Mortal Follies

This book was a joy to read. It took me a while to become fully immersed, as the story is told from an unreliable narrator and switches between third and first person, but once the story got going, I was very engaged. The characters are compelling and the writing is dainty and lovely without being, as they say, tedious.

Since Alexis Hall is one of my favorite historical romance authors, I eagerly awaited “Mortal Follies.” Then he upped the ante, adding magical elements and an unreliable hobgoblin narrator, to create a mythic odyssey worthy of the Goddesses he depicts. Yum!

When the chaste, beautiful and temperate Maelys discovers her gown melting supernaturally at a ball, she is (barely) rescued by the disgraced Lady Georgianna, reputed to have killed her father and brothers in order to inherit the estate. But neither lady is as appears. An attraction ensues, bonding them to outfox magical creatures and Goddesses, helped by Maelys’ best friend and her cousin. All the while, I was uncertain if unfolding events were exactly as our narrator, Robin, was describing them, or if he was intervening, upping the thrill.

Mr. Hall masters dialogue, bringing us into the era, while dispelling confusion, despite language differences. “My circumstance are beyond my control Your speech is within yours.” And he conveys the norms of that time with humor. “That she continued to be invited to balls despite the broad consensus that she had murdered four men by witchcraft might, perhaps, tell you everything you need to know about the fashionable set.” Or, “old scandals never die, they just acquire embellishments.”

Mr. Hall always make me laugh at myself and at the English language, which rarely conveys life’s insanity adequately. “It turns out being surrounded by the ruck and run of humanity is much less pleasant when you have no power to prevent it from rucking and running all over you.”

While Mr. Hall’s classical education was clearly more extensive than mine, I merely highlighted passages to examine after the plot’s dizzying excitement no longer held me in thrall. Yes, the background proved fascinating and added subtle shading to the plot, but it wasn’t needed to follow Maelys and Georgianna as they lurch from one adventurous episode to the next, in ever deepening riddles, ever dangerous attempts to dislodge their curses.

And I was delighted to watch women in roles once written only for men. Their courage, wit, loyalty and creativity are imminently recognizable by all women or marginalized individuals, simply our survival tools. But these gals make it look elegant, while drawing us into the push and pull of their love.

“Mortal Follies” is layer, upon layer of richness with exquisite attention to detail – divine characters, glowing in their human foibles, wit, and insight. This is definitely a novel to re-read, simply to bask in its pleasures.!

Oh gosh, this book is so lovely.

This may be my most anticipated book of the year, and it did not let me down. It was funny, it was riveting, and it was so, so fun. The narrator is an absolute joy, and often stole the show. All of the main characters are immediately likable, though I wish Lady Georgiana leaned into the title of "The Duke" because I think it would be really cool of her, but that's just me. The inclusion of various deities was delightful. I love when Alexis Hall gets a bit experimental and weird (in the best, most wonderful ways!) with his writing, and this is that with the humor and tempo of Something Fabulous.