Mortal Follies was such a surprise!! I have to say that I have not enjoyed the narrator of a story as much as I did this book in quite some time.

The story follows a “proper” English woman, Maelys, as she tries to maneuver in high society. She’s learns that a curse has been placed upon her and she must figure out who placed it and why before it’s too late.

Maelys must come to terms with her own life and what she wants while fighting gods and curses along the way.

I did not expect to enjoy Mortal Follies as much as I did. The narrator really adds a funny layer to the story and I specifically enjoyed her immensely.

Thank you so much to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As always, Alexis Hall's got the banter on point, the surprises are fantastical, and the love story defies convention. If you're craving a book that's equal parts witty, magical, and utterly delightful, Mortal Follies is your next one-click MUST!

Personally, I loved this book. But I could see why it’s not for everyone. Alexis Hall played around with different styles, tones, and time periods in this romance, and it ended up being like Jane Austen being introduced to Midsummer’s Nights Dream (but make it sapphic).
It’s very stylized with the type of humor. The Puck-like narrator was very british and sly, with a sort of tongue-in-cheek humor. I think this book could’ve done well with some trigger warnings for the animal sacrifices though. That might’ve prevented some readers from being put off from this book. Thank you for the ARC!

Have you ever met characters that are both despicable and lovable? Mortal Follies felt like a dry comedy flashing before my eyes. The interactions, the way characters respond, the situations they get themselves into... I think I spent the entire book with a little smirk on my face. I would not classify this as a book of substance. If you are wanting Jane Austin or Bridgerton level storytelling and/or characters, this is not the book for you. If you want something comical, outrageous, and pompous while also maintaining fun: this is perfect for you. This is the type of book where you can casually read it without having to put forth much effort.

This book has elements of Jane Austen (think regency england), A Midsummer Night's Dream (outrageous characters and fae manipulation), and Alexis Hall's signature LGBTQIA+ writing style (but make it sapphic). I would think of this as a sapphic Shakespearean regency romantasy.

3 stars!

I was so excited for this book because Alexis Hall really won me over with Boyfriend Material but unfortunately the plot just really didn't work for me. I didn't feel as if any of the characters really stood out and although I was excited for the fantasy elements in the historical setting, unfortunately I didn't think it really worked. I was also really put off by the narrator Robin Goodfellow and was really taken aback by him and his snarkiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! First and foremost, the cover of this book was stunning, I just knew that I had to request this book. I have read books by Alexis Hall, and I must admit that I prefer their Historical Fiction. Quite a few readers didn't enjoy the narrator, but I didn't mind Robin; I thought that they were witty and it was very Puck-like. I agree that the pacing was tough but I enjoyed where this story took me. The characters were fun, there was no one that I disliked which is great. My only complaint is that I wanted more passionate scenes between Georgianna and Maelys. I believed in their love story, but I was left slightly unsatisfied; the pining was apparent but the payoff was lackluster. Overall, I thought that Mortal Follies was an entertaining historical romance that incorporated fantasy elements well.

Alexis Hall proves his mastery of diverse genres with Mortal Follies, a delightful concoction of queer fantasy, Regency romance, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream magic. If you're a fan of Bridgerton, fantasy romance, or Shakespearean whimsy, this book is tailor-made for your reading pleasure.

The narrative unfolds in a world where fairies, goddesses, and magic abound, reminiscent of a queer fantasy Bridgerton. The Duke of Annadale, a woman with a brooding charm, and Miss Mitchelmore embark on a quest to lift curses, leading to a delightful sapphic romance. Hall's unique voice, wicked humor, and clever wordplay infuse the story with charm.

What sets Mortal Follies apart is its mischievous narrator, Puck, who adds a layer of sass and sarcasm reminiscent of Lady Whistledown. Puck's interruptions create a fun and engaging dynamic, allowing readers to witness the unfolding magical hijinks with a grin.

For those seeking a departure from traditional romance norms, Mortal Follies introduces strong-willed women, where marriage isn't the ultimate goal. The Regency-era etiquette collides with wild occurrences, creating a refreshing and creative atmosphere.

Mortal Follies offers a unique blend of genres, marrying British humor with fantasy elements. Alexis Hall's literary references and playful tone create a captivating reading experience. If you're ready for an unconventional journey through a faerie and god-ridden world with unexpected romance, Mortal Follies awaits your discovery.

Fascinating concept - as always, Alexis Hall delivers on empowered regency-era characters! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

The cover for Mortal Follies is so gorgeous. That is what interested me in reading this book. After checking out the gorgeous cover I was excited to see this is an lgbtq book. Historical fiction and romance. A sapphic fantasy Bridgerton. Say less. I couldn't wait to read. I love that the narrator is a sassy character. Two characters have to break a curse. I enjoyed this one. Regency-romance with a twist of magic and lgbtq. Definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm very on the fence about what to rate this. On one hand, I liked the first half of it quite a bit, and did find Robin's narration both endearing and entertaining. But on the other hand, the second half of the novel was completely unnecessary and Robin's narration did end up pulling me out of the story on more than one occasion, as well as preventing me from fully forming attachments to the characters in the story. Overall, I think it was a unique story, but definitely something that would have been better off as a novella instead of a 400 page novel. I'm hoping that maybe the finished copies are a bit more accessible than the arc in terms of character connections, because considering the length of the novel, I have very few opinions on almost all of the characters except for Robin and Binkle. It's very much a 3 star read, so if you're interested in it, try it. If you're on the fence about it though, this is your sign to DNF or skip it.

I made it to about 30% in this book and had to DNF it. I had a really hard time getting into this story and it was just not for me. I have had this on my "I will not give feedback" but it's been stuck there and I'm just going to give my honest opinion. I have read a few of her books but this one just wasn't one I could finish. Sorry!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was another hit from Alexis Hall, I really enjoyed this book! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I've already bought a copy for a friend for Christmas this year.

This book is absolutely beautiful, and while I love the concept, it just wasn't for me. I've enjoyed other titles by Alexis Hall, however, so I might try again at some point!

It took me a little while to get into this book, but I'm glad I stuck with it as it ended up being a unique and compelling story. It is narrated by Puck from a Midsummer Night's Dream who is able to invisibly follow the subjects of his story so that he can report on their actions.

He becomes interested in Maelys as public misfortunes continue to plague her. The Duke of Annadale steps in to assist and soon Maelys, her friends, and to some degree, the Duke are off trying to solve the mystery of what is causing Maelys's problems.

The characters are distinct and interesting, and romance is a slow burn, developing once you get to know them.

I'd recommend this book for readers who like f/f historical fantasy romance and unconventional writing styles.

Could not get into this but I want to try again with the audiobook. Alexis Hall is so popular but I haven't found the one that really hits me yet. On to the next!

Oh how I deeply wanted to enjoy this novel, but unfortunately I had to DNF it. I was enjoying the story in general, but the narrative style just did not work for me. At first I thought it funny and creative as it very much reads like a classic fantastical play narrative style, but it quickly became annoying and a tad distracting from the core narrative. This will not be my last Alexis Hall as I can see the potential for there to be a book I will like out there, but I cannot finish this one.

<I>First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</I>

Frankly, I don’t have many notes for this book.

Sure, it was tedious, but it was MY sort of tedious. It took a lot to feel I was completely immersed in this book, but once I was in, it was a done deal.

This is absolutely not going to be everyone’s style of book, and I agree - our narrator, Robin, can be a real PITA sometimes, but I found it endearing.

I’m a little confused how this is 1 of 2, but I’d give the next one a go.

I originally started this book quite a few months back, but ended up getting stalled somewhere along the way. That wasn’t necessarily the fault of the book (more my focus), but when it was finally my turn for the audiobook at my library, I jumped on it so fast! I often find that books I get stalled on aren’t necessarily bad books, but sometimes just books that work better for me in audio format. This was certainly true for this one, and I ended up enjoying the narration style a lot more once it was narrated by someone!

While it did take me a while to get used to the unique narration style, it did end up growing on me quite a bit. While I’m not sure if I necessarily like the extra distance it created within a romance book, I did like the quirks that our narrator brought along with them, and I had a lot of fun with it! However, it did make me feel a step outside the romance that the story often focused on, because we have this very obvious narrator with us every step of the way. It meant I couldn’t get as close to the characters themselves, or their romance, because I was constantly reminded I was basically spying on them from the corner. It resulted in me not really feeling the romance side of this story, though there were still plenty of other aspects I ended up being a fan of!

I really did like our main character, especially as she started coming into her own a bit more. I also felt like she was complemented quite well by the side characters, especially her best friend. It added this extra layer of absurdity, because of how silly her friend often was, but it made the fae/magic aspects of the book seem less out-there, and made our narrator seem a bit more normal as well!

I also generally did like the plot of this book, except for the part between about 70-90%. Basically, I loved the main plot of the book, but found the bonus end-game plot much less interesting, and almost frustrating at points. However, then I did end up how the story ended up wrapping up, especially how the narrator chose to end the story. I basically felt very mixed emotions by the end, because I was on a bit of a rollercoaster of enjoying the book, not enjoying it, and then enjoying it again right at the end.

I had a few issues with that chunk of the book between 70-90%, and I think it largely had to do with the pacing of the book. It had honestly felt like we had reached a potential ending for the book a few times over, except every time I checked where I was, there was still a decent chunk left to go. It was just really odd, because I felt like we were just waiting for something to happen again, right when a book usually has its climax. While the narrator did comment on this, and said a few times that they probably would have ended the story sooner had there not been a lot more exciting things still to come, it just kind of felt like the book lost its momentum for a bit. It seemed to just focus on the romance for a bit, but as I explained above, I never felt connected enough to that part of the book for me to enjoy reading a large chunk of the book focused only on them.

I also felt like our main character lost a lot of drive and energy in this part of the book, at least when it came to problem-solving later on. It felt like most of the answers were being handed to her rather than finding them herself, and it felt like she was sort of being carried along by the plot (despite having plenty of motivation to drive the plot herself). It made me start to like her less, which made aspects of the ending and final scenes less hard-hitting, even if I did end up liking them overall.

In the end, I ended up liking Mortal Follies, but had just a few too many issues to really say I loved it (though I did certainly love parts of it!) I do still enjoy Alexis Hall as an author, though, and will definitely keep reading more of his books in the future!

*Review will be live on my blog on November 17th

A lighthearted Sapphic regency romance for fans of Freya Marske. I would have loved more worldbuilding and fae integration - as it was, the omnipotent narration of Robin felt somewhat detached from the remainder of the story, I often found them pulling away from the plot at rather convenient times under the guise of 'fleeting fae interest', leading to a decent amount of later telling, rather than showing.