Item: Mortal Follies
Rating: 3.50
Author: quirkycat

by Alexis Hall

A young noblewoman must pair up with an alleged witch to ward off a curse in this irresistible sapphic romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material.

“Fresh and delightful . . . All the interpersonal drama of Jane Austen meets all the complex treachery of Greek mythology.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

It is the year 1814, and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider, and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers.

Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into high society hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at a high-profile ball, a scandal she narrowly manages to escape.

However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore must seek out aid, even if that means mixing with undesirable company. And there are few less desirable than Lady Georgiana Landrake—a brooding, alluring young woman sardonically nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale”—who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune. If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress. Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs.

With the Duke’s help, Miss Mitchelmore delves into a world of angry gods and vindictive magic, keen to unmask the perpetrator of these otherworldly attacks. But Miss Mitchelmore’s reputation is not the only thing at risk in spending time with her new ally. For the reputed witch has her own secrets that may prove dangerous to Miss Mitchelmore’s heart—not to mention her life.

Book Summary:

Miss Maelys Mitchelmore is a young noblewoman in the early 1800s. Her entry into society is already quite complicated. Throw in a pesky curse, and it's no wonder she's struggling to find a place for herself in this society.

When the curse starts to hit fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore will have no choice but to seek the one and only Duke of Annandale for help. That's the nickname for Lady Georgianna of Landrake, of course.

My Review:

Historical fiction meets fantasy and romance in Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall. I've been trying to step back from historical fiction for a bit – got a little burned out on it – but I couldn't resist this read. The pretty cover and LGBT+ promise certainly upped the temptation. Am I the only one that thinks this book looks like a cupcake?

That said, Mortal Follies ended up being a lot heavier than I expected. Obviously, I wasn't expecting the content to be as light and fluffy as the cover made it seem. But I was surprised by some of the content (see trigger warnings below). That made it harder for me to finish this read, so consider yourself warned.

Likewise, I wish there had been more details about the world here. I'm a big fan of worldbuilding, and it felt a little shallow here. What I saw was enough to get me curious, so I'm mentioning the wish for more.

All things said and done; Mortal Follies was a decent read. Not quite as mindblowing as I had hoped, but still worth the read.

Highlights:
Historical Fantasy
LGBTQ+
Magical Curses

Trigger Warnings:
Near Drowning
Animal Sacrifice
Transphobia (challenged)
Slavery (Discussed)
Sexual Harassment

Thanks to Del Rey and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Mortal Follies (Mortal Follies)

by Alexis Hall

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jul 3, 2023

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