I loved this little concept, of having the narrator be a character, one who is compelled to tell the story and who can sometimes interfere in the results. This little imp does seem to have our leading lady’s best interests at heart, even as they muck about in her life.

Georgiana constantly reminded me of Gentleman Jack. In her mannerisms and confidence, as well as her knowing that people don’t like her, yet continuing on with her life anyway. She’s more of a recluse and less confident amongst society as a whole, even as sure as she is.

I loved Maelys and her friends, as well as the various snafus she ended up in. The very first one, her clothes disappearing and her subsequent reaction, had me laughing out loud. It was quite a way to open the novel, and it had me hooked from the first page.

Maelys and Georgiana’s budding relationship was very sweet and eventually spicy. Their love was palpable and believable.

The magic was neat. The imps and fairies and creatures that permeate this world and remain unseen, but are also acknowledged as being real. The gods are very very real, and have a known impact on the world. It’s a fun way to do it, to weave this magic into known history and society, make it an accepted part of life and yet society remains as stuffed up as ever.

I love how varied Hall’s work is. I never know what to expect and this book just proves that. Even based on the summary, I could have never guessed the tone. While my favorite books of his remain those grounded in the modern world, this one is special and super fun.

I’m walking away from this book feeling kind of meh. I liked the romance and plot just fine but the narrator was kind of unbearable. Told from the point of view of a fairy who searches for stories to hear and tell, the narrator is often snarky and pulled me out of the plot by continuously blatantly repeating descriptions and events we’d just witnessed. It just really fell flat for me. I do think many people will enjoy this, it’s just not my cup of tea.

The last few Alexis Hall books have just not worked for me, I think I’ll be taking a break for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who’s ready for another Alexis Hall adventure?

This is the perfect novel for anyone who ever wished Bridgerton was a little more magical. It’s 1814, and Miss Maelys Mitchelmore is ready to enter high society and meet her match, even though most of the men she’s met so far are not quite to her liking. Unfortunately for her, it seems that she wasn’t as wonderful as she thought either, as she discovers that someone has cursed her in the most vile of ways! Dresses are becoming tattered, cakes are turning to rot, and Mae is becoming the latest town scandal. Let’s hope her cousin, best friend, and newest mysterious acquaintance can help defend her name (and possibly her life).

Fantasy and historical romance don’t seem like the perfect match, but Hall is a fan of surprising his readers! It was hard to see where this story was going to end up in the end, but the wait was well worth it. The star of Mortal Follies is its sarcastic, blunt, and always hilarious narrator, Robin. While the story itself was at times wordy, their storytelling skills will make anyone laugh out loud and make up for the flowery subtext of the era.

Everyone, be sure to pack Mortal Follies in your beach totes this summer! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 50%. While I appreciated and enjoyed the variety of queer rep, this one just wasn't for me. Having an outside narrator was a weird choice that just made me feel detached from the characters and plot rather than providing a meaningful framing device, and the narrator was just obnoxious. I also didn't really see the romantic connection or how it developed between the two protagonists, and the heiress friend was insufferable. I stopped reading at the point where she explained how she ships real people she knows. The writing style also felt more juvenile than the intended audience.

This is definitely one of the weirder books we've read lately: it's a historical sapphic romance, narrated by Puck (aka Robin Goodfellow, aka Hobgoblin), set in a world where mythological creatures, magic, and curses are real. Puck is writing this story in the present day, but he recorded it for posterity (in his mind?) in 1814. He follows Maelys, a debutante in Bath who's been afflicted by a curse, as she attempts to rectify the situation. She does so by enlisting the aid of the Duke of Annadale, more properly known as Lady Georgiana Landrake, who has a suspiciously good knowledge of curses, herself.

Mortal Follies is a total romp. Puck's narration is a major high point, as he presents the story from a detached but interested perspective (while taking every opportunity he can to malign Shakespeare). That said, perhaps because of that detached narration, we didn't feel the emotional high points of the romance as much as we could have. At times, the book felt more like an experiment in writing than like a romance. We had a ton of fun reading it, and Hall has never written a book that hasn't made us laugh out loud at least once.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

I just loved the faerie narrator. I was also a fan of Miss Bickle. She is such a supportive friend. I enjoyed the story and thought there were some really funny parts throughout. I was rooting for the romance even though I didn't always love the Duke. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this in exchange ofr my honest review.

In the past, I have bounced off Alexis Hall's books, which is not a count against the books or the writing and mostly due to not being in the right mood for a strong narrative voice. However, in this book, the story is very much told to the reader, so the opinionated narrator works.

As for the story, it was fun and surprisingly brutal for a romance. But I guess that could be expected from a lightly magical, fae-involved historical romance, right?

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The combination of romance and magical mystery was good, but I wish we could see the couple happily in love more. Between the romantic tension and the repeated acts of self-sacrifice, I am unsure if we ever really enjoyed Mae and Georgiana together until the very end.

This has sparked my interest in trying to read Boyfriend Material again.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

Thank you for letting me read this arc!!!

I will say that the book being in second person it took me a while to get into. I feel like the story flowed well and it was a cute sapphic read.

I definitely will be buying a physical copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this!

This was just too long/slow for me compared with the typical queer historical fiction, and despite a very interesting premise it didn’t hold my attention as well as I would’ve hoped. The characters were sort of bland with the exception of the faerie narrator and the friend Miss Bickle. There were decidedly funny bits, but not enough of them for me, and it felt like it really dragged in the second half. I’ve liked the author’s work in the past, so I think with different characters I might’ve enjoyed this differently, but overall it felt just ok.

Paranormal regency era sapphic romance with an absolutely stunning book cover. It’s a fun read with an interesting perspective/narrator. The narrator is a spirit that follows two cursed women and is quirky and could be potentially funny but could also get annoying. I liked the different take on the writing style and creativeness for world building. That being said, it wasn’t as engaging and felt like it was a bit too long. It did feel like Bridgerton with magic, so I think it’ll have a specific audience that will absolutely love it.

Mortal Follies is the most creative book I have read by Alexis Hall. The knavish sprite that narrates this book is such an utter delight and provides many a comic relief. Our knavish sprite is here to tell the story of Miss Mitchelmore, her curse that, among other things disintegrates her dress at a ball, and the unwitting heroine, the purported witch the Duke of Annadale.

This book has some very delightful characters, the knavish sprite for one and Miss Bickle. It is so extraordinarily sapphic and is just wonderful. How the curse and how Miss Mitchelmore and her friends investigate to find the perpetrator and break the curse, is absolutely hilarious and adventurous.

That said, this book was tough for me to get through. It really felt like it should have ended about 60% through, but then it kept going and going. Another reason that I had a hard time finishing it is because the Duke of Annadale is supposed to be the heroine and love interest, but she is not only unpleasant, but also outright mean. It is hard to root for someone like that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Fans of Alexis Hall will definitely want to check it out. It was original and fun, if a bit of a slog.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the world building and the side characters the most. Lizzie might have been my favorite character. I did not like the whole narrator aspect. It was funny at first and then dragged on to where I skimmed a lot. And Lady G also wasn't my favorite. I wish Mae could've found someone that actually cared about her.

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Fun novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

"=Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall is a delightful and impeccably crafted romance novel. Set in an alternate Regency era, the world-building is both intricate and charming, transporting readers to a fantastical realm that is both familiar and unique. This novel is a perfect blend of historical and fantasy elements, all woven together seamlessly to create a truly captivating story.

I could not get into this story at all, and after trying to force myself to keep reading I ended up DNF'ing at about 40%.
There is sort of an introduction at the front where the narrator introduces himself and I didn't mind it so much then, but throughout the rest of the story, it was so annoying and I found myself actively disliking it. Also, I found the writing felt overly formal to me, more like reading an actual historical novel, like Pride and Prejudice, than a modern-day historical romance. Which isn't a bad thing just not my preferred style. I think with these two big things going on I just couldn't properly get into the story.

I'm really enjoying the fantasy historical romances where magical rules are a counterpoint to strict societal rules. Maelys Mitchelmore finds herself under a curse, and Georgiana (known as the Duke of Annadale and suspected murderess), keeps showing up to help her. Mae must decide if Georgiana is friend or foe as she tries to navigate supernatural forces. The narrative device (the narrator is an "unnamed" fae observer) lends a very dry and Austenian humor, and the magical atmosphere is rich and textured. The romance is mediated by the narrative device, but still very emotionally resonant. I loved Mae's friends and family, especially Miss Bickle and the Mitchelmores, and I wanted to know much more about the larger world and side characters by the end. My only complaint is that Mae's curse is the premise, but it is resolved about halfway through the book, and a new mystery takes shape for the second half. This broke up the plot a bit too much for me, but both mysteries were enjoyable and intriguing.

This book was EVERYTHING. Honestly, just everything. Magic, queer, romantic, full of mystery and drama - 110% catnip. I can't wait for it to be published so everyone can enjoy what has to be one of the coziest fantasy books (with pleasantly dark little twists) that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Come be madly in love with Georgiana Landrake with me, please. This infatuation must be shared.

3.3 Stars
One Liner: Got its moments but a mixed read

1814
Maelys Mitchelmore is cursed. Her entry into the highest Bath society puts her in dangerous situations, though she is rescued by the Duke of Annadale, aka Lady Georgiana. Lady G has quite a reputation as a witch and a murderess.
However, as the threat mounts, Maelys and Lady G must have to work together to find the person responsible for it and break the curse. This proximity also creates some issues, which Maelys seems to like even if Lady G doesn’t.
Can the duo sort out the threats and rumors to find their happy-ever-after?
The story comes in the first-person POV of Robin, a hobgoblin who follows Maelys Mitchelmore to write her story.

My Thoughts:
How you like this book depends on how much you like the narrator. Robin is the peeping tom who loves to tell stories and ramble. He (it?) also likes to control the narrative, meaning you will not know some details because revealing them would ruin the art of storytelling. Initially, I loved the idea and enjoyed it. But as the story progressed, I skimmed through Robin’s ramblings and focused only on the main story.
My favorite parts of the book are the scenes with Mae, Lizzie, and John. They are such varied personalities that their banter and bickering end up like a cocktail experiment. They are great fun, though. Lizzie Bickle is the kind of friend you’d shudder to have but will appreciate when someone else does. She is easily my favorite character in the book.
While the setting is interesting, with a blend of snobbish ton and references to witches, nymphs, faeries, etc., the detailing is overdone in quite a few instances and not enough in some places. Combined with the narrator’s opinions on just about everything, it can be super entertaining or annoying (the latter for me). Also, this is a book where you go with the flow and do not wonder about why, what, how, and when of things.
This is a romance book with some steam (not much, as the narrator tries to be decent). I liked some parts but found most of it a little too melodramatic. I’m half convinced it’s a funny take on the ton’s love for excessive drama. If it’s not, it’s better to rely on your speed-reading skills.
The plot, as such, is pretty basic and thin. The curse is solved by the halfway point, and the remaining is about Mae and Lady G’s relationship (if we can call it that). It feels more like Mae hounding Lady G, who acts like an alpha male with blocked emotions. I was waiting to see beyond her façade (after all, she hasn’t had it easy), but there isn’t much scope for character development.
My biggest issue is how the romance and the main characters were handled. That made the whole thing awkward and even one-sided. While I understand the reason for her actions, there isn’t enough emotion to make an impact. I’m all for lighthearted reads, but this one stresses the wrong issues and ignores the important ones. The plot needs better structuring and pacing to allow readers to understand the motivations behind the characters’ actions.
We also have a few subplots of sorts that go nowhere. John Ceaser’s personal track, the villainous uncle, the missing person, etc., are left with no resolution. Saying the narrator isn’t interested in them doesn’t make the book any better, IMO. It’s taking the easiest route to finishing the manuscript (unless the author intends to turn this into a series).
The book could have been at least 75 pages smaller. Enjoy the first half, skim through 35% of the second half, and see how the remaining goes for you. It almost feels like two books combined together.

To summarize, Mortal Follies is a lighthearted dramatic-sounding regency Sapphic romance with fantasy elements. It’s easy and enjoyable if you don’t use your grey cells. Get into it with the right expectations.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and Del Rey, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

***
TW: The book has scenes of animal sacrifice.

I couldn't get into this story because of the annoying ever-present narrator. I didn't find it funny whatsoever that they were essentially a third main character in the story.

Mortal Follies was described as Bridgerton with magic, a hilarious narrator and a beautiful sapphic story and that is pretty accurate.

I loved the narrator as soon as I read the prologue. He was my favorite part of the story and made it so enjoyable. He told the story from his past as he observed it while including current commentary on his life after he was exiled and had to live like a mortal.

Maelys best friend Lizzie was my second favorite character. She was so obsessed with magic and the Fae which is pretty relatable. She was extravagant and was a great match to Maelys cousin John which was very logical and to the point.

Maelys parents were delightful. They were different to what you would expected from parents of the era. They believe in science and were very accepting of Maelys even for modern times. It was a fresh take on parental perspective of sexuality and danger.

As for the story is was quite enjoyable. I liked Mealys and Georgiana and the realistic take on love.

The ending was not what I expected and the story was structures a little strange. It had two parts; before the curse and after the curse and it was almost two different stories.

I would rate it 3.5 stars as I really enjoyed while reading but don’t see myself rereading it.