to be performed. I truly think it would be better served as an audiobook book at least, if not a stage show. The narrator’s voice was funny, cutting and a bit Shakespearean. Performing this as a play would lend a separation between the narrator and the main characters in a way that would serve this story well and make it something spectacular.
None of these things go the way Miss Mitchelmore plans and when she finds herself the target of a curse, survival becomes a much more literal problem than she anticipated. But the cynical and mysterious (and mockingly named) Duke of Anadale, Lady Georgiana, steps in the save the day more than once. And this the two women find themselves thrown together on an adventure that will test them both to their limits.
The story, told through the framing device of a mischievous sprite recently exiled from Oberon’s court, starts as a fun period romance romp, but takes a turn for the serious that the narrator’s tone does not reflect. The narrator’s tone remains flippant and wry even as the events get darker and far more serious. This made it difficult to feel as though there were any real stakes for the characters and no real weight to the plot. Event at the end of the book rush to a conclusion that could have benefited from a few more pages to build tension and make the main characters struggle.
All in all, I found the tone of the book mismatched to the events, making for a discordant read.
However, this book begs to be performed. I truly think it would be better served as an audiobook book at least, if not a stage show. The narrator’s voice was funny, cutting and a bit Shakespearean. Performing this as a play would lend a separation between the narrator and the main characters in a way that would serve this story well and make it something spectacular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Slavery
brontesauruses's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for letting me get at this one early in exchange for an honest review!
Ok, so before I start the actual review: please take a minute to look at the cover. It's so pink, I love it. 💕
Did you look at it? Ok good.
As for the book itself, it's so much fun. It's queer and silly and told in a way that I ended up really enjoying. Our omniscient narrator is a character in their own right: Puck (aka Robin Goodfellow aka Stanley Tucci* in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)), who has been kicked out by Oberon, and now has to find a way to, you know, pay for food. The tone is very chatty. At times it felt like the chattiness was at the expense of pushing the story along, and it took me a couple chapters to get into it (it might even have been worse towards the beginning), but in the end I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it had been told differently.
IfPuck Hall wants to write more books like this, I want to read them.
Idk that I have any readalikes per se, but I do think that if you like Emily Wilde you might like this one (and vice versa). Very different flavors of Faerie Nonsense, but yeah. Divine Rivals also maybe.
One quick bit of content warning: the Old Gods are still there causing problems, so there are three whole animal sacrifices in this one, each one more...well-described than the last. Lots of blood.
Also, there was a bit of virulent transphobia that was immediately challenged by the narrative and one of the main characters. OOF, though. Very jarring.
*I'm sure the audiobook narrator is very good, but as I was reading, I couldn't help wishing that they'd gotten my man Stanley in on this.
Ok, so before I start the actual review: please take a minute to look at the cover. It's so pink, I love it. 💕
Did you look at it? Ok good.
As for the book itself, it's so much fun. It's queer and silly and told in a way that I ended up really enjoying. Our omniscient narrator is a character in their own right: Puck (aka Robin Goodfellow aka Stanley Tucci* in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)), who has been kicked out by Oberon, and now has to find a way to, you know, pay for food. The tone is very chatty. At times it felt like the chattiness was at the expense of pushing the story along, and it took me a couple chapters to get into it (it might even have been worse towards the beginning), but in the end I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it had been told differently.
If
Idk that I have any readalikes per se, but I do think that if you like Emily Wilde you might like this one (and vice versa). Very different flavors of Faerie Nonsense, but yeah. Divine Rivals also maybe.
One quick bit of content warning: the Old Gods are still there causing problems, so there are three whole animal sacrifices in this one, each one more...well-described than the last. Lots of blood.
Also, there was a bit of virulent transphobia that was immediately challenged by the narrative and one of the main characters. OOF, though. Very jarring.
*I'm sure the audiobook narrator is very good, but as I was reading, I couldn't help wishing that they'd gotten my man Stanley in on this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment
karissabubble's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Mortal Follies was a complicated read, I considered DNFing it, but I was intrigued by the story. This was my first time reading one of Alexis Hall’s Books. I was initially excited to read this sapphic romance, filled with curses, fairies, and dieties! I will admit that I had high expectations for Miss Mitchelmore and Lady Georgiana, a supposed murderess.
Overall it was hard for me to stay focused on the romance aspect of the story. The narrator, who is based on Puck from Midsummer Nights Dream, is very invasive, as that’s how they are, being the storyteller and narrator. However they are so into the story that they are distracting (on purpose) and don’t allow you to get into the story and have thoughts of your own. Yes, they are funny and entertaining at times, but at that point they mind as well be the main character. The narrator is too funny for me to take the storytelling seriously, and it made me question how reliable the narrator was, being extremely biased, and considering their constant need for validation from the reader, constantly addressing and calling out the reader. I don’t understand why this character had to be the narrator and not just an active character, we also don’t know why they were charged with this task to begin with.
It is less about Miss Mitchelmore and Lady Georgiana. Instead it was a story about a fairy watching over them for their own source of entertainment and judged critiques.
I did enjoy Lady Georgiana and the naive behavior of Miss Mitchelmore, along with her friend Miss Bickle and cousin Mr.Caesar. However I think a lot of things are lacking especially when this was a dire curse situation and the plot hole’s regarding Mr.Caesar and Tabitha.
I have a 50/50 view of this story, as I like it but I also feel like my enjoyment was overtaken by the narrator, who should honestly just have their own book.
I will probably still get a physical copy of the book, since the cover is stunning, and I appreciate Lady Georgiana’s response and care towards Miss Mitchelmore’s initial traumatic experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC read!
Overall it was hard for me to stay focused on the romance aspect of the story. The narrator, who is based on Puck from Midsummer Nights Dream, is very invasive, as that’s how they are, being the storyteller and narrator. However they are so into the story that they are distracting (on purpose) and don’t allow you to get into the story and have thoughts of your own. Yes, they are funny and entertaining at times, but at that point they mind as well be the main character. The narrator is too funny for me to take the storytelling seriously, and it made me question how reliable the narrator was, being extremely biased, and considering their constant need for validation from the reader, constantly addressing and calling out the reader. I don’t understand why this character had to be the narrator and not just an active character, we also don’t know why they were charged with this task to begin with.
It is less about Miss Mitchelmore and Lady Georgiana. Instead it was a story about a fairy watching over them for their own source of entertainment and judged critiques.
I did enjoy Lady Georgiana and the naive behavior of Miss Mitchelmore, along with her friend Miss Bickle and cousin Mr.Caesar. However I think a lot of things are lacking especially when this was a dire curse situation and the plot hole’s regarding Mr.Caesar and Tabitha.
I have a 50/50 view of this story, as I like it but I also feel like my enjoyment was overtaken by the narrator, who should honestly just have their own book.
I will probably still get a physical copy of the book, since the cover is stunning, and I appreciate Lady Georgiana’s response and care towards Miss Mitchelmore’s initial traumatic experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence and Murder