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larkken's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katelynmarie46's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
kiranferrini's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
I love this cover - and the title. Hall takes his queer romance and expands to the fantasy world - more like a world of whimsy. The narrator, a feisty little being who uses humor and sarcasm to move the plot along.
Maelys finds herself the subject of a curse - with the reluctant help of Duke Georgianna Landrake, Maelys and her friends desperately search for the person responsible.
Yet Maelys cannot deny her body's reaction to Lady Georgianna Landrake - though Georgianna does all she can to push her away.
A sweet retro fairy rom com.
Maelys finds herself the subject of a curse - with the reluctant help of Duke Georgianna Landrake, Maelys and her friends desperately search for the person responsible.
Yet Maelys cannot deny her body's reaction to Lady Georgianna Landrake - though Georgianna does all she can to push her away.
A sweet retro fairy rom com.
ilsesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75
milatonin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
_abia_'s review against another edition
3.5
The first half was great and I was really intrigued by the mystery of the curse and the narrator being a mischievous hobgoblin. I thought this was so original, had high stakes and a good plot surrounding the romance, which is gloriously queer. The Greek mythology inspired elements also delighted me, and anything with witches in deserves my time.
However, it lost a bit of steam in the second half. I wasn't quite sure where the plot was going to end up, as there is a big confrontation halfway through, after which the stakes felt much lower. It meandered for a bit and then at the end a whole load of things happened in a small number of pages which felt rushed. Although there was another mystery of sorts surrounding the back story & motivations of the love interest, it did feel a bit insta-lovey for me, and the 'reveal' didn't really hit as I expected it (as I think most readers would in this kind of book).
My favourite part of this book was the choice of narrator and I was disappointed that the author did not use the opportunity to have an unreliable narrator, as I felt that would have been fun for this story.
Nevertheless, it was a fun read, with great representation, and interesting magic elements.
However, it lost a bit of steam in the second half. I wasn't quite sure where the plot was going to end up, as there is a big confrontation halfway through, after which the stakes felt much lower. It meandered for a bit and then at the end a whole load of things happened in a small number of pages which felt rushed. Although there was another mystery of sorts surrounding the back story & motivations of the love interest, it did feel a bit insta-lovey for me, and the 'reveal' didn't really hit as I expected it (as I think most readers would in this kind of book).
My favourite part of this book was the choice of narrator and I was disappointed that the author did not use the opportunity to have an unreliable narrator, as I felt that would have been fun for this story.
Nevertheless, it was a fun read, with great representation, and interesting magic elements.
jenpaul13's review against another edition
3.0
After finding herself at the center of a curse a young noblewoman seeks the assistance of a rumored witch, getting entangled in more than she might have bargained for in Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In 1814 the young Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds herself facing a variety of difficulties with seemingly inexplicable origins. While attending a ball scandal nearly befalls her as her dress starts dissolving; escaping to the gardens she is soon found, and unenthusiastically rescued, by Lady Georgiana Landrake, who within society is frequently referred to as the Duke of Annadale and is believed by many to be a sorceress and murderer of her father and brothers. As the impact of the curse on Miss Mitchelmore progresses to increasingly dangerous, and potentially fatal, proportions she seeks out aid from wherever she can find it, even if it’s from company society deems undesirable. With the unwavering assistance of her dear friend Miss Bickle, who fervently believes in fairies and magic, and her rather pragmatic cousin Mr. Caesar, and the additional help of the brooding Duke, Miss Mitchelmore navigates a world of gods and magic in an effort to reveal her tormentor and undo the curse, but in undoing the curse upon her she finds herself becoming increasingly intertwined in a romantic entanglement that leaves her to boldly navigate, and voice, her yearning for what might be.
Told through an entertaining and puckish narrator of the hobgoblin often referred to as Robin, who fleshes out the more magical side of events and references other notable literature featuring fairies, a story of yearning and romantic pursuits, however misguided they may be, unravels with the humorous and informative commentary that Robin provides. Many events stemmed from magical interventions making the general acceptance of magic within the world a necessary element and it was well-depicted, particularly though the portrayal of the delightfully whimsical Miss Bickle and her steadfast belief in and consideration of magical beings. Though the tale follows Robin’s collective telling of Miss Mitchelmore’s misadventures, which begin with an unfortunate, though noteworthy, event of her dissolving dress that draws Lady Georgiana in to be part of the story’s events, once the identity of the curse layer is revealed and dealt with, the second half of the story feels more like a separate tale from the one of magical adventure with the narrative's shifted focus on a foray toward reluctant romance while using a few connections in the form of common characters to link the novel together into a broader narrative; meanwhile there are other characters with distinct personalities or quirks who were introduced and quickly forgotten leaving them to not be explored or used to their full potential or for a deeper purpose and raising a question to the reason behind their introduction in the first instance.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In 1814 the young Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds herself facing a variety of difficulties with seemingly inexplicable origins. While attending a ball scandal nearly befalls her as her dress starts dissolving; escaping to the gardens she is soon found, and unenthusiastically rescued, by Lady Georgiana Landrake, who within society is frequently referred to as the Duke of Annadale and is believed by many to be a sorceress and murderer of her father and brothers. As the impact of the curse on Miss Mitchelmore progresses to increasingly dangerous, and potentially fatal, proportions she seeks out aid from wherever she can find it, even if it’s from company society deems undesirable. With the unwavering assistance of her dear friend Miss Bickle, who fervently believes in fairies and magic, and her rather pragmatic cousin Mr. Caesar, and the additional help of the brooding Duke, Miss Mitchelmore navigates a world of gods and magic in an effort to reveal her tormentor and undo the curse, but in undoing the curse upon her she finds herself becoming increasingly intertwined in a romantic entanglement that leaves her to boldly navigate, and voice, her yearning for what might be.
Told through an entertaining and puckish narrator of the hobgoblin often referred to as Robin, who fleshes out the more magical side of events and references other notable literature featuring fairies, a story of yearning and romantic pursuits, however misguided they may be, unravels with the humorous and informative commentary that Robin provides. Many events stemmed from magical interventions making the general acceptance of magic within the world a necessary element and it was well-depicted, particularly though the portrayal of the delightfully whimsical Miss Bickle and her steadfast belief in and consideration of magical beings. Though the tale follows Robin’s collective telling of Miss Mitchelmore’s misadventures, which begin with an unfortunate, though noteworthy, event of her dissolving dress that draws Lady Georgiana in to be part of the story’s events, once the identity of the curse layer is revealed and dealt with, the second half of the story feels more like a separate tale from the one of magical adventure with the narrative's shifted focus on a foray toward reluctant romance while using a few connections in the form of common characters to link the novel together into a broader narrative; meanwhile there are other characters with distinct personalities or quirks who were introduced and quickly forgotten leaving them to not be explored or used to their full potential or for a deeper purpose and raising a question to the reason behind their introduction in the first instance.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
stacyrowe's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I loved the premise, the narrator, the humor, and the side characters. I just didn’t care about the two MCs and their romance at all.