Thank you to NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, for a copy of Mortal Follies in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
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.
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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.
The Alexis Hall of it all
There is an unquestionable comfort in reading an Alexis Hall novel. Predictability is not quite the word I’m seeking — perhaps something more akin to familiarity and consistency? In any case, picking up a Hall novel has yet to leave me disappointed.
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In the continuum of Hall’s work, Mortal Follies falls on the silly end of the spectrum. It’s as though his The Affair of the Mysterious Letter and Something Fabulous had a baby carried and birthed by the fae. I laughed out loud several times.
For those unfamiliar with Alexis Hall, imagine a sapphic, comedic version of Bridgerton with a heavy dose of magic and punk. Does that not sound epic?
My only quibble — and it is minor — is Mortal Follies ran a little long, though it is likely a quirk of the genre it is homaging.
Should you read it?
I enthusiastically encourage all Alexis Hall fans to pick up this book ASAP. My caveat to newbies is: You need a particular sense of humor to enjoy Mortal Follies. The entire book breaks the fourth wall, and its narrator is highly self-aware. This book exudes a quintessential Britishness that goes beyond spelling conventions.
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I must also mention that the author includes a series of content warnings at the beginning of the book. While you should take all of them seriously, I want to highlight that this book has a great deal of animal sacrifice. Some of it is rather graphic. I point it out specifically because it’s uncommon to read (outside of religious texts).
When all is said and done, even if any of the above gives you pause, I still strongly recommend you give the book a try.
Mortal Follies is out on June 06, 2023. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🧚👭
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/new-book-releases-may-9/
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